OBITUARY: Irving Eison

Irving Eison, 84, of Longboat Key, died June 25.

Born in 1927 in Worcester, Mass., Mr. Eison served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard a destroyer escort. He graduated from Boston University, where he met his wife of 57 years, Irma Ziskind.

Mr. Eison began his career in the advertising business and went on to work 25 years at Dunkin’ Donuts, ultimately becoming vice president of product-marketing and development as the company expanded its menu beyond doughnuts and coffee. In 1972, he saw the waste of the dough from the hole of the doughnut as a marketing opportunity and created the still-popular “Dunkin’ Munchkin,” of which more than 70 million are sold every year.

Mr. Eison left the company in 1990 to start his own consulting business. He was the author of “Strategic Marketing in Food Service: Planning for a Change.”

Mr. Eison was an active member of Temple Beth Israel, serving on its board and editing its bulletin. In recent years, he volunteered at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Mote Marine Laboratory.

Mr. Eison is survived by his wife, Irma; daughter, Michele Perchonok, of Houston; son, Howard Eison, of Weston, Conn.; four grandchildren; and sister, Judy Horlick, of Fresno, Calif.

A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Temple Beth Israel, 567 Bay Isles Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Sarasota Memorial Hospital or Mote Marine Laboratory.