In Memory of the Founder of Section 15
NATE LENOW, JR
NATE TIGHE LENOW, JR
June 20, 1948 - April 10, 2019
Nate Tighe Lenow, Jr., age 70, passed away unexpectedly on April 10, 2019.
He was born June 20, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Nate Lenow was the founder of the Compuserve Online Investigators Network, COIN - Section 15.
He owned Lenow International, Inc., conducting investigations, security consultations and was a protection professional in Memphis Tennessee for over 42 years, with prior work as a government investigator. Nate was a private investigator before it was even regulated in Tennessee.
From 1991-1996, Nate Lenow was appointed by the State of Tennessee Governor to serve
on the newly established Private Investigators and Polygraph Commission.
His independent investigations led him to the center of family histories and political scandals: wherever there was mystery and intrigue, he was there. He graduated from Whitehaven High School. With a stubborn will and mind entirely of his own, he graduated the University of Memphis (then known as Memphis State University) with a Masters in Criminal Justice after eighteen years of on-again, off-again studies, just after Nate Lenow, III was born, something he would often jokingly boast about.
Though his drive to explore compelled him all the way to Europe as a twenty-something with no money (he slept on street benches and beaches) and to the Yukon as a sixty-something, it was clear that his hometown of Memphis always had a powerful grip on his heart.
He loved history, genealogy, maps, music, quotes, movies, poetry, art, of all genres, knowledge in all forms. He also loved Alvin and the Chipmunks: he could be, and often was, just as silly as he could be serious. He had as many quirks as he did opinions.
He had an insatiable curiosity and gusto for life, threads which can be reliably traced throughout his whole life, from his many travels to his formal and informal studies, from his long career as a private investigator all the way to his recent foray in writing. Later in life, he discovered a writing itch that he both painstakingly and fervently scratched at, all the way to the end.
His pseudonym was “Memphis PI.”
Whether heaven is a place where he no longer has any itches or a place where he can blissfully scratch at them for all of eternity (he also loved using door frames to scratch his back, likening himself to a bear in this way), only “Memphis PI” knows.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Diana Dabbs Lenow; son, Nate Tighe Lenow, III; daughter, Jennifer Kathleen Lenow; and sister, Madge Lenow Mathews (David). He was preceded in death by his parents, Kathleen Plunk Lenow and Nate Tighe Lenow, Sr. .
Section 15 Member Memorial
ALAN M. KAPLAN
November 20, 1928 - February 23, 2019
Al Kaplan had a 22 year career in the U.S. Air Force,
retiring as the Office of Special Investigations,
Chief of the Operations Division, Criminal Directorate.
He moved to Las Vegas where he was the investigator for the Summa Corporation (the holding company of Howard Hughes enterprises).
Later, he and his wife started their own agency and were
known as the most connected PI's in Las Vegas.
He was a charter member of the International Intelligence Network.
Al always made time to help and share his experience with his colleagues; he was one of Section 15's original members - our senior investigator and group mentor, always lending helpful advise.
Alan Kaplan retired in 2015 with over 51 years conducting investigations, he passed away peacefully on 23 February 2019 at the age of 90.
He is survived by his wife Ruth and daughter Gina.
MICHAEL G. KESSLER
December 31, 1951 - June 06, 2017
Michael G. Kessler, a prominent forensic accountant and the founder and CEO of Kessler International, died of sepsis on June 6, 2017 at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Mr. Kessler was surrounded by friends and family.
Mr. Kessler is survived by Ms. Peterson and their beloved purebred Shih Tzus, Hachiko and Ninja.
He is also survived by his sons Jonathan Kessler (35) of Tempe, Arizona, a computer forensics specialist, and Timothy Kessler (32) of Commack, N.Y. a New York City police officer, both of whom he was enormously proud. In addition, he is survived by his mother, Mildred Kessler of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., his sister Debra Kessler of Centereach, N.Y., his brother John Kessler and sister-in-law Lisa Kessler of Middle Village, N.Y., and his nieces and nephew, Christine, Kimberly, Joelle, and Brian.
NORMAN I. PERLE
1938 - 2000
Norman Perle of the National Audio/Video Forensic Laboratory in Northridge, California, a renowned forensic expert on audio and video recorded evidence.
Perle was a New York native, died in his sleep at the age of 62 while on a business trip in Monterey, CA on February 19, 2000.
SUE RUGGE
March 7, 1941 - June 12, 1999
Sue Rugge, widely regarded as the founder of the independent research profession, died in Oakland, California on Saturday, June 12th, 1999.
She was an active member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals, and served as its president in 1988-1989.
Sue was 58 years old. She is survived by her husband, Hank, her sons Jim and Bill McKinney.