ENGLISHTOWN, NJ - Stan Liebowitz, retired fleet manager for Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (now known as Panasonic Corporation of North America), passed away Sept. 25. He was 68.

Liebowitz managed the Matsushita fleet from 1979 until his retirement in 2004. During his tenure, the Matsushita corporate fleet experienced tremendous growth, expanding from 300 units in 1979 to a peak of 1,300 units in 2001.

"Stan created the fleet department at Matsushita," said Frank Memolo, the company's current fleet manager, who worked with Liebowitz from 1986-2004.

Liebowitz also championed the transition of the Matsushita fleet from closed-end to open-end leasing, which resulted in substantial cost savings to the company. In addition, Liebowitz spearheaded the transition of the fleet operation from a manual, paper-intensive process to computerization. "Stan embraced technology. He was an early adopter of fleet technology at a time when PCs were still in their infancy," said Memolo.

Liebowitz was also very active with the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) and served two terms as the chair of the New Jersey Chapter of NAFA. "Stan had many friends in the fleet industry. He had a big heart and was always helping other fleet managers and fleet suppliers," said Memolo.

Liebowitz retired in February 2004, culminating a 35-year career with the company. He started with Matsushita in 1969, first employed in the company's accounting department. In the mid-1970s, he helped open Matsushita's first regional sales office in Baltimore.

Liebowitz is survived by his three sons.