Dr. Irving L. Kanin

Dr. Irving L. Kanin of Newton and West Palm Beach, formerly of Brookline, Boston, and Norwood, on June 21, 2017 at the age of 96 after a brief illness. Dr. Kanin lived an extraordinary life as a veterinarian, an inventor of household products and an activist in progressive causes. At his death he was surrounded by his loving children and their spouses. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soulmate of more than 71 years, Doris. He is survived by his son Dennis Kanin and his wife Carol of Newton, son Erik Kanin and his wife Karen of Portsmouth, NH, daughter Lisa Hochheiser and her husband Joseph of Chevy Chase, Md, grandchildren Zachary Kanin and his wife Christina Angelides, Jesse Hochheiser, Jonah Kanin and his wife Michelle Shwarzstein, Ethan Hochheiser, Franklin Kanin and Cody Hochheiser, and great- granddaughter Elodie Kanin. He was the son of Louis and Ida, brother of Beverly Brosterman and her husband Stanley, the late Beatrice Small and her husband Leonard, brother-in-law of Judith Small and the late Dr. Melvin Small and of Leonard Paul and the late Leslie Paul. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins. Irving was born in the Bronx, NY in 1921 and graduated from St. John’s University and Middlesex Veterinary School in Waltham, MA in 1944, the same year he married Doris. Over his lifetime he practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Maryland — where he treated lions, tigers and giraffes at Largo Wildlife Preserve– and in Hingham and Needham, MA. Sixty-five years ago he founded Lynwood Laboratories, a household products business that continues to this day and where he continued to serve as its President right up to his death. Among the more than 30 products that he invented and developed, in collaboration with his wife Doris, were Spray-n-Starch, Screen & Surface, Shoo-Fly Hornet Spray, and Sport Mosquito & Tick Repellent. Lynwood Laboratories’ Spray-n-Starch was the first aerosol product of its kind in the US. Irving was involved in and passionate about progressive causes. Along with his wife Doris, he was active on behalf of civil rights, economic and social justice and ending the Vietnam war. He never lost his commitment to social justice and a more peaceful world. His legacy will live on through his children and grandchildren. He will always be remembered by them for his kindness, enthusiasm and unwavering optimism. Services on Monday, June 26, 2017 at the Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre at 11:00 am. Following interment at Or Emet Cemetery, 776 Baker St.,West Roxbury, the family will sit shiva at the home of Dennis and Carol Kanin in Newton until 5:00pm and 7-9pm and will continue Tuesday  2-4 & 7-9 pm. Memorial contributions in Irving’s name may be made to International Rescue Committee, https://help.rescue.org/donate/in-memory-dr-kanin.