Jerome “Jerry” Lemelson was the co-founder of The Lemelson Foundation and the husband of Dorothy “Dolly” Lemelson. Born in 1923 on Staten Island, New York, he was one of the most prolific and versatile independent inventors in American history.
From a young age Jerry was inspired by icons like Thomas Edison to pursue his passion for invention. In 1951, after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he graduated from New York University with multiple degrees in engineering. A notebook was a constant throughout the day and at his bedside at night so he could immediately record his innovative ideas.
Over time — and working without support from established research institutions or corporate research and development departments — Jerry amassed more than 600 patents across a wide range of industries, including electronics, manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer goods.
His life and inventions have been chronicled in “Jerome Lemelson: Independent Inventor,” a biography by The Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center.
Dorothy “Dolly” Lemelson was the co-founder of The Lemelson Foundation and the wife of Jerome “Jerry” Lemelson. Born and raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Dolly graduated from Parsons School of Design in Manhattan in 1947. She later established herself professionally as an interior designer and the owner of Dorothy Ginsberg and Associates in New Jersey. For many years, she supported the family while Jerry pursued his work as an independent inventor.
Following Jerry’s death in 1997, Dolly served as President and Board Chair of The Lemelson Foundation until 2018. In addition to her leadership of The Lemelson Foundation, Dolly was the founder and President of the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation, which focuses on support for teachers and at-risk young people in Oregon and Nevada, two states where she lived later in her life. A Nevada public school for at-risk students and a Portland residential facility for girls in transition from homelessness are named in her honor.
