Born in 1962 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, he spent much of his childhood in St. Clair Shores, MI. Growing up, he loved sports of all kinds but particularly baseball and football. He was also active in cub scouts where his mom served as a leader and enjoyed helping other kids with reading and spelling. One of his fondest recollections was winning the 8th grade spelling bee! His other would be the time spent with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
In 1980, he and family moved to Arlington, having just graduated from high school in Michigan. He eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Texas in Arlington with the hope of attending law school. In the meantime, he found employment at Loral Vought, (which eventually became Lockheed), working in the Materials department.
He returned to college to earn a certificate as a para legal and worked for a solo practice from 1990-1995. It was during that time when he met and married Ann, and he made the decision to attend law school. (He and Ann would later divorce in 2006).
Having earned his law degree in 1998 from South Texas College of Law in Houston, he worked 5 years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area building his solo practice. His girls were born during this time, Linnea in 2000 and Ellen, (Ellie), in 2001. They became his everything, and he immensely enjoyed attending their softball games, listening to their band concerts, and hearing of all their accomplishments along the way.
In 2004 Leonard was diagnosed with bipolar disease. He would struggle with managing his illness while building his business, so in 2006, following divorce, he closed his business and focused on better health and well-being. The challenge of the disease left him seeking alternative incomes as he was able. He later became an author, writing his book, “Cookies for Greens – A Bipolar Memoir”, as well as becoming a major participant in DBSA, (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) serving as a local officer, frequently attending meetings, and presenting a couple of major community speeches. As he writes in his book, he has been “a son and a brother, an athlete, a spelling bee champion, a juvenile delinquent, a laborer, a student, a professional, a husband and a dad, a law review member, …. a disability recipient, a prisoner and probationer.”
Through it all, he remained encouraged because of the love of his family, his girls, and those he met along the way to overcome obstacles that few would understand. In his book he writes, “Despite being bipolar and all the travails I have had with it, I would not change shoes with anyone, because of the people and gifts I have been given in this life. Everyone should feel this way. The fact is that every person, whether they have a physical or mental illness, or any kind of disability, carries the same intrinsic worth, value to society, is loved by God, and can have the same goals and success as any ‘normal’ person out there.”
Leonard is survived by his daughters, Linnea and Ellie Kolanowski of College Station; his parents Leonard Jr and Sandra Kolanowski; his brother and sister-in-law David and Maricas Kolanowski; his sister Susan Spencer and her friend Craig; nephews Jacob Spencer of Arlington, Adam Spencer of College Station, and David Jr of Arlington; niece Sarah Kolanowski of Carrollton; and a host of relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held on 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 28, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 3713 E Harwood Rd, Bedford, TX 76021.
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