Stand was important in my life.  I was part of his dance trio with June Loesch Colby.  I sent my memories of him for his 90th birthday.  I wish his family well. And would love to hear from Lois.  

Stan Leszynski was a great neighbor a model of what we all should strive for: devoted husband and father friendly neighbor who always took time to wave and said hello. Then there was Stan the giver. A giver of his time and skills to so many others . So many great memories growing up in the neighborhood from the Model Ts that were so cool to see and be around for a car crazy kid. Like me To  the early morning table saw ripping wood early on a Saturday morning when the older me was nursing a  hangover. You will be missed Stan thank you for showing us the way

Part 2

After the loss of my own father when I was 19, Mr. L was always there if when we needed him.  I vividly remember the night our pipe under the kitchen sink burst.  My mom and brother were out and my Grandma and I were home.  I had a broken leg.  The pipe burst and Grandma ran next door to get Mr. L.  I called 911.  Long before the fire department arrived, Mr. L was there.  He turned off the water at the main and had the presence of mind to check the downstairs.  The water had run into the ducting and was pooling in the light fixtures in the basement.  Mr. L turned off the electricity.  When mom and I were working on a home project and we got stuck, it was "go ask Mr. L".  One time he told my mom "Puggie, the answer to every problem is not a bigger hammer".  Mr L collected things and this also was fun for me.  I remember when the family returned from a brief period of living in New Mexico.  Mr. L brought home lots of souvenirs and the one I remember the most was a horned toad encased in resin. He told me all about the different animals that lived there and how they were different from those we saw.   Looking back I wish that I had kept a journal because I know many memories have been lost to time.  What remains is the overwhelming sense of dependability, Mr. L was a dependable as the sunrise.  Mr. and Mrs. L were steadfast fixtures in my life and it is my great blessing to have been a small part of their lives. 

Part 1
When my parents moved  into our home on 157th I had won the neighborhood lottery and I did not even know it.  I'm quite sure I did not realize my good fortune for many years.  Our next door neighbors were the Leszynski family.  Stan, know by me as Mr. L, was the Dad to my good friend Patti and her brother and sisters Stan, Tina and Linda.  As a child we would play at each other's houses and Mr. L had a large and spectacular garden in which we would sit and eat currents and raspberries on those warm lovely summer days.  Often we would pick rocks and Mr. L would comment on the type of rock.  We would put the rocks into buckets so the ground was ready for further planting.  M. L would take the rocks and dump them through a series of screens of assorted sizes.  This would eliminate the dirt to be returned to the garden and sort the rocks into similar sizes which would then be incorporated into future projects. As a child, I found this both interesting and fun.  Mr. L would build things and he was always willing to have us kids help.  I remember playing after school and in the summer in the front yard and Mr. L walking up the street after work carrying his lunch pail, often with his suit coat draped over his arm and always with a white shirt and dark tie.  He would chat with us kids before heading into the house. The grownups in our neighborhood would gather to watch Dallas once a week and there would always be dessert, a favorite of Mr. L's.  We celebrated birthdays together and of course had ice cream and cake. Mr. L always made sure the ice cream and cake came out even.  This appealed to what turned out to be my scientific nature.  I would watch and every time Mr. L would end up with one bite of ice cream to match the one bite of cake.  After the loss of my own father when I was 19, Mr. L was always there if when we needed him. 

I'm so sorry to miss honoring Stan, who was a pivotal figure in my introduction to East European and Balkan dance, and to the wonderful group of warm and lasting friends I found in Stan's Dance Circle!  Stan was an inspiring leader, teacher and dancer.  It led to my lifelong fascination with Balkan and East European dance, music, culture, people, and ultimately to my Master's Degree from UW in East European Studies, undertakng a cultural research project in Jugoslavia, and enjoying ties with Balkan communities in this area.  I send my many thanks to Stan, and my deepest condolences to Lois and family on the loss of this diverse and capable man. 

I just want to add a memory that I will always cherish. When I was in my early teens my mom told me that papa needed some help at his house. She didnt tell me what the job was but I agreed. When I got there papa handed me a shovel and told me "we are digging a dry well." I had no idea what that meant, but I soon found out. It meant that we were digging a 5 foot hole in the ground! It took a long time to finish, but when we did papa only said a few words to me. "You keep working hard like that, you are goona go places..." Those words still reverberate in my mind and I will always appreciate the many lessons my papa has tought me over the years, whether they were intended to be lessons or not.

Stan was my brother Nate's father-n-law and someone I will always remember.  Our trip to Las Vegas with my brother and sister-n-law, niece and nephew and of course Stan and Lois.  Stan was a notetaker and he always had his tiny tablet of paper and his little golf pencil in his pocket.  He took notes about everything in Vegas.  I really enjoyed that trip and loved that I got to take a shot with him and Lois at the Nascar Cafe.  Such fond memories of someone who had a lot to offer.  He was such a kind and generous man.  He has left quite a legacy and will be missed by some many.  Our thought and deepest sympathies to Lois and the whole family.  ♥️

OBITUARY

Stanley William Leszynski

August 19, 1924 – January 4, 2020

Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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