Leo Stoloff

During his life he was a resident of Brooklyn, New York; Laurelton, New York; Merrick, New York; Coconut Creek, Florida; and Rockingham County, Virginia.

Leo was predeceased by his wife, Harriet Stoloff; his son, Robert Stoloff; his brother, Bill Stoloff; and his sister, Jeanne Raskin.

He was the loving father of Michael Stoloff; father-in-law of JoAnne Brewster; and honorary father-in-law of Noreen Brewster, and David Killian. He was the cherished grandfather of Nina and Jackson Killian. He was in regular contact with his niece, Annette Wiener; his nephew, David Stoloff; David’s wife, Lynne; David’s son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Yookyung; his niece Evelyn Persell and her son Steve.

Leo’s parents passed away when he was a young boy, after which he lived with his sister, Jeanne; brother-in-law, Morris Raskin; and niece, Annette.

Through his persistence and hard work, he progressed from entry-level employment to roles with progressively greater responsibility, and finally to the position from which he retired: Store Manager of Sam Flax, a large art materials store in Manhattan, New York.

Leo was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific and was part of the initial landing group in Japan at the conclusion of the war. When he was 93, he participated in an Honor Flight from South Florida. Since that day he proudly wore his WWII and Army caps whenever he went outside.

Leo and Harriet were married in 1953 and spent 63 happy years together. After their retirement in Florida, they enjoyed traveling around the country and taking ocean cruises. Leo was an avid photographer who prepared elaborate photo albums of their trips. In later life, he became well-known for his expertise with jigsaw puzzles. He completed more than 100 thousand-piece puzzles, which he mounted, framed, and proudly displayed.

After Harriet passed away in 2016, Leo continued to live independently in Florida, with the assistance of home-health care aides, until he was 98. He was particularly fond of Shaun Stewart, one of his aides who enjoyed doing puzzles with him. In 2022, he moved to Virginia to live at Sunnyside Retirement Community near his son and daughter-in-law. While he was still mobile, he enjoyed going on excursions to attractions in the nearby area, and he participated in a variety of activities at Sunnyside. As his world gradually contracted due to increasingly limited mobility, he found enjoyment in his puzzles, the birds at his feeder (and the four daily squirrel invaders), classic movies, treats from Smiley’s Ice Cream, and nightly visits from Michael. He was a favorite of other residents and staff, who enjoyed conversations with him in the dining room and visiting his room to see his puzzles and to trade jokes with him. He was regularly visited by special friends Barbara Puzanskas, Cindy Westley, and Ashton Trice. Dozens of people attended his 100th birthday party.

A graveside service is scheduled for June 1, 2025, at 11:45 am at the Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel, 7701 Bailey Road, North Lauderdale, Florida. Contributions in his name can be made to AARP or any Veterans Organization.

IN THE CARE OF

Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Funeral Chapel