J. Richard Leyner of Northridge, California, passed away Saturday, September 17, 2016 (14 Elul 5776), at 79. Services will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at 1 pm, in the Eternal Light Chapel of Groman Eden Mortuary. Services will be officiated by Rabbi Avi Libman, and will conclude graveside in Eden Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mr. Leyner's memory to: CDI Kids-Child Development Institute and/or New Directions for Youth.
Mr. Leyner is preceded in passing by his adored son, Gary Leyner, Of Blessed Memory, in 1995, and his brother-in-law, Martin (Phyllis) Wahl, Of Blessed Memory. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Leyner; his daughters, Dori (Brent) Peskin and Frances (David) Eliyahu; his brother, Joel (Marilyn) Leyner; his sisters-in-law, Joyce (Harry) Graber and Phyllis (Martin, OBM) Wahl; his brother-in-law, Stephen (Dana) Blumenthal; his grandchildren, Sevonne Keil, Tali Eliyahu, Michal Eliyahu, Taylor Peskin, and Jordan Peskin; and his great-grandchildren, Gefen and Noam Keil.
J. Richard Leyner was an established force in the San Fernando Valley's Commercial real Estate market and an active member of the Valley's thriving mainstream business community for many years, Richard was Senior Vice President of Illi Commercial real Estate.
Mr. Leyner's success in the commercial real estate market derives from both his expertise in business and his personal involvement in the business community. Over the years, he has held many high-profile leadership positions including roles as Chairman and current Board member of the United Chambers of Commerce, Past President and current board member of the Encino Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the San Fernando Valley Transportation Strike Force and President of the Encino Business Improvement District, the Encino Community Council and a member of Alliance Neighborhood Councils. He was a board member of the Economic Alliance, Executive Vice President of Valley Vote; Richard was a member of the Advisory Commissions to both Councilman Jack Weiss and Assemblyman Lloyd Levine. He was a member of the advisory council of the San Fernando Valley Research Center and an adviser to the Marketing Department at California State University Northridge.
Richard is a graduate of New York University School of Business, he made his mark in the world of finance early in his career, when he became the youngest managing partner in Wall Street history, as managing partner of Leyner Dreskin and Company, member of the New York Stock Exchange. During his years on Wall Street, Mr. Leyner was a member of the Appeals Committee of the New York Stock Exchange. He challenged the rule pertaining to capital requirements for participation in initial and secondary offerings. As a result, he rewrote the rule, which was later adopted, therefore allowing all firms, both large and small, to participate in under writings. In 1975, Mr. Leyner founded Leyner Enterprises; a New Jersey-based business management consulting firm. After relocating to the West Coast in 1978 he obtained his California Real Estate licensed. From 1981-1987 he owned and operated two Red Carpet real estate franchises, dealing in both residential and commercial properties.
In 1978 Mr. Leyner joined Merrill Lynch Real Estate (now Prudential California Realty, Inc.) as a Vice President Branch Manager of the Encino office and Commercial Division, where he was responsible for overseeing fourteen division offices. Prior to joining NAI Capital Commercials Encino office, Mr. Leyner serviced as President of the Commercial Division of Bradbury and Company. He managed two offices in the San Fernando Valley. With his expertise and wealth of background in finance and real estate, Mr. Leyner served as Adjunct Professor of finance, marketing, and management at Northrup University in Inglewood, California.
Mr. Leyner is Past Chairman of the Commercial Division and Board Member of the Southland Regional Association of Realtor's, a member of International Conference of Shopping Centers, the National Association of Realtors, and the California Association of Realtors. He is Chairman of the Board of the Child Development Institute, board member of New Directions for Youth and member of the Los Angeles Children's Advisory Museum Commission. Past President of B'nai Brith and is a Fund-raiser for both Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and AIDS Project LA.
Services are under the direction of Groman Eden Mortuary.
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