Lenora Park

“Lenny”

Born Oct 4, 1942

Died June 4, 2024

Age 81

Lenora I. Park better known as Lenny was born Oct 4th, 1942 to Morris and Chana Cohn (Spivack) in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in Buffalo, NY she excelled at academics, graduating from Bennett High School in 1960. She was one of the first women to attend Columbia University where she met her future husband (Hee Joon, John Park) in her 3rd week of school. Lenny and John quickly fell in love and they were soon married. They were a perfect match.

Lenny continued on with her studies, graduating with multiple degrees including the Jewish Theological Seminary. She became a teacher and supported John throughout his lengthy post-graduate studies to become a doctor. Later on, they built a family and a very successful ophthalmology practice in her hometown of Buffalo NY. Lenny was an equal partner in the venture’s success. She was a talented manager of business operations, excelling at everything from the “people side” of the business to fighting every fight necessary to ensure the medical practices' success. She was an innovator in the use of computer technology to run the business, pioneered patient education and engagement programs and she made sure that Park Eye Center was delivering the very best care for its patients.

At home, Lenny was a devoted mother to her three children allowing them to each pursue hobbies and interests of their own choosing and preference. She tirelessly drove and supported each of her children in their growth and development. Lenny loved to play the violin and took lessons and played throughout her entire life. This was one of her greatest joys, playing and listening to music and reading books of all types. She was fluent in English, Hebrew, German and Russian and loved to speak to strangers in whatever language they cared to converse in. Lenny had boundless energy, a unique and infectious laugh and was always there for everybody across any need that they had.

After the ophthalmology practice closed, Lenny was accepted to and chose to attend Georgetown University’s Executive MBA program. While older than her classmates, she loved the experience of traveling overseas to learn and develop her own business skills. She put her new MBA to use as the Operational Manager for Vivaldi Networks, a venture-backed startup in Silicon Valley, founded by her son, during the fast-paced dot-com days. Lenny loved living in Foster City and eventually settled in Palo Alto where she lived for many years, working as the Executive Director for the Rose Kleiner Senior Day Center. In this role, Lenny brought together her caring nature for people as they aged just as she had with the Park Eye Center patients. Lenny truly loved California and immensely enjoyed living there as well as in Israel where her time and experiences in Jerusalem filled her soul and life with joy.

After her time in Silicon Valley, Lenny spent some years in Florida, eventually moving to Greenville, SC as she dealt with the effects of aging and chronic disease. She loved living in Greenville with her son (who was her dedicated caregiver) and was also in the end close to her ex-husband, remaining good friends and spending lots of quality time together. She continued to play the violin and take lessons weekly, enjoyed good meals, and lots of laughter as she worked hard to engage in a wide variety of efforts and activities to protect her health. To the very end she had a wry sense of humor and let you know instantly if you were on or off target via a “Lenny Look”.

Lenny’s favorite color was purple (she had the surgical suite done in this color) and her preference for clothing, all things purple, was omnipresent in her life. She also made famous the saying “Desert First!” created when taking out her beloved nieces and nephews. Everything friend and family-related was her center and joy. She maintained lifelong relationships with her dear childhood friends and was strong in her Jewish faith and identity.

Lenny passed peacefully and is survived by her former husband Dr. John H. Park and her three children: Julie S. Park, David H. Park and Emily G. Park. She is also survived by her brothers Barry Cohn and Jerry Cohn; her two grandchildren; Zachary and Jacob Farber and many (Cohn) nieces and nephews; Brian, Tova, Stacey, Melanie, and Stephanie.