Leonard Paul Kapiloff

Leonard “Lenny” Kapiloff passed away on January 30 after a 10 year battle with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST). He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Wendy (Wilner), his daughter Robin and her husband, Joseph Morris of Long Beach, California and his daughter Ellen of New York City. In addition, he is survived by his two adored grandchildren Margaret “Magaroni” and Gabriel, “Gaber” three brothers, Alan and his wife Gail, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, Perry, and his wife Ellen of West Boylston, Massachusetts, and Michael and his wife Tricia of Keene New Hampshire. He is also survived by eleven nieces and nephews. He was born on February 24, 1951, in Keene, New Hampshire the son of Edward and Charlotte Kapiloff. He attended schools in Swanzey, NH, Lowell, MA and Keene NH. He was a 1969 graduate of Keene High School. He later graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in Merchandising. Lenny started his career at Grossman’s Lumber and quickly grew to the position of building materials merchant. After a short move to Long Island, New York, he joined the Home Depot in 1991 where he spent 21 years as a window and door merchant, logistics director and Vice President of Merchandising in Canada. His Home Depot career led his family to live in Palm Harbor, Florida, Toronto, Ontario, and Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently, Lenny founded the Lenny Group, a global logistics and merchandising firm. He created business development relationships around the world including the Caribbean islands, Canada Europe and South America. In Santiago, Chile he was known as Papa Kilimanjaro as he helped the Sodimac Corporation flourish and gain market share with his unique logistic strategies. His was an expert at bringing together business partners and helping them create new business opportunities. To Lenny, no person was a stranger, and offering an open hand was his way. His motto was “Every day was a good day” and it soon became a motto for all of his family and friends as he battled GIST. He was treated as a research patient at the Dana Farber Hospital in Boston and made the trip from Atlanta to Boston three times a year for over 7 years. He inspired fellow patients and DFH staff members with his courage and strength throughout his treatments. His open hand attitude led he and Wendy to start “Lenny’s Search for a Cure” an annual event which raised over $750,000 for the GIST Cancer Research Fund which has helped countless other patients with GIST. It also led them to start a scholarship at Congregation Ahavis Achim in Keene, to send a Jewish child each year to Jewish overnight summer camp. In addition, he helped many more with his career and life advice of “live your dreams every day”. Lenny’s passions were always his family but he was also an avid golfer, “no 3 putts”, and driver of his BMW convertible. He loved playing poker, black jack and trips to Las Vegas. Lenny and Wendy were also avid travelers with trips to locations around the globe. In short Lenny loved having fun. He was very proud of his Jewish heritage and served as President of Congregation Beth Jacob in Plymouth, Massachusetts and was an active member of Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia. He and Wendy also made two trips to Israel. Contributions can be made to GIST Cancer Research Fund in memory of Lenny Kapiloff, 55 Sawmill Road, New City, New York 10956. Funeral services will be Monday, February 2, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. at Temple Kol Emeth with Cantor Steven Weiss and Rabbi Steven Lebow officiating. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park