Senate Resolution No. 1575

BY: Senator KAPLAN

MOURNING the death of The Honorable Lenard Leeds,
dedicated public servant and devoted member of his
community

WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through their selfless commitment and dedication, served to better the
quality of life in their community and had a measurable positive impact
on the lives of its residents; Lenard Leeds was one such individual; and

WHEREAS, A native of Brooklyn, New York, The Honorable Lenard Leeds
died on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at the age of 72; and

WHEREAS, Lenard Leeds, affectionately known as Len or Lenny, was a
proud graduate of Stonybrook University, Hofstra Law School and NYU Law
School; and

WHEREAS, A self-made New York success story, Lenard Leeds rose to
the highest echelons of the legal profession, always committed to
helping those in need; he represented individuals in a myriad of legal
matters; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, Lenard Leeds ventured out to form his own
eponymous law firm, ultimately partnering with Jeffrey Brown to form the
nationally recognized firm Leeds Brown Law; and

WHEREAS, Lenard Leeds' illustrious judicial career began when he
became an Associate Village Judge for the Town of Old Westbury;
furthermore, he was a leader of the Hofstra Alumni Judges of Distinction
Executive Committee, and was recently named as one of their
Distinguished Alumni on the Bench Hall of Fame honorees; and

WHEREAS, A longtime champion of equal access to the justice system,
this revered man was dedicated to philanthropic causes, whether it was
donating the Atrium at the Hofstra University Law School with his law
partners or providing funds to Temple Sinai in Roslyn so all families
could have a place to worship, this impressive man was always willing to
give back to the community; and

WHEREAS, In the midst of his ever-demanding career, Lenard Leeds
pursued his lifelong dream since childhood of becoming a singer; this
extraordinary man worked all day and then practiced and performed all
night and on weekends to be the best he could be; he went on to take the
stage with such luminaries as Tony Bennet, Dionne Warwick, Tony Orlando,
Neil Sedaka, The Platters, Jay Black, Marilyn Michaels and Leslie
Uggams, donating proceeds from these performances to various cancer
charities and St. Mary's Hospital for Children; and

WHEREAS, While he was passionate about many things, above all, his
greatest passion was being a husband to his devoted wife of over 47
years, Maxine, and a father to his two daughters, Suzanne Leeds Klein
and Allie Leeds Smolinsky, as well as a doting grandfather to his
beloved grandchildren, Charlie, Alex, Lexington, Becket, and Magnolia;
and


WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, and imbued with a sense of
compassion, The Honorable Lenard Leeds' life was a portrait of service,
a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a
comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and legacy of The Honorable Lenard Leeds, and to
express its deepest condolences to his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of The Honorable Lenard Leeds.