Author: Duane Fickeisen

The Rev. David V. Leonard, 71, died on January 28, 2013. Rev. Leonard was born in Rutland, VT on January 8, 1942 to Katheryn (Campbell) and Richard Leonard. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1963. He then went on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1967.

Ordained by the United Methodist Church in Trivoli, IL in June, 1967, Rev. Leonard eventually decided to make a change and, in 1975, he left the Methodist Church to begin a life as a Unitarian Universalist. He immediately took steps to become a Unitarian Universalist minister, and was called to his first position at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Smithton, PA from 1977-1984. He then went on to serve to First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg, VA from 1984-1992; the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, OH from 1992-2002; the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, NY from 2002-2003; and the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, NJ from 2003-2008.

His wife, Linda, shared,

“David Leonard was an intensely private person who was happiest either chasing trains (in order to photograph a locomotive), or walking a trail in the woods. Classical music, the deep night sky, and a win by the Detroit Tigers or Chicago Cubs also moved him deeply. So did the affection of his cats, from the illegal seminary fur brother, to the orange and black companions on the hospice hospital bed.”

Hating ceremony, David much preferred jeans to a suit. Clergy and lay people alike sometimes wondered if he really was a minister since he only wore his “uniform” when absolutely necessary.

As a person most comfortable by himself, David was uneasy with many of the tasks and expectations of the parish minister. Over the years, he learned to wear two hats: the minister’s hat and the rail fan/photographer hat. He was an excellent photographer and good at keeping his own counsel. He was also superlative at counseling others and preaching on Sunday morning.

He read theology, philosophy, science (especially paleontology), and thrillers, with Tony Hillerman and Sue Grafton being two of his favorite authors. He also liked children’s books.

He was a good father. He loved his children, his animals, the natural world, and, of course, his trains. He had a wry, Mark Twain-Ambrose Bierce sense of humor that could find the ridiculous in almost any situation. He was politically green but not without snide remarks.

In Emerson’s sense, David Leonard leaves the world a better place.

Rev. Leonard is survived by his wife, Linda Wiltz; daughter, Elisabeth Anne Leonard and her husband, Adam Hill; son Marc Leonard; brother, Richard Leonard; sister, Lucy Hill; and grandchildren, Benjamin Sage and Jaden Liana.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Linda Wiltz at 16 Genesee Ave., Binghamton, NY 13903.

He would be pleased if, in lieu of flowers, donations might be made to: any Railroad Club, the Animal Rescue League (www.animalleague.org), or the Humane Society (www.humanesociety.org).

The Rev. Dr. Ruppert L. Lovely died on May 3, 2012. He was 78 years old. The Rev. Dr. Lovely was born in East Greenwich, RI on May 9, 1933 to the Rev. Napoleon W. and Doris Mae (Johnson) Lovely. Rev. Lovely attained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in 1963 and his Bachelor of Divinity as well as his Doctor of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1966 and 1998, respectively.

Rev. Lovely was ordained by the Countryside Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship in Palantine, IL on October 7, 1966. There, he held the office of parish minister for 35 years, not counting the 18 months he served as a student minister prior to accepting the full-time call to the pulpit. After his retirement from Countryside, he accepted an interim position with the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, MO from 2001-2003.

Working together with Countryside UU church members to raise funds and devise a plan that resulted in the construction in of the beautiful Countryside Church in Palatine, was one of the highlights of Rev. Lovely’s working years. It was a milestone in his life and in the life of the church.

Throughout his life, Rev. Lovely was a faithful Boston Red Socks fan. No daily activity ever took precedence over watching Red Socks games during baseball season. He was also an avid reader, John Irving novels being among his favorite books. He loved music, especially classical and jazz. He was even known to leave the stereo or radio on all day so that when he returned, he would be greeted by music.

A long-time member of Prairie Group, Rev. Lovely was known, loved, and respected by many. Described as “candid, big-hearted, humorously realistic, brimming with energy and enthusiasm for the ministry,” Rev. Lovely’s “gracious and generous spirit,” as well as his “solid sense of tradition and firm voice” endeared him to many who came to call him a friend.

Rev. Lovely is survived by his wife, Patricia Mumm-Lovely; his daughter, Jessica Lovely and husband, Jason DeSwarte; daughter, Karen Lovely and husband, Michael Leach; Sister Alicia Lovely; and grandchildren, Eli Lovely; Elijah Lovely; Grace Umek; and Jordan DeSwarte. He was predeceased by son, Kirk Lovely; and brother, the Rev. Dr. Brandoch Lovely.
A memorial service for the Rev. Dr. Lovely was held at the Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, 1025 N. Smith St., Palatine, IL 60067 on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Mrs. Patricia Mumm-Lovely, 933 W. Heritage Ct., Apt. 101, Mequon, WI 53092.

The Rev. Dr. Brandoch “Brandy” Lovely, 82, died September 29, 2010. A graduate of Proctor Academy in Andover NH, he served in the US Army. He went to Harvard, earning a degree in American History and Literature, and an STB at the Divinity School. As a student he served as DRE in Winchester and West Newton, MA. He served congregations in Carlisle, Reading and Hingham, MA; Austin, TX; and Pasadena, CA. He served Neighborhood Church in Pasadena from 1969-1993. The church named him minister emeritus. He was also awarded a Doctor of Theological Studies by Starr King. He served as interim minister in Costa Mesa, Canoga Park, Santa Barbara and Riverside, CA. In 1974 he chaired the continental convocation of UU ministers, the first in 20 years. He served as MSR for the Pacific SW District, and delivered the SLT sermon at the 1979 GA. He was an active ACLU member. He is survived by his wife, Judith Howerton Lovely and six children, his brother Rupert Lovely, and his sister. (A daughter predeceased him.)

The Rev. Felix Danford Lion, 94, died peacefully on November 29, 2008, in Victoria, BC. Born in Massachusetts, he married Eva Hoel in 1943. A graduate of University of Chicago and Meadville Theological Seminary, he received an honorary Doctorate degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. He served congregations in MA, NY, CA and BC and was named minister emeritus by the Palo Alto and Victoria congregations. A lifelong human rights activist, he was a member of the NAACP, who helped to register blacks to vote in 1964. He participated in the freedom marches in Selma, AL and Washington, DC. He served as Chair of the Board of World Interfaith Colleges; as President of UUMA, and was a founding member of the Vancouver Island Civil Rights Coalition. He was a member of the Archeology Society of BC and of the IARF. His lifelong passions were gardening and music. At age 93 he climbed to prune the very tops of his trees. Starting in his early teens and continuing until he was 92, he played the trumpet in a variety of jazz bands and orchestras.

Eva Hoel Lion, 86, widow of the Rev. Felix Danford Lion, died June 30, 2009. Born in Norway, she was five when her family immigrated to MA. A graduate of Wheelock College in Boston, she later took advanced courses at San Jose State College. She lived in CA, Japan, MA, NY and BC. She taught in Palo Alto, CA for more than 20 years, where she worked with Dr. William Glasser in “Schools without Failure”. She also supervised teachers at Bank Street College of Education in NYC. She enjoyed skiing into her 70’s and throughout her life did sewing, quilting and knitting. Eva had a passion for gardening, decorating and entertaining. She is survived by their three children David, Ingrid and Roger Lion, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.

Virginia Hay Leavitt, 97, widow of the Rev. Dr. Fenwick L. Leavitt, Jr., died July 12, 2010 in Rutland, VT. The Leavitts served Universalist parishes in Middletown, NY; Barre, VT; Germantown, PA, and Lynn, MA. They reared two daughters. Following her husband‘s death in 1967, she returned to Westbrook, ME, where she was an active volunteer. An avid reader and a fan of classical music, her greatest interest lay in the life of the Universalist Church and in her many friends there. She served as the organist for the Westbrook church for many years. In October 2003, she moved to Chittenden, VT, to be near her family. She accepted many losses during her long life with grace and dignity. Her younger daughter, Meredith and a granddaughter died in 1979, and by the time of her own death, Virginia had been predeceased by her entire family except for her older daughter, Joanne Leavitt Powers. She also leaves two grandsons, David Powers and Jon Powers, a granddaughter, Erin Teare Martin and seven great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Marjorie Newlin Leaming, 95, died March 19, 2010. A graduate of Meadville Lombard, she was ordained in 1967. A UUWF survey on the status of women in our ministry in 1974 found that of the 750 ministers in fellowship, just 40 were women and of these, and only five had pulpits of their own. Marjorie was one of these, and she was one of a kind. Her fierce commitment to the UU ministry and to seeing that the worth of women clergy was recognized and granted the same status as men, in those early and challenging years of women entering the ministry, demanded every bit of Marjorie’s brilliant mind and fiery spirit. She served congregations in Santa Monica, CA and then Santa Paula, CA, where she was named minister emerita upon her retirement.

Regina Cary Lapoint, 95, died October 12, 2008, in Spokane, WA. She was the widow of Rev. George M. Lapoint, who died in 1969. She was a librarian and an active church member well into her 80’s. In 1953 her advent meditation “Waters of Life” was published by the Universalist press. She spoke at the 1995 GA in Spokane and was interviewed at that time by the Rev. Janet Bowering. Her parents, Henry and Maude Cary, were both Universalist ministers and missionaries, whose work took them to Japan. She is survived by her sons Justin and Elwyn.

The Reverend Kenneth LaFleur, gifted preacher, pastor, and parish minister, talented musician and teacher of history, died in the care of Gosnell Hospice in Scarborough, Maine, on 5 December 2015, aged 81.

The Rev. Mr. LaFleur earned particular praise for his thirteen-year healing pastorate at First Parish Church (the “Old Ship Church”) in Hingham (Mass). The Rev. Ken Read-Brown, Old Ship Church’s current minister (as of 2017), spoke of his predecessor’s tenure there as a time of healing and strengthening for our congregation, “[He was] one of the finest preachers in our or any denomination, and even more importantly, he was a fine, good, and gentle man.“

Kenneth Gordon LaFleur was born in Waterville, Maine, on 14 December 1933, son of Daniel LaFleur and Louise Pelletier LaFleur, and grandson of the Rev. Isaac LaFleur. He was valedictorian of his 1951 high-school graduating class. Musical talent and church life were significant parts of Kenneth’s young life. In his high school years, starting at age 15, he served as a church organist in Waterville, and after graduation, began his church career at age 19 with summer ministries at nearby Maine churches.

Without any formal study, Mr. LaFleur was ordained in 1954, at age 21 by the First Parish Unitarian Church (now UU) of Castine, Maine, where he served until 1958 and then again for one year in 1961. In between (1958-60) he was minister to the First Parish in Northborough, Mass. He finally received a B.A. from the University of Maine and his B.D. from Bangor Theological Seminary, both in 1961. He moved on to First Parish in Wayland, Mass (1962-69) and then to a yoked ministry with the First Universalist Churches of Norway and South Paris, Maine (1970-72), while earning an M.A from Brandeis University in 1970. In 1972 he was called to First Parish (UU) in Hingham, Mass, where he served until 1985 and was named Minister Emeritus.

In retiring back to Maine, Ken served as the organist of two nearby churches, helped found the AIDS support group of central Maine, wrote a weekly column for Waterville’s Morning Sentinel newspaper, and served as part-time minister to All Souls Universalist Church of Oakland, Maine. Although he had requested no formal memorial service, a celebration of life was held on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at the Friends Meeting House in East Vassalboro.

Ken outlived all six of his siblings. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Helen Myrick LaFleur, daughter Margaret LaFleur Asadoorian, sister-in-law Deborah Myrick Martin, several nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends. Notes of condolences may be sent to Helen LaFleur, P.O. Box 110, East Vassalboro, Maine 04935.