SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. – Leonard E. Minsky, 94, longtime resident of Bangor, passed away Feb. 21, 2022, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family. Leonard was born July 11, 1927, in Bangor to Myer and Mae Minsky. After Mae’s death, when Leonard was 13, Myer married Bess Minsky. He attended Bangor schools, and following WW2 service as a Merchant Marine officer, graduated from the University of Maine. He married Renee Michelson in 1956 and they enjoyed almost 66 years together. He participated with enthusiasm in many family activities with his wife, daughter Marilyn, and granddaughters Dani and Maya. The family enjoyed a summer home on the coast of Maine for 35 years, and winters in Sanibel, Florida. Leonard and Renee were avid travelers, visiting almost 90 countries worldwide.As an undergraduate at UMO he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi, and later served as an alumni advisor, a member of the Debate Team, the University Band, and Hillel, for which he served as both president and vice president of the local chapter and state board. Leonard was chairman of the President’s Development Council, Chairman of The Patrons of the Arts, and one of the initial members of the Board of Visitors. He served on the board of the Alumni Association, and with his wife, Renee, was honored as a life member of the University of Maine Foundation. He was recipient of the Alumni Association Black Bear Award and Pine Tree Emblem award, and with Renee, shared the Vincent Hartgen Award and the Stillwater Award. In 2016, Leonard was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree.Upon graduation from UMO, Leonard joined the family business, Superior Paper Products, Inc., of Bangor and Westbrook, retiring as president after 42 years of service. During this time, he was active in civic and business affairs serving as Chairman of Bangor’s Action Committee of 50, Chairman of the 1976 Centennial Committee, Chairman of the board of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. He was a recipient of the Bangor Chamber of Commerce’s Norbert X Dowd Award. Leonard was a founding director of Merrill Merchants Bank and a founding director and chairman of the board of Network Services Company of Schaumburg, Ill. He was president of the Bangor Lions Club, a Mason and a Shriner, where he was active for many years playing trumpet in the marching band and the dance band. He was also a member of the Sanibel Big Arts Concert Band. Len was also known to blow reveille to wake up his daughter and her friends!Leonard served as a trustee of Acadia Hospital, a board member of the Maine Community Foundation, president of the Bangor Jewish Community Council, treasurer of the Bangor Jewish Community Endowment Associates, treasurer of Temple Bat Yam of Sanibel, a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, and president of Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida.Leonard and Renee have been active donors to many causes and supported civic activities, many of which they have endowed to maintain their support. Naming gifts were established at the University of Maine, Eastern Maine Medical Center, The Bangor Public Library, and the Maine Community Foundation.Leonard enjoyed tennis and biking well into his 90s.He is survived by his beloved wife, Renee, his daughter, Marilyn and her husband, Dennis Melton, (Scarborough and Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) his granddaughters, Dani and Maya, and his brother, Norman.Contributions may be made to the University of Maine Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

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