Stew Leonard Sr., the father of the grocery chain pἀssed away at the age of 93. Stew Leonard’s, the grocery store bearing his name announced his pἀssing on Thursday 27 April. According to Stew Leonard’s Twitter account, Leonard pἀssed away peacefully on Wednesday 26 April at New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital.
There will be a public wake for Mr. Leonard on Monday, May 1 from 3-7 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Church at 216 Scribner Ave, Norwalk, CT. We hope you will all join us and thank you for all the beautiful notes of love and support pouring in at https://t.co/MkvysvTqwk pic.twitter.com/ZwVJ7M780D
— Stew Leonard’s (@StewLeonards) April 28, 2023
In 1969, Leonard built his first fresh food store in his hometown. The 17,000-square-foot establishment concentrated on retail dairy sales.
According to Stew Leonard’s, the store went on to secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most dollar sales per square foot of selling space. The family-owned $600 million company now employs more than 2,500 people at seven locations in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Stew Leonard Jr., Tom Leonard, Beth Leonard Hollis, and Jill Leonard Tavello, together with Leonard’s wife of 70 years, Marianne Guthman Leonard, survive him.
We are sad to announce that Stew Leonard, Sr., the founder of Stew Leonard’s, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2023, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. If you would like to leave a message for The Leonard Family, please visit https://t.co/3mgrzPklsVhttps://t.co/MkvysvTqwk pic.twitter.com/rPliVn4eC3
— Stew Leonard’s (@StewLeonards) April 27, 2023
The current president and CEO of Stew Leonard’s, Stew Leonard Jr., published an obituary he wrote to honor his father in a newsletter that was sent to clients.
Leonard Jr. said:
“I knew this day would come but I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. He was swimming in a pool just a month ago.”
When Leonard Sr. mentioned that his father’s career began as a milkman, he said that his father “created an amazing business.” He continued by saying that his father was well renowned for treating clients and staff with respect and that he genuinely enjoyed posing for pictures with everyone he met.
The executive of the grocery company admitted that he will miss his father’s daily phone conversations and that he intends to continue the family custom of journaling. Leonard Jr. wrote
“I was lucky enough to stand on your shoulders, Dad and by the way, I’ll keep trying to find the best meatball, marinara sauce and pizza. And every time I cook salmon, I’ll think of you saying that the inside needs to be the perfect pink.”
“I’m choking up just writing this, but I’m trying to focus on 93+ years of his amazing and colorful life. I was fortunate enough to spend 68 of them by his side. I was lucky and grateful to have an amazing Dad.”
Stew Leonard Jr. Tweeted after his father’s demἰse:
I wish I didn’t have to write this, but… Yesterday, my dad passed away at 93-1/2 years old while holding my mother’s hand. They had been married for 70 years. I knew this day would come but I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. (Continued): https://t.co/8Pv2NnV0c2 pic.twitter.com/1hfE1EUjgJ
— Stew Leonard, Jr (@StewLeonardJr) April 27, 2023
A public celebration of life will be announced at a later time, but the Leonard family will arrange a private memorial service and burial. The Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation is accepting donations. The nonprofit organization was established in memory of Leonard’s grandson Stew Leonard III, who drowned in 1989 and provides swimming lessons for underprivileged kids.
Recent news regarding the causes of other people’s deἀths was reported in our earlier posts.
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If you’re interested in reading more about the circumstἀnces surrounding the deἀths of other celebrities, you can find the most up-to-date details in our posts by following our Twitter account.