Kenneth Leshner Obituary

LESHNER, KENNETH C. SR. 94, died Monday, March 17, 2014 after a very brief illness at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence. He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia E. (Brown) Leshner. Born in Providence, a son of the late Samuel and Susan (Tillinghast) Leshner, he served during World War II in the United States Army stationed throughout Italy, France and Germany with the 20th Machine Records Unit (MBL). After the war, he graduated from Brown University, Class of 1949, from where he later received a master's degree in History and Education. For 35 years he worked as a History Teacher, Guidance Counselor and Cross Country Track Coach at Cranston High School East before retiring in 1988. He is survived by four daughters: Karen V. Brown and her husband Tom of Wallace, NC, Carol T. Jetty of Cranston, Suzanne L. Wallace & her husband Fred of Cranston and Barbara L. Pickens of Minnesota; six grandchildren: Kristin Brown, Joshua, Eli & Adam Jetty, Bethany Stanley and Jennifer Vosburgh; three great grandchildren: Daisy Jetty, Samantha Paquette and Reagan Stanley and, one great great grandson: Michael Leavitt. He was the father of the late Janeen Vosburgh and Kenneth C. Leshner, Jr. and brother of the late Richard Leshner. His funeral service will be held on Friday, March 21 at 11:00 AM at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 AM. Burial with military honors will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Donations in his memory may be made to Cranston Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Leland E. Andrew, 199 Burlingame Road, Cranston, RI 02921. Information and condolences can be obtained at carpenterjenks.com.

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Published by The Providence Journal on Mar. 20, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Leshner

12 Entries

Sarkis Varadian

April 17, 2014

Leshner family members:
I ran cross country for Coach Leshner in the fall of 1976, 1977 and 1978. Mr. Leshner provided quality coaching and guidance to all the athletes he coached. I was blessed to have Coach Leshner, Coach Dwyer, Coach Terry and Coach Boemker for cross country and track. Mr. Leshner also provided help to his athletes with college choices along with my guidance counselor Mr. Stebbins. Twenty-five years after graduation, Mr. Lesher would still be
screaming encouragement to me as I crested the hill near his home at the four mile mark of the Saint Mary's Feast Society Road Race each July. May the Lord Illuminate his soul.

Rob LaBanca

March 27, 2014

I recently learned of Mr. Leshners passing and would like to send my condolences to his family. Mr. Leshner was my cross country coach for 3 years at Cranston East and had a great impact on me. I wasn't the fastest runner on the team, but he encouraged each and every one of us regardless of our ability. Most of all, he gave me the gift of running, which I continue to enjoy over 30 years later.
I have been coaching cross country myself at both East and West for 25 years and try to pass on the love of running to my students.
Every time I run "the Pipeline" with my runners I think of Mr Leshner pushing us up that hill.

March 23, 2014

Dear Family Members: I would like to express my sincerest condolences upon the passing of Mr. Leshner. I have fond memories of him as a colleague in the Cranston School Department. I sincerely apologize that I was unable to attend Mr. Leshner's services. I am presently out of town. Again, my sincerest sympathy to the Leshner Family. Mike Traficante

Donna Mooney

March 21, 2014

My deepest condolences to the Leshner family. I graduated from East in '84 and Coach Leshner was one of the few teachers that I fondly recalled over the many years since graduating high school.

paul zisserson

March 21, 2014

Condolences to the Leshner family. Ken was a colleague at Cranston East. He had an intense commitment to students' welfare and always a cheerful greeting for his faculty friends.
Paul Zisserson
Lake Frederick, Va.

Pamela (DelPadre) Mahon

March 20, 2014

Rest in God's Eternal Peace, Mr. Leshner. Thank you for your service to our country. You were a great teacher.

Brian Terry

March 20, 2014

My deepest sympathies to Coach Leshner's family. I ran Cross Country for Coach Leshner for 3 years to get in shape for track, and he was always on me to work harder. I kept answering, "I'll be the rabbit. I am a sprinter." He would get mad and throw his hands up, then laugh." I think of Coach Leshner often. He was good to me during practice,after, and the off season. I can hear him now, "we need to get the lactid acid out of you guys". Terry, what do you mean you had pop tarts for breakfast". "What a waste". " pancakes for breakfast and spaghetti and meatballs." He gave us a lot of good advice when it came to running, school work, college choices, careers,etc.I loved making him laugh. I remember saying goodbye and asking him to sign my year book. I remember what he wrote without looking at it. "Good Luck to a very likable Man". I rember him giving me my varsity letter and saying " you could had one a long time ago, if you weren't so lazy". I ending, I wish told you how much I thought of you. You were a great man in my eyes, and thank you for all of the lessons Coach Leshner. I listened.
May God Bless You.

Brian Terry class of 1980.

John & Suzan Morra

March 20, 2014

Dear Leshner Family,
Your dad was a devoted father and grandfather. He was a wonderful neighbor for many years and we will truly miss him.
Sincerely,
John and Suzan Morra

Richard Varadian

March 20, 2014

Dear Leshner family,
Ken Leshner was a devoted cross country coach and an encouraging presence at Cranston East. He knew of my acceptance to college before I did and rejoiced in delivering the news to me along with his colleague Tony Centore. He was genuinely pleased for the achievements of his students in sports, academics, and life. When budget cutbacks made transportation unavailable for our team, he went and earned a commercial drivers license in order to help his runners. A modest man who was inspiring and got the best out of his charges. May he rest in peace.

Susan. Lovejoy

March 20, 2014

Dear Suzanne and family,

I was very sorry to hear about your father's passing. Please accept my deepest sympathy.

joshua jetty

March 20, 2014

My grandfather was my hero mentor and most trusted advsor he loved all his children grand children great grandchildren and one great great grandchild unconditionaly. he is now reunited with the love of his life my grandmother he was never the same after she passed now they are togather once again in the gates of heaven with my aunt and uuncle haveing a glorious famly reunion. i miss him so much i know i will see him again someday. i love you so much pa!!!

Barbara Olean

March 20, 2014

Dear Leshner Family,
I am sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. May he rest in peace and be in the arms of his wife, son, Kenneth, and my friend, Jan. May memories of happy times shared with him bring you comfort.

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