Leslie C. Pratt

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - Leslie C. "Les" Pratt passed away on Nov. 30, 2015, at the Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral, Florida, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on Aug. 31, 1943, in the Bronx, New York, the son of Leslie Moore Pratt and Julia Katherine (Shiminski) Pratt.
"Les" attended Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, Vermont, graduating valedictorian in 1961. After graduating cum laude in 1965 from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he joined the Navy. While serving in the Navy he achieved the rank of lieutenant junior grade and served as a supply officer on the USS Salamonie. After his discharge in 1970 Les attended Cornell University, receiving his law degree in 1973.
Les married Diane J. Dussault in April of 1966. She passed away in 1991. He married Sharlene Chambers in July of 1994.
After law school he returned to Vermont, where he practiced law at Patterson, Walke and Pratt until 1987, when he accepted a vice president position at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. After leaving Blue Cross, Les practiced law in Burlington before moving his practice back to Montpelier. He retired from practice in 2011, at which time he and wife Sharlene moved to Cape Coral, Florida.
Les was blessed with a lovely family and many wonderful friends. He was a truly authentic and humble man, despite his personal success. He was a hardworking, talented lawyer, a great father, a loving husband and a beautiful friend. He will be remembered for filling a room with his unique and boisterous laughter, which served to lift the spirits of all those around him. Les loved the Boston Red Sox, trivia, crossword puzzles, music and, yes, howling with laughter. He also loved to whistle and could always be heard whistling one tune or another that he had stuck in his head that day. He is and certainly will be forever missed.
Survivors include his wife, Sharlene (Chambers) Pratt, of North Fort Myers, Florida; sons James "Jamie" Pratt and Jason Pratt, both of Montpelier, Vermont; stepchildren Shaun LaFlam, of Williamstown, Vermont, and Tanya Chambers, of Groton, Vermont; two sisters, Sally Michaud, of Crestview, Florida, and Lorraine Frost, of Fair Oaks, California; nieces, nephews, grandchildren and many friends.
A memorial service is planned for late May at the veterans cemetery in Randolph, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Hospice House Cape Coral, 2430 Diplomat Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33909.