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Leonard Mathew Saari

1938 - 2019

Leonard Mathew Saari obituary, 1938-2019, Greenwich, CT

BORN

1938

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home - Greenwich

31 Arch Street

Greenwich, Connecticut

Leonard Saari Obituary

Leonard Mathew Saari
Leonard Mathew Saari of Riverside, CT, and Boca Grande, FL, died as a result of a sudden stroke on October 19, 2019, at Greenwich Hospital. He was born in Los Angeles, CA, on January 19, 1938, to Mathew A. Saari, originally from Raahe, Finland, and Esther E. Saari, originally from Tampere, Finland. Raised in Baltimore, MD, he graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Lehigh University, where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity, and the University of Michigan Law School.
His work career began at the NY law firm Hughes, Hubbard, Blair and Reid, followed by legal positions at Pennsylvania Power and Light, Citizens Utilities Company, and Bowater Incorporated, where he became Vice President, Secretary and Assistant General Counsel and helped take the company public through a spin-off from its parent English company. After Bowater relocated to South Carolina, he joined Trigen Energy in White Plains.
Len's interests included sailing, skiing, golf, tennis and music. A member of Riverside Yacht Club since 1975, he was at first an active Flying Scot sailor. After acquiring a J-30, he won the Stratford Shoal Race, his first race in "Windsprint," followed shortly thereafter by a first in the Manhasset-Falkner Island Race. He also participated for many years in Vespers and served as Secretary, Fleet Captain and Head of Admissions at the Yacht Club.
Len sang in glee clubs in both high school and college and met his wife, Yanna, while singing in the New York Oratorio Society. Upon moving to Greenwich, he joined the Greenwich Choral Society as well as the First Congregational Church Choir and also sang and performed in Connecticut Grand Opera, Westchester Hudson Opera, and several local Gilbert & Sullivan productions. For many years he was an enthusiastic member of the Off Sounders, a local acapella men's singing group. Len and his wife travelled and performed in Greenwich Choral Society concerts at Christ Church, Oxford; Winchester Cathedral; Westminster Abbey; the Cathedral at Chartres; the Madeleine, and Notre Dame.
In Boca Grande he enjoyed singing with the Barbershop Chorus, Bocapella, the Boca Grande Chorale, and the St. Andrew's Church Choir, and he performed in many musical show productions, including Godspell, Mame, and Guys and Dolls, during eighteen years of warm winter months.
The entire family has wonderful memories of skiing trips to Europe, Canada and throughout the United States when the children were younger. In later years Yanna and Len played golf at Greenwich Country Club and Lemon Bay Golf Club, with vacations at many world famous golf courses, among which are Pebble Beach, Sea Island, Pinehurst and St. Andrew's.
Len is survived by his wife, Yanna, his daughter Allison Saari Byrne and her husband, Josh, his sister, Shirley Doak, and several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased in 2012 by his daughter Karina.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 106 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the First Congregational Church of Greenwich or to the charity of your choice.

Published by Greenwich Time on Nov. 1, 2019.
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Memories and Condolences
for Leonard Saari

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So sorry....many memories of Riverside....and Bowater....rest in peace...Paul Eldering

Paul ELDERING

November 9, 2019

our thoughts are with the Saari family.

Susi & PETER

November 4, 2019

Yanna,
So sorry to learn of the sudden passing of Len. I was so happy to see him rejoin GCS in September and lend his voice to the tenor section this time around. I remember that wonderful Greenwich Choral Society trip to France in 2000 singing at Notre Dame, the Madeleine and Chartres and getting to know you both better. My deepest sympathy to you and your family in the days ahead.

Karen Juul

Karen Juul

November 3, 2019

Although he had many solos over the years, Len was best known as the designated back-up soloist for almost every Off Sounder song we sang for over twenty years. Even though it has been quite a few years since we sang together I can still hear his lyric baritone voice when we sing one of his solos. I looked and listened for Len whenever we attended a concert by the Greenwich Choral Society. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Yanna and Allison.

Edward Krumeich

Friend

October 27, 2019

Our hearts goes out to Yanna and the family on their loss. Leonard was such an integral part of the Boca Grande Community in so many ways, from bridge, to the theatre, to the musical ensemble, to golf. Yanna, Leonard, Julia and I won first prize in the Member's welcome back event the first time we met, years ago, and Leonard enjoyed talking about that over the years - what fun we all had. Yanna and Leonard were an exceptional couple. Leonard will be missed, but we look forward to seeing Yanna back in Boca Grande in due course.

Henry Pankratz

Friend

October 24, 2019

So sorry to hear your news. We will miss seeing Len in Boca Grande, I will always remember how happy he was to entertain us all with the Royal Palm players, and seeing you both at the bridge table together enjoying each others company. We send you our love and good thoughts and hopefully look forward to seeing you in Boca soon. With love Rosemary & John

Rosemary McIntosh

Friend

October 24, 2019

Randy and I were so sorry and sad to hear the news of Len. A wonderful gentleman and friend to all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Yanna. Len will certainly be miss in Boca. With our deepest sympathy and love, Randy and Ginny

Randy and Ginny Bell

Friend

October 24, 2019

Another member of the Greatest Generation gone. Len was a crony of my dad's and now they have been reunited in that heavenly choir. As Wendy mentions, the Greenwich Choral Society mourns the passing of one of their own, a light extinguished in the Tenor section. May God grant Len eternal rest, and may light perpetual shine upon him. Our deepest condolences to Yanna and family.

Skip Parker, Chairman
GREENWICH CHORAL SOCIETY

Skip Parker

October 21, 2019

A Greenwich Choral Society voice has been silenced suddenly. Our deepest sympathies to his family and ours. Rest in peace and we hope that you are singing with the heavenly choirs!

Wendy Dziurzynski

Friend

October 21, 2019

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Memorial Events
for Leonard Saari

Nov

16

Memorial service

11:00 a.m.

First Congregational Church of Greenwich

106 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT

Funeral services provided by:

Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home - Greenwich

31 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT 06830-6512

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