Photo courtesy of Pleasant Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary - Sebastopol
Sebastopol, California
Apr 12, 1948 – Apr 13, 2025 (Age 77)
On this day, April 13, 2025, I left this world. Those of you who knew me know I was a planner and it will not come as a surprise that I'm writing this. I want to let the people I left behind know what they meant to me. I'm leaving my wife of 26 years of marriage: my companion, my partner, my lover and friend, who gave me strength when I didn't have it, who had patience when times got tough, who taught me the real meaning of love. I thank you and loved you for it.
To my kids from my first marriage, Stephanie Williams and Christopher Hirschi. We had our moments, but know that I always loved you. I was blessed with having three grandsons, Alex, Asher, and Freddie, and my favorite granddaughter Janice. And of course my stepgrandson Josh Fancuillo, who was always there to help me no matter what I needed. I leave behind my sister Christine Alexander and her two sons Max and Jacksun.
Here's my story. I was born at Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol. I lived on Hessel Road since I was three years old, left, and returned back in 2002, when the light of my life Jenny and I built our home on the property my parents, Christian and Lena, gave me on the condition I would never put them in a nursing home. I kept my promise and took care of them until they left this world.
I attended and graduated Analy High School with the class of '66. I spent a year at SRJC, taking prep classes for a major in architecture. That didn't pan out, so I joined the Air Force for four years. I worked on electronic counter measures on B-52's, F-4 Phantoms, and AC-130 gunships in Biloxi, MS, Merced, CA, and Upon, Thailand. That experience led me to 31 years with Hewlett Packard/Agilent, first as a technician and ultimately as a production manager. I retired for 9 months, then went back to work for Arcturus, the first five years as a manufacturing manager, then worked in deposition science for 4 years. My entire working career was spent in Sonoma County. I retired in 2014, which was the best gig so far. I took up bicycling, joined the Santa Rosa Bicycling Club, and rode in Switzerland, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. I had a great time riding in those countries. I also took up archery and ping pong, which I set up at home so I could host small tournaments with a group of friends. Backgammon is my game of passion, Jeopardy is my favorite TV show, and I love audiobooks, which is kind of weird for a guy who can barely hear!
Jenny and I love to sail, and we bought a 36 foot Catalina sail boat. For years we entertained on our boat, taking friends out to Angel Island and around the Bay Area. We loved traveling together, visiting 7 countries, 45 states, and have been to the Hawaiian Islands seven times. We spend a lot of time working on the ranch. We have planted 93 trees, The trees we planted are mature now, and we created a bird haven as well as a habitat for other critters, including a feral cat we named Kitkit. Kitkit is feral no more, and has become an indoor/outdoor cat. That cat has brought so much joy to my life.
They say you're lucky if you have a handful of friends. I wasn't, but I was blessed with great friends from elementary school, from HP/Agilent, my cycling buddies, ping pong challengers, and board gamers. You are all more like family. You were there through the good and bad times. Thank you for the fun, the laughter, friendships, and smiles. It was your friendships that inspired me, and got that I am forever grateful.
To the doctors and nurses at Kaiser and the VA hospital in SF that took care of me, I thank you, too. I'm sure at times I wasn't the easiest patient, but I want you to know that I appreciated all that you did for me.
Please don't be sad, and shed no tears. Think of the fun times we had, and laugh at all the crazy times. Be happy for me that I am no longer in pain. Now I'm free.
I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path that was laid for me,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day.
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found peace at the end of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seems all too brief.
Just think of all the things I've done.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
I'm free.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the causes nearest to my heart:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society:
The Wounded Warrior Project:
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Thanks for all the great times on the bike. We all miss you lots.
Church of the Bicycle Sunday Services, thank you Rev.
Jerry Applegate
June 20, 2025 | Healdsburg, CA | Friend
I met Leonard in 1960 when his sister, Christine, and became best friends in the fifth grade. My brother, Mike, and Leonard became fast friends as well. I spent many times at the ranch on Hessel Road, good people the Hirschi’s. Our lives separated when my family moved to Merced, CA. Len reached out to us when he was stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Merced and worked on our chicken ranch to make a few bucks and he loved our Mom’s cooking. Len, you sure lived a full life, enriched by your...
Shelley Hall Chapman
June 04, 2025 | Half Moon Bay, CA | Friend
Stephine I want to send your whole family my sincere condolences on the loss of your father He was a wonderful man
Mary Ann McKay
May 24, 2025 | Friend
Len, you’re in good hands and no longer in pain. May you rest in peace. Love Lupe and Mike.
Lupe Hickman
May 22, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | Friend
Len , You were a good friend and boss. Wish I was 1/2 as organized as you were. Always doing what was right, and above all a good listener who knew how to handle people. I was impressed with with cycling skills and also your creative weldment projects. Always on the go, that was a good thing.
John Martin
May 13, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | Coworker
Len and I worked together in the early days of the HP startup in Santa Rosa, over 50 years ago. There were a handful of people that you depended on and Len was one. Reading Len's obituary, I'm sorry we didn't reconnect after I left Santa Rosa as we had working on electronic counter measures, cats, bicycling and traveling in common and I'd have enjoyed talking story with him at our home in Hawaii Kai. Rest in Peace...G
Greg Schmidt
May 12, 2025 | HONOLULU, HI | Coworker
Len and I worked together at HP Agilent. I was a manufacturing engineer there and Len always gave me good advice and support. I knew Len when he met Jenny and watched how happy she made him. After I left Agilent I would run into Len and kept up with him on Strava regarding bike rides. When I lived in San Jose he would comment on the rides I did there that he had done there in the past. He was thrilled when he got his e-bike to enable him to keep riding. I moved back to Sonoma County when I...
Scott Conrad
May 12, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | Friend
Len, when I became the product manager for our microwave sources in my mid-20's, I appreciated the guidance you offered, and the patience you exhibited, while I tried to figure out which way was up. I could not have asked for a better partner in manufacturing. You represented the best of HP. Rest in peace, my friend.
Steve Fossi
May 12, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | Coworker
Rev. Len, thanks for leading rides for The Church of the Bicycle, for all the other rides, and for being a kind, caring, considerate and all-around stellar example of a human being. Thanks for being a volunteer coordinator for Wine Country Century. Mostly thanks for your gentle companionship. Someone once told me, "Len is a true gentleman" -- that doesn't begin to cover it. Since we discussed our mutual interest in Buddhism I'll say, as you'll understand, "May you be liberated." Thank you.
Bonnie Hogue
May 11, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | Friend
