Carmen Leon

Carmen L. Leon, a Spiritual Leader in AA in Tampa Bay for over 5 decades, passed peacefully on
October 5, 2025. Born on December 23, 1930 in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Tomas Torres and Josefina Solano (Mami Pepa), Carmen often said: "If you ask me where I am from, I would say heaven. If you ask me where I was born, I would say Puerto Rico."
Carmen spent many of her early years in Philadelphia, PA working as a professional dancer and self employed as a designer of costumes for Philadelphia Penn Dancers (1952-1961).
Moving to St. Petersburg, Fl in the early 1960's she eventually established Carmen's Originals, & Lydia's Draperies (1965). One day in early 1973 while working in her shop, she heard the Spirit speak to her, saying: "I didn't sober you up to get flaws out of cloth." She sold her business in June,1973 and began working as a Counselor for Tampa Area Council on Alcoholism (1973-1975). She served as a Bi-Lingual Counselor for Alcohol Community Treatment Service (1980-1982), the CareUnit of Tampa (1983-1984), and the Self-Awareness Counseling Center (1985-1993), which she co-founded. She co-founded the Chrysalis House in Tampa on January 31,1983 (a residence for alcoholic women). She co-founded the first Spanish-speaking AA group in the Tampa Bay area. She served on the fundraising committee to establish Tri-County Central Office. She was involved in the first Pinellas County AA Picnic at Ft. DeSoto Park. For 32 years she served as the Spiritual Leader for the Annual Housecleaning Spiritual Retreat for AA & Al-Anon (1993-Present). She was very active in 2250, her home group since 1999. She sponsored numerous people over the years. Dedicating her life to God, she would be a channel of God's love and service to many, many people for many, many years. Even to the last minute when she could not swallow food or water, she offered healing guidance to all who came to see her. "Giving and receiving go hand in hand," she said. "You cannot give without receiving." Carmen would celebrate 55 years of recovery on October 23, 2025.
Carmen would only want all of this to be said of her in order to glorify God, not to call attention to herself. "The Father in me, He is the Doer. Of myself I am nothing," she often said. "All the glory to God!"
Then she would pray: "Lord, make me a channel. The fields are ripe for harvest and the laborers are few. Send out laborers for Thy harvest."
And then she would remind us: "Let us love everybody, warts and all."
Carmen is survived by: Miguel Torres, brother, of Apopka, Fl; Anita Torres Gomez, sister, of Danbury, CT; Zaida Santas, daughter, of Largo, Fl; Julio Santas, son, & (Pat) of Plant City, FL; Millie Pagan, daughter, & (Antonio Sr) of Lakeland, FL; Ramonita Wade, daughter, & (Joseph) of St Petersburg, Fl; Lydia Laroche, daughter, & (Jean) of Weeki Wachee, Fl; 16 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren; 7 great, great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews & grand nieces and nephews; numerous spiritual family.
Visitation & Viewing on Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9:30-11:30AM,
First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, 1900 Gandy Blvd North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33702
Graveside Service to follow at: Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 5233 118th Ave N. Clearwater, Fl 33760
Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10AM
First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, 1900 Gandy Blvd North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33702
Reception/Pot Luck Meal to follow at the church.
Any AA member who would like to make a donation in loving honor of Carmen may send it to: Tri County Central Office, 8019 N. Himes Avenue #104, Tampa, Florida 33614.
Non- AA members who would like to make a donation in loving honor of Carmen may send it to their charity of choice.