Leonard Kornberg

Memories shared by friends, family, and colleagues — gathered from his memorial elsewhere.

• Randolph Pittsfrom LinkedIn

  Lenny was one of the nicest, smartest and most creative people I ever met in the business. I am so sad to learn of his passing.

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• Shawn Simonfrom LinkedIn

  So sorry to hear this, Lenny was such a mensch. He was one of my favourite execs when I worked at Universal, so smart, kind and funny. God Bless.

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• JONATHAN SHEINBERGfrom LinkedIn

  Lenny was a great guy. I always enjoyed discussing material with him and over the years really respected his opinion. Sorry for yiur loss.

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• Erin Oremlandfrom LinkedIn

  I am so sorry for your loss.

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• Glenn Reismanfrom LinkedIn

  So sad so sorry. It seems like yesterday we were at Hamilton. I forwarded this to the school and to Hamilton Facebook groups for ’ 71, 72, 73, and 74.

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• Arthur Sarkissianfrom LinkedIn

  I am very, very sorry to hear this and my deepest condolences to you and your loved ones, I had a wonderful history with your dad. He was one of the very few in this industry that knew practically every movie made all credits. the love of movies we shared that we had in common all the time. I also had the pleasure of working with him with Studio Canal. I loved your dad. He was a good man and a great soul. He always comforted me when we had conversations. May he rest in eternal peace.

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• Beaux Carsonfrom LinkedIn

  I'm very sorry to hear. I knew Lenny when he was at Universal under the Sid Shienberg/Wasserman regime. I used to pitch him projects. He was an extremely kind man and had a great eye for story. Although we had not been intouch in recent years he will be missed.

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• Rima Greerfrom LinkedIn

  I'm so sorry for your loss. Lenny was a kind soul...

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• Rona Edwardsfrom LinkedIn

  I’m so sorry to hear this. We worked on projects together when he was at Universal. He was so smart, warm and helpful. May his memory be a blessing to you and your family and to all who knew him. He was one of the best.

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• Ron Halpernfrom LinkedIn

  I am so saddened to hear of Lenny’s passing. I learned so much from him and he was brilliant so warm and had such great life experience. May his menmory be a blessing

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• Jackiefrom MuchLoved

  Lenny was the greatest. He hired me as his VP at Bristol Bay. I had been out of work and connected with him right away. We were somewhat polar opposites but I think he liked that about me. He was a deep thinker and liked meaningful movies and books and I wanted to make family movies and popcorn. We had two great meetings and he wanted to hire me but there were issues. Somehow he pushed thru and got me hired. He was instantly so generous and great and bringing me under the tent and giving me real responsibility. Always a great joke or fun to be had - he never took things too seriously but he was so smart and confident. He gave me such an opportunity bringing me to Bristol Bay and then Walden - I am forever grateful and will miss him greatly. He was always such a dedicated executive and family man. Sending love and condolences to those he left behind - what a mensch!

  Shared by the family·February 14, 2026·view original
• Paulfrom MuchLoved

  Have so many fond memories of working with Lenny. A bear of a man who was always insightful, respectful and kind. I will keep him and his family in my thoughts and prayers. My deepest condolences for your loss.

  Shared by the family·February 6, 2026·view original
• Jeffreyfrom MuchLoved

  In Senior Seminar for French majors, 1971, Lenny was the only member of the group who stopped the feared Rouben Cholakian in his tracks … « Mais, monsieur Kornberg, c’est exactement le mot que je cherchais!! ».  (“Why, Mister Kornberg, that’s exactly the word I was looking for!)  Professor Cholakian had asked us to characterize the role of the sixteenth-Century « chroniqueurs ».  Lenny proposed, almost hesitaingly, « un immortalisateur ? ».  The old boy was really taken aback for a second.  Good job, Lenny!  Reste en paix, mon ancien collègue.   Jeffrey Crane, Hamilton ‘71

  Shared by the family·February 5, 2026·view original
• Cary Granatfrom MuchLoved

  Lenny was the very definition of “civility”. He was compassionate, kind hearted, and he really listened when people spoke. Lenny was extremely talented as a creative talent and was an exemplary role model of patience when confronting challenges. He was the closest I’ve seen to what it would look like if Shtetl Rabbi came to Hollywood. He is missed.

  Shared by the family·February 5, 2026·view original
• Lindsay Fellowsfrom MuchLoved

  I met Lenny when he joined Walden Media and Bristol Bay doing creative and I was head of music. He had such a great creative mind and full of energy and wit. We conceived a great ELVIS story pitch that we were working on and unfortunately SFX bought the ELVIS rights and everything stopped. I'm so sorry to hear he had such a rough finish to a great life. He will be greatly missed.

  Shared by the family·February 5, 2026·view original
• Hal Liebermanfrom MuchLoved

  My deepest condolences to all the Kornbergs. You don't need me to tell you what a good and decent person Lenny was. He was always a good spirit to be around. As a co-worker Lenny was smart and talented, his insights right on the money. His delivery came with a smile and wink of cynicism about how seriously we were all taking plot points and character shtick. Moreover I remember running into him constantly at Tera Sushi - always with his family - and me with mine - enjoying the fruit of our labor living in the valley, and watching our kids grow up. Although I haven't seen Lenny in a lot of years, he is and will always be fresh in my mind, a welcome visitor when I need something to make me happy. (this is my second attempt at writing a note, I think my first one got lost in the machine).

  Shared by the family·January 25, 2026·view original
• Andrewfrom MuchLoved

  I was deeply saddened to hear of Lenny’s passing. Many years ago, when I had a producing deal at Universal Studios, Lenny was my executive. I have such fond memories of working with him during that time. He was truly brilliant with scripts — sharp, thoughtful, and instinctively understanding what a story needed to become stronger. Recently, I found myself needing advice again on a new project. After some effort, I finally managed to locate Lenny in North Carolina and we spoke on the phone. At the time, I didn’t realize that he wasn’t well. We made a start on the work, but sadly he wasn’t able to finish it. Still, even in that brief reconnection, Lenny made one extraordinary contribution. After his first read, he offered a simple but transformative suggestion: that the story should be told by someone, rather than written purely in a linear way. I incorporated it immediately, and it made an enormous difference — it truly leveled up the script. That was Lenny: incisive, generous, and able to see straight to the heart of a story. I will always be grateful for his insight, his clarity, and the creative mark he left on my work — and on so many others. He will be remembered with great respect and affection.

  Shared by the family·January 15, 2026·view original
• Carrfrom MuchLoved

  Broken-hearted to hear this news and wish I spent more time with Lenny, but we worked together at Universal for 8 1/2 years from 1988-96. He was an incredible mentor and colleague to me. As others have said, a huge film geek, a really smart guy, a sweetheart and one of the most ethical people I've met. As we were at the same level, we didn't share projects so did not work directly together but shared the experience of being an exec at a major studio, something I think we did not imagine for ourselves as kids. As a suit, Lenny was rarely seen in his jacket. His shirt collar was always unbuttoned and his sleeves were always rolled up. He was real, in a town of tinsel and lies. We used to drop by each other's offices often to compare notes and share shock at the awful behavior in Hollywood, and even some of the off-the-wall hires Uni started making in the end of days. In that way, Lenny was a lifeline who made me feel there was a path through the industry that did not mean selling my soul. One crazy fun thing I remember was watching Dead/Alive aka BrainDead (one of Peter Jackson's earliest movies) in a private screening room with Lenny, Joe Dante, Mike Finnell...and Peter Jackson! Not sure why I was invited, but I appreciate Lenny for including me. I always appreciated Lenny's generosity and friendship but one anecdote stands out. Universal had bought a comedy script for Michael J. Fox to produce and star in, but in an unexpected twist, the script had been submitted to both Lenny and myself. I received the script through Fox's company whom I had been working with, and Lenny had received it from the writer's agent directly because he had been tracking that writer. The project didn't need two junior executives so our boss had to make a decision. We had a meeting where we each made our case but our boss went with the tried and true coin toss. It was a 50-50 chance but I lost the toss. I was trying to be professional but I was devastated and I'm sure it was obvious to my boss and Lenny. I knew my boss would not want to hear me complain. But Lenny saw me and said to the boss, I think Carr might have a better handle on this project and I've got a full load, so if you don't mind, he can have it. The movie never got made but it was one of my favorite projects. Not a lot of people with our jobs would have done what Lenny did. I don't need to tell anybody reading this that Lenny Kornberg was a mensch above all! I have only fond memories of our friendship and I know his memory will be a blessing to his wonderful family. He always put them first. Carr D'Angelo 14 January 2026

  Shared by the family·January 14, 2026·view original
• catherinefrom MuchLoved

  It was in November. I had just arrived in San Francisco from France. I answered an ad for a roommate that Lenny and Peter had pinned on a board at the Meat Market (the local cafe). The second I moved in (I didn’t own much, only a mattress on the floor), Lenny asked me « Want to go to the movies?» The three of us piled into the front of Peter’s old pick up truck - with me in the middle - and off we went. I don’t remember if something fell on the floor or not, but suddenly they both leaned in and clunked their heads in the middle. I thought I had just moved in with Laurel and Hardy! It turned out I wasn’t completely wrong, that was the beginning of lots of laughter!  I didn’t end up staying long in that apartment (I was on the move for a few years) but I will always remember Lenny’s warm, smart, and funny presence with great fondness. 

  Shared by the family·January 12, 2026·view original
• Charlesfrom MuchLoved

  Smart, funny, big-hearted Lenny! I got to know Lenny in the early eighties when I was Story Editor at Carson Films, the film division of Carson Productions then helmed by Marcia Nasatir. He was just starting in the industry as a freelance script reader. Among the piles of “coverage” we amassed from our team of freelancers (bright and literate newcomers seemed to have a way of finding us), Lenny’s insights , wit and way with words shined through on every page. In those pre-email days readers had to come in regularly and there was plenty of time to discuss a script that had a spark or get a consensus on the hot script that needed an overnight read. Those discussions could lead to a quick trip into Marcia’s office with Lenny and Terry Power to make an internal pitch. But more often they lead to a larger discussion of movies, books, life and the other multitudes he contained.   Lenny loved movies, stories and people, and he treated words like morsels to be savored. When Lenny came to an outdoor party at our place in the fringes of the San Fernando Valley, he gestured to the surroundings and said simply “Quite bucolic.”   It was no surprise when Lenny rose through the executive ranks, or that he remained irrepressibly, warmly, humanly Lenny through it all. To the family and friends grieving his loss, I say “may his memory be for a blessing” because for me it already is.

  Shared by the family·January 12, 2026·view original
• Bruce Grahamfrom MuchLoved

  My agent set up a meeting with this "suit" from Universal. Lunch at the Columbia Bar&Grille. Lunch lasted three hours. (This suit could actually talk about things other than movies.) I ended up with a three picture deal at Universal. When I visited his office for the first time I passed offices filled with movie posters. Every poster was from a hit Universal flick. (Lotta' Spielberg.) Lenny had one poster in his office: Wim Winders' The American Friend. I knew this guy was different. I didn't realize how different until I worked at other studios. When one exec heard I worked with Lenny on numerous projects he offered: Lenny can be pretty intimidating. Lenny? Gentle, soft spoken Lenny? The exec explained: "He's so damned...smart." Only in Hollywood can you say someone is "so damn smart" and still make it sound slightly insulting. Lenny and Kit's home became my west coast refuge for many years. and for that I will always be seriously grateful. For a long time I had a corkboard in my office. It was loaded with articles, story ideas, cartoons...etc. When we moved my wife helped me clean if off. One thing puzzled her. "Why do you have a matchbook from the Columbia Bar&Grille?" Because that's where I met Lenny Kornberg.

  Shared by the family·January 12, 2026·view original
• Adam Torchiafrom MuchLoved

  A gentle giant. That was Lenny. I had worked with Lenny since I first came to Universal back in Spring 1997. Since day one, Lenny and I clicked. Why? Because I "got" him. He was a man who got straight to the point. No bs. And I loved it. When he told me to "get the f**k out of his office" and then gave that smile... I knew we were good. He affectionally called me "Moose." I have no idea how that name stuck, I but I took as a sign of "I'm in his circle of trust." So I rode with it. Even my colleagues asked, "Why does he call you Moose?" I said, "I don't know." But it made us all laugh. Lenny told of me how he brought us "King Kong" to Universal because Peter Jackson loved him. He told me how Peter J. insisted that he stay at his house with his wife in New Zealand. I just remember thinking how cool that was... I always loved Lenny's deep, hearty laugh, his thunderous footsteps (we always knew Lenny was coming to visit us in the Story Dept) and how he loved films. He was a rare executive who actually knew films... like a lot of films. He was a true cinephile! Lenny is responsible for Universal's beloved "Mummy" franchise. I remember his stories about traveling to Morocco... all the behind-the-scenes drama. Lenny was partly responsible for turning Universal's fortunes around. The studio was struggling with a long string of flops, but come 1999, The Mummy's massive success really changed things around for the studio... and then the hits kept coming. I do remember we used to give him shit regarding his "Rocket Boys" film (officially titled October Sky) - we'd just bust chops, he'd tell us to "f-off" and we'd all laugh, but hey - the film was really good, launched some careers... I will miss my friend. He was a mensch. And more importantly, a good person (rare in our business) The world lost a gentle giant. Rest easy with the pharaohs, my friend. You deserve it. Your memory will live on in our hearts and on the silver screen. Moose...

  Shared by the family·January 12, 2026·view original
• Terryfrom MuchLoved

  Lenny and I first met in October 1981. I had just been hired at Carson Productions by company president Marcia Nasatir. Together with Story Editor Charles Kaufman we distributed the seemingly endless amount of screenplays that crossed the transon daily from CAA, William Morris, ICM, and all the boutique agencies. Lenny was our go to reader, He would cover 6-8 screenplays a week. And his work was stellar. In a town where it was famously said no one reads —“just give it to me in ten words or less” —(right Len?) everyone at Carson looked forward to Len’s story reports. I believe Len introduced all of us to the word eponymous…he would write ”the eponymously titled novel by some Famous Writer” was a classic Lennyism.  Hence (Lenny: “hence what is hence? Terry where am in England? Ta ta and time for tea”) Len’s approach to story analysis was so distinctive that it itself became eponymous — colleagues spoke of it as “his way,” a shorthand for clarity, honesty, and taste. Len and I shared a passion for films. And Len knew every film. During the last year, nearly all of 2025,  we texted regularly about story ideas that Len would work on for treatments to pitch to his still active Hollywood connections. Crime and Classic horror were the films du jour. Specifically French New Wave and Noir. Many texts were exchanged debating remake possibilties. It was like film school texting with Lenny. And just as easily he’d drop in the line up from the 1969 Mets because that was his team growing up in Queens. Yankees Schmankees.  The thing about Len, he was never afraid to give his honest opinion. A rarity in Hollywood. People listened to him because he was smart and honest and they trusted him. And Len knew what he was talking about. Producers at Universal undoubtedly knew this. Len told me once the famous producer Marvin Worth would stop by his office regularly to discuss ideas.  Len was also a heck of a tennis player. We played now and again in the mid 1980s at Plummer Park near where he a Kit lived. And you know I don’t think i ever won a three game set. (Len: “damn straight Terry…” guffaw guffaw. “Those were great games.”) And we played our asses off. For a big guy Len was very quick on his feet.  When you became friends with Lenny he trusted you. He trusted your judgement. He saw you. And as a result there was a connection that never faded no matter if you fell out of touch. You always picked up right where you left off with Len.  And Len was courageous. Len was the bravest person i ever knew. For many years he faced a rare neurological illness that gradually took his ability to walk and eventually his legs.  But never once did I hear him complain. He was always positive and working everyday.  He had a constant creative spirit  and indefatigable work ethic (Len: Oy Terry you’re killing me).  No matter the circumstance Lenny always made me laugh. Len was a good friend.  i will always remember him.  May his memory be a blessing.  Terry Power 

  Shared by the family·January 11, 2026·view original
• Susan milrodfrom MuchLoved

  Back in the 1990s when I was a Universal story analyst in New York, whenever the execs in our office mentioned Lenny, we all smiled with delight. Although I rarely had a chance to speak with him directly, I loved how funny he was and smart and no nonsense. More recently I was in the LA story department and it was great to have him as a colleague. I’ve recently retired, but a lot of the reason why I loved the film business was people like Lenny. My condolences your way. May his memory be a blessing.

  Shared by the family·January 10, 2026·view original
• Robert Ramseyfrom MuchLoved

  Way back in 1990 our agent called with some good news. An up-and-coming exec at Universal named Lenny Kornberg dug our script and wanted to take us to lunch. Lenny called to suggest Musso’s. Classy, we thought. How will we recognize you, I asked. I’ll be wearing a dress, Lenny intoned. Funny, we thought. During that meal, Lenny told us an idea that was floating around the upper floors of the Black Tower, and we spent the next hour and a half discussing the dramatic possibilities. Flash forward 14 years and many drafts later to us toasting that fortuitous first meeting at Musso’s as we slapped backs at the premiere of “Intolerable Cruelty.” Lenny didn’t give us our first job, but he gave us that crucial boost up into the big leagues, and for that I am forever in his debt. We enjoyed four years in the trenches with Lenny. Was way better than film school. Let me also state this clearly for the record: Lenny was a super smart editor and a dynamite dramaturg. He made scripts better. Period. I’ll always remember his dry wit, honey-drenched baritone and epic dome. God speed, Lenny Kornberg! Massive love to Kit, Katie and Sam.

  Shared by the family·January 10, 2026·view original
• Robertfrom MuchLoved

  He knew how to make work fun. Sure, he was smart and capable and did great work.  But he was also kind and generous of spirit. And he laughed at my jokes.  I treasure his memory.     ”Warm summer sun, shine kindly here  Warm southern wind, blow softly here Green sod above, lie light, lie light Good night, dear heart Good night, good night” - Mark Twain  

  Shared by the family·January 9, 2026·view original
• J. F.from MuchLoved

  Lenny gave me my first opportunity to direct a studio film as the lead executive at Universal Pictures. He was unlike any other Hollywood executive I have ever met. He had a love of cinema like a wise college professor, fought for his collaborators like a NFL football coach, while being staggeringly funny and self-deprecating about the business. But what I remember most is what a kind and thoughtful person he was. Despite much corporate skepticism, we were allowed to shoot much of the film on location in Japan, a country notorious for being difficult to impossible for Hollywood to film in. Universal had recently had some disastrous experiences trying to do it with everything going over budget and schedule. The insurance company only agreed to cover the production if we signed off that anything that we couldn't shoot there would be cut from the film completely. We agreed knowing it would be impossible if we failed. We ended up being able to film in locations, like by the tracks of operating bullet train, an ancient forest temple, and on the steps of an Edo Period Castle, that had been completely off-limits to American productions before. Most of this was made possible by Lenny’s wonderful demeanor. He was respectful, sincere, warm and genuine. As we traveled the country scouting locations everyone could sense that and felt more comfortable. They wanted to meet him again. He got along with chain smoking Japanese production managers, Shinto priests, finicky sushi chefs, and even a Samurai sword ninja expert who terrified the crew, but not Lenny. We came in on schedule and under budget, but even more than that, we made a movie I’m proud of and had a wonderful time doing it because of Lenny. Lenny wasn't just an exceptional executive. He was a true mensch, whose thoughtfulness touched everyone around him. Though he's gone, the joy he brought to our work and lives remains. Paola and I send our deepest love and condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing, forever and always. J. F. Lawton

  Shared by the family·January 9, 2026·view original
• Billy Mernitfrom MuchLoved

  I didn't know Lenny well, but he was an executive at Universal when I first started working there as a story analyst, nearly 3 decades ago, and I always enjoyed seeing him - a major mensch. I've never forgotten him from those days for a simple reason: We story department critters were always considered lower echelon folks, and there wasn't much fraternization with the higher-ups - but Lenny always ignored those invisible class lines, and would hang out with us and have some laughs; he really did make us feel like equals who were all in this thing together. A class act all the way, and I'm sad that he's left the room.

  Shared by the family·January 9, 2026·view original
• Billfrom MuchLoved

  Lenny was the first person who read our Hacksaw Ridge script and got excited (instead of telling no one cares about WWII any more). He got Walden to buy into it, but unfortunately didn't receive the rightful credit and he moved on, leaving us without a champion. Of course, that was a nightmare and I forced us back out and found other financing. It's a shame because he was great to deal with. Smart, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable.  Although Walden didn't make the film, Lenny was still one of the film's family. A credit to his love of movies (I hope).   Bill Mechanic

  Shared by the family·January 8, 2026·view original
• Peterfrom MuchLoved

  Overnight, two Lenny-isms popped into my head. One is “You’re fit as a fuckin’ fiddle.” Twenty years later, Tobey McGuire said it to Michael Douglass in Wonder Boys and I wondered if Michael Chabon or Curtis Hanson ripped it off from Lenny. The other is “If you’re gonna eat pig, let it drip from your mouth.” At least that’s how I remember him saying it. Over the years I’ve heard variations like “If you’re going to eat pork, eat it til your mouth drips.” But either way, the idea of i f you break the rules, break em all the way has stuck with me to this day. So thanks for that, Lenny.

  Shared by the family·January 8, 2026·view original
• Peterfrom MuchLoved

  I graduated from college, drove from Vermont to Chicago, and then to San Francisco with my sister. She was recovering from a paper cut on her eye (I know), so I drove the whole way. We were terrorized by a bear in Glacier National Park, bombarded by grey jays on the Olympic Peninsula, and I arrived in town with a case of all-over-my-body poison oak. So all over my body that when I undressed for the doctor, she gasped, wrote a prescription for steroids, and ran out of the room. So I was in desperate need of the comfort of a home. I answered an ad from a guy living in Bernal Heights. The voice on the phone was so deep and rich I was sure it had to be an FM dj, but it was Lenny Kornberg. We became fast friends and eventually found a better place in Noe Valley. We both got jobs at the 4 Star Theater, so we lived, worked, ate spaghetti, drank, laughed, and watched an insane number of movies together.  We both had big beards and some called us the Smith Brothers. I fell in love with San Francisco, but fell even more in love with my future wife who lived in Chicago, so I moved there and, for a while, Lenny and I lost touch. Fifteen years later I was in a meeting in the black tower on the Universal lot, trying to figure out how the hell to turn a kids’ book of mine into a feature film. Weirdly, I’d written a theme song for the movie and played it for them and they looked at me like I was nuts, which I probably was. The meeting was breaking up when I heard that same deep, rich voice wayyyy down the hallway. I had no idea Lenny had become a movie executive, or that he’d left San Francisco, but I instantly knew it was him and LA instantly felt a little more like home. Love and condolences to Kit and the whole family and everyone lucky enough to know him.

  Shared by the family·January 8, 2026·view original
• Barryfrom MuchLoved

  I first met Lenny when we were both story analysts at Universal in 1987. We were quite a tight-knit little group, Lenny, Rey, Carr, Monika and myself and I was grateful for the collegial vibe; I had only just arrived from the UK and knew hardly anybody. One day, six of us who worked in the converted motel across Lankershim Blvd. where the studio put the readers decided to treat ourselves to lunch in the commissary. Sitting in a corner booth, it all felt very posh. When my pizza arrived, I picked up my knife and fork and was preparing to dig in when i became aware of a withering glance over a pair of half-moon glasses across the table.  “You’re not going to eat it like that, are you?” said Lenny. We were colleagues for ten years, first as readers, later as studio executives. I could relate to Lenny’s film buffery, which was encyclopedic, but what I respected the most was his kindness, good humour and integrity. I so wish I had taken a moment to tell him so. Lenny was a wonderful man. His memory is indeed a blessing. 

  Shared by the family·January 7, 2026·view original
• Elysefrom MuchLoved

  In high school, my regular lunch was a Sunkist and a Snickers bar from the vending machine. But every once in a while, Lenny would take the time to make an extra sandwich and pack it in Katie’s lunch box for me. This wasn’t just any sandwich, we called it SANDWICH, as in THE sandwich. Every other one paled in comparison. I can’t remember all of its components now, but I know there was horseradish cheddar, salsa turkey, and whatever other deli meats the Kornbergs happened to have in the fridge. The best part of Sandwich, though, was the thought and care Lenny put into it, something I appreciated even as an angsty fifteen-year-old girl. Sandwich days were special, and they made me feel special.

  Shared by the family·January 7, 2026·view original
• Timfrom MuchLoved

  I met Lenny in 1969, my freshman year at Hamilton College. He was the cool R.A.; his room was where the hippies hung out and listened to music. In ‘71, we hitchhiked to D.C. to protest the war in Vietnam. Outside of Binghamton, the N.Y. state trooper who picked us up for illegally hitchhiking on Rte. 81 drove us to the PA border so we could continue our journey. A bit later, I dropped out of college, eloped, and moved to San Francisco. A couple of years after that, Lenny and a girlfriend showed up at my door. My wife and I put them up in our flat until they found an apartment to share with some friends of ours.  Soon Lenny was studying film at San Francisco State and managing the York Theater in the Mission District. It was during that time that Lenny and I co-wrote a buddy comedy that went nowhere. That was also when he met and married Kit and eventually moved to L.A. to work in the film industry. Lenny and I stayed in touch when they first moved south, and I prevailed upon him to return to S.F. to serve as the best man at my second marriage in 1987. A few years later, I left the west coast to work as a college professor. The closest I came to seeing him again was in 2010 when I was presenting at an academic conference in L.A. I told him of my plans and he responded thus: “It'd be great to see you. Let me know what day/time works for you, what your plans are. I'm a hobbled old shit who gimps around with a cane, so I'll be here (By the way: GO GIANTS!!!!)” We made plans to meet, but, sadly, Lenny had to cancel due to illness, so I did not get to see him. After that, it was regular birthday wishes and the occasional update over Facebook. Lenny was a great and shining presence during a good chunk of my joyfully misspent youth. I have missed him for a long time and will continue to do so.  Attached are a few pics of him looking very dapper in a tux at my wedding 38 years ago. Tim McGee 

  Shared by the family·January 7, 2026·view original
• Paola and J. F. Lawtonfrom MuchLoved

  In loving memory of a beautiful soul. Our heartfelt condolences to your beloved family during this difficult time.

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• Thomasfrom MuchLoved

  I will miss you, old friend. May your memory be a blessing

  Shared by the family·view original