Leon Markowicz

Leon Markowicz traveled into The Great Beyond on Friday, November 15 at his home after a lengthy dance with Multiple Myeloma. Born on November 9, 1940 in Detroit to Steve Markowicz and Stella Bukowski, he attended Our Lady Gate of Heaven elementary, Holy Ghost Fathers Missions Seminary, Ann Arbor, then joined the Holy Ghost Fathers after professing vows at their novitiate in Ridgefield, CN. As a seminarian, he was graduated from Duquesne University, then studied theology at St. Mary's seminary, Norwalk, CN. After being voted down for ordination, he was assigned to St. Joseph's Home for Homeless and Industrious Boys in Philadelphia, where he obtained a Master's and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1971 he joined the English Department at Lebanon Valley College until he retired in 2008. He taught courses including freshman composition, Shakespeare, organizational communications, leadership and executive communications. He also team-taught accounting, chemistry and strategic management in an attempt to integrate written and oral communications into all business administration, economics and accounting courses. Not wanting to bore students and himself, he called his courses "experiences," which included small group work and oral presentations, which were taped and reviewed by the entire class. He served on college committees by election, by volunteering and at the request of faculty, deans and presents. He was the first director of the Honors Program and the first coordinator of the Academic Support Program, as well as the first recipient of the Lindback teaching award. Leon became a Fellow of the Pennsylvania Writing Project at West Chester, PA and completed the Faculty Development Workshop in Military Leadership in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy. He presented papers on writing and communications at state, regional, and national professional conferences. As a stringer for The Daily News of Lebanon, he covered school board and township meets and sports. He also consulted for local business for communication and leadership. A member of the executive board of the Northeastern Association of Business, Economics and Technology, he served as associate editor and co-editor of the group's journal. A founding member of the Lancaster-Lebanon Writing Council, he held several offices. As a volunteer, he started the Lebanon Valley College blood bank, was instrumental in LVC's participation in the Free Noon Meals program. He also served on the Annville Township Planning Commission and tutored at the Lebanon County prison. Later, he obtained a Master's degree in creative writing from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH and acted as a presenter and judge for the International Society of Poetry in Owings Mills, MD. A horrible singles tennis player, he and his doubles partner, Bob Kopp, competed in local tournaments and in USTA 4.0 leagues in sectional, regional, and national play. He was a founding member and secretary of the Lebanon County Tennis Association. He traveled to Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and attended Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He also traveled in the United States, preferring his two favorite cities, New Orleans and Seattle. He is survived by Constance B. Traub, his loyal and patient lifetime partner; his daughter Leah Rhodes, of Ringgold, GA, and husband Geoff and sons, Simon and Micah; his daughter, Eve Markowicz, and son Avery, also of Ringgold, GA. He is also survived by his sister, Joan Smith, of Atoka, TN. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, December 1 at Zimmerman Recital Hall on the campus of Lebanon Valley College, Route 934, Annville. The service will begin at 3pm. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lebanon Valley College. Please send and mark your gift as follows: "A gift to Lebanon Valley College in memory of Leon Markowicz." Memorial contributions may also be made to the Hematology/Oncology department of the Good Samaritan Hospital. Ave atque Vale.

Leon Markowicz

November 9, 1940 - November 15, 2013