By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
"He never missed an event that I was participating in," his son said. "Whether it was a track meet, a band concert or helping out in the restaurant. If I needed him for anything, he would stop and come do what I needed him to do."
Leonard Charles Remo died suddenly on Thursday, Oct. 17 at his home of natural causes. He was 84.
Remo was born in Hoboken, NJ, on Aug. 22, 1918 to Angie Pescalli and Joseph Remo. In 1926, his family moved to Hewlett. Remo graduated from Hewlett High School in 1936.
He was the captain of the tennis team in high school, his son recalled. And, though he was only 5' 6", he also played basketball.
In 1941, Remo received his B.A. from New York University School of Education. It was during his time at school that he met Audrey Gray. He was studying to be a social studies and civics teacher, and she was studying to be a reading teacher. The couple married on March 29, 1943.
The couple enjoyed traveling together, especially to Las Vegas, NV, Remo said.
Though drafted into the U.S. Army, Remo remained stateside in his early service, a family member said. During 1944, Remo was sent overseas, and Gray remained in the states. The couple moved into a house -- built by Gray's mother -- in Long Beach in 1945.
After three years of service and achieving the rank of a captain, Remo returned home to pursue his education at the N.Y.U., where received his Master's degree in the late 1940's.
In 1952, Remo entered the Long Beach City School District as a social studies teacher in the Long Beach Middle School. He also served as a guidance counselor and as a vice principal in the middle school before retiring in 1983.
"He was married to his one true love for almost 60 years, he lived in the same house for 50 years and he worked in a job that was perfect for him for almost thirty years," his son said. "How many people could say that?"
During his career at the Long Beach City School District, Remo served as president of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association and was the golf coach at the Long Beach High School.
"No matter what happened, he got the job done," long-time friend and colleague Bob Carroll said. "He did it right and he did it well. He loved the kids, loved the environment. He loved the scene. I have a soft spot in my heart for him."
Remo is survived by his wife, Audrey Gray Remo of Long Beach; a sister, Bee Plantar of Hewlett; son Leonard [Julie] Gray Remo of Long Beach; and daughter Kate [David] Remo of Conga Park, Calif.
A funeral was held at St. Ignatius Martyr Roman Catholic Church on Monday, Oct. 21.
Donations can be made towards a memorial scholarship fund in the name of Leonard Charles Remo for a graduating senior pursuing an education degree.
