Person:Leonard Graydon (1)

Captain of the waiters at the "Downtown Club", NYC. founded the Conservation League Leonard Graydon grew up in St. Louis, and stayed with his parents as his older brother was adopted by an aunt and uncle. While George would be described as very intelligent or brainy, Leonard would be described as just average. Leonard and George continued to think of themselves as brothers throughout their lives. Leonard loved the outdoors and hiking,and would take George's sons on trips for the weekend, occasionally longer. Leonard was a very special uncle t o George's children. Leonard was a homicide victim, in New York City. The following obituary describes Leonard:

IN MEMORIUM: LEONARD GRAYDON by Dick Edmonds

On Saturday evening at about 8 P.M. on January 11, [1975] Lenny Graydon of 110 W. 71 St., was walking in Riverside park near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at W. 89th St. when he was stabbed. He somehow managed to walk to Riverside Drive where he drew the attention of a bu s driver.He and several passersby called an ambulance, but Lenny died on the way to the hospital. Several Association members attended the services Saturday, January 18 at Walter B. Cook e Funeral Home on W. 72 St.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Lenny joined the Merchant Marines for several years. For the pa st 10 years or so he was the Captain of the waiters at the Downtown Club, an exclusive dining club in the Wall Street area. But Lenny always managed to find lots of time for his main interest: conservation.

A shy person, Lenny attended the general membership meetings of the Association, staying quietly on the sidelines, smoking his pipe.Self-effacing and modest, Lenny sometimes referred to h is passionate interest in conservation, but few people knew that 15 years ago, long before ecology became fashionable, Lenny had founded the Conservation League, serving as its first and only Chairman. He worked tirelessly for the preservation of trees, soil and water, concerned ab out pollution and shortages of natural resources. One of his favorite "hobbies" was hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. Lenny also found time to send out at least150 Newsletters each month to W. 71 St. landlords and others as this Newsletter's Mailing Editor, a task he undertook in his usual way:conscientiously.

Ironically, it would be difficult to find a more concerned, non-violent person than Lenny. A t 49, he lived by himself, and his apartment also served as the headquarters of the Conservation League. His friends describe him as a "humanist" and use words like "responsible" and"dedicated" when they talk about him, admitting that the clich©bs don't begin to really describe th e depth of his commitment to the things he believed in.

If you feel that you would like to make a contribution in Lenny's memory,it would be fitting if a donation were made to the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference. In order to make you r contribution tax-deductible, please make your check payable to the Natural Area Council-Hudson fund, and send it to 545 Madison Ave., New York, NY10022. Lenny would have appreciated it.

It is most important that if you have any information concerning thee vents leading to Lenny' s death, please call 687-1361 (day or night) and ask to speak with Mr. Dermody of the Fifth Homicide Zone. Your call will be held in strictest confidence.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 498-26-7136, in Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   Individual: Graydon, Leonard
   SS# issued in: Missouri
   Birth date: 8 Jan 1926
   Death date: Jan 1975

2. ↑ [1], in United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).

   Lenard R Graydon, age 4 2/12, born in Missouri
   son of Fred and Florence Graydon