Raymond Joseph Leicht
October 4, 2016Share using:
Raymond Joseph Leicht, beloved husband of Wendy (Crowell) Leicht passed away on October 4, 2016 at home.
Ray was born in New York City on February 23, 1923. Ray packed several different lives into his 93 years. Son of the late Irving and Selma Leicht, he spent his early years in New York City, Richmond, Virginia and New Orleans. LA. He attended the University of Rochester, graduated from Ohio University and attended Columbia University Graduate School.
A First Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, he served from 1943 to 1945 as a bombardier, flying 35 missions in Europe. After the war, he returned to New York City where he worked in advertising for 20 years as a copy writer, group head and producer for J. Walter Thompson, Kenyon and Eckhardt and BBD and O and Leo Burnett on accounts ranging from Chevrolet and Ford to Colgate, Kelloggs and Schick, winning several national and regional awards for his work.
At night, this movie star handsome man could be seen at the Stork Club, El Morocco or formal parties with numerous lovely women. A strong swimmer and tennis player, he spent many weekends in Westhampton LI. As soon as snowflakes fell, he could be found on the slopes in the Western US, Europe and Vermont.
At 41, after 20 years as a carefree bachelor, he met and married Wendy Crowell and they began a loving, happy 50 year journey together. They moved to New England in 1967 where Ray worked for the Bo Bernstein Agency in Providence RI as Creative Director. He eventually formed his own agency, finishing his advertising career at Rivers, Trainer, Doyle and Leicht in 1989.
At 65, he began a second career as an Assistant Professor of Advertising and PR at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI. He retired at 73 and moved to Sarasota, FL in 1996, then Dover in 2012.
A true Renaissance man, Ray loved music, especially jazz, attending live performances of top jazz performers throughout his life. He took piano lessons on and off for 40 years, continuing to learn more complicated techniques well into his 80’s. Always interested in art, he belonged to museums wherever he lived.
He went to the theatre often, once investing in the hit Broadway play “Our Town”. This attraction to theatre continued into his early 90’s when cane in hand, he attended Philadelphia’s Walnut Theatre productions.
When hip and back operations forced him to give up tennis and skiing, he took up golf. He played often at the Dorset Field Club in VT and later at the Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club in Sarasota, FL.
Ray had many lifelong friends. His ability to talk with humor, wit and intelligence about anything from sports, to politics, history and the arts and his quiet, warm way with people made him the best of companions.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Anne; sons Kenneth and his wife Aine, David and his wife Kristy, nephew Donald Mandel and niece Leslie Suda and husband Glen and his dear grandchildren: Gage, Logan, Tadg, Saoirse, Penelope and Nathan Leicht; brother and sister in laws Bob and Missy Crowell, Bill and Mimi Crowell, Chris and Kathy Crowell, Judy Roehl, Tucker and Jennifer Crowell.
Besides his parents, Ray was predeceased by his sister Millicent Mandel.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the skilled, compassionate care provided by Nurse Next Door and Seasons Hospice and the loving support of family.
There will be a viewing from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE 19934. A committal service will be 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE 19701. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray’s memory to Seasons Hospice, 220 Continental Drive, Suite #101, Newark, DE 19713 or to Habitat for Humanity, 544 Webbs Lane, Dover, DE 19904. Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
