Leon Ehrlich

Leon Ehrlich, 93, of Wyomissing, passed away peacefully at home on November 27th. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, retired judge Elizabeth Ehrlich.

Other survivors include four children: Nathaniel "Ned" , husband of Meghan (Lynch) Ehrlich of Vienna, Virginia; William, husband of Alina (Negus) Ehrlich of Emmaus, Lehigh County; Steve, husband of Sarah (Purdum) Ehrlich of Spring Township; and Nancy Ehrlich, wife of Philip Blazar of Westwood, Mass. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Brittney Ehrlich, Emily Ehrlich, Julie Blazar, Ellen Blazar, Thomas Ehrlich, Helen Ehrlich and Ann Ehrlich.

Mr. Ehrlich was born in New York City on May 31, 1920, the second of three children of Nathan and Celia (Schwartz) Ehrlich. He was predeceased by his older brother, Alexander, and his younger sister Rose Ehrlich Mages. Mr. Ehrlich spent his early years in New York City. His family then moved to Reading, PA, where Mr. Ehrlich attended Southern Junior High School and graduated from Reading High School in 1936. He was awarded a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1940, where he was a member of the University debate team.

In the fall of 1940, Mr. Ehrlich enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. His law school education was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in the Army field artillery from 1942 until 1946, attaining the rank of Major. He saw combat in the European Theater and was awarded the Bronze Star.

After the war, Mr. Ehrlich resumed his studies at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, graduating in 1947. He held several positions on the Editorial Board of the Law Review, including Editor in Chief.

After law school, Mr. Ehrlich returned to Reading, where he served his 6 month preceptorship under Attorney M. Bernard Hoffman. He was admitted to the Berks County bar in December 1947 and began practicing as a solo practitioner. His preceptorship with Attorney Hoffman was influential not only as a legal education, but also because he met Attorney Hoffman's son, attorney Sydney Hoffman. The younger Hoffman arranged a date for Mr. Ehrlich in 1955 with a Philadelphia Assistant City Solicitor, which ultimately resulted in his marriage to Elizabeth in 1956.

Mr. Ehrlich continued his law practice in Reading for more than 60 years, until 2010. His wife, Elizabeth, joined the practice in the early 1960s, and they practiced together until 1983, when she was elected a judge in Berks County. From the late 1950s until the late 1960s, Mr. Ehrlich also served as a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General under Governors Leader, Scranton, and Shaffer; during the latter part of that service, he was General Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Mines. Mr. Ehrlich also worked for many years with Susan Frankowski, Esq. in his private practice.

Mr. Ehrlich was solicitor for the Berks County Magistrates' Association for more than 30 years. He also represented many local labor unions and labor organizations in his private practice. Mr. Ehrlich had the distinction of successfully arguing an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 in the case of McLaughlin v. Richland Shoe Company.

Mr. Ehrlich was one of the founders of Affinity Bank of Pennsylvania which opened for business in 2003. Mr. Ehrlich was active in scouting, serving on the boards of the Hawk Mountain Council and Troop 413, Wyomissing. He also served on the board of Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom.

Mr. Ehrlich was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His greatest pleasures in life were spending time with his family and practicing law. Secondary to those pleasures, he enjoyed spending time at his weekend home in Pike Township, Berks County, and gardening at his house, particularly in his large rose garden, accompanied by the family dog, Rusty. Mr. Ehrlich was also an accomplished woodworker.

Funeral services will be on Friday, November 29th at 1:00 P.M. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA. Visitation with the family will be from noon to 1:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either The Law Foundation of Berks County, P.O. Box 1058, Reading, PA 19603 or the University of Pennsylvania Law School, 3501 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

For online condolences, visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com