Leonard J. Gajewski

Leonard J. Gajewski, 86, 106 Day Lily Drive, Sinking Spring and formerly of Knoxville, TN, passed away July 28, 2013, in ManorCare Sinking Spring.

He was the husband of Constance J. (Fessler) Gajewski.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Edmund T. and Anna J. (Oberc) Gajewski.

He was a 1945 graduate of Reading High School. Leonard was a 1951 graduate of The University of Notre Dame, where he earned his BA in Commerce, followed by his Juris Doctorate in 1952.

Leonard was an attorney and had a private practice in Reading for 35 years, retiring in 1988. He also served as the Assistant District Attorney for the County of Berks for four years in the 1960's and for two years was general counsel for the PA Insurance Commission appointed by the first Gov. William Scranton. He was the Assistant County Solicitor for four years and the Assistant City Solicitor for two years, both in the 1970's. He then moved to Knoxville, TN where he was an Administrative Law Judge at the federal level and worked on cases involving social security disability.

While in Reading he was involved in various organizations. He was a long-time member of the Berks County Bar Association; served as the Past President and District Governor for the Reading Exchange Club; was the Solicitor for the Berks County Clubmen's Association and the Polish Falcons, Reading, Nest 964.

Leonard was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Reading. He was a long-time member of St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, Mt. Penn, and was most recently a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, Sinking Spring.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during WWII, and continued his service with the Occupational Forces in Europe after the war.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons: James L. Gajewski, M.D., F.A.C.P. Professor of Medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University, and Thomas J. Gajewski, M.B.A., Master of Conflict Resolution, Program Chair for the School of Business at Westwood College, Los Angeles Campus. There are five step-children: Cynthia A. Jackson, Tracy A. Ward, Kellie M. Watts Robert E. Jackson, Col. Scott K. Jackson, U.S.A.F. Three grandchildren (Theodore, Alexander and Sarah Gajewski) and nine step-grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive him. He was predeceased by his sisters, Patricia Dreyfuss, and Eleanor Gajewski.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, August 1, 2013, at 11 a.m. in St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, 2810 St. Albans Drive, Sinking Spring. A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. Burial will be private in Gethsemane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to: University of Notre Dame Law School Scholarship Fund , 1100 Eck, Hall of Law, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or woundedwarriorproject.org/donate. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.