Leonard Cancel

Lenny’s light filled every space he occupied, and that light was suddenly extinguished by unexplained heart failure on a snowy Friday morning, January 19, 2019.

Leonard Cancel was born in Manhattan, New York on September 20, 1962. He was a local track star in high school. He attended Rutgers University on a track scholarship, and went on to complete a Masters in Psychology from the University of Utah. Lenny was working as the Director of Product Support for Optum.

Lenny maintained himself in amazing physical condition throughout his life—he had just finished a mile an a half on the treadmill before he sat down and passed quickly.

He is survived by his parents, Leonardo and Awilda Cancel of Toms River, NJ; sister and brother-in-law Maritza & Albin Goetze and their daughters, Brittany and Devon, of Mays Landing, NJ; and brother Edward Cancel & partner, Sean Dempsey, of Worcester, MA.

Lenny is also survived by devoted “family” members from New York, New Jersey and Salt Lake City, including Andy Borden, Michael and Chris Benson, Keith Stout, Steve Koerner, Dave Maroukis, Raymond King, Ron Godwin, Alan Hebertson & Dieter Sellmair, Bonnie Coburn, Michele Corigliano, Billy Stern and far too many more to mention.

While Lenny loved flowers, he would be far more interested in seeing donations made in his name to Equality Utah, whose mission is to secure equal rights for LGBTQ Utahns and their families. Lenny was honored to be a host for the 2018 Allies Banquet.

Private services will be held for family and friends after which his remains will return to New Jersey with his parents to be
placed in a family mausoleum. A public Celebration of Lenny’s Life will be announced.

Our hearts are broken...