Obituary of Leonard Flores

In Loving Memory of Leonard Flores,

May 7, 1923 – June 10, 2023

Leonard Flores, the first-born child of Hannah Meyerowitz and Martin Flores, was born during the Roaring Twenties in the City of New York, surrounded by adoring grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. During his youth, the Great Depression struck, and Len, at the age of 11, accepted the burden of helping to support his mother and his two siblings, Edith (Ettie) and Nathan (Newt), by delivering groceries and newspapers. In his free time, Len could be found playing baseball or reading books about Astronomy at the New York Public Library. At about 17 years of age, Len was offered an opportunity to play on a semi-professional baseball team in the Southeast, but this would require that he leave his family and his responsibilities to them, so Len declined.

At the age of 19, Len was called to serve his beloved country in World War II. He trained in Mississippi and would be stationed by the Army in the 'jungles' of Burma (pres. Myanmar). Len was responsible for the maintenance of a cargo plane and the safe delivery of supplies for the US troops and the Allied forces on the Asia front. Following three years of service, Len returned home, having discovered two lifelong pursuits: aircraft maintenance and travel.

Len would be hired by an air transportation freight company, the Flying Tiger Line, which led to a lifelong career with Pan American World Airways. During his career, Len traveled throughout much of Europe and the Middle East. In the late 1950s, he met his wife-to-be, Homa Ali Khani while he was stationed in Tehran. Len and Homa married and moved to the US to continue their adventures, though pausing their journeys for 15 years to raise their two children in Willingboro, NJ. In those years, the ever- industrious, energetic, and devoted family man used the GI Bill, while working full-time at the McGuire Air Force Base, to complete his education, earning his GED, and his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration at Burlington County Community College and Rutgers University.

In 1979, Len and Homa took flight again and traveled to many countries and territories, including Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, USSR, Norway, Spain, Guadeloupe, England, Iran, and France. Len retired from Pan American Airways in 1991 after supporting his children through college. Settled back in his home state of New Jersey, Len continued sharing his love and extensive knowledge with his family, including teaching his grandsons how to throw his fabled curveball, "the hook".

Leonard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Homa, their two children Parker and Pamela, his two loving sons from his prior marriage, George and Daniel, his granddaughter Sara, his two grandsons Aidan and Niall, and many adoring nieces and nephews across the globe. Dear Husband/Dad/Uncle/Grandpa, we will miss you so much!

A memorial service will be held at the Brigadier General William Doyle Memorial Cemetery Chapel on June 19, 2023 at 11:30 AM.