Remembering Leon Lugassy

Leon Judah Lugassy of Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, passed away quickly and quietly at home on December 25, 2021.

He was born to parents Moise Lugassy and Phoebe Ohayon in Kenitra, Morocco on May 17th, 1937. Leon was one of six children, along with their parents, that made up their hard working, artistic, intelligent Jewish family. He spent the majority of his childhood in Morocco, where his father owned a lumber yard, and a small farm featuring a cactus fence and an orange grove. Leon told countless stories about being a boy scout adventuring in the Atlas Mountains, eating sardines on the docks of Essouira and getting into shenanigans with his older brother. As a young boy he had a great interest in art - especially Jewish art - fostered by his father, who encouraged Leon to design the pews, Ark and other accessories for the synagogue. He specifically remembers writing the Table with gold foil letters. Collaborating with his father was a meaningful experience, one he then passed on to his own children. He attended secondary school in France before earning his University degree in Agriculture in Morocco and then worked towards his Surveyor Engineer specialization in France. He had many adventures as a surveyor, traveling throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Leon came to the United States in 1962 to visit his brother, who was a dentist in Philadelphia, and his sister, who was living in Virginia. He fell in love with life in the US on a cross-country trip. He and his brother taught themselves English by watching cartoons, cowboy shows and memorizing commercials. He wanted to stay in the US and charmed his way into the Philadelphia College of Arts (PCA; currently University of the Arts). By the time he earned a BS in Industrial Design from PCA, they offered him a job as a professor. While teaching at PCA he earned a Masters in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Tyler School of Art in 1968. He met and married his first wife, Marite Klava, together they had two children, Moise and Ausma. Later, Leon met the love of his life, Faith Paffett, at PCA. She fell for the handsome, suave and debonair professor, and they married on Halloween in 1982 in front of a gathering of friends and family, after which they hosted an unforgettable costume party reception. Together they had four children, Nadine, Noëlle, Ninette and Nathaniel. Having all six of his children surrounding him was when ‘Papa’ was the happiest.

Leon was a professor for twenty years. During that time he created countless pieces of work for synagogues, galleries, exhibits and collections. In 1984 Leon and Faith bought an old farm house in Rose Valley, and together they initiated a thirty-year renovation project on the most eclectic, artistic and interesting home. The work on the house and collaborating with a good friend transforming exquisite houses, inspired him to leave teaching and embark on a new career path. He started creating hardwood floors in 1989 and never looked back. After many years of working with his friend, he eventually started his own business, and installed hardwood floors all over the Delaware Valley and was commissioned on projects as far away as the Bahamas. Leon spent a lifetime creating pieces of art made out of wood, metal, paint or whatever medium he could get his hands on. He produced a profound quantity of quality art that defies description as much as he does. He was a true master craftsman.

It is close to impossible to put into words the force of nature that Leon Lugassy was. He filled every room with his presence, from the sound of his voice, the aggressive stomp of his footfalls and his distinct smell: a melange of sawdust, oil, oranges, fresh air and a faint whiff of lavender. Selfless and generous, he was a loving husband and father, a patient teacher, and the most hard working person any one of us has ever known. He had a way of making people feel special when he focused his unique charms in their direction. Whether they were a colleague or a student, a neighbor or a stranger, everyone was treated with respect and kindness; everyone was treated like family. He was an especially doting grandfather. If he loved his children, he loved their direct descendents even more fiercely.

Leon enjoyed a wide variety of music. If he wasn’t listening to it, he would make it. He tried his hand at any instrument that came his way and was always singing, sometimes the same verse over and over, not often the correct words or even tune - but always with gusto. Food was one of his many “love languages.” He loved to cook- spoiling others with the culinary talents he learned from cooking with his mother. He was a fisherman at heart- loving the days he spent fishing down the shore, catching flounder, and disgusting his children by sucking out the brains and eyeballs at the dinner table.

Leon had an interesting sense of style. Although many of his fashion statements evolved over time, his signature look consistently included incredibly short shorts. Mercifully, for all of us, whether they were made from corduroy or sweatpants, he had the legs for them. He had a significant collection of hats, and loved “cowboi” accoutrement like leather vests, sheriff’s badges, and bandanas. His glasses and facial hair were always statement pieces.

Leon loved cars and enjoyed fixing them. Spending time remodeling and reconstructing his brother-in-law’s Austin Healy or daughter’s VW bug was time well spent. He maintained an immaculately clean vehicle and took special care of his tools. Any of his children or former employees will tell you that you couldn’t use his vehicle, workspace, or tools (especially his pens) without him knowing. He loved to foster debates with his children, and called it “brain stimulation.” He credited their successes to those spirited discussions. Since his first language was French, he occasionally misunderstood or mispronounced words. In truth, he did this a lot, but it was usually on purpose. He loved wordplay, and especially appreciated a good pun or a well crafted piece of writing that forced him to savor the meaning of each word.

He was an athlete, always challenging his children to feats of strength or encouraging them in their athletic interests. He didn’t stop moving from the time he woke up (really early) until the time he hit the hay (also really early). Later in life, when he slowed down a little, he was an enthusiastic sports fan - watching Eagles games and Phillies games with Faith.

Truthfully, it is impossible to capture his essence, so in short, (pun intended) he was a legend. All your ‘schilren’ love you, Papa.

He was predeceased by his parents Moise and Phoebe, his older sisters Madeleine Riching and Jacqueline Aboab, brother Armand Lugassy and ex-wife Marite Klava. He is survived by his sisters Ninette Kartchner and Gloria Lugassy, his wife Faith Paffett-Lugassy, son Moise Lugassy, daughter Ausma Kinney and her husband Clayton Kinney, daughter Nadine Paffett-Lugassy her partner Maria Godleski, daughter Noelle Paffett-Lugassy and her husband Akin Greville, daughter Ninette Paffett-Lugassy and son Nathaniel Paffett-Lugassy, grandchildren Jessa Kinney, Kaydin Kinney, Wyatt Greville and Clio Greville.

Though Leon loved people and enjoyed being social, if you knew him, you know he hated big social gatherings. In lieu of funeral services, if you wish to celebrate Leon, consider planting a tree or donating to Habitat for Humanity or The National Forest Foundation. Please celebrate his life in small groups, safely, in a way that best suits your relationship with him. If you have any amazing stories you think we would love to hear, please share!!