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Phil's obituary

Phil, touched the lives of many in so many ways. 

We honor his presence in our lives and pray for his Journey ‘Home’, where All Souls return...to be with Peace, Love and Ease, in the highest ways.

He was born to his Mother Antonia, and his Father Phillip Leonard, Sr. June 23rd, 1972. Their Only Child.

His Mom knew he would absolutely Love water and enrolled him in the YMCA’s ‘Water Babies Program’ at 6 months old…He loved it! Never cried once…by the time he could walk at 12 months he was surpassing many in his older classmates and was asked by the Head Instructor to pose for the City Newspaper Story to share his skills, to inspire other parents. At 18 months he had his 1st Public Recognition.

He learned to play Chess and Backgammon, and by the age of 5, he was beating Adults at the games…who couldn’t believe his skills.

He was brought into the Gifted Magnet School Program from 1st Grade and on through his Junior High & High School Years. It was a Sepulveda Junior High where he was chosen to be one of the models on their Wall Mural, which still can be seen today.

Since he was 4yrs old, he had a beautiful innate talent for Music…he could play drums like a adult at 4, on his own Birthday Drum kit…at 5 he could play a keyboard on his toy Remco Organ…all without any previous lessons…just the inspiration that came from growing up watching his Father, a Talented Professional Classical Pianist and Flautist who, played with several bands, groups and choirs…who could play Several Instruments and all genre of music professionally…

He 1st saw Snow at 12 years old, at Big Bear…learned to ski with Kevin, albeit watching them come down the slope backwards laughing, is a sight you can’t forget.

In Junior High the Track Coach called asking for Phil to be on his team, he knew Phil didn’t own a pair of Running Shoes, but noticed in Gym Class, Phil was faster in his street shoes then his fastest team member…He offered to pay for his trainers and Uniform. Phil’s own Father in High School was a Winning Cross Country track star when he was in high school.

Phil was stoked to join and went on to almost always, 1st place wins in his Jr and High School Career on the track over 80+ races…all the way to the State Level.

In his Senior year at Van Nuys High School Gifted Magnet Program, he got the chance to go with his Class for a month-long Stay, to Italy over the Christmas Holidays…He visited the Statue of David, Rome, Milan and many other places there… and loved it…He even used his Domino Skills to earn spending money from his classmates while there. A talent he still held…in the present day for Domino Tournaments.

He started his own non-profit organization, in Northridge, called TOOL SHED, as he noticed there were many kids whose hardworking parents couldn’t afford an after-school program. So, he got his actual non-profit status and had daily programs for skills they could learn from speech, to martial arts, to art and much more for Free…to inspire them. The kids were asked to be on a popular TV talk show at the time, and he received a Los Angeles City Citation for his efforts.

You see Community Meant Everything to Phil…always inspiring neighborhood participation, doing his part…continuing later Community Radio Shows and Online Interviews.

He chose to attend Cal-State Northridge University, graduating, earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology….while there, he became the President of the Multi-Cultural Psychology Association. He was tasked with choosing speakers for the University and chose to have a controversial Speaker to come on Campus.

He chose none other than the, Ku Klux Klan Young Leader at that time, as long as he agreed to let Phil speak to him alone first before he went on stage for 15mins as Phil gave him his check for his appearance. That Young Activist Leader was none other than…David Duke, Grand Wizard.

Phil wanted to personally inspire David Duke with a new perspective….Reporters, protestors came to the University, but all went well …He received tons of calls from reporters on his private phone and chose not to respond to them…instead content to having completed his mission to inspire ‘New Thought’ in David Duke’s mind, in that private conversation… to bring peace and calm to our multi-cultural country.

During his Last year at CSUN, he chose to gather many artists to paint murals on the walls with permission granted by the University, as CSUN began renovations, again to inspire all who saw them…

Phil met his wife to be, Elisa, at CSUN as they studied their same passion for Psychology together. They married, bought a home in Porter Ranch… that Phil actually saved twice when the fires engulfed the hill right behind their home, fighting those fires with a garden hose until the wee hours of the morning…while other neighbors in the area… were not so lucky.

Always filled with tenacity, grit and innovative ideas…He inspired community clean ups, festivals…You see… community spirit was always his main focus.

When Phil’s Father passed in Fall of 2019, he knew his father’s family had been Bridge and Power plant Hi-Risk Painters since 1959…Commissioned to Paint the Golden Gate Bridge on a Rolling Beam Scaffolding System his Grandfather, H. George Leonard invented and sold worldwide, for it’s efficiency and safety for high places. It was then that Phil was inspired to take his Father’s Family’s Legacy of Industrial Painting to another Level, forming ‘Writing on the Walls LLC’…and since 2020 he gathered artists and produced 56 Commissioned Murals unlike any others throughout the city...to inspire ALL during the Lockdown. Completing the Last one this past April 2025 where they held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, LA Councilman John Lee and many others including Phil gave speeches, dedicating the Mural in Granada Hills…receiving his Last LA City Citation Award.

  • Phil was Community focused his entire life.... May he and his good works continue to  inspire many more…to be their highest and best in Life.   Please see his Short -'In Loving Memory' Video:     https://youtu.be/k4LPH3jBxLM?…

Those who wish to donate Funds toward his wishes to have his ashes interred,  Please click Here and may all you contribute return to you tenfold.  Help assist with arrangements for Phillip “Phil” Leonard :  https://www.gofundme.com/f/he…

God Bless Phil... God Bless us ALL. 

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Memories & condolences

Still remembering Phil - and I’m also sure he and Sid will enjoy the company of each other ❤️!  Lovely Band music, by t…
Still remembering Phil - and I’m also sure he and Sid will enjoy the company of each other ❤️!  Lov…
Still remembering Phil - and I’m also sure he and Sid will enjoy…
Nancy Kirkpatrick (and no doubt, Sid from the other side www.sidneykirkpatrick.com) send their condolences to Antonia a…
Nancy Kirkpatrick (and no doubt, Sid from the other side www.sidneykirkpatrick.com) send their cond…
Nancy Kirkpatrick (and no doubt, Sid from the other side www.sid…
If anybody would have asked Phil, what is your message? I’m sure he would’ve answered “ My life” That’s all needed to b…
If anybody would have asked Phil, what is your message? I’m sure he would’ve answered “ My life” Th…
If anybody would have asked Phil, what is your message? I’m sure…
He was a sweet boy and I can see he went on to live a meaningful life. Bless him indeed . . . And you, Antonia.
He was a sweet boy and I can see he went on to live a meaningful life. Bless him indeed . . . And y…
He was a sweet boy and I can see he went on to live a meaningful…

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Phillip "Phil" Leonard, Jr.