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This page was created to share memories and honor the life of LeRoy Spaniol. We welcome his family, friends and colleagues to share stories of how LeRoy touched your life.
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Join MemoriesSusan Spaniol
To extend LeRoy's legacy as the founder of the Recovery Center at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University, you can donate via the following link: https://cpr.bu.edu/donate/
LEROY’S OBITUARY It is with great sadness that the family of LeRoy Joseph Spaniol of West Hartford announces his death on Tuesday, May 19 due to COVID-19. Born in Milwaukee, WI in 1938, LeRoy was a remarkable, yet humble man who enriched the lives of all who knew him. He graced the world with gentle, loving kindness through both his personal and p...
Enjoy this slideshow of LeRoys's life photo memories
Susan Spaniol LeRoy and Susan dancing
Susan Spaniol LeRoy and Susan in Cape Cod
Susan Spaniol LeRoy's family - growing up
Rachel Wilson LeRoy was my rock, my mentor, and my biggest fan. Even when I was an unreasonable and obstinate teen (and sometimes now as an adult!) he never wavered in his support and love for me and our family. I can’t imagine who I would be if it weren’t for him entering my life and will be eternally grateful for his kindness, love, and compassion. A few pics from over the years…goodbye dear LeRoy. Thank you for being you. You will always be in my heart.
Words cannot express what a special person LeRoy was, but I will try. LeRoy was kind, humble, honest, patient, insightful, brave and brilliant – and that only scratches the surface. LeRoy’s passing will leave a void in my life that will never be replaced. I will be forever grateful for the many wonderful years of happiness that he brought to our fa...
Melissa Wilson
Susan Spaniol My words are inadequate to convey how precious and special LeRoy was … how much he was loved and how loving he was to everyone he knew, and to the countless people whose lives were touched by his presence and his work … how he embodied grace, goodness and loving kindness with a profound humanity until his final moments. LeRoy was a humble man with many accomplishments. To use a common Yiddish phrase that describes a person of integrity and honor, LeRoy was a true mensch—a “stand-up guy” of noble character. I want to share his voice with a poem he wrote in his final years.
Susan Spaniol Susan created this picture from the photograph of LeRoy's family on his Memory Page. LeRoy is the second child from the left.
Susan Spaniol LeRoy looking handsome and professorial.
I am tearful but smiling as I recall my wonderful former professor and colleague at Boston University. I feel lucky to have known him. No one could be a kinder more empathic counselor to persons with a disability, as he was exquisitely tuned in to those in pain and able to provide guidance and comfort. I laughed to learn that he had so many sisters...
I met LeRoy in Cincinnati in 1980, He was a big part of the reason that I applied to the doctoral program at BU. He was one of my most influential mentors and went out of his way to support my growth and career and he taught me so much. I have a list of meaningful and pithy “Leroy sayings” that I still use in conversations with others :-). He was ...
Susan Spaniol LeRoy with Lena, one of his favorite staff at Boston University.
I didn’t have much time to get to know LeRoy before Parkinson’s began to steal his speech and mobility, but I will always remember how kind, thoughtful, open hearted and open minded he was. A gentleman in the true sense of the word. I’m grateful that I had the chance to know him. His graceful acceptance of his condition was a testament to his stron...
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Susan Spaniol This is Susan's picture of LeRoy in the seminary. The seminarians are all holding dandelions. When you click on the image. He is the second from the left.
LeRoy was a kind, decent, and intelligent man. He will be missed, but will live on in our memories. These two memories - the first time I met LeRoy and the last time I saw him show the kind man he was and the funny? man he also was. I went to Susan and LeRoy’s to meet them when I was first dating Rachel. After an hour of being grilled by Melissa...
Moe Armstrong SEEM LIKE EVERY YEAR ...I AM LEFT MORE ALONG For Le Roy Spaniol Le Roy Spaniol died Heard it from Tony Zipple Names might not mean a lot to you They meant a lot to me I knew him personally O yeah, such a cruel world We sometimes live in Said Le Roy died of Coronavirus This stuff seems to strike the good And leave the bad standing Le Roy Spaniol ....... I was kind of working in Public Radio Didn't know what to do in Albuquerque, New Mexico Then, I met Le Roy Spaniol Baltimore I think 1991 Called themselves The International Psychiatric Rehabilitation Society O man, In those days we had so much idealism I just come to terms Got to know my own mental illness How it had messed up my life From all that weird stuff I kept cycling through Still...it is difficult Heard tonight Le Roy Spaniol died I found out about myself Through meeting Le Roy I still use the Recovery Workbook For my own recovery I don't know I have have gone over it Fifty or Hundred times Can't even remember Keeps me going And, I am grateful for that Got hit by a plague Le Roy did so much for me Taught me how I can live with my insanity I been haunted since the war Tormented And didn't able to do or complete Most anything Just get something started Have a complete nervous breakdown Go off and live in the woods For a few years For Le Roy I found out that I could live With what I had But, it ain't going to easy or pleasant Coronavirus killed Le Roy Spaniol Man, he is still part of history in a way This virus is a plague man Taking people it don't need to We can all get along and have a better day We don't have to Give it up Throw it up Give it down Surrender Now, we can keep going Someday, we will probably have Big garage sales in this country Just To pay back the debt If you don't pay And put in prevention You pay a big cost man Le Roy Spaniol Was the guy who taught me to live with this How to live with this It could be lived with This mental illness He died from Coronavirus And, sometimes, it seems like every year I am left more alone
Wonderful, tender, kind man. Teacher, mentor, colleague. Always my trusted source for feedback and guidance... as usual.. in his own quiet way. Rest well gentle giant.
Moe Armstrong LE ROY SPANIOL DIED Le Roy Spaniol died Died from Coronavirus Just another number On the TV screen One more number For Connecticut For the nation STOP!!!!! He was a real person for me Knew him Appreciated him He was one of the Smartest Kindest Nurturing persons Ever to come through my life We first met 1991 Baltimore Psychiatric Rehab Convention He was presenting about Families How to support families When mental illness hits a family It was all new to me I had tried to hide My own mental illness 1966 until 1984 Done an OK job I thought When, Really lost job after job Could take an International tour All the places, Where I have broken down Lost jobs Lost homes Lost wives Lost families I was rejected I rejected others Yelled Got angry People kept saying I needed help Where I turned to people People turned Against me Maybe, I am too angry, irritable, or just LOST Sometimes, people see the lostness Sometimes, they don’t Le Roy saw me He took me in Talked to me Taught me how to Publish articles He published many Of my articles We worked on the Recovery Workbook I started teaching the workbook In New Mexico The Recovery Workbook Was cornerstone Of all the work I did in Massachusetts The Recovery Workbook Is the cornerstone Of all the work I do with Veterans Moved to Boston One time Le Roy, Susan Spaniol And myself We ved in same building Saw each other Almost every day I read his articles I listened to his words I read over and over The Recovery Workbook In my life Through my life With my life The Recovery Workbook Spanish and English The Recovery Workbook Le Roy Spaniol died Coronavirus I called Tony Zipple He told me “It is true” Le Roy Spaniol died Coronavirus What a plague On this land What a sad loss Le Roy will live on with me Every Wednesday 2:00 pm Will go out and read Recovery Workbook On the internet, again Today, I am Older Sicker Weaker Still, I will go out and read Recovery Workbook For myself And with others The Recovery Workbook Has given me For the first time in my life Consistency Thank you Le Roy For your Knowledge, Kindness Konsideration and Kare Le Roy Spaniol King of Spain Gone with his God I will miss him
Papa was an amazing grandfather and an even better role model. He was the kindest, most humble person I have ever known, and I was so lucky to have him in my life. He will be missed dearly by everyone had the pleasure of knowing him.
Knowing LeRoy has been one of the greatest fortunes of my life. I first met LeRoy in the summer of 1993, when Melissa and I first started dating. At first, I was a bit intimidated by LeRoy; He seemed so serious and was so accomplished. However, I soon came to understand that while LeRoy was a serious person, with an incredible intellect, he was ...
Dear Susan, Melissa, Rachel and all others who loved LeRoy, I am so sorry. The world was a better place with LeRoy in it. I knew LeRoy to be a kind, welcoming and smart man. He used his gifts to make the world a more kind and gentle place, especially for people who were vulnerable. I remember fondly his genuine interest in others. He could ...
You can view a list of some of LeRoy's articles at: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/79723305_LeRoy_Spaniol. You can see the titles of some of his books at: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/leroy-spaniol/828794/.
LeRoy was my brother and when he was a little boy we lived near a park he loved to play there. One day when I was watching him he sneaked out the window and went to the park. He was a good brother, he loved to go downtown with me and look at all of the stores. He was my Alter boy at my wedding, I was so proud of him. I will miss him! love you LeRo...
I got to know LeRoy and Susan by participating with them in several Small Group Ministry gatherings at the Unitarian Society of Hartford. Since I have poor hearing and LeRoy wasn’t able to speak clearly, I couldn’t understand every word he said. But I got to know him and realize what an extraordinary person person he was by watching both of them ...
A message for my Uncle: Dear Uncle LeRoy, thank you for being around, at the beginning of my life, when you were forming yourself into the Beautiful Human Being you became. When I think of you, I think of all those picnics in the parks in Milwaukee, bicycle rides, playing tennis and softball, visiting you at the Maryknoll Seminary. And most of al...
Dear Susan and family members, As I reflect on my years working together with LeRoy, his caring and devotion to others is foremost in my mind. His wholehearted willingness to share his knowledge and expertise to ensure that we would grow and succeed was integral to his work throughout his career. Of key importance to LeRoy was to promote change. Wo...
Love, gentleness, empathy, wisdom...LeRoy Spaniol. The world is better for his life.
My Uncle Leroy, was such an amazing man! He was always there for our family especially my mom, his sister, Marilyn. She loved him so much! We would always get so excited when he was coming to Milwaukee. My mom would look forward to all his visits and phone calls. He always made us feel so special and loved. We were all so proud of him and all of hi...
Uncle Leroy, I am so happy me, my husband, son and grandson could come visit you and Aunt Susan last year in Connecticut. It was so good to see you both. U always had a way of making people feel special. I so enjoyed my time with you both. I wish I could go back to that moment and talk with you again. But I'm sure everyone does. I'm sure you are ve...
Leroy was a wonderful, “twinkly”gentle spirit who knew how to listen, how to laugh and how to love and how to add light to the world. He began as my teacher. He became a colleague and a friend over the years. He is missed .
Dear Uncle LeRoy. You were always an inspiration to me and a roll model. I am always thinking of you!