Leonard Lucian Sokol
1945 – 2021
Leonard passed away on May 8th, 2021 hours after his return from his bi-annual trip to Guatemala.
Len was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan on January 16th, 1945. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated with an education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He quickly made his way west, teaching in Calgary, Penticton, and Merritt before finally settling on Saltspring Island, British Columbia. In 1979 he established the Adult Graduation Program designed to help students of all ages return to highschool to complete their certificate through tailored syllabi. The oldest graduate of this program was 86; a student and achievement that Len was particularly proud of. He ended his career teaching and inspiring advanced highschool English students. His retirement was spent expanding on his lifelong search for beauty, spirituality, and meaning in life; a journey which took him to all corners of the world. He loved the mountains, to travel, to read, and to write poetry. Most of all he loved people and had established friendships the world over. He was kind, generous, funny, and highly intelligent. His complex and enigmatic nature was loved and will be greatly missed by those that knew him.
He is predeceased by his parents, Anna and Walter Sokol, and niece, Anne Junk. He is survived by his two siblings: sister, Bernice Junk (Gerald), and their children Greg, Maureen, Kevin, Paul, and Karl; brother Denis Sokol (Peggy) and their children Ellen, Phillip, and Camille; and great nieces and nephews.
Thank you to those special people who helped Len with the trying times of his life. You know who you are.
In his memory: write a poem, sing a song, dance a dance, become a “student of the universe”. As Len often quoted:
“’Beauty is truth, truth beauty— That is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know’” • John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn