[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E147-E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF LEO GOLDNER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2020

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of an 
extraordinary man, Leo Goldner. Leo lived a full life, brought joy to 
so many, and served as a valued member of the Toledo community. Today 
his family and friends gather to eulogize him, and I would like to read 
his obituary into the Record on this day:

       ``Leo Goldner was born in Toledo Hospital on July 3rd, 
     1923, son of Herman and Margret Fleichocher Goldner and 
     brother to his beloved sister. For many years the Goldner's 
     lived above their family dry goods store called the Chicago 
     Bargain House.
       ``He lived in a Hungarian immigrant neighborhood in East 
     Toledo and learned to speak fluent Hungarian. He was an avid 
     Stamp collector and a Yo Yo champion.
       ``Leo was the only Jewish boy in his elementary and high 
     school and learned to defend himself against neighborhood 
     bullies by learning Judo and quickly worked his way up to 
     Black Belt 5th degree status. He had release parochial time 
     in elementary school, but instead of taking two buses to go 
     to his synagogue, he agreed at the request of the Monsignor 
     of St. Stephen's Church to become an altar boy at St. 
     Stephens Church, an interesting choice for a Jewish boy.
       ``There are pictures of Leo hanging in Waite High School 
     and in St. Stephen's Church where he donated the bronze 
     statue of St. Stephen, which still stands there out front 
     today on Genesee Street. He graduated from Waite High School 
     as a member of the National Honors Society.
       ``Leo attended the University of Toledo to study pre-law, 
     was on the wrestling and tennis team, and joined the Lamda 
     Chi fraternity. Upon the invasion of Pearl Harbor, he 
     enlisted in the U.S. Army. There, as a lowly private, he was 
     eventually sent to officer's candidate school to become a 
     Lieutenant.
       ``In the Army, he served under General George C. Marshall 
     as chief of staff and helped liberate the Philippines under 
     General Douglas MacArthur where he was injured in hand to 
     hand combat. He had no less than 12 medals and five 
     decorations, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
       ``He served as director of USO Camp Shows in the Western 
     Pacific after being wounded in battle. He was an expert 
     Magician and Hypnotist.
       ``During the time he was an infantry officer, he used two 
     three day passes to marry the love of his life Marian Rachel 
     Baron, to whom he was married for 76 years.
       ``After being discharged from the Army, he worked at the 
     family dry goods store, but really wanted to have a store of 
     his own. He accepted a job offer from his brother-in-law, 
     Jerry Baron at Baron Steel Company. There he flourished as a 
     salesman, making an unheard-of million dollars for the firm 
     his very first year. Later, he and his brother-in-law Sidney 
     Baron, started Tyler Steel, in 1953. Two years later, Leo 
     started Parker Steel Company, which today is the number one 
     distributor of metric metals in the nation.
       Leo and Marian began their married life in a house on 
     Vermont Street in Toledo. In 1955 they built a home in Ottawa 
     Hills. He included in the home a Theater room where he could 
     perform magic tricks.
       He was past president of the Association of Steel 
     distributors and a founding member of Magician Ring 68, 
     Toledo, Ohio. He was the longest living member of the 
     International Brotherhood of Magicians (where he was awarded 
     the Order of Merlin), which he joined on his 16th birthday.
       Leo and his wife Marian were founding members of the Toledo 
     Chapter of Hillel at the University of Toledo. He did 
     hundreds of Hypnosis demonstrations benefiting Waite High 
     School and raised over $200,000 for scholarships.
       For well over 34 years, he was the State of Israel Bond 
     Chairman for NW Ohio and traveled to Israel over 20 times. He 
     was on the National Board of Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, 
     the Darlington House, (home for the aged) the Elks Club, the 
     Kiwanis, a 32nd degree Mason, the Damaseus Lodge, as well as 
     a member of Temple B'nai Israel, Temple Shomer Emunim, 
     Congregation Etz Chayim, and the American Israel Policy 
     Conference.
       ``Leo was also a member of the American Society of Clinical 
     Hypnotists, the National

[[Page E148]]

     Guild of Hypnotists Gold Baton Group at Toledo Symphony 
     Orchestra, the President's Council of the Toledo Museum of 
     Art, and the Ohio Governor's Club.
       ``He is listed in Who's Who in America and is a member of 
     the Jewish Community Center, where he taught Judo for many 
     years. He was an avid boater and fisherman.
       ``Leo was President of Parker Steel Company, a board member 
     of Temple Shomer Emunim, Couples Club Co-chair, and Chairman 
     of the board of the Footlighters' Club of South Florida which 
     raises money for indigent entertainers and musicians. He and 
     Marian had many joyous years at the family cottage, the 
     Squeezum Inn, on Kelleys Island.
       ``Leo and Marian spent many winters in their home in the 
     Florida Keys, before moving to Aventura, FL for the last 16 
     years.
       ``When asked if he had any regrets, Leo said:
       `Not really, I really don't have any regrets. I've lived my 
     life enjoying every minute. I've tried to enjoy every minute. 
     I don't know when it's going to end, but I don't want anyone 
     to feel sorry for me when I'm gone. I've enjoyed every minute 
     and accomplished everything I ever wanted to do. As far as 
     I'm concerned, they can dance and celebrate a life well lived 
     at my funeral.'
       ``Leo is survived by his wife Marian; his four children, 
     Paul (Linda Bender, Sandra Soifer), Harriet (aka Camryn Lee), 
     Marcia Alter and Janet Killam (Michael); his grandchildren, 
     Andrea DeMar (David), Mark Goldner, Sharon Tipping (Michael), 
     Olivia Potash (Daniel), and Jordan Killam; and his great-
     grandchildren, Lauren, Noah and Rebecca DeMar, Talia, Emma, 
     and Abigail Tipping and Omri Potash.''
       Leo Goldner was a fine man and will be remembered admirably 
     by all those who knew him. We offer his family and friends 
     our prayers and hope that they find comfort in the wonderful 
     memories of what Leo meant to each of the people who shared 
     in his life.