LEON HENRY HUSTON
Leon Henry Huston, 82, a longtime Larchmont resident, died Thursday, May 18 at The
Osborn retirement community in Rye, his home of several years. Mr. Huston was born
December 30, 1923 in Providence, R.I. to Leon Leroy and Pearl Ellen Thankful Snow Huston.
He was raised in Amsterdam, NY and graduated as class valedictorian in 1941 from
Wilbur H. Lynch High School, receiving the school's highest scholarship prize.
He enrolled at Columbia University on a scholarship and pursued studies in industrial
engineering.
Mr. Huston left Columbia in October 1942 to serve in World War II, enlisting in the
Army and assigned to the 52nd Fighter Group. He served as a cryptographic technician,
rising to Corporal First Class serving in numerous campaigns in theatres in North
Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He was awarded the Medal of Good Conduct and the
distinguished Unit Badge and was honorably discharged in September 1945. Resuming
his studies at Columbia after the war, he graduated in 1947 with a bachelor's degree
in industrial engineering. He worked for the City of New York and subsequently held
several managerial and consulting jobs, including positions with some of the world's
largest pharmaceutical companies, before retiring in 1988.
Mr. Huston married Valerie Diamantis of New Rochelle on September 27, 1958, in Manhattan.
He lived with his family in Larchmont from 1973 to 2003 and was a member of St. John's
Episcopal Church in Larchmont, where he was active on the Outreach Committee. He was
also very involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Hunger Task Force.
Lee, as he was known, spent a great deal of time in his retired years enjoying summer
visits from his grandchildren and traveling the world. He was often in England visiting
with his daughters and traveled with his son extensively: Japan, China, Indonesia,
Macao and Sweden. In between travels, Lee was an avid organic gardener who had perfected
composting techniques over 30 years and raised an enviable array of quality crop.
“Dad was quite pleased that the butterflies and birds would spend more time in his
garden than in others, as it was chemical free: 100 percent natural. I would often
complain of all the ants in the house and he would simply say that they don't eat very
much,“ his son Tony said. “I think Dad really felt he was only borrowing the land for
a little while during his time here, and that it was his way to give thanks to turn it
over to the next tenants in better shape than when he found it.“
Besides his son, of Larchmont, he is survived by two daughters, Alexandra Huston
Abplanalp of Surrey, England and Victoria Huston McClean of Wimbledon, England; three
brothers, David of Memphis, TN, Peter of Scotia, NY and Richard of Kingsley, PA; one
sister, Bettina Huston Wolffe, of Lake Lure, NC; and seven grandchildren, Kylie,
Christopher and Brian Abplanalp; Alec, Paul and Isabel McClean; and Eleanor Huston.
His wife preceded him in death in 1986.
A Memorial Service is scheduled at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 5 at St. John's Episcopal
Church, Fountain Square in Larchmont. The family has suggested contributions in lieu
of flowers to Native American causes.
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