Leonard Dwight Espinosa passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 1st, in Colorado Springs, CO. He was preceded by his wife, Janis Leda (Heller) in 2010, and is survived by their two sons, Aaron (Allison) and Ian.

Lenny was born on January 4th, 1945, in East St. Louis, MO, to Leonard Victor and Grace (Hamilton). He attended Michigan State University, where he met Janis and also competed as an All-American powerlifter. They raised their family in Okemos, MI where they both attained Master’s Degrees, which Lenny put to good use as a petroleum geologist in mineral leasing for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This career took him across both peninsulas evaluating mineral deposits—activity Len loved so much that it often continued with the unwitting participation of the rest of the family while on vacations across the country.

Lenny had an additional, parallel career as a beloved photography professor with the excellent department at Lansing Community College, as originally established with assistance from Eastman Kodak. Family and friends of family alike will recall the unexpected pleasure of being enlisted to assist in lengthy reviews of the thousands of picturesque and dramatic slides he produced over the course of his life. Most of which concerned the natural world and the night sky, additional passions which he encouraged in his children.

Lenny recently relocated from the Midwest to Chicago and then to Colorado so that his family could render assistance with his dementia care. He was very comfortable and enjoyed much valuable time with same, remaining in good spirits throughout, much of which was due to the care he received from his partner, Christina Rodriguez. He will be remembered as a loving father who raised his boys on a steady diet of science fact as well as science fiction.

There will be a remembrance in the Lansing area in the spring. To ensure notice, please contact Aaron @[email protected].