Leonard Breznak, proud Navy veteran
Leonard Breznak, or “Brez” as he was known, passed away from a hard-fought battle with cancer Monday, July 1, 2024.
Brez was born April 7, 1945, to Lillian Bereznak Slowik and John Bereznak. He spent his youth in Freeland, Pa., until his father died unexpectedly. A few years later, his mother married Rudolph Slowik and welcomed Brez’s sister, Sandy. The family moved to McAdoo, Pa., where Brez made many lifelong friends.
Brez was elected to be president of the McAdoo High School senior class, but the school closed before he could serve his term, and he ended up graduating from Hazleton High School. After high school, he joined the U.S Navy, where he was stationed on the USS Boxer as a radarman.
Brez traveled the world while in the service and had many tales to tell about his adventures in faraway places including Spain, Italy, and Hong Kong. He would always return with amazing gifts for his family.
He also experienced the horrors of war. The Boxer was anchored off the coast of Vietnam, and seeing countless wounded soldiers who were transported to the ship haunted him for the rest of his life. He also was affected by Agent Orange. All of this prompted him to help other veterans and their families however he could.
After Brez was honorably discharged, he moved to Washington, D.C., with his friends. Soon afterward, he married the girl who grew up across the street from him in McAdoo, Susan Lenyo. Brez and Susan welcomed a daughter, Beth, and a son, John, and eventually moved back to McAdoo. They have a love story that spanned 56 years on this earth but will never end.
While raising their family, Brez worked in leadership positions in the corrugated industry. Here, too, he made fast friends and was a mentor to many people he knew. His advice was always thoughtful and spot-on, his support was invaluable, and many of his quotes are repeated today including a fan favorite, “You can’t fix stupid.”
Eventually, Brez and Susan retired to Millsboro, where they added to their amazing collection of friends. They loved spending time at the beach, surf-fishing with their son and grandson, Ian, who benefited from Brez’s fishing tips even if they never caught the big one.
Brez was far too humble to accept it, but the impact he had is beyond comprehension. From family and friends, to veterans and neighbors, he would help in whatever way possible. This even included establishing a scholarship fund at Freeland YMCA for disadvantaged kids.
Brez’s quick wit, sense of humor, and ability to find the positive during exceptionally difficult times lifted us all.
He is survived by his best friend and lifelong love, Susan; daughter, Beth (Rusnock) and her husband Bob; son John and his wife Amy; grandchildren, Lindsey Rusnock, Erin Rusnock, Emma Breznak and Ian Breznak; sister, Sandy Pavelko; sisters-in-law, Jerry Kostick and Nancy Lenyo; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who are family. He was predeceased by his parents; and brothers-in-law, Gene Kostick and George Lenyo.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 12, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 North Bedford St., Georgetown. A military tribute will be held at 2 p.m., at Delaware Veterans Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, followed by a celebration of Brez’s life at The Landing, Plantation Lakes, Millsboro.
If you’d like to honor Brez, donations can be made to ymca.org/locations/freeland-ymca; or to https://dchv.org/take-action.
Visit Brez’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
