JulyAug_2012

Last Walk-Around
Doris “Sparkle”
Leonard
Doris “Sparkle” Leonard,
88, of Worcester, MA died
peacefully at her home May
7, 2012 under the loving
care of her family. She was
born in Fall River, MA,
grew up in Worcester, and
moved to West Boylston
to raise her family. She
was predeceased by her
husband of 47 years, John
H. Leonard. She leaves her
three children, Gail Turner,
Robert Leonard and Linda
Isgro and her husband Peter
Isgro; five grandchildren,
Michelle Hart, Sherry
Rotondo, Sheena Toscano,
Anthony and Nadia Isgro;
five great-grandchildren,
Camden and Brandon
Hart, Brianna and Michael
Rotondo, III and Mason
Toscano. She also leaves
her loving companion of
21 years, Ralph Herman
and her wonderful friend
Richard Smith.
Doris graduated from
Commerce High School
in 1942. She served as a
second class petty officer in
the Nay during World War
II. She was employed as a
bookkeeper for 64 years,
retiring from Lane, Greene,
Murtha & Edwards at age
83. She was a recipient of
the Special Congressional
Recognition Award for
outstanding and invaluable
service to the community.
While an employee of
the Rockwell Sprinkler
Company, she won The
Army-Navy Production
Award for Excellence in
War Production.
Doris brought joy to
so many children's faces
with her gift of clowning.
She was an active member
of Clowns of America
international and Alley
20, for 20 years She was
treasurer of Alley 20 for
more than 10 years. Doris
has placed Top 3 in COAI's
makeup and costume
competitions, Top 10 in skit
competition and top 10 for
her beautiful face painting.
Doris will be missed by
many of her fellow joeys.
She leaves her big shoes for
us to fill.
Bump a nose Doris…See
you down the road.
Johnny “Joel” Lee
Johnny “Joel” Lee,
magician, puppeteer, and a
great clown passed away at
the age of 99 years young,
just shortly after his birthday
party. Jonny joined Clowns
Like Us in 1998 and worked
right up till his heart attack
in 2011.
Johnny was a retired
tool and die designer from
Cleveland Graphite Bronze.
He served two enlistments in
the 9 th U.S. Naval Reserves.
Johnny enjoyed outdoor
sports such as snow skiing,
fishing and sailing. He
and his wife were both fly
casting champions of NW
Ohio and also Commodore
of the Whit City Yacht Club.
They raised and showed
champion brittany spaniels.
After retirement they moved
to North Port, Florida where
he soon became involved
with clowning classes and
graduated as a Comedic
White Face. After becoming
a clown he learned balloon
sculpting and mastered 30
different types of balloon
animals. Did I mention
Joel was blind? His
blindness occurred after
his move to Florida. He
made sure that every child
received a balloon on his
cruises, church, school and
restaurant gigs.
When Johnny was 14 he
found a book on magic and
began to learn magic tricks
in Cleveland.
“I never had a trick go
wrong,” he said. He
worked on a cruise ship as
a magician and received
standing ovations for his act.
Johnny never charged
for his 45-minute shows at
churches, schools, nursing
homes and hospice. Johnny
at the age of 99 could tell
stories that would make any
one young or old hang in till
the finish. He also at the age
of 95 started to learn to play
the harmonica and went on
to entertain the residents at
the assisted living, where he
spent his last year.
Johnny never complained
and was always ready to
help teach his magic and
puppetry at clown classes.
The children of Florida and
the Clowns Like Us will
truly miss this amazing guy.
If a clown close to you has passed, we would very much like to honor that clown with his or her last walk-around.
You can submit your Last Walk-Around obituary and photo to: NewCalliopeEditor @comcast.net
or you can snail mail to:
New Calliope Magazine
c/o Newton Studios,
370 W. Dearborn St, Suite B, • Englewood, FL 34223.
If emailing, please be sure to send a high resolution photo.
July/August 2012 Page 25