Blackshear:
A Life Full of Energy and Vision
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Leonard A. Blackshear was
born in Savannah, Georgia on June 29, 1943 to Frank and
Elsie S. Blackshear. At the age of six months, his family
migrated to Queens, New York, where he was nurtured in a
Christian home and actively participated as a youth leader
at Brooks Memorial Methodist Church.
He
attended accelerated programs and graduated from John Adams
High School at the age of 15, after which he enrolled at
Hunter College, Bronx campus, to pursue an engineering degree.
Later, after four years in the Air Force, he completed his
Bachelors Degree in Physics from the University of Maryland,
followed by a Masters in Finance from the American University,
and post graduate studies at George Washington University.
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After
completing his bachelor's degree, Leonard's professional career
began with IBM, as a system's engineer and later a marketing
representative. He left IBM to help start the South County Health
Center for one of his clients, the Anne Arundel County Community
Action Agency. He subsequently moved into business development
and business consulting with CEDA and the BRAND Corporation,
where he helped numerous individuals begin their businesses.
In the late 1970s and until his death, Leonard migrated his
business to focus on telecommunications through Associated Enterprises,
Inc./TeleSonic. In reality he was in business for himself because
it gave him the flexibility to serve the community because he
saw himself as a true servant of the community.
He began his lifelong love and servitude to the community at
an early age, starting with his role as a youth leader at Brooks
Memorial Methodist Church. During his years at Hunter College
he actively worked with Malcolm X in the Harlem Youth Project
and was a participant in the 1963 March on Washington. Later
his community involvement evolved by serving for years as a
Regional Vice President to the National Business League and
also as President of the Health & welfare Council of Central
Maryland, an organization which implemented the Black Needs
Assessment of Baltimore, which evolved into Associated Black
Charities.
Leonard served as President of the Parole Rotary club and as
the chairperson for the International Lanes Project which initiated
Project BIG (Books for International Goodwill). He was also
Vice-President of the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce; Board
Member of Mid-Atlantic AAA; Board of Advisors Sandy Spring National
Bank; Board Member of the Federal Reserve Bank (Small Business/Agriculture
Committee), Richmond, Virginia; Board Member, Anne Arundel Medical
Center; and Board Member, Anne Arundel County Library System.
He was also a member of Gamma Boule, Baltimore.
In addition, Leonard was Founder & President of the Kunta
Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, resulting in the construction of
the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial site at the Annapolis City
Dock, Maryland; Founding organizer of the Kunta Kinte Heritage
Festival; and Founding Member of RESPECT, Inc. He also established
a series of reconciliation study circles, which evolved from
the 2004 Slavery Reconciliation Walk.
In his earlier years, he was the 1977 Outstanding Young Man
in America, US Jaycee; received the National Business League's
Presidential Citation; was one of two Maryland leaders representing
the White House Conferences on Small Business, and, received
an award from IBM in recognition for creation of a national
computer marketing tool. He was also an HEW Fellow; and over
the years received national, state, and local awards, citations,
and recognition too numerous to list.
Leonard is survived by his wife of nearly 34 years, Dr. Patsy
Baker Blackshear. They helped to raise two nieces and a nephew.
He is also survived by his parents, three brothers, and three
sisters. Survivors also include sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law,
and a total of 10 nieces and 14 nephews.
Many who knew Leonard would hear him respond, "better and
better" when asked how he was doing. He taught us all how
to live a "better and better" life. |
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