Paul Lenner was a good guy. I first met him when we were both Roosevelt Island runners, a few decades ago. We were young enough to have knees that could handle Z-bricks. More recently, he’d smile playfully and plead, “Don’t quote me,” about whatever I was reporting. Others treasure memories of his many virtues and friendship.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt island Daily News
Paul Lenner’s Legacy
Judith Friedman reached out with the sad news of his passing on August 10th. She shared his obituary, asking that I share it with our readers.
Paul Lenner Obituary
Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 15, 2024.
Paul David Lenner, 85, of Roosevelt Island, New York, passed away comfortably on August 10, 2024, surrounded by his children.
Born October 14, 1938, to Murray and Marjorie Lenner (Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe), Paul was raised in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood, playing stickball and rooting for the Dodgers. He attended Erasmus High School and Columbia University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in the arts and in electrical engineering. School was followed by service in the armed forces and a 40-year career in the telecommunications industry.
Paul had two children, Julie and Steven, with his first wife Baylah Wolfe, and two children, Michael and Robin, with his second wife, Rubi Lenner. In 1992 he married Judith Friedman, with whom he moved to Roosevelt Island and who remained an important friend to the end of his life.
Paul was active in NYC community affairs and tended to an amazing garden of tulips and cherry tomatoes. He cherished Central Park and was a dedicated volunteer with the Conservancy for more than 20 years. An unflagging fan of the Mets and the Jets, he took his kids to many games. The list of charitable organizations he supported is long.
Paul is survived by his children, Julie Lenner, Steven Lenner, Michael Lenner and Robin Lenner; their partners and spouses Edward Waszak, Kelly Morishita and Liddell Shannon; and his grandchildren Olivia and Nolan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Compassion & Choices, Central Park Conservancy or the Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center.
The Committee Man
Committees are supposed to be where outcomes are shaped. They are meant to be the place where questions slow decisions down, where competing interests surface, and where public responsibility is exercised before anything reaches a formal vote.
