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Leonard Cosimo
February 25, 1933 - January 22, 2009
At about 8:45 Wednesday, January 22nd, Leonard had a heart attack at Mercy Hospital and has passed away.
I saw him Wednesday night and he was doing pretty well re coving from his surgery on the previous Wednesday, with prospects of going home this weekend. But as we all know, things don't always go as planned.
Arrangements and dates will be made tomorrow through Tonini Chapel on SW 9th and burial will be at Highland Memorial Gardens on 2nd Avenue. (Visitation is Sunday at Tonini's Funeral Home on SW 9th between 2–6 pm. Funeral is Monday at 10:30 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church on E 1st.)
His wish was that he be buried beside Bette's space under a tree in the spaces they had chosen together and beside Bette's daughter.
Talking to Bette, she said Leonard said he wanted to be buried in his black tux with red cumber-bun and bow tie. And yes, he insisted that Bad, Bad Leroy Brown be played for him. All of us who knew Leonard, will not be surprised by the request. I think Leonard knew more of what was to come than we did and was prepared.
In celebration of Leonard's life and devotion to dance, Bette & I are asking all the gentlemen to please wear your tuxes to the funeral for this one last tribute.
I have to tell you, it is very hard for me to write this e-mail referring to Leonard in the "past tense"..... It has been a very hard year to see him deteriorate so fast. But he kept on kicking. I knew this day would come, and somehow knew it would be unforeseen when it actually did. After seeing him last night, the call was totally unexpected and caught me off guard. I also know, Leonard could never live without dancing. This year was so hard on him not participating in classes.
Love him, like him, or yes sometimes, just tolerate him!!......Leonard touched hundreds, no probably, thousands of lives. He gave us all a gift many of us didn't know we even had inside us.
He told us in class that "there is no such thing as someone not having rhythm. Everyone had rhythm. It is the beat of your heart." He just taught us how to get that rhythm to our feet. And with that, he has brought me personally more joy that I had ever known.
I will miss him greatly and try my best to share all he has taught me in the last 6 years I've been with Bette & Leonard. You know, I hadn't thought of it before, but the simple ways to learn to dance also apply to living:
There are only four directions: Right side, left side, forward and back (Sometimes you make good choices and sometimes they are bad choices. And sometimes, you step to the side and let life go by while you take a break.)
Two types of turns: Clockwise & counter clockwise (Sometime we move forward and sometimes we move back or live in the past. And yes sometimes it feels as though we are spinning in circles.)
Repetition - Everyday we get up and do it all again. Some days we do it right, and some days....well....we get through until we can pick ourselves up and try again the next day.
There is no right way or wrong way. We all do the best we can on the dance floor, and in life.
Leonard had a very long life of bringing the joy of dance to others around the globe. But now his job is done, and I can assure you he is up there dancing his feet off and is NOT out of breath! Fred Astaire better look out. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is in town!
Life is precious and can be short. Tell those around you, that you love them. Forgive those who have wronged you.
And above all.........Enjoy the dance.
Please keep Bette and the rest of the Cosimo family in your prayers.
God Bless.
JoAnn Wilson