Amy P. Leonard

Amy Pifer Leonard, formerly of Mountain Road, Smoke Rise, Kinnelon, NJ passed away quietly at her home in Cedar Crest, Pequannock, NJ on August 22, 2022 after a brief illness.  Amy was born on March 2, 1933 in Butler, Pennsylvania. She had many passions in life: opera, books, and her beloved Pug dogs in addition to her artistic interests.  Growing up in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, Amy was surrounded by relatives who taught and encouraged her to pursue her drawing and painting.  At the age of ten, Amy’s grandmother, sensing her talent, enrolled her in her first art class.  An uncle, who was a civil engineer, taught Amy how to draw and use drafting tools.

Amy attended Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree.  She continued her education with a Master’s Degree, in addition to a Certificate of Occupational Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania.  Amy used these degrees to begin her career as an Occupational Therapist at Pennsylvania’s State and Veteran Hospital.  While focusing on her career, Amy continued to sketch and paint.

Moving to Smoke Rise in 1976 with her husband Jay, the now retired Amy played an active volunteer role in operations of the Smoke Rise Club and the Smoke Rise Chapel.  That activity complete, she devoted most of her time to drawing and teaching watercolor painting for many years through the Kinnelon Library’s Center for Lifelong Learning.  Beautiful landscapes, such as the Smoke Rise Chapel, waterfall, beach and New England ocean scenes were inspirations for her paintings.  For many years Amy provided the Women of Smoke Rise with their annual Christmas card design.  At the Club’s request, she provided a watercolor painting of a Smoke Rise landmark to outgoing Smoke Rise Club Board members.

Amy and her late husband, Jay, who passed away in 2021, were married for 64 years. Funeral services will be private.  Not wanting anything special for a memorial service, Amy’s wish for everyone was to enjoy the beauty of the world around them and to keep a special place in their hearts for animals of all types. Donations in Amy’s name may be made to:  The Kinnelon Volunteer Animal Shelter, 2 Kiel Avenue, #252, Kinnelon, NJ. 07405 and/or the Kinnelon Library Legacy Foundation, 132 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ. 07405.