Dennis Leogrande

Dennis Leogrande, age 77, passed unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  

Born in Paterson, NJ, in 1947, Dennis moved to North Haledon, NJ, at the age of twelve. He graduated from Manchester Regional High School, where he met Leslie, who would become his loving wife of fifty-five years. After receiving a BA in Music Education from William Paterson University, he went on to earn both an MA in Music Education from NYU and a Supervisor’s Certificate from Montclair University.

Throughout his college and early married years, Dennis played professional accordion for banquets, parties, and weddings. During his 28 year career in education, Dennis specialized in string instrument instruction and orchestra conducting. He began his career in the Pascack Valley district. His next job was in the Ramapo/Indian Hills system. Following that he moved professionally to Randolph, where he remained for 25 years, teaching lessons, establishing ensembles, and creating a string orchestra of considerable reputation. His final career move was to Millburn, where he assumed the responsibilities of District Music Supervisor. During these years in public education, he published several music books for the educational market.

Dennis met Leslie Pickering while in high school.  She was his prom date and after five years of dating they fell in love and married.  Dennis and Leslie married at the Cedar Cliff Methodist Church in Haledon on August 9, 1969 and honeymooned at Cove Haven in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. They have enjoyed a loving, devoted and supportive marriage of fifty-five years.

Dennis took early retirement to pursue his passion and begin a second career. He opened his own digital recording studio where he served as recording engineer and Leslie served as director of hospitality. They both loved working with the artists who came to the studio to record projects that would further either their careers or their educations. When not teaching privately or working with clients in the studio, Dennis created original piano jazz compositions, which resulted in four commercial collections. He wrote all the music and performed several tracks on each compilation. Of special pleasure to him was collaboration on the musical endeavors of special friends.

One of Dennis’s joys was travel, which he enjoyed more frequently post-retirement. From Maine to Italy, it didn’t much matter as long as it was a vacation, and he was able to enjoy it with Leslie and often with family and friends. In 2022, he and Leslie purchased a modest lake cottage in New York State. He spent many happy hours kayaking, fishing, and relaxing in front of his wood burning stove. Surprisingly, he took quite easily to country life.

Dennis lived a life rich in love, music, and humor. It was a good life.

Dennis was the loving husband of fifty-five years to Leslie (Pickering) Leogrande; devoted brother to Lorraine and her husband Michael Pistorio, and Sandra and her husband Brian Toner; he will be dearly missed by his nieces, nephews, their families, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Clemson University Dr. Anthony Bernarducci Annual Choral Fund (click here to be brought to the donation page).  If you prefer to mail your donation: Clemson University Foundation, PO Box 1889, Clemson, SC 19633-1889 (in your memo write “Dr Anthony Bernarducci Annual Choral Fund in memory of Dennis Leogrande).