Born in Baltimore, Md., during the Great Depression, Leon Meyer Holzman raised his daughters, Donna Lynn, JoAnn, and Karen Lee, in the city he grew up in. He was proud of his daughters and their accomplishments.
While he loved playing semi-pro football, he quit early to avoid more injuries. For over 40 years, he worked in food service, including a catering business with his brothers, Frank, Stanley, and Stewart Holzman. The Korner Carryout in Eldersburg, Md., became famous for cheesesteak subs and Leon’s warm hugs.
Leon married his soulmate and best friend, Ellen Van Horn, on June 26, 1983. They moved to Pasadena, Md., where they basked in golden sunsets reflected off of the Magothy River and sailed on adventures throughout the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. During their vacations in the Bahamas, Leon and Ellen scuba-dived among the reefs, soaking in the island culture.
He named his sailboat Karen Lee in honor of his daughter, who died young, the deepest sorrow of his life. Perhaps it is fitting then that he forged lifelong bonds with Jennifer Pelton Deitzman and Jane Rohde during sailing races on Karen Lee.
He concluded his full-time work experience at Morris Ginsberg, his brother Stanley’s roofing company.
After they retired, Ellen and Leon moved to Hardyville. A master captain, Leon took family and locals on Chesapeake Bay cruises. He also contacted sailors far and wide on behalf of the Waterways Guide.
While president of the Chick Cove Home Owners Association, he oversaw community pool repairs.
After his beloved wife passed away in 2023, Leon had a serious auto accident and recovered with his niece, Kristine Carter, and her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
His life came full circle when Leon moved back to Baltimore, where his adopted daughter, Jennifer Pelton Dietzman, her husband, Jeff, and her children cared for him. He also enjoyed retreats with his adopted daughter, Jane Rohde, and his niece, Paula Lee Jackson.
During his last year or so, he cherished reunions with his daughter, Donna Lynn Chewning, and her children and grandchildren, as well as his siblings, godson, nieces and nephews, and numerous other family and friends. In his final days, Leon said, “I’ve had a good long life, some hard times, but full of love.”
Leon Meyer Holzman is survived by his daughters, Donna Lynn Chewning and husband, Stephen Chewning, and JoAnn D’Angelo and husband, Michael D’Angelo; his adopted daughters, Jennifer Pelton Dietzman and husband, Jeff Dietzman, Kristine Ada Carter and husband, Larry Carter, and Jane Rohde; his siblings, Frank Holzman and wife, Estelle Holzman, Ted Wooden and wife, Sharon Wooden, Edgar Wooden, Gerry Minkin, and Elaine Lambert; his grandchildren, Kristine Davoli (Chewning) and husband, Mark Davoli, and Renee D’Angelo; his adopted grandchildren Kateri Pelton, Lucas Pelton, Cameron Pelton, and Gene Christopher Carter; his great-grandchildren, Emilia Davoli, and Tyler Aponte; his godson, Teddy Wooden, Jr. and wife Laura Wooden; and his many nieces and nephews including Mary Lou and Wallace Sheckells, Michelle Holzman, Joe and Sheila Holzman, Mark and Debi Holzman, Jeffrey and Susan Holzman, Scott and Stephanie Holzman, William Minkin, Elizabeth Friedman, Richard Minkin, Johnny and Meredith Mitchell, Barbie Mitchell, Lori and Tommy Jones, Lisa Holzman, Francine Glazer, Teresa Alpert, and Joseph Tamres.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Ellen Van Horn Holzman; his parents, Joseph Holzman and Bessie (Holzman) Wooden; his siblings, Stanley Holzman, Stewart Holzman, and Rhona Tamres; his daughter, Karen Lee Holzman; his granddaughter, Keri Anne Aponte (Chewning); his great-grandson, Wil Aponte; and nephew, Jason Holzman.
Leon asked that “nobody be excluded” in his obituary, but that is impossible in a life lived this large.
Services will be at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Md., on Monday, Dec. 30 at 10:30 am. Interment will be Saters Baptist Historical Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Live Together Intergenerational Community, a nonprofit organization founded by Jane Rohde which advocates for and implements intergenerational community building, a charitable organization that puts into practice the principles so important to Leon throughout his life, memorial gifts can be made by visiting livetogethercommunity
