Former Sands Point Mayor Leonard Wurzel died Nov. 16 at the age of 95.
Appointed Sands Point mayor in 1989, Wurzel served in that position until his retirement in 2011. Before his tenure as mayor, he served on the Sands Point Board of Trustees and its board of zoning appeals.
Born in Philadelphia in 1918, Wurzel earned a masters in business administration from Harvard in 1941.
Drafted as a U.S. Army private in 1941, Wurzel was discharged in 1946 as a captain, according to legacy.com.
His numerous World War II military service awards include the Bronze Star, and the Insiginia of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor awarded by decree of French President Francois Hollande in 2013.
He moved to Sands Point in 1949 and is considered the founder of the Village Club of Sands Point, once an IBM country club.
Wurzel served as president of Loft Candy Corporation from 1957 to 1964, and then founded Calico Cottage Candies in 1964, retiring from there in 1992.
Wurzel is survived by his wife, Elaine Cohen Wurzel, two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Ellen Wurzel and Larry Wurzel and Elaine Gnessin; grandchildren, Jill Wurzel Lekstutis and her husband Carmine Lekstutis, Max Wurzel, and Greg Wurzel and Greg's mother, Martha Wurzel, and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Chloe Lekstutis.
He was a member of the Community Synagogue in Sands Point since 1953.
Funeral Services were held at The Community Synagogue, 160 Middle Neck Rd., at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Burial took place Tuesday at Beth Moses Cemetery, Wellwood Ave. in West Babylon.
Shiva will take place at Nov. 19 at the home of Leonard and Elaine Wurzel's until 8 p.m., with services at 7 p.m. On Nov. 20 and 21, Shiva will take place at the same location from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Synagogue.
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