Leonard Philip Poggiali

Leonard Philip Poggiali, 77, of Eastchester, NY, died on Monday, September 16, 2024 of complications from AML. He was born on April 27, 1947, in New Rochelle, NY, to Alfonso Poggiali and Anna (Salvati) Poggiali. He attended St. Catharine’s School in Pelham and Blessed Sacrament High School in New Rochelle and graduated from Iona College in 1969.

Len met his wife, Elizabeth (Costello) Poggiali, while in college, and together they moved to Pittsburgh, where he earned an MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University. They next settled in Syracuse, NY, where they raised their three children. Len worked as a teacher and administrator at Fayetteville-Manlius High School for 25 years, teaching theater and dramatic literature and directing many plays and musicals. After retirement, they returned to Westchester, and Len spent more than a decade as a devoted caregiver to Betty, who passed away in 2018 from complications from Alzheimer’s.

In his last years, Len became a grandfather, a role he embraced with characteristic love and devotion. He also became an active member of several local organizations, including The Three Garridebs of Westchester and LIRIC at Iona University.

He is survived by children Christian, Philip, and Jennifer, son-in-law Steven, granddaughters Emily and Cynthia, sister and brother-in-law Marlene and Ira Greil, nephew Matthew Greil, niece Jessica Greil-Burkhart and her husband James Burkhart, great-niece Isabella, sister-in-law Margaret Riemer and her extended family.

A wake will be held from 4-8 PM on September 19, 2024, at the Pelham Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 10:30 on September 20, 2024, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe, with interment to follow at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Alzheimer’s Association.