Leonard Carlton Blessing

Leonard C. Blessing (104) passed away peacefully February 9, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. For 61 years, his home was in New Providence, NJ where he was a faithful member of the New Providence United Methodist Church during that time. 

A “Renaissance Man,” Leonard led an extraordinary life committed to learning not only for his legions of students and colleagues, but for himself. 

Leonard was born in Newark, NJ in 1920 to Mildred and David L. Blessing. He graduated from West Side High School, Newark, NJ, 1939 and worked at Prudential Life Insurance Company. A veteran of World War II, he proudly served in the Army Air Corp, Oahu, Hawaii and stateside, 1942-46. He was a loyal alumnus of Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ. He pursued post-graduate coursework in Science at Rutgers University, NJ; University of Utah, UT, Bowdoin College, ME; North Dakota State University-Fargo; and University of Sussex, U.K where he did coursework in Anglo-Saxon British History and Musical Composition. 

In 1940, over a boxed lunch wrapped in a blue ribbon, Leonard met his future wife, Frances Meeker, at a DeMolay/Rainbow Girls box lunch party. The chance meeting led to a 72-year love story. They were lovers and friends, gift-givers and party planners, travel companions and partners. Leonard credited Frances’ support and encouragement to take advantage of the G.I. Bill after WWII for launching him on to an extraordinary career. He remained deeply in love with Frances to his dying day. 

In 1950, Leonard started his science teaching career in Wayne, NJ and was hired to teach at Millburn HS, Millburn, NJ in 1952. He became Science Department Head in 1958. In 1960-61, on sabbatical, Mr. Blessing taught for a year at the Newell Green Secondary Modern School, Manchester, England where he also coached Basketball. He retired from Millburn Township Public Schools in 1987. In post-retirement, he was named Science Supervisor Emeritus, and his love for his students, colleagues, teaching and all things Millburn always remained foremost in his heart. 

Leonard was a visionary educator who developed the Millburn High School Science program into a world class and internationally recognized K-12 Science program. He encouraged the development of a science curricula that not only included the “required” Science courses but offered a dazzling array of Science electives. He recognized the importance of conservation and ecology in the ’50’s, saw the value of having an electron microscope in the science department in the early ’70’s, and identified the important need for computers in the department in the early ’80’s. Mr. Blessing was the driver behind the introduction of AP courses at the High School. In the late ’60’s, he, along with colleagues John Weir and James Gardner, developed and published a groundbreaking Unified Science Course. This was one of the nation’s earliest multi-disciplinary courses in education curriculum in the nation that integrated Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. 

Mr. Blessing held key Leadership positions in Local, State, National and International organizations including the National Teachers Association, National Association of Biology Teachers, National Science Foundation, American Association for the Advancement of Science. He presented at the International Conference on Integrated Science in Maryland, the International Science Conference in Montpellier, France and in Moscow, USSR. Between 1952-1959, Mr. Blessing was a coach for the successful Millburn Track team; and between 1952-1956 he was one of the coaches for the Millburn Basketball team. He also coached the Chess Club, 1977- 2002, and the very popular Contract Bridge Team, 1952-1976. In retirement, he was a consultant in Science Education, Chess, and Bridge and continued to serve on numerous Science and Educational Boards and committees. 

Among the many awards and recognitions that Mr. Blessing received were the Fulbright Foundation Fellow; Fellow and officer of the international division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; district representative for the National Association of Biology Teachers; Outstanding Biology TeacherTheobold Smith Society; one of 6 Outstanding Biology Teachers in the nation by the National Association of Biology Teachers; Outstanding Supervisor and Distinguished Service Awards from NJ Science Supervisors Association and the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association; Outstanding Educator, NJ Senate; Millburn High School Athletics Hall of Fame. 

His educational experiences in England led to his becoming a consummate Anglophile with many long-term visits to the U.K. Additionally, he with his beloved wife, Frances, traveled extensively to almost every state in the nation and almost every continent in the world. He was a poet who wrote over a hundred poems and had several of them published. He composed hundreds of compositions ranging from piano, vocal, and instrumental solos to choral pieces and chamber music, some of which have been performed at Millburn High School, Penfield High School in New York, and in churches in NJ and NY State. 

Mr Blessing also had a wide range of interests and accomplishments. He became an accomplished Contract Bridge player by the time he was 20, having started playing bridge as an eight-year-old. He was a savvy Masters level Bridge player, a Certified Contract Bridge Director, and an avid Contract bridge player even in retirement. He became a skillful pianist in his teens and for 25 years, provided the pre-service piano music each Sunday at the New Providence United Methodist Church in New Providence, NJ. He is listed in publications of The Who’s Who in American Education and in American Poetry; Leaders in Education; and Community Leaders & Noteworthy Americans. He authored two books, “Crossing Your Bidding Bridges” and “Unified Science.” Mr. Blessing has had numerous poems published and wrote two unpublished stories: a short story, “A Ballad of the West,” and an autobiography, “A Twentieth Century Life.” 

Throughout his unique life, Mr. Blessing was a consummate scholar, researcher, teacher, leader, world traveler, musician and poet, romanticist, loving husband and father, mentor and loyal friend whose integrity, optimism, and idealism resided at his core. When asked when he was 102, “What is the secret to living such a long life?” Leonard replied, “There is no secret. No matter what the situation, I have chosen to be happy. Choosing to be happy is the key to a long life.” 

Mr. Blessing is predeceased by his parents, Mildred and David; wife, Frances; and his brother, Donald (Laura). He is survived by two daughters, Lynn (David) Smith and Leslee (David) Mabee; two grandsons, Daniel Hogan and Robert (Meg) Mabee; great grandchildren Madeleine and Colin; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, along with many dear friends and colleagues. 

A special thank you to Via Health Partners, Charlotte (Hospice) and Waltonwood at Providence, Charlotte who each provided exceptional kindness and care at the end of Leonard’s long life. 

A service of celebration and thanksgiving for Leonard’s life is planned at the New Providence United Methodist Church, New Providence, NJ on April 26, 2025, 10:00 am. 

In lieu of flowers, please remember Leonard with a donation to the New Providence United Methodist Church Memorial Garden, 1441 Springfield Ave., New Providence NJ 07974. 

To send condolences, please visit: carolinamortuary.com