Leonardo "Leo" Lillimagi

Leonardo "Leo" Lillimagi.   I was 11 years old and in the 6th grade in Highland, New York.   I had always thought of Highland as a town but actually it is officially classified as a Hamlet.  

 

No, I am not a Hobbit and my name isn't Bilbo Baggins.   But growing up in a Hamlet seems to be rather unique.

Leo Lillimagi was a classmate of mine.   He was a fantastic artist who had an incredible talent.   We were both in the 6th grade.   The year was 1954.   One day Leo was sitting behind me.   I noticed that he was sketching something on blank paper.   It was a scene of a Roman army in the midst of a battle.   He showed it to me.   I was so impressed by the picture that I offered to give him 25 cents for it (my lunch money).   He agreed and I went without lunch that day but I had that fantastic sketch.   I kept it for many years but somewhere in time it got lost.   I surely wish that I had it now.   Without a doubt I must have been the first sale of his artwork.      

Leo was powerfully built and was the star of the Highland High School football team.   That is him in the front row holding the football.

Leo graduated from Highland High School in 1960.   This is his graduation picture.

My parents moved to Miami, Florida during my senior year and so I didn't graduate from Highland High School.   I graduated from Coral Gables High School in Miami, Florida instead.   I attended the University of Miami which were the best years of my life.   One day I was walking through a breezeway of the Student Union and who is sitting at a table?   Yep, Leo Lillimagi.   We sat and talked for quite a while.   I thought that it was amazing that two classmates from this small Hamlet in New York would end up at the University of Miami at the same time and meet by chance.   He had gotten a football scholarship to the University of Miami.   Here he is on the left in the third row Number 52.   The picture is from the University of Miami yearbook.

Here is a close-up.

He graduated from the University of Miami.   After 2 1/2 years I transferred to Arizona in Tempe, Arizona where I graduated from Arizona State University.  Leo's graduation picture from the University of Miami.

I felt bad that he had died 2 years ago.   I only found out about it recently.  I wrote this blog because I just didn't want him to go quietly into the night and be forgotten.   If you knew Leo Lillimagi please leave a comment.   I would really be interested to read it.     Lewis Dallas

Here is his obituary from the internet.

March 7, 1941 - May 5, 2016

Formerly of Highland, NY

Leonardo “Leo” Lillimagi passed away May 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. He was 75 years old. Leo was born March 7, 1941 in Tallinn, Estonia to Arthur and Miralda Lillimagi. In 1944, Leo with the family, emigrated to Findland, after six months emigrated to Sweden, then to Norway and finally in 1947 to the United States. He lived in Connecticut, New York City and Kingston. The family finally settled in Highland, NY in 1952.

Leo graduated from Highland High School. He received a football scholarship to the University of Miami. After graduating he held different positions teaching art and coaching football. He taught art at Marlboro School District before settling down in Las Vegas where he taught art for 33 years. He spent many summers at the family farm in Highland.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna Dill Lillimagi; his daughter, Lori Bohem (Gary) of Clintondale, NY; his brother, Arne Lillimage of Highland, NY; a niece, Karen DeMale (Kevin); two nephews, Erik Lillimagi of Brooklyn, NY and Kristian Lillimagi of Concord, CA; grand-nephews, Kyler and Klayton DeMale.