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Lenny Feldberg
Leonard J. Feldberg, 76, was born in Chicago, on Friday, July 13, 1948. He was the fifth of five sons born to Sally (Zatz) and Sam Feldberg. Early on Lenny exhibited an insatiable curiosity, creative ability and mechanical aptitude. The Boys and Girls Club of Chicago provided opportunities for pottery, woodworking, music and photography. After graduating VonStueben High School, he attended the American Academy of Art.
When Viet Nam threatened, Lenny joined the National Guard. He saw duty during the ’68 Democratic convention, the MLK and Kennedy riots. He carried live ammunition on the streets of his own city, bringing order to chaos, experiences that marked him forever. After discharge, he followed his heart to Israel where he lived on a kibbutz for six months, learning farming methods and beekeeping.
By the time we met in the early ’80s, Lenny had turned photography into a career. He traveled for Ilford doing demos and presentations. In 1984, he opened his own studio, Calico Photo, where he taught darkroom, also setting up the color lab at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.
Lenny loved the outdoors. He made growing up in Chicago during the ’50s and ’60s, sound like stories written by Mark Twain! Horse-back riding, floating the Chicago River on homemade rafts, canoeing, archery, and fishing off any pier he could find. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts teaching water safety and boating. It was our mutual love of nature that cemented our relationship. Together with my young son and daughter, we spent many miles and weekends in tents, on water, boating, fishing and hiking. After a long courtship, we married in 1990 – eloping to Ludington, where we’d already bought our cabin on Tallman Lake. I remember the little fire ceremony we had one afternoon where we pledged to make Michigan our home eventually. It took 24 years of commitment, vision and focus, but we kept the faith and finally achieved our dream when we moved in 2014.
During those intervening years, our kids grew up, and became the kind, creative, responsible adults they are today. When we acquired a Chicago house with a backyard, Lenny turned to gardening. He planted hard-shell gourds that first year, just seven seeds. Little did we know that those seven seeds would lead to seven years of community gardens around Chicagoland, and four “Goddess Gourd Festivals” that featured America’s finest gourd artists and drawing thousands of attendees from surrounding states. In the process, he became Lenny the Gourd Guy! “This Garden Grows a Goddess” was published in 2005, a collaboration and how-to, bringing together the history, mystery and artistry of gourds among world cultures since ancient times.
After seven years with gourds, Lenny turned to beekeeping (remember the kibbutz?) For the last four years in Chicago, the gourd garden transformed into hives for the honeybees. Lenny joined a bee club in Chicago, learning everything he could. In 2011, Lenny met Ed Malkowski, “Mason County’s Own Patron Saint of Bees.” The groundwork was laid for the Scottville Beekeepers of Mason County. Seven folks attended that first session in November of 2014. Lenny was never afraid to stand up in front of a group, he quickly changed hats and became Lenny the Bee Guy. Each spring, the club presents “Introduction to Beekeeping 101”, presenting basics for “wannabees.” Every autumn, the club hosts “The Sweet Taste of Mason County.”
Lenny lived by the 10 Commandments and his personal mantra, “Life Is Good.” Even as he bravely battled cancer, he was strong for those around him. With the help of Bill and Anne, his bees gave him the greatest harvest he’d experienced in his 14 years of beekeeping . . . and then they left! There’s a tradition among beekeepers of talking with the bees. I often visit to talk with ours. After this summer’s harvest, when Lenny was at his most challenged, the bees absconded. Then, rather than my talking to the bees, I listened. Known to be messengers between heaven and earth, they let me know his time was short. And so it was.
Lenny’s sweet spirit flew to his Heavenly Hive on Tuesday, February 25. He is survived by his wife Joan Riise; daughter Shanti (Riise) Nall; son-in-law Scott Nall; grandchildren Riise Nall and Emmett Nall; son Larkin Riise; daughter-in-law Pim (Parnboot) Riise; brothers Bernie and George Feldberg; sister-in-law Marcy (Kaufman) Feldberg; niece Allison (Feldberg) Haschke; son-in-law Oliver Haschke; grandnieces Alexis, Olivia and Ava Haschke; and niece Aleece Feldberg.
Last summer, in recognition of Lenny’s years of devotion and service, the Scottville Beekeepers initiated a scholarship in Lenny’s name in support of ongoing club initiatives. Donations are welcome.
Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.
