In Memoriam
Leonard H. Sarnick
1/7/1935 - 3/25/2004

COALition member Len Sarnick was a modern-day Renaissance man. He was devoted to his family. He served his country as a member of the US Navy, where he served in both Korea and Vietnam. He was a loyal union man, serving as a shop steward with the International Boiler Makers Union. He gave back to his community in many, many ways, from work with the Boy Scouts, the Anthracite Heritage Museum, the local Democratic Party, and Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Len was also a long time member of the COALition, together with friends John Vengien and Joe Keating. He avidly collected signatures and newspaper articles and attended many Anthracite Living History events. We will miss his cheerfulness and his strong support for this cause. Len was memorialized in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader on March 27, 2004. You may read this notice below.

Diane B Rooney
COALition Chair

Leonard H. Sarnick, 69, of Plains Township, passed away Thursday evening, March 25, 2004, at his residence. Born in Plains Township on Jan. 7, 1935, he was a son of the late Henry J. and Anna B. Pierog Sarnick. He attended Plains Township and Sacred Heart Catholic School, Plains Township. He received his high school diploma while serving in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Sarnick joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served a total of 12 years. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam era, and was discharged in 1964. Mr. Sarnick held petty officer ratings as an engine man and shipfitter. He was awarded several service ribbons and was certified as a first engineer in water transportation. He served aboard the USS Alsea, USS Vulcan and USS Robinson.

Mr. Sarnick was a graduate of the Municipal Police Course at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Hershey, Pa., and numerous special police courses. He served as a Luzerne County deputy sheriff and worked in the security enforcement field at the Lion Brewery, Wilkes-Barre, Brink's Armored Car Service, Pomeroy's Inc. and Lake Security Co. He was an active life member of Lodge 36, Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge.

He was employed for many years with Kanarr Corp., as a millwright and was a shop steward with the International Boiler Makers Union. He served several years as a Boy Scout Counselor for Troop 100, Plains Township, as a fingerpaint badge counselor. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Plains Township. He was a life member of the American Motorcycle Association, an associate member of the Anthracite Heritage Museum, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Washington D.C. and the Navy League of the United States. He was a member of the Plains Township Civil Service Commission, member of the Plains Township Levee Project Mitigation Program Planning Committee, was a Plains Township Democratic 5th Ward committeeman, and was board member of the Lodge 36 Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge.

Surviving are his wife, the former Dorothy Pieck; son, Leonard J. Jr.; daughter-in-law, Deneen; granddaughter, April; and grandson, Leonard III, all of Plains Township.