Obituary of Leonard Francis Sabalesky

Leonard F. Sabalesky, age 84 of Dallas , formerly of Kingston and Ashley, passed away at home in Dallas on April 1, 2014. He was born in Ashley on April 26, 1929, and was the son of the late Michael and Frances Zugarek Sabalesky. He was a graduate of Ashley High School, Wilkes University, and Scranton University where he received his Master's Degree. He was an instrumental band and general music educator at the Wyoming Valley West Middle School in Kingston where he was named "Teacher of the Year" for District 9 in 1989. He was awarded a citation of excellence for his work with students, as a teacher, educational psychologist and learning specialist. He developed innovative ways of teaching music, phonics, speech, language and motor development for children. In recent years he received the University of Scranton's Alumni Achievement Award. Leonard was an accomplished professional musician and served in the United States Air Force Band. He was a music writer and arranger having written dozens of orchestral and big band arrangements for Lee Vincent Orchestra and United States Air Force Band. He was also a member of Joe Sable's Big Band. As a member of the Lee Vincent Orchestra for over 35 years, he appeared weekly on live Television broadcasts. He also played in back up bands for many other top artists including Tony Bennet, Perry Como, Sergio Franchi, Bobby Vinton, Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra Jr. He specialized in tenor, baritone, and alto saxophone, clarinet and flute but was well versed in playing and teaching other instruments, especially woodwinds. At the age of sixteen he began working for the Charles and Mary Music store in Wilkes Barre where he began learning the art of repairing musical instruments. He continued repairing musical instruments and developing repair techniques for the rest of his life becoming a distinguished go-to repair specialist for many well-known musicians, schools and orchestras who entrusted their most valuable instruments to his skilled hands. He was preceded in death by sisters, Anna Doran, Julia Sokolski, Mary Ziembo, and Helen Niemenski, brother, Joseph Sable and infant brother, Peter. He is survived by his companion, Jane A. Balavage; former wife, Josephine Butka Sabalesky; sister Alice Christman; daughters, Darice Januziewicz of Kingston, Denise Scott of Long Beach, Ca, Dr. Doreen Sabalesky-Rodarte of Houston, Texas, Deborah Sabalesky of Wilkes-Barre, Deanna Klingman of Clarkes Summit and sons, David of Atlanta, GA and Daniel of San Francisco, CA; several grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family request memorial donations to be made to Performance Music at the University of Scranton, Attn: Cheryl Boga, 800 Linden St. Scranton, PA 18510 or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517. Topeka, KS 66675. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 10:30 AM from the Our Lady of Victory Church, Harveys Lake, with Rev. Daniel Toomey, officiating. Friends may call on Friday, April 4, 2014 from 7PM to 9PM at the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corners of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.