Leon R. Kaminski, 96, of La Porte, Ind., passed away at his home Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021.
He was born Nov. 21, 1924, in La Porte to Stanley and Stefania (Lopatka) Kaminski.
On Oct. 28, 1950, Leon married Norma J. Lynn, who preceded him in death on April 25, 2014.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Irene Kaminski; and a brother, Edward Kaminski.
Leon is survived by his six children, Daniel D. (Kathryn) Kaminski of La Porte, Anne (Donald) Barnes of Metairie, La., Lynn (Connor) Flahive of Arlington, Tex., Paul E. (Rich Bonin) Kaminski of Golden Valley, Minn., James W. (Lizabeth) Kaminski of La Porte, and William S. (Constance) Kaminski of La Porte; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Leon was a member of Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church in La Porte. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School (1938); La Porte High School (1942); Indiana University, A.B. (1946); and Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, J.D. (1950). His activities while attending Indiana University, Bloomington, included varsity tennis, where he was a captain in 1945; varsity basketball manager; member of Delta Chi fraternity, serving as president from 1944-1945; Interfraternity Council; Blue Key; Board of Aeons; Union Board; Sphinx Club; and “I” Man’s Club.
Leon’s professional career included: senior counsel, Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones of La Porte; founding partner of Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones; admitted to bar (1950), Indiana; U.S. District Court Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court; Phi Delta Phi (Legal Fraternity). deputy prosecuting attorney, La Porte County, from 1953-1958.
He was a member of the following Bar Associations: La Porte City, where he was president from 1967-1968; La Porte County, where he was president from 1972-1973; Indiana State, where he was president from 1982-1983, Board of Governors, where he was vice president from 1980-1981 and president elect from 1981-1982; Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit; American Bar Associations; American Judicature Society; American Academy of Hospital Attorneys; Indiana Defense Trial Counsel (Diplomat); Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, where he was president from 1981-1982; faculty participant in several ICLEF Forums; Indiana State Board of Law Examiners, where he was vice president in 1972; Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness; United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Advisory Committee on Local Rules and Civil Justice Reform Act; Certified Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediator & Arbitrator by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education.
He was a Fellow with the following: American College of Trial Lawyers and state chairman from 1981-1982; Indiana Bar Foundation and chairman of Fellows from 1991-1992; American Bar Foundation; International Society of Barristers and state chairman from 1985-1998.
He was involved in the community and church activities as director of Holy Family Hospital, La Porte; member of original committee for merger of Holy Family Hospital and Community Hospital of La Porte into La Porte Hospital, Inc.; charter director of La Porte Hospital, Inc.; charter member La Porte County Sheriff’s Merit Board; charter director of La Porte Bank and Trust Company; chairman, La Porte Chapter Indiana University Varsity Club; chairman, La Porte Chapter Indiana University Alumni Association; director of La Porte Chamber of Commerce; chairman of La Porte County March of Dimes Drive; St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Peter Parish, La Porte; vice president, Men’s Council, Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary.
He received the following awards: Indiana University, Gimbel Award, Outstanding Senior Athlete; Indiana Judges Association Recognition of Extraordinary and Personal Effort to Improve the Judiciary of the State of Indiana; Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, Distinguished Alumni Service Award; Indiana Bar Foundation, The Legacy Lawyer Award given annually to one lawyer for distinguished service to the legal profession; Sagamore of the Wabash – Distinguished service to State of Indiana bestowed by Governor O’Bannon; The Indiana General Assembly, House of Representatives, adopted a resolution honoring many professional and community contributions to the State of Indiana; and in 2011 inducted to La Porte High School Norman J. Hubner Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was the first La Porte County resident to be: president, Indiana State Bar Association; Fellow American, College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow, International Society of Barristers; Distinguished Alumni Service Award – Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis; Indiana Bar Foundation, The Legacy Lawyer Award given annually to one lawyer for distinguished service to the legal profession; and Gimbel Award – Indiana University.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, La Porte. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church, La Porte. Burial will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish, 201 Bach St., La Porte, Ind. 46350; or the Unity Foundation, 422 Franklin St., Suite C, Michigan City, Ind. 46360.
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