Submitted by his Daughter

Leonard R. ‘Lenny’ Bailey‚ Jr.
Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Company
Classification:Volunteer
Rank:Chief
Date of Death:September 12‚ 2007
Age:56

‘The Leonard (Lenny) Bailey Jr. Story’

Born on December 30‚ 1950 to Leonard R. Sr. and Margaret Bailey. He was raised his whole life in Elizabeth‚ PA. He graduated from Elizabeth High School. He worked for 15 years at Consolidated Coal into his 20’s or 30’s. It was around this time in his life he felt drawn to open a Volkswagen Repair Shop‚ ‘Lenny’s VW’‚ and became widely known for his knowledge and expertise of these vehicles. It is somewhat known while running this shop that he loved so much‚ he helped many people with repairs on their vehicles they may never have been able to afford at a different repair shop.

On May 11‚ 1979‚ ‘Lenny’ married his wife Linda. Between them they raised daughter’s Cher Moser‚ Rena Stirling and LeeAnn Bailey‚ and son Lenny R. Bailey III. There are two grandchildren‚ Derek Dichiera and Lenny R. Bailey IV. Lenny also has a sister‚ Janice Bailey-Hooe.

Lenny joined the Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Company on December 30‚ 1971 on his 21st birthday. He was also‚ throughout his life‚ active with Blaine Hill‚ West Elizabeth and Bunola Volunteer Fire Companies. He became Chief of Elizabeth VFC in 1998 and held that position at multiple times until his untimely death on September 12‚ 2007 at the age of 56 while answering a fire call at what was once a family owned business. He never made it out of his house.

Lenny was in his second term serving on the Elizabeth Borough Council‚ following in his father‚ Leonard Sr.’s‚ footsteps.

Lenny was known to many in the following ways:

‘A Pillar of his Community’
‘Mr. Elizabeth Borough’
‘Top Shelf’
‘Mentor’
‘Extremely Dedicated to his Profession’
‘A Mainstay in this Community’

The Lily Pad diner‚ a place where Lenny spent quite a lot of time‚ has permanently reserved Lenny’s ‘seat’ in his honor. The diner used to seat 28 people‚ now it is 27. They have pushed the table against the wall. They are planning a wall of pictures and possibly a placard on ‘his’ seat.

Lenny’s daughter LeeAnn sums it up the easiest – ‘I’m actually glad he went that way.’ ‘He didn’t get to say goodbye‚ but he didn’t suffer.’

And now‚ in honor of Leonard R. (Lenny) Bailey‚ Jr. – the Mon Yough Fire Defense Council Posthumously presents this plaque to his family thanking them for allowing Lenny to give of himself so many times throughout his life in so many different ways and the ultimate sacrifice‚ His life doing what he knew best – Fighting Fires‚ Helping People‚ and Saving Lives.

Submitted by his Daughter

Leonard R. Bailey had over 25 years of service to the borough fire department. He also served as a borough councilman and was very actively involved in the community and its affairs.

Submitted by a Friend

Leonard ‘Lenny’ Bailey‚ Jr. was the center of Elizabeth Borough. He was the Fire Chief; he was on Council; he was the one you went to when you had a problem with your car and he was the one you called when needed help with something. It didn’t matter what time of day or day of week‚ Lenny was there for you.

Lenny began his career as a volunteer firefighter when he was a small child‚ his father a volunteer firefighter and former council member. Lenny became Fire Chief for a short 8 years. Not nearly enough time to spread his knowledge and life lessons with those who knew him‚ but enough time to appreciate the time we had with him.

In the early hours of September 12‚ 2007 a man walking his dog awoke Lenny by pounding on his door‚ just a few hundred feet from the firehouse‚ to report a vacant bar (once owned by his father and operated by his son) was on fire. Chief Bailey quickly woke up and ran out his back door to find the bar up in flames. The Chief returned to his house to get his radio and notify dispatch of the fire but never made it.

Lenny Bailey suffered a massive heart attack in the living room door of his home‚ next to his portable radio‚ responding to a fire‚ doing what he loved to do more than anything else in the world.

Chief Bailey; a husband‚ father‚ grandfather‚ friend and mentor to many left us so quickly and yet with so much to be admired.

The Chief is survived by his wife Linda; son Lenny III (Lori and son Lenny IV)‚ daughter LeeAnn (son Derrick)‚ stepdaughters Renee Moser and Cher Moser‚ mother Margaret and sister Janice.