CUMMINGS, LEON G.

Leon G. Cummings, 92, passed on June 22, 2018, after a long life full of the arts, music, literature, his children and his grandchildren, and his many wonderful friends. Mr. Cummings was born Leon Gittelman in Manhattan at 318 East 9th Street on February 16, 1926 to Herschel Gittelman, who emigrated from Belarus, and Channa Rabinowitz Gittelman, who emigrated from the Ukraine. Mr. Cummings also had one younger sister, Ruth Gittelman, born in 1929 who had recently passed in August 2017. Mr. Cummings lived in the Lower East Side from the time he was born until he was 18 years old, where he attended Hebrew school since the age of 5, and spoke Yiddish at home.

From 1945 to 1948, Mr. Cummings served in the US Air Force. When he returned from the service, he enrolled at the University of Colorado in Denver and was into his second semester there, when his father passed in February 1950, and Mr. Cummings returned to New York City.

In June 1956, Mr. Cummings married Janet Werner of Rye, NY and they had five children, all of whom survive him, Sarah Rose Werner; Harry Cummings, Diane Cummings, Brion Cummings, and Rachel Cummings. For the last 30 years, Mr. Cummings shared his life in New Haven with his partner, Irma Sandler, until her passing in October 2013. Mr. Cummings is also survived by daughters-in-law, Ann Cummings and Diane Cummings; son-in-law Thomas Peckham; and his six wonderful grandsons, Connor, Michael, Christopher, Kevin, Jonah, and Adam. Burial services took place at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, NY on June 28. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Mr. Cummings’ incredible synagogue community, Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel (BEKI), in New Haven, CT. Please visit out online guest book for Leon at www.frenchfunerals.com.