A tribute to Betty Leis
Those familiar with our Culinary Arts Program’s fine dining outlet know it’s called The Leis Family Class Act Restaurant. The matriarch of the Leis Family for which the restaurant is named, Betty Leis, passed away in January. The community and our college lost a very, very good friend.
Mark Malone, our Culinary Arts Program dining room service lecturer and manager of The Leis Family Class Act Restaurant, knew the Leis family well.
“The true meaning of service is to help others to be successful,” Malone said. “The Leis Family has contributed dedicated funds and support to UH-MC. Their participation and presence in community events have been consistent and welcoming. The family’s interest in The Leis Family Class Act Restaurant was continually supported through their enthusiasm and attendance at daily lunches, special dinners and fundraising events. The restaurant will never be the same without Betty’s signature smile and genuine care. Her gentle spirit will be greatly missed.”
Earlier this month, Maui Nui bid farewell to Betty, a beloved and valued member of our community, at a beautiful celebration of her life. And what a life it was! A 68-year marriage to Dorvin Leis, seven children, 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren.
The Leis founded the Dorvin D. Leis Co. Inc. in the garage of their first home in Pomona, Calif. In 1972, they moved to Maui, bringing the company with them. Betty was an integral part of the business and still found the time to give tirelessly to the island home she came to love.
Along with health care and arts institutions, UH-Maui College is lucky to have held a special place in Betty’s heart. Her philanthropic work was based on her belief that supporting these organizations would encourage others to continually support their community.
“Mom understood the enormous value the University of Hawai‘i Maui College has to the community of Maui,” son Stephen Leis said. “Being able to offer higher educational opportunities to the residents of Maui has a positive impact on individuals, on families and on the community. The quality of life is better because of University of Maui College. The University of
Maui College was clearly a choice that mom was proud to support.”
A year ago UH-MC and our partner Kamehameha Schools’ Maui, Moloka’i, & Lana’i Community Strategies Team launched a project named “Hulihia: A Maui Sustainability Systems Center.” The center utilizes state-of-the-art sustainability practices to develop a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of issues. Through community insights and understandings, Hulihia integrates indigenous knowledge and academic research to find creative and robust ways of tackling and solving issues that affect our community to achieve a higher level of sustainability for Maui. The Leis’ vision for Maui’s sustainability included their establishment of the Leis Family Sustainability Endowment at UHMC. Their foresight now provides the base support for Hulihia.
In all, the family has donated almost $1.3 million dollars to UH-MC. They were the first in our college’s history to pledge and fulfill a gift of that size.
“The Leis family has been a remarkable partner for the college, consistently and generously supportive over many years,” said Jocelyn Romero Demirbag, director of development, Maui Nui, for the UH Foundation. “Personally, Betty has grown to be a role model for me; I find myself thinking of her and how she handled life so gracefully and charitably. I hope to carry on with just a piece of that spirit.”
This was Betty’s own farewell mahalo message to the gathering at her celebration of life earlier this month — “With gratitude and love to my family, friends and all the associates that I have been blessed to work with. I was honored to be able to support the community of Hawai‘i, a beautiful and special place that I loved dearly. Forever grateful to the people, culture and the aloha spirit.” We, Betty, could not be more grateful to you.
For complete information about UH-MC, please visit maui.hawaii.edu/.
Apply now at maui.hawaii. edu/apply/. Registration for fall 2022 classes opens on April 4. ■ Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui College. Ka‘ana Mana‘o, which means “sharing thoughts,” appears on the fourth Saturday of each month. It is prepared with assistance from UH-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.