Leonard L. Litvak, a native Denverite and former CEO of Litvak Meat Co., passed away Feb. 11, 2015, in Denver. He was 92. Rabbi Bruce Dollin and Cantor Martin Goldstein officiated at the Feb. 13 service at the HEA.
Interment followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Leonard always strived for excellence in his business and profession, the family said. He also lived a life that was spiritually fulfilled.
He loved Judaism with its warm traditions and family values and was a weekly congregant at the HEA. Until the end, he would lay tefilin, pray and give thanks on a daily basis for his life, whether at home or away.
He wanted to thank G-d for the cherished life he had been given.
Mr. Litvak was born July 5, 1922, in Denver to Rose and Hyman Litvak, immigrants from Matseev, Ukraine.
He attended public school through grade 11 and Hebrew school on Denvers northwest side.
Mr. Litvaks father took him out of North High School early to join him in the family business, Litvak Meat Co. In those early years, the company processed one to two cattle a day and sold them as street vendors.
Over the coming years, Mr. Litvak and his brothers grew the business into a multi-million dollar enterprise processing over 2,000 cattle each day.
In 1941, at age 19, Mr. Litvak enlisted in the US Navy at the beginning of WW II. A yeoman aboard the Battleship USS California for over three years, he fought many battles in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged on April 5, 1946.
During shore leave, while visiting relatives in Lakewood, NJ, he met his future wife Sylvia Gillman at a New Years Eve party in 1945. Following a whirlwind courtship, they married on June 1, 1946.
The couple settled in Denver. They were married for over 68 years.
Mr. Litvak worked with his two older brothers and father in the meat packing industry and eventually became CEO of Litvak Meat, which was well respected in Denver, nationally and internationally. The business was sold in 1994.
The Litvaks retired and wintered in Scottsdale, Arizona. They returned to Denver in the spring and summer months.
They enjoyed numerous vacations with their two children Elaina and Cliff. While some excursions were tied to meat industry national meetings, the family created wonderful memories like trout fishing in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and salmon and halibut fishing in Alaska and British Columbia.
Mr. Litvak also loved to golf.
Honored by Beth Joseph in 1987, he also was a Talmud Torah Award recipient. He received the E. Floyd Forbes Award in 1993 and numerous awards from several meatpacking and industry associations.
Mr. Litvak is survived by his wife Sylvia Litvak of Denver; children Eliana (Richard) Block and Dr. Clifford (Donna) Litvak; and grandchildren Lauren and Jillian.
Contributions may be made to The Denver Hospice or the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
