Leslie H. Hurwitz, 95, of Arlington, Mass., passed peacefully at Brightview Assisted Living in Arlington on Nov. 29. 2023.
He is predeceased by his parents, Louis and Anna (Shapiro) Hurwitz, formerly of Lynn and Peabody, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Janet (Marks) Hurwitz, of Arlington; sons Eric Hurwitz and his wife Joan (Kerrigan), of Walpole, Mass. and Marc Hurwitz, of Arlington; and brothers, Ernie and his wife Kaveri, of Seattle, Wash., and Steven, of New York CIty, N.Y.
Leslie was born on May 29, 1928 in Boston, Mass. He was a musical child prodigy, attending the preparatory program at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. in his teens before earning two college degrees in his 20s while in Europe.
Evolving into a world-class pianist and composer as well as a brilliant historian, Leslie taught for 27 years at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass. through Harvard University, as well as through the Arlington Public Schools. Remarkably, after retiring at 62-years old, Leslie continued teaching privately into his early 90s.
He wrote many of his own classical compositions through retirement. One shining example, called "Enigma," premiered in Bergen, Norway, by his close friend Ricardo Odriozola -- a former Arlington High School student of Leslie's who became a prominent violinist, conductor and composer in the Scandinavian countries.
Leslie was also reportedly a talented baseball player, once pitching against Johnny Antonelli in an amateur game at Cobbs Hill in Rochester -- and winning the pitching duel. Antonelli was the first Major League Baseball "bonus baby," signing a then-outrageous salary of $52K with the Atlanta Braves in 1948.
Leslie loved playing baseball with Eric, Marc and their neighborhood friends into his early 50s.
A U.S. Army veteran who could have easily opted for a successful global concert career, Leslie unselfishly opted to live a local life and help raise a family. Beside music and history, he had a love for family vacations in Old Forge in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, family mystery driving tours around New England in the old wood-paneled Ford LTD station wagon, walking around Horn Pond in Woburn and dining out with Janet (who is a well-known local artist) at favorite local restaurants like Prince Pizzeria in Saugus, The Restaurant in Woburn, Bubbling Brook in Westwood and Johnson Seafood and Dairy Bar in Groton.
Leslie was truly an intellect steeped in knowledge, facts, theories and concepts across the arts and sciences but also someone who could appreciate slapstick comedy (especially Laurel and Hardy), a good hot dog and the reliability of a modest Chevy vehicle getting him from point A to point B.
He also made guest appearances as "The World's Oldest DJ" Saturday mornings with son Marc on the Mike Newman show at WMFO-FM, a radio station based at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. Leslie also ran his own blog during retirement called Aphorisms with more than 600 thought-provoking posts centering on subjects related to the arts.
His love shone most prominently through family time, including his frequent mention of, and interaction with his grandchildren who he adored -- that is, Emily and Katie (daughters of Eric and Joan Hurwitz) carrying on the Hurwitz and Kerrigan names in most special ways. He would spend time teaching Emily and Katie advanced music and history lessons (Emily plays flute, Katie cello), and in their youngest years as a guest instructor in the self-created Purple Hamburger School of Learning for Emily and Katie in Eric and Joan's family room.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Brightview Assisted Living and VNCC Hospice Care for the tender, loving care given to Leslie.
In respect of Leslie's wishes, there will be no formal services.