Leonard (Len) Boff

Len Boff was born on June 20th, 1927 in Elizabeth, NJ at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. He was the First son of Marvin and Sophie Boff. Len attended Hamilton Jr. High and Jefferson Senior High School and was an “all around Athlete”.

While attending both Hamilton and Jefferson, and unknown to his parents, he joined the football team. During the period at Hamilton, he won several athletic gold medals, including 1st place for swimming, and speed ice-skating.

While still in high school, Len enlisted in the Navy in World War II to serve his country. He was stationed aboard the USS Huntington in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he played on the Ship’s basketball team. Len never walked in his graduation procession; instead his parents received his diploma in 1945. During Len’s service several colleges, including Albright, Providence, Hamilton, Rutgers, and Seton Hall contacted his father, but Len never pursued any of them.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Len did attend Upsala College in East Orange for a short time and played on their college basketball team for one season. He, subsequently, left to work in his father’s furniture store.

While employed at the store, he kept active and continued playing basketball at the YMCA and softball with his home team. It was while working as a salesman at the furniture store that he met, fell in love with, and married his wife Pat of 55 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Andrea and Barbara, two wonderful grandsons, Drew and Greg, and not to forget a great son-in-law, Andy Cortese.

After Len’s father and uncles passed away and with the demise of the business, Len became a successful liquor salesman with Fedway Distributors. Twenty years later, he retired and moved from Clark to a townhouse in Basking Ridge.

Len always pursued sports. He enjoyed competing in swimming, football, and softball, but basketball was his favorite. He was always a “team player and always gave his best.

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