Just found out today. Leonard came to the very first offline I hosted at my home that began what turned into the Old Vines Offlines Series. We’ve been friends on Facebook ever since. Sad to hear of his passing. He was active on Wine Berserkers up until late October of 2020.
Leonard Maran
October 31, 1943 – December 4, 2020
Leonard Maran, born to Joseph and Beatrice Maran of Teaneck, NJ, passed away on Friday, December 4, at the age of 77. His father, Joseph Sr., emigrated from Italy to the US when he was 12 through Ellis Island, and Americanized his name from Giuseppe Marantonio when he became a citizen. Leonard’s mother, Beatrice Margolin, was a first-generation American of Russian-Jewish descent. Leonard was the youngest of three children, including his late sister, Trudy Maran, and his late brother, Joseph Maran.
Leonard attended Goddard College and graduated with a BA in psychology in 1966. He went on to study social work and graduated with a MSW from UC Berkeley.
Leonard worked as an inpatient social worker at San Mateo General Hospital, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the City of San Francisco, and later served in the same capacity in private practice. He was also a Facilitator and Trainer at UCSF Alliance Health Project in San Francisco, his beloved, adopted home city.
A devoted “foodie” and wine enthusiast, Leonard adored film and books and LP’s and was a lover of culture in general. He shared his love and extensive knowledge of wine and food as a columnist and reviewer for the San Francisco Spectrum under the moniker, “The Wine Mook,” and as a columnist and editor at the San Francisco Observer.
Always locally involved, Leonard enjoyed both social and solo engagements. He was an active member of the Friendly Visitor and Community Ambassador programs with Openhouse SF and loved the fresh herb garden that he tended with care at his Haight Street apartment of 36 years.
As much as he loved living in the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco since 1968, he never forgot his New Jersey roots and his family and friends who lived there. He will be greatly missed by his six nieces and nephews, cousins, and also by his many adoring friends from coast to coast. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Openhouse SF, a non-profit tax-exempt organization providing community services for LBGT seniors (www.openhouse-sf.org).