Leon R. Kaminski

Leon R. Kaminski, 96, of La Porte, Indiana passed away at his home on Thursday, August 12, 2021.

Leon was born November 21, 1924, in La Porte, Indiana to the late Stanley and Stefania (Lopatka) Kaminski.

On October 28, 1950, Leon married Norma J. Lynn who preceded him in death on April 25, 2014.

Leon is survived by his six children, Daniel D. (Kathryn) Kaminski of La Porte, Indiana, Anne (Donald) Barnes of Metairie, Louisiana, Lynn (Connor) Flahive of Arlington, Texas, Paul E. (Rich Bonin) Kaminski of Golden Valley, Minnesota, James W. (Lizabeth) Kaminski of La Porte, Indiana, and William S. (Constance) Kaminski of La Porte, Indiana; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; a sister, Irene Kaminski; and a brother, Edward Kaminski.

Leon was a member of Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church in La Porte.  He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School (1938); La Porte High School (1942); Indiana University, A.B. (1946); and Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, J.D. (1950). His activities while attending Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana included Varsity Tennis where he was a Captain in 1945; Varsity basketball manager; member of Delta Chi Fraternity, serving as President from 1944-1945; Interfraternity Council; Blue Key; Board of Aeons; Union Board; Sphinx Club; and “I” Man’s Club.

Leon’s professional career included, Senior Counsel, Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones of La Porte, Indiana; Founding partner of Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones; Admitted to bar, (1950), Indiana; U.S. District Court Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court.  Phi Delta Phi (Legal Fraternity). Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, La Porte County, Indiana form 1953-1958. 

He was a member of the following Bar Associations: La Porte City where he was President from 1967-1968; La Porte County where he was President from 1972-1973; Indiana State where he was President from 1982-1983, Board of Governors where he was  Vice President from 1980-1981 and President Elect form 1981-1982; Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit; American Bar Associations; American Judicature Society; American Academy of Hospital Attorneys; Indiana Defense Trial Counsel (Diplomat); Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum where he was President from 1981-1982; Faculty participant in several ICLEF Forums; Indiana State Board of Law Examiners Member where he was Vice President in 1972; Indiana Supreme Court, Committee on Character and Fitness; United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Advisory Committee on Local Rules and Civil Justice Reform Act; Certified Alternative Dispute Resolution  Mediator & Arbitrator by the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education.

He was a Fellow with the following: American College of Trial Lawyer and State Chairman from 1981-1982; Indiana Bar Foundation and Chairman of Fellows from 1991-1992; American Bar Foundation; International Society of Barristers and State Chairman from 1985-1998.

He was involved in the community and church activities as Director of Holy Family Hospital, La Porte, Indiana; Member of original the Committee for merger of Holy Family Hospital and Community Hospital of La Porte into La Porte Hospital, Inc.; Charter Director of La Porte Hospital Inc.; Charter member La Porte County Sheriff’s Merit Board; Charter Director of La Porte Bank and Trust Company; Chairman, La Porte Chapter Indiana University Varsity Club; Chairman, La Porte Chapter Indiana University Alumni Assoc.; Director of La Porte Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of La Porte County March of Dimes Drive; St Vincent DePaul Society, St. Peter Parish, La Porte, Indiana; Vice President, Men’s Council, Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary.

He received the following awards: Indiana University, Gimbel Award, Outstanding Senior Athlete; Indiana Judges Association Recognition of Extraordinary and Personal Effort to improve the Judiciary of the State of Indiana; Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, Distinguished Alumni Service Award;  Indiana Bar Foundation, The Legacy Lawyer Award given annually to one lawyer for distinguished service to the legal profession; Sagamore of the Wabash – Distinguished service to State of Indiana bestowed by Governor O’Bannon; The Indiana General Assembly, House of Representatives, adopted a Resolution honoring many professional and community contributions to the State of Indiana; and in 2011 Inducted to La Porte High School Norman J. Hubner Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was the first for a La Porte County Resident to be: President Indiana State Bar Association; Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers; Fellow International Society of Barristers; Distinguished Alumni Service Award – Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis; Indiana Bar Foundation, The Legacy Lawyer Award given annually to one lawyer for distinguished service to the legal profession; and Gimbel Award – Indiana University.

Visitation scheduled for Friday has been cancelled due to the increase in Covid-19 cases.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Holy Family Parish, St. Peter Church, 1101 Michigan Avenue, La Porte, Indiana. Burial will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Parish, 201 Bach Street, La Porte, Indiana 46350 or the Unity Foundation, 422 Franklin Street, Suite C, Michigan City, Indiana 46360

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