Originally Posted on March 29, 2014 by azelones
O B I T U A R Y
ZELONES, LEOPOLD P. (LEEP), 82, born in Niagara Falls, NY, passed away and into the arms of his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on March 16, 2014. He died of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. He is survived by his loving wife, Dodi and his beloved Toy Poodle, Annie. He was preceded in death by his parents, William & Mary Zelones and brothers, Vince and Paul Zelones.
He was a Photographer for the Niagara Falls Gazette at the age of 15. He started his own Commercial Photography business in Niagara Falls at age 19 and received his Masters Degree of Photography as one of the youngest ever at age 33. He was a Photographic Instructor in the Naval Air Reserve for 8 years during the Korean Conflict and War. He sold his Niagara Falls business and settled in Orlando, FL in 1964. He worked at the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper as a Staff Photographer for a short time before opening his Commercial Photography business in Orlando. Some of his clients were Disney, SeaWorld, Circus World, Tupperware and various Advertising Agencies that sent him and Dodi to many wonderful locations throughout the world for Tourism Photo Shoots and Hotel Brochure Photography. They were blessed to see most of the United States and 6 of the 7 continents. Leep was in Photography for 67 years and his motto was “From Aerial to Burial”. He did his last photo shoot Jan 1, 2014, one week before getting his cancer diagnosis. He was a past President of Orlando South Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of First Baptist Orlando. A private burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery.
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By Sandra Pedicini, Orlando Sentinel 6:43 p.m. EDT, March 20, 2014
Leopold P. Zelones
Originally Posted on March 29, 2014 by azelones
By Sandra Pedicini, Orlando Sentinel
6:43 p.m. EDT, March 20, 2014
Leopold “Leep” Zelones’ camera came with him just about everywhere he went. He was a commercial photographer and also documented his world travels on film.
Zelones, of Orlando, died Sunday of thyroid cancer. He was 82.
“He was a very talented, gifted photographer,” said Bruce Wilson, who owns a Kissimmee photo studio. “He had a passion for it. He did it right up until the end.”
In fact, Zelones’ last photo shoot was about three months ago, a week before his cancer diagnosis. Although Zelones was not feeling well, he photographed a family’s annual New Year’s Eve party, his wife, Dodi, said.
Born in New York, Zelones became hooked on photography at an early age, Dodi Zelones said, after watching a photographer at his grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary.
When Zelones was 10, his mother turned the family’s pantry into a darkroom where he started developing pictures.
A few years later, he started selling photos to the Niagara Falls Gazette. He had no phone, so when the paper wanted him for an assignment, an editor would call a next-door neighbor who would relay the message. His father would drive him to assignments. At 19, he opened his own photography business.
In the 1960s, he relocated to Orlando, where he worked for the Orlando Sentinel for a time before opening his own commercial photography business. Dodi Zelones said he often took photos for corporate annual reports and brochures.
“He was kind of like a jack of all trades in photography,” said Mike Rausch, co-owner of Colonial Photo and Hobby. “He could shoot whatever they needed done.”
Wilson said Zelones was as gifted in the darkroom as he was behind the camera.
And “he was very much a perfectionist,” Wilson said. “Things had to be right. It didn’t matter how long it took to get it right.”
He would often dream about photography, his wife said. Zelones idolized Yousuf Karsh, a portrait photographer known as a master of lighting. He also liked Ansel Adams, known for his dramatic black-and-white nature photography.
Zelones’ other passions included cars, animals and traveling.
He drove a DeLorean, the sports car featured in “Back to the Future” movies. His wife said he loved the car’s futuristic look.
His toy poodle Annie often came with him on trips to Colonial Photo, Rausch said.
He and his wife visited every continent except Antarctica, and they had even hoped to visit there one day.
They went on safaris in Nepal and Botswana, renewed their wedding vows at the site of Jesus’ first miracle in Cana and photographed the Northern Lights in Norway. Often he traveled on assignment, but sometimes the trips were purely for fun.
The couple’s favorite cities included Paris, New York and Venice.
“He was 18 years older than me but I couldn’t keep up with him,” Dodi Zelones said. “He had photo assistants half his age who couldn’t keep up with him.”
Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
spedicini@tribune.com or 407-420-5240
Copyright © 2014, Orlando Sentinel
os-obit-leopold-zelones-20140320 Posted in Deceased | 2 Comments
2 Responses to Leopold P. Zelones
BOB BOWMAN says: May 22, 2015 at 11:48 am I just found out about Leep; my heart is broken. What a model photographer he was and so friendly. I hope Dodi and his family has found comfort in what a wonderful person he was and will cherish his memory forever. Bob Bowman
Retired Vice President
Disney Retail Merchandise Replyazelones says: May 27, 2015 at 3:36 pm Bob, I’ll forward this message to Dodi. Thanks!