Leona Uhlman

February 11, 1954 - March 27, 2022

Leona Uhlman, 68, died on March 26, 2022. She fought a brief, difficult battle with pancreatic cancer but passed away peacefully at her home in Celebration Florida with her family in attendance. She was born Leona Visokas in Paterson, NJ, to immigrant parents and spoke English, French and fluent German. Her father died when she was very young and she quickly developed an independent spirit and a fearless ambition that would guide her the rest of her dynamic life. She graduated Paterson Catholic high school in 1971 and married her first husband, Joe Sanginari, in 1977. She raised two children, Dean and Cinamin. She completed Chubb Technical Training Institute in 1985 which led her into a career in the world of computers. As a highly technical assembly language programmer, she worked first for Beneficial Finance and then“the best job in the world” at Pan American World Airways, her springboard to the world. Disney Land opens a new attraction? Hop a plane to California. Berlin Wall comes down? Off to chip out a few pieces yourself. Son wants to learn to ski? Over to Switzerland! The huge stack of boarding passes from all over the globe was one of her prized possessions. When PanAm closed its doors, she returned to the world of finance where she worked for Household Finance and then HSBC. A brief second marriage to Joseph Zito ended in 1988 and Leona advanced from technical programming to IT management, where she led a variety of advanced IT development projects in the United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. In 2007 she was a Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) honoree. She had a keen eye and intuitive instinct for real estate. While still managing international computer projects on three continents, she started a highly successful vacation home rental business and in 2008 built her own ocean front dream home in North Carolina. In 2011 she retired from HSBC and finally married her long time companion and soul mate, Walter Uhlman, and welcomed his daughter Jessica as her own. Walking on the beach at sunset, holding hands with her husband while her dogs trotted along side was the very best way to end the day. For the next ten years Leona focused her business acumen on her vacation rental business until finally retiring that in 2021. She spent several years as an NJ-FL snowbird before moving to Florida full time in 2020. An avid reader and researcher of all things related to home, she had a passion for interior decorating and home design. She loved people, flowers, and especially dogs. She was a foster home for Weimaraner Dog Rescue for several years and adopted 3 as her own. Through her caring heart and generous nature, Leona had an amazing ability to create an instant connection with people that often led to lifelong friendships. She loved to be on the water, whether it was piloting her pontoon boat around Lake Hopatcong in NJ or taking a cruise ship through the Caribbean. She also loved entertaining and was a master of hospitality. Overnight guests always found a folded fluffy white robe with the belt tied in a bow, white terrycloth slippers and a stack of freshly laundered towels waiting on the bed and a bowl of potpourri on the nightstand. The frequent gatherings of family, friends, high school chums and past colleagues were always laughter filled joyful occasions that became lasting cherished memories. But it was her six grandchildren who were the absolute light in her life. From her son, Dean Sanginari and wife Ann came two grandsons, Charlie and Tommy. Her daughter, Cinamin Tufaro and husband Jason brought Annie and her step daughter Jessica Bentzel with husband Wesley added Maya, Silas and Conrad to the happy group. Known affectionately as Omi, the German word for “Granny”, it was a title she wore proudly. Whether coloring, reading books, playing hide and seek, splashing in the pool or baking banana bread, if it was an activity with grandchildren, Omi was at her happiest while doing it. Some of the words Leona's many friends use to describe her are: vibrant, joy-filled, irreplaceable, strong and “sunshine walking into a room.” When confronted with a problem, they ask themselves, “What would Leona do?” She was a blessing to all who knew her. To her grandchildren she was simply, “the best Omi ever.” She will be very deeply missed. Thank you to all who knew and shared her life. The family requests that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. ( https://lustgarten.org/ ) Per her request, there will not be a viewing. Instead she will be cremated and, in a private ceremony, her ashes will be scattered on the water so she can still travel the world and her spirit can continue to soar. A celebration of her life will be arranged for family and friends. Please contact a family member for details.