Leonard M. Minus, 75, of Philadelphia, prominent business owner for more than three decades, church leader, teacher, and mentor, died Monday, Dec. 12, of pulmonary hypertension and heart failure at Lankenau Medical Center.
He advocated integrity and personal independence, and his motto was: “Be your own boss, and you can make your own rules.” His daughter Arlene Minus-Johnson said: “He wanted people to figure things out for themselves. Get a book. Go online. Do it yourself.” “Plain and simple, Deacon Minus was one of a kind,” one of his pastors at Restoration Station said in a tribute. Another pastor said: “You were so humble, hardworking, and willing to show up. … You had so much wisdom and advice for me, and I appreciate the small talk and the laughs.”
A tireless volunteer, Mr. Minus served holiday meals at local nursing homes and directed Easter egg hunts and other activities for neighborhood children. He liked to host big dinners on Thanksgiving, and his family always expected something to be overcooked as he tended to doze off during preparations before they arrived.