Leon E. Jankowski, 81, of Tinton Falls, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Leon was born in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn in 1942 to Leo and Helen Jankowski. He graduated from St. Ephrem Grammar School and St. Michael’s High School in Brooklyn, and was the proud president of his class. Leon also attended University of Dayton. During his high school years Leon was a hard worker at Doc Calieno’s Physicians and Surgeons on Ovington Ave. Leon’s father died when he was fifteen years old and throughout his mother’s entire life, he was very supportive of her and his younger sister.

Leon was a Holmdel resident before settling in Tinton Falls. He was passionate about his career of four decades on Wall Street as a Stock Trader. During a summer break in college, Leon was hired by F.I. Dupont and began the very successful life he loved.  During his career he worked for a few brokerage firms including Drexel Burnham Lambert, and finally retired from ING Baring Furman Selz, LLC.  He continued his love of the financial market and his interest in the stock market daily right up until the end. Leon is also known for his strong faith in God and the power of prayer. Always a devout catholic, he is currently a parishioner of the Parish of St. Mary’s, Colts Neck, and had also been a strong parishioner of St. Ephrem’s Brooklyn and Holy Family Union Beach. He is known for being extremely generous and quick to contribute and help others.

Leon loved his family, and always made an effort to attend many family gatherings. Everyone looked forward to being in his company. He had an amazing sense of humor, always quick with an appropriate joke and story right to his last days. His humor will continue to bring smiles to the faces of those lucky enough to have known him. In addition to his passion for his work and the stock market, Leon loved old movies and classical and oldies music. He is famous for blasting Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and letting everyone know when Laurel and Hardy’s “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” Abbott and Costello’s “The Time of Their Lives,” and the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” was being aired. Everyone looked forward to his phone call alerts. Leon was patient, kind and very at peace with his life. An extremely special man.

Leon is predeceased by his parents, Leo and Helen Jankowski, and is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Arlene Jankowski; his son Blake Jankowski and his wife Melody, and their son, his grandson, Aaren Jankowski; and his siblings, Richard Jankowski, Arlene Montana, and Helen Giannone, and many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 11 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Rd, Holmdel NJ 07733. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, January 12, 11:00 am at the Church of St. Catharine, 108 Middletown Road, Holmdel. Entombment will follow at Holmdel Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of traditional remembrances, Leon’s family asks with gratitude that donations in his name be made to the Padre Pio Foundation of America, 463 Main Street, Cromwell, CT 06416 (www.padrepio.com)

For messages of condolence, or to share a favorite memory of Leon, please visit his page at www.HolmdelFuneralHome.com.