Born in Providence, RI, Leonard Pepper, Esq. moved to Daytona Beach, Florida with his parents, Harry and Bella Berman Pepper, where he spent much of his young adult life. Together he worked with his father, a recycling entrepreneur, picking up cast-off items from homes and businesses. He would work with his mother to sell the fixed up discards out in the back yard. As a teenager he was a trusted assistant of the mayor of the young Daytona Beach and met many of the colorful and notorious figures of the Roaring 20’s. After high school, Leonard worked to put himself through college doing laundry, shining shoes, and making sandwiches for the more affluent boys at the school. He earned numerous degrees and professional designations including an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Florida in 1939, an MBA from Florida State University as well as becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Leonard elected to serve his country by enlisting in the Army in 1941, where he served as a Lieutenant. He spent four years in WWII and was in the invasion fleet on D-Day. While in France, Leonard was wounded in a land mine explosion, along with several other fellow soldiers and was later awarded a Purple Heart for his acts of courage and bravery.

Following the war, Leonard married Ragna Gudmundsdottir and they moved to Tallahassee, and had five children. Leonard resumed his law practice and worked closely with his brother, Milton, in multiple businesses and real estate developments, and was later joined by his son Jeffrey. He later married Marilyn Padgett and together they raised her two children in Tallahassee. They traveled extensively and lived an energetic and happy life. Leonard remained an influential and respected member of the business community for more than 50 years.

In addition to his private sector activities, he also served the public as an Assistant Attorney General where he fostered legislation designed to strengthen civil liberties for protected classes and disrupt violence and hate crime activity. He contributed to many charities and civic organizations, including the Urban League, Epilepsy Foundation and Anti-Defamation League. Leonard filled several Board of Director positions for local foundations, such as Temple Israel, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Foundation and was also a founding member of Peoples Bank in Tallahassee. Leonard brought his spirit of generosity to each of these organizations and quickly earned a reputation for being an overwhelmingly kindhearted man, often giving free legal and practical advice as well as personal loans and gifts to people in need.

In his later years, Leonard continued to radiate a positive spirit and cheerful energy to all who knew him.