Leonard William Beniretto

On July 14, 2026, Leonard William Beniretto went to be with the Lord after 90 full years of an adventurous, optimistic, and story-filled life. He lived every day with a sense of wonder, was quick to laugh and take joy from simple moments and always looked forward to tomorrow.
Leonard was born on December 12, 1935, to Willie and Louise Beniretto, in Marlon, Texas, where he spent his early childhood near his grandparents, who had immigrated to the US from Sicily through New Orleans. His family later moved to Houston, where his younger siblings, Mary and Frank, were born, and they grew up in the Timbergrove neighborhood. He attended Jeff Davis High School and the University of Houston and often told tales of his boyish pranks and memories of good times. He served his country in the Army National Guard Reserves for over a decade.

Independent and hard-working from an early age, Leonard always went after what he wanted. While still in high school, he saved enough money to ride the bus downtown and attend art classes, developing a talent for painting that remained one of his lifelong joys. He was also an amateur lightweight boxer in his fraternity days at U of H, and even once faced off against a Golden Gloves champion.

Leonard put his artistic talents to good use as he began his career as a draftsman for Dow Chemical, while his athleticism led him to play on a championship softball team with his coworkers. He later transitioned into electrical distribution and sales, where he built the career that defined his professional life. Along the way he discovered two lifelong passions, golf, and the “Push” Dance, and he was a member of numerous golf courses and push dance clubs in Houston and Dallas. Leonard eventually started a successful business of his own with Consolidated Electrical Distributors. Even after retiring, he went back to work at Lowes helping customers in the electrical department. His reliability and expertise led to multiple employee awards, new friendships, and many tins of cookies and heartfelt thanks from grateful customers. His golf awards were too numerous to count – but off the course he treasured his golf partner’s comradery and sharing stories around the clubhouse afterward. He often said that it was “never a bad day” if it was spent golfing.

Early in his career, Leonard purchased his first classic car, beginning a passion for cars that stayed with him throughout his life. Around that same time, he won the heart of Shirley Russo, the beauty from St. Agnes High School. They married and together welcomed two daughters, Sharise and Denise, and raised their family near relatives in Timbergrove. Leonard and Shirley were ahead of their time when they moved to the suburbs in Kingwood, where they designed and decorated a modern home that was featured on Good Morning Houston.

After 20 years of marriage, Leonard and Shirley divorced but remained family. Leonard moved to Dallas and eventually met and married the love of his later years, Eva Cranz. His beautiful Eva was his devoted companion for over 30 years and matched his zeal for life. Together they were a force on the dance floor, loved music, entertained, dressed up in costume for parties, and impressed friends with their style, energy, and youthful spirit. They lived in Austin and just outside Cuernavaca, Mexico, before making their home in Magnolia, Texas.

Leonard lived by a strong moral compass, first shaped by his grandfather. He recalled neighbors coming to his grandfather’s house at all hours to settle disputes because he was known throughout their small community as a man of wisdom and fairness. As a boy, he developed a lifelong love for classic westerns, especially starring John Wayne, whose characters reinforced his belief in integrity, and that “the good guys win in the end”. Raised in the Catholic faith, Leonard recommitted himself later in life, finding comfort, direction, and peace in the prayers and traditions of the Church.

Italian food was a love language for Leonard. Inspired by his mother’s excellent cooking, he put his own take on childhood recipes and favorite dishes, always ready with a pineapple upside down cake to satisfy his sweet tooth and express his love for family and friends.

Above all else, Leonard considered his family his greatest blessing and nothing made him prouder than watching his children and grandchildren build lives of their own. He celebrated every graduation, career milestone, and travel adventure as though it was his own, and hoped that, somewhere along the way, some of the choices he made helped pave the path for those who followed him.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Eva, his children, Sharise (Stephen) and Denise (Diane), Eva’s daughter, Karym; and grandchildren Natalie Oliver (Cole), Matthew Amante, Daniel Amante, Eva’s grandchildren, Sebastian Ascencio (Kamryn), Karym Ascencio-Reese (Nick), sister Mary Stein (Bob), brother Frank Beniretto, and first wife, Shirley Coleman. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Louise.