Pratt, Leonard Calvin

Leonard Calvin Pratt (“Len”) passed peacefully and comfortably at home on June 25th, 2026 at the age of 71, surrounded by his wife and children. After battling Parkinson’s with Lewy Bodies for many years, he entered Hospice at Home in early June and succumbed to the long-term effects of those degenerative diseases. His family put as much love into caring for him in his final weeks as he had done for those around him throughout his life.

Len was a man who quietly stepped up whenever he was needed. He served his country first in the United States Air Force (which led to a stint of several years with the CIA) and then moved his commission to the US Navy, from which he proudly retired as Lieutenant Commander after twenty years of service. He was called back to active duty after 9/11 and went without hesitation. He served his home state of New York first as a policeman in Ilion, NY, in the 1970s and later in life as an Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy where his favorite duty was working the stadium during Buffalo Bills games. He volunteered to deliver food at the terrifying start of the Covid-19 Pandemic when Meals on Wheels needed help from people willing to risk their lives for those who were homebound.

Len often paraphrased a quote from Sherlock Holmes to say that he considered himself “a conductor of light rather than a light source.” To his core, he believed his purpose was to help others shine and inspire them in his quiet way. When the Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue team needed someone to step up as President and take it to the next level, he volunteered, pouring many years of his life into growing that organization from a handful of folks with a passion for helping into what is now an organized team of sixty-two academy-trained SAR members, Nine K9 searchers, a high-angle rope-rescue team, and a drone program with 2 FAA certified pilots.

When the ADK Winter Mountaineering School lost their director and needed someone to step into that role quickly, he volunteered with very little notice and led the team well during his tenure, embracing the slogan, “Many are cold. Few are frozen.”

He was a steadfast employee of Kodak’s Law Enforcement Branch for twenty years, and during the next twenty shared his talents with a small biometric startup (UltraScan) that was ultimately purchased by Qualcomm.

Len loved to laugh and be silly. He enjoyed stand-up comedy, Tim Allen, Star Trek (all versions), and Monty Python. He reveled in mispronouncing Pokemon names to get a rise out of his teenagers (Bulbasoid, anyone?). He was clever, witty, intelligent, and sharp with impeccable comedic timing. Hewould laugh at his own jokes, only to follow the chuckle with, “I kill me.”

On their first date, Mary playfully threw an acorn at his back during a hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway. He picked up that acorn and tucked it away, holding onto it for the 25 years of their marriage. He was a quietly sentimental man.

When the chaplain asked what Len feared most about dying, he replied, “I’m just curious.” And that same spirit of curiosity led to many unique experiences. He loved fly fishing and found his greatest peace hiking into remote woods with a fly rod, communing with the trout. Len adored all forms of hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, and cooking over a campfire. Together, he and Mary travelled across the United States in a teardrop trailer, backpacked through New York’s Adirondack Mountains, hiked Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, parts of the Appalachian Trail, and explored The Grand Canyon.

Len adored his rescue pup, Molly, who he met at an Orvis pet adoption pop-up in 2018. He met her once and knew she was the companion for him. They enjoyed 8 wonderful years together and she will continue her journey with Mary as walking partner and buddy.

Len is survived by his wife, five children, and six grandchildren: Lindsey Pratt (Josh), Talia Anderson, Emma Valik, and Aiden Valik; Robert Pratt (Erica), Isaac and Elias; Charlotte Guyton (Bryan Connor) and Aoife Connor; Cady Guyton (Scott Michaud); and Scott Guyton. Also, his many cousins whom he loved like siblings. He was preceded in death by his parents the Rev. Calvin Gillette Pratt and Marie Leonard Pratt.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday August 22nd at 10am at the First Free Methodist Church in Gloversville, NY. Casual attire (in shades of blue or lavender) is preferred. Bring your best Len story and photos to share.

To those who’ve had the good fortune to know Len, to feel his support, his encouragement, to fish or hike or ski with him, or even to just laugh at his clever and self-deprecating jokes, please consider making a donation to Good Samaritan Hospice of the New River Valley (https://goodsam.care) or the Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue Team (https://nfsar.org/donate/) in his honor.