Leonard Alt

The Latin/Ballroom Dance Club of Milwaukee extends heartfelt condolences on the passing of Leonard Alt. We are grateful for Len’s support for LBDC as a member for 7 seasons, from 2011-12 through 2017-18 season. He was an avid social dancer, and will be dearly missed by many in our Milwaukee Ballroom Community. Our sympathies to Len’s family & friends.

Lenny was a regular at our George Webb back when we owned it. He was one of the most wonderful customers I ever had the experience of serving. Alongside his coffee daily, was talks of scripture, hope, faith, grace, and more. Lenny was great with a joke, always made us laugh, and was someone we saw all over the place (dancing, gambling, and more). He was truly one of a kind, and I am deeply saddened to hear this news.

Lenny was a dear friend whom I will always hold close to my heart. He was one of the first people to welcome me into the Milwaukee swing dancing scene, and he quickly became a favorite partner. Whether we were swing dancing, performing German dances, or catching the Doo-Wop Daddies at the State Fair, Lenny had a way of making you feel like the happiest couple on the floor. He was a masterful lead, whether it was a fast-paced swing or a quiet waltz, but his true talent was his kindness. He was the most supportive friend, always ready to lend a hand to any community he belonged to. I feel so honored to have known him and will always admire the passion he held for his faith. He made me feel truly welcomed and loved.

Lenny was my dear friend when I lived in Milwaukee in the 1990s. He was one of the kindest, gentlest, and good hearted men I have ever met. He and I used to go dancing in Milwaukee, and he patiently showed me how to dance the Polish polka, which was definitely different from the German polka! Not only was he patient and brilliant on the dance floor, but he was kind and funny and respectful in all areas of his life. Most importantly, he led so many people to faith by his own example in how to walk with the Lord. Not only was he patient and brilliant on the dance floor, but he was kind and funny and respectful in all areas of his life. Most importantly, he led so many people to faith by his own example in how to walk with the Lord. On the very first night we met I remember talking to him about my curiosity about the Holy Rosary. It was summer, and we were dancing at a large outdoor dance venue in Milwaukee. So what did Lenny do? He stopped dancing, led me outside to his car, pulled out his rosary from around his rear view mirror, and we sat on the concrete steps of the dance hall and we prayed the whole rosary together! He and I went to rosary prayer meetings (at Jan's house) many times after that, which was the highlight of my week. Lenny became my sponsor, guiding my walk in faith, into fullness of the Catholic Church. The next year he invited me to join his group headed to Medjugorie, where we stayed at the visionary Mirianna's home. I don't remember a time that we were out and about in Milwaukee, that Lenny wouldn't just stop and say, "Let's say a Hail Mary" or "Let's pray a decade of the Rosary for that person." His faith was infectious and his joy in our Mother Mary and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus went with him wherever he went. He prayed and fasted for the soul of his mother, whom he loved very much. He told me that souls need our prayers, no matter who they were in life, and that he wanted to sacrifice whatever he could in this life, if that would bring his mother some comfort and joy in purgatory and help her on her way to heaven. I'll never forget that. Lenny told me once about his experiences in Vietnam. He was really young when he went into the service, and he told me that he never was more scared than when in the thick of gunfire. He told me about one time that he was certain he would die. He kept praying to Mother Mary -and when he wanted to run, he felt her telling him to run in the other direction, which he did. He went back through the line of fire to save one of his buddies. He carried him out to safety. Then he went back in through the line of fire to get another one. Each time he went back he knew that he'd probably die. But he said he felt the presence of Mother Mary protecting him. And he was never touched by a bullet. He said he was given a medal of honor for that service, but he didn't think he deserved it because as he put it: "I really didn't do anything. It was Mother Mary that did it all." I know Lenny suffered from depression and anxiety for years after his service. He said night time was always the worst. God bless his heart. That's what he always told everyone else, and it made a difference. Lenny believed in miracles. He believed that Mother Mary was weeping for the times of today and the souls on earth whose hearts had not been converted. I think Lenny wept for souls and prayed for them and lived in such a way that put other people first, and their salvation before anything else in this world. He was a quiet man with a huge heart, who bore his crosses with dignity and pride. Lenny was always present with you. He gave all of himself. He was the most unselfish person I've ever met. You know how special a person is by their legacy that they leave in this world after they have gone, and how well people remember what they said and did. Lenny changed me. Made me a better person. My memories of Lenny are crystal clear and continue to guide my way. I will miss him.

Lenny was my favorite dance partner. We had so much fun over the years! Wherever there was an event with great music I knew he would be there and we would be ripping up the dance floor! Lenny helped me to understand the finer points of our dances and how to perfect moves. He was a stickler for detail, which I appreciated. One of my favorite memories was teaching polka to children at a German culture camp. He was so patient with them. We had a blast. Another great memory is how we would swap dance partners mid-dance when Bill (Bessa) was also on the floor with a dance partner. We never missed a beat! It was so fun! I will always cherish our memories. We were blessed to have you as our friend, Lenny. We love and miss you. ❤️

My sympathies to Lenny's family and friends. Lenny was a gift to our lives. I met him as the owner of the Catholic co-op house in which my future husband was a resident. Lenny was my Tim's best friend, and the co-best man at our wedding. That house was a haven for faith, fun, brother-and sister-hood. So many memories of laughter and prayer there. Lenny even sponsored a family from Laos and famously told the house residents, " I'm bringing them.They'll be living here. You can join me in helping them, or not, you can stay or go. But I'm bringing them and helping them and they'll be living here." Just one instance of his huge heart and great lived faith. He was the reason we were able to buy our first home. He was always our faithful friend. May you enjoy a rich reward, Lenny, and may you and Tim, Virgil and Dennis, be having a blast together again!