Leonard "Lenny" Rajendra Gunpat

Leonard Rajendra Gunpat was born in Berbice, Guyana on December 30, 1957, to parents Drupattie and Manraj Gunpat. He was one of eleven children—Jean, Rita, Lynette, Paulette, Lalita, Violet, Elaine, Joan, Kennard, and Loyd—and grew up in a close-knit family deeply involved in church and community life.

From a young age, Leonard was filled with curiosity and a desire to see the world. At just eighteen, he set out from Guyana on a ship that took him across Europe and America, beginning a lifetime of adventure and hard work.

In 1981, Leonard immigrated to New York City in search of a better life. Two years later, in 1983, he met the love of his life, Amawattie, at a graduation barbecue. They got married on September 14, 1985, and went on to raise two children—Joshua (born 1989) and Rebecca (born 1992)—whom he loved deeply and considered his greatest accomplishments in life.

Leonard worked many jobs throughout his early years in New York, including at a pharmacy, in a hospital’s X-ray department, and as a forklift driver in a freezer. His determination to provide for his family led him to pursue his GED and later attend Queensborough Community College, where he trained to become a paramedic—a profession that reflected his caring and selfless nature.

In 2000, Leonard and his family moved to Arlington, Texas, where he continued his career as a paramedic until his retirement. Even after retirement, Leonard remained active and fulfilled through his faith. He then became a more involved  member of All Saints Lutheran Church, where he led Bible studies, read scripture, assisted with church finances, and shared his faith with family and friends.

Leonard’s life was marked by kindness, humility, and a steadfast devotion to God and his loved ones. His legacy lives on through the lives he touched and the love he gave so freely.