SPECIAL THANKS TO THE

NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION

HONOR GUARD

I, as a retired ADW and also a member of the Honor Guard detail
during my tenure at the Correction Academy was PROUD of the
Honor Guard Detail and staff at the Homegoing Service for Lenny
Holmes. The professionalism and commitment to excellence was
something to see. I thank you all and commend the Captain who
lead the detail. You were open, helpful and accepting of the
Motorcycle Escorts. Your openness allowed all to participate in the
ceremony including the Cowboy and his horse. You worked well
with the family to give them their time without invading their
space or privacy.WE were all a part of a big TEAM to honor Lenny
Holmes. I thank you!!!!
Dianne Kevelier-Smith

My thoughts are that...Ever since Lenny,Smity and the rest of the Academy instructors from the early 80s left.......we'll you see what DOC is dealing with now!
Rest in Peace My Brother
Ret. Capt. Terrell
Billy T.

In a message dated 3/11/2008 4:45:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, AROANE5051 writes: Andrew Roane

Dear Correction Family(retiree's)

As all of you know by now..we lost a "legend"in DOC..Lenny Holmes this past Saturday.I am perturbed by some of the comments that I received from a small number of people.

Some of those comments were out and out nasty("I hope he burns in hell with Stan")..This is WRONG!!!!..
If you didn't agree with Lenny's politic's..OK..but to say such horrible things..what's the point..Lenny is gone.

Many people didn't like Lenny because of his association with Phil Seelig and Stan Israel in the 80's and 90's..Yes Lenny did serve on the COBA executive board during this very rough time in DOC..Yes under the dictatorship of Phil and Stan the credibility of the COBA became very questionable..but is it fair to drop this on Lenny..Was Lenny always in agreement with what Phil and Stan were doing..NO..Some of you should remember the bridge take-over in the early 90's which became city-wide news(it also became a sticking point in the Dinkins administration and to some degree cost him a re-election bid..because people felt that Dinkins should have sent in NYPD to take back the bridge)..The COBA made it clear that the COBA was NOT in support of the take-over and considered it a "wild-cat" strike(unauthorized)..

Lenny did NOT agree with the rest of the board..and he made his feelings known and of course this did not sit well with Phil or Stan.But he felt that we had to make our point and of course the BRIDGE action thrust a lot of people into the limelight to take on the COBA(Simon Astuto-CIFM,Mildred Lambert-AMKC,Norman SeeBrooks-GRVC,Robinson-OBCC,Harrison Stukes-MHD,Eddie Graham-OBCC and myself..who bought impeachment charges against Phil and Stan ..and there was MANY other's)I did not always agree with Lenny..but I RESPECTED him.

Lenny Holmes taught basic martial art move's and defensive posture's for all who came through the Academy.He was very serious but away from the academy and the COBA..he was a completely different person.
I know because there was many of us who knew Lenny from the Martial Arts community and he was very much respected in that community.
Lenny had been in the Martial arts field for over 40 years..and many people had trained with him and was taught by him.
Many times Lenny would teach neighborhood kids who had no money to pay for lessons..This is a FAR cry from what goes on today...
So Please Family..let us turn out for Lenny..wish him well on his journey to the kingdom of the Creator and our ancestor's..Remember we must all meet our maker one day and what will people say about YOU..when you are gone..Did you take the time "touch" someone in your life or make someone feel better about themselves.Or were you selfish and didn't give a damn about anyone...
Good-bye Lenny..Bushido(way of the warrior) is your trademark..take your rest soldier..ushhhhhhh

Andrew Roane

Dianne Kevelier Smith:  Well, I loved Lenny Holmes. I feel sorry for anyone that did not have the opportunity to know him outside of the roles and titles he held, but as a man, a friend, a co-worker and teacher. Yes, he had a strong personality and did make sure you worked hard but that was because he knew you could. He wanted you to give your all. He was my friend and my family and I will miss him dearly. I wish his family well and our friendship will continue. I pray I see him in Glory and wish you all peace. If you have another person that you are stuggling with, please look beyond their faults and find the essence of their being. Be sure you don't miss the beauty within. Grace and Peace!

Lenny was my teacher, my co-worker, a role model and friend. He rode motorcyles with my husband Al and we rode horses together. We went to the Jazz Festivals and partied together. We met as families and my daughter looked up to him. He was our Shihan in Miyama-Ryu Ju-Jitsu and a person whose memory we all will cherish. Lenny rest in peace! Love the Kevelier and Smith families.

To Ralph E Smith- Guardian Chronicle
There are no words that can truly express my thanks and appreciation for your service. I and the family will be forever in your debt for being the historian and man to chronicle the service for Lenny Holmes. You are a master in this field and your heart is bigger. Your dedication and expertise is unmatched!God has blessed us all through you!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Dianne

Felix Aponte: It is with great sadness that I must tell you that Lenny Holmes Passed away last night. No further information is available at this time. I will definitely pass it along as I get it. Please pass this information to everyone.

From Retired NYCD Chief Marron Hopkins:   Lenny and I met and became friends as officers back in 1977 when we joined the Academy staff as instructors. The Academy was housed in the old Tombs, which was closed at the time. During January of that year, we had a snow storm that paralyzed the city and we had to staff the Tombs for the N/A until the buses could run again. Lenny and I worked a floor together and had lots of time to talk about ourselves and get to know each other. Playing basketball during lunch gave me an early glimpses of the competitive side of Lenny. For awhile Lenny had a Martial Arts' school in LIC which my son attended and I got to see and learn another side to Lenny. He was serious about his work at the Academy, at his school and with the union, but was entirely different away from it.
As our roles changed through the years, we were often on opposite sides of the equation, but it never affected our friendship. I seldom agreed with his politics during those times, but never lost respect for the man who at least had the backbone to voice them.

Saw Lenny, for what turned out to be the last time, just before I retired in 1994 and we laugh and joked about the "good old days" at the Academy when our biggest worry seemed to be how to guard each other on a basketball court.
You may not have agreed with his union activities, but if you ever got to know him, you'll have to admit that you'll miss him. My son, a grown man now, choked up a bit when I told him of Lenny's death, to be honest, so did I.

C.O Janet Bunn Transportation div.  I knew Lenny holmes from the Correction Academy as a Instructor for class 376 back in 1981. I also worked with him in the jail. He was a good man and will be miss by me C.O Janet Bunn Transportation div. God bless his family he will be miss Repectfully submitted C.O Bunn

Lena Lindsay: Lenny Holmes was a gentle giant. We started our career in the Police Academy in 1973. I will always remember him because of his kindness. We met again when I became a Correction Officer in 1977.


Brother Roane from Brother David L. Carter, Sr:  Your thoughts on Brother Lenny are good ones. I would also like to add the fact, That I also respected and loved Lenny as a Brother in which I called him.
This was on duty and off.

If someone had some harsh words to said about him, they should had said
it to him before his death not now. May God bless them.. you see they did't
know him like we do.

I also knew him from Martial Arts too. I helped him open his frist Martial Arts
School in the late 70's. He was a kind and caring person. Who would reach
out and touch someone and make them feel better about themselves.

I would like to said to them that don't realy know him... The only way to have
a " friend " is to be one. " Life " is to short for men to take it seriously.

" Death " is the supreme festival on the road to freedom...Good-By Brother
Lenny...I know your on that road...ushhhhhhh

Bro. David L. Carter, Sr.

LENNY HOLMES

HOME GOING

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS

Denise AKA Hunii"Lenny's Sister":  Thank you so much for the beautiful job you did on my brother’s home going service.

My brother was my hero, father, brother, and friend. He taught me so many things. I could talk to him about anything. My family was so overwhelmed.  Moreover my brother was so adventurous, they forgot he Played drums for Larouqe Bey, and many other African dance troops. He played the drums in Mt Morris Park now called Marcus Garvey Park. He played for larouqe Bey and my sisters danced. He loved his community and helped the young men who were in the Boy scouts and cadets.

He taught us about the different kinds of drums. He used to go rolling skating in Brooklyn. The bus would pick us up in front of Harlem hospital. He also got involved in kayaking, we almost lost him his canoe turned over and he almost drowned. My family had to go to a hospital in Albany to support him.

He also taught us how to play pool and had a big pool table in his apartment in his living room instead of furniture (on Clay Ave in the Bronx) besides teaching us to protect ourselves, he taught us about life. I am very fortunate to have had such a beautiful man in my life

Once again thank you so much His sister Denise AKA Hunii

Hi Ralph from Jackie Perry: Retired NYCD
Just wanted to commend you on the wonderful coverage you did for Sensi Lenny Holmes. His legacy will be with us for a long time and the folks who knew him well appreciate and acknowledge your efforts.

By the way, I was the guest speaker March 8th on Rev. Sharpton's radio show for their tribute to Black Women during Women's history month. I did my presentation on the ten women who I felt have not only made an significant impact on me and
our people, but who have changed the world. It was well received and I will be invited back to read some of my Poetry. (I am writing a book)
Will keep you posted on that and thanks again.