Leonard René Lambert, formerly from Oswego, NY, passed away peacefully at 97 ½ on June 7, 2015 at his current home in Wallkill, New York surrounded by his family. He has lived in Wallkill, New York since the passing of his wife, Madaliene Morgan Lambert in March of 2012. Prior to that major event in his life he enjoyed bringing up his family in the City of Oswego, NY and teaching music to children for the Oswego City School District from 1946 to when he retired in 1979. Leonard was born on October 5, 1917 in Burlington, Vermont but was raised in Massena, NY where he graduated from Massena High School in 1936. Four years later, in 1940, he graduated from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam where he met the love of his life, Madaliene Morgan, whom he married on June 24, 1942. Leonard and Madaliene were also snowbirds, spending winters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida from 1983-2012. He graduated from Syracuse University where he received a Master's of Music Education degree. In January 1941, he was drafted to the United States Army to serve in World War II until November 1945 when he was honorably discharged. While in the Army, he joined the 2nd Armored Division from January 1941 until November 1943, the U.S. Army School of Music from November 1942 to January 1943, and finished his service in the 76th Infantry as a Warrant Office Junior Guard from January 1943 until November 1945 under General George S. Patton. He received the Bronze Star Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon. A very significant event in Leonard's life, while in WWII was his participation in the Battle of the Bulge, which helped beat back Hitler's Ardennes Offensive during the winter of 1944-1945. By all accounts, the war in Western Europe was winding down when the Nazi's mounted a surprise gambit along the Belgian Frontier that Winston Churchill called, "Undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war." In 2011, Leonard, along with the Oswego County Battle of the Bulge Veterans, were named to the New York State Senate Veteran's Hall of Fame. Leonard touched the lives of many children while teaching music to elementary and high school students in the Oswego City School District for 33 years. Throughout his life, Leonard belonged to and served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Oswego, NY; was a member of the Knights of Columbus; played in the SUNY Oswego College and Community Orchestra and the Oswego City Summer Band with Slim Gross as conductor; enjoyed bowling, golf, traveling, camping, and watching the World Series. Most important to him were family gatherings whether large or small. When asked his secret on living a long and healthy life, he would say, "Three things: good doctors, TLC (tender loving care) and a bottle of wine with dinner (one 5oz. mini bottle of Sutter Home, that is!). Leonard will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and brother-in-law. He was dedicated to his family; a quiet, sensitive man with a great sense of humor and always a gentleman with the highest moral standards a person could hold. He was a pillar to all who knew him; a role model for all. He will be missed, but always remembered and will live forever in our hearts. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents René and Nora (Dumas) Lambert; his brothers Bernard and René Lambert and sisters Margaret (Killop) Lambert and Rita Lambert. He is survived by his children Jeannine Lambert (Edward) Sylcox, Wallkill, NY; Leonard M. (Robin) Lambert, Galway, NY; Cynthia Lambert (Donald) Blomquist, Walden, NY; Renée Lambert (Richard) Rider, New Baltimore, NY; and Richard (Thelma) Lambert, Phoenix, NY; 11 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mary Clark Lambert and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 10-11 am on Friday, June 12, 2015 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave, Newburgh, NY 12550. A mass will be held on Friday, June 12, 2015 at 11:30a.m at Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Rte 52 & Lakeside Road, Newburgh, NY 12550. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Windsor Highway, New Windsor, NY 12553. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to St. Paul's Church, 50 East Mohawk St., Oswego, NY 13126 or a charity of your choice in his honor.