Norman Peter Leenhouts

Norman Peter Leenhouts:  

 Here is the link for a video of Norm's memorial service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFXR4qJCjXo

Fairport: Went to be with the Lord at the age of 81 on January 7, 2017.  He leaves his wife of 61 years, Arlene Ziegler Leenhouts; his daughters, Laurie Leenhouts of Macedon, NY and Amy (Robert) Tait of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Jason (Nicole) Tones, Brandon (Michelle) Tones both of Rochester, Alexander Tait of Princeton, NJ and Margaret Tait of San Francisco, CA; great-grandchildren, Celeste, Julia, Lauren, and Jason Tones, Jr.; twin brother Nelson (Nancy) Leenhouts of Rochester; sister, Martha Leenhouts of Macedon; many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and caretakers.

Norman was a graduate of Wayne Central High School in Ontario, NY and the University of Rochester.  Norman Leenhouts had over 40 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate, including retail, industrial, office and land development. He and his brother Nelson Leenhouts formed Home Leasing Corporation in 1967. They took their apartments public in 1994 to form Home Properties, Inc., where Norm served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.  As Co-CEO, Norm sourced and supervised acquisitions totaling several billion dollars.

Other highlights:

Graduate of the University of Rochester
Certified Public Accountant and a Real Estate Broker
Co-founded and joined Broadstone Real Estate in 2006
Board of Directors, University of Rochester
Board of Directors, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Free Methodist Church of North America
Chairs the boards of the Charles Finney School, Heritage Christian Foundation, and Edgewood Free Methodist Church.

- See more at: http://www.broadstone.com/about/people-and-team/norman-leenhouts/#sthash.icYjHA18.dpuf

There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Norman, on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 2PM in the Hale Auditorium at the Cultural Life Center of Roberts Wesleyan College, 2301 Westside Drive, Rochester, NY 14624. To view a live broadcast of the memorial service go to http://www.roberts.edu/live-video.aspx. To honor Norman, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation ( Note: the link to a local florist below should only be used by immediate family members who may be out of town and needing to confirm a Sunday delivery to Roberts Wesleyan...the courtesy of no flowers is appreciated for all others) to the Rochester Youth for Christ, 1 Favor St., Rochester, NY 14608 (http://yfcrochester.org/  or 585-256-5050), or the Leenhouts Family Endowment for Stroke Care and Recovery, c/o Betsy Henner, University of Rochester Gift and Donor Records, 300 East River Road, Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14627 (Please note on checks the fund name "Leenhouts Family endowed Fund for Stroke Care and Recovery")/ phone: 585-275-4564/
uofr.us/leenhoutsgifts, or to a charity of your choice.    To leave a condolence, please visit www.murphyfuneralservices.com.

Below is a copy of an e-mail  sent out by the President of the University of Rochester; Joel Seligman...

_____________________________
From: Seligman, Joel
Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 5:12 PM
Subject: FW: Sad News about Norm Leenhouts
To: Cabinet
Cc: Amy Tait

 

Dear Members of the Board and Cabinet:

I am saddened to announce that Life Trustee Norman P. Leenhouts ’56 died on January 7 at age 81.  Norm was a remarkably accomplished, generous, and kind man.  He had a far-reaching impact on the University of Rochester, particularly our Department of Neurosurgery, and our local community.  He and his twin brother, Nelson Leenhouts ’56, founded and led the business that became Home Properties, a publicly traded, multibillion-dollar real estate investment trust.  University flags will be lowered later this month in Norm’s memory, and we will pay tribute to him at our May Board meeting.

Norm began service on the Board in 1986, moving to Senior Trustee status in 1996 and to Life Trustee status in 2000.  He served on the Development and Student Affairs Committees, and he was on the Facilities Committee for 10 years, chairing it for three.  He was actively engaged with the University until his death. 

Norm and Nelson founded Home Leasing Corp. in 1967.  The company ultimately became Home Properties, Inc., where the Leenhouts brothers were co-CEOs until 2003, leaving to lead two offshoot companies.  Norm left to co-found Broadstone Real Estate, which manages two real estate investment trusts, Broadstone Net Lease and Broadtree Homes, that he founded with his daughter, Amy Tait ’85S (MBA). The Leenhouts brothers have been involved in such notable area projects as Clinton Square, Blue Heron Country Club, Northgate Shopping Center, Southview Commons, and medical buildings at Park Ridge and Rochester General hospitals.

Norm Leenhouts received the University’s Charles Force Hutchison and Marjorie Smith Hutchison Medal in 2013 in recognition of his inspirational achievements as a pioneering business leader and his service to the University and broader community.  He was inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2002, a fitting recognition of more than 40 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate.  He served on the boards of Roberts Wesleyan College and The Charles E. Finney School, where he was board chair.  He served on the School of Medicine and Dentistry Trustee Visiting Committee and was deeply involved with the Department of Neurosurgery and the Del Monte Institute.  During The Meliora Challenge, he served as co-chair for the Neuromedicine Campaign at the Medical Center.  He and his wife of more than 60 years, Arlene, established the Leenhouts Family Endowment for Stroke Care and Recovery.   The endowment will be used to support research, clinical, and educational programs focused on stroke care and recovery.  The inaugural Leenhouts Family Endowed Lecture in Stroke Care and Recovery occurred in 2015.

The Norman and Nelson Leenhouts Scholarship Fund was established in 2001 in the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering in appreciation of the financial aid the two brothers received as undergraduates. 

Norm Leenhouts will be remembered for his devotion to his family, church, and personal warmth.  He will be missed, but his legacy endures through his remarkable family and his many contributions to the University and broader community.

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