A familiar face on Main Street, Leslie E. Chornoma Jr. held court at his real estate office, sharing stories with friends, neighbors, and visitors alike. A lifelong resident of East Moriches, he passed away peacefully on September 8.
In a conversation with the South Shore Press a few weeks before his passing, Les shared memories of the community he loved. He spoke of the Pekin duck farms, where feathers sometimes brought more profit than the meat, and the fishing stations that drew in city folk when flounders could be caught by the dozen. He recalled Prohibition tales of secret tunnels and a bootlegger’s truck that overturned, and “everyone got a bottle.” He remembered the firebug who torched the East Moriches Fire House, the siren wailing all night because they couldn’t turn it off, and the day TWA Flight 800 crashed, the Coast Guard Station serving as base for the recovery effort.
Les reminisced about the grand Tuthill Point House, the World War II radio station, and his family’s ice house and barrel-making operation for the duck trade. He took pride in helping build Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck on Kalers Pond, a retreat for children with special needs.
A U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran, Les was a devoted hunter and fisherman, a family man, and a generous friend. He farmed with his father, built a decades-long career in real estate, and delighted in telling stories of his hometown. “Our area is pretty much the same as when George Washington rode through,” he would say.
Predeceased by his beloved wife, Sherrie, Les is survived by his sister, Geraldine Strebel, and her husband, James; his brother, Frank Chornoma; and his nephews, Robert, Scott, and Jimmy Strebel.
Les was laid to rest on September 16, his 84th birthday, beside his beloved Sherrie at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. His legacy of love, humor, and storytelling will long be cherished by all who knew him.