Mr. Leonard Zeik, the founder of Leonardo Jewelers in Elizabeth and Red Bank, New Jersey, has passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. He was known by his friends as Leonardo. Born August 8, 1929 in Victoria de las Tunas, Cuba he emigrated to the US with his wife and four young children October 1961 to flee what he saw was an increasingly anti-American Cuba after Castro's rise to power. Mr. Zeik's fear was justified when not so many years later, Fidel Castro proclaimed the island communist. When he fled Cuba, he left his home, business, and came virtually penniless. He immediately started working in a factory to support his four young children, the oldest who was six, and his wife. He soon opened up a store where he sold furniture, appliances, shoes, coats and clothing, as well as a small selection of jewelry, items that the rapidly growing Cuban immigrant community needed. So even though he barely had enough money to feed his own family, he helped newly arrived Cuban families by selling them whatever they needed on interest-free credit. Many of those original customers are now third generation customers of the now well renowned jewelry business. Leonardo also helped his extended family start businesses in the U.S. As his own siblings arrived to the States, he spun off elements of his original business – such as the clothing store – to his brothers. He then focused on the jewelry business where he became the first independent jeweler to bring in some of the biggest names in the Italian jewelry industry. He also became the first (and only) Latin-American Rolex authorized jeweler in the United States. For the last dozen years, Leonardo's five children have been operating the business their father started 50 years ago. He was an avid Yankee fan and nothing in the world was more important to him than being surrounded by his family, especially if good food was involved. Leonardo is survived by his wife of 60 years – Lourdes Zeik. He also is survived by his five children, Michael Zeik, Lourdes Zeik-Chivi, Vivian Zeik Lund, Leo Zeik, and Ivette Fernicola, his nine grandchildren, John Leonard, Annie Leonard, Madelaine Chivi, Sarah Chivi, Simon Chivi, Matthew Fernicola, Anthony Fernicola, Kaitlin Zeik, and Christopher Zeik. He is also survived by his sister, Magne Caram and his children's spouses, Dr. Mark Finkelstein, Zak Chivi, Jim Lund, Anthony Fernicola and Maggie Zeik. Leonardo was a beloved spouse, father, grandfather and leader of his community. His compassion, love, friendship, leadership and wisdom will dearly be missed by family and friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00PM at the Holmdel Funeral Home 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, December 12 at St. Benedict's Church 165 Bethany Road, Holmdel at noon where he was a fixture at the 5 PM Saturday Mass. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Vincent de Paul at St. Benedict Church in Holmdel, or the Holmdel First Aid Squad.