Board of Directors Memorial
Leslie Blake Anderson, Esq.
Suffolk County Community College
College Brief
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NO: 17
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October 2, 2023
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TO:
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The College Community
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FROM:
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Dr. Sylvia A. Diaz
Executive Director – Suffolk Community College Foundation
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SUBJECT:
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Visitation Scheduled for Today to Mark the Passing of Leslie Anderson, Esq., College Foundation Board of Director and Higher Education Advocate
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It is with great sadness that I share the news that former Suffolk County Executive Assistant District Attorney Leslie B. Anderson, Esq., passed away late last week following a brief illness. Leslie served for over a decade as a Director and as Vice Chair of the Suffolk Community College Foundation.
Leslie, the eldest of two daughters, was born September 14, 1966 to Alfonso “Al” and Andrea “Bunny” Anderson on Long Island’s east end in the Town of Riverhead. In 1983, she graduated from Central Islip High School and enrolled at Florida A & M University studying Business Administration and Accounting. She continued her studies at the University of Edinburgh, Moray House College, in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK studying political science and history and completed her undergraduate work at the State University of New York at Albany where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history. Leslie remained in Albany where she studied law at Albany Law School, Union University, graduating with a Doctor of Laws in 1990 and was admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor at law in New York.
She served as Executive Assistant District Attorney of Suffolk County, an office in which she was appointed by four successive District Attorneys. She was a pioneer of gang investigations and prosecution and served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Executive Bureau and Gang Prosecutions. Leslie was Counsel to the Grievance Committee for New York’s 10th Judicial District (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) where she investigated attorney misconduct. Additionally, she served as Regional Director for the New York State Division of Human Rights and as a Substitute Teacher at her beloved Central Islip High School. One of her proudest moments was to return to her alma mater to deliver the commencement keynote address.
Leslie and her family enjoy a legacy of activism in education, diversity, equity and justice throughout our region, our state and nation. Leslie and her wife, Emma McGrattan, made their home in East Patchogue and actively support many community organizations including the Suffolk Community College Foundation.
In addition to her wife, Leslie is survived by her sister Kimberly Anderson Hansson, brothers-in-law Ulf Hansson, Eamon McGrattan, Enda McGrattan, Robert McGrattan and her beloved mother-in-law Millie McGrattan. She is also survived by beloved extended family including many nieces and nephews, each of whom had a special place in her heart. She counted thousands as her friends.
A celebration of Leslie Anderson’s life will occur today, Monday, October 2, 2023 at Moloney’s Hauppauge Funeral Home 840 Wheeler Road (Route 111), Hauppauge, NY 11788 631-830-6003 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and again from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are encouraged to make a gift to the Leslie B. Anderson, Esq. Memorial LPN Scholarship by visiting Leslie Blake Anderson, Esq. Memorial Fund for Nursing Excellence . All gifts support promising women and men enrolled in the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program in the Jane F. Shearer School of Nursing at Suffolk County Community College.