Leonard E. Plachta

Dr. Leonard E. Plachta, president emeritus of Central Michigan University, 78, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at Central Michigan Community Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 25, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Thomas J. McNamara presiding. In keeping with his wishes, Dr. Plachta’s body has been cremated.

Visitation will be at Lux Funeral Home on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the Mass begins.

Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation, CMU Development, or to the Isabella County Soup Kitchen. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home.

Leonard was born April 23, 1929, in Detroit, the son of Louis and Veronica (Ozymkowski) Plachta.

He was graduated from St. Andrew High School, Detroit, in 1947 and served in the U.S. Army as a topographer in the Philippines during the Korean Conflict. He continued his studies at the University of Detroit, receiving a BS in Accounting in 1956 and an MBA in Finance in 1959.

He was married to Louise Szynal on September 2, 1957 at St. Barbara Catholic Church in Dearborn.

In 1964 he obtained a Ph. D. in Business Administration from Michigan State University. The Ford Foundation at the University of Chicago sponsored his postdoctoral studies in 1965.

He was employed as a professor by the University of Detroit from 1961-1970, Michigan State University in the fall of 1967, Alma College from 1971-1972, and Central Michigan University from 1972-1977.

In 1978 he moved to Mt. Pleasant and assumed the position of Assistant Dean, and later, Acting Dean at CMU. But most notably was his tenure as President of CMU from 1992-2000.

Leonard was involved in the community serving on such boards as the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation, Central Michigan Community Hospital, and Development at CMU, to name a few. He was a member of Sacred Heart Parish.

In his spare time he owned and ran thoroughbred horses. He was interested in the stock market and finances. More recently he counseled students in entrepreneurial studies at CMU.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Louise of Mt. Pleasant; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Ravi Jarial of Walled Lake and Laura and Michael Lisa of Worthington, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Ian, Conor, Nicholas, Oscar, Sammy, Anna Rose, and Tarun; and his brother, Daniel Plachta of Dearborn Heights.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Sister Terrence Plachta.