Good Life Diaries

Don Fernando Leon Asensio , patriarch of the Leon Family, died yesterday afternoon in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The Leon Family are the makers of La Aurora and Leon Jimenes Cigars as well owners of Presidente Beer and a number of other businesses. But, more importantly they're just wonderful people. I've had the pleasure of spending time with Don Fernando on several occasions , both in New York and in the Dominican Republic. I remember the first time I met him. Probably 2002 or 2003... He walked into the Madison Avenue store wearing his classic green fedora w/ a feather in the band (first time I ever saw him) and he was smoking a Leon Jimenes cigar... corona shaped, but with a Cameroon wrapper. I asked if I could help him, having no idea who he was... and he asked "Do you sell this cigar?" I said "No, I'm sorry we don't". He looked surprised and said, "YOU DONT ? I thought you carried Leon Jimenes !?" I said, "We do, but you ask

So, every yea r I host a big birthday bash with cigars, raffles, auctions, etc... to help raise money for my old high school. It's a small town public school tha t's funded by a very limited education budget financed by generous taxpayers on fixed incomes. This past year has been incredibly challenging for them to maintain programs, and even provide adequate resources like computers. They were only able to do so because of the funding my event generates. The Killingly High School "Learning for Life" Fund directly supports the "Career Pathways" program and "School to Career" program that helps in the transition from high school to the next step in these young peoples' lives, whether further education or directly into a trade. http://www.killingly.k12.ct.us/index.php?show=KHS&sub=112&content=86999112 This is my FIFTH one of these!!! We started in 2005 raising $2,500, then about $5,000 in 2006, $8,000 in 2007 and last year just $32,500 th