Leonard YT Chow

Leonard Yew Tong Chow, born June 16, 1940, in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, passed away on April 24, 2024, at St. Alphonsus Hospital.

Born to Warren Kam Fong and Thelma (Toby) Chow, Lenny grew up surrounded by his Paresa and Chow cousins, aunties, and uncles giving him a strong foundation of ʻohana. He was the eldest of three boys. He admired and loved his brothers Michael, who was a National Guard and Aloha Airlines pilot, and Norm Chow, who has coached football around the world.  He often reminisced about playing on a baseball team with his brothers and cousins, being coached by his dad and uncles, while his other uncles umpired their games, “How could we lose?”

He is a proud alumnus of St. Louis High School, class of 1958, as well as an Eagle Scout. He cultivated life-long friendships from his schooling years who continued to be a significant part of his life. We won’t get into his extracurricular activities from his time in high school, but he loved telling entertaining stories to his grandchildren and great grandchildren and reminiscing with his classmates as they vacationed together throughout the years.

Lenny headed to Boise, Idaho to play football at Boise Junior College. His team would win the 1958 Junior College National Championship giving him bragging rights for the rest of his life. It could be said that he bled blue. People would often ask his children, “Have you seen the blue turf?” Not knowing that they grew up with the 20-yard line (or red zone) as their backyard lawn.

BUT, when his baby brother was hired as the head football coach at the University of Hawaiʻi and they were scheduled to play BSU, the Honolulu Star newspaper reporter asked who he was going to root for. He unabashedly replied, “Family first, football second.”

Soon after arriving to Boise, Lenny met the love of his life, Betty Fon. She had relocated to Boise from Shelly, Idaho to attend business school. Their first date was walking in the snow, a new adventure for this island boy. He loved the snow, and he loved Betty for 63 years. 

Lenny worked in many fields such as the United States Forest Service, Meadow Gold Creamery, Ford Garage, just to name a few. He eventually found his passion in the Insurance World building his business for over 50 years. He was dedicated to his work and clients. He was even writing policies the morning of his passing. He was of the belief that you should give back to your community and he always practiced what he preached. He was a coach at the College of Idaho, St Teresa’s, Bishop Kelly, the Idaho State Prison, and Optimist Football. The last coaching position was as an Offensive Coordinator (from the sidelines) for his son who coaches at Victory Middle School football.

Lenny was a PTA president, a member of the Capital Jaycees, served as the Fire Commissioner of the Whitney Fire Department, member of the Bronco Athletic Association, a Bronco Booster, and an overall strong community leader. His favorite club of all was the ʻUkulele Kanikapila Club that met monthly to play Hawaiian music.

Lenny and Betty opened their home and dinner table to anyone that needed a bed or a good meal, especially if they were from Hawaiʻi. The way he conducted his business is reflected in the way he loved people. Strangers became friends who eventually were considered family.

His children, Michelle Nalani Chow, Warren Glen (Martha) Chow, Lisa Leinaʻala Chow (Derrick Montalvo), and Malia LeeAnn (Dan) Hollowell, loved their father dearly. He created the home he left in Hawaiʻi in Boise so that his kids would be surrounded by family; the Hawaiʻi Community was their hānai family.

He leaves behind his wife of 63 years, four children, 15 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren with two great grandchildren on the way. If you ask any of them, they will tell you they were his favorite.

Lenny Chow’s Memorial Service will be held in Boise, Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at the Risen Christ

11:00am Viewing

12:00pm Mass

2:30pm Burial at Cloverdale Cemetery

Memorial Service will be held in Honolulu, Hawai’i Friday, October 11, 2024 at Star of Sea

Times TBA

Followed by the BSU vs UH football game Saturday, October 12, 2024