Leonhardt L. Rauscher

Longtime East Hampton resident Leonhardt L. Rauscher died on November 4 at his home in Etowah, North Carolina, surrounded by family. Known for his deep roots and great contributions in both the East Hampton business world and local community, he was 90.

Born on January 13, 1918, in Mattituck to Elsie (née Bennett) and Francis Xavier Rauscher, he moved to his mother’s hometown of East Hampton after his father died of typhoid fever in April 1925. He stayed with his maternal grandparents Martha (née Hulse) and William Bennett on their small farm on Barnes Hole Road—raising chickens and vegetables, and fishing in Gardiners Bay—until age 11.

He was reunited with his mother when she married David Griffiths Sr.; his half brother was born at a small house on Cedar Street. The family subsequently moved to a home on Miller Lane West that was built with money from a trust his father established for him. He was forced to leave school at the age of 15 and work in the farm fields to help provide for his mother, stepfather and 5-year-old half brother during the Great Depression.

At age 15, he built a boat commonly known as a “Sharpie” to clam, eel and scallop in Three Mile Harbor. Later in his teens, he drew on his mechanical ability to work at I.Y. Halsey’s Garage.

He also became a member of the East Hampton Fire Department, where he was a leading member of the award-winning ladder climbing team. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1940 at age 22. After basic training, he was chosen to be part of the Marine Corps Aviation Division.

He attended schools in California, Illinois, Nevada, Florida and New Jersey. After he was picked to become an instructor, he was sent for further training to learn how to teach.

Toward the end of the war, he acted as a propeller specialist in the admiralty and later in the Philippine Islands. At the end of the war, he received a special commendation for his innovation of special tooling to straighten damaged propellers.

Having saved $3,000 while in the service, he and his friend Sid Fields, also a war vet, built a T-shaped building that still stands today just to the east of Robert’s Lane on Long Lane. The material was salvaged from an old blacksmith shop that stood on the present site of the Amaden Gay building.

He and Mr. Fields dismantled the dilapidated building from the framing timbers to the shingles, and trucked it to the new site. This became an Esso gas station and machine shop. Any aspect of welding and brazing at which he had become quite skilled while in the service was done on site. The two men worked in lawn mower sales and service, and sold custom built rowboats. There was an airfield to the north at which they could take off and land airplanes for repair.

Having obtained his license to repair planes while in the Marine Corps, he was the only individual on the East End who had such a license at the time. One client was Mel Lamb, who had leased East Hampton Airport in those days. Mr. Rauscher performed repairs for Mr. Lamb and flew passengers to and from regional airports in New York and Connecticut. He also flew supplies to Gardiners Island from time to time.

In 1951, he had an opportunity to purchase a triangular piece of land that was created when the Montauk Highway as we know it today was established through Wainscott. He and his partner built the structure currently known as Georgica Creek Antiques. Again, it became an Esso gas station, with two garage bays for auto repair, a car wash, and space for the service and sales of all types of power equipment.

Shortly thereafter, he built the structure that most recently was occupied by Main Beach Surf and Sport. He started a boat business known as Hampton Marine Center, selling boats and motors, and at the same time built the East Hampton Marina at the end of Three Mile Harbor,.

In 1970, he erected the building where Rum Runner will be relocating, to house his Honda Motorcycle dealership—one of the earliest Honda dealers in the United States—that he’d acquired in 1963.

He was also a member of the original zoning commission in East Hampton in 1957, a member of the East Hampton Zoning Board of Appeals, an active real estate investor/developer, and president of the East Hampton Lion’s Club. He also owned and operated Leon Rauscher Real Estate, and ran unsuccessfully against Judith Hope for East Hampton Town supervisor in 1985.

He took up the sport of golf at the age of 45, and became quite good. During his lifetime he shot 7 eagles.

He owned large tracts of land in northern Vermont, a home in North Carolina, and homes in South Florida. He stayed active throughout his life, driving between his homes in Boca Raton, Florida, and North Carolina, over 720 miles at a time, non-stop.

Most notable of all was his optimistic attitude, his unending generosity and love for his family, and his revered reputation as a man who could always be counted on. In 1965, he helped set up his half brother David Griffiths in the building business, and established trusts for his two sons.

He is survived by two sons, Arthur Rauscher of East Hampton and Lee Rauscher of North Carolina; a half brother, David Griffiths of East Hampton and South Carolina; three granddaughters, Heather, Hedges and Jessica; and a grandson, Leif. His wife, Kathryn Hedges Rauscher, predeceased him on November 2, 2006.

A graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery on Windmill Lane in Amagansett will be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the family.