His name was Leonard Vincent (Mr. V) and he was quite simply one of the finest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My fiancé’ Nicole, and I were greatly saddened to hear of his death. I had kept in touch with Mr. V for the years since, having been his student first at Malibu Junior High and later when we went up the ladder to Santa Monica High.
Mr. V was one of those rare humans that leave this earth having given more than they have taken. His legacy was not one of riches or self-indulgence, but rather one of a more lasting meaningful type, the teachings of true humanity. His course titles were Government, History, even basic mathematics. But his lessons all carried with them an underlying message that it is a fundamental American duty to question authority.
Among his students were Sean Penn, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and many other well known or well respected people. Mr. V affected these future icons and therefore untold millions. These students would use their celebrity to encourage a greater amount of justice in the world. Ideas live longer than people and in that way Mr. V. lives on. In 1985, my fellow students and I agreed that Mr. V. was teaching us something unique. To thank him, we organized to have a limousine to drive him home. The story went out over the news wire and was featured on that evening’s news.
When my father died, Mr. V was quick to offer sincere consolation. He urged me to run for class president at Santa Monica. I ran and won by a landslide. This is just one of his many unspoken gestures that permanently affected his students in a lifelong, positive way. Mr. V will be missed by all who knew him and if he is reading this letter from the good side of the pearly gates-Mr. V. we love you and your lessons of humanity and respect for every last life on this earth are not soon to be forgotten.
Chris Goldblatt