Roll Call Tribute

Anita H. Leffel 

April 16, 1952 - April 20, 2025 

It is with heavy hearts and profound love that the family of Dr. Anita Leffel announces her passing. Anita, a devoted educator, entrepreneur, and beloved family matriarch, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2025, in San Jose, California, at the home of her daughter Karyn, after a brief and fierce fight with pancreatic cancer. She was a guiding light to everyone who knew her, known for her energy, humor, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Anita grew up as the second-eldest of five siblings in a close knit Jewish family. From a young age she was active in her synagogue and community, experiences that instilled in her a strong sense of faith, compassion, and service to others. She excelled academically and had a lifelong love of learning. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas - Pan American, Anita took a courageous leap and moved to Israel to teach English, a formative adventure that deepened her connection to Israel and where she met her loving husband, Ronny Leffel. The two welcomed their first child before returning to Texas. Back in Houston, Anita balanced new motherhood with graduate studies, completing a Master of Education at the University of Houston. With her young family in tow and a fresh degree in hand, she set out into the working world ready to make an impact.

Two decades after beginning that management journey, already a seasoned business leader, she made the courageous decision to return to school, completing her Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University at the age of 50. That mid career doctorate became the launch pad for her celebrated second act in academia as an entrepreneurship educator and mentor.

In the early 2000s, Dr. Leffel embarked on a distinguished career in academia at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where she became a senior lecturer and Director of Entrepreneurship Programs in the College of Business. In this role, she was not only a teacher but a true innovator. She launched and co-founded numerous student-focused initiatives, including UTSA’s first business plan competition and an entrepreneurship student organization, and even helped establish a Toastmasters International chapter on campus. Through these programs she created, Anita opened doors for students to practice leadership and public speaking, develop startup ideas, and connect with mentors in the business community.

In 2016, Anita embraced a new adventure and moved to California, once again reinventing herself in the spirit of growth. She joined Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) as an academic leader, serving as the Director (and later Dean) of the university’s M.A. program in Social Impact. In this role, she applied her entrepreneurial acumen to the realm of social change, guiding graduate students who aspired to make a positive impact on society. CLU’s president at the time praised Anita’s “vision and success at creating programs to help students define and achieve their entrepreneurial goals... whether it be in business or in social impact”. Anita was gratified to work with a diverse student body from around the world, and she thrived on the challenge of bridging business principles with empathy and ethics in leadership.

For all of Anita’s professional achievements, nothing mattered more to her than family. She was the loving wife of Ronny Leffel, with whom she shared a deep and joyful partnership. Together they raised three children - Danny Leffel of San Rafael, CA (married to Kate), Karyn Priel of San Jose, CA (married to Or), and Shira Leffel of Hamburg, Germany - instilling in them the same values of curiosity, kindness, and determination that defined Anita’s life. She was immensely proud of the adults her children became. Later, Anita embraced her favorite role of all: grandmother. 

Anita is survived by her loving husband Ronny; her three children Danny (Kate), Karyn (Or), and Shira; and her five grandchildren Livia, Ezra, Shai, Noam, and Mila, who will forever remember her hugs and encouragement. She also leaves behind her four adoring siblings: Michael Scher of Austin, TX; Susan Prato of Dripping Springs, TX; Debra Suhl of Houston, TX; and Cathy Kansky of Los Altos, CA. Her legacy lives on in each of them.

A memorial service honoring Dr. Anita Leffel’s life will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Agudas Achim Memorial Gardens in San Antonio, Texas. Friends and family will gather to celebrate Anita’s remarkable life, share memories, and lay her to rest.

IN THE CARE OF
Porter Loring Mortuary - McCullough