Dr. Leonard Rocklin Bogaev, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017.
Leonard was born on Sept. 27, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Harry A. and Vera R. Bogaev. After an exceptional scholastic high school performance, he attended Princeton University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating from Princeton University in 1950, Leonard attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated in 1954. After a rotating internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, his next stage of training took him to the University of Virginia where he completed a residency in urology. It was there that he met the love of his life, a beautiful young nurse named Rosa Lee Ayres.
Leonard and Rosa Lee married on Oct. 1, 1957 and cherished 60 wonderful years together. Once residency at the University of Virginia was completed, Leonard served as a urologist in the U.S. Navy in Millington, Tennessee. During his two years there, he met his future partner at a urology meeting who lured him to join him in private practice in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It was such an excellent fit that Leonard enjoyed a successful and rewarding practice there until his retirement in 1988.
It was in Jonesboro that Leonard and Rosa Lee raised their four children. Retirement took Leonard and Rosa Lee back to their beloved Virginia where they moved to Mathews and resided until 2004, finally settling in Fredericksburg.
He was a brilliant and successful man, but he would tell everyone that his proudest achievement was his beloved family.
Leonard is survived by his cherished wife, Rosa Lee, and their four children, Susan Bogaev Nekoba and husband Jeff Nekoba of Fairfax Station, Rick Bogaev and wife Shirley of Mechanicsville, Doug Bogaev of Ashburn, and Chris Bogaev and wife Shannon of San Antonio, Texas. He also leaves behind his nine grandchildren, Stephen Bogaev, Katie Nekoba Loeffler, Michael Nekoba, Kristen Nekoba, Emily Bogaev, Lindsay Nekoba, Alex Bogaev, David Bogaev, and Nick Bogaev.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jules Bogaev, and his grandson, Nathan Bogaev.
The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. A service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Hartwood Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hartwood Presbyterian Church, 50 Hartwood Church Road, Fredericksburg, Va. 22406, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38150, or to a favorite charity.
Online guestbook is available at covenantfuneralservice.com.