Mayor Honors Supermarket Mogul with “Stew Leonard Day”

On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams celebrated Stew Leonard Jr., the owner of a popular grocery chain in the Tri-State area, declaring August 8th as “Stew Leonard Day.” This recognition follows Leonard’s heroic act of saving a PIX11 crew member after a choking incident, which occurred shortly after he experienced the tragic loss of his son.

Adams highlighted the profound change in Leonard’s life after the heartbreaking drowning of his son. “Stew Leonard’s life took on a new purpose after that devastating loss,” he said in a post.

In his remarks, Adams expressed admiration for how Leonard has channeled his pain into positive action. “We brought him to learn new skills that save lives; it will keep many New Yorkers safe. Today, we’re honoring him with this day,” he added.

This incident took place when Leonard was at the PIX11 station to discuss his swimming safety foundation. During the segment, crew member Kurt Bennett started choking on a piece of steak from a previous segment. Leonard quickly intervened, performing the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food.

Leonard Jr. mentioned that he learned the Heimlich maneuver during lifeguard training at the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, which he established in 1990 after his son’s death.

Mayor Adams shared a video message on social media, commending Leonard’s quick response. “The painful moments when he lost a child inspired him to create a foundation dedicated to saving lives. It’s remarkable how he was able to use those same skills to help someone else in need,” Adams reflected in the footage.

Leonard, who also recently appeared on “New York Living,” reiterated the importance of emergency preparedness, noting how vital it is to be equipped with lifesaving skills.