Person

Leavine, Stanley Francis

1896-1958

Dr. S.F. Leavine, a public servant and member of Kitchener's medical profession, was born in 1896 in Elgin in Leeds County, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Francis Leavine. He received a public school education in the village of Elgin and attended Athens Highs School in Ontario. Leavine studied medicine at Queen's University in Kingston. He put himself through medical school by working in a cheese factory during summer vacations and graduated as Doctor of Medicine in 1920. After graduating he interned at Kingston General Hospital from 1920 to 1921, followed by a year of postgraduate studies at Belleview and Allied Hospitals in New York.

In 1921 Leavine married Desta G. Buse in Kingston. Two years later, they moved to Kitchener where Leavine opened a medical practice. He also served on the Kitchener Board of Health, the K-W Hospital Commission, and served as the President of the North Waterloo Academy of Medicine. Additionally, he was a member of the Ontario Medical Association and the Waterloo County Medical Association, and wrote several medical papers which were published in the British Medical Journal. During World War II Leavine served as a captain with the 24th Field Ambulance Reserve.

Leavine joined Kitchener city council as an alderman in 1938 and served in the role every year but one until 1949. He was elected Mayor of Kitchener in December 1949, serving his first two terms in 1950 and 1951. In Nov. 1951 Leavine was elected Progressive Conservative member for Waterloo North and served as M.P.P. until 1956 when he was defeated by John J. Wintermeyer of the Liberal party. In 1956 Leavine returned to city council as an alderman. He was elected as Mayor of Kitchener once again in December 1957.

Leavine was a member of the Waterloo College Board and of Queen's University Alumni. He was also a member of the original organizing group of the Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation, a member of several lodges including Twin City Lodge, AF and AM; Lodge of Perfection; Rose Croix; Moore Consistory, Hamilton; Grand Union Lodge, IOOF; and Mocha Temple.

Leavine died July 27, 1958 at the age of 61 at the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital where he had been admitted several days previous following a heart seizure. He was survived by his wife, and two daughters, Dr. Desta F. Leavine, and Pauline Leavine. In 1965 a ceremonial mace was represented to the University of Waterloo in honour of Leavine by the family and his daughter Desta later created the memorial Dr. Stanley F. Leavine Scholarship that is presented each year to an upper year undergraduate student interested in pursuing a career in medicine or medical research student.

Member, Board of Governors

Leavine, Desta G.

Leavine, Pauline (1934-2014)

Leavine, Desta F.

Revised July 2020 by DR.
Revised June 2024 by AM.

• GA 116-6-2 : Biographical Information;
• "Died in 1958". Waterloo Historical Society 45 (1958): 64;
• Janzen Elizabeth. "The Ontario Pioneer Community Foundation". Waterloo Historical Society 42 (1954): 44-46).
• "Ceremonial mace given at convocation" The Coryphaeus (v6.n8.) October 28, 1965. p.2.