Leonard "Len" Cereghino

Those who touch our lives, stay in our hearts forever.

Obituary

Leonard (Len) Cereghino, a man known for his kindness, generosity, and quiet strength, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2, 2025. He had courageously battled progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a terminal disease that ultimately took his life, but his legacy of love and compassion remains. A California native, Len was known not only as the founder and president of a successful Investor Relations firm in Seattle but also as a man deeply loved by his family and admired for his genuine character. He was kind and caring, selfless, and always ready to help others, earning him respect far beyond the financial world.

Born on December 13, 1940, to Mary and Ray Cereghino in Palo Alto, Len was the youngest of three boys. He spent his early years in Redwood City before heading to college, first at the College of San Mateo and later at Arizona State University. There, he pledged Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, joining his older brother, Warren. 

After graduating from Arizona State’s College of Business in 1964, Len was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the height of the Cold War. He earned his paratrooper wings at Fort Benning, GA, before being assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment in the Berlin Brigade. His service included commanding a platoon, serving as a train commander running sensitive rail corridors through East Germany, and commanding the guard detail at Spandau Prison, which housed high level Nazi war criminals.

Upon his discharge in 1966, Len returned to the San Francisco Peninsula, starting his civilian career at Ford Motor Company before a management training program at Boeing. His career soon turned toward finance, with roles at Merrill Lynch and Drexel Burnham Lambert. His crowning achievement was founding and running his own successful Seattle-based firm, The Cereghino Group, where he served as President. He built a national reputation, especially within the community banking sector, always approaching his work with integrity and a helpful spirit. He became an active and beloved member of the Seattle Rotary when he joined in 1994 and was a strong supporter of their many charitable works.

In April 1967, Len married Barbara Birch. They met on a Pan Am flight returning him home from his Army station in Germany, where Barbara was working as a stewardess in the 1960s. That shared background fueled their love of traveling the world together.  In 1980 they, along with their daughter, Tracy, moved from Walnut Creek CA to Mercer Island WA. The couple spent almost 40 happy years together before Barbara died from cancer in March 2006. Given his wife's English heritage, Len grew to love English culture, and they enjoyed visiting the country many times. In recent years, Len had enjoyed splitting his time between Seattle and La Quinta, CA.

Beyond his professional life and travels, Len found immense joy and pride in his family. He was a dedicated father who happily spent time as his daughter's soccer coach, imparting not just skills but also sportsmanship and teamwork. Later, he loved nothing more than watching his granddaughters play soccer and lacrosse, cheering them on from the sidelines. His daughter and granddaughters made him very proud, and his love for them shone brightly in every aspect of his life.

Len was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his brother, Bruce, who passed away in 2000; and his son-in-law, Brady Davis, who passed away in September 2025.

He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Cereghino Davis; his granddaughters, Sage and Skye Davis; his brother, Warren Cereghino; and his nephews, Todd, Josh, Andrew, and Erik Cereghino. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered for his warm heart, his sharp mind, his appreciation for other cultures, and his unwavering love for his family and the world around him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to CurePSP at psp.org or to the Seattle Rotary's charities at www.seattlerotary.org/page/make-a-donation.

A Celebration of Life will take place next summer in Seattle. Details will be shared on this website page when available.

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