31.03.2026

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Memories of Father Leonhard

A teacher who imparted more than just knowledge

Father Leonhard left his mark on generations of students not only through his teaching of mathematics, chemistry and physics, but through an attitude that saw each individual as a unique creature. For him, learning was not a mechanical filling, but a service to people – an attitude that earned him the trust and affection of many.

He taught physics, mathematics and chemistry for a total of 45 years. Whether as a pioneer of digitalization at the Stiftsschule, as a passionate railroad enthusiast or as a companion on unforgettable hiking days with home-brewed herbal tea: Father Leonhard combined curiosity, expertise and an almost fatherly care. During this long period, he left his mark on numerous students and laid the foundation for many of them to pursue a professional career. Even after his retirement from regular teaching, he remained closely associated with the Stiftsschule: He stood in for colleagues who were ill and gave extra tuition – much appreciated by the young people.

It is therefore not surprising that numerous fond memories and anecdotes have grown up around him, testifying to his professional expertise, his dedication and his human warmth.

Without Fr. Leonhard’s curiosity and love for mathematics, computer science and everything that helped us to better understand the physical world, my Engelberg years would only have been half as exciting and certainly not nearly as fruitful. Whether it was developing programs on the HP-59 or Commodore PC, or conducting endless experiments in the physics lab: “am Leo sini” classes were exciting, even if they were sometimes difficult. And his almost limitless patience also gave hope to those who had quickly come to the conclusion that they would never understand mathematics.

– Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg, Matura 1985

A little episode from the school secretariat.
Father Leonhard thought that not only the school should benefit from computers, but also the school secretary’s office and organized a Commodore with the floppy disks that were common at the time. This was the beginning of my curious tinkering with a completely foreign piece of ‘furniture’. I remember with a smile my first uncertainty when the message suddenly appeared on the black screen in green letters: ‘Close all windows first’! Hmm, how did this machine know if there were any windows open in the office? Excited, I called Fr. Leonhard for help. In his calm, kind and always very patient manner, he explained to me that by ‘open windows’ the computer didn’t mean my office windows… That was the moment to attend a first computer course together with Fr. Robert in Sarnen, where Fr. Leonhard accompanied us as an expert and supporter.

– Elisabeth Brun, Sekretariat 1980-2015

Father Leonhard was not only a good teacher, but also a philanthropist. He was able to empathize with us young people. I think it was important to him not just to stuff us with school material, but to shape us as people and give us a well-filled rucksack for life. Father Leonhard’s wonderful herbal tea, made from silver and lady’s mänteli herbs picked by us, supplemented with a dash of something extra from his rucksack, will remain in our best memories.

– Roland Schacher, Matura 1979

A genius – thanks to him, we were among the first Swiss high school students to have computer science lessons and to be able to use a computer. And the software he developed more than 40 years ago to adapt the traffic signals on Seetalplatz in Emmen to the volume of traffic would still help in many places today (e.g. in Bern…).

– Ivo Gut, Matura 1983

Not forgetting the train on the top floor under the roof of the Kollegi. Thank you for everything.

– Marcel Maurer

After struggling with math at the Kanti, he helped me solve my numerical problems, so to speak, which was the basis for my professional career…

– Daniel Friedmann, Maturi 1979

An unforgettable, compassionate and never unforgiving teacher.

– Maurus Jakob Weber

Among many other teachers, I have two particularly formative memories: Father Roman and Father Leonhard, who recognized, encouraged and inspired my inclination for science and thus laid the foundation for my later studies in physics.

– Alexis von Hoensbroech (Stiftsschüler von 1983-1987)

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