There are people who cross our paths and leave an imprint so deep that even after they’re gone, their presence continues to brighten our days. For all of us at LSVT Global, that person was Leon Puzon — a remarkable man who taught us the power of optimism, compassion, and courage in the face of Parkinson’s disease.
Leon began volunteering with us in the spring of 2020, when a world pandemic caused us to need to pivot quickly to offering virtual options for our clinicians, and to help support those with Parkinson’s who could no longer attend in-person exercise classes. He quickly came on board as a volunteer for our Virtual-Live LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD® courses, and was one of our founding members of our virtual BIG for LIFE® and LOUD for LIFE® exercise classes.
But Leon wasn’t just a volunteer and exercise class participant — he was family. His laughter, quick wit, and knack for turning serious moments into shared smiles became a signature part of our Virtual Live LSVT courses and our LSVT for LIFE® classes. Over the past five years, there were very few sessions without Leon cheering, joking, or reminding us that even through the hard work, there’s always time to “grab a beer”. His joyful spirit lifted everyone — clinicians, instructors, classmates, and fellow volunteers alike. He was a person who could never just take a complement, but would instead turn it around to make you feel like you were the most important person in the room.
Always eager to lend a hand, Leon gave his time selflessly to every opportunity: volunteering to participate in countless LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD courses, demonstration videos, photo shoots, and outreach projects. More than once, he’d send us a message saying, “I have something I want to talk about — can you schedule a Zoom and record me?” That was Leon — proactive, passionate, and deeply committed to helping others learn and grow.
Beyond LSVT, Leon made an incredible impact in his community. He volunteered tirelessly to educate students about Parkinson’s disease, sharing his personal experiences and encouraging future therapists to pursue LSVT training. His words and example inspired many clinicians to dedicate their careers to providing quality, evidence-based care to people living with Parkinson’s.
Leon showed us what it means to live life fully, to turn challenges into opportunities, and to meet each day with humor and a generous heart. Leon left this world on September 8th, 2025. Though he is no longer physically with us, his laughter echoes in our courses, his face brightens our videos, and his legacy lives on in every clinician and person with Parkinson’s he inspired.
We miss you, Leon — your jokes, your friendship, your unshakable spirit. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with all of us. You will always be part of the LSVT family, and your light continues to guide the work we do every day. Until we see you again, our friend.
Leon was famous for his words of wisdom during our virtual courses when giving advice to participants. Here are some he shared with us in his volunteer spotlight several years ago:
“I have had some low points during my life, but I learned how to turn away from my own problems and to re-associate with others. Reaching out into life and finding yourself really alive is so important. Even with Parkinson’s, my path is an uphill path, not a downhill spiral! Also, I’d say to therapists, they need to realize that they may not know the impact they are making on their patients until a year or two later. I hope this inspires and motivates clinicians when they are working with their patients!”