LEO TUJAK –
PHARMACEUTICAL EXECUTIVE
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I was born in the Bronx, grew up in
Woodside, Queens, where we lived in the only
apartment house on a block of one and two
family homes. I graduated from Stuyvesant
High School in Manhattan and got my degree
from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy.
(That’s four NYC boroughs.)
WHAT CAME NEXT?
I went into business after graduation acquiring
a partnership in two Queens’ pharmacies.
That lasted for the next 35 years. I then felt I
wanted to try something else. I went to work
for an HMO and eventually became a pharmacy
director for Aetna, one of the top three health
insurance companies in the United States. It
was an exciting opportunity when they asked
me to open a pharmacy department for them
in Boston. We moved and lived in the Chestnut
Hill area, staying there until 2004. That’s when
I was contacted by Omnicare, an industry
leading long-term care pharmacy service provider,
and was offered a position in Maine as a
clinical consultant. We moved again, this time
to Westbrook, Maine, a suburb of Portland,
where I worked for the next seven years. Then,
in 2011, after 50 years in pharmacy practice and
consulting, I decided to retire.
WHERE DID YOU MEET JANE?
I met her in one of the first pharmacies
I worked in as a delivery boy....eventually
becoming a partner. We were both 15 and I
told Jane I would marry her on our first date.
She is from Croatia and a Holocaust survivor.
She came to the United States when she was 10
years old. She has the patience of a saint and
has pushed, aided, aimed and always urged me
on and forward for the past 60 years.
We have two daughters, one is a CPA and the
other is an Optometrist. Our older daughter
has three children--a teacher, an engineer,
and a soon to be CPA. Our younger daughter
has a son who attends Townsend Harris High
School, rated the best high school in Queens.
WHEN DID YOU COME TO NORTH SHORE
TOWERS?
We moved here in 2012. We had lived in
Woodside, Jackson Heights, Little Neck,
Boston, Chestnut Hill, and Westbrook
before returning to New York. It was a wise
decision.
Jane got me to join the Camera Club
almost as soon as we moved in. I really
became fascinated with photography. This
led to my involvement with other photo
clubs. I was asked to start and lead one at
the Douglaston-Little Neck Library. I also
belong to the Photography Club of Long
Island in Port Washington. I’ve had solo
shows of my work at the Manhasset and Glen
Oaks Libraries. This has led to my showing
some of my photos around the United States.
My work has really taken off. Galleries in
Glasgow, Athens, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and
Melbourne have displayed my work as well
as Travel and Leisure magazine.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER
INTERESTS?
I was one of the founding members of the
NST Men’s Club. We now have a large and
growing membership. Toby Horowitz is our
President and you can reach him at tmhmgt@
yahoo.com. I enjoyed playing tennis here and
continued until two years ago, when my right
hip gave out. I’ve recently had it replaced with
a newer model.
Jane and I have always enjoyed travel and
tried to visit interesting places. At last count,
we have traveled to over 60 countries in our 60
years together. From the Arctic to Antarctica;
North Africa; South and Central America; and
most of Europe, including Russia. In addition
we’ve enjoyed ocean and river cruises as well
as land tours around the world.
We enjoy calling North Shore Towers our
‘home sweet home.’
Leo Tujak and his wife, Jane, have been
living at North Shore Towers for 8 years and
he has been an active resident and innovator
in several areas. You’ve seen his prize-winning
photographs on display in the Arcade and he
is an officer of the Camera Club. He was also
an active tennis player and helped organize
the NST Men’s Club.
Leos ready to shoot!
One of Leo's beautiful photos.
Leo’s work is on display at NST
4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ January 2021
/yahoo.com
