RIP Leon Varjian

Posted by Sampo, on October 3rd, 2015

He’s never had anything to do with MST3K, but he was part of the mythos that led to it. He’s Leon Varjian, Jim Mallon’s partner in crime when he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and Jim masterminded the famous “Statue of Liberty in the lake” prank, as well as the equally famous “pink flamingoes in the quad” prank.
When he died on Tuesday, he was a beloved math teacher at Midland Park High School in New Jersey.

His obit is here.

Here’s a photo of Leon and Jim, celebrating their achievement.

Thanks to Tom Noel for the heads up, and the photo.

17 Replies to “RIP Leon Varjian”

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MarcusVermilion says:

October 3, 2015 at 9:41 am

There was an article about Leon in The Bergen Record’s Local section. I was flipping through the paper while eating breakfast and I came upon the article. When I saw the “Statue of Liberty in the lake” prank I thought, “Hey! Wait a minute! This looks familiar!”.

2 likes

MSTie says:

October 3, 2015 at 10:47 am

Damn, he sounds like the kind of person that many should aspire to be. RIP, and keep the pranks comin’.

8 likes

Kenneth Morgan says:

October 3, 2015 at 10:47 am

My condolences to his family, to his students and to Jim.

9 likes

JCC says:

October 3, 2015 at 3:40 pm

R.I.P. That’s a really cool looking prank.

BTW, does Jim look like the lost Van Halen brother there, or what? Maybe more Geddy Lee.

7 likes

Jay says:

October 3, 2015 at 6:33 pm

I wish I had known you, Leon. As a retired teacher and a cancer survivor I have to admire a man who could make calculus relatable, win the admiration of adolescents, be a good community citizen, and eat marshmallow cookies through all of it. A life well spent.

5 likes

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

October 4, 2015 at 4:07 am

A rare photo of creative consultants Deepak Chopra and Jim Morrison in 1967 on the set of Planet of the Apes.

While the “frozen” alternate set was not used in the film, the beach location version would become iconic.

8 likes

Ray Dunakin says:

October 4, 2015 at 4:48 am

Wow, sounds like he was a great guy. RIP.

1 likes

MSTie says:

October 4, 2015 at 12:20 pm

JCC:
R.I.P. That’s a really cool looking prank.

BTW, does Jim look like the lost Van Halen brother there, or what? Maybe more Geddy Lee.

And I was thinking Leon looks like Father Guido Sarducci….

15 likes

Keith in WI says:

October 4, 2015 at 3:47 pm

MSTie: And I was thinking Leon looks like Father Guido Sarducci….

Ditto

Sounds like a wonderful human being who had a great sense of humor and dedicated his life to helping others out. It was very nice to hear a bit about Jim’s partner in crime from his UW days. We are all very familiar with Jim’s story on this site, but it is good to hear about some of the creative partnerships that helped in some small way to contribute to our beloved cow town puppet show.

RIP Leon

9 likes

Rosemary in Indiana says:

October 4, 2015 at 7:41 pm

Omitted from the obituary is Leon’s time at Indiana University, which was before he went to Madison. Leon was famous for his pranks while at IU. Every April Fool’s day would find him conducting the Banana Olympics, which had banana themed contests including banana shaped boats on the Jordan River, which was only a foot deep. He and his friends once dressed up as Monopoly pieces and used sidewalk chalk to color in sidewalk squares in the town square to play a giant Monopoly game. Leon gave a two-part course for the Free University in Pez dispenser loading and dispensing. He once auctioned off Ernie Pyle Hall (the Journalism building), according to the IU Arbutus “(e)phasizing its greatest assets”, he “described the journalism establishment as a ‘third rate deparment;’ a place that enjoys ‘libel, slander and wanton deceit;’ and has ‘crumby artwork and meaningless photos.'”

Leon was a very funny man who I remember fondly from my time at IU. He will be sadly missed.

16 likes

Torgospizza-NJ says:

October 5, 2015 at 12:55 pm

When college humor had a fun and goofy suburban take on things, before everyone began to move behind the fortifications of their own racial, ethnic or ideological sub groups. When humor had a cutting, not wounding edge. NJ was lucky to have him. RIP.

3 likes

Atorgo says:

October 6, 2015 at 2:16 pm

Torgospizza-NJ:
When college humor had a fun and goofy suburban take on things, before everyone began to move behind the fortifications of their own racial, ethnic or ideological sub groups. When humor had a cutting, not wounding edge. NJ was lucky to have him. RIP.

No need to get racist about things, Mr. White Male Reality.

3 likes