submitted by Shari Leichter
Allen R. Leichter, a well-known camera shop owner in Levittown and a Bucks County resident most of his adult life, passed away nine years ago.
Eight years ago, his widow, Shari Leichter, who he was married to for 15 plus years, established the Allen R. Leichter Memorial Scholarship to keep his memory alive.
Shari chose Pennsbury High School as the recipient of these scholarships because Allen was close to the Pennsbury photography teachers, it was local, and it is also Shari’s alma mater.
These scholarships are awarded annually to Pennsbury High School seniors who meet the criteria. Any high school senior interested in applying for these scholarships are asked to submit their most creative photos along with a story about how they got into photography.
They are also required to have a minimum GPA of 3.2.
This year, Haley Eliason of Fairless Hills, Payton Guercio of Morrisville, and Melissa Heffner of Levittown were the winners of the Allen R. Leichter Memorial Scholarship, presented last month during the Pennsbury High School Class of 2024 Senior Academic Awards Ceremony.
They were each awarded $500 scholarships and appropriately a $100 gift certificate to Allen’s Camera.
Allen Leichter was the founder and operator of Allen’s Camera, established in 1977 when he was just 22 years old. He started it as a one-man shop and over time, developed it into a successful business.
When he passed away suddenly after running his business for 38 years, he left behind a legacy both in his personal life and in the camera world. He was known for his honesty and always putting his customers first, and his customers became his lifelong friends.
Allen didn’t even know how many lives he touched.
After he passed away, customers wrote in from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Africa, and Australia telling their stories about Allen.
Forty-seven years later, Allen’s store is still open, today owned and run by his son Brandon Leichter with the help of the hard-working staff at Allen’s Camera.
Allen is deeply missed by his wife Shari; his sons Aaron and Brandon; his mother Shirley; his siblings, Warren, Mark, and Liz; as well as his extended family, friends, customers, staff and his pup Brooklyn.
Shari says, “I was married to a Legend!” Allen will forever be in all of our hearts! This is why we have this scholarship in his name. Thank-you to Haley, Peyton, Melissa, and all the staff at Allen’s Camera for carrying on Allen’s legacy and for keeping Allen Richard Leichter’s memory alive!”
PHOTO CAPS:
ALLEN1: Allen Leichter, age 61, at an event at Allen’s Camera
ALLEN2: From left: Melissa Heffner and Haley Eliason
ALLEN3: Peyton Guercio