Rev. Les Singleton remembered for advocacy, bringing other religious communities together

The Rev. Les Singleton, known as a leader around Alachua County who promoted peace and tolerance in the religious community, has died.

He was 80.

Singleton, who led the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Micanopy for nearly 40 years, had just celebrated his birthday two days earlier. He died at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center from complications of a stage 3 lung cancer diagnosis he received in March.

Family members confirmed Singleton's death on his Facebook profile, gathering hundreds of comments and reactions.

"He loved and served the Lord. He helped and encouraged people," said Marjorie Reif, Singleton's daughter.

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Singleton's advocacy and community work started when he was a Boy Scout, soon earning Eagle Scout rank and meeting then-Vice President Richard Nixon who went on to become the 37th U.S.president.

Singleton went on to attend the University of Chicago with former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. He then attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, III.

Singleton attended the University of Chicago with former Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT. They are pictured on the same page in their 1964 University of Chicago yearbook.

Rev. Les Singleton known for his 'booming' voice when he spoke

He began his tenure as vicar of the Church of the Mediator on an Easter Sunday in 1983.

Reif said he had a "booming" voice when he spoke, but just an "okay" singing voice.

"Everybody knew who he was or could hear him," she said. "He had a very big personality and he loved to live life."

Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, Pentecostal preacher Terry Jones announced his plan to burn Qurans. Singleton jumped to action in defense, creating a special interfaith program that featured discussions of the Torah, Bible and Quran.

The program led to him inviting an imam and a rabbi to speak at his church, which led to an annual tradition known as "Peace Sunday." The event later evolved to include Buddhists, Sikhs, Quakers and Unitarian Universalists.

"He just saw a big wrong happening and wanted to try to stop it," Reif said. "It's just something he felt strongly about."

Throughout his life, Singleton was also an advocate for same-sex marriage and helped the Episcopalian clergy to begin performing marriages.

In 2019, when he retired, he joked that he wanted to pet his cat more and visit more parts of the Sunshine State.

Singleton is survived by his four adopted children Richard Coyle, Edward Coyle, Frank Allegrezza and Marjorie Reif, as well as eight grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.

Though details of a funeral service have not yet been made available, his family has decided the service will take place at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, located at 501 NE Choloka Blvd.

Officials for the church have dedicated its walkway to the late reverend, calling it Father Les Singleton Way.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Rev. Les Singleton, community, religious leader, dead at 80