Leonard Gaby

Leonard Gaby, who with his wife co-founded a chain of retail mattress stores and was a local philanthropist, died over the weekend after a battle with cancer. Len and Debbie Gaby co-founded Sleep America, and the couple ran it for years before initially selling it to Sleep Country Canada in 2006. Len Gaby had served as CEO of the company, and stayed on for three more years after the sale before stepping away from the business in 2009 The couple also started Sleep America Charities, now Debbie Gaby Charities, in 2004 and have spent years helping local Phoenix charities. Len Gaby spent his time after leaving Sleep America consulting. Recently he was serving on the board for the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute, founded by the former U.S. Supreme Court justice to further civic engagement and education. He also spent time as CEO of Airware International Group, the Scottsdale-based maker of Brez snoring aids, and as COO of the Martz Agency, now Martz Parsons. Prior to Sleep America, Len Gaby had an extensive history in the bedding and furniture industry, including 20 years with Simmons Bedding Co.