Photos courtesy JP Leemans
GOOD NEIGHBORS: JP LEEMANS
Save The Squirrels! JP Leemans, Ocala resident and father of established actress Kimberly Leemans, has lived an adventurous life full of daredevil piloting, theater, and saving squirrels. Not necessarily in that order. BY AMANDA CLARK-RUDOLPH
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id you know that January 21st is National Squirrel Day? I didn’t until snooping on Ocala resident Jean Pierre Leemans’ Facebook page that’s full of his photography, memes, and... facts about squirrels? If you keep reading, it makes sense since he rescues them at the Animis Foundation in Ocala. I caught up with JP as he was “feeding and watering the squirrels.” We chatted about his early days in Bel-
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gium where he met his wife of 42 years, Josette, a physical therapist who has always supported his love of wildlife; his extensive career as an airline pilot; and his involvement in local theater. I also spoke with Kimberly, who helped her father rescue squirrels and is a talented actress who first appeared at the Ocala Civic Theater then ventured to New York and LA where she acted in numerous TV shows and movies, including The Walking Dead, Vampire
OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined
Diaries, and America’s Next Top Model. In addition to discussing JP’s passions and ongoing fatherly support, our conversation tackled serious topics, such as the heart-wrenching boyhood memory of living during WWII and how JP currently spends his time during the pandemic. But we started with the squirrels. LET ME JUST FINISH FEEDING and watering the squirrels,” JP says as I catch
