Maxi’s Bench, Pardee Park

It is no secret that Maximilian “Max” Lenail loved the outdoors. This love story took him from the boulders of Bishop, to the mountains of the Eastern Sierras, to the landscapes of Spain, to the waterfalls of Oregon, and finally to the hills of San Diego, where he passed away on January 29th at the age of 21. He was an avid and skilled outdoorsman, a phenomenal rock climber who loved a new challenge while always bringing out the best in others. And while his love of nature brought him all over the world and fueled his everyday life, he was also a son, brother, and friend of Palo Alto, to which he always came home.

Max lived in Palo Alto nearly his entire life, first on Parkinson Avenue and then on Hamilton Avenue. He frequented the Arastradero Preserve, running through its luscious hills. Most often, however, he could be found at his local Pardee Park with his beloved dog, Hazel, by his side. It was there that he brought his friends and family who happened to find themselves with him when he declared that “It’s time for Hazel’s walk.” It is there that his family chose to honor him Thursday night, hosting a candlelight vigil in his honor. It is there that his friends spoke of his desire to be a physician, his passion for cooking, his goofiness, his unique giggle, his many trips to the California Avenue farmer’s market, and, of course, his unparalleled kindness. And so, it only seems right that it is there, at Pardee Park, that we hope Max’s legacy can live on through all of those who he loved and who loved him, with a bench dedicated to his memory.

Please consider helping us ensure that his parents, brother, honorary sister, family, and friends have somewhere to go to remember his incredible spirit, his love for his dog and the outdoors, and his beautiful life. Max was a Palo Altan through and through — a true member of this community. If you are able to, please help us make sure that he always remains one.

This fundraiser is being hosted with permission from the Lenail family by Max’s classmates from the International School of the Peninsula, where we were lucky enough to go to school with him for ten years.