 He served as president of the Mannes College of Music (founded by his parents in New York) and served as a judge in music competitions, including the first Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.Leopold Damrosch Mannes was the son of Leo Mannes and Clara (Damrosch) Mannes.Clara was a sister of Walter and Frank Damrosch, the famous New York City musicians

Leopold Godowsky, Jr. married George Gershwin's younger sister, the singer Frances Gershwin, who went on to become a painter and sculptor.