John Jack Leonard

John K. ""Jack"" Leonard, 78, passed from our lives on Friday, (May 26, 2006) in Dunedin, FL, with his family by his side. He was the loving husband of Shirley (Ostman) Leonard for more than 53 years. Born on December 1, 1927 in Hartford, son of the late Marguerite (Ennis) Leonard and the late Dr. Edward J. Leonard. Jack was a graduate of Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA, in 1946, and then served with the U.S. Marine Corp. from 1946 to 1948 as a ""China"" Marine. After graduation from Fairfield University in 1955, he taught at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, and then spent the next 36 years working for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford. He ended his career as a Manager of the Training Department, retiring in 1992. Along the way he taught CCD at St. Christopher Church and was a coach of his ""great"" Ram Roofing Farm Team. He was also very proud of his Glenbrooke membership and presidency as well as his acting career with the South Windsor Players. His happiest moments were being surrounded by his family with whom he instilled the love of laughter and confidence to meet the challenges of the world. The family summer gatherings in Rhode Island and the great Christmas parties in the Farmhouse attic gave him much joy. Jack was an avid reader with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and was a strident and life long Democrat!! He will be forever missed and remembered by his wife Shirley and his five children and their spouses: Sean and Haidee Leonard of Manchester, Jayne and Craig Randall of Granville, MA, Karen S. Leonard of Dunedin, FL, Patty and Danny Cronin of Higganum and William E. Leonard of El Cajon, CA. His 10 grandchildren and their spouses: Jonathan and Kimberly Leonard, Aaron and Sarah Leonard, Laura and Hans Decher, Peter K. Leonard, Kyle Randall, Lydia Randall, Dylan Cronin, Cahill Jack Cronin, Dante Leonard and Billy Leonard. As well as five great-grandchildren: Morgan, Jared, Katie, Marina, and Jacob Leonard. A sister-in-law and a brother-in-law Beverly and John Lopes, and nieces: Laurie Dunn, Susan Froling and Cathy Lopes. His Leonard family nieces and nephew: Cyndy Bodden, Christine Teeden, Cathy Jamieson and Kevin Leonard. A multitude of extended family and friends including Mark & Cynthea Clark, Barbara Oldjiez & family, John & Barbara Chenette and Danny Parsons; and a brother Charles Leonard and family. Jack's family will receive friends and relatives at their family homestead at 555 Forest Street, East Hartford on Wednesday, May 31, from 3-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Private burial with Military Honors will be at Stonington Cemetery, Stonington. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Jack's name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 2139 Silas Deane Highway, Suite # 208, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2336. Jack faced his illness with the same zest for living he always had. He was our ""profile in courage"" and our hero. The D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.