Leroy Payne Peach

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing on August 8, 2026 of Leroy Peach of Port Morien. He was a proud son of the island, born November 15, 1933. Leroy was predeceased by his parents Fred and Susan (Martell) Peach. He is survived by his brother Ted (Helen), sister-in-law Joyce (Joe) and good friend Lisa of Glace Bay, as well as generations of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two beautiful wives Evelyn (Wasenda) Peach and Barbara (MacMillan) Peach. Also predeceased by sisters Frances, Sarah, Beatrice and Alice, as well as, brothers Gordon, George, Melvin, Aulay, Joe, Turner.

He graduated from Morrison Glace Bay High School, he joined the RCAF, training as a radio operator and dealing with many forms of communication. After three years in the military, attended Dalhousie University, graduating with a B.A. degree with honors in English Language and Literature and a B.Ed. He taught English for 29 years in Ontario of which several were as head of the English Department. In 1977, he received his M.Ed from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Leroy often said that he was grateful that he was paid to teach a subject that he loved. He not only taught hundreds of students but kept in touch with many of them for years. In Peel Region, he contributed to the writing course used in the last year of schooling, as well as establishing reading labs in all the high schools. Despite his success as a teacher, LeRoy lived for the day that he could return to the beautiful island of his birth with its sacred landscape and seascape. He left teaching early because of it and never looked back.

He immediately plunged into activities in Port Morien and in the County. He had a generous heart which he inherited from his Peach and Martell ancestors and a desire to give back to the community. Over the years, he became a member of many boards and associations and received several awards – a life membership and the Meritorious Service Award from the Royal Canadian Legion, the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Activism, the Destination Cape Breton Hall of Fame Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

In 2000, he gave impetus to the formation of the Port Morien Development Association and was involved and for a time headed up work that transformed his beautiful seaside village, Port Morien. He also established the first computer site in a Legion in Canada. He spent nine years as an elected member of the Cape Breton Victoria School Board. A former teacher, he was able to oversee many useful initiatives that improved the education system – a discipline policy, and a computer network. He worked with the late Senator and teacher, Sister Peggy Butts, to provide a breakfast program in all schools of Cape Breton. He also brought the Heritage Fair to the School Board. He was chairman of the education committee, and a champion of the Reading Recovery initiative in the area. In addition, he served for two years as the first vice president of the Nova Scotia School Board Association.

Leroy’s Christian faith was very important to him. He served on parish councils both in Ontario and Cape Breton and sang in many choirs, including Keltic Gospel Choir. He studied theology for a year at the Toronto School of Theology. He served as a lay minister and parish council member at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. His beliefs have led him to give generously to many community organizations.

Leroy was an avid golfer with moderate skills. He played golf with the same tenacity as he lived life. He dubbed his secular “church” the Church of Lingan. He was a seasons’ ticket holder to the Toronto Maple Leafs for sixty years. He was in the stands for two Stanley Cup wins. Leroy found time to write eight books on a variety of topics and contributed a column to the Cape Breton Post for 20 years. Four of those books were poetry. His last work was his Memoirs, published in 2024.

A very special Thank You to Dr. Burns, Dr. D’Intino and the wonderful nursing staff that cared for him at the Sydney Hospice. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 8:00pm on Thursday, August 13 at Patten Funeral Home, Glace Bay. A funeral service will take place on Friday, August 14 at 2:00pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Morien with inurnment in the parish cemetery in Black Brook. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting pattenfuneral.com.