Robert Edwards Leak

A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Bob on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 11:00 am at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton Street in Raleigh. Interment in the Christ Church columbarium will be a private event for family. A reception will follow at the church.

Bob was born on September 15, 1934, in Charlotte, NC and grew up in Rockingham, NC. He graduated from Duke University in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the University of Tennessee in 1958 with a Masters Degree in Geology.

Bob met the love of his life, Martha Councill Leak, while they both attended Duke and they were married in 1956. They enjoyed 69 wonderful years together filled with travel, careers, family, friends, church, and philanthropy. His greatest joy was spending time at Litchfield Beach, SC and Bald Head Island, NC surrounded by family and friends.

Bob started his career in Louisiana at Standard Oil of California where he put his geology skills to work searching for oil. He soon returned to North Carolina in 1959 where he began his illustrious economic development career at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. He had a brief stop in Charlotte with the Cameron Brown Company, then returned to Raleigh and his career in economic development. He progressed to be the head of the NC Department of Commerce, using his business knowledge, personality, and communication skills to encourage multinational companies to set up facilities in the state. He was so successful that South Carolina recruited him in 1976 to head their State Development Board. He led frequent international trade missions with Governors and other state leaders, often visiting companies headquartered in Europe and Asia. Bob returned to Raleigh in 1985 as President of the Research Triangle Park Foundation. In 1988 he started an economic development consulting company. In 1995 he partnered with his best friend, Bob Goforth to form the Leak-Goforth Company. Together they worked on numerous economic development projects where they used their vast experience to provide site selection consulting services to global enterprises.

Bob was a long-time member of Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Raleigh where he previously served as Senior Warden of the Vestry. He was a patron of the Raleigh Ballet, and he was a keen supporter of the Hope Reins organization. Bob was very civic minded and active in many organizations including the Downtown Kiwanis Club, the Assembly Club, Milburnie Fishing Club, Carolina Country Club, the Sphinx Club and Saint Christopher Travel Club.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Martha; his son, Robert E. Leak Jr. (Karen) of Wilmington, NC; and his son, J. Councill Leak (Lisa) of Vienna, VA. In addition, Bob has five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters, all of whom adored their “BobBob”.

He was preceded in death by his parents James and Cornelia Leak, and his brother, Pickett Leak.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a charitable gift to either Hope Reins, which pairs kids in crisis with rescued horses for hope and healing or Wake Relief, Raleigh’s emergency food pantry.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh is serving the Leak family.