Leonard J Paglione

Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grandpop, a friend to all and personal hero to many.

Leonard was born in Trenton, NJ on December 15, 1931.

After proudly serving 24 years, 5 months and 2 days in the US Air Force he was honorably discharged and retired in 1975 at the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He was an instructor at both the NCO (Non Commissioned Officers) Academy and was instrumental in the development of the Senior NCO Academy at Gunter AFB where he also was an instructor. He then embarked on a second career at Troy State University Montgomery as an Academic Counselor and rose to the position of Registrar. Upon retirement from Troy State in 1989 he volunteered weekly for the Red Cross at the Pharmacy at Maxwell AFB, until his massive stroke in August 2013. He was involved in his church, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wetumpka, and donated his time, talent and treasures to many causes, including The Air Force Memorial, The Air Force Sergeants Association, The American Italian Club, Wounded Warriors, Catholic Social Charities, the Montgomery Area Food Bank, and countless other organizations.

As a young man, and until his retirement, he was an avid handball player and swimmer. Just like his father he loved carpentry. If he was home he could be found in his lazy boy chair in his back room, doing yard work, building something (oftentimes from something he found) or ‘piddling’ in his workshop. He enjoyed his retirement to the fullest, traveling (often times with sister & brother-in-law Zelphia and Jerry) and especially loved cruising – the kitchen was always open! Pag will be remembered by most for his friendly nature and his humor. He loved making his family and friends laugh at his stories and corny puns. He looked forward to every Wednesday at the Maxwell AFB Pharmacy and especially loved being with the young GIs.

The loves of his life: his wife, all things Italian (especially family and food), his granddaughter, his military career, his German Shepards, his workshop, his RED truck(s)….

Preceded in death by his father, Giovanni Paglione, and his mother Gina Di Nucci Paglione and his aunt, Eva (Eda) Di Nucci Paglione who, after her sister’s death in November 1933, married her brother-in-law and raised her nephew and nieces as her own; his sisters, Margaret Esposito Venella, Jeannie Miller, and brothers-in-law Eddie Esposito, John Miller, all of Trenton, NJ, and a special nephew, Jerry Chapman of Huntington, WV.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy “Dottie” (Gue), daughters, Teresa Paglione of Opelika, AL and Gina (Mike) Ulicny and Granddaughter Veronica Lea Ulicny of Roswell, GA, his cousins Anthony Paglione, Joe Paglione and Helen DiLouie of Trenton NJ, and many nieces and nephews.

“Mr. P’s “ family is grateful for the constant love and skilled care, especially over these last 12 months in his home, of his personal caregivers, the hospice and VA assistants and nurses. As you have shared with us, even the small glimpses you had of him conveyed the great, fun and funny man he was.

Family will receive friends 5-7pm on Friday, June 12 at Leak Memory Chapel, Lincoln Rd, Montgomery. A Rosary Service will follow at 7pm.

Funeral Mass Saturday, June 13 at 2pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Wetumpka

Military Burial will follow in the coming weeks at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, GA.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Hospice and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (P.O. 479 Elmore, AL 36025).