Richard Leever

Richard L. Leever — Rich to everyone who knew him — passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the age of 76. Born June 23, 1950, in Miamisburg, Ohio, to Richard Leever and Betty Biggs, Rich lived a life defined by hard work, quiet generosity, and a love of the outdoors, whether on two wheels, with a fishing line in the water, or on a mountain trail in Sedona.

Rich earned his degree from Miami University in Oxford in 1972 and spent the next eight years teaching, sharing his knowledge and passion for learning with students in the classroom. He then shifted gears into the business world, where he built a long and accomplished career in human resources. Over time, he worked across every corner of the field for multinational companies — including stretches living and working overseas. Colleagues knew him as thoughtful, fair, and someone who genuinely cared about the people he worked with, not just the policies he administered.

But if you really wanted to know Rich, you needed to see him on a bike. When an injury forced him to give up running, he didn't slow down — he simply found a new way to keep moving. For more than 40 years, road biking was his passion, and in his prime, he logged upwards of 4,000 miles a year, chasing miles the way other people chase deadlines. It wasn't just exercise; it was where he found peace, challenge, and joy in equal measure.

Rich was also an avid fisherman, always happy to spend a quiet morning on the water, and he found a different kind of peace hiking the mountains of Sedona, a place he returned to again and again for its trails and views. Off the bike, water, and trail, he was the guy you called when a project around the house needed doing — and probably the guy who showed up before you even finished asking. Generous with his time and his tools, he took genuine pleasure in helping family, friends, and neighbors solve whatever problem was in front of them, one do-it-yourself fix at a time.

Rich is survived by his wife, Debbie (née Newman) Leever, of Centerville, Ohio; his daughter, Michelle Leever, and her spouse, Jodi Byrd, of Kettering, Ohio; and his son, Benjamin Leever, and his spouse, Michael Hanhart, also of Kettering, Ohio. He is also survived by his brothers, Dan Leever and his partner, Maria Guitart; Sid Leever and his wife, Judy; and Gary Leever and his wife, Penny. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, brother, teacher, mentor, and friend — someone who gave generously, worked diligently, and pedaled through life with quiet determination.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Benham's Grove 166 North Main St. Centerville, Ohio 45459.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes Memorial Contributions to Hospice of Dayton or The James Cancer and Research Center.

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