Leo Alfred Gaudette

Born in Danvers, Massachusetts to J. Arthur Gaudette and his wife Delia (Fallon), Leo was the youngest boy in a family of ten children. He enjoyed his youth in Danvers and yearned to follow in his older brothers footsteps by serving his country in the Armed Forces. As an Army communications expert in the Korean War, Leo was stationed in remote and very cold locations including the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Unsurprisingly, when his military service was complete and he got the opportunity to move his young family 8000 miles away to the small island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, he jumped at it. This was a risky move but it ultimately paid off for Leo and his family in so many ways.

He spent the majority of the next 45 years living on various islands in the Pacific. Employed by the late Ken Jones, founder of Jones and Guerrero Co. and his brother, Bob of Triple J. Enterprises, Leo enjoyed an adventurous and fulfilling life working on the Islands of Guam, Saipan, Majuro, Ebeye and Palau. He met many people and always had great stories to tell. He finally, reluctantly retired at the age of 82 to Henderson, Nevada where he met and married his wife of four years, Margarita. Leo was an avid photographer and gardener as well as a fan of airplanes and the military. He always loved to drive and often spoke of the first car he purchased and the drives he would take with his mother. Some of his favorite outings in Henderson were to Mount Charleston and the Bellagio Casino to view the ever changing displays in the conservatory. Leo enjoyed spending time at the Henderson Senior Center and was active in his local chapter of the Buddhist Organization SGI-USA. Leo converted to Buddhism in the 80’s and his new religion truly helped him live a positive, peaceful life until the end.

He is survived by his wife Margarita, his daughter Suzanne Roscillo of Scituate, MA, his daughter Kelly Stein and her husband Al, of Scituate, MA, and his son Michael Gaudette and his wife Amy of Valencia, CA. He was enormously proud of his three grandsons, Sean Stein, Sam Roscillo and Klaus Gaudette. He also leaves behind many, many nieces and nephews. A memorial to celebrate Leo’s life will be held at the home of Lori and Glenn Tamura, 286 Vallarte Drive, Henderson NV 89014 on Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Fisher House of Las Vegas. A Fisher House is “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. For detailed instructions on how to donate to this specific Fisher House, please contact Cady Franco at [email protected] or 702 224-6789.