Roland "Lefty" Leblanc

Roland “Lefty” LeBlanc, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on February 23, 2025, at the age of 94. Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Florence and Gerard LeBlanc. Lefty was married to his high school sweetheart, Florence M. LeBlanc, for 72 years. Together, they lived in Newington and Old Lyme, Connecticut, and later in Leesburg, Florida, during retirement. A devoted Catholic, he was a former communicant of Christ the King Church in Old Lyme.

Lefty was a graduate of Hartford High School, Class of 1949, where he excelled as a talented athlete in baseball, swimming, and diving. In 1948, he won the CIAC State Diving Championship and earned All New England honors. His athletic achievements and lifelong dedication to coaching were recognized in 2008 when he was inducted into the inaugural Hartford Public High School Sports Hall of Fame.

After high school, Lefty served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War, stationed in the South Pacific. He often shared fond memories of his time there, where he embraced local customs and sporting activities, and enjoyed fishing alongside the local population. Following his military service, he pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut—where he played baseball as the “oldest” member of the Huskies team—and later a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Hartford in 1960.

Lefty dedicated 35 years to teaching in the Hartford Public School system, retiring in 1990. A passionate educator, he also coached swimming and diving at Hartford and Newington public schools, as well as Trinity College. During the summer months, he served as Pool Director at Suburban Swim & Racket Club and later at Tumble Brook Country Club, where he loved teaching children to swim, coaching swim teams, and occasionally showcasing his diving skills.

In retirement, Lefty and Flo cherished time with family and friends at their homes in Newington, Old Lyme, and Leesburg. They enjoyed traveling, taking cruises, and staying active. Lefty kept busy with home renovations, furniture refinishing, and tinkering in his garage. He maintained his love for athletics through long daily walks, golf, skiing, and swimming—especially delighting in swimming and playing with his grandchildren on long summer days at White Sand Beach.

Lefty leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion. He is survived by his wife, Florence, and their three children: Stephen LeBlanc and his wife Karen of Auburn, NH; Jeff LeBlanc and his wife Laure of East Greenwich, RI; and Denise Woomer and her husband Mike of Upper St. Clair, PA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren—Alicia LeBlanc, Jason LeBlanc, Canaan LeBlanc, Skylar LeBlanc, Michael Woomer, Meghan Woomer, and Madeleine Woomer—and one great-granddaughter, Merritt Woomer. Additionally, he is survived by his brother Jack LeBlanc of East Hartford, CT, his sister Doris LaRose of Newington, CT, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Lefty was predeceased by his brothers Robert LeBlanc and Richard LeBlanc.

A Memorial Service is planned for Friday, May 9th, 2025 from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. Swan Funeral Home, 1224 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly request any donations go to the WSB Summertime Safety Fund. This can be done by going to the Ever Loved website. Please use this link: https://everloved.com/life-of/roland-leblanc/donate/