Barbara C. Leeds

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara “Bobbe” Leeds of Delray Beach, FL. Bobbe was first and foremost a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She left this world suddenly on July 10, 2021 at age 91.

Bobbe was born and raised in New Jersey, where she ultimately met the love of her life, Bob. Bobbe was predeceased by her devoted husband Bob in 2016 and her beloved grandson Daniel Hnot in 2018.

Bobbe and Bob raised their 5 children on Long Island in East Meadow, NY. Bobbe is survived by her children; Margery Talbot (and her husband Brendan), Michael Leeds (and his wife Karen), Robert Leeds, Cathy Leeds and Tina Miller (and her husband Jack); adoring grandchildren Lizzie Van Ginneken (and her husband Damen), Brad Arbel (and his wife Anna), Joshua Hnot, Samantha Kirshner, Jake Kirshner (and his girlfriend Casey), Harrison Leeds and Matthew Leeds (and his wife Shelby); and precious great-granddaughters, Skylar Arbel and Olivia Leeds.

While raising her children, Bobbe decided to go back to college, graduating Adelphi University the same year her eldest graduated High School! She went on to pursue and receive 2 Master’s Degrees and taught in the Bellmore, NY school system for 26 years.

Upon her retirement, Bobbe and her beloved Bob headed south to Delray Beach, FL, where she lived for 31 years. Bobbe, as well as her husband Bob were integral parts of the Huntington Pointe community where they lived. Bobbe, a lifelong dancer and lover of all theatrical arts became involved in the Theatre Arts programs where she was a dancer, choreographer, teacher, performer, writer and director for the Theatre Arts presentations. Over the 25 years that she was involved in putting on a “Broadway” type show, her children were always in the audience, applauding the loudest. Bobbe’s love of the theater was passed on to all her children. And her clothes and hair styles...perfection, trips to the beach on the family boat Precious Cargo. The memories are endless, but her love will be never ending.

In her spare time, Bobbe volunteered tutoring High School male athletes so that they could still qualify to play sports. And she and Bob aided less fortunate families to help their children get grants for colleges. But the most important thing to Bobbe was loving her husband and children and instilling and executing kindness to others and “Family First.” Bobbe was so sweet, caring, kind and giving. Everyone wanted her as their mother. Neighborhood children would gather around the kitchen table for after-school treats and loved the way she would listen to all their stories, joys and problems with rare attention and compassion.

That expression, “She never met a stranger” was meant for Bobbe. People over the years would comment that they’d never met such a loving, genuine woman that could make them each feel special. Bobbe was a soft-spoken woman but if anyone dared to hurt her children, she would tell them that she could be a tiger.

The dancing in the living room, stereo blaring, laughing, road trips and all the driving and shopping and cooking and packing all 5 kids up for sleep-away camp each summer for 8 summers...oh sewing on all those name tags and unpacking the trunks after 8 weeks away, the laundry! Visiting days at camp, the Leeds kids always got the best care packages! Bob would show off his slalom water skiing and all the kids would crowd around and Bobbe was so proud!

Bobbe’s love for Bob was palpable and vice-versa, infectious. What an example. But she’s with her Bob now. She will be missed by all of those many lives she touched. And if you were one of the fortunate ones to know her, please keep smiling with a warm place in your heart for her. She will be dearly missed forever.

Funeral services were held privately.