John Webster Leslie

Web lived a full and remarkable life as a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by a family of 28 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the pride and joy of his life.

Web was born on February 26, 1929, in Evanston, Illinois. His family lost most of their savings during the Great Depression and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they raised Web and his three sisters, Dotty Ann, Jean and Sue. He attended Marquette High School in Milwaukee and later joined the Army Air Corps during the Korean War, stationed at bases in Wisconsin, including Billy Mitchell Field. Although he was never deployed to Korea, he often joked with his children, “No Korean ever made it east of Milwaukee, Wisconsin!”

While serving in the Air Corps, he met Joanne Chamberlain, a model from Shorewood, Wisconsin who also designed displays in the windows for prominent Milwaukee retailers. They married in 1953 at St Robert Church in Shorewood and went on to raise five children. Over the years, they lived in Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Deerfield, Illinois before settling in Sarasota, Florida. They were married for 68 years, until Joanne’s passing in 2021.

Web began his career selling magazines with his brother-in-law, Paul Von Paumgarten, before finding great success in the packaging industry. The family moved to Cincinnati, home to one of his principal clients, Proctor & Gamble. He helped develop labels and packaging for many well-known consumer products, including Comet cleanser for Proctor & Gamble and Snickers candy bars for Mars, Inc. He was widely respected for his expertise in package design and printing.

A man of many talents, Web was a gifted writer. Over the course of his life, he wrote thousands of poems for his beloved wife, Joanne, some of which were later collected in his book, Now and Then. He also authored Andy’s War, a book about the famed Eighth Air Force during World War II, and Sydney Suitcase, a children’s book illustrated by his grandson, DJ Gadaleta. And he loved to paint, especially in watercolors. He and his son, Jack, visited France where he took painting lessons and visited the D-Day cemeteries in Normandy.

A keen follower of current affairs, he began life as a Republican and over time became passionate about caring for the poor and less fortunate. In his seventies, he volunteered for the UN in Croatia following the Balkan War, helping to resettle refugees. He wrote about current affairs and despaired the current path of the Republican Party.

Web was an avid tennis player and loved to play golf while living in The Meadows with Joanne. Together they formed lifelong friendships and became cherished members of their community. Those who knew Web will remember his humility, kindness and deep respect for others. He possessed a rich baritone voice and was usually called upon to deliver toasts at family celebrations and important occasions. He always seemed to find exactly the right words.

He was also a master storyteller. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren hung on every word as he recounted family history, humorous adventures, and lessons learned over his long life. Quick to laugh and equally quick to shed a tear, Web wore his heart on his sleeve and never hesitated to express his love for those around him.

He is survived by his children, Jack and his wife Caroline Pech of Fairfield, CT, Lynn and her husband Dominick Gadaleta of Manhasset, NY, Thomas of Sarasota, FL, Jeanne and her husband Alberto Aguirre of Atlanta, GA, and William of Chicago, IL.

He is also survived by his ten grandchildren, Nicole Gadaleta, D.J. Gadaleta, Kemi Mattiussi, Erick Gadaleta, Web Leslie, Finn Leslie McClendon, Karly Pech, Jack Aguirre, Grant Aguirre and William Leslie; and by his thirteen great grandchildren, Jackson, Harper, Adelynn, Ayden, Asher, Madeline, Emilia, Ella, Luci, DW, Max, Ray and Leo.

Web’s legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friends he touched, and the countless stories, poems, paintings and acts of kindness he leaves behind. He is deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida on June 23 at 4pm. A celebration of Web’s life will be held later this fall. To honor Web’s passion for those, like refugees who have been forced to flee their homes, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to USA for UNHCR (unrefugees.org).