Bro. Leo Irving Slay S. M.

Bro. Leo Irving Slay, S.M. died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 20, 2026, at the age of 94 with 76 years of vowed life. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Joseph and Monietta (Elias) Slay on October 30, 1931. He grew up in an extended Lebanese family, proud of his cultural heritage, especially its cuisine.

Bro. Leo was preceded in death by his parents and his six brothers and three sisters. He is survived by one hundred and five (105) nieces and nephews.

Following his graduation from Chaminade College Preparatory in 1948, he entered the Marianist Novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin and professed his First Vows on August 15, 1949, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He professed his Perpetual Vows on July 19, 1953.

Coming from a family involved in the restaurant business as far back as 1911, Bro. Leo knew from the beginning of his ministry as a brother, his vocation in the Society of Mary was to minister through food service and creating family spirit through Mary’s characteristics of faith, humility and hospitality. From 1949 to 1999 Bro. Leo used his culinary talents and his expertise in Food Service management at various Marianist high schools and retreat centers, later transitioning in to a full-time Food Service Consultant.

Bro. Leo founded the Marianist Culinary Institute in 1960 educating religious orders as well as the three branches of the U.S. military in food service. On six different occasions between the year 1974 and 1999, he was selected to travel to various bases and ships in different parts of the country to evaluate the food service departments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

Over a span of twenty-five years Bro. Leo received numerous accolades, including St. Louis Restaurant Association’s “Man of the Year” in 1974 and he was inducted into the Missouri Restaurant Association’s Food Service Hall of Fame in 1992. Bro. Leo was a past-President of the St. Louis Restaurant Association.

“I believe,” said Bro. Leo, “that there is no better way to be happy than to be of service others. My duties as a religious in Food Service have always led me to understand that the best way that I can be of service to others, is to help them to serve God and his people with much happiness because of what I do in Food Service.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Memory of Bro. Leo Slay to the Marianist Mission, Mt. St. John, 4435 East Patterson Road, Dayton, OH, 45430-1033

Services: Visitation will be held at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church, 401 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131, on Friday April 10, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, followed by a Rosary Service at 7:30 pm.

A Funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church, 401 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131, on Saturday April 11, 2026, at 10:00 am, Interment to follow at Maryhurst Cemetery, Kirkwood, MO 63122.