William Nicholas Leary

William Nicholas Leary (Bill), age 62 of Winter Park, received heavenly healing on September 24, 2025 after courageously enduring cancer for five years. Bill was known for his gentle strength, humble leadership, generosity, kind eyes and warm smile that put everyone at ease. He was a role model and mentor to more people than he knew because of his warmth and gift of listening.

He was born in Rye, New York on May 14, 1963. Bill graduated from Rye High School and received a B.S. and MBA from University of Richmond. Bill, lovingly nicknamed “Lears” by his fraternity brothers, served as the President of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity where he forged lifelong friendships that sustained him through forty years. He was a proud eldest brother and shared an unbreakable bond with his five siblings. He always looked forward to big family gatherings, where he took his role of preparing the antipasto and the honor of carving the turkey very seriously.

He was married to Tamra Peterson Leary on June 10, 1989 and moved to Winter Park, Florida shortly thereafter. Bill had a career in commercial property management for Leary Management Group and served as President of Vista del Lago for 38 years. His employees knew that he truly cared about them, leading with heart and integrity. He never believed any task was beneath him. Many of his employees can remember Bill riding on a mower, tending to the landscaping, troubleshooting a lift station debacle, and doing many other jobs that don’t really line up with the title of “President.” Bill was a man of action, and always made time to sit down and listen to new ideas or concerns from his employees and residents. Throughout his life he was involved with 4C, FMHA, Give Kids The World, was a Chief of the “Renegades” Father-Daughter camping group, a soccer coach with Jet Sports, and served on several boards and as President of the Winter Park Racquet Club. Bill was a member of Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church and his faith was an integral part of his life. He enjoyed going on mission trips with his daughters where he taught them the value of generosity, kindness, and helping others.

He grilled the best burgers, traveled all over the world with his family, and loved spending time caring for the yard he made for his family over the past 28 years. He knew every Bruce Springsteen song by heart, and cheered on the Mets and the Giants through thick and thin. Bill never missed an opportunity to pull out the video camera to document Christmas morning over the years. His favorite moments were spent sitting under the camphor tree with Tamra in their backyard with their dogs, reflecting on the beauty of their life together.

While he had many important roles and responsibilities, his most important and cherished role was being a husband and a father. He loved his wife, Tamra, from the moment he first saw her in the University of Richmond Dining Hall. This love remained a constant thread interwoven into their 41 year relationship and continued to grow with the birth of their two daughters, Alicia and Trina. He never missed his girls’ soccer games, school plays, ballet recitals, college move-in days. Above all, he was there for the ordinary moments bringing a calm and steady presence to his family. He was a representation of goodness in all that he was and did.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years Tamra Leary, his daughters Alicia Leary Waller (Jack) and Trina Marie Leary, his grandson William Finney “Finn” Waller, his father William Francis Leary, as well as his siblings: Erin Bjorge, Colleen Knebel, Richard Leary (Susan), Steven Leary, Tom Leary (Tanya). He is loved by 27 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Golia Leary.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, FL on October 4th, 2025 with visitation at 10am and service at 11am in the sanctuary followed by a Celebration of Life reception.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Golden Grove Foundation, the charitable foundation Bill started as a way to give back to others through providing grants to charitable and educational organizations. Bill requested that his family carry on the work of Golden Grove as part of his legacy.

Checks payable to: Golden Grove Foundation, Inc.,

2180 N. Park Ave. Suite 322

Winter Park, FL 32789