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IRA LEIGHTON Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for IRA LEIGHTON
Marilyn McMillan
July 22, 2024
I think about my dear brother all the time. He will always be in my heart, and I will never forget how much he meant to all of us. His 40 + years of hard work and dedication with the EPA and his life mission to protect our environment was indeed remarkable. He was loved and respected by his family and so many other people. I know he is happily reunited with his beloved wife Maureen, our mom, dad, and extended family. Until we are reunited again, I will honor his memory and my good fortune of having him as my brother. I love you forever, Ira!
Your sister, Marilyn
Linda Boornazian
July 22, 2024
One of the most innovative, intelligent, motivated and kind colleague I have know. I so enjoyed working with him. Linda Boornazian.
Bob Bibbo
May 26, 2014
Environmental Business Council of New England, EBEE Awards Dinner, Renaissance Waterfront Hotel, Boston MA, May 21 2104
The Ira W Leighton Jr. Outstanding Environmental Energy Technology Achievement Award
Remarks in Tribute by Robert V Bibbo
When Ira W. Leighton Jr., my friend of 56 years, passed away last July it was an unexpected jolt. He was missed at our 50th high school reunion. His frequently mentioned plans for retirement on the Cape were never realized. Our spontaneous exchanges about the joys and obligations of grand fathering were abruptly cut short. My earliest memories are from those visits to his parent's house as an early teen. I am reminded that his core values of honesty, humility, empathy, commitment and loyalty were embedded in the family blueprint. That he would live a purposeful and nurturing life was predictable. My final remembrances are connected to that blueprint. I will always remember him as congenial but determined; measured but assertive; a virtuous man reared “Watertown Strong”. I will always see him as the compassionate brother to Marilyn, the loving husband to his departed Maureen, the dedicated father to Ira the 3rd and Jason and the committed grandfather to Blake.
As teens Ira and I drifted into a common group of school chums. We graduated Watertown High School, class of 1963. After high school Ira enrolled at UMASS Amherst where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1968. Although he would immediately start working, he would add an MS in environmental engineering from Northeastern in the early 1970s and an MBA from Suffolk in the early 1980s. With a completed education, several years of quality experience and acquired savvy he was prepared to make his move and that he did. He would continuously advance through Federal GS classifications before being promoted into the federal Senior Executive Service (SES). As an EPA senior executive with at least 20 years of remaining shelf life, Ira would become the X factor at EPA Region I.
Having chosen a private sector environmental career my professional life would eventually intersect Ira's professional life. Our paths would converge here at the Environmental Business Council through the complicity of Dan Moon, Watertown High School class of 1965. Ira was a frequent participant at this annual awards dinner and other EBC events. He was an award recipient and an award presenter. During these EBC years we engaged each other mostly on Saturday mornings by telephone. Whether such calls were initiated to confirm a dinner date or for some other reason, we never had a short conversation. Ira instinctively gravitated to shop talk, mostly what he coined “good stuff”. Of his many EBC speaking appearances, he always focused on the “good stuff”. Improving air quality, preserving water resources, protecting fish and wild life, remediating contaminated waste sites were among the stuff he extolled as good.
Ira thrived as a senior executive. He served as the EPA Region 1 Deputy Regional Administrator under four Regional Administrators: John DeVillars, Mindy Luber, Bob Varney and Curt Spaulding. He stood beside each of them with equal fervor and effectiveness. He also served as Acting Regional Administrator three times during the political transition of Administrators. Each transition was seamless. His relationship with EPA lawyers was special. He saw them as smart, unselfish and relentless; a formidable match for the able lawyers on the other side of the table. On a Saturday morning last spring we discussed the reinstatement of the Cross State Air Pollution Rule which was before the Supreme Court on appeal. There was reason to be concerned given the lower court opinion but he was prescient. He had no doubts that EPA would prevail and they did. For this varsity hockey player and Bruins season ticket holder this was a “hat trick”. As Ira would tell me last spring-- the Administrator had boldly promulgated a precedent setting rule; no one at EPA flinched at the lower court's rebuke and then his EPA lawyers would score for the win in “Supreme” overtime.
We honor Ira tonight, through an Award in his name, because we should; because he made a difference. His prodigious career in government spanned more than 44 years. He started at the City of Newton, moved on to the MADEP before joining the EPA in 1972. He was the consummate civil servant. He served meritoriously as staff, as a member of the SES and at all levels in between. His 24-7 countenance suggested that his work and the work of the Agency could never be completed. There was always more guidance to offer and more progress to be made for a cleaner environment. His accumulated approbations, as detected and summed by the cosmos, greatly exceeded any expectations he might have had or any self assessments he may have conducted. He set a high standard for living one's life through indisputable core values.
My final thought is that Ira was not the “Real McCoy”; he was the “Real Ira”. He was innately content with simplicity and motivated by ideals. A solid 60 hours for the office, a Bruins Thursday Night at the Garden and a family weekend was blissful existence. The possibilities emerging from his embraced ideals were points of origination not destinations. He did not “tilt at wind mills”; although it's fair to say that he would intervene on behalf of a wind turbine if it were properly sited. He wanted to talk about positive outcomes and he did. It was the “good stuff” he reveled in.
Rest in peace my friend and thank you for being unapologetically genuine.
Linda Boornazian
January 7, 2014
Ira and I worked together in Superfund and in Water...when I worked in EPA Headquarters. He is truly a man who had the most creative ideas in the country and whom I very much respected. He would ask me, "what do you think...am I crazy....I would say, no just amazing and you should go for it. Peace be with you Ira. Linda Boornazian
Cynthia R. Jennings
August 7, 2013
Ira will be missed in the Environmental Justice Community. We in Connecticut mourn his passing, and send our deepest condolences to his family, and to all of our friends at EPA. He was a WONDERFUL person, and he will be missed in Connecticut, and throughout the country, but I am sure that he will be missed by his EPA family in Boston as well. My condolences to Ira's loving family, and all of those who loved him throughout the country. Sincerely,
Cynthia R. Jennings, Councilwoman
City of Hartford Court of Common Council and
Former Board Member of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
Barb McAllister
August 7, 2013
I worked for Ira in the 80s when we were in the Superfund enforcement program together. He was a fabulous boss, he always put people first. He had a kind and generous spirit, and his curiosity was infectious. I can still hear his laugh and feel blessed that my path crossed his.
Laura Malone
August 3, 2013
We both started our EPA careers in the same program with Ira shortly after EPA was first established. We knew then what a special, caring, and dedicated person he was. He will be sorely missed...Mark and Laura Malone
Carolyn McAvoy Fiore
August 2, 2013
To Ira's families, related and unrelated (EPA and beyond), I was so sorry to hear of Ira's death. I worked with him many years ago and have continued to see his work from my current role. The country has lost an effective and quietly inspirational leader.
Dan & Paula O'Brien
August 2, 2013
We had the pleasure of working with Ira in the early days of EPA in the 70's and 80's - and continued relationship with work at MWRA. As many of the other messages have noted, always a gentleman, quick smile and engaging personality. Will be missed in the environmental field for his pragmatic approach to problems.
Lou Gitto
August 2, 2013
My sympathies to Ira's family. I had seen Ira infrequently these past 20 years, but every conversation was enjoyable. When I think of Ira, the first words that come to mind are: gentleman, dedicated, bright, level-headed, helpful, good sense of humor. His passing leaves a big hole in the environmental and interpersonal fabric of EPA.
Kate Bowditch
August 1, 2013
Ira was a powerful force for good in the environment, and a wonderful kind man. He never seemed to take a political or bureaucratic stance, but approached issues with a very personal level of interest and an amazing depth of knowledge. He will be sorely missed. My sympathies to all in the family, and to Ira's many colleagues.
Ira, Blake & Marilyn
Marilyn McMillan
August 1, 2013
A Sister's Tribute
I'd like to share some words with those who knew Ira, who worked with him and those who loved him. From the time that I was his baby sister, Ira dazzled me with his handsome face, competitive spirit and intelligent conversation. As far as I was concerned, Ira had the answers to life, the universe, and everything , My brother, my idol, my Ira.
We'll mourn the man who's gone, whom we lost so suddenly, much as he lost his true love, Maureen, just a few short years ago. But we'll remember him as a man who possessed tremendous integrity. Ira leaves a legacy of love, caring and concern for his fellow man and our precious earth.
I want you all to know that I could not have wished for a better brother and I already miss him dearly.
His life was earnest, his actions kind, a generous hand and an active mind, anxious to please, loath to offend, a loving brother and faithful friend.
With Love Forever . . . Marilyn Leighton (McMillan) Loving Sister
Ira, Blake & Marilyn
Marilyn Leighton (McMillan)
August 1, 2013
A Sister's Tribute
I'd like to share some words with those of us who came to remember Ira today. To those who knew him, who worked with him and those who loved him, I want you to know that I'll miss my older brother, who used to play his drum set so loud my dad would yell, whose mother knew he was too small to play hockey, but he played anyway. Who dazzled me with his handsome face and smart conversation. As far as I was concerned, Ira had the answers to life, the universe, and everything , My idol, my Ira.
We'll mourn the man who's gone, whom we lost so suddenly, much as he lost his true love, Maureen, just a few short years ago. But we'll remember him, and remember that above all, he would want us to remember him as he lived, with tremendous integrity, a man who left an indelible, positive mark on this world as well as a legacy of love, caring and concern for his fellow man and our precious earth. The world changes from year to year, our lives from day to day, but the love and memory of you, shall never pass away.
His life was earnest, his actions kind, a generous hand and an active mind, anxious to please, loath to offend, a loving brother and faithful friend. With Love Forever . . . Marilyn Leighton (McMillan) Loving Sister & family.
Jeanethe Falvey
July 31, 2013
Ira is an inspiration to those in public service. The first to be at the office and the last to leave he embodied the nature of our work at EPA. He was passionate and dedicated, someone you wanted to work hard for, like a great coach should be. This sadness will no doubt blossom into a reinvigoration and regrounding of our efforts to work even harder towards a better environment and quality of life for all. We will continue his tremendous work and his contributions will always be in our hearts.
Elaine Stanley
July 31, 2013
My sympathies to your family on Ira's passing. I worked with Ira as a liaison from headquarters to the regions on SF and enforcement issues. He was always a gentleman and a gentle man to work with. One of the good guys, always ready to pitch in and give extra time and effort. We need more like him.
Bruce Guppy
July 31, 2013
Sad to learn of Ira's passing. He was always a very nice and personably person. I worked as an IT contractor for the EPA for many years. It was always a pleasure to help Ira with any computer related problem he had. Even when his computer was having problems he was always very upbeat and truly appreciated whatever you could do for him. Even though Ira was a very busy person he would always go out of his way to stop and talk to me about sports, current events, family, etc. My condolences go out to all his friends and family.
Larry Charles, Sr.
July 31, 2013
Ira was a key in the $11 Million ONE/CHANE settlement of the North Hartford landfill; Hartford's air and river was clean.
Generation-to-generations are better because Ira lived!!! We pray for his family. The Lord Is Here!
Larry Charles, Sr.
Ex. Dir., ONE/CHANE, Inc,
860.888.8330
Jeannie Brochi
July 30, 2013
Ira was a kind person. If you had the good fortune to brief him on your work, he would not forget. He would ask about your work in passing. To his family: I am sorry for your loss. He was a inspiration.
Marcia & Art Pavluvcik
July 30, 2013
To Ira's Family: Our heartfelt sympathy to you on Ira's passing. We've been retired a number of years now, but still fondly remember his dedication and willingness to help his co-workers. He truly was a special man.
Deb Pernice Duffy
July 30, 2013
I was so saddened to learn of Ira's passing and wish to extend my condolences to his family. I worked for Ira over 25 years ago when he was a branch chief in our division. I looked forward to his frequent visits to our lunch table, initiating thought-provoking, challenging and intellectual discussions on environmental protection. He inspired us by example to do the right thing, even if it was the hard thing. Ira truly was an innovator, a visionary and a heck of a nice guy and the world is a sadder place without him.
Sandra Schwartz
July 30, 2013
Ira was a great leader and person at the EPA. I have never worked closely with him but have grown to know him during my 20+ years. Anytime I saw him in the hallways, on the elevators or even run into him at a local cafe buying lunch, he always greeted with a smile and a nod. He was a great spokesperson at our events and always enjoyed his speeches. He will be truly missed! My expression of sympathies go out to the Leighton family at this time of sorrow.
Roberta Keough-Ciavattieri
July 30, 2013
Although I only met Ira a few times, he was always gracious and kind to me, especially after my husband, Paul Keough, passed away. He was a true gentleman, and I send my sympathy to his family.
Frank Ciavattieri
July 30, 2013
I worked with Ira at EPA for some 20 plus years. Although there were many intelligent, hard working people at EPA Ira shone above others. His planning, organizational and implementation skills were legendary and his contributions towards a clean environment in New England significant. On top of that he was a genuinely all-around good guy. He will be missed by all those who knew him.
Frank Ciavattieri
July 29, 2013
This is such sad news. Ira was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a true environmentalist and a warm, kind person. Our deepest sympathies to his family and many friends.
-Alison Simcox and Doug Heath
Matt & Kim Schweisberg
July 29, 2013
Sorrow abounds. We have so many warm and wonderful memories with Ira to keep with us. His boundless capacity to care for others will be dearly missed. Our deepest sympathies to his family.
American Heart Association
July 29, 2013
May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.
Showing 1 - 26 of 26 results
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Memorial Events
for IRA LEIGHTON
Jul
31
Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Chesmore Funeral Home - Holliston854 Washington St, Holliston, MA 01746
Aug
1
Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Chesmore Funeral Home - Holliston854 Washington St, Holliston, MA 01746
Funeral services provided by:
Chesmore Funeral Home - Holliston854 Washington St, Holliston, MA 01746
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