Thomas M. Leonard

DANVERS – Mr. Thomas M. Leonard of Danvers recently passed away at Hospice House surrounded by his family after a short illness. He lived a full and fruitful life and tried his best to be a wise and worthy contributor to society and to be a loving friend and advisor to his wife and family. He was actively involved in two communities for most of his life; Salem where he was born and worked most of his life, and then in Danvers where he lived for the second half of his life. He is survived by his wife Marjorie "Marge" of 53 years. He was an active participant in numerous civic, social and youth organizations in both communities where he lived during his life and played a leadership role in dozens of organizations in those two communities. Those organizations included the Salem Partnership, Essex National Heritage Commission, St. John's Prep, Danvers Council of Aging, North Shore Elder Services, Danvers Historical Society, St. Richard's Church COP-AA and various Youth Sports Organizations. There were several passions in Tom's life in addition to his complete love of his wife, Marge, his sons Michael and his wife Julie and Mark and his wife Tracy and their families. He was particularly devoted to them and was most proud of his four grandchildren. He reveled in the wins in the life of Brendan, Katherine, Caroline and Casey. He prayed always for their continuing success and celebrated their wins. He loved golf and tennis, which he played at for the first part of his life. He experienced a slight setback when he had a leg amputated in 2010 as a result of a freak accident and a severe virus which almost took his life then, but he overcame that disability and returned to the course and other community activities. As a result of the virus, it was necessary to amputate his left leg. While this procedure certainly impacted his life style, he fought back, learned to walk again on a prosthetic leg, and for the most part, returned to his life as it was before the amputation. He and Marge enjoyed many enduring friendships with many wonderful people in Danvers and the surrounding region and they shared many rewarding times with them all.He always enjoyed all of the wonderful professional sports teams that represented this region, but he was particularly fond of the New England Patriots and he held season tickets to that team for many years. The multiple World Championships that were achieved in the most recent times were most rewarding after many years of disappointment. The wonderful Bruins win in the Stanley cup final in 2011. He followed many sports and other activities at St. John's Prep. Tom was also proud of the long associations he had with several important local organizations, and his long association with St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers. Tom entered the school as a freshman in 1950 as a commuter and graduated in 1954. His relationship with the school continued well after his graduation. During his time at the school, he played football for all four years at the Prep and baseball for the first two years. At the time of his death he was still active in the volunteer leadership at the school and that relationship totals over 70 years in length. Tom joined the Board of Trustees of the school and served in that role for a dozen years ending that service as the first ever lay Vice Chairman of the Board. He has served from the end of the last century as a Trustee Emeritus and became a Golden Eagle marking his 50th anniversary of his graduation in 2004. Michael graduated in 1983 and in 1986 Mark joined the alumni association of the school. Nothing pleased Tom and Marge anymore than when their first grandson Brendan joined the ranks of Prep graduated in 2011. It was most positive to have three generations of Leonard's as St. John's Prep graduates. It certainly added to the wonderful association with the school to have Marge retire, after completing twenty-five years service in the Guidance Office of the school. Tom served on active duty in the US Air Force for four years and then pursued his education at the Salem State College in their evening division. He also attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island at the Graduate school of the National Association of Mutual Savings Bank where he graduated with Highest Honors. During his banking career at Salem Five Bank, and as a community activist, Tom received a number of awards from the organizations he served. Those awards are too numerous to outline, but her was particularly proud of the award as the initial Distinguished Alumni of the St John's Prep in 1999. He was also most proud to have been names Citizen of the Year in Danvers. In 2011, he was also awarded the highly regarded Baron Mayer Award. In 2012, Essex Heritage named him their Heritage Hero and that capped a long association with that organization. Tom leaves his wife of 53 years, his wonderful sons Michael and his wife Julie of Northborough and Mark and his wife Tracy of Danvers/Swampscott. He had 4 adoring grandchildren – Brendan Leonard a recent graduate of UNC, Katherine Leonard a student at Assumption College, Caroline Leonard a senior at Algonquin Regional High School and to attend Assumption College and his golfing buddy Casey a Sophomore at Algonquin Regional. Tom leaves a sister Nancy Saviano and her husband Neil of Danvers, a sister-in-law Marilyn and James Williams of Peabody. He leaves many nieces and nephews, Dr. Julie Saviano, Jeff Saviano and his wife Lisa, Amy Gregory and her husband Andrew, Timothy Williams and his wife Lyn, Cheryl Reynolds and Matthew Williams and his wife Jean. ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral Mass will be held in St. Richard Church, Forest St., Danvers, Tuesday, May 3rd at 10 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Burial in Annunciation Cemetery Danvers. Visiting hours in St. Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers, Monday, May 2nd from 3 to 7 P.M. Assisting the family with the arrangements is the Peterson-O'Donnell Funeral Home 167 Maple St., (rte 62) Danvers. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Tom's memory to St. John Preparatory School, C/O Advancement, 72 Spring St., Danvers, MA 01923 or to Danvers People to People Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2076, Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com