William Alvin LEONE

LEONE, William Alvin

William Alvin Leone, husband of Beverly (Sogaro) Leone, died Saturday, (February 25, 2012), after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born in Hartford on July 19, 1943, the son of Rosemary (Pallotti) Leone and the late Alvin C. Leone, he was a graduate of Kingswood School, Wesleyan University and the University of Connecticut School of Law. After his admission to the Connecticut Bar in 1969, he joined and later became a partner in Leone, Throwe, Teller and Nagle, the East Hartford law firm which was founded by his father and where he practiced law with his brother and law partner Frank, and with his daughter Valerie. In 1972 he was admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and in 1997 served as a Special Master for that District. A lifelong resident of East Hartford, Bill was an active and proud member of the Rotary Club of East Hartford, serving as its President from 1983-1984 and later receiving the Club's Service Above Self Award and being named a Paul Harris Fellow. His continual contributions to Rotary were recognized by Rotary International which bestowed upon him the Four Avenues of Service Citation. Bill not only served his community as a Rotarian but also as a member of the Finance Committee of St. Rose Church in East Hartford, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the East Hartford Community Projects Corporation and the Raymond Library Corporation, for which he also served as president. He was as active in his private life as he was in his profession and his community, avidly enjoying many activities including running and golfing. He particularly enjoyed sharing his passion for gardening, boating, fishing, cooking and especially Christmas with his five grandchildren, all of whom gave him great joy and happiness even in his most challenging times. He became a gourmet cook who often cooked for Rotary social events and fundraisers as well as for appreciative friends and family. Beverly, his loving and caring wife for 43 years, was always a supportive and valuable partner in all of his endeavors, and a loving caregiver during his courageous battle. In addition to his wife Beverly and his mother, "Missy", he is survived by three daughters, Christina Leone of East Hartford, Melissa Delaney, her husband Richard, and their children Andrew, Ryan and Kaitlyn of Ellington, Valerie Calciano, her husband Dominick, and their children Gianna and Dominick of South Glastonbury; two brothers, Reverend Bryan Leone and his wife Kay of Shelton and Attorney Frank Leone of East Hartford; two nieces, a nephew and many cousins and friends. The family wishes to thank his many friends for their support and prayers, and all the care-givers at Glastonbury Health Care Center.
Funeral services will be Thursday (March 1, 2012) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford (everyone is asked to please go directly to the Church on Thursday morning). Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Burnside Avenue East Hartford. Bill's family will receive relatives and friends at D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford, on Wednesday (February 29, 2012) from 3-8 p.m. Memorial contributions in Bill's name may be made to the East Hartford Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 380035, East Hartford, CT 06128-0035. For any on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.