Hugh J. Leach Sr.

Dear Leach Family, It's hard to believe that Mary and Hugh are gone. Thinking about them brings a sadness, but the overwhelming emotion is joy - joy in remembering a great couple. As I age, the importance of friends and family in life becomes so clear. Hugh and Mary were giving, warm, gracious, FUN, welcoming, interesting, nurturing, adventuresome, and just good people! The Lena and Ole jokes are still in my head! They have left us all better people. Touching the lives of family and friends...

Hugh was a true neighborhood Icon..for me the John Wayne of Falls Road and North Main Street. A great man. I fondly remember the Christmas mornings Hugh would walk to our house in the snow through our back-yard wearing his huge bear coat to wish us all a Merry Chistmas.

My condolences to the Leach family for their loss.

Dear Leaches, What a wonderful life you all had with such a great father and friend. Jo McGinnes emailed us about his death and the fact he was getting ready to go hunting! That is so Hugh. It has been a great life for all of us to have been a part of your lives and to know Hugh and Mary as you all grew up. Many great memories. The image that pops into my mind is Hugh and Mary coming across our back yard for a Christmas parties with Hugh in his bear skin coat and hat. You can all be proud....

To my cousins and extended families,

I am so sorry that I can not be with you today to celebrate the life of Uncle Hugh. I recall so many memories of our parents being together and catching up on news and telling some of the most outrageous stories. I remember singing, sometimes it was bad singing, but it was always great fun. I remember sitting around campfires just listening to the things that our fathers recalled about their youth, marvelling that they really did all those...

Dearest Leaches, I was deeply saddened to hear of your Dad's death. There are so many wonderful memories to recall when thinking of our families in Chagrin Falls. Horseback riding, the famous trampoline, moving to CO, moving back to Chagrin, our parents having the best parties, apple cider making in the garage, Minnesota connection...the memories go on an on. I send my deepest sympathy and love to you all. Your father was a wonderful man. I feel blessed to have known him.

We'll always remember Hugh as a smiling, loving, friendly person. I had the privilege of hunting with Hugh at Camp Conibear and helping him haul in his buck from one of the toughest terrains in the area. I marveled at him sleeping outside, in the snow, with his "talking dog". That was about a week after he had walked down and up the Grand Canyon with one of his daughters. Truly, an amazing man. While working for CCI in Cleveland we had the privelege of being guests at Hugh and Mary's...

I want to express my sympathy to Hugh's family. He and his wife were friends of my parents and in the last few years while my mom was alive Hugh would take my mom and myself to Mt. Shasta or somewhere for dinner. I got a big hug from him this past 4th of July. I always looked for him at the Michigamme 4th of July celebration. I will miss seeing him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

A great friend from a great family. At one time, Hugh and I were probably the only Cliffs Mining people raised in Hibbing. He worked in management on the Western Range and I worked in Research on the Marquette Range. Later with different companies we transfered to Cleveland and renewed our contacts through business, U of Minn., and AIME meetings. Hugh had a keen sense of humor told colorful stories about business and outdoor life experiences. He personified the character of the expression "...

I am a member of St. Joan of Arc parish in Chagrin Falls where Hugh attended Mass both during the week and on the weekends. He was a real joy to know. He always wore a smile and his very presence radiated JOY! He signed up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration each month. When I asked him to choose the hour that he would committ to each month he replied: "Oh, I don't know. Gi'me a HARD one!" He said this with such vigor! "How 'bout 3 in the mornin'?" Like clockwork, Hugh showed up at...