Photo courtesy of Chambers Funeral Homes - North Olmsted
North Olmsted, Ohio
Mar 23, 1928 – Dec 12, 2020
Read MoreJAMES F. LEONARD, JR., age 92, devoted husband of 61 years to Kay (nee Mullaly); loving father of Bridget Newman (Dennis), Colleen Kubek (Ed), Sean Leonard (Beth), Megan Kostura (Steve), and Maureen Leonard-McCarthy (Peter McCarthy, deceased); beloved “Pop-Pop” of Katie Hein (Justin), Patrick Newman, Marty Newman (Emilee Capo), Kathleen Yates (Alex), Maggie Leonard (Ian Clark), Mary Therese Kubek, Ryan Leonard, John Kubek, Kyle Kostura, Maeve Leonard, Annie Kubek (Nate Daczko), Korey Kostura, Seamus McCarthy, Declan McCarthy, Nora McCarthy, Aidan McCarthy; great-grandfather of Xavier, Evelyn, Kolbe and Jacob Yates; brother to Michael Leonard (Patty) and the late Patricia Seal (Dick), Thomas Leonard and Daniel Leonard (Betty); brother-in-law to Mary Ann Leonard and Michael Mullaly (Rose); uncle, cousin, friend, and mentor to many. Jim was a dedicated educator and a man of unyielding faith. Passed away Saturday, December 12, 2020. Funeral Mass Friday, December 18, St. Mary’s Church (250 Kraft St., Berea) at 11:30 A.M. where social distancing will be observed and facemasks required. Mass will be live streamed on the St. Mary's Church website at stmaryberea.org. Private Interment Holy Cross Cemetery (Brook Park, OH). Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim Leonard’s name to Saint Ignatius High School, 1911 West 30th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. All generous donations received will be used for tuition assistance for students in need. Arrangements by CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED (216) 251-6566.
It is now December 2021...about a year since Jim died. I have thought many, many times of the positive influence Jim brought to those who knew him. Fortunately, for many decades I was blessed to have been one of those people. I look forward to seeing him again in heaven.
Bob Grau
December 08, 2021 | Friend
Jim was a very nice and great gentleman and a wonderful professor at CCC. He was so helpful to me professionally and to other young instructors in English and Foreign Languages at CCC where I was a part -time Spanish instructor. His quick smile, and his quiet, confident manner could set us at ease. We often talked about life, religion, family and of course, language teaching. Though he and I had been retired from CCC for a long while, he was one of my colleagues of whom I remember fondly....
Laurel Mamich
December 17, 2020 | North Royalton, OH | Coworker
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TEACHERS... A SCARRY STUD IN THE CLASSROOM... WHOSE STORIES OF JESUIT YEARS ESCAPADES MADE ME SMILE WHEN HE RECOUNTED THEM IN HIS 80'S AT ONE OF OUR CLASS REUNIONS... HE WAS A SPECIAL GUY.
DWAYNE HUNN
December 17, 2020 | Student
Mr. Leonard was the first professor I met when I embarked on my college career at Tri-C in 1974. He quickly put me at ease and proved to be a fine educator and mentor through my two years at CCC-West. May he rest in peace.
Cheryl D. Eberhart
December 17, 2020 | Student
Mr. Leonard was the head of the English department at Tri-C when I was a student in the late 1960s early 1970s. He was a terrific educator and administrator and he had a great relationship with both faculty and students. He was as fine a man as you could want. May he rest in peace.
Tim Rogers
December 17, 2020 | Student
Mrs Leonard, Bridget, Colleen, Sean, Megan and Maureen,
I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your husband and father. I think you all know how much of an influence he was on me when I was in the seminary back in the 70s and how you all pretty much adopted me. I can still remember sitting out back drinking his homemade wine and solving all the problems in the universe. He made a huge impact in my life and much of what I've become is because of him. My thoughts and prayers are...
Steve Higgins
December 16, 2020 | Friend
We will miss you Jim. We always enjoyed our “over the fence” talks and laughs with you. Rest in God’s arms my friend.
Wishing you Kay, and the entire Leonard family, our sincere condolences, peace and beautiful memories of a great man.
Gary and Sherry DiMario
December 16, 2020 | Neighbor
Dear Leonard Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Sending peace and love,
PJ, Dayna, Patrick John and Daniel Milligan
Dayna DePerro Milligan
December 16, 2020 | Independence, OH | Friend
Together At Twilight Bouquet
Nicholas Olah
December 15, 2020
