Barry H. Leeds Ph.D.

Barry H. Leeds, Ph.D., 74, of Bristol, died Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Dr. Leeds, CSU Distinguished Professor of English at CCSU, had taught at that institution for 47 years, since January 1968, and had a teaching career spanning over 52 years, including service at colleges and universities in New York City, Athens, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. He had long been despondent over the death of his beloved daughter Leslie Lion Leeds in 1996, and he was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Dr. Leeds was the author of four books, including landmark studies of Norman Mailer (who he counted among his many friends) and Ken Kesey, along with his own autobiography, A Moveable Beast, and over two hundred articles in scholarly and popular journals and anthologies. He was most proud of his career as a professor, which he considered himself first and foremost, and for which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1981. He was Editor-in-Chief of Connecticut Review, an interdisciplinary scholarly journal, from 1989-1992, and a member of its editorial board for over a decade, beginning in 1986. Born in Brooklyn, New York, December 6, 1940, Dr. Leeds joined the U.S. Merchant Marine at the age of 16, and served as a seaman on five freighters and tankers between 1957 and 1960. He earned his B.A. (1962) and M.A. (1963) from Columbia University in New York City and his Ph.D. from Ohio University in 1967. A member of the wrestling team at Columbia, Leeds practiced other avocations including weight lifting, karate, ballroom dancing, and SCUBA diving. He was a trophy-winning competition pistol shot, a Certified Range Officer at Metacon Gun Club, and had been Connecticut Director of Training for CQC (Close Quarters Combat), Inc. He was listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in American Education, Contemporary Authors, Directory of American Scholars, Dictionary of International Biography, The Writers' Directory, The International Authors' and Writers' Who's Who, and other such reference works. Elected to the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991, Leeds held a lifetime appointment in the CSU system as CSU Distinguished Professor, and was a member of numerous other professional organizations including the Norman Mailer Society (Vice President) and the American Association of University Professors (fifty years). Leeds is survived by his daughter, Brett Ashley Leeds, Ph.D. and his grandchildren, Gavin Leeds Woods and Julia Leeds Woods, all of Houston, Texas; his sister, Linda Field, a nephew Daniel Field, and niece, Sarah Field, of Peterborough, NH, and his mate and best friend, Janice O'Brien of Clinton, CT. He was predeceased by his daughter, Leslie Lion Leeds. Friends may call at The Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St., Rt. 4, Unionville on Sunday (Apr. 19) from 4:00-6:00pm. Funeral Services will be held Monday (Apr. 20) at 11:00am in The Ahern Funeral Home followed by burial next to his daughter Leslie in Burlington Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barry H. Leeds Memorial Fund, c/o Farmington Bank, 1845 Farmington Ave., Unionville, CT 06085. The funds will be used to create a Dr. Barry H. Leeds Award at CCSU. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.ahernfuneralhome.com.