Francis J. LEARY

LEARY, Francis J. Francis J. Leary, 91, beloved husband of Sylvia (Keller) Leary for 62 years, ran his final mile and crossed the finish line into the Hands of God on January 4, 2011. He was born January 15, 1919 in Manchester Connecticut, son of the late Joseph W. and Josephine (Keating) Leary. He was educated in Manchester Public Schools and, as a high school freshman, he followed in the footsteps of his brother, George, and joined the track team. It was a fateful decision as he turned out to be a natural and gifted runner. From 1935 through 1938 he won 26 consecutive cross country races, including winning the Connecticut State Cross Country title for three consecutive years. In 1937, he won the New England High School Cross Country Race. The most amazing event of his high school career occurred when he won the one mile race in the 1937 Connecticut State Meet in a phenomenal record time of 4 minutes, 24.3 seconds, a record that stood for 67 years. In September of 1938, at the invitation of track coach Harry Coats, Frank transferred to Seton Hall Prep School in Newark New Jersey where he participated in various National Catholic and State AAU Cross Country meets. These included the National Prep School Indoor Track Championship at Madison Square Garden and the Pennsylvania Relay in Philadelphia in which his two mile relay team set a new World and Carnival record of 7:55.8. As a result of his team's performance that year, Seton Hall Prep won the titles of National Cross Country Champions, National Indoor Champions, and New Jersey State Indoor Champions. Upon graduating from Seton Hall Prep, he was offered a full scholarship to Fordham University where he continued his running success. Events of note include winning the Metropolitan IC4A three mile race in 1939 and, in 1940, winning the Metropolitan IC4A Championship for the 1000 yard run and placing third in the National Track and Field Meet. In 1941, he successfully defended his Metropolitan 1000 yard title in record time. After serving in the US Navy from 1942 - 1945 and receiving a Presidential Unit Citation for serving on the U.S.S. Bunker Hill in the South Pacific, Frank returned to Fordham for the 1946 outdoor season and was named the team captain. He won first place at the Metropolitan IC4A 880 yard run and, in the 1947 indoor season, he was a member of the winning two mile relay team at the Penn Relays. In 1986, in recognition of his track and field accomplishments, Frank was inducted into the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame. This award was followed in 1997 by his induction into the Fordham University Sports Hall of Fame. Upon graduating from Fordham, he began his career at the Aetna Fire Insurance Company where he worked for 33 years before retiring in 1981. During those years he was a member of and a leader in many organizations. In 1957 he joined the American Legion and, ten years later, he was elected Commander. He then went on to serve as Adjutant, a position for which in 1973 he received the Department Adjutant Award Trophy for being the outstanding adjutant in the state. In 1974, he received a Life Membership Award to the American Legion, the highest honor a Legionnaire can receive. In addition to the years he served at the American Legion, he was also a member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars and he served for many years on the Manchester Veteran's Council as well as the Permanent Memorial Day Committee. In May of 2001, following his retirement from the Permanent Memorial Day Committee, he was appointed the Grand Marshall of the Town of Manchester Memorial Day Parade. Although he was 82 years old and could have opted to ride in a car, he proudly chose to walk the entire parade route. Frank's service to his country and his town was only exceeded by his service to his family. Whenever any of his children or grandchildren needed anything, from help with a move, to painting a room, to fixing a leaky faucet, to babysitting the grandchildren, he was always there, usually with Sylvia by his side. In ways too numerous to list, he was the rock upon whom we all depended. He is already dearly and deeply missed. In addition to his wife Sylvia, he is survived by his son, Peter and spouse June, his daughter, Bernadette Skelding and spouse Randy, and his son, J. William and his fiancée Patricia Wasoka. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Andrew and Kristen Leary, Joseph and Anne Skelding, and Kathryn and Alysa Leary, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, George and Helen Leary, his daughter-in-law Marie (Smith) Leary, and his grandson, William J. Leary. Funeral service will be held on Friday (January 7th) at 11:45 am from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester with a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 pm at St. Bridget Church 80 Main St. Manchester followed by burial with military honors in St. James Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on TODAY from 5-8 pm. Memorial donations to Vitas Hospice Services, 628 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury CT 06033 or to a charity of the donor's choice. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.