Dr. Jim Leonard

Dr. Jim Leonard, 91
1934 - 2025
Lynn - James T. Leonard, 91, of Lynn, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 3,, 2025, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Ann Marie (Ruscitti) Leonard with whom he shared 67 years of marriage.
He was born on June 12, 1934 in Lynn, MA and was the son of the late James and Rose (Shields) Leonard.
Raised in Lynn, Jim grew up in a household of women. His grandmother, Mary Shields, raised four children, including Jim's mother Rose on her own. Rose worked in the shoe shops to support her family. Jim was the first in his family to reach high school.
Jim graduated from Lynn English High in 1953, excelling on the baseball field. He was encouraged to pursue a career in baseball or enlist in the military. Instead, Jim applied and was accepted to Tufts, Boston University, Northeastern and Salem State College. He enrolled at Boston University on a partial scholarship to play football and baseball. He later transferred to Salem State, where he played soccer and baseball and served as president of the men's athletic association. Jim went on to earn his master's degree at Salem State and completed his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts. He pursued post-doctoral studies at Harvard.
In 1960 and 1961, he played and coached a semi-pro baseball team – the 1961 team won the state championship. He also coached an American Legion team from 1961-1982 winning six league titles, two Eastern Massachusetts crowns and one state championship. He also served as assistant football coach at Lynn English under Walter Boverini.
Jim began his career in Middleton as a junior high school teacher and in 1967 accepted a position as a special education teacher at Eastern Junior High in Lynn. Over the course of his career, he served as a school adjustment counselor, principal of Washington Elementary School, and in 1990 Jim became the Superintendent of the Lynn Public Schools where he served for a decade. In addition, he served as adjunct professor at Salem State, the former Boston State and North Shore Community College.
Salem State College honored him with an Outstanding Educator Award. Jim was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at Salem State and Lynn English High School.
Jim loved telling old stories about his sports days, and he didn't care if you already heard them. He was going to tell them again and again. He also loved to sing. Over the years, Jim recorded more than 15 CDs of himself singing his favorite songs under his alias "Dutchy". He would give these CDs to family and friends. Then there were his letters. He often wrote letters to people in his life. If you got a "Letter" you were someone he was proud of and special to him.
For over 25 years he organized an annual gathering for a group of childhood friends called the Meadowlarks. The group was made up of kids who grew up in East Lynn spending most of their summer days and nights at the "Meadow" behind Lynn English. They would spend time on the baseball and football fields honing skills, hanging out, and singing songs. These annual gatherings would bring friends back to Lynn from all over. They would get together to share memories and laughs.
In addition to his wife Ann Marie, Jim is survived by his children, James III (Jay) and his partner Peggy of Swampscott, Tim and his wife Terese of Lynn; his grandchildren, James IV (Jim) and his wife Alison, Bailey and her husband Matt, Matthew and Sean; his great grandchildren, Jack, Abby and James V (Thomas); and his cousin Jack Walsh.
Service Information: Visiting hours will be held at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Friday, December 12 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by a service at 11:00AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's memory by bringing a new and unwrapped toy for the Marines Toys for Tots Drive at the funeral home, which is an official site, or donations may be made in the memory of James Leonard to the Item Santa Fund, 85 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901. For online guestbook, please visit www.ccbfuneral.com.