Barbara D. McLeod

1929 - 2026

Barbara D. McLeod
Barbara D. McLeod, the youngest of nine children and the loving mother of seven, grandmother of twenty and great-grandmother of twenty-one, died on February 15, 2026, in New Canaan, at the age of 96. Barbara was born on April 28, 1929, in her home in Fairfield. She was the youngest of nine children born to Jozef and Maria Pekar, who had emigrated to the U.S. from eastern Slovakia. Barbara was raised by her mother, as her father died three weeks before she was born. She was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper and the top student in the academic group of Roger Ludlowe High School class of 1947. She was one of the first University Scholars at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated in 1952. Barbara married Robert L. McLeod of Shelton on August 28, 1954. They shared over 35 years of happiness in Shelton until Bob's death on November 8, 1989. They had five sons and two daughters, with six of the children born during an eight-year period. Barbara took enormous pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved to attend their sporting events, and she also was a crossword enthusiast, a world traveler, a voracious reader, and an avid fan of the New York Mets, meticulously scoring each of their games for over ten seasons. Barbara was predeceased by her parents; and by her eight older siblings: Joseph, Mary, Ann, Joseph, John, Nicholas, Stephen and George. She is survived by seven children and their spouses: Chris McLeod (Elaine) of Branford, Megan Hernandez (Rick) of Pasadena, California, Scott McLeod (Katya) of Orange, Dr. Gavin McLeod (Susy Gilgore) of Norwalk, Kerry Ross (Mitch) of Westport, Cormac McLeod (Lisa Leithauser) of Portland, Oregon, and Marc McLeod (Lety Camacho) of Seattle, Washington. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren: Erin McLeod of New York City, Colin McLeod (Andrea Baritz) of Chicago, Henry Hernandez (Christina) of San Marino, California, Patrick Hernandez (Kara) of Manhattan Beach, Michael Hernandez (Kristien) of Manhattan Beach, Kevin Hernandez (Kira) of Manhattan Beach, Mireya Hernandez of Pasadena, Matthew McLeod of Orange, Brendan McLeod (Hanah) of Nashville, Clare McLeod of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Maeve McLeod of Nashville, Bronwyn Guerlain (Andre) of Concord, Massachusetts, Brendan Ross of New York City, Cameron Ross (Lisa) of Darien, Rhiannon Austin (Stuart) of Darien, Griffin Ross (Lillian Gregory) of New Canaan, Conall McLeod of Portland, Oregon, Aidan McLeod of Chicago, Emily McLeod of Weiser, Idaho, and Clare McLeod of Portland.
She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren: Charlie and Margot McLeod, Jack, Thomas, Ellie, Lucy, Madeline, Hank, Caroline, Harrison, Bo, Charlotte, Mila, Sam and Bobby Hernandez, Mabel McLeod, Eloise, Genevieve and Quentin Guerlain, and Bennett and Callum Ross. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Waveny Care Center, in New Canaan, for the loving care they provided to Barbara for the past two-and-a-half years. Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, February 20, from 5 pm to 7 pm at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Aloysius Church, in New Canaan, at 11 am on Saturday, February 21. Burial will immediately follow at Mount St. Peter Cemetery in Derby. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the McLeod Family Scholarship Fund at Fairfield College Preparatory School. For online condolences, please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com .