John I. Leahy Sr.

John Ignatius Leahy, Sr. was born on August 15, 1930 just 2 minutes after his twin brother, our dear late Uncle Joe. He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Leahy of Collingdale, PA.

In those days it was a total surprise to both Doctors and Mothers, "oops wait here comes another one!". Johnny grew up playing sports and was quite adept at them. However, he had to take responsibility at an early age to care for his family and younger brothers and sisters. He worked small jobs painting, paving and delivering large kegs of ice. On many occasions Grandmother would wake him up before dawn on cold winter days to buy a "bag a day" of coal to start the furnace before his young siblings awoke. The few dollars he did earn were given to his mother to satisfy the "book" which was the running tab at the local grocery store for food.

The family eventually moved to Baltimore, Md. For Grandfathers new job at Baugh Chemical Company. With limited means, Grandfather struck a deal at Loyola College for the twin boys. "Pay for one and the other one will go for free, and I wont ever tell you which one". While his brother excelled at academics Pop managed to get by as a "C" student. He would later always say "the world is ruled by "C' students! Over the years, he would give countless hours of his time and sums of money to the Jesuits in appreciation and Loyola College in particular.

Upon graduation from Loyola College he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. Office Candidate School. He graduated and was eventually promoted to First Lieutenant and would go on to assume the role of Company Commander. This role was always one for a Major (2 grades higher) but in Korea the mortality rate for commanders was near 40% so he was thrust into the command. At the age of 23 he was one of, if not the youngest, Company Commander in Marine Corps history at the time [Sic]. Owing to Our Lords Great Providence peace was declared on the 38th parallel just months before deployment to Incheon, South Korea [Sic]. He was honored and fiercely proud of the Corps his whole life but decided to pursue a career in the business world.

One day he saw a sign for Black & Decker pulled in and applied. He began as a warehouse expeditor -a role he later would refer to as his "castor oil" -it tastes awful but was good for you. He finally gained his goal as a salesman first in Minnesota then Chicago with young family in tow. John rose the ranks in the company to become President and CEO of Black and Decker, US. And then President of Americas International. He touched each rung of the ladder along the way and would say "the higher up the totem pole you go- the more your butt shows"- meaning with much power comes much responsibility. He was in top management at B&D during the introduction of such products as "The B&D Moon Drill". the "Work- Mate" tool bench and the famous "DustBuster" hand held battery powered vacuum- of which one of the original prototypes resides in the Smithsonian Institution. Through his 31year career and the years that followed Mr. Leahy served on many Industrial, Charitable and Societal Boards including but nowhere limited to Baltimore Bank Corp., Master Power, Allied Capital, Union Memorial Hospital, The Saint Mary's Seminary, Loyola College Board of Regents to name just a few. He worked well into his 80's and would often say "I'll retire when Warren Buffet retires!"

Most of all, John Leahy was a devoted husband and family man. Always finding time to attend events and spend time with his 6 children and lovely wife of 56 years, our dear mother. Always being late for church he would march all 8 of us right up the center of the Church- He was very proud of his family. He never "worked out" a day in his life. His love was Golf- a sport that he would say introduces a person to his or her self and to others, and recorded 4 holes in one. He was a member of Baltimore Country Club for well over 55 years and played at the best courses in the world including Augusta National twice.

Later in life again, through Our Good Lord's Great Providence, he met and fell immediately in Love with a beautiful young lady named June Reiter. He managed to convince her to marry him and they lived very happily together for over 14 years. John would often say I would not know what to do without her!

John is preceded in Heaven by Mrs. Nancy Leahy and son Thomas Leahy. He is survived by his wife June, his 5 children, 16 amazing grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 3 wonderful stepchildren.

SEMPER FIDELIS- ALWAYS FAITHFUL