John W LeRoy

John W. LeRoy Jr, 88, died at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Sunday, July 6, while under the tender care of Ambercare Hospice with his wife at his bedside. John was born on February 10, 1937 in Buffalo NY to John W. LeRoy and Margaret Mary O'Donnell LeRoy. He is predeceased by his parents and by a grandson, Patrick LeRoy. After graduating from Lancaster (NY) high school, he served in the US Navy where he studied electronics. He earned both his BS in engineering and his MBA from Syracuse University in NY. John spent his early working career involved with various electronic weapons systems. This included working on defensive electronic equipment for Sylvania Electric, the ballistic early warning system for RCA and as weapons system engineer on navigation and radar systems for General Electric. Later, in his GE career, he served in management positions, including human relations, union relations and employee and community relations. John took early retirement from GE at the age of 50 and moved with his wife, Becky, to Harpswell, Maine where they designed and built a house on an island doing all of the work themselves. They published a monthly running magazine called Mainely Running which covered all endurance sports in the state of Maine. During those years, John also taught management courses at New Hampshire College and home building courses at an owner builder school in Bath, Maine. John was a true athlete, a serious runner, swimmer, bicyclist and triathlete for many years and a student of all aspects of endurance sports happily sharing coaching tips and advice on sports injuries with others. He was a certified open water scuba diver, a recreational competitive sailor, and in the past few years developed a passion for Crossfit and Pickleball where he made new and close friends. In his athletic career, John competed in over 500 running races, 120 triathlons, over 50 duathlons, many cross-country ski and, in-line skating races as well as archery competitions. He ran the Boston marathon twice as an individual and a 3rd time with the Achilles Running Club assisting a disabled runner. He was very proud to have been ranked 3rd in the nation by USA Triathlon and he was recognized as Triathlon All-American in 2008. He competed in USA Triathlon's national championships many times, finishing 2nd place one year and 4th place two additional years. In 1979-1980, while working for GE, John was instrumental in establishing a thriving youth soccer program in Owensboro Kentucky. He was an avid spokesman for children with learning disabilities and was awarded several awards for his community service in both New York and Kentucky. John is survived by Becky, his wife of 46 years, a sister, Janet Curtis, his children, Terri Neave, Louann Demler, Jeffrey LeRoy and Stephen LeRoy; stepchildren, Susan Hazelrigg and J.Robert Hazelrigg, and grandchildren, Elizabeth, Emily, Stacey, Sennie, and Jennifer. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John, please visit our Tree Store.