William J. Leckey

William (Bill) Leckey of West Chester, PA passed peacefully on November 29, 2024 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease, at the age of 83. Bill was predeceased by his loving wife of 45 years, Claire, in March 2017. 

Bill attended LaSalle Military Academy in Oakdale, N.Y. and was a 1963 graduate of Manhattan College. He subsequently enlisted in the United States Navy where he served his country as part of the Pacific Coast Fleet (PCF). Rising to the rank of Lieutenant, he was the damage control officer aboard the USS Shenandoah and USS Black before becoming a “Brown Water Sailor” on the River Patrol boats in the waterways of Vietnam. While he seldom spoke of his wartime experiences from three tours of duty, Bill maintained enduring and visible friendships with those with whom he served. Bill made sure that a United States flag, pin, or license plate were always displayed in his home, office and car. He remained a proud veteran until his final day. 

Bill’s greatest passion was found in his professional life with Merrill Lynch - a career that spanned nearly 40 years. He started with Merrill Lynch as a Financial Advisor in the flagship “SD” New York City office during the early 1970s. Leveraging his leadership experiences as a Naval Officer, Bill pursued a path in management which included the roles of Resident Vice President in both Lansing, Michigan and Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and culminated with his leadership as the Managing Director for the Delaware Complex beginning in 1992. It was in Wilmington where Bill could often be found behind his desk before 4 a.m. Few things gave him greater happiness and satisfaction than the personal and professional successes of the Financial Advisors with whom he worked- especially the advisors that he hired. Bill retired in 2009 as one of Merrill Lynch’s longest tenured managers. 

To the very end, Bill spoke with profound respect for many of the wonderful colleagues he had the privilege of working with during those nearly four decades- several of whom remained his dear friends through his extended illness. Nothing put a smile on his face during his 15-years in retirement like a phone call from an old friend at Merrill Lynch. Without question, Bill’s happiest days were those spent at his home in Claiborne, Maryland and on his boat cruising the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Together, Bill and Claire enjoyed entertaining friends, co-workers and family aboard The Penultimate. Bill and Claire loved to just idle and drift in St. Michael’s Harbor with bloody marys, champagne and sandwiches. It was their “happy place”. 

Bill is survived by his son, Bill Jr., and his wife, Alexis. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Bill’s memory would be greatly appreciated. 

Consistent with one of Bill’s favorite quotes, interment services with military honors will be held privately. 

“Old soldiers never die; they just fade away” 

                -Douglas MacArthur (April 19th 1951)