Leon Francis Vinci

October 6, 1950 - April 18, 2025

On April 18, 2025, Leon Francis Vinci, MPH, PhD, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family.

Dr. Leon Vinci, a distinguished figure in public and environmental health, has dedicated more than three decades to advancing community well-being and public health preparedness across the United States.

Born and raised in Middletown, Conn., Leon earned his Bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, followed by a Master's in Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health. He later achieved a doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Throughout his career, Leon held leadership roles in local and county public health departments across Connecticut, Nebraska and Kansas. His commitment to environmental health led him to participate in various national and international committees and task forces. Leon also taught at several universities including Drexel University, Yale University and the University of Nebraska. He was recognized as a Climate and Health Leader by ecoAmerica, received the 2020 A. Clark Slaymaker Honor by the Virginia Environmental Health Association and served as a Climate Ambassador with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

Leon was a huge fan of road trips, food and sports, frequently combining all three on weekend trips with his children from Philly to DC, NYC and the Midwest. You could catch him in his silver Jeep on the highway listening to his favorite Woodstock tunes, excited for his next adventure.

Leon is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Doug Vinci and Brooke Miller; grandsons, Nate, Ryan and Aiden; son, Michael Vinci; and daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Kyle O'Neill; brother, Keith Vinci, nephews and niece, Jonathan, Justin and Becky; former wife, Debora, as well as countless friends and colleagues whose lives were touched by his work and spirit.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Andrew at 12 noon on Friday, May 30, 2025, with a visitation at the church beginning at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke in Leon's memory. Condolences may be made at www.Oakeys.com.

Oakey's Funeral Service - South Chapel

Roanoke, VA (540) 989-3131

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Roanoke Times on May 13, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Leon Vinci

Sponsored by Oakey’s South Chapel.

9 Entries

Rick Matheny

June 4, 2025

I met Leon in 1975 at Yale School of Public Health. Between then and my retirement in 2012, we both attended numerous state and national meetings of various public health organizations. Leon was always able to get tickets to baseball games, admission to private cocktail hours, and free food and drink anywhere! We always enjoyed ourselves with our public health friends and colleagues. We had two memorable trips to California where Leon did the driving, and we all had a great time. Leon always had a smile on his face.

marcy barnett

May 23, 2025

I will miss Leon's enthusiasm for environmental health work and specifically climate change education. He was always a cheerful, upbeat presence at the annual NEHA conferences. I last saw him in New Orleans where we had a chance to sip hurricane cocktails. RIP Leon

John & Deb Milardo

May 22, 2025

So sorry to hear about Leon's passing. He was a good man and will be missed. Rest in peace.

Rick Berg

May 22, 2025

Leon was my close friend in college. We spent lots of time together doing lots of fun stuff. His parents, who were deaf, were so nice I learned rudimentary sign language just so I could better communicate with them. He introduced me to my first serious girlfriend. Upon graduation we drove his Volvo to Kansas, left it with a friend, and then hitch hiked to Mexico, where we spent a month together before he returned to Connecticut. I never returned to live in the East Coast, but whenever I did visit I was sure to see Leon.

What I remember most about Leon were his energy and his kindness. He was a team player. He always made other people feel important. There was no way he wasn't going to succeed in his profession. Leon will be sorely missed, not least by his old college buddy.

Dr & Mrs Amer El-Ahraf

May 21, 2025

My wife, Lorraine, and I are so sorry to hear the news about Leon's passing.

Dr Vinci was one of our best, a true professional, a good friend and a courteous colleague. He showered me with his warm hospitability when I spoke in his region's conferences. I appreciated sharing his enthusiasm, experiences and vision about our profession.

While our Task Force meetings will never be the same, his contributions to the Task Force, NEHA and the profession is everlasting. Leon and his work will be missed -but never be forgotten.

We extend our deep sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.
If Lorraine and I can do any thing, please let us know.
God Bless.

Respectfully,

Amer & Lorraine

Amer El-Ahraf, MPH, Dr P H ( With Distinction )
Fulbright Scholar
Emeritus Full Professor of Public Health and Health Sciences
Vice President Emeritus,
California State University, Dominguez Hills

Past President, NEHA ( 1980-81 )
Past President, CEHA ( 1974-76 )

Tom Wu

May 19, 2025

Leon stayed with us when he came to Seattle for a conference. We enjoyed his gregarious nature and his kindness. This was the year that the movie CODA came out and he shared with us that he was fluent in ASL because his parents were deaf. He was a die-hard Wesleyan enthusiast and devoted so much energy to the University and his fellow alumni. He will be sorely missed, we will honor him whenever we visit Wesleyan. God bless, Tom & Celia Wu

Rachel Pence

May 16, 2025

So sorry to hear this news. I had the pleasure of working with Leon as a volunteer with a local stream water quality monitoring program. Leon was a dedicated stream monitor and I have a lot of fond memories of us going through the training class together nearly 10 years ago, him coming out to volunteer celebrations and holiday events over the years, and even coming to cheer us on and take photos of our group participating in the Daisy Art Parade in downtown Roanoke. He was a really supportive, fun, and bright person to work with & we will miss him dearly.

Stephen Gionfriddo

May 15, 2025

Very sorry to hear of Leon´s passing. He was a great guy and a leader in the health field. Condolences to his family and friends

Ruth Greene

May 13, 2025

I met Leon at a National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Chapter meeting at Jersey Lilly's in Roanoke. He was our Congressional District Liasion and kept us up to date on possible changes that could affect us. His luncheon was often interrupted by having to take an important zoom call, as he always had his laptop, cell phone and appointment book with him. He seemed to thrive on constantly being busy and on the go and no doubt pushed himself beyond measure this past year just to be spend quality time with family and friends. I am thankful for the special events we shared and the relaxing evenings we were able to enjoy at my Smith Mountain Lake home. Leon will be truly missed, but not forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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