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Donald Leary Obituary
Nov 1, 1929 - Oct 12, 2014
Don Leary, a well-known Bay Area private investigator, passed away of cancer Oct. 12. He was 84.A genuine "man about town", Don was a regular in all the legendary North Beach establishments including the Washington Square Bar & Grill, Cookie's Star Café, Little City and Moose's (all long gone) and Amante. He was a member of the celebrated WSB&G softball team Lapins Sauvages, which played rousing games in Chicago, Boston, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Russia and England.
Born in Boston, Don was drafted into the army on his 21st birthday, attended OCS and emerged a lieutenant. He moved to San Francisco in 1958.
In 1969 he and fellow investigator Jack Lake formed Leary and Lake, a partnership that lasted more than 20 years. They handled mostly insurance claim cases, a few "ripped from the headlines", and some North Beach pals nicknamed them Spade and Archer, after Dashiel Hammett's fictional pair. After an amicable parting with Lake, Don did investigating on his own.
With a lifelong love of the great outdoors, in 1972, Don founded the first bicycle shop in Sausalito, far ahead of the biking craze that later followed.
Don was a big fan of the Giants and the Red Sox, and made many trips to spring training.
He is survived by his sons, Scott (Natalie) and Sean Leary, granddaughter Olivia Leary, and longtime friend Deon O'Leary.
A memorial will be held at the Stinson Beach Community Center, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Donald Leary
2 Entries
Elaine Driskill
December 3, 2014
I met Don in 1971 when he picked me up hitch hiking on Bay St. in the city. We went to my house in Mill Valley then to his house in Sausalito. Stayed friends a long time. My first 10 speed was from his store Mom's Apple Bikes in Sausalito. I still have the t-shirt.
Rick Bradley
December 3, 2014
I met Don Leary when I was attending night law school at Golden Gate Univ. and working as a Claims Supervisor for the Transamerica Ins. Co. in 1965 and Washington Square Bar and Grill. He was a really nice guy and good investigator.
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