Rev. Jerome Leach

1950 - 2017

Rev. Jerome Paul Leach

In this City, at rest in the Eternal Peace of the Risen Christ, October 15, 2017. Beloved son of his late parents, Thomas Wallace and Agnes Catherine Leach, the cherished nephew of the late Father Cyril V. Leach and the late Mary Anne Barulich. Survived by his loving brothers and sister, Dr. Thomas W. (Karen), Sister Mary Virginia, O.P. (M.S.J. - his twin), Vincent C. and Joseph G. Leach. Faithfully supported by his caring nephews and niece, Thomas W., Stephen J. (Zara) and Christine Marie Leach. Dear first cousin to Maryann Barulich Steele of NYC, Dr. Matthew J. (Suzanne) Barulich of Carson City, and Jerome M. (Naomi) Barulich of San Francisco.
Father Leach was born on January 1, 1950, and grew up in St. James Parish in San Francisco's Mission District where he was educated by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San José and wonderful lay teachers. He graduated from St. James School '64, and continued on to St. Ignatius High '68 under the care of the Jesuits and the devoted laity. In the fall of 1968 he entered St. Patrick's College Seminary, Mt. View '72, and then completed his graduate studies at St. Patrick's Major Seminary, Menlo Park '76 where he was prepared by the priests of the Society of St. Sulpice along with their diocesan and lay colleagues. Ordained a parish priest of the Archdiocese by the late Archbishop Joseph Thomas McGucken on May 15, 1976, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, he served the Church of St. Pius, St. Patrick, St. Catherine, St. Finn Barr, Our Lady of Mercy, and All Souls. He was among the retired clergy for many years now as he dealt with the significant complications of juvenile diabetes and stage four throat cancer, from which he was a 19 year survivor. He was a faithful and devoted friend of Bill W. since Easter Sunday, 1986, and ministered in loving ways to his "extended family." He cherished his decades-long friendship with the late Chris and Carol Stone of Larkspur and their family, and other couples and their families from his various assignments.
The Rosary Vigil will be Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., St. James Church, 23rd and Guerrero Streets, San Francisco. Vigil parking will be available in the lot of the old St. James Boys' School (now Adda Clevenger) at 23rd and Fair Oaks Street, one block west of Guerrero. The Funeral Mass will also be at St. James on Friday, October 20th, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. Only island parking on Guerrero Street will be available for the Funeral. Private Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma.
The family requests donations in Father's memory to the Archdiocese of San Francisco (Archbishop's Annual Appeal or the Priests' Retirement Fund) or to the Dominican Sisters of Mission San José. Requiescat in pace.