Anthony Leo

Anthony "Tony" Leo, who in his later years always wore a hat and wore many hats during his lifetime, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002. He was son, brother, uncle and patriarch of the Leo family. He worked as a newsboy, a glass maker at Glenshaw Glass Company, a builder, a mailman for the U.S. Post Office and as a farmer. During World War II, he served as a glider pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force. In his spare time, he read Popular Mechanics and took up flying. Wearing his family hats, he shouldered the responsibilities, along with his eight siblings, of helping his father, Salvatore Leo, maintain and run the family farm in Shaler Twp. after their mother died in 1926. He was still trying to run the old homestead there until he died. He assumed many roles in his work life. Tony sold papers with his brother, John, on streetcars when they were young boys. At age 15, he started working at Glenshaw Glass, making friends in his quiet way and playing on their ball teams. Meanwhile, he became an avid reader of scientific and farm-related magazines. He got his license to fly in 1936 and owned two planes prior to World War II. During the war, as 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force Division, he became a glider pilot and served in Africa and Europe. Returning home, he resumed his family duties and his job at Glenshaw Glass. In 1950, he bid the Glenshaw Glass goodbye to become a mailman. At this period of time, he built several houses and bought a farm in Sandy Lake. Retiring from the post office in 1967, he devoted more time to his Sandy Lake farm until he was forced to give this up due to illness in the 1980s. Tony wore all these hats over his lifetime of 95 years with a spirit of independence and determination, achieving in that time many of his dreams. Tony is survived by his two sisters, Loretta Gilch and Sister Salvatore Leo, plus a whole clan of nieces, nephews and other relatives. A Memorial Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Church, Middle Road, Glenshaw, followed by a gathering of family and friends at the Middle Road Fire Hall. Arrangements by the THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, Blawnox.