Obituary: William Francis Leonard

William Francis Leonard, 92
William (“Bill”) Francis Leonard died on Aug. 19. He was 92.
Born in Maynard on Dec. 12, 1927, he was the son of William F. and Eva (DePasquale) Leonard. When he was 1 year old, his family moved to Hull where his father began working for Leonard Real Estate.
As a boy, Bill assisted in the family business by helping to maintain rental cottages where he learned many trade skills that he would utilize throughout his life. After graduating with the Hingham High School class of 1945 (Hull had no high school at the time), he attended Wentworth Institute in Boston and studied engineering there. He then began a career with the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. in Boston.
During the summer of 1949, he met his sweetheart, Anita, at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. However, this budding relationship was interrupted by the Korean War. Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1953. While in the Army, Bill was stationed primarily in Fort Bragg, Ga., but also had a special assignment with the Pentagon, working in New York City with then-new television technology.
After he was discharged, Bill and “Teeta” married on Sept. 12, 1953. They purchased their first home in Braintree in 1954 but moved to Hull in 1958 when their growing family required more space. Their house in Hull was a historic century-old, three-story structure, previously owned by the Damon family for whom the Damon Elementary School was named. It was located atop Atlantic Hill and provided an expansive view of Nantasket Beach and Paragon Park where the screams of those riding the roller coaster could be heard on summer nights.
On April 21, 1963, that same roller coaster caught fire, and embers from that fire, carried by the wind, landed on the wooden roof of the Leonard’s home, causing it to burn to the ground.
Bill subsequently moved his family to Framingham where his position with the telephone company was located at the time.
After raising his family in Framingham, Bill accepted a transfer position in Orlando, Fla., to which he and Teeta moved and eventually retired in 1986. Though living in Florida, the couple made it a point to return for cherished visits with family each summer. Bill particularly enjoyed visiting his boyhood home in Hull.
In Orlando, Bill and Teeta enjoyed hosting visits with their children and grandchildren, staying active, playing golf and cards, and socializing with their many dear friends. After 33 wonderful years, the two returned to Massachusetts in 2019 to live with their daughter in Lenox.
Bill is survived by the love of his life, his wife Anita (Zahn) Leonard. They met 71 years ago, and their marriage of 67 years was an inspiring example of love and respect. Bill personified the phrase “happy wife-happy life”; Teeta was his everything.
Bill will also be missed by his son, William F. Leonard, and his wife, Melanie, of Mashpee; daughter Karen Stevens and her husband, Mark, of Hopedale; daughter Anne Zuber and her husband, Robert, of Lenox; and son-in-law Stephen Thompson, of Barnstable. Sadly, Bill was predeceased by his daughter, Patricia Thompson, who passed away much too soon, in 1997. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Brett Leonard, Anna and Julia Stevens, Daniel and James Zuber, and Emily and Patrick Thompson.
Burial service at the Hull Village Cemetery will be private. Expressions of condolence can be sent to the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel: www.DowningChapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Bill’s beloved daughter, Patty, to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.jimmyfund.org/gift.