Richard F. Leary, 90
Dateline: Norton, MA
Richard F. Leary, 90, of Norton, formerly of Walpole and West Roxbury, passed away peacefully, in the comfort of his home, on Saturday March 10, 2012. He was the beloved husband of Mary E. (Garvey) Leary, to whom he was wed on June 25, 1949.
Born in East Boston, MA on September 4, 1921, he was a loving son of the late John J. and Catherine B. (Marshall) Leary.
He grew up in the Dorchester section of Boston, attended the Oliver Wendell Holmes School and was a 1939 graduate of Dorchester High School.
During WWII he proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Air Force. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign and with the 1304th Army Air Forces Base Unit in China, Burma and India. On December 24, 1945, he was honorably discharged from the services with the rank of Technical Sergeant.
Mr. Leary graduated from Boston State College in 1972, having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement, and following a career that spanned 36 years with the Boston Police Department, he retired with the rank of Captain.
A resident of Norton for the past 24 years he had formerly made his home in Walpole and West Roxbury. Mr. Leary was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield and was a loyal supporter of VFW organizations.
In addition to his wife of over 62 years, he is survived by his devoted children; Deborah J. Marshall and her husband Glenn M. Glesmann of Wayland and Mark F. Leary and his wife Kristin Hellauer Leary of Westford. The dear brother of Leo “Nick” Leary, Joseph H. Leary, Catherine D. Dodge, Gertrude Norkiatis, and the late Lewis F., John J., William G., Edward L., Francis, Thomas J., Robert A., John J. and Beatrice Leary, he is also survived by his cherished grandchildren; Richard B. Glesmann, Christine M. Coen and her husband Darren, Gehrig H. Leary, Wagner F. Leary, Madison C. Leary and Camden M. Leary, as well as his great grandchildren; Caden P. Coen and Ava G. Coen.
His Funeral to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Tuesday March 20th at 9:30 A.M. from the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St. Mansfield, followed by a Mass of Christian burial celebrated at 10:30 A.M. in St. Mary’ Church, 330 Pratt St. (Route 106) Mansfield.
Military honors will be performed on Tuesday morning at the conclusion of the services. Private burial will be held at a later date in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mansfield.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday March 19th from 5-8 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, Richard’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to The Salvation Army, 147 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116 www.salvationarmyusa.org
For additional information, please visit www.shermanjackson.com