CHICOPEE ~ John J. Leahy, Sr., 85, of Chicopee and a former longtime resident of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield was Called Safely Home on Sunday, March 18, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Springfield on September 28, 1932, a beloved son of the late Patrick J. and Nora T. (Howard) Leahy. He was raised on Littleton Street, attended Cathedral High School and later lived for many years on Mayher Street in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield before moving to Chicopee in 2008. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War, attained the rank of Aviation Ordnance Airman and received the National Defense Service Medal. He retired as a Court Security Officer at the Hampden County Hall of Justice in Springfield. He was a member of the Maguire Center at the College of Our Lady of the Elms where with his wife, they enjoyed spending time with their many friends. He was a member of the RiverMills Senior Center in Chicopee where he also enjoyed socializing with his friends. He was a communicant of the former Our Lady of Hope Church and currently a communicant of Sacred Heart Church, both in Springfield. During his younger years while attending Cathedral High School, John was a standout baseball pitcher and football player and for many years, he enjoyed coaching his sons’ baseball teams. Most recently, he enjoyed attending his four grandsons’ sporting events. John enjoyed his many trips to Cape Cod and Ogunquit, Maine as well as his coffee and luncheons at Friendly’s and Russ’s at Glenwood Circle. Most of all, he was a man who loved his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Ellen M. (Kavanaugh) Leahy. They were married on June 4,1960 at the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving and devoted children, Joan M. Leahy and her fiance, Ken Pulsford, of Chicopee, John J. Leahy, Jr. and his wife, Darci, of Suffield, CT and Patrick J. Leahy and his wife, Joan, of East Longmeadow; his four cherished grandsons, John J. Leahy, III, Patrick D. Leahy, Michael P. Leahy and Jake P. Leahy; his two sisters-in-law, Eileen Leahy of Springfield and Kathleen “Kay” Hanifan and her husband, Thomas, of Chicopee; his brother-in-law, Daniel Kavanaugh and his wife, Phyllis, of Chicopee; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother, Joseph P. Leahy; his two sisters, Rita Leahy Manning and her husband, Daniel, and Mary Leahy Ottani; and his sister-in-law, Mary Kavanaugh Quinn. His family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Darren O’Neill and Marge at Enfield Medical Associates and the entire staff at Baystate Medical Center’s Mass Mutual 7 for the wonderful care and compassion shown to John and his family which was truly appreciated. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, March 22, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. His burial will be at a later date with United States Navy Military Honors at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to the Maguire Center at Elms College, c/o Bernadette Nowakowski, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 or to the RiverMills Senior Center, 5 West Main Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com