John W. Leahy
November 4, 2011
John
W. Leahy, 79, of Littleton, MA, Rockport, MA and Bonita Springs, FL, died
peacefully at his Rockport home on November 4, 2011, with his children
present.
The only child of William Edward Leahy and Charlotte (Woodbury) Leahy, John
was born in Littleton, MA on April 27, 1932. John graduated from Fenn
School, Belmont Hill and Brown University in 1950. Then he later furthered
his education at the School of Transportation at the University of Tennessee
at Knoxville.
He was drafted in 1956. While in the army, he developed an accountability
system for parts purchasing that was used as a model nationally. He took
over the family trucking business, M.W. Leahy Co., Inc., in 1959, and served
as chief executive until 2005. He was highly regarded in the trucking
industry, and served as President of the Mass Motor Truck Association; 1st
Chair of the American Trucking Association; and the Executive Committee of
the Contract Carriers Association. He also served on the Town of Littleton
Conservation Committee for 16 years and as Chairman for a portion of that
time. He was active with the Littleton Rotary Club, where he served as
President 1 year.
John married Betty Ann Rapp on September 10, 1955, and together they had two
children. He was happily married to Betty for 37 years until her death in
1992. He later married Mary Crory in 2003 until her death in 2008.
An avid sailor from age seven, he raced and sailed various class boats from
a fishboat, to starboat to his current boat a J35C. He skillfully won many
races in the Cape Ann area. He served on the Board of Governors of the Sandy
Bay Yacht Club for 8 years. His other love was golfing and was a member of
the San Carlos Golf Club of Fort Myers serving on the Board for 6 years. He
proudly sank three holes-in-one.
He was a kind, considerate father who passed on his love of animals,
sailing, travel, and helping of others. He was an elegant and gentle man who
will be missed greatly by all that knew him.
John is survived by Michael and Janice (Howard) Leahy, of Littleton, and
Elizabeth Leahy of Rockport; grandson Sean Leahy of Littleton; stepchildren
Michael and Paul Crory, both of Littleton, and Mark Crory of New Ipswich,
N.H., Patricia Legenza of Littleton, Joanne Crory of Shirley, and Meg Kelly
of Tyngsborough.
Visiting hours will be held at the Badger Funeral Home, 347 King St.,
Littleton, MA on Friday, Nov. 11, 5 – 8 pm and in the Burgess & Mackey
Funeral Home, 201 Main St., Rockport, MA on Saturday, Nov. 12, 5 – 8 pm.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited. A Memorial Service will be held
at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club in the spring of 2012. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made in his memory to the Sandy Bay Yacht Club Sailing
Program, P.O. Box 37, Rockport, MA 01966 or to the Susan G. Komen For the
Cure (Breast Cancer) , P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309. Arrangements
are by the Burgess & Mackey Funeral Home, 201 Main St., Rockport, MA 01966.
For online condolences, guestbook and directions, please visit
greelyfuneralhome.com.
