John P. Leonard of Duxbury died March 8 at the age of 79.  He was born and raised in Belmont, a graduate of Boston College (1954) and served in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant.  He was employed by MIT for 32 years before retiring in 1988 as an associate comptroller.  He was an elected Town Meeting Member in Belmont for seven years before moving to Duxbury in 1969.  Duxbury was a special place for him having spent his childhood summers here.  While in Duxbury, he was elected to the Board of Assessors in 1972 and served five years before being elected to the Board of Selectman where he served for nine years, seven as chairman.  He was Director of the Duxbury Beach Reservation for over 25 years, was its Treasurer for 20 years and remained a trustee until his death.  He was a member of CURA VNA including two years as the Board’s President.  He was a member of the Holy Family Parish Council for seven years and served on the parish Finance Committee for 17 years.  He received the President’s Call of Service Award in 2007. Mr. Leonard leaves his wife, Catherine V. (Garrity) of Duxbury; his children Stephen and Li-Mei of Wellesley, Christine Crea and Robert of Rockland, Eileen Simon and Thomas of Torrington, Conn., Michael and Cynthia of Essex Junction, Vt. and Mark and Amy of Groton; his sisters, Martha Trask of Westwood and Sr. Ann Frederick of St. Catharine, Ky.; and 10 grandchildren. 

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Holy Family Church, on March 12.  Mr. Leonard is buried in the Mayflower Cemetery, Tremont Street, Duxbury.

Contributions in Mr. Leonard’s memory may be made to the Dominican Sisters, Sansbury Care Center, 2645 Bardstown Road, Saint Catharine, KY 40061.