William Duncan Leahy, formerly of Duxbury, died March 22, 2012.  Mr. Leahy was born in Jersey City, N.J. to James W. Leahy and Elizabeth Kelly Leahy on March 23, 1921. He had an older sister Jane who died in the 1918s flu pandemic, an older brother Jay (Jean) who died in 1985, a fraternal twin brother John, “Jack”  (wife Elise) who died in 1998 and a younger brother Frank (Joyce) who died on March 30, 2012. All four Leahy men served their country during World War II. Mr. Leahy attended Rutgers University, but terminated his studies early to repel the Axis during World War II. He trained at Colgate University as a naval aviator and flew a variety of aircraft culminating with the Lockheed PV Ventura Patrol Bomber. After ferrying planes around US bases and advanced training, including firing rockets, he made his way over to Tinian in the South Pacific as the War ended as replacement crew. Mr. Leahy worked in the electronics industry as a salesman for RCA for more than 30 years. During that time he was based out of New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles, Cal. before being transferred to Boston in 1969, which landed him in Duxbury.

The Leahy family resided at 416 Washington St. During their time in Snug Harbor, they remodeled their house as a family project, happily following the town’s strict zoning codes in the name of historic preservation. One neighbor recalled the day the Leahys hooked up their Ford Country Squire to the back end of their house and gave it the “ole heave ho.”  Mr. Leahy enjoyed fishing and waterskiing in and around Duxbury Bay.

The family was transferred to upstate New York in 1972 and made their home in Skaneateles, where the couple lived for the remainder of their lives. After RCA, Mr. Leahy established his own firm, Leahy & Thompson. Upon retiring, he went to work in marketing at the Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles. Later, he did a stint as a bartender in the Sherwood’s Tavern (nicknamed “Coach”) before settling into a position at the Inn’s front desk as “The oldest living desk clerk.”

Meanwhile, he worked as an ambassador for Eastern and Continental airlines. A seasoned traveler, Leahy could recount a number of adventures such as the time he was asked to man a Parisian Police Station during an emergency; the occasion where he presided over the nuptials of a couple in an English pub from behind the bar; and the night he accidentally spent with comedian Jonathan Winters.

Mr. Leahy enjoyed teaching in his late 70s and 80s when he volunteered to introduce senior citizens to the basics of computer technology in New York. He was an avid golfer, tennis player, a photographer, a fisherman, boxed in the Navy (0-6), duplicate bridge enthusiast, a member of several gourmet dinner clubs, a woodworker, home remodeler, crossword puzzler, won a twist contest in the ‘60s, played exactly three songs on the piano, volunteered for MOW, a sailor and a pilot.  Mr. Leahy fulfilled a lifelong dream at the age of 90 to work in show business, appearing as the opening act “The Sit Down Comic,” for Kelly Kinsella’s one woman show, “When Thoughts Attack,” at the Palace Theater, Syracuse. Sadly, he entered the hospital the morning after his debut and proceeded on his last big adventure, that of dealing with cancer. His most striking feat was his care of his wife of 64 years, Marion (Meers Smith) during her prolonged illness. She died in 2011.

Mr. Leahy leaves his five children, William D. Leahy Jr. and his wife Jacquelyn of Oxford, Ga., Michael Leahy and his wife Vickie of Tucson, Ariz., Timothy Leahy and his wife Carolyn of La Jolla, Calif., Ellen Leahy of Skaneateles, N.Y. and Stephen Leahy of Barrington, R.I.; seven grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. The family celebrated Mr. Leahy’s life Sunday, April 1 with an Irish Wake at home at 109 Jordan St., Skaneateles, NY 13152.