Thomas Desmond "Des" Leonard
Montclair, Oakland, California
Thomas Desmond 'Des' Leonard, an esteemed longtime resident of Montclair, passed away in Oakland on June 12, 2021, at the age of 89. Des was born in Los Angeles County on October 29, 1931, as the first child of newly-emigrated Irish parents. His family soon settled in Oakland, where young Des spent his childhood practicing basketball and baseball in the playgrounds of Havenscourt and Bushrod. A 1949 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Alameda, he attended St. Mary's College before graduating from UC Berkeley in 1953 with a BA in History.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Des returned to Oakland to begin a distinguished career as an educator, attorney, and coach. He taught at several area schools, and is especially remembered for his 20+ year tenure at Montera Junior High, where in 1959, he began teaching PE, History, and Economics. In 1983, Des passed the state bar exam after studying at John F. Kennedy University School of Law, and began practicing as an attorney, serving as a deputy district attorney and civil litigator.
Throughout his life, Des remained dedicated to his greatest passion: coaching sports. From the 1960s on, Des was a prominent figure in youth baseball in the East Bay, coaching numerous Oakland Babe Ruth teams and serving as director of Montclair Park's Young America program. He served as head coach of two high school teams: the championship basketball team at his alma mater, St. Joseph, as well as the baseball team at Piedmont High School. In retirement, he coached girls' youth basketball. Des is remembered with great fondness and respect by his former players, many of whom consider him an influential lifelong mentor.
Des' meaningful support and guidance as a coach, educator, and mentor had a lasting impact on the lives of countless people in the East Bay and beyond. A man of resilience, principle, and passion, he is mourned by an abundance of friends who will deeply miss his kind heart, sharp wit, intellectual curiosity, quiet generosity, and, of course, his love of the game. Independent by nature, Des had special gratitude for his friends who persistently stayed in touch and cared for him in later years.
Des is predeceased by his sister Kathleen M Leonard, who passed in 1944 at age nine, as well as by his parents, who both hailed from Ireland: Mary B 'Mae' [née Rock] Leonard (Ballinasloe, Galway), and John T 'Sean' Leonard (Enniscrone, Sligo). He is survived by Leonards across Ireland, including his four living first cousins, all originally from Enniscrone: Raymond A Leonard (Dublin), Kenneth A Leonard (Carlow), M. Hyacinth Roche (Kilkenny), and Missionary Sister Bridget 'Daisy' Shevlin of the Holy Rosary (Dublin). He is also mourned by his cousins in the United States: William T Viola (Ventura, CA), Michael T Viola (Ventura, CA), Timothy R Viola (Camarillo, CA), Frank P Leonard (Hull, MA), & Aoife M Leonard (Cambridge, MA).
Des will be put to rest in a private ceremony at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, in an area that aptly neighbors a school baseball field. Please note that a larger celebration of life event is being planned for 2022.
Published by East Bay Times on Sep. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/thomas-leonard-obituary?pid=200077418
Montclair, Oakland, California
Thomas Desmond 'Des' Leonard, an esteemed longtime resident of Montclair, passed away in Oakland on June 12, 2021, at the age of 89. Des was born in Los Angeles County on October 29, 1931, as the first child of newly-emigrated Irish parents. His family soon settled in Oakland, where young Des spent his childhood practicing basketball and baseball in the playgrounds of Havenscourt and Bushrod. A 1949 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Alameda, he attended St. Mary's College before graduating from UC Berkeley in 1953 with a BA in History.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Des returned to Oakland to begin a distinguished career as an educator, attorney, and coach. He taught at several area schools, and is especially remembered for his 20+ year tenure at Montera Junior High, where in 1959, he began teaching PE, History, and Economics. In 1983, Des passed the state bar exam after studying at John F. Kennedy University School of Law, and began practicing as an attorney, serving as a deputy district attorney and civil litigator.
Throughout his life, Des remained dedicated to his greatest passion: coaching sports. From the 1960s on, Des was a prominent figure in youth baseball in the East Bay, coaching numerous Oakland Babe Ruth teams and serving as director of Montclair Park's Young America program. He served as head coach of two high school teams: the championship basketball team at his alma mater, St. Joseph, as well as the baseball team at Piedmont High School. In retirement, he coached girls' youth basketball. Des is remembered with great fondness and respect by his former players, many of whom consider him an influential lifelong mentor.
Des' meaningful support and guidance as a coach, educator, and mentor had a lasting impact on the lives of countless people in the East Bay and beyond. A man of resilience, principle, and passion, he is mourned by an abundance of friends who will deeply miss his kind heart, sharp wit, intellectual curiosity, quiet generosity, and, of course, his love of the game. Independent by nature, Des had special gratitude for his friends who persistently stayed in touch and cared for him in later years.
Des is predeceased by his sister Kathleen M Leonard, who passed in 1944 at age nine, as well as by his parents, who both hailed from Ireland: Mary B 'Mae' [née Rock] Leonard (Ballinasloe, Galway), and John T 'Sean' Leonard (Enniscrone, Sligo). He is survived by Leonards across Ireland, including his four living first cousins, all originally from Enniscrone: Raymond A Leonard (Dublin), Kenneth A Leonard (Carlow), M. Hyacinth Roche (Kilkenny), and Missionary Sister Bridget 'Daisy' Shevlin of the Holy Rosary (Dublin). He is also mourned by his cousins in the United States: William T Viola (Ventura, CA), Michael T Viola (Ventura, CA), Timothy R Viola (Camarillo, CA), Frank P Leonard (Hull, MA), & Aoife M Leonard (Cambridge, MA).
Des will be put to rest in a private ceremony at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, in an area that aptly neighbors a school baseball field. Please note that a larger celebration of life event is being planned for 2022.
Published by East Bay Times on Sep. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/thomas-leonard-obituary?pid=200077418
Thomas Desmond "Des" Leonard
Montclair, Oakland, California
Thomas Desmond 'Des' Leonard, an esteemed longtime resident of Montclair, passed away in Oakland on June 12, 2021, at the age of 89. Des was born in Los Angeles County on October 29, 1931, as the first child of newly-emigrated Irish parents. His family soon settled in Oakland, where young Des spent his childhood practicing basketball and baseball in the playgrounds of Havenscourt and Bushrod. A 1949 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Alameda, he attended St. Mary's College before graduating from UC Berkeley in 1953 with a BA in History.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Des returned to Oakland to begin a distinguished career as an educator, attorney, and coach. He taught at several area schools, and is especially remembered for his 20+ year tenure at Montera Junior High, where in 1959, he began teaching PE, History, and Economics. In 1983, Des passed the state bar exam after studying at John F. Kennedy University School of Law, and began practicing as an attorney, serving as a deputy district attorney and civil litigator.
Throughout his life, Des remained dedicated to his greatest passion: coaching sports. From the 1960s on, Des was a prominent figure in youth baseball in the East Bay, coaching numerous Oakland Babe Ruth teams and serving as director of Montclair Park's Young America program. He served as head coach of two high school teams: the championship basketball team at his alma mater, St. Joseph, as well as the baseball team at Piedmont High School. In retirement, he coached girls' youth basketball. Des is remembered with great fondness and respect by his former players, many of whom consider him an influential lifelong mentor.
Des' meaningful support and guidance as a coach, educator, and mentor had a lasting impact on the lives of countless people in the East Bay and beyond. A man of resilience, principle, and passion, he is mourned by an abundance of friends who will deeply miss his kind heart, sharp wit, intellectual curiosity, quiet generosity, and, of course, his love of the game. Independent by nature, Des had special gratitude for his friends who persistently stayed in touch and cared for him in later years.
Des is predeceased by his sister Kathleen M Leonard, who passed in 1944 at age nine, as well as by his parents, who both hailed from Ireland: Mary B 'Mae' [née Rock] Leonard (Ballinasloe, Galway), and John T 'Sean' Leonard (Enniscrone, Sligo). He is survived by Leonards across Ireland, including his four living first cousins, all originally from Enniscrone: Raymond A Leonard (Dublin), Kenneth A Leonard (Carlow), M. Hyacinth Roche (Kilkenny), and Missionary Sister Bridget 'Daisy' Shevlin of the Holy Rosary (Dublin). He is also mourned by his cousins in the United States: William T Viola (Ventura, CA), Michael T Viola (Ventura, CA), Timothy R Viola (Camarillo, CA), Frank P Leonard (Hull, MA), & Aoife M Leonard (Cambridge, MA).
Des will be put to rest in a private ceremony at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, in an area that aptly neighbors a school baseball field. Please note that a larger celebration of life event is being planned for 2022.
Published by East Bay Times on Sep. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/thomas-leonard-obituary?pid=200077418
Montclair, Oakland, California
Thomas Desmond 'Des' Leonard, an esteemed longtime resident of Montclair, passed away in Oakland on June 12, 2021, at the age of 89. Des was born in Los Angeles County on October 29, 1931, as the first child of newly-emigrated Irish parents. His family soon settled in Oakland, where young Des spent his childhood practicing basketball and baseball in the playgrounds of Havenscourt and Bushrod. A 1949 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Alameda, he attended St. Mary's College before graduating from UC Berkeley in 1953 with a BA in History.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Des returned to Oakland to begin a distinguished career as an educator, attorney, and coach. He taught at several area schools, and is especially remembered for his 20+ year tenure at Montera Junior High, where in 1959, he began teaching PE, History, and Economics. In 1983, Des passed the state bar exam after studying at John F. Kennedy University School of Law, and began practicing as an attorney, serving as a deputy district attorney and civil litigator.
Throughout his life, Des remained dedicated to his greatest passion: coaching sports. From the 1960s on, Des was a prominent figure in youth baseball in the East Bay, coaching numerous Oakland Babe Ruth teams and serving as director of Montclair Park's Young America program. He served as head coach of two high school teams: the championship basketball team at his alma mater, St. Joseph, as well as the baseball team at Piedmont High School. In retirement, he coached girls' youth basketball. Des is remembered with great fondness and respect by his former players, many of whom consider him an influential lifelong mentor.
Des' meaningful support and guidance as a coach, educator, and mentor had a lasting impact on the lives of countless people in the East Bay and beyond. A man of resilience, principle, and passion, he is mourned by an abundance of friends who will deeply miss his kind heart, sharp wit, intellectual curiosity, quiet generosity, and, of course, his love of the game. Independent by nature, Des had special gratitude for his friends who persistently stayed in touch and cared for him in later years.
Des is predeceased by his sister Kathleen M Leonard, who passed in 1944 at age nine, as well as by his parents, who both hailed from Ireland: Mary B 'Mae' [née Rock] Leonard (Ballinasloe, Galway), and John T 'Sean' Leonard (Enniscrone, Sligo). He is survived by Leonards across Ireland, including his four living first cousins, all originally from Enniscrone: Raymond A Leonard (Dublin), Kenneth A Leonard (Carlow), M. Hyacinth Roche (Kilkenny), and Missionary Sister Bridget 'Daisy' Shevlin of the Holy Rosary (Dublin). He is also mourned by his cousins in the United States: William T Viola (Ventura, CA), Michael T Viola (Ventura, CA), Timothy R Viola (Camarillo, CA), Frank P Leonard (Hull, MA), & Aoife M Leonard (Cambridge, MA).
Des will be put to rest in a private ceremony at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, in an area that aptly neighbors a school baseball field. Please note that a larger celebration of life event is being planned for 2022.
Published by East Bay Times on Sep. 12, 2021.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/thomas-leonard-obituary?pid=200077418
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Thomas Desmond 'Des' Leonard
1931 - 2021
Teacher – Coach – Mentor – Friend
Gravesite Details
Next to the Moreau Catholic High School baseball fields.
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