Joseph E. Leonard

Joseph Leonard passed away on the evening of Sunday December 15th, 2024 after a courageous, hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 67 years old and loved beyond measure by all those privileged enough to have met him. 

Joseph was born on November 15, 1957 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Alice and Eugene Leonard, joining elder sister Virginia. After graduating elementary school Holy Name of Jesus, Joseph attended Xaverian High School from 1972 to 1976. He then enrolled at the New York Institute of Technology. He graduated from NYIT in 1980 with a BA in Computer Science and later furthered his education at New York University. His intelligence and aptitude for technology shone in positions as a technical lead and developer for a number of organizations and agencies. 

Though Joseph made great strides in his professional life, it was with family that he was truly at his best. A loving husband and father, Joseph married the love of his life, Mary, on July 16, 1988 before later expanding their family with two children, Christopher and Elizabeth. Their shared home in White Plains grew all the more cozy with the addition of two loving rescue dogs, Henley and Daisy. He cherished family vacations and cruises, memories made in the stands or on the couch watching Mets and Jets games, and hosting a summer barbecue or Christmas gathering, where his signature whiskey sours and Rice Krispie treats were family favorites. 

 Whenever he went and whatever he did, laughter soon followed. Even while facing the uncertainty of illness, Joseph remained funny and warm. He was always clever without ever sacrificing compassion, quick with a joke and just as fast still with a comforting word. His good-natured humor and unfailing heart are a tremendous loss to not only those who loved him, but to the world, which is rendered less bright and less kind in his absence.

Still, his memory lives ever on, his laughter echoing in the hearts of his surviving family and friends—namely, his wife Mary; his daughter Elizabeth; son and daughter-in-law Christopher and Annie; sister and brother-in-law Virginia and Bill; all of his in-laws, nephews, and nieces; and his beloved dog, Daisy. 

Joseph joins his mother and father Alice and Eugene Leonard and uncle George Ebert in the peaceful rest of the next life. Though he is no longer with us, his memory and legacy will endure through generations to come, ensuring that he is remembered always, loved in death as he was in life.

Funeral Service Information as follows:

Visitation: Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home in White Plains, NY.

Funeral Mass: Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11am at Chapel of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion in White Plains, NY.

 In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospitals.