Donnal E. “Don” Leahy

Leahy, Donnal E. “Don”

May 12, 1929 – Feb 23, 2018

Preceded in death by wife, Carmen (Apr 30, 2013).  Survived by sons, John Leahy (Mary) and Richard Leahy (Lisa); daughter, Mary Bayne (Dr. Steve); grandchildren: Kathleen Zak (Daniel) and Colleen Leahy, Mick Bayne and Andy Bayne (Jessie), Allan, Brenden, and Erik Leahy; great grandchildren, Aaron and Audrey Zak, Jaxon and Andi Carmen Bayne; nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Creighton Prep, Creighton University, UNO, or charity of your choice.

VISITATION begins on Tuesday, Feb. 27th at 5pm in the Sullivan Center at Creighton Prep, 7400 Western Ave., followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:  Wednesday, Feb. 28th at 10am at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 1920 N. 102 St.  Interment, Calvary Cemetery.

 

 

37 Comments

  • Steve joern Posted February 24, 2018 9:53 am

    Condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Don Leahy family. He was my teacher and coach. Also, he was a significant influence in and on my life.
    Steve Joern / Prep ‘60

  • Jim and Nancy Rouse Posted February 24, 2018 2:58 pm

    Starting with his coaching us in Murphy summer baseball in 7th grade at the old Creighton football stadium, Don Leahy was an invaluable mentor to guide our Creighton Prep Class of 1962. We respected the man, the coach, the teacher–and still do. He inspired us to be something more than we thought we could be, and taught us how to make it happen.
    For seventeen Creighton Prep graduating classes who watched and executed the “fake trap pass” that struck fear into opposing coaches and built the resumes of Mike Lynch and many other Prep receivers and quarterbacks, Coach Don Leahy’s passing has taken away from this earth a legend who touched our lives. Here’s hoping we will continue to follow the positive pathways he role-modeled for us and will get to meet him again in Heaven.

  • Doug Elgin Posted February 25, 2018 8:13 am

    Don Leahy was a man of high character and integrity, a friend and mentor to many people. He was humble and kind, and he is fondly remembered by his former colleagues in the Missouri Valley Conference. Our condolences to his family and his many friends. Doug Elgin

  • Brent& Jacquie Estee Posted February 25, 2018 9:19 pm

    Special thoughts and prayers go out to the Leahy family on the passing of coach Leahy
    He was a true Hall of Farmer in every sense of the word.
    A true Gentlleman ; Hall of Fame coach, Teacher and athletic director. .
    It was a honor for me to know him.
    God Bless him
    Brent Estee
    Class of 1966.

  • Ed & Jan Bogard Posted February 26, 2018 12:19 pm

    Don and his wife Carmen were always ready to help with activities at St Pius X. He will be missed by the Parish and the City of Omaha

  • Ed & Jan Bogard Posted February 26, 2018 12:20 pm

    Don & Carmen will be missed by those who knew them.

  • Vincent Valentino Posted February 26, 2018 12:26 pm

    My condolences to the family of Coach Leahy. His life was living proof of Ad majorem Dei gloriam. Rest in Peace.

  • Dick Coffey Posted February 26, 2018 12:28 pm

    Don was my history prof and a great coach. My thoughts and prayers to the Leahy family. Don was definitely a man for other in so many ways. I am very proud to have known Don.

    May Carmen and Don rest in peace..

    Dick Coffey
    Class of 1955

  • Jack Diesing Jr Posted February 26, 2018 12:40 pm

    Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Coach Leahy’s family!! Coach Don meant so much to so many-words can’t describe. Anyone who had the opportunity to be touched by Don Leahy is a better person for it. Coach you will be missed but not forgotten. Your friends, Terri and Jack Diesing, Jr

  • Mike Leahy Posted February 26, 2018 12:45 pm

    My condolences to the family of Don Leahy. He was a great teacher and mentor for all of the students he impacted at Prep. The article by Tom Shatel detailed how he affected Prep, UNO, and Creighton. As the Irish would say ‘Slán go fóill’, goodbye and see you soon.

  • James McCarthy, Prep class of 1966 Posted February 26, 2018 12:53 pm

    Rest in peace.

  • Ken McManaman Posted February 26, 2018 1:05 pm

    My prayers and condolences to Don and his Family and loved ones. He was one heck of a football coach, and a Man of Good Character. Assuredly, he served his Lord and Savior well during his life. He now with HIM in Heaven.

  • Jack Payne Posted February 26, 2018 1:10 pm

    We lost a truely great human legend in the passing of Don Leahy. I personally feel the loss through over 65 years of friendship. Don served
    sports as a classroom teacher, participant, coach and administrator.
    His gift to the profession was one of humility and concern with the athlete”s welfare.
    A ready smile and sometimes humor brought his answer to the questioning
    reporter. Jack Payne

  • Tom & Lucile Fortune Posted February 26, 2018 1:16 pm

    Thanks, Don for the great memories. Keep an eye on us from your place on high.

  • John Weist Posted February 26, 2018 1:30 pm

    I have such fond memories of Mr. Leahy (and all the Leahys) , having been blessed to be neighbors with the Leahy family for many years. Kind, compassionate and a man of great faith. eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. – John Weist

  • John Miller Posted February 26, 2018 1:45 pm

    May you be comforted by the many warm thoughts of those who care. Don Leahy will always be remembered by those he taught and coached.
    Jack Miller / Prep “60

  • John T Moore Posted February 26, 2018 2:05 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I loved playing for Coach Leahy. He inspired all of us to give our all

  • Richard Cacioppo Posted February 26, 2018 2:38 pm

    I am sadden to lose such a great mentor and friend. I admired him as coach and a teacher and a forever
    friend . Class of ’61

  • Peter Umatum Posted February 26, 2018 5:15 pm

    My prayers and condolences to the family. Coach Leahy was a Great Man. A man I’ll never forget! Thank You Coach for everything!

  • Ray & Karen Shaw Posted February 26, 2018 6:04 pm

    I met Don for the first time in 1964 at a Kiwanis award luncheon. I played football at Omaha South and Don was there as the coach of Creighton Prep. It was the first time I had ever worn a neck tie and I was nervous. I sat at a table with Don, he put me completely at ease and turned an uncomfortable situation into a very pleasant one. I met Don again long after our first meeting and he was just as gracious to me as he was during our first meeting.It is easy to see why his former players valued their association with Don.
    May the Lord bless his family in this time of sorrow reminding each one of treasured memories and the gift of shared love.
    Ray & Karen Shaw
    Palm Desert, CA

  • jerry monico ’70’ Posted February 26, 2018 6:53 pm

    I did not play for Coach Leahy. I only respected him. Thank you, Coach, for the privilege of your guidance.

  • LARRY VONDRA ’65 Posted February 26, 2018 7:58 pm

    I have thought of you often over the years. you were a Father to many boys. I think the only ‘A’ I got at Prep was from your History class no doubt it had to be the teacher more than the student. You will be missed.

  • John Christopher Green Posted February 27, 2018 5:02 am

    I Had The Chance To Meet Don Leahy While I Was Ball Boying For The Creighton University BlueJays In The Early 1980’s And I Knew He Was A Great Man ! J.C. Green – Creighton Preparatory High School – Class Of 1989

  • Don Miller Posted February 27, 2018 7:17 am

    May Coach Leahy Rest In Peace, and his family be comforted at this difficult time. He was a great role model for countless young men in their lives and their Catholic faith. We are a blessed to have known him and to have had him touch our lives. Din Miller, ‘63

  • Don Miller Posted February 27, 2018 7:18 am

    May Coach Leahy Rest In Peace, and his family be comforted at this difficult time. He was a great role model for countless young men in their lives and their Catholic faith. We are a blessed to have known him and to have had him touch our lives. Don Miller, ‘63

  • Bill Tiwald Posted February 27, 2018 7:43 am

    Coach Leahy was also the school disciplinarian when I attended Prep.. As disciplinarian he compassionately saw me through an emotional rough patch I had in my senior year of 1968-69. May he rest in peace.

  • Gene and Dori Peters Posted February 27, 2018 8:09 am

    Don was a leader, an inspiration, a man among men, and a friend. Rest in peace.

  • Gene (’52) and Dori Peters Posted February 27, 2018 8:12 am

    This man of God is now with God.

  • Dick Beechner Posted February 27, 2018 11:18 am

    Don and I were acquainted and friends since 1956 when Don was coaching Prep. A very competitive person, but very fair. He gave a lot to many organizations and individuals over the years. We are all better people for have known Don Leahy. Please accept my sympathy.

  • Craig and Colleen Estee Posted February 27, 2018 12:12 pm

    A special tribute to Don Leahy, a superior teacher and coach who was a outstanding role model for
    The students and stall at Prep. His accomplishments at Prep , Creighton and UNO are legendary. ,
    And will never be forgotten. We will miss him greatly.

    Craig Estee
    Prep teacher and coach
    1963- 1970

  • Don Halsi, Prep Class of 1966 Posted February 27, 2018 5:47 pm

    I was not an athlete nor did I ever have Coach Leahy as a teacher. But I observed him many times during the school day, at pep rallies and at the football games. He was clearly a man of honor. His gaze alone told you that only your best would be acceptable. Few have touched the lives of so many men in the way Don Leahy did. Our prayers for him and his family.

  • Randy Sanders Posted February 27, 2018 6:24 pm

    Prayers for you during this difficult time. Hugs to Rich, Lisa, and the boys. Pastor Randy

  • Timothy M. McGuire, Sr. Posted February 28, 2018 7:55 am

    Coach was a great influence in my life and career. Thank God for such a mentor. God has called him home, rest in peace coach.

  • Mike & Alice Villone Posted February 28, 2018 10:00 am

    All our prayers and condolences go out to the family of Don Leahy. He was a wonderful role model, coach and teacher. He taught his teams that hard work and sportsmanship were the keys to success. My wife, Alice worked at UNO for many years with both Carmen and Don and commented that they always had a smile for everyone. I was lucky enough to play baseball for him for a very short term before he turned the coaching responsibilities over to George Koscis. May they rest in peace! Mike and Alice Villone. Mike class of 64

  • Chick Stessman Posted February 28, 2018 2:16 pm

    My condolences to The family. I had Coach Leahy as both a teacher and a coach. He was exceptional at both. Although in different sports I used a number of his techniques and principalsin my coaching career. A great family man and example for us all!

  • Joseph Czerwinski Posted February 28, 2018 5:09 pm

    A great person with a great heart..My prayers and condolences go to his family.

  • Joseph J Federico Posted March 1, 2018 1:00 pm

    Don Leahy was one of the stone pillars on which the Prep Institution was built
    God bless you coach.
    Jay Federico class of 70

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