Frank T. Leonard

Frank T. Leonard

March 4, 1938 – July 8, 2021

Survived by wife, Arlene Leonard; children: Kelly Carey, Scott Leonard (Melissa), Christopher Leonard (Deborah), Kimberly Hollinger (Jared); grandchildren: Kyle and Walter “Boo” Carey, Mackenzie, Riley and Kellan Leonard, Ronan and Aidan Leonard, Maren, Tommy, Kolbe, and Maeve Hollinger; brothers, Jay Leonard (Mary Beth), Brian Leonard; several nieces, nephews, and friends.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, July 16^th at 10:30am at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Papillion, NE.  INTERMENT: Resurrection Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Coloradans for Nebraska Endowed Scholarship Fund c/o NU Foundation.

To view a live broadcast of the Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on our home page.

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Fear Not, Cry Not, for today is a day to gather, smile and celebrate a man’s life well lived.  You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all he has left.

Born the eldest of three sons on March 4, 1938, by way of New Rochelle N.Y. Frank Leonard was raised on the shores of the Long Island Sound. Spending much of his youth as a lifeguard at the various beach clubs in his hometown, Frank’s lifelong passion for fun and love of the ocean was embedded.

It was in his early years on the fields of New Rochelle, Frank developed his lifelong friendships with Lew Leone, Tony Crabtree, and Barry Mitchell along with many others while playing football for Iona Prep.  Growing up in post Great Depression America and living through World War II Frank was of the Silent Generation.  Children were meant to be seen and not heard.  Perhaps taken to an extreme, Frank’s parents, Francis Sr. and Eleanor Leonard held true to that generational principle, allowing Frank and his brothers to maximize all the freedom and mischievous fun that could be had in Westchester County. 

Spending his college years in Massachusetts, earning a degree in History and Governmental studies at Boston College, Frank went on to marry Barbara O’Donnell.  Together in Mt. Vernon, NY they had three children – Kelly, Scott, and Chris.  After nearly ten years their marriage came to an end and a new chapter in Frank’s life began.  Working as a salesman in a budding software industry, Frank met and fell in love with a client, Arlene Greenwald.  Little did they know they were both getting more than they bargained for and the deal of a lifetime. Arlene was a perfect match for Frank and his children; her sharp wit, generous spirit, and tough love proved to be the foundation for which they would build a life together. Seven years into their marriage they welcomed the birth of Kimberly.  They raised Kim together in New Jersey and Georgia until settling down in Colorado for the next twenty-seven years.  Kim went on to attend The University of Nebraska where she met and married Jared Hollinger, who would become Frank’s third son, and Arlene and Frank eventually retired to the Cornhusker State to be full time grandparents.

Frank was an eternal kid at heart.  He was much more comfortable shooting the breeze with the youth about NCAA Football than he was talking politics with the adults.  But it was the role of “Grandpa Frank” where he really shined; he was a natural.  Between his four children, Frank was blessed with 11 grandchildren: Kyle, Boo, MacKenzie, Riley, Kellan, Aidan, Ronan, Maren, Tommy, Kolbe, and Maeve.  Being a grandpa was a gift for the whole family to witness and enjoy; his kindness, generosity, humor, and love of youth was on full display.  Whether it was going to ball games, autumn harvest festivals, water skiing at 76 years old, or spending summers playing as a family in South Carolina, basking in the sun and his first passion, the ocean, Frank was present for us all.  He was a committed grandfather, father, husband, brother, friend and though we will miss his presence and his voicemails, he lives forever in our hearts and in the fond memories he created with us.