Ronald F. Leary

Ronald F. Leary, 92, of Hingham and West Hyannisport, passed away on June 22, 2017. Born on October 28, 1924 in Weymouth, MA, he was the son of the late Michael T. and Mary (Connolly) Leary.

Ronald F. Leary is one of last surviving Marine veterans for his landing participation at Guadalcanal at age 17. Ron joined the Marines leaving North Quincy High School in mid-year where he was a scholar and multi-sport athlete including the staring high school football quarterback.

Ronald proudly served in the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions during WWII.  For his service in Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands Campaign, The Second Battle of Guam and the Mariana Islands, Ronald earned three Bronze Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps equivalent of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He also earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation with Star.

Ron exemplified the “greatest generation” with his sheer determination, smarts and talent. His remarkable determination continued after the war gaining his graduate equivalency diploma and going on to graduate from Northeastern University with an engineering degree. With further studies at Boston University and Harvard, he became a Professional Engineer. After college, he developed a highly successful business career beginning at New England Telephone and rising to become a Regional Director at Honeywell. His grandchildren attended a special high school graduation at North Quincy High School in November 8, 2000 honoring the veterans who left school before graduating to fight for our country

His strong patriotic commitment to our country was matched by his community involvement with his diverse member contributions to several Hanover School Building Committees, Freemasons, Shriners, the VFW and as a Plymouth Deputy Sheriff. He was an active member as a Colonel of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, the United States oldest military brigade.

Ron was a dedicated family man marrying the love of his life Sybil L. Burns from North Quincy in 1949 sharing 67 wonderful years together raising 5 children in Hanover, Ma. then in Berwyn, Pa. and summers in West Hyannisport.

Ron was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. He also had many diverse interests enjoying the outdoors hunting, fishing, and boating. He enjoyed traveling, cars and taking long scenic drives to visit family and friends. He had a terrific talent for building just about anything. He was an avid reader. Ron enjoyed watching his Boston sports teams excel throughout the years.

Ronald and his family were members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, of Hanover where he taught Sunday school along with his wife, Sybil.

In addition to his parents and siblings, he was predeceased by his son Richard M. Leary, in 2002. Ronald is survived by his loving wife, Sybil of Linden Ponds, Hingham. He also leaves behind four daughters, Kathleen Olsson and her husband David of Hingham, Susan Wachob and her husband George of Bedford, VA, Deborah Eckhart and her husband Michael of Lancaster, PA, Nancy McKown and her husband Louis of Downingtown, PA; Six grandsons, Erik Olsson, Tim Wachob, Louis, Matthew, William, and Joseph McKown; Eight granddaughters, Lyndsie Olsson, Jody (Wachob) Carson, Erin (Wachob) Wood, Robyn (Wachob) Welcker, Stephanie, Suzanne and Jennifer Eckhart, and Laura McKown; and twenty-one great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Saturday 9-11 AM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. Funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday at 11 AM in Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, Hingham. Burial in Hanover Cemetery. In memory of Ronald, please consider a donation to Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvc, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 or https://semperfifund.org/donate/.