Thomas Leather

peacefully at home in Melbourne, FL, surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his wife

of 70 years, Mary-Alice Boehme, and daughters Holly Kelsey, Cynthia Leather-Kennedy and

Nancy Leather de Samper (Milko), and his brother Robert George Leather. Beloved Grandpa to

Peter Baker Kelsey, Jr. (Jacqueline), Thomas James Kelsey, Charlotte Rose Kelsey, Robert

Starbuck Kelsey and Shannon Rose (Kennedy) Yates (Matt). Beloved great-Grandpa to Kyler

John Yates, Truett James Yates and Peter Baker Kelsey III. He is pre-deceased by his parents

Thomas James and Margaret (Peg) Leather and his sister Lorraine Sproul Smith.

Tom was born in 1930 in Jersey City, NJ. He moved with his family to Ridgewood, NJ in 1932

and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1948. In his early youth, he lived and worked

during the summers in Avon- By- Sea, NJ, a place that always held a special place in his heart;

attending Leather family reunions every summer, up until recent years.

He graduated from NY State Maritime College in 1952 with a BS in Marine Engineering. He

joined the Merchant Marines after graduation. His first job after graduation was as an engineer

on the Moore Mac Swan, sailing to South America carrying cargo such as crude oil, coffee

beans and bananas. Then on the Moore Mac Tide, leased to the Military Sea Transport

Service, carrying military supplies to Inchon Korea, where he got his first look at the Korean

War.

After returning to New York, he married his high school sweet heart in 1953 and then requested

active duty in the US Navy aboard the USS Toucan AM387 minesweeper, serving in the waters

of North Korea. During his naval service, Tom received the following medals: United Nations

Service medal, Korean Service medal with one Battle Star, National Defense Service medal,

China Service medal, and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He received an Honorable

Discharge.

Back in Ridgewood, NJ, he joined the Engineering Department of the Bendix Corporation in

1955 working on many aerospace projects including the SR71, F14, F15, F16, F18, B52, B58,

B2, U2, and F117. He also served as an Exalted Ruler the Ridgewood Elk’s BPOE. He retired

in 1987 and moved to Florida, where he and Mary-Alice enjoyed many years of golf and

boating.

Spending time with friends and family were most important to Tom, whether it was playing

poker, softball, bowling or most recently dominoes. He was passionate about all animals. He

was an avid storyteller, mostly of his days at sea.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FountainheadFuneralHome.com for the Leather family.