Leonard Franklin Weber Sr.

Leonard was born on June 3, 1935, the oldest of four children. He grew up on Portugal Street in Baltimore, MD and went to St. Patrick’s Catholic School before attending Patterson Park High School.

He married Elizabeth "Betty" Marie Weber (nee Willinghan) in March 1964 and they raised three children together. They were married for 56 years before Betty passed in April 2020.

After high school, Leonard worked at Bethlehem Steel for two years – where he saved enough money to get his pilot’s license – before entering the United States Air Force in 1956 at age 20. He completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. He served our country for 4 years as an Aircraft Mechanic – servicing, maintaining and operating jet aircrafts. His proudest moment during his military tenure was when he went through the sound barrier at age 21 as a co-pilot in a refueling jet. He spoke of this achievement often.

In March of 1959, he was awarded the USAF Good Conduct Medal. He received a letter of recognition in May of that year from his Air Force Commander, which resulted in his promotion to Airman First Class. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1960 at the age of 24.

After nobly serving our country in the Air Force, Len worked as an aircraft mechanic at Friendship Airport in Baltimore for two years before embarking on the service career he would be best known for.

In 1962, Leonard became a Baltimore City Firefighter at the age of 27, riding both Engine and Truck. He started his dedication to the City at Engine House 11 but spent the majority of his career at Engine House 3 on Pulaski Highway, where he earned the “Fireman of the Year” award. He was assigned to the infamous “Ambo” 13 and enhanced his service career by adding the responsibility of Paramedic (Cardiac Rescue & EMT) to his resume. He worked out of Engine House 3 for almost 20 years. His living job description can be summed up in two words: “protecting life”.

Leonard spent the last 10 years of his career working on Fire Boat 1 at Fort McHenry, where he earned his Boat Captain License. He retired from the Fire Department in 1995 after 33 years of dedicated service to the City of Baltimore.

Leonard is survived by his son Leonard F. Weber, Jr. (Tina); his daughters Lynn Marie Weber-Zablocki (Stefan), Lisa "Frankie" Weber and her partner Michael Glenn Nelson; his brother Raymond Weber; his sister Joanne Weber Sposato (John); also survived by his nieces Patricia DeGuilmi (Louie), Jennifer Lee (Dan), Laura Sposato (Donald); his nephews Frank Weber (Sharon), Joseph Weber; great nieces Quinn Victoria, Grace Olivia; great nephew Thomas Rhys.

He was preceded in death by his parents Francis Bernard Weber & Frances Teresa Weber (nee Wagner), his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Marie, his brother Harry Weber, and his sister-in-law Norma Jean Weber.

A visitation for Leonard will be held Friday, October 20, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Schimunek Funeral Home, 610 W MacPhail Rd, Bel Air, MD 21014. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church (Historic) 533 E. Jarrettsville Rd, Forest Hill, MD 21050, followed by a 12:30 PM graveside service at Holy Rosary Cemetery, 7305 German Hill Road, Dundalk, MD 21222.

Flowers accepted at the funeral home, or please make a donation to the Fire Museum of MD in Lutherville (https://www.firemuseummd.org/). Leonard’s Fire Boat – The Mayor Thomas D’Alessandro (“Tommy”) – is no longer in service, but her Hull and Deckhouse will become part of a living museum currently being undertaken at the Fire Museum. Donations will help fund this effort. Please ensure donations are allocated to the preservation of the Fire Boat.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.schimunek-belair.com for the Weber family. Any thoughts shared here will be included in a memory keepsake book for Betty & Len’s children.