Regina Diane Leary

Regina (Gini) Diane Leary was born June 10, 1945 in San Diego, CA to William Leary, Jr and Teney (Grandjean) Leary. She died peacefully in her sleep at home on May 22, 2020. Gini graduated from Marymount High School in Santa Barbara, and the University of Colorado, where she earned a BS degree in Sociology. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and enjoyed occasional reunions. After graduation she joined the Peace Corps volunteers, and served for two years in Western Samoa as a teacher. She returned to Lompoc, CA after the Peace Corps and taught English at Cabrillo High School for two years. She graduated from Santa Clara Law School in 1974. Subsequently, she served as a prosecutor for the District Attorney’s office in Monterey for five years. Desiring to be closer to the mountains she relocated to Fresno, CA where she found a permanent home. Regina worked briefly in private practice. Then she worked for the Fresno County District Attorney’s office for thirty years. She retired as a Chief Deputy District Attorney in 2009. She enjoyed working as a criminal trial attorney, and she prosecuted and supervised many high profile and serious felony cases with remarkable success.

Regina developed rich social, professional, and spiritual communities in Fresno. She was known for her out- going, fun loving personality, her “no-nonsense” professional dedication, her love of the Irish, her Catholic faith, and her generosity to numerous charities she supported, including St Anthony Padua Church in Fresno. She tutored local high school and college students who needed extra help, and she financially sponsored hardworking students in underdeveloped countries. She enjoyed hiking, biking, American and European history, US and world travel, and spending time with her dogs, often hiking with them in the mountains near Fresno. She kept close ties to her family, her friends and work colleagues, her sorority sisters, peace corps volunteers, and she was active in the Fly Fishers for Conservation in Fresno.

Regina is survived by her mother, Teney Leary of Lompoc, CA, brother Tim Leary (wife Barbara) of Menlo Park, CA, and her nephews Ryan Leary and Keegan Leary.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St Anthony Padua Church. Interment to follow at St. Peter’s cemetery. The services are private due to the present restrictions. A community memorial service is planned for the fall.

Remembrances be made to the Sisters of Divine Providence of San Antonio, TX, The Maryknoll Sisters of St Dominic at Maryknoll, NY, Fly Fishers for Conservation of Fresno, or St Anthony Padua Church.