Paul Louis Leardi, age 84, of Pensacola, FL passed away on Sunday January 8, 2023. Formerly of Woodbridge, VA, he is preceded in death by his beloved wife Louise, his parents, and his sister, and survived by his four children, Joseph, Luke, Meg, and Matthew; as well as his nephew, two nieces and five grandchildren.
Paul retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander after 22 years of service in the United States Navy. He was ROTC and an alumnus of the University of South Carolina, and received Master’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Systems Engineering from the Navy Postgraduate School and Catholic University respectively. His later career in the Navy, private sector, and finally with the GSA was focused on development, testing, and quality assurance of computer systems. During his retirement he had remained active in the Catholic Church and traveled extensively around the world with Louise. Paul was a proud member of the Pensacola Lion’s Club (and if we didn’t mention this fact, we would have been fined 25 cents each for the oversight.)
Paul was dedicated to ensuring access to a Catholic education for children in the Woodbridge, VA area and spent several years serving on the Diocese of Arlington School Board helping to open St. Thomas Aquinas School in Woodbridge, VA. In his spare time, he loved to build and work with his hands having been trained at a young age as a tile setter working alongside his father.
All services will be held on Thursday January 19, 2023. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 10650 Gulf Beach Highway Pensacola, FL 32507, preceding the Mass of Christian Burial starting at 11:30 am. A graveside ceremony will follow Mass and will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Rd Pensacola, FL 32508 from 1:00 to 1:30 pm. A reception will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church from 2:00 to 300pm the same day.
Arrangements are being handled by Oak Lawn Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Paul’s name to the Louise Leardi Memorial Scholarship Fund (LLMSF) at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School (13750 Mary’s Way Woodbridge, VA 22191) or to the Pensacola Lion’s Club (PO Box 868 Pensacola, FL 32591-868)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oaklawnfunerals.com for the Leardi family.
