AVERILL PARK- Donald E. Leonard of Averill Park died on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the age of 80.
He was born on June 11, 1940 to James H. and Catherine Lenda Leonard. He grew up in North Albany and spent his summers at the family camp on Burden Lake.
Don was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers and worked as a heavy equipment operator until he retired in 1986 after an injury.
He spent the years after that working on the home he and his wife built in Averill Park until 2005, when he went to work as a driver for Loomis Armored Car Service, retiring from there in 2019.
He enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes, loved road trips to beaches in the Carolinas and to the casinos in Atlantic City and Connecticut.
Don is survived by his wife and best friend, Janice Rossetti Leonard; his beloved mini schnauzer, Axel Hardway; his sister, Elizabeth Schreiner and brother in law, William Schreiner of Guilderland; his brother, Gerald Leonard of Troy; sister in law, Pamela Lavin Leonard, of Albany; sister in law, Theresa Femia Leonard of Voorheesville; his children: Donald Leonard and family of Albany and Maria Leonard of Selkirk; brother in law, David Rossetti and sister in law Teri Rossetti of Saratoga Springs and brother in law, Larry Pacelli of Schenectady. Don was predeceased by his brothers: James H. Leonard and Edward F. Leonard. He is also survived by his nephews: Michael Schreiner, Matthew Schreiner, William Schreiner, Eben Pacelli, David Rossetti Jr. and Brandon Rossetti and nieces: Katherine Schreiner Roy, Kelly Leonard and Kristina Ryan.
The family would like to thank the staff at Samaritan Hospital 3rd floor PCU, and the staff at NYOH for their kindness and compassion and Dr. Padma Sripada for her support and advice.
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