George Melvin Leonard

Male, #2561, b. 20 March 1915, d. 24 November 2002
George Melvin Leonard|b. 20 Mar 1915\nd. 24 Nov 2002|p2561.htm|Chester E. Leonard|b. a 1888|p5372.htm|Gertrude M. Wass|b. a 1889|p5373.htm|||||||||||||
     George Melvin Leonard was born on 20 March 1915 at Brockton, Massachusetts.1,2 He was the son of Chester E. Leonard and Gertrude M. Wass.1 George Melvin Leonard was listed in the household of Chester E. Leonard and Gertrude M. Wass in 1920 US Census at Abington, Massachusetts.3 George Melvin Leonard graduated in 1933 from Abington High School.1 He graduated in 1937 from Bridgewate State College with a BS degree.1 On 20 April 1942 at Huntington, Connecticut, George married Esther Minnie Morgan, daughter of Edward Miles Morgan and Minnie Louise Jaynes. They were married by Esther's brother, the Reve Edward Carroll Morgan.4 George Melvin Leonard graduated in 1952 from Boston University with a Masters in Education.1 According to his obituary, He was principal of elementary schools in Northfield and Paxton for several years, returning to Northfield where he became principal of Northfield High School. He became the first principal of the Pioneer Valley Regional School when it opened in 1957 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1968. He taught mathematics at Greenfield High School. He helped organize the new Center School in Northfield in 1941 and also Pioneer Valley Regional School in 1957. Leonard conducted school trips to Washington, D.C., and New York City for students from Northfield High School, Powers Institute and Pioneer Valley Regional School for over 20 years. He was a former member of the Massachusetts Elementary Principals Association and the Franklin-Hampshire Principals Association. Leonard was a member of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Northfield, where he was a member of the Senior Choir for over 60 years, moderator of the church and deacon for many years. He was a member, past president and secretary of the Northfield Kiwanis Club, with over 27 years of perfect attendance. He was instrumental in conducting their suppers and pancake breakfasts. He was also a member and past master of the Harmony Lodge of Masons in Northfield, receiving his 50 year pin in 1992. He was a member and past patron of the Northfield chapter of the OES and a member of the Tuesday Morning Golf League in Northfield. He was also a member of the Society for the Preservation & Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. Leonard was chairman of Northfield’s Tercentenary Committee in 1973, was town moderator from 1976 to 1982 and treasurer of the Northfield Water District from 1979 until recently. He was chairman of the Advisory Committee on the construction of Squakeag Village.1 He died on Sunday, 24 November 2002 at Franklin County Medical Center, Greenfield, Massachusetts, at age 87 years, 8 months and 4 days.1,2
Census1920Abington, Massachusetts3

Children of George Melvin Leonard and Esther Minnie Morgan

Citations

  1. [S378] George M. Leonard, First PVRS Principal, Town Moderator, The Greenfield Recorder, Greenfield, Massachusetts, 26 November 2002. Hereinafter cited as Greenfield Recorder.
  2. [S83] Social Security Death Benefit Records, 1937 - date (Utah: Automated Archives. Inc., 2004). Hereinafter cited as SSDI.
  3. [S499] United States Federal Census 1920 - Massachusetts, Year: 1920;Census Place: Abington, Plymouth, Massachusetts; Roll T625_726; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 25; Image: 383. Hereinafter cited as US Census 1920 - MA.
  4. [S388] Reunion Report, 1887 - 1988, Delvee Family Records, Warwick, Massachusetts, 1941, p 11.
  5. [S388] Reunion Report, 1887 - 1988, Delvee Family Records, Warwick, Massachusetts, 1945, p 27.
  6. [S388] Reunion Report, 1887 - 1988, Delvee Family Records, Warwick, Massachusetts, 1947, p 43.
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