JEREMIAH R. LEARY

Jeremiah Richard Leary of Little Compton, RI passed peacefully on August 30, 2024. Jeremiah—known as Jerry—was born on November 25, 1940 in Hartford, CT. He was the only child of Mary Sullivan Leary, a teacher and home maker, and Richard Bernard Leary, a manager in the petrochemical industry. Jerry grew up in the Stonebridge area of Tiverton surrounded by many Sullivan and Leary cousins, attending the Fort Barton school up the hill where he made lifelong friends.  Jerry attended high school in Newport at De La Salle Academy, while busing and waiting tables at the Stonebridge Inn in his free time. He completed his undergraduate education at Holy Cross College in Worcester, where he played football and rugby.  Jerry was bitten by the travel bug early and escaped to Europe with a group of friends for an extended stay before returning to the US to attend Law School at the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, with military tensions rising in South East Asia, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Jerry’s commitment to the military lasted years as he was later commissioned a Navy officer and served in the Navy Reserves, earning the rank of Lt. Commander.

Once out of law school and the Marines, Jerry made his professional start as a lawyer in Newport. There he met the love of his life and future wife of 57 years, Elizabeth (Lisa) Ann Donohue, who was completing her studies at Salve Regina University. As his legal expertise grew, he felt the call to serve again and successfully ran for the Rhode Island State Senate, where he served two terms focused on local issues and public safety. His efforts lead to the installation of a traffic light at historic Four Corners in Tiverton. Married in 1967, Jerry and Lisa started a family that grew quickly to four boys (in 5 years):Richard, John, Jeremiah and Matthew. After moving from Tiverton to Little Compton in the 70s Jerry started a law firm in Tiverton with lifelong friend Ray Holland, with good friend Stetson (Tack) Eddy joining later. They embarked on six decades of legal service to the communities of Tiverton, Little Compton and beyond, focusing on family, property, and small business law. His wife Lisa joined to support the practice after their children had grown. Even in retirement, Jerry continued to serve, volunteering for hospice in the area.

Jerry enjoyed many hobbies and activities in his long and successful life, from sailing with friends in races in Newport, to handball with friends in Fall River, and jogging across Little Compton with his wife and family.  He was a voracious reader and amateur history buff, who took Lisa to Europe often to see castles, market towns and forgotten monuments.  Jerry most enjoyed time with family, from attending his children’s various sporting events, to traveling with Lisa to visit the kids at various colleges. He later became a loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren, hosting Sunday dinners with Lisa for the growing clan and their many, many friends. Jerry will be remembered for his strong voice, his great laugh, a kind and understanding disposition, and his appreciation of a good cigar and a better whiskey. And the loudest sneeze on planet earth.

Jeremiah Richard Leary is survived by his wife Lisa, his four sons: Richard and his wife Erin, John and his wife Kate, Jeremiah and his wife Daphne and Matthew and his wife Shay; as well as his grandchildren Ezra, Grace, Sabrina, Emma, Marjorie, Julia, and Ronan.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 14, 2024, 9 AM, at Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 74 Simmons Road, Little Compton, RI. A wake of remembrance will be held Friday, September 13, 4-6 PM, Fern Acres Funeral Home, 72 Willow Avenue, Little Compton. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Little Compton Food Bank at littlecomptonfoodbank.org. For additional information and condolences, please visit: FernAcresFuneralHome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of JEREMIAH R. LEARY, please visit our floral store.