Beloved husband of Mary Verdun (nee Kirwan, d. March 18, 2023); father of Anthony (Sheila), Jerry (Tracey, d. July 13, 2017), Mary Judith (Jim), and Kevin; grandfather of Michael, Kelly, Jillian, Connor, Rebecca, Sarah, Hannah, Nathan, Sophie, and Leon; and great-grandfather of William and Agnes; uncle of Lisa (Warren); predeceased by his parents, Edwin Jacob (1980) and Eleanor (1990); sister, Thelma Jean (2016) and Dick “Smokey” Forck (2006); and in-laws Tom Kirwan (2020) and Betty (2021). Edwin Leon was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on February 4, 1933. He attended St. Peter Catholic School in the capital city. His freshman and sophomore years of high school were at Conception Seminary in northwest Missouri, but he graduated from St. Agnes High School in Springfield in 1951. After graduation, he worked for a brief time at the Missouri Farm Bureau before enlisting in the U. S. Navy in 1952. After the Naval Training Center in San Diego, he attended ship’s storekeeper school in Newport, Rhode Island and was afterwards assigned to the USS Maury—AGS-16, with a homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. During his four years as a sailor, Leon cruised the Atlantic coastline of North America and the Caribbean and survived a hurricane at sea off the coast of Rhode Island. He also met his future wife of 65 years at a Brooklyn Navy Yard dance in 1955. After his honorable discharge in 1956, they married on May 25, 1957 in the lower chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. After this, they moved to Jefferson City and lived there a short time before returning to Brooklyn and then finally settling in Bay Shore. In 1963, after working for New York Airways at Idlewild Airport, he joined the Suffolk County Police Department and was issued badge #833. His 22-year career included a memorable decade-long stint riding his Harley-Davidson as a member of the Highway Patrol Bureau.

After retirement in 1986, he worked at Chapey Funeral Home, golfed, and traveled, enjoying a long and happy life with friends and family. But there was more to Edwin or Ed or Edwin Leon or Leon or “Lonnie!” or Grandpa or Poppy—you pick—than can fit into this tribute. He wore many hats and the occasional poor-fitting Tweetie-Bird t-shirts. Indeed, what should be emphasized most now as we pause to remember is that he was just a lot fun to be around. On no occasion did he see reason to interfere with having a good time, and most of the time, he had something to do with creating it, literally: minibikes, bb guns, skateboard ramps, Wiffleball backstops, always a swimming pool; he even built a backyard ice rink one winter. He could do it all. And, he’d be involved, too, fending off soccer or hockey balls with a pipe hanging from his mouth and a grin on his face. He loved it, and so did we. If nothing else, this all simply illustrates the steady trajectory of his life and the unwavering influence he had on us. He could be a grouch, or maybe “salty” is the better word for it, but he was even-handed. He didn’t judge or push. He helped, always. He let you be who you wanted to be. You felt safe with him. The house he and Mary built on Howells Road was solid, but not nearly as solid as the family who lived inside because of them. Lifelong member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Edwin Leon was a good man with a big heart. His quick wit, charm, and swagger will be missed. He had a lot of which to be proud, but he was too humble to boast, so we’ll do it for him. You were the best. Thanks for it all. Love you, dad. Rest in peace with mom.

Access Supports for Living Foundation Inc 15 Fortune Road West Middletown, NY 10941 Att: Patricia Archiere (IMO Mr. Kolkmeyer) Online Donations can be made to https://accesssupports.org Please note the following: My donation is in Memory of Edwin & Mary Kolkmeyer/Connor Kolkmeyer - Karen Court