Nick Leo

Nick Leo, 96, of Dorothy, West Virginia passed away peacefully on July 18, 2024.

The son of Mike Leo and Virginia DeCeglie Leo, Nick moved to Charleston, WV at age 9, working in the family grocery store with his sister Grace. After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in civil engineering, he was drafted and served in the Korean War for 2 years in the Army Corps of Engineers. After the war, he joined his family in Miami, FL in 1954 and began his engineering career, working on such projects such as the Palmetto Expressway. He married Matilda Corbly in 1961 and welcomed four children in a 16-year marriage tragically cut short by her death in 1977. Nick had a 30-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration Airports Division, retiring EXACTLY at age 65 to passionately pursue his second and most important career: traveling every corner of the world that his budget and Overseas Adventure Travel would take him. His interest in all cultures no matter how obscure and ability to connect with every single person he encountered garnered him innumerable lifelong friends and memories that endure to this day. He was involved in numerous organizations serving the interests of people, social justice and culture: Common Cause, Civitan, English-Speaking Union, University Club and many others based on the size of his inbox and stack of mail. Along with his devoted companion of 29 years, Diane Sandquist, his life was filled with friends, musical, theater and cultural events, and of course culinary exploration.

Nick is survived by his four children, Jane Messina (Andrew), Sally Perez de Corcho (Gery) Michael Leo (Kathleen), and Marilynn Jenkins (Eddie) and nine beloved grandchildren: Alex, Christoper and Alyssa Perez, Andrew, Victoria and Nicholas Messina, Thomas and Blake Leo, and Matthew Jenkins, all of whose lives and affairs he knew in minute and devoted detail.

Nick’s essence cannot be captured in just a few paragraphs: his appetite for knowledge was only exceeded by one for food (slowly consumed, especially Italian, Chinese and Cuban); his love of history, museums, art and theater was occasionally confounding; he could cut a mean rug and charm everyone in the room without fail; learn a person’s life history in one conversation; and his profound humility and sense of justice will always be our guide. His absence leaves a void to be filled with innumerable stories, corny jokes, and lessons on how to live a life focused on others.

Please join us to celebrate this remarkable man on Thursday, July 25 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3806 Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, FL 32792 at 10 am, followed by a luncheon reception at 12:30 pm at Cru Quarters, 1620 Mayflower Court, Winter Park, 32792.

Private burial will take place Saturday, July 27, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Miami, alongside Matilda, at 10:30 am, assisted by pallbearers Christopher and Alex Perez, Andrew and Nicholas Messina, Blake and Thomas Leo and Matthew Jenkins.

To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit the guestbook below.