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Charles Clifford Leoney, beloved son of Mary Towns Leoney and the late Charles O. Leoney, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 4, 1949. He was a life-long resident of Boston and was affectionately known as “Charlie” by his family and friends. He attended Boston Public Schools and graduated from Boston Latin School (BLS Class of 1967), where he was a member of the junior and varsity football teams and the marching band.
Charles attended Northeastern University from 1967-1968. On July 22, 1968, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF). He served in Korea on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), along the 38th parallel – the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. Upon completing his military tour in Korea, Charles was stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada and Spangdahlem AFB, Germany. He was honorably discharged with the rank of SGT-E-4 and released from active duty on April 1, 1972 and from reserve duty on July 21, 1974. One of Charles’ proudest and most joyous moments was when he became a father to his only child, Dasan Charles Leoney. His love for Dasan was unconditional and he was very proud of all his accomplishments.
Charles attended the Suffolk University Sawyer Business School - Executive MBA Program (EMBA) and received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in 1975. Upon graduation, he worked for the Perini Construction Company and later went on to work for many years as a Budget Analyst/Accountant for the Massachusetts Department of Employment and Training. He took early retirement after suffering a major heart attack and undergoing open heart surgery for a triple by-pass. In February of 2019, following a series of strokes and related complications, Charles resided at the Bertram House in Swampscott, MA - an assisted-living facility. While there, Charles received compassionate hospice and palliative care from Care Dimensions of Danvers, MA. He passed away peacefully on April 3, 2021 ~ Easter Vigil ~ the Celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. What a wonderful blessing - that God would call Charles home on that day!
Charlie always spoke from the heart. He meant what he said and said what he meant. He would tell it like it is and whatever he said, it was honest, frank and to the point, which made him a great person to go to for advice!
Charlie was a dedicated movie buff who liked action, comedy and sci-fi films, or better yet – any movies that were a combination of those genres and gritty crime dramas set to the hustle and bustle of the city as well as so called “black exploitation” films and movies that accurately depicted the struggle of African American men. Most of all he loved watching reruns of the westerns that he grew up on as a child. Charles also liked to grill food on his back porch or in the backyard – and if, you knew him, you know that he loved to eat! Family was everything to Charles and no matter the date or the state, whenever and wherever they were being held, Charles never missed a family reunion.
Charlie was a diehard life-long Boston Celtics and New England Patriots fan. One of his favorite past times was sitting on his sofa watching and rooting for professional and college football and basketball games on his big screen TV - everyone knew not to bother him with serious talk during those times. He also enjoyed reading mystery novels and listening to the smooth sounds of the great Jazz musicians – Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, to name just a few.
Charles will be fondly remembered and cherished forever by his loving mother, Mary Towns Leoney, his son, Dasan Charles Leoney, his sister Mary J. Leoney, his nephews Michael Leoney and Shaun Leoney, his grandniece Mikayla Leoney, his great grandnephew Anarje Leoney as well as Antoinette McLean Leoney and a host of family, friends and former colleagues.
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