Obituary of Atty. James Dennis Leary

Attorney James Dennis Leary, 76, former Clerk of Courts & Magistrate of Essex County and former City Clerk of Peabody, died Thursday at the Beverly Hospital. He was the husband of Mary T. (Mc Mahon) Leary with whom he recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr. Leary was born in Lynn, Ma on June 3, 1927, the son of the late Daniel J. and Helen B. (Healey) Leary and was a graduate of Lynn English High School. He then entered the US Navy where he served as a Signalman 3rd class on the gunboat LCS37 with the Naval amphibious combat unit in the Pacific theatre campaign. Following his discharge, and using the GI Bill, he entered Salem State College earning his degree in education. Later he received a masters degree in Administration from Boston State College and then earned a Law Degree from Suffolk University. He first became a teacher in civics and government in the Lynn Public Schools for 15 years. In 1966, after moving to Peabody, he was appointed City Clerk in Peabody and served in this capacity until 1976. In 1976, he became the supervisor of elections for the commonwealth of Mass for all elections held that year. He was then elected to the Clerk of Courts & Magistrate for Essex County, a position he held for 24 years until his retirement in Jan. 2001. He also served as clerk for the Essex County Commissioners and clerk to the Superior court in Essex county. He was known as a kind and gentle public servant. Surviving him besides his wife are 3 sons and daughters-in-law, James D. and Taya Leary Jr. of Peabody, John D. and Perdita Leary of Salem and Josef D. Leary of Washington, D.C., 3 daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne D. Leary and her husband, Mark Gatti of Peabody, Jane D. and Steven Levesque and Janet Leary and her husband David Mohler all of Salem, his beloved 12 grandchildren, Alexandra, Sarah, Elizabeth and Anthony Gatti, John D.Jr. and Joan Leary, Casey and Steven Levesque, and Dominic, Bridget, Anne and William Mohler and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Daniel J. and William P. Leary and Miriam Dumas. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 until 6:00 P.M. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 12 Chestnut St., Peabody facility to which relatives and Friends are kindly invited. A Family funeral service will be held on Monday afternoon At Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Leary Family Scholarship Fund, c/o Eastern Bank, Foster St. Branch, Peabody, Ma. 01960 In his memory.