Obituary: David A. Leone, Former Arlington Planning Board Chair

ARLINGTON, MA – David A. Leone passed away July 18, 2018 at his home in Arlington, surrounded by his family. He was 88 years old. He is survived by his wife Lorna, son’s David Jr. and his wife Denise, Robert and his wife Adrian, John and his wife Pauline, and daughters Adrienne, Suzanne Lindner and her husband John, and Madeline Moffett and her husband Michael.

Born January 16, 1930 in Boston’s North End to Angelo and Maria (Scarola) Leone, he graduated from Boston English high School (1947) and Syracuse University (1952) where he met his future wife Lorna Bramley. They were wed in June of 1953 while he served in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant during the Korean War.

Upon his discharge they settled in Arlington. He attended the New England School of Law, beginning his practice in Boston before relocating to Arlington. In 1993 he was joined by his son John and later his daughter Suzanne, renaming the firm Leone & Leone. Dave was active in state and local politics, serving as an Assistant State Attorney General, Arlington Town Meeting Member, and Chairman of the Arlington Planning Board.

Among their accomplishments was passage of the Arlington Sign Control Bylaw, which eliminated billboards and excessive signage – one of the first municipalities to do so. He was a longstanding member of the Arlington Lodge of the Sons of Italy, leading the construction of a new lodge and sizable function hall which opened in 1972. The Son’s hall became a community fixture, hosting numerous social events over decades. He remained active in the lodge throughout his life, serving as President and managing the business affairs of the function hall throughout.

In addition to community service his passions included dining out, entertaining large extended family gatherings, and traveling. Growing up above his parent’s grocery store in Boston’s West End, he developed a life-long appreciation for quality food and inspired cooking. He enjoyed seeking out restaurants of all variety and loved entertaining groups large and small at home, with the irreplaceable Lorna.

Referred to by many as “The Chief”, he was famous for strong opinions and exacting “food rules”. Sunday dinners for family and friends was a constant, and rarely cancelled. Dave and Lorna enjoyed traveling, especially to annual reunions with Syracuse classmates to watch SU football games around the country. In later years they toured Europe, in particular Italy’s Amalfi coast and Venice.

He maintained a lifelong devotion to the Catholic Church and Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington. For over sixty years he was a fixture at the noon Mass, serving as usher.

Besides his wife and children, he is survived by 14 grandchildren: Matthew Leone, Amanda Leone, Julia Leone, Sophia Leone, Micaela Leone, Laura Leone, Christopher Rockwell, Patrick Kermond, Alex Kermond, William Kermond, Mirabel Kermond, Benjamin Lindner, Sarah Lindner, and Michael Moffett. He is predeceased by grandson Paul John Leone.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Agnes Church on Monday, July 23rd at 10:00 A.M. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, July 22nd from 2:00-7:00 P.M. at the DeVito Funeral Home at 1145 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Dave’s name to Saint Agnes Parish and the Arlington Boys and Girls Club. Lastly, the family would like to express special thanks to Parmenter Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care they provided David.

Photo and obituary courtesy of DeVito Funeral Home