Trim mourns sudden death of Stephen Leonard
The town of Trim is in shock and mourning following the sudden death at the weekend of Stephen Leonard, of the Chris Leonard Hardware and Electrical store on Market Street in the town.
The popular businessman in his early fifties took ill at Meadstown, Dunderry, on Sunday morning while out cycling with members of Trim Cycling Club.
A member of a prominent Trim business family, he was son of the late Christum and Norah Leonard, husband of Jackie and father of Lucy and Sophie. The family lives at Scurlogstown.
Paying tribute on the Trim Cycling Club Facebook page, Canice Bennett wrote: “Last Sunday our fellow club member Stephen Leonard passed away suddenly while doing what he loved best. I would like on behalf of Trim Cycling Club committee and members to pass on our condolences to his wife Jackie and his daughters Lucy and Sophie, as well as to the extended Leonard family.
“Stephen was one of the long-standing members of Trim Cycling Club. He was involved with the original club in the late seventies and early eighties as an underage cyclist. He drifted away from cycling but returned with new-found passion when the current club was formed having lost none of the panache, style and skill so evident when he was a talented young competitor.
“Many of us knew Stephen as a local businessman as well as a club member. In all our dealings with him, Stephen was a perfect gentleman. He always had a kind word and a smile for everyone. He will be sorely missed.
“On a personal level, I had the pleasure to cover many kilometres with Stephen, accompanied by Gary and Harrow, while training for our various adventures. Stephen had an uncanny ability to read the group, see what was happening, and get things back under control. He knew the value of the team effort and helped us all to achieve above and beyond what we thought we were capable of. He never cycled for himself - always for the group. Ever the team player”
Trim GAA Club extended sympathy to the Leonard Family “on the very sad and untimely passing of Stephen”, saying the Leonard family has a long history with the club.
Stephen’s father, Christum, was an outstanding footballer of the 1950s and played in the 1953 senior football final.
His brother, Paul, and cousin, John, were constant performers on the football fields and are currently heavily involved with underage teams.
The club said: “Stephen’s daughter, Lucy, is a valued and dedicated member of our camogie club and recently his youngest daughter, Sophie has taken to the playing fields of St Loman’s Park.”
Stephen is also survived by his sister, Karen; brothers, Paul and Christopher; mother-in-law, Kathleen; uncles, Connie and Gregory; aunts, Carmel, Cepta, Thérése, Myra, Anne and Yvonne; sister-in-law, brother-in-law, cousins, extended family and a wide circle of friends, including the Trim business community.
Stephen’s grandfather, Christopher Leonard senior of Athboy Gate, opened a hardware store there in 1929. After education at Roscrea College, Stephen’s father, Christum, returned to Trim where he opened the Market Street business in the 1960s. He died suddenly in December 2015, predeceased in 1998 by his wife, Norah.
A private family funeral Mass will take place on Thursday 11th March at 11am, in Saint Patrick's Church, Trim, followed by burial in Saint Loman's Cemetery.
Stephen's Funeral Mass can be view on; https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-patricks-parish-trim
The funeral cortège will travel via High Street, Market Street and Emmet Street, on Thursday morning. People are welcome to line the route to the church and cemetery, ensuring social distancing and public health guidelines are respected.