David Leonard, 90, died Feb. 1, 2024.
Born in Missoula, MT on March 20, 1933, Dave spent his early life on a homestead in northern Montana, where his mother, Helen Henderson Leonard, melted snow on the woodstove to wash his diapers. The family also spent time in towns like Salmon, ID, and Pony, MT, where his father, Robert W. Leonard, worked mostly as a teacher and principal.
Dave was a pioneer in broadcasting, getting his start in radio at Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR, then moving on to the student TV station at Iowa State. While in Ames, he met his future wife, Mary Peterson, at a meeting of the Liberal Religious Youth. After earning a Master’s at Michigan State, he moved back to Portland to help set up the public TV station there. He went on to work for ETV in Bloomington, IN, and manage the Pennsylvania Public Television Network and South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Dave was sought after by boards and organizations for his level-headed approach. He served The Nature Conservancy of South Dakota, the Arts and Humanities Assembly of Boulder, and numerous Unitarian Universalist congregations and districts. He became a beloved elder of the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
His children were lucky to be raised camping, hiking, and boating in many beautiful parts of this country. Dave hiked every day until his stroke three years ago. His nature photos were much appreciated by his friends.
Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Peterson Leonard, brother Robert Leonard, and sister Helen Seagraves.
He is survived by brother Richard Leonard (Beverly), daughter Julie (David Keith), sons Peter (Janet Shaffer) and Chris (Kariann Blank); grandchildren Jon Leonard (Ashlee), Betsy Keith, Rose Keith (Maggie Rozen), James Leonard (Macy Ramos), and Ro Leonard; great-grandchildren Madi Holtz, Nolan Leonard, and Marielle Rozen; and many fond nieces and nephews.
Dave’s family is grateful for the kind care he received from the staff at The Villa at Balfour and TRU Hospice, as well as many friends and volunteers from the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Donations in memory of Dave may be made to the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship or The Nature Conservancy.
A celebration of life service will be held on Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1241 Ceres Dr., Lafayette, CO.