Thomas A. Leonard

Thomas A. Leonard, Smallpox Warrior, 1936 - 2017

Thomas A. Leonard, 80, passed away peacefully after a long illness on May 9, 2017, at Halcyon Hospice, Atlanta, Georgia. During his illness, he received many loving visits from his close family and friends.

He was born in 1936 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his father Harry, mother Marion, and his brother John. He is survived by his three children: Paul (Portland, OR); Mark (Philadelphia, PA); daughter and son-in law Susan and Julian Masini, and grandson Luca Masini (Alfriston, UK); former spouse Mary Michael Leonard (Philadelphia, PA). He is also survived by his sister-in-law Susan Hyde (Rockland, ME) and numerous cousins.

Tom grew up in Maine, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1958, stationed in Germany and Saudi Arabia. He graduated from Marquette University in 1962 with a BA in Political Science, then later obtained his Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University (1977). In 1962 he was hired by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Public Health Advisor in the VD Program and was assigned to New York City in 1962 and then Connecticut in 1965.

Tom was one of CDC's illustrious Smallpox Warriors, serving in the Smallpox Eradication Program for four years in multiple countries in West Africa from 1966 to 1970, most notably in Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) where he was the country manager. He also worked on smallpox eradication in Asia, particularly the Chittagong region of Bangladesh (1975). In 1970, Tom returned to the U.S. to direct the Chicago VD program where he was responsible for training many public health advisors. He then moved to the Philadelphia Regional Office of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1972, where he served as the CDC regional representative to five states and Washington, D.C. Tom served as part of the investigative team during the 1976 outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. He transferred to CDC headquarters in Atlanta in 1979 and worked in the International Health Program Office on numerous programs, including African famine relief. He worked in the Viral Special Pathogens Branch and participated in investigations to identify the animal reservoir of Ebola virus (1979). He spent many years in the HIV/AIDS Program, and he also worked in the CDC Office of the Director. Tom was widely respected at WHO, CDC, and State and local health departments for his public health managerial skills, especially his problem-solving abilities. He was also appreciated for his approachable, congenial personality.

After retirement in 1990, Tom spent many hours volunteering his time at Ronald McDonald House, DeKalb County Historical Society, a local shelter for rescued cats, as well as sporting events.

A memorial service will be planned on 4 June at 3-5pm at the Central DeKalb Senior Center, 1346 McConnell Drive Decatur, GA 30033, as well as one on 6 June in Augusta, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Georgia National Public Radio, www.gpb.org/support.

Funeral arrangements are being made by A.S. Turner Funeral Home, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, Georgia. To celebrate Tom’s life, the family asks friends and colleagues to please share their favorite stories on the A.S. Turner memorial page.