header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memory

Leonard Cressy - Class Of 1940 VIEW PROFILE

Leonard Cressy

LEONARD CRESSY

Leonard Thomas Cressy Former Alameda resident Leonard Thomas Cressy, 89, of Jacksonville, Ore., passed away on Monday, December 12, 2011, three weeks following an automobile accident in Medford, Ore., that also claimed the life of Margaret Anne Cressy, his wife of 64 years. Leonard was born in Gary, Indiana, on June 22, 1922 to Clement and Katherine Cressy, and raised in South Bend, Indiana, three blocks from the University of Notre Dame campus. His schoolmates included the children of Knute Rockne, Notre Dame's legendary football coach.

In 1940, he graduated from South Bend Central High School, where John Wooden, who would later win 10 NCAA basketball champion-ships at UCLA, was his physical education teacher.

A member of the "Greatest Generation," Leonard was a child who endured the Great Depression who later served his country during World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was an aircraft mechanic in the South Pacific.

It was while stationed in Hollister, Calif., for training that he met Margaret, his future wife. The couple married on July 27, 1947 and raised nine children, principally in Alameda, Calif. He instilled in them a strong moral and work ethic.

Upon earning his honorable discharge from the Navy, Leonard worked for Studebaker Automobile Corporation, before he and his wife moved to California in 1950. He was self-employed as an aircraft mechanic at the Oakland Airport before becoming an automobile insurance salesman in 1962. He retired from the California State Automobile Association in 1984, and the couple moved to Jacksonville, Ore. They spent their retirement years active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Medford, volunteering thousands of hours over nearly three decades in the Society's soup kitchen. A talented carpenter, Leonard also helped build St. Vincent's shelter and was the shelter's go-to guy for all handyman chores. In addition, Leonard and Margaret were active members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Medford. A top-notch automobile mechanic, Leonard enjoyed restoring classic cars in his spare time. His pride and joys were a 1930 Chevrolet pickup truck he named Manuel and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air that formerly belonged to his mother and father-in-law, Kate and Thomas Regan.

Leonard was a natural story-teller with a whimsical style all his own. He was the life of every party he attended and was a Charades enthusiast without equal. Punctuality was very important to Leonard, and he was never late for a meeting or an appointment in his life. Leonard was a devout Roman Catholic and the Cressy family wants to thank Rev. Kelly Vandehey, Rev. Carmelo Mifsud and Rev. Angelo Te for their comfort and support following the accident as well as all who offered their thoughts and prayers for Leonard and Margaret. They also thank Sacred Heart Ministries and the doctors and nurses at Rogue Valley Medical Center for their compassionate care of Leonard. Beside Margaret,

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Robert, Clement and Ralph Cressy and his daughter Joan Williams.

Leonard is survived by his daughters Susan Verhees of Central Point, Ore., Ann Zammattio of Aviano, Italy, and Peggy Figueira of Shady Cove, Ore., as well as sons Dan Cressy of Roseburg, Ore., John Cressy of Ventura, Calif., Steve Cressy of Alameda, Calif., Bob Cressy of Alameda, Calif., and Brian Cressy of Hercules, Calif. Leonard also is survived by his sisters Sally Woods of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Peggy Swain of South Bend, Ind.; his brother Jack Cressy of Chicago; sons-in-law Duilio Zammattio, Ray Figueira and Pat Williams; daughters-in-law Lavonne Cressy, Kathleen Cressy and Rosalee Cressy; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the Cressy family requests contributions in Leonard's name to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Medford. The address is 2424 N. Pacific Highway, Medford, Ore. 97501. Phone number: (541) 772-3828.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2011, from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by a rosary at 3 p.m. at the Perl Siskiyou Funeral Home, 2100 Siskiyou Blvd., Medford. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 19, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located at 517 W. 10th Street, Medford. The burial will follow at Eagle Point Veterans Administration National Cemetery.

Published by Contra Costa Times on Dec. 16, 2011.

01/09/2023 EJS



Click here to see Leonard's last Profile entry.