Anita (Zahn) Leonard

Anita Gertrude (Zahn) Leonard passed peacefully from this life on October 6, 2024, at the age of 98.

Anita was born on January 21, 1926, in Boston, MA to Arthur and Anna (Nadon) Zahn. She was raised in Braintree and after graduating Braintree High School, went to work at the Hingham Shipyard as a secretary. During the summer of 1949, she met her sweetheart, “Billy” Leonard at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. However, Bill was soon drafted into the US Army in 1951 to serve during the Korean War. After discharge, Bill and his “Teeta” married on September 12, 1953. They purchased their first home in Braintree in 1954, but moved to Hull in 1958 when their growing family required more space. Bill had grown up in Hull and spent much of his youth working in the family business, Leonard Realty.

Their house in Hull was a historic 100 year old, three story structure, previously owned by the Damon family for whom the Damon Elementary School was named. It was located atop Atlantic Hill and provided an expansive view of Nantasket Beach and Paragon Park below, where the screams of those riding the roller coaster could be heard on summer nights.

On April 21, 1963, that same roller coaster caught fire and embers from that fire, carried by the wind, landed on the wooden roof of the Leonard’s home, causing it to burn to the ground.  Anita, Bill and family subsequently moved to Bay St. for some years and continued to visit frequently, even after another move to Framingham, MA where they remained until retiring to Orlando, Florida.

In Orlando, Bill and Teeta enjoyed hosting visits from their children and grandchildren, staying active, playing golf and cards and socializing with their many dear friends.  After 33 wonderful years, Bill and Teeta returned to Massachusetts in 2019 to live briefly in Lenox before returning to their beloved Hull in 2020, when sadly, after 67 years of a very happy marriage, Bill passed away. Anita soon after moved to the Residence at Penniman Hill in Hingham where she made many new and cherished friends.

Anita is survived by her son, William F. Leonard and his wife Melanie of Mashpee, MA; daughter Karen Stevens and her husband Mark of Hopedale, MA; daughter Anne Zuber and her husband Robert of Hull, MA; Son-in-law Stephen Thompson of Barnstable, MA.  Anita was pre-deceased by her daughter Patricia Thompson who passed much too soon, in 1997. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Brett Leonard, Anna and Julia Stevens, Daniel (Kaitlin) and James (Avery) Zuber and Emily and Patrick Thompson.

Burial service at the Hull Village Cemetery will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pat Roche Hospice Home in Hingham, MA; NVNA and Hospice: www.nvna.org

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