Leonard Francis Michaels, 76, of Westport Massachusetts, died Monday after a brief illness. He was the husband of Theresa (Gomes) Goncalo of Dighton, Massachusetts.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, he was a son of Joseph and Cecilia Michaels, and resided most of his life in Tiverton, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of De La Salle Academy in Newport, Rhode Island and Williams College.
He retired in 2007 from the Naval War College, Newport Rhode Island where he worked for 25 years.
He is the brother of Donald J. Michaels of St. Augustine, Florida. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Ernestine M. ('Cookie') Michaels. He is survived by two sons, Leonard J. Michaels of Tiverton, Rhode Island and Paul D. Michaels of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; three daughters, Diane Michaels Francis of Providence, Rhode Island, Andrea Michaels of Warren, Rhode Island and Jennifer Michaels Souza of Foster, Rhode Island, seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by stepson Gerald John Goncalo of Londonderry, New Hampshire and stepdaughters Christine Goncalo Lyons of Smith's Grove, Kentucky and Barbara Fontaine, Stephanie Fisk, and Theresa Goncalo of Dighton, Massachusetts, as well as, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are by the Pocasset Memorial Funeral Home, 462 Main Road, Tiverton, Rhode Island. Wake services to be held on Wednesday, September 28, 5-8 pm. Funeral procession departing at 9 am on Thursday, September 29 from Pocasset Memorial and funeral mass at 10 am at Saint Patrick's Church, Somerset, Massachusetts. Internment at Hillside Cemetery, Tiverton, Rhode Island. www.almeida-pocasset.com for on line guestbook.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105 or at stjude.org.