Leo Lawrence Simonin, Jr.

Leo Lawrence Simonin, Jr., 93, of Charleston, died Saturday, January 26, 2013. The relatives and friends of Leo L. Simonin, Jr. are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at Stella Maris Catholic Church, 1204 Middle St. Sullivan's Island. The Rite of Committal will be at Live Oak Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, this Monday evening at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. Leo was born December 25, 1919, in Charleston, SC, a son of Leo L. Simonin, Sr. and Mary Danehay Simonin and attended Bishop England High School. Leo later became a master plumber before serving in the US Army as a combat engineer, stationed in North Africa, during World War II. He returned to Charleston and married Inez Leary in 1945. Leo was a devoted Catholic and family man who most recently attended Stella Maris Catholic Church. Throughout his life, he was a passionate supporter and coach of youth sports, teaching the values of fair play and good sportsmanship and was a former business agent for the Local 470 Plumbers and Steamfitters. In recent years he was a fierce advocate for the formation of the Town of James Island. He is survived by two sisters, Rosemary F. Simonin and Dolores S. Puckhaber and six children: sons, Leo L. Simonin III, Michael A. Simonin, and Steven F. Simonin, daughters, Betty C. Simonin, Patricia S. Cooper, and Barbara S. Schneider and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Inez L. Simonin, two brothers, Rev. Msgr. John A. Simonin and Sgt. Major Charles J. Simonin. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Charleston Foundation, 676 Wando Park Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466.