Avis de décès de Carl-Michael Leahy

CARL MICHAEL LEAHY1945-2008Carl Leahy, age 63, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, November 11, 2008, while golfing at Scenic Hills Country Club. Carl was born April 17, 1945, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was reared in Plattsburgh, New York. He graduated there from St. John's Catholic High School where he excelled in football, baseball, and especially basketball. He received his degree in elementary education from State University of New York, Plattsburgh.At age 19, Carl began work as a film loader for WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, and over the next 44 years, worked his way through the ranks in production, programming, and all aspects of broadcasting, eagerly participating in the evolution of the industry from live broadcast, tape, video, and finally digital. In 1978 he was promoted to Operations Manager of WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida. While there, he met and married his wife Rosilan in 1982. In 1983, he was again promoted, and returned to WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh as general manager, where he remained until 1988. At that time, he and Ros returned to Pensacola, where he has served as general manager of WEAR-TV3 until his death. Carl was known as an employer who demanded the best of everyone, and who was willing to give all he had to enable his people to succeed. He was committed to community support and encouraged his employees to be active in organizations that helped better the greater Pensacola community. While he was not comfortable with the spotlight himself, he made WEAR-TV and its employees a visible and active force, providing countless hours of production and public service to non-profit organizations. Early in his tenure at WEAR he was instrumental in the creation of Communities Caring at Christmas, which has provided thousands of needy children with Christmas presents they could never have enjoyed otherwise. After Hurricane Ivan, he led WEAR in the production of a video of the event and its aftermath. Proceeds from the sales of that video helped support several local organizations whose mission was to assist in recovery efforts. Carl served on numerous non-profit boards over his career and was active in Florida Broadcasters Association, having served on its board in the 1990's. He and Ros have been members of Pensacola Beach Community Church since 1993.Carl loved playing golf, and had nearly perfected the Golf Club Toss. His regular Sunday morning golf buddies were his special friends. He always loved sports, and in the past few years had the joy of watching his grandchildren play soccer, basketball, baseball, and football. He and Ros enjoyed traveling and had the privilege of visiting many wonderful places in the US and abroad. His greatest pleasure, though, was spending time with his family.Carl is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Leahy and Helen Dowd Leahy, his sister Bernice Leahy Harnett, and brother Bernard Leahy. He is survived by his wife, Rosilan; his daughter, Kelly Dempsey (Bill); stepchildren, John Rabon (Lynda) and Faith Gilliland (Robert); grandchildren, Erin Dempsey Macey (Jeff) and great grandson, Alex of Indiana, Timothy and Thomas Dempsey, Jacob and William Rabon, Zachary and Katie Gilliland, and his mother-in-law, Sherley Bachtold, all of Pensacola. He is also survived by his brother, Ray Leahy (Bonnie) of New York State; brother-in-law, Bob Harnett of Wisconsin; and several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and nephews.Because of construction at Pensacola Beach Church, a Memorial Service will be held 2:00pm Monday, November 17, 2008 at Olive Baptist Church, corner of Olive Road and Davis Highway, Pensacola, Florida. Visitation at the church beginning at 12 noon will precede the service. Following the service a reception will be held at Seville Quarter's Heritage Hall, Government and Tarragona Streets, Pensacola.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Tee, P. O. Box 12303, Pensacola, FL 32591, Communities Caring at Christmas, c/o WEAR-TV, 4990 Mobile Hwy., Pensacola, FL 32506, or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504.HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.