ANDERSON, Leon R. "Andy," 66, passed away, Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Florida Hospital, Zephyrhills, Fla. Born in Springfield Mass., Andy was the only son of Rose and Leon A. Anderson. Graduating cum laude from Western New England College, Springfield, Andy spent his life studying applied and theoretic designs for turbine mechanics, receiving a master' s degree in mechanical engineering from Renassler Polytechnical Institute. He was a professor at Western New England College, Springfield, and then worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, a division of United Technologies, East Hartford, Conn. Throughout his 30-plus year career at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Connecticut and Florida, Andy demonstrated leadership of exceptional quality in his executive positions as project engineer and as chief of turbine design and development. In 1985, Andy received the United Technologies Special Award for extraordinary achievement in product design. Andy felt fortunate to create and implement his designs, working with some of the best and brightest minds in turbine technology; these designs for both commercial and military turbines are used in aircrafts still flying today. Andy is survived by his wife, Dorothy, whom he married in 1970. They have five adult daughters, who also survive him; Elizabeth, Fisher, Davie, Fla., Marlena Abaza of Sarasota, Fla., Rebecca Smither of Boca Raton, Fla., Veronica Renstrom of West Hartford, Conn., and Andy' s youngest daughter, Rachael Anderson of Middletown, Conn. Andy is also survived by two nieces, Rose Ann and Suzanne Boudreau, and two nephews, Mark and Joseph Boudreau, all of Springfield. Andy leaves a legacy of 10 grandchildren, ranging from preschool to college age; Marshall, Daniel, Michael and Sarah Fisher, Yusef and Waleed Abaza, Benjamin and Harrison Smither, and Jacqueline and Victoria Renstrom. A visitation for friends and family members will take place 2:30-3 p.m. Saturday, August 2, at Hodge' s Funeral Home, located at 11411 U.S. Highway 301, Dade City, Fla. The memorial service will start at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1-800-DIABETES or www.diabetes.org. DOnations wil be appreciated due to his complications of this disease.