Leary, Robert J. of Dedham passed away quietly on Sunday, August 30, 2015 with his daughter and son by his side. Bob was married for over fifty years to his beloved wife, the late Lois Ann (Gunshanan) of West Hartford, Connecticut. Born in Winthrop, Massachusetts he was the second son of the late John F. Leary, Jr. and the late Agnes R. Kirby. Leary had an older brother, the late Frederick E. Leary of Winthrop and a younger sister, Pauline, who died in infancy. Leary graduated from Winthrop High School.
After graduation he enrolled at Boston University where earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. While at BU he worked part time at the Boston law firm of Ropes and Gray. Following college, as a Sergeant in the United States Army, Bob served a tour of duty during the Korean War with the 2nd Infantry Division fighting along the 38th Parallel. Post-war Bob returned to BU where he received a Master’s Degree from the College of Business Administration.
Leary began his work career at the New England Gas & Electric Association (Commonwealth Energy) marketing office on Atlantic Ave. Bob began his advertising career with the Bresnick Co., Inc. His next step was to open and manage the Boston Office of the Simonds, Payson Advertising Agency of Portland, ME. He moved from Simonds, Payson to the Boston Office of New York based Kenyon & Eckhardt Advertising where he rose to become Senior Vice President and Associate Managing Director. Bob and his team specialized in Industrial and Technical clients including Texas Instruments, Lockheed – Sanders Aerospace, Prime Computer and The Foxboro Company. He left K&E to become the President of T. J. Clark Advertising of Hingham, leading the agency to be ranked the #1 “Hottest Agency” by Adweek in 1989. In 1991 Bob started his own agency, Leary & Tiziani, Inc. in Dedham. After 11 years of creating and building a 25 person full service agency he retired, spending his time with Lois both in Dedham and Estero, FL. Bob was a member of the Business/Professional Advertising Association of America, the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and the Advertising Club of Greater Boston. He was one of the co-founders of The Friends of BU Hockey who were instrumental in building the base of the BU’s championship hockey program; a long time member of the Friends of BU Football; a member of the Charles River Country Club for over 31 years, and a member of the Pelican Sound Golf and River Club of Estero, FL for 15 years.
He is survived by his son, Robert J. Leary, Jr., his wife Trish, Bob’s grandson Robert J. Leary, III; his devoted daughter Ann E. DeSimone, her husband Philip and Bob’s granddaughters Erin E. DeSimone and Nora A. DeSimone; His sister in law, Ellen Leary of Winthrop; five nieces and nephews: Kathleen M. King and her husband Brian of Lynn; Robert J. Leary and his wife Vivian of Falmouth; Paul F. Leary and his wife Pat of Winthrop; John J. Leary and his wife Andrea of Marblehead; and Diane E. Leary of Lynn. Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons, Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home, 456 High St. Dedham Friday at 8am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary Church Dedham at 9am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-8pm. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of Flowers the family suggests donations in Bob’s memory to: Homes For Our Troops, 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA 02780 or http://www.hfotusa.org