Leo R. Lauretano, DMD, age 74, a longtime and cherished resident of Winchester, passed away on October 30, 2025 after bravely fighting a brief illness. Leo was the beloved husband of 38 years of his wife Cheryl and the best father imaginable to his children Katie and Michael.
Born in Somerville, MA, Leo was the son of the late Cosmo and Margaret (Ardito) Lauretano. As a young child, Leo and his family moved to Winchester where he would soon become a fixture of the community, attending Winchester High School and Boston College.
Leo shared his lifelong love of music with all those who knew him, playing guitar in many bands throughout his life such as the Wages, Gunga and the Dins, and Backburner. The ideal band mate, Leo was happy holding down rhythm or take the lead and would often close out shows with a masterful rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.” Not surprisingly, Leo remained lifelong friends with many of his bandmates.
In addition to music, Leo loved spending his time on the tennis court. Leo learned tennis as a child on the Packer Ellis Tennis Courts in Winchester, and throughout his life continued to play with his family and friends as a member of the Winchester Tennis Association, an organization he loved dearly.
A graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Leo provided compassionate dental care to generations over a 49 year career in Winchester. Leo loved his patients and felt it was a privilege to care for those in his community.
Leo was the embodiment of kindness. He brought joy to all those around him, especially his family. He found pleasure in the simplest things- watching birds on the beach in Falmouth, looking for critters in the Aberjona on his lunch break, and sharing some chips and salsa with his family. He once said his children were the joy of his life, and he would have cherished every coo and smile of his new granddaughter Caroline.
In addition to his wife, Cheryl, Leo is lovingly survived by his children: Katherine “Katie” Cole and her husband Matt of Andover and their daughter Caroline, and Michael Lauretano and his wife Danielle of Bedford.
He was also the dear brother of Ralph Lauretano, Sr. and his wife Marie of Winchester, Sandra Hartzler and her late husband Glen of Reading, and Carol Lauretano of Winchester.
He is further survived by a sister-in-law Sandra Loughran and her husband Bernard of Belmont and was the proud uncle of many nieces and nephews: Mark Hartzler and his wife Nancy, Eric Hartzler, Ralph John Lauretano, Jr. and his wife Michelle, Charles Lauretano, Stephanie Johansen (Loughran) and her husband Michael, Patrick Loughran and his wife Bridget, and Kerry Loughran., and he was also the great-uncle of Emily and Gianna Lauretano.
Funeral Services are private at this time. Leo's family is planning a Celebration of Life for family and friends to be held at a later date in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Leo’s memory may be made to the Winchester Tennis Association, c/o Chrissy Bordonaro, 8 Viking Road, Winchester, MA 01890.