Mr. Leo Martin Monahan, Jr.

March 14, 1939 - December 21, 2018

Leo Martin Monahan, Jr. Leo Martin Monahan, Jr. passed away at Lowell General on December 21, 2018 due to many health issues including COPD. He was dealt many tough cards but lived on his own terms with uncommon resilience and humor. He was born in Lowell in 1939 to Leo Martin Monahan Sr. and Anna (McErlane), both from longtime Lowell families. As a child he lived in many places including Alabama and Cuba, but always returned here. After graduating from Lowell High in 1957 he joined the Navy and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in Guam, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Hong Kong. He worked for Raytheon, Sears, WT Grant and other stores before spending many years at New England Nuclear/Dupont/Bristol-Myers Squibb in No. Billerica as a Senior Mechanical Specialist and in facilities maintenance. Before his divorce he raised four girls in South Lowell, where he settled about 45 years ago. He tried to save their elementary school from closing as president of Friends of the Riverside School. Leo’s second home was the Knickerbocker Club in South Lowell, where he was a member since the early 1970s and spent several days a week enjoying Keno, old friends, and Steve’s excellent food. Leo lost both his legs to cardiovascular disease but thanks to friend Jay Stamp and crew at West Tewksbury Contractors, who remodeled his house, he continued living independently at home. He recently fought colon cancer with radiation and chemo. Until the end he drove himself to the Club in his electric wheelchair, feeding treats to dogs along the route. He was cantankerous but kind-hearted, dryly funny, and honest. His family was everything to him and included his longtime South Lowell neighbors and everyone at the Knick. Leo is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Heather Monahan (Eric Bellone) and grandson Conor Bellone, of Westford; Kathleen Monaghan of New York; Colleen Monaghan Reis and grandchildren Dermot and Riona Reis, of Lowell; and Erin Monahan Balcom (Chris Balcom) of Lowell. He leaves a dear sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Bruce Carpenter, of Lowell and nieces and nephew Sheila Corrado, Kerri Carpenter, and Scott Carpenter and their families. He was predeceased by his grandson Ronan Reis. FUNERAL NOTICE Family and friends are welcome to attend his committal service at St. Patrick’s Cemetery Chapel on Friday, February 1 at 10 a.m. and a celebration of life at the Knickerbocker Club on Saturday, February 2 from 1-5 p.m. Leo would want you to come as you are and have a beer for him. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 978-459-9222 www.faymccabe.com