"Flies" Author dies @ 89
 

LEONARD, J. EDSON JR., 89, of Winsor Drive Barrington died Thursday at
the Hospice Inpatient Center in Providence. He was the husband of Page
(Hubbard) Leonard.

Born in Los Angeles, CA the son of the late John 'Jack' and Florence
(MacNeil) Leonard, he has lived in Barrington for over 40 years. Mr.
Leonard was an Aerospace Engineer, Author and a contributing Editor for
Field & Stream magazine. As an Engineer, he was a Manager at General
Dynamics Aeronautics Division specializing in advanced propulsion
systems used on the Atlas Booster, Minuteman, Polaris, Delta, Ablestar,
Agena and other space vehicles. He later worked for Hughes Aircraft
Co., Leesona Corporation and American Philips-Cryogenic Division. A
WWII Marine Corps Veteran, he served as a Platoon Sergeant Artillery
Instructor. As an avid outdoors man and fisherman he published his
first book, Flies, the first encyclopedia of fishing flies in 1950.
This was reprinted in part in Aquatic Insects of California, University
of CA Press, was a Best Seller for this type of text used in many
Universities and Colleges and was reprinted 15 times. He later authored
Fly Rod Casting and Bait Casting 1953, Feather In the Breeze 1974, The
Essential Fly Tier 1976, and The River Has A Way 2004. He was a speaker
at colleges, Rotary and sportsmens clubs and taught fly tying for
Barrington Adult Education Programs. He was a member of the Barrington
Lions Club, Salt Water Fly Rodders of America, the Outdoor Writers
Association and Trout Unlimited. Besides his wife he leaves a son Eric
P. Leonard and his wife Priscilla 'Dee' of Riverside, a daughter,
Lauren Leonard of Providence and two grandsons, Mark and Casey Leonard.
He was also the father of the late John E. Leonard, III. The funeral
service will be held on Tuesday at 12:30 in the Smith-Mason Funeral
Home, 398 Willett Avenue, Riverside. Burial with Military Honors will
be in Forest Chapel Cemetery in Barrington. Calling hours are Monday 5
to 7 PM. Visit smithmason.com