Commissioner Lessard's legacy: a good listener, caring and compassionate and a true gentleman

Leo Lessard's son Michael speaks of his love for his father during Sunday's memorial service at Nute High; inset, Leo with his faithful canine companion, Chloe. (Rochester Voice photo; inset, Courtesy photo)

MILTON - Possessed with an irrepressible and keen interest in history, one of Leo Lessard's favorite fictional characters was Horatio Hornblower, made famous by the C.S. Forester series of novels about an improbable naval career that took the young protagonist from seasick midshipman to admiral of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

But it wasn't Hornblower's naval warfare acumen Lessard was drawn to and identified with, said Tom Riesenberg at Lessard's memorial service at Nute High on Sunday. Rather it was Hornblower's ability to struggle through self-doubt and reflection to persevere and achieve his goals in the end.

Strafford County Commission Chairman George Maglaras talks about the many memories he shared with fellow commissioner Leo Lessard. Next to Maglaras is county administrator Ray Bower.

Speaking Sunday in a packed Nute High gym of nearly 300, Riesenberg said Lessard, who died Wednesday morning at the age of 67, began reading the books for the third time two weeks ago knowing his time was coming to an end.

"He was full of grace and dignity," said Riesenberg, his brother-in-law.

Lessard, a Strafford County Commissioner, former Registrar of Deeds, Milton Selectman, member of the New Hampshire Senate and House, need not have doubts anymore. He was much-loved and much-honored by those who knew him on Sunday.

Amid a long list of folks from town and county government, friends and family, who came to eulogize Lessard, certain themes of his life and personality shone through, like compassion, a love of history, a sense of duty, statesmanship and being a gentleman.

A mourner reflects on a mural featuring photos of Leo Lessard's life at his memorial service Sunday at Nute High.

"He loved serving the state of New Hampshire," said John Katwick, his uncle and head of the Milton Townhouse Restoration Committee, of which Lessard was one its first member.

"He stopped by just recently," Katwick said. "And whenever he did he always said we were doing a great job and shook my hand."

On a lighter note, Katwick reflected that back in the '90s, Lessard would drive his mom and wife to Bethlehem (NH) to mail their Christmas cards.

Fellow County Commissioner George Maglaras joked that he would sometimes grow frustrated with the introspective and methodical Lessard.

"I'd say 'you're risk averse,' and he'd say that I went in where angels fear to tread," Maglaras quipped drawing a few chuckles from the nearly 300 who attended the service.

Maglaras also recalled how every single time they went to Concord on county business, they had to visit Franklin Pierce's gravesite.

Elizabeth Lessard talks of the courage and conviction of her late husband.

Lessard's wife, Elizabeth, told the story of how they first met. She said it was a blind date on Valentine's Day, but that the weather was bad so she canceled and they rescheduled the date for a few days later.

"He'd tell people forever that I refused to go out with him on Valentine's Day," she joked.

She added she quickly grew to love him, but when she first found out he was a Type 1 diabetic and a politician, she thought, "Neither one appealed to me," adding she was a Type 1 diabetic herself and a diabetic educator.

But it was Michael Lessard, Leo's eldest son, who gave some of the most poignant reflections on his dad, remembering how they would meet to have lunch at Harvey's Bakery in Dover and they could barely converse because of the parade of folk who would approach his dad to say hi and have conversation.

Nearly 300 attended the Nute High service to honor Leo Lessard of Milton.

"And I'd say 'what's happening?' and he'd say 'how you doing?' and then someone else would come up."

He then talked of how in the last couple of days he thought often of how many people would come to Sunday's service.

"I kept wondering how many would show and to look out there, well, my dad is blessed to see you all here," he said choking up.

He closed by saying his dad always told him to smile no matter what.

"He'd say, 'No matter what happens, smile; when the Red Sox lose, smile; and when you have nothing left to give, smile," Michael Lessard said.