Ernest "Ernie" D. Leno

Torrington- Ernest “Ernie” D. Leno, 71, passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Torrington. He was the beloved husband of the late Danielle (Richer) Leno.

          Ernie was born in Leicester, VT on September 26, 1946, son of the late Harold and Dorothy (Prescott) Leno, and had been a Torrington resident for many years. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, serving as a mechanic supervisor. His military awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Ernie was a retired machinist with the Seaboard Steel Rule Company, retiring with 32 years of service, and later worked at Sears Hardware in Torrington. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles Club, and the Sullivan Senior Center. Ernie enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, playing pool, and was an avid card player.

          Survivors include a daughter, Kathy N. Claar and her husband Jeffrey of Albany, NY; two brothers; Neil Prescott and his wife Martha of Bristol, and Keith Sweet and his wife Denise of Torrington; three sisters, Gloria Doran of Lawrenceville, GA, Judith Boise and her life partner Linda Shaw of Titusville, FL, and Norma Sweet-Loverin and her husband Forbes of Torrington; two brothers-in-law and their wives, Rany Richer and his wife Jill of Palm Bay, FL, and Pete Richer and his wife Dawn of Melbourne, FL; two grandchildren, Kenzie J. Claar and Daniel J. Claar; and several nieces and nephews. Ernie was predeceased by a brother, Ronald J. Sweet.

          Services will be held Friday, July 20, 2018 at 7:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 10:00a.m. at Hillside Cemetery, Torrington. Friends may call Friday, July 20, 2018 from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home.

          At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Torrington Veterans Service Office, 140 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215.

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