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Joseph P. Leonard, 82, a lifelong resident of Syracuse, New York passed away on July 11th, 2025 peacefully at home. He served in the United States Marine Corps and spent a twenty-year career in law enforcement. Joseph was with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy, and as a detective with the Criminal Investigation Unit. He followed this career with his own business as a private investigator.
Joseph is survived by his sister Gertude Cedar (Paul), his children Bernadette Harnden (David), Gary Leonard (Becky), Michelle Leonard, Jacqueline Leonard, and Nicholas Leonard, as well as his nieces Amy and Kristen and nephew Matthew. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jason (Bernadette), Ashlyn and Jared (Gary), Maxence and Madison (Michelle), Nicole, Tess, and Camryn (Jacqueline) and great grandchildren, Joseph and Gwendolyn (Nicole), Cormack (Jared) and Elijah (Tess).
He is predeceased by his mother Josephine (Fashana) Leonard, his father John Leonard and grandson, Jesse Harnden.
He will be dearly missed by those that loved him, and there will be a brief, private service for his immediate family and friends.
A Memorial Service will be at 12:00pm September the 12th at Assumption Cemetery at the main office building.
Donations can be made in his name to St. Judes Children’s hospital at https://www.stjude.org .
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