CUYAHOGA FALLS - Richard Robert Leggott, age 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 30th, 2012, at the Akron General Hospital. We were blessed by the extraordinary care he received in the emergency department, and thank them with full hearts for their dedicated work.
Richard was born in Cleveland and grew up in Bedford, Ohio, and resided for the last 20 years in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He graduated from Bedford High School in 1981, where he was a member of the varsity men's swim team, winning numerous events for the school. He was Master Councilor for Bedford DeMolay as well during his youth. After graduating from Cleveland State University with a BA in History in the 1980's, he met the love of his life, Nancy Jane Quirk, and they were married in June of 1984. They recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary.
Richard was a jack-of-all-trades and a genuine human being. He worked for Lyons Moving, Inc., the City of Solon, Mr. Bulky, and Hale Farm and Village in Pennisula, Ohio, during his early adulthood. It was at Hale Farm where Richard received the William T. Walker Award as 'Volunteer of the Year' in 1995, recognizing his tireless contributions to the non-profit as an apprentice blacksmith to Marty Riesig, Head Blacksmith. He became accomplished enough in blacksmithing to run the shop in Marty's absence. Blacksmithing was one of the great loves of his life. Most recently, he worked for Visual Marketing Systems of Twinsburg, Ohio, and has been very involved with Primerica, Inc.
Richard was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He became Cub Scout leader for his son's pack in 2007, and continued to be involved as membership coordinator for Pack #3161 in Cuyahoga Falls, up until his death. He dedicated his free time to Troup #154, CFO, by camping and traveling with his son, Edward, and the other scouts. His great interests included coin collecting (member of the Warrensville Heights Coin Club) and gun club (member of the Nordonia Hills Gun Club, with his father Tom and brother Jim). Also, he enjoyed collecting antique tins from around the world, and every game since the beginning of time. He loved classic rock and roll, could name just about every tune, and could beat you at a game of Trivial Pursuit anytime, anywhere, anyday.
One of his greatest pleasures was listening to his daughter, Ashley, play the clarinet, and he was looking forward to watching her in the Cuyahoga Falls Marching Band this fall. He loved his family, his friends and his life. He loved a good amusement park, and took time off to travel frequently with his family to numerous steam engine shows, military installations and other historic sites. His dream was to be a museum curator, and in a way he was curator for the museum of the entire world.
He is survived at home by his wife, Nancy, daughter Ashley Jane and son Edward George, Cuyahoga Falls; father Thomas Leggott, Bedford; brother James (Helen) Leggott, Bedford; sisters Sandy Steiger (Charles), Hudson; Colleen Miller, Akron; Naomi Lucas (Greg), of Solon; Heather Mikush (Stanley), of Akron; sister-in-law Susan Quirk (Mary Weishaar) of Valley Falls, KS; also many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from around the area. He was preceded in death by his son, Adam, and his daughter, Amanda and his mother, Margaret Jane Leggott, as well as his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 with visitation Friday evening, 4 p.m. to 8p.m.. Funeral and celebration of his life at the funeral home Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 11am. Private interment at the Ohio Western Reserve Military Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd, Seville, OH at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, family is requesting memorials be made to either Boy Scout Troop #154, c/o Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2141 5th St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 in a memorial to be set up in Richard's name, or to the Cuyahoga Falls Marching Band, c/o Cuyahoga Falls High School, 2300 4th St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 in memory of Richard. Arrangements handled by Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.
Richard's Video Tribute is viewable by clicking on this link: http://videos.lifetributes.com/MediaViewer2.0/MovieViewer.aspx?id=323423