Samuel Leo

Samuel J. Leo

October 16, 1945 – October 26, 2025

Thompson – Samuel J. Leo, 80, of Thomspon, died in Montefiore Hospital on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Born in Putnam, he was the younger brother of Parmi P. Leo, Jr., and the son of the late Parmi and Grace (DiBennetto) Leo.

Sam served in the Marines, worked as a custodian at Thompson Public Schools, and was an official at the Thompson Speedway for 47 years. He loved ham & cheese sandwiches (cut down the middle), reading the paper, word searches, auto racing, cracking a joke, spending quality time with his daughters, enjoying the outdoors, and cooking home fries and eggs.

To know Sam Leo was to like him. He was outgoing, playful, and always honest. Around the Quiet Corner, he could be found swapping stories with fellow veterans at the Veteran’s Coffee House, mowing the lawn on his yellow tractor, or chatting with his brother on the sun porch.

Samuel is survived by his daughter Hannah Pei Leo, MD, and her fiancé Kevin J. Guzman, MD, of New York, NY, his daughter Hallie Lin Leo of Pomfret, CT, and partner Garrett A. Roberts; brother, Parmi P. Leo, Jr. of Thompson, CT.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 10 am to 12 pm on Monday, Nov. 3, in the Valade Funeral Home & Crematory, 23 Main Street, North Grosvenordale, with a memorial service to follow at noon. Those in attendance are encouraged to wear a splash of yellow as a nod to his favorite color. A private graveside service will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, fiscal gifts in his memory may be made to the Danielson Veteran’s Coffeehouse at PO Box 3, Danielson, CT, 06239. Please indicate that your donation is in memory of Sam Leo. Gifts will support social events for veterans, scholarships, and foodshare. For the memorial guestbook, visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.