Obituaries

May 21st, 2014 Environmental Business Council of New England The EBC Ira W. Leighton, Jr. Outstanding Environmental-Energy Technology Application Achievement Award Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, Boston MA Remarks in Tribute by Robert V Bibbo 79 Martin Street, Rehoboth MA When Ira W. Leighton Jr., my friend of 56 years, passed away last July it was an unexpected jolt. He was missed at our 50th high school reunion. His frequently mentioned plans for retirement on the Cape were never realized. Our spontaneous exchanges about the joys and obligations of grand fathering were abruptly cut short. My earliest memories are from those visits to his parent’s house as an early teen. I am reminded that his core values of honesty, humility, empathy, commitment and loyalty were embedded in the family blueprint. That he would live a purposeful and nurturing life was predictable. My final remembrances are connected to that blueprint. I will always remember him as congenial but determined; measured but assertive; a virtuous man reared “Watertown Strong”. I will always see him as the compassionate brother to Marilyn, the loving husband to his departed Maureen, the dedicated father to Ira the 3rd and Jason and the committed grandfather to Blake. As teens Ira and I drifted into a common group of school chums. We graduated Watertown High School, class of 1963. After high school Ira enrolled at UMASS Amherst where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1968. Although he would immediately start working, he would add an MS in environmental engineering from Northeastern in the early 1970s and an MBA from Suffolk in the early 1980s. With a completed education, several years of quality experience and acquired savvy he was prepared to make his move and that he did. He would continuously advance through Federal GS classifications before being promoted into the federal Senior Executive Service (SES). As an EPA senior executive with at least 20 years of remaining shelf life, Ira would become the X factor at EPA Region I. Having chosen a private sector environmental career my professional life would eventually intersect Ira’s professional life. Our paths would converge here at the Environmental Business Council through the complicity of Dan Moon, Watertown High School class of 1965. Ira was a frequent participant at this annual awards dinner and other EBC events. He was an award recipient and an award presenter. During these EBC years we engaged each other mostly on Saturday mornings by telephone. Whether such calls were initiated to confirm a dinner date or for some other reason, we never had a short conversation. Ira instinctively gravitated to shop talk, mostly what he coined “good stuff”. Of his many EBC speaking appearances, he always focused on the “good stuff”. Improving air quality, preserving water resources, protecting fish and wild life, remediating contaminated waste sites were among the stuff he extolled as good. Ira thrived as a senior executive. He served as the EPA Region 1 Deputy Regional Administrator under four Regional Administrators: John DeVillars, Mindy Luber, Bob Varney and Curt Spaulding. He stood beside each of them with equal fervor and effectiveness. He also served as Acting Regional Administrator three times during the political transition of Administrators. Each transition was seamless. His relationship with EPA lawyers was special. He saw them as smart, unselfish and relentless; a formidable match for the able lawyers on the other side of the table. On a Saturday morning last spring we discussed the reinstatement of the Cross State Air Pollution Rule which was before the Supreme Court on appeal. There was reason to be concerned given the lower court opinion but he was prescient. He had no doubts that EPA would prevail and they did. For this varsity hockey player and Bruins season ticket holder this was a “hat trick”. As Ira would tell me last spring-- the Administrator had boldly promulgated a precedent setting rule; no one at EPA flinched at the lower court’s rebuke and then his EPA lawyers would score for the win in “Supreme” overtime. We honor Ira tonight, through an Award in his name, because we should; because he made a difference. His prodigious career in government spanned more than 44 years. He started at the City of Newton, moved on to the MADEP before joining the EPA in 1972. He was the consummate civil servant. He served meritoriously as staff, as a member of the SES and at all levels in between. His 24-7 countenance suggested that his work and the work of the Agency could never be completed. There was always more guidance to offer and more progress to be made for a cleaner environment. His accumulated approbations, as detected and summed by the cosmos, greatly exceeded any expectations he might have had or any self assessments he may have conducted. He set a high standard for living one’s life through indisputable core values. My final thought is that Ira was not the “Real McCoy”; he was the “Real Ira”. He was innately content with simplicity and motivated by ideals. A solid 60 hours for the office, a Bruins Thursday Night at the Garden and a family weekend was blissful existence. The possibilities emerging from his embraced ideals were points of origination not destinations. He did not “tilt at wind mills”; although it’s fair to say that he would intervene on behalf of a wind turbine if it were properly sited. He wanted to talk about positive outcomes and he did. It was the “good stuff” he reveled in. Rest in peace my friend and thank you for being unapologetically genuine.

Posted by Bob Bibbo on June 1, 2014

Our sincere condolences and regrets to the Leighton family. Ira was a true professional, leader and gentleman. He will be greatly missed.

Posted by Dan & Vivian Coughlin on August 9, 2013

To Ira’s Family and Friends, Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Close to forty years ago, I had the pleasure of sharing a small office with Ira in those early years at EPA working on solid and hazardous waste issues. His thoughtful and significant contribution to addressing environmental issues facing New England and the nation continued to grow unabated for the next forty plus years. I’m saddened by his death but want to celebrate his achievements and the significant mark he left on all of us through his work and friendship. Dan When Death Comes By Mary Oliver When death comes like the hungry bear in autumn; when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse to buy me, and snaps the purse shut; when death comes like the measle-pox; when death comes like an iceberg between the shoulder blades, I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering: what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness? And therefore I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility, and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular, and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, tending, as all music does, toward silence, and each body a lion of courage, and something precious to the earth. When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it's over I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

Posted by Dan Moon on August 5, 2013

I just now found out about this! I am so very sorry to hear this. My son Gregory did some work on their house , we are neighbors, and he passed away at 18 3 weeks before Mrs. Leighton inSeptember of 2008. He had such a fond spot for Mr. And Mrs. Leighton. I am so very sorry for your loss. And apologies for not attending the wake, we didnt know until now.The Bruno Family

Posted by Wendy Bruno on August 3, 2013

I am so so sorry and sad for Ira and his family, all of us in EPA, and the New England/US environment. Ira was such an honorable man and kind leader. He was our planner/strategizer, reasonable risk taker, our positive optimist who would always create a path to a solution. 41 years of daily devotion and commitment and remarkable accomplishments. He raised the bar for public service and I will miss him and and his steady, caring hand on the EPA tiller.

Posted by Anne Fenn on August 1, 2013

It was my pleasure to have known and worked with Ira for many years at EPA New England. Ira really loved his job and was a strong advocate for all the staff. I am sure he could have moved on in his career but he cared deeply for EPA New England and chose to remain here. I will always remember our early morning talks about the state of affairs in the office and how to resolve to or our most pressing issues concerning how to further our diversity goals. My thought are with the family and staff and may Ira rest in peace.

Posted by James M. Younger on July 31, 2013

To Ira's family: I have had the pleasure of working with Ira professionally and, like so many people, was deeply touched by his strong, gentle, long, dedicated, valued, capable, and generous public service. He was an extraordinary leader, and I am so appreciative of what he gave to the environment and to all of us. Thank you for sharing him with us. I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Sue

Posted by Sue Tierney on July 31, 2013

My heart and prayers go out to the Leighton family. Ira treated everyone the same and was an incredible resource for everyone at EPA. He was loved by everyone he met. He was a great leader and mentor to many at EPA. Blessings, Stuart and Colleen Gray

Posted by Stuart Gray on July 31, 2013

My sincere condolences to the family of Ira. I was saddened to hear of his passing. Ira will be a great loss to all of the tribes in the northeast. My thoughts and prayers to the family and all who had the privilege of knowing Ira. Chief Socobasin

Posted by Chief Joseph Socobasin Passamaquoddy Tribe on July 31, 2013

Dear Marilyn, Ira, Jason and Blake, I was touched by what I read of Ira’s wonderful life. Your family was blessed to have such a special person in your lives. Cherish your memories, they will stay with you forever and will become a source of peace for you in the coming weeks, months and years ahead until you see each other again. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and at this difficult time. Love and peace, Sandra Caloggero Cortina

Posted by Sandra Caloggero Cortina on July 31, 2013

Dearest Marilyn and Family, I truly am so very sorry to hear of Ira's passing. I have missed seeing all of you. I have many fond memories of him growing up and the times we spent together. I LOVED being with Aunt Mary and Ira, what a terrific cousin he was. I know how deep your loss is, you guys were so close. He is now in Heaven with all the rest of the family. Many prayers are comming your way. Please give the rest of the family my LOVE and deepest sympathy. Always, Marsha and Ron

Posted by Marsha and Ron Moeller on July 30, 2013

Dearest Marilyn and Family, I truly am so very sorry to hear of Ira's passing. I have missed seeing all of you. I have many fond memories of him growing up and the times we spent together. I LOVED being with Aunt Mary and Ira, what a terrific cousin he was. I know how deep your loss is, you guys were so close. He is now in Heaven with all the rest of the family. Many prayers are comming your way. Please give the rest of the family my LOVE and deepest sympathy. Always, Marsha and Ron

Posted by Marsha and Ron Moeller on July 30, 2013

To Ira's Family, especially his grandson, Blake. EPA will never forgert your grandfather's steady hand at the helm. Although many of us never had the privilege of working closely with Ira, we didn't have to; it was enough to just say hi to him in the cafeteria or nod a hello as we passed his office. Your grandfather was like a shining warrior, Blake, picture him like Superman, the Man of Steel, fighting environmental battles large and small, ensuring New England's air and water and parks and playgrounds are safe for you and other children to enjoy. Just knowing Ira was here, in the Front Office as Region 1's leader of steely purpose and resolve made us hopeful about this corner of the earth's healthier environment. When you think of your grandfather, Blake, I hope he shines as brightly for you as his presence has for his EPA colleagues for his 41 years here.

Posted by Olga Vergara on July 30, 2013

I was so sorry to learn of Ira's death. He was a gentleman - gracious, kind, and interested in everyone he met. I've been retired from EPA for six years now, but I can well imagine the saddness that has fallen over Region I. His passing is a devastating loss. My deepest sympathy to his loving family.

Posted by Anne Whalen on July 30, 2013

I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work for, and with, Ira. He was a great leader and friend for EPA; both its mission and its employees. His passion for the work and for the people who performed it were fabulously motivating for all of us. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by Erik H. Beck on July 30, 2013

To the Leighton Family: I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Ira is gone, but never will he be forgotten. EPA has lost a true LEADER, a great friend, an advocate for the environment….and his co-workers. It was an honor to have worked with him and to have known such a great human being. He once asked at a meeting, if anyone would skip to work in the morning, and I responded “I do”. He said, and laughed “me too”. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May he rest in peace.

Posted by Rosa Beato on July 30, 2013

Dear Marilyn, So very sorry for the loss of your brother. My condolences to Ira's family, also. He'll have good company up there in heaven with all those who have gone before him. Sending my love and prayers. Debbie Caloggero

Posted by Debbie McGann on July 30, 2013

It's been a long time since I last saw him but his memory still lingers. He has left an extraordinary legacy.

Posted by Rick Keller on July 30, 2013

It’s hard for me to remember a time when Ira was not only a friend but also an important part of my life. My first memory of Ira goes back to elementary school days when we became friends at the old Browne school in Watertown. However I suspect that prior to this, our mothers ran into each other while pushing baby carriages around the neighborhood, because our families lived about five minutes by foot from each other. Our friendship continued through junior high, high school, college and beyond. Ira and I were roommates at UMass, and I had the honor of being his Best Man when he and Maureen were married. I was further honored when they asked me to be Ira III’s godfather. Ira comes from a wonderful family. I spent a lot of time in their home and his parents were kind to me. I remember my first ride with Ira and his Dad on their boat. In the early days when I knew Ira, he was an “only child” and then the wonderful Marilyn came along. My mother found Marilyn to be so cute that she would squeeze her cheek to the point of “ouch”. At UMass, Ira and I spent considerable time together. In addition to being roommates, we eat together, took a couple of classes together, studied together and, yes, had a lot of laughs together. Given his dedication to duty, many at the EPA may not realize just how funny Ira could be. With such a long and special friendship there are many memories. I find myself thinking of days gone by; our mothers walking us to St. Patrick’s during lent, hiking with Ira back and forth to Walker’s pond to play outdoor hockey in the bitter cold. In the summer, along with Bob Bibbo and Don Porteous, there was basketball at the Charles River court and tennis under the broiling sun wherever we could find a vacant tennis court. Memories are often bitter-sweet. It is hard for me to grasp that my friend, roommate, and brother has passed on. Ira was a special person dedicated to his family, profession, and friends. . I will miss him. Ira, Jason, Marilyn, and Blake, your loss is profound. I hope that you will gain comfort from each other and all of us who loved Ira.

Posted by Bob Connors on July 30, 2013

I remember once in a meeting with Ira asking him what he wanted his legacy to be. It is clear he has left a permanent mark on all who mourn him now. Beyond his professional leadership and commitment to his work, he was one of the most "human" people I've ever met-always mentoring and caring about others. My sincere sympathy to his family and to all his EPA colleagues.

Posted by JoAnn Muniz on July 30, 2013

Ira was the personification of all that is good about public service in defense of the environment, of environmental justice and in mentoring environmental professionals. He was a keeper of the flame for the ideals upon which EPA was originally founded. Ira's influence and his legacy extend to the entire environmental community: public, private and non-profit. Our deepest sympathies to his family and colleagues.

Posted by Harlan and Kathy Doliner on July 29, 2013

How can one appropriately capture the extraordinary contributions, energy, commitment and compassion that knew no bounds. Anyone who was lucky enough to have known Ira and to have experienced his commitment - not only to environmental protection but to the people behind it - will never forget it. I cannot imagine the family's sense of loss. The loss here at EPA is immense and is still surreal in many ways. Wishing peace and strength to all.

Posted by Mary Sanderson on July 29, 2013

Ira’s longtime colleagues at EPA are bereft. He was the embodiment of “stalwart.” His work ethic both slightly terrified and galvanized us. Ira was an exacting leader, but in a collegial way that made you want to meet his expectations, and gave you confidence that you could do so. Ira epitomized dedication to mission, demonstrating by example how to face dangerous and tedious challenges without quailing. He always dealt with coworkers respectfully on basis of merit and teamwork, never hierarchy. He was adorably starchy, his stiffness relieved by kind dark eyes and ready chuckle. (It’s not hard to imagine that he was an ideal grandpa.) We were so lucky to know and work with him— he will not be forgotten.

Posted by Abby Swaine, EPA on July 29, 2013

Ira, Jason and Marilyn - We are still in shock and heartbroken over Ira's passing. He was truly a wonderful man. Whenever we saw or talked with Ira he was always the same in both his appearance and demeanor. He and Maureen were the epitome of opposites attracting. It was obvious from the first time that we saw them together that they were deeply in love, and that love never faded. We can't even begin to comprehend the depth of your grief. Please let us know if there is anything you need or would like us to do. Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol

Posted by Jim & Carol Kane on July 29, 2013

To Ira's family, Thank you so very much for sharing Ira with all of us at EPA for so very many good years. We are grateful and fortunate for having known him and having his leadership and strength for so many years. I am personally grateful for Ira's career advice and his calm and reassuring presence in the face of many challenges and obstacles. He was loved and admired by so many here at EPA including me. With deep sadness and gratitude, Mary Dever-Putnam

Posted by Mary Dever-Putnam on July 29, 2013

My deepest condolences to Ira, Jason, Marilyn and Blake -- please know that Ira was loved by so many! For the past twenty years, I have considered myself very lucky and honored to have known Ira: he was my boss, my friend and my champion. He has touched the lives of so many people throughout New England and the country. I don’t exaggerate when I say that in all my life, I have never known a better person… He cared so deeply for his family, but he also cared for his colleagues and the environment. Peace be with you, Ira. You will always hold a huge place in my heart.

Posted by Elise Jakabhazy on July 29, 2013

Ira was a pleasure to work with, a great public sservant and wonderful human being. My thoughts go out to his family, firends and co-workers at EPA

Posted by Justin Johnson on July 29, 2013

I first became aware of Ira before I met him. It was July 4th 1958 and my Watertown Central little league team was preparing to meet Ira’s Watertown West little league Team, a 4th of July tradition. Our coach told us there were two players that were threats. The first was the home run hitter and the other was Ira, the 3rd baseman. We were told that Ira was steady, consistent and could beat us with his glove or a clutch hit. Ira and I became lifelong friends where we overlapped socially and professionally. There is no doubt that Ira was consistent in living a very fulfilling life. He was there in “the clutch” for his family, his friends, his colleagues and the Boston Bruins. I am going to miss Ira, my little league opponent and lifelong friend.

Posted by Bob Bibbo on July 28, 2013

Ira was one of my favorite people at EPA. It will never be the same, now that he is gone. I kept in touch with Ira after I retired from EPA and he always had nothing but good stuff to say about everyone. He will be missed. May God bless him in heaven.

Posted by Sonya Clark-Etchemendy on July 28, 2013

My deepest thoughts and concern remain with all of you. I was lucky to know Ira over 30 years and he was an inspiration to me and many others. I am just so sorry for this sudden loss, and my prayers remain with you Ira, Jason, Blake and Marilyn, I wish I could find the right words to give you some comfort. Judi and Peter Teague (Doucette).

Posted by Judi Doucette Teague on July 28, 2013

Ira and Jason, I am so very soory to hear of the passing of your dad. You both are in my thoughts and prayers. Michele and kids

Posted by Michele on July 27, 2013