Leonard Rickard Sr.

Former Riverhead resident Leonard Rickard of St. Petersburg, Fla., died Feb. 2 after a long illness. He was 79.

Born in Brooklyn Aug. 8, 1932, to William and Madeline (Smith) Rickard, he grew up in Selden and moved to Riverhead in 1963.

Mr. Rickard, known as Lenny,  worked for Asplundh Tree Co. and New York Bell before relocating to St. Petersburg in 1973. He retired in 1991 as an engineer with GTE.

According to family, he was an avid softball player, bowler and bridge player. He was proud of his years as a volunteer firefighter with the Washington Engine Co. of the Riverhead Fire Department, they said.

He is survived by his wife, Laura, whom he married in 1953; his son, Lenny Jr., of Gulfport, Fla.; his daughters, Linda Johnson of Englewood, Fla., and Loriann Decaro of St. Petersburg; eight grandsons; and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be sent to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760.