Leonard Garofalo

Leonard Garofalo passed away peacefully at the Hannah B.G. Shaw Home in Middleboro on Monday,
May 20, 2024.  He was born in Middleboro on November 6, 1933 to the late Lena (Giardullo) Garofalo
and Patsy Garofalo.  He was raised in Middleboro and attended Middleboro schools where he excelled in
Math and Science and graduated with honors in 1951. He would go on to join the Air Force from 1953-
1957 and served in the Korean War. It was in the Air Force that he learned his skills as an electrical
engineer and would later go on to work at Raytheon where he helped make parts for the first expedition
to the moon. After his years in the Air Force, he came back to Middleboro and met his bride, Mary Jane
Travis. They would go on to get married in 1961, have two children, and were married for 63 years
before his passing.

Leonard loved talking about his childhood and his 8 siblings. One story he told was of the ending of
WWII, how they listened to it on the radio and everyone poured out of their houses and was dancing in
the streets.  His family was especially happy because it meant 3 of his siblings would be coming home
from the war. He would also tell stories of haying the fields with the neighborhood kids, mowing lawns
for the rich people on South Main Street so he could go buy a coffee frappe at Farrar’s, and making
“slugs” by putting coins on the train tracks in the hopes that they would become the size of a quarter
and he could trick the soda machines. This trick he would go on to teach his grandchildren and would
bring them to the train tracks often. One of his most favorite memories was raising and racing
greyhounds with his brother Nick’s “Cozy Kennels”. They would travel up and down the eastern seaboard
racing the dogs.

He was an avid New England Sports fan and could often be found outside on a hot day polishing the car
with “Turtle” wax and listening to the Red Sox game on the radio. Hot humid days were his favorite and
it would remind him of his time in the service when he was stationed in Georgia. Even in his last years,
he loved to go outside and sit in the courtyard at Nemasket Health in the heat of the day. In his younger
years, he and Mary would enjoy camping, hiking and canoeing with their children. In the years following
his retirement he and Mary would travel quite a bit abroad, visiting many countries including Italy,
Ireland and France, as well as numerous trips cross country and to Alaska, where they would visit Mary’s
relatives.  One summer they spent in Alaska, he serving as a bartender and Mary a waitress.

Besides his wife Mary, Leonard is survived by one of his siblings, Geneva Gilbert of Fairhope, Alabama,
his two children – Patti Garofalo of Middleboro and Mark Garofalo and his wife Chrissy of Fountain Hills,
AZ. In addition, he leaves behind 6 grandchildren, Ryan Garofalo, Ava Garofalo, Sophie Garofalo,
Christina Dusel, Travis Timmons and Marissa Timmons.  He was also grandfather of the late Nicole
Garofalo. He and Mary also have 5 great grandchildren together. Leonard was predeceased by 6 of his
siblings, Nicholas Garofalo, Michael Garofalo, Emily Sparkman, Flora Gerrior, Yolanda Rowzie and John
Garofalo.

The family would like to thank the staff at Nemasket Health Care and Hannah B.G. Shaw Home.  The care
and compassion shown by Nurses, CNA’s and the Activity department was exceptional. In lieu of flowers,
a donation to either facilities Activity Department in Leonard’s name, would be a blessing to many of
these residents.

Visitation on June 6, 2024 from 10 AM until 11 AM in the First Baptist Church of North Middleboro, 111 Plymouth Street (corner of Route 18 - Bedford Street). Funeral services at 11 AM in the church.  Military Honors and interment will follow in the Nemasket Hill Cemetery. 

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