Leo 'Lefty' Harkins, Vietnam War Veteran, Dies At 78

Courtesy of Mastapeter Funeral Home

Leo "Lefty" Harkins, 78, of Bayville, went home to the Lord on October 2, 2017.

He was born Nov. 3, 1938 in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Leo was a self-made man, a true out of the box thinker and a gentle soul. He was so very proud of his Irish heritage. Music and animals were his passion. He loved guitars and German shepards. It was music that brought him and his wife Bernice together. As a teen, he owned a dance hall and formed a band, "The All Stars". They backed many famous groups. Among one was Bill Haley and the Comets. They were quite the performers and they drew large crowds.

Leo served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. While there, he befriended Jerry Fuller, a very well-known song writer and producer. Jerry wrote such hits as Travelin' Man, Over You, and Young Girl. Mr. Fuller also worked with such artists' as Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Ricky Nelson, and Glen Campbell. Leo and Jerry entertained for the troops, which helped to boost their morale.

After the military, Leo graduated as an electronic engineer from RETS Electronics School in Nutley. He then was employed with Siemens Corporation. Later in life, he became a hearing aid dispenser. He established Harkins Hearing Instruments of Bayville and retired in 2014.

Leo enjoyed teaching guitar to his young friend, Nick Andrews. Leo loved to live and lived to love. He is predeceased by his wife Bernice in 2014, also by his parents Leo Sr. and Marie, his siblings Edward, Jean Hannon and Eileen O'Donnell.

Surviving are many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and lifelong buddies, Robert Milford and Jerry Fuller. Also surviving are his dear and special family, the Imperiales.

Visiting hours will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, at the Mastapeter Funeral Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville. The funeral will begin at 8 a.m. at the funeral home, before celebrating a 9:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Barnabas R.C. Church in Bayville. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Toms River. In lieu of flowers, donations in Leo's memory to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) or the Popcorn Park Zoo (ahscares.org), would be appreciated.

Photo: Patch file photo