Community Steps Up to Support Girls After Father's Tragic Death

David Leahy was the kind of guy who, if you didn’t know him but somebody told you about him, you’d want to meet him.

His oldest brother, Jack, has all kinds of stories about his younger sibling: the time David hooked up his neighbor’s gas grill after the guy invited him over for a beer, David helping another neighbor salvage stuff from her flooded basement, the eight or nine widows who lived in David’s neighborhood who he did handyman work for.

“He could do anything, and he would do anything … for anybody,” Jack said. “If he didn’t know how to do it, he would figure it out.”

But perhaps the best story—the story that most clearly captures what David meant to those around him—is this one that Jack shared: “Here was a lady who drove by, she said, ‘Your brother was a great man. Whatever I had, going home from work, when I saw him out there he smiled at me every day.’ I was like, ‘How did you know him?’ She said, ‘I didn’t know him. I don’t know his name. But when I saw his smile, my problems were small.’”

With perhaps just a hint of jealousy, Jack added, “He had a killer smile.”

David Leahy died last month, at 46 years old, after falling awkwardly from a tailgate in the Poconos. He left behind his two adolescent daughters, Melissa and Megan, who are in 12th and 7th grade respectively.

Jack, who moved in to take care of his nieces after his brother passed, said the girls were always David’s number one priority. He was father, provider, chauffeur, hair stylist and lunch packer.

“He wanted to spend his time and resources with his children while they were young in case he didn’t get a chance when they got older,” Jack said in his eulogy. “He learned very quickly how to do things most dads still can’t do. Word is he braided the girls’ hair better than most moms in Moorestown.”

David created a trust fund to help pay for his daughters’ college tuition. With him gone, family and friends have stepped in to keep the fund going so Melissa and Megan can live the lives their father always envisioned for them.

Kevin Loftus, president of Loftus Construction in Cinnaminson, was David’s neighbor for several years. Their daughters are the same age and their families are very close.

“Dave was a very unique guy … As good a father as some of us may think we are, what David did as a father was remarkable,” said Loftus. “It seemed to be a logical step for his friends to step up.”

Loftus and others have organized a beef and beer fundraiser on Feb. 4 at . Tickets are $50 apiece. There will be a buffet-style dinner, an open bar and live and silent auctions. All proceeds benefit the Melissa and Megan Leahy Scholarship Fund.

Loftus said there are about 150 tickets available. For more information or to sign up, visit the Moorestown Youth Softball Association website.

Jack Leahy said the outpouring of support has been “overwhelming.” The family received $25,000 in donations for the trust fund after David’s obituary ran, which asked for donations in lieu of flowers. A family friend threw a big Christmas party at their home and raised more than $4,000 by requesting contributions in lieu of hostess gifts.

“The people of Moorestown are pretty incredible,” said Jack. “They may have a little bit more than Joe Average, but they also give a little bit more more than Joe Average. We could never understand why (David) liked to live in Moorestown. But we get it now.”

Donations can be made to the Melissa and Megan Leahy Scholarship Fund, ℅ Citizen’s Bank, 5801 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128.