Ernest H. Leap Jr.

Ernest H. Leap, Jr. of Worton, Maryland died May 11, 2006 in Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown. He was 77. He was born in Cambridge, Maryland the son of the late Ernest H. Sr. and Katherine Wright Leap. He was the husband of Dorothy Rupert Leap, whom he married in 1949. Mr. Leap graduated from Cambridge High School, Class of ’45 and was a 1949 graduate of Western Maryland College, Westminster, Maryland. He played on the college basketball and baseball teams and was a member of the ROTC, the Officers Club, and Delta Pi Alpha. He played trumpet in the college orchestra. Mr. Leap graduated with a bachelors degree in science and would later return for his master’s degree. He received a commission in the U.S. Army as 2nd Lt. He taught biology at Vienna High School, Vienna, Maryland where he coached baseball. In 1951 he was called into active duty and served as 1st Lt. in the Korean Conflict as liaison between the 21st Infantry Regiment of Korea and Headquarters Fifth Infantry Regiment. He returned to Cambridge where he taught science at Cambridge High School and coached the baseball team. He later became principle of South Dorchester High School. In 1967 he moved his family to Chestertown, Maryland and became a high school supervisor with the Kent County Board of Education. Upon his retirement he accepted a position as sales representative with Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company. He retired from that position in 1995. Mr. Leap was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Community Development Commission, secretary of the Tri County Principals Association and a member of the Board of Directors at Heron Point. He enjoyed boating, hunting, fishing, sports and music. In addition to his wife of 56 years, Mr. Leap is survived by a son, Michael David Leap and his wife, Pat of Chestertown; two daughters, Carol Leap Startt and her husband, David of Chestertown, and Patricia Leap Burton and her husband, Fred of Greensboro, Maryland; four grandchildren, Melanie Moyer, Jenna Startt, Adam Burton, and Aaron Burton and five great grandchildren. He was predeceased by one brother, David W. Leap in 2002. Funeral services will be Monday, May 15, 2006 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. Family and friends may call Sunday, May 14th between 6 and 8 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 227, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 or Chester River Hospital Center, 100 Brown Street, Chestertown, Maryland 21620.

Ernest H. Leap Jr.

May 12, 2006