Paul D. Leary died June 3, 2026. He was 94 years old.
Born Feb. 12, 1932, in Bronxville, he was the son of Robert Emmett and Marion (Denniston) Leary.
He spent his childhood in Stewart Manor, graduating from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, and went on to attend Syracuse University before continuing his studies at Hofstra University.
He served in the U.S. Army and worked in a high-security position at the Pentagon; his family said he often humorously remarked that his main responsibility was to “sweep the floors.”
Following his military service, he worked as a salesman at Cannon Mills, a textile company, and later formed his own business, Paul D. Leary Yarn Sales.
He remained active in retirement and became a real estate agent on the North Fork. An avid golfer, he spent as much time as possible playing the back nine at North Fork Country Club and enjoyed the friendships the game brought him over the years.
He was predeceased by his wife Barbara (Baldwin) Leary; his brother, Robert Emmett Leary Jr.; and his sisters, Barbara Ann Leary and Eileen Leary. He is survived by his children, Linda Scholl and Bruce Leary and his granddaughter, Shauna D. Scholl.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. A liturgy of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, June 17, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment with U.S. Army honors will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Cutchogue-New Suffolk Free Library or the Mattituck-Laurel Library.
