John Albert Leese

Dr. John Albert Leese, PhD, 85, passed away January 12, 2018. He was born in Manchester, MD on December 6, 1932 to Raymond and Hilda Leese.  He graduated from Dover High School in 1950 and served on active duty in the Navy from 1951 to 1955.  He received a bachelor's degree from Penn State University, a Master's degree in Meteorology from Florida State University, and a Doctorate degree in Meteorology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Leese worked as a satellite meteorologist for IBM, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.   In 1978, he retired as Commander from the U.S. Navy Reserves.  In 2008, he received the Friendship Award from the Chinese government in honor of his contributions to the development of that country's meteorological satellite system. He was preceded in death by his son, James Leese, and his daughter, Karen Stevens, both of whom died of cancer.  He is survived by his wife Judith Leese; sister Pauline Donovan; brother Glen Leese; sister Mary Firestone; daughter Nancy Tuck; son Kevin Leese; eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 2 to 3pm at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy (Rt. 3 South), Bowie, MD followed by a memorial service at 3 pm. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403