Our lives were enriched to have Father Arthur T. Leone as a friend and family member for 87 years. Arthur Thomas Leone was born in New York City on June 9, 1931 to Rose and Charles Leone. Although he was the third of four children, he was the first son for his devout Italian, Catholic parents. On June 2, 1956 his life was transformed by the grace bestowed on him through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. His vocation to serve the Lord was a source of great honor to his family. Throughout his life, Arthur was known to be artistic and well read.

He loved traveling and reading, especially poems of Keats and Belloc as well as ancient Roman, British and European art history. His love of travel provided him opportunities to study and collect European art and classical design ideas. He always returned with great stories of friends he met and things he learned on his travels. As his ministry duties permitted, he loved joining his friends for conversations and dinners.

Arthur made an impact on everyone he knew. He was wonderfully creative, kind and devoted. During his 62 years as a parish priest, he offered countless masses, heard thousands of confessions and performed numerous baptisms, wedding and funerals. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. His well-prepared sermons left the listener not only with an explanation of the liturgy but with a deeper connection to history and everyday events. Fr. Leone is survived by several nieces, nephews and many devoted and cherished friends. He passed peacefully in his sleep on Thursday July 12, 2018.

A mass of Christian burial will be offered at the O’Connor Residence Chapel located at 5655 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY at 10 AM Thursday July 19, 2018. His remains will privately be interred in St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to continue the excellent care provided to his fellow retired priests at the Edward Cardinal Egan Pavilion 5655 Arlington Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471.