Leo Schleicher

Anthony Leo Schleicher, age 59, on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Beloved husband of Anne Schleicher, devoted father of Dean and Erica Schleicher, loving brother of Dean Schleicher and wife Terry, and Pamela Jones and husband Sherwood, admired brother-in-law of Cam Miller, Jon and Lila Davis, Erica and Fredi Dutzi.  Leo was an adored uncle of Max and Kelly Jones; Andrew, Allison and Katherine Schleicher’s Tio Leo; Erin, Chris, Caden and Carly Roosa; Lauren Miller; Noah, Tim Dutzi and Alice and Stefan Kohl; Jared, Lily and Tenley Davis; and a friend to many.  He was also the loving nephew of Ray Schleicher, Sandy and Bill Brewer, Bob and Tammy Schleicher, Ron and Gail Stark, favorite cousin of Preston, Arlie, Kenny, Melinda, Audrey and many others.

Leo was a retired MCPS high school English teacher whose career spanned 30 years at both Damascus High School and Watkins Mill High School. He coached many first-place forensics and debate teams at both schools. His enthusiasm in the classroom was contagious. His specialty topics were speech and 12th grade honors English.

Leo's diagnosis with advanced prostate cancer took him on a nine-year journey of clinical trial treatments, radiation and intense chemotherapy. He was a favorite of doctors, nurses and fellow patients - he was the life of the chemo room. His positive focus and insistence on living in the moment afforded his family a sense normalcy and joy at every turn.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2012, preceded by visitation with the family from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Stauffer Funeral Home in Mt. Airy, MD. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, www.prostate-cancer.org , would be appreciated, or the charity of your choice.