John J. Leahy, 84, executive for Strawbridge & Clothier

John J. Leahy, 84, of Bryn Mawr, a longtime executive for Strawbridge & Clothier, the former department store, died Friday, Nov. 6, of pneumonia at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

When he retired in the mid-1990s, Mr. Leahy was senior vice president for operations and also general superintendent, capping a 42-year career.

He had served as vice president for 25 years starting in 1969. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving vice president within the department-store chain.

As he departed, the Strawbridge's board of directors thanked him for his "dedicated and distinguished service and genuine interest in and encouragement of others," his family said.

Mr. Leahy was uniquely suited for his job. "He loved people," said his wife, Mary S. Leahy. "He got jobs for people. He had a knack for making friends."

Mr. Leahy, known as "Jack," was born in Philadelphia. He graduated from St. Thomas More High School and in 1952 earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from Villanova University.

He worked at Strawbridge's briefly before serving for two years during the Korean War at the Japanese Procurement Agency in Yokohama, Japan, where he was an Army contracting officer.

When he returned home, Mr. Leahy became a buyer of men's shoes for Strawbridge's. Later, he was named manager of the Springfield, Delaware County, store, and in 1967, he was promoted to manager of the Plymouth Meeting store.

He was a member of many retail groups, including the National Retail Merchants Association and the National Retail Federation.

Mr. Leahy enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad. "We went and found his father's family in Ireland," his wife said. "He loved Paris, both the architecture and people."

Besides his wife, Mr. Leahy is survived by a son, John Mark Leahy.

A visitation at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at St. John Vianney Church, 354 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne, is to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment is in Calvary Cemetery.

Donations in his name may be made to Villanova University via www1.villanova.edu/villanova/advancement/development/waystogive.html.

bcook@phillynews.com

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