Andrew M. Leader

MIDDLESEX - Andrew Leader, 81, of Middlesex, Vermont passed away in his sleep on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at his winter residence in Poinciana, Florida, at home with his wife and one of his sons, due to Congestive Heart Failure.

Born May 20, 1942, in Iowa City, Iowa, he was the oldest son of four boys born to Dorothy (Kallin) and William Leader. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York on Sheepshead Bay. He was an Eagle Scout. Andy graduated from Amherst College in 1963 and earned an MA in English Literature from the University of Vermont in 1971.

He worked in Journalism for eight years, first at the Rutland Herald in 1963, where he covered the March on Washington, D.C., hearing Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. After studying literature at Trinity College, Dublin, he returned to Journalism, working for the Burlington Free Press as the St. Albans Bureau Chief. He then taught Mohawk Indian students in Fort Covington, New York, worked for The Plattsburgh Press Republican and as an intake worker for the Department of Social Welfare in Middlebury.

On February 13, 1970, he married Janet Wark of Barre, they were married for 54 years. Moving to Worcester, VT in 1974, he taught English and Journalism at Peoples Academy in Morrisville for 29 years. After taking a one-year sabbatical to take UVM classes in science and math, he returned to Peoples as a math teacher. He taught five years of AP English and AP Math. He was simultaneously an adjunct math instructor for 20 years at Johnson State College and taught for ten years at John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Summer Math Programs. After retiring from Peoples Academy at age 62, he spent several years studying biochemistry and related courses at UVM. Andy believed that science was the most essential and important activity of the human race. He was a fan and player of traditional music, singing, playing banjo, guitar, fiddle and piano. He enjoyed running, hiking, tennis, and pickleball. He liked writing Letters to the Editor of local newspapers. In the 1970's he was in bands, playing in coffee houses and First Night Celebrations in Montpelier, Burlington, and St. Johnsbury. He recorded two CDs of his music and self-published a book of poetry.

Survivors include his wife Janet and their sons Zachary Leader, Isaac Leader, MD (wife Ai), Nicholas Leader, and Alex Leader (wife Shannon), their four grandchildren, and his children Erika Reynolds, David Trenholm and Paul Ahern, as well as by his brother Kenneth Leader (wife Kristine).

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Robert Leader, MD and Brian Leader.

A graveside service to honor and celebrate his life will be held in the Middlesex Center Cemetery in Middlesex, VT at a date and time to be announced. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for medical research may be made to the UVM Cancer Center, The Courtyard at Given, 4th Floor North, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405.