A couple of weeks ago, CKD posted me with sad news…Medaille’s former campus president (and all around excellent dude) Leo R Downey, passed away at 86. Leo had been in ill health for quite a while, living in NYC.
Leo was incredibly important to Medaille, although the past and current administration probably won’t do more than a web reference and some flowers for LRD’s funeral. I hope (and wish) for more to honor Leo. Most Medaille folks probably didn’t know everything Leo did to save the campus back in the late 1970s/early 1980s when colleges like Medaille, small private liberal arts colleges, went flatline and closed. I knew.
I knew how much Leo believed in us, Medaille students, and the Medaille culture. LRD loved how the Derelicts felt Medaille was their home. Even when we played tricks on Leo, like when Carl and Ripper wore the “I’m Hard” and “I’m Erect” Hello stickers to Freshman Orientation, he played along. So, maybe LRD wasn’t happy when we had the first years drink multiple fifths of Jack Daniels’ at fall orientation and put some students into the hospital (sorry, Leo!)…he understood why we did it: To be at Medaille meant going all out to do what you were asked. Sometimes we asked everyone to do more than they could handle…
We’ll all miss you, Leo. You were a great man and a wonderful college president. I will even miss your red tuxedo. No one else could have worn one with as much style and panache as you, Dr D.
