William H. Leahy

Mass of Christian Burial Livestream Link: https://basilica.nd.edu/sacraments/funerals/funerals-livestream/

Obituary - William H. Leahy

William H. Leahy
September 29, 1934 –August 11, 2024

William H. "Bill" Leahy, a devoted family man, inspiring educator, and respected federal arbitrator, passed away on August 11, 2024. Born in Nyack, New York, on September 29, 1934, Bill grew up in Stony Point, New York. He was the beloved son of Winifred Davis Leahy and William H. Leahy.

Bill spent his childhood years at West Point, where his father worked and his grandmother lived. This unique environment fostered in him a lifelong admiration for the Armed Forces and a profound respect for his family's military service.

In the fall of 1952, Bill began his academic journey at the University of Notre Dame at the age of 17. His connection to Notre Dame became a lifelong commitment, as he earned his undergraduate degree in the General Program, a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Economics with a concentration in Labor Law, proudly becoming a "triple domer.” Bill dedicated 58 years to teaching in the Economics Department, retiring as a Full Professor on July 1, 2020. Throughout his distinguished career, he published numerous books, many articles, and was a sought-after speaker at various conferences. Among Bill’s numerous teaching awards, his most cherished were the Kaneb Award which he won multiple times for outstanding teaching and the Sheedy Award, honoring him as the top professor in the College of Arts and Letters. 

Bill's love for teaching and his students was widely recognized and respected. He served in multiple roles, including Chair of the Economics Department, Director of the Undergraduate Economics Program, member of the Economics Promotions Committee, Assistant Director of Student Athlete Academics, and member of the University Athletic Board. Affectionately known as "Coach," Bill was a mentor and counselor to countless students and student-athletes, and he was recognized as an honorary member of the 1966 Football Team under coach Ara Parseghian. Concurrently, he served as a federal arbitrator for 45 years, skillfully handling labor management disputes.  Bill, known as “Notre Dame Bill,” was also a 48 -year member of Alcoholics Anonymous where he both supported others and found great friends and support for himself.

Bill met the love of his life, Sharon Lewis, in the summer of 1955 while playing putt-putt at Greenwood Lake, NJ. They married in 1956 at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Jersey City, NJ. Bill often expressed that his greatest loves were his wife, Sharon, and Mother Mary, the Lady on the Golden Dome. Bill had a passion for all sports, reading, attending Notre Dame games, visiting National Parks, and enjoying the Shakespeare and Shaw Festivals in Canada.  Bill was also known in the family for telling his unique stories of a character he created named Baby Witch.  He told hundreds of versions over the years with an oft recited cheer of “Sis, boom, bah, Stony Point High School, rah, rah, rah,” which made Baby Witch’s broom fly.  It will be fondly chanted for years to come by his family. 

Bill and Sharon were part of the original families of married students who lived in Vetville which was a group of WW II recycled prisoner barracks that formed the original graduate student housing at Notre Dame.  Their home was at the site of today’s Hesburgh Library and they can still remember the day surveyors came into their home to plot out the library.  Then for 50 years, Bill and Sharon resided on Amberly Lane in South Bend, Indiana, before moving to Holy Cross Village in Notre Dame, IN, to be even closer to the Golden Dome once again.

Bill is survived by his wife Sharon. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Price, of Punta Gorda, Florida. Bill and Sharon are blessed with six children: Sharon Leahy Sullivan (Michael), Bill Leahy (Linda), Kelly Leahy Kamm (Bob), Erin Hoag (George Hoey), Terry Leahy (Tanya), and Shannon Lentz. Bill adored their grandchildren: Will, Michayla, Sean, Lexy, Alyssa, Christian, Megan, Kylee, and Brady, and six great-grandchildren.  Bill is predeceased by his parents and his granddaughter, Breanna Lentz.

A wake will be held at Kaniewski Funeral Home on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 9:30 am. Bill will be buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery at a later date on the Notre Dame campus where he spent 73 years of his life. Bill has requested that everyone wear casual clothing (Notre Dame or kelly green apparel).  

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (please note Juvenile Huntington Research) or the Professor William H. Leahy Endowed Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame. 

Bill's legacy of dedication, love for teaching, and unwavering commitment to his wife Sharon, his family, and students will be cherished and remembered by all who knew him.  Bill would want this obituary to end the way he finished many discussions, so in one final send off - “Go Irish!”