Leon Gentle passed away on Friday December 17, 2021.

Leon was born on May 28, 1943 in Grenada. Leon was the youngest of 9 children, and in his early years he moved to Trinidad and Tobago at the age of 9.

In Leon’s early years, he learned how to be very independent and take care of himself. During these years, Leon learned to be responsible, take care of himself, and developed a strong sense of who he was as a man. Leon was wise beyond his years and had a strong work ethic. Leon was so charismatic, loving and was always willing to listen to others. As Leon would describe his upbringing, “ I learned how to use my hands and this helped me get jobs and earn money”. Leon learned as a youth that he was very skilled in carpentry, and cooking.

While in Trindad, Leon met his wife, Joan Rosales and the two wed in 1973.

Leon and Joan lived in New York City for a short period of time and later decided to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts in 1974. Leon and Joan resided in the South End in 1974 and lived on Mass Ave. Leon and Joan later gave birth to their two beautiful children, Laurie Ann in 1976 and Lee in 1977.

Leon was employed at Boston City Hospital in the Transport Department, as a Medical Escort in 1974. He developed many close friendships and relationships with staff, who later became like his family. Leon retired in 2018, after 44 years of dedicated service and loyalty to the former University City Hospital, on East Newton Street.

Leon loved to cook for his friends and family and was a master chef! Everyone who knew Leon, knew he could throw down in the kitchen. Lee and Laurie’s friends always came by to eat Leon’s favorite meals: rice and peas, fish, pila, stew chicken, pumpkin, chickpeas and lentil. He loved to cook for his family and friends, and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Leon was well known in his community and loved living in the South End. Leon was the “neighborhood dad” to all those who knew and loved him. His daily routine would consist of going for his daily walks in the south end. Leon would walk in the neighborhood to visit Laurie and see Lee and his friends hanging out in the neighborhood. All of Lee and Laurie’s friends admired Leon as a man and father figure. Leon would spend endless hours joking, laughing, and sharing stories about his life with Lee’s friends, who he watched all grow up in the south end. Leon never judged others, was accepting and loving, did not bite his tongue and would always keep it real with those he loved.

Leon enjoyed gardening with his close family-friend James in Codman Square. He would keep in contact with his niece, Evelyn in Canada. Leon enjoyed vacationing on Cape Cod, traveling on cruises to the Caribbean and visitng various beautiful islands.

Leon was called “Grandpa” by his grandchildren, whom he loved spending time with at his home on Hammond Street. Leon had such a beautiful spirit, warm heart and became a surrogate grandparent to those he loved and cared for, and was a positive influence. Leon had a very close bond and friendship with the Boston City Hospital family: Denise, Popa Well, Hess, Maria, and so many more good people he connected and cared for.

Leon was loved and will be so greatly missed! He will be remembered for his love for his family, humor, smile, laugh, and kind words to people he cared for the most. He leaves to celebrate his life with the two people who met the world to him, his two children: Laurie and Lee. His grandchildren: Andre, Malik, Ian, Mai’lee and his great-granddaughter, London. Leon was a grandfather, father, uncle and friend to so many in the community.

Visiting hours will be held at Saint Patrick Church, 336 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA on Tuesday December 28th from 2-6PM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment private.