Leo E. Strine

Leo E. Strine died a loved and contented man on October 28, 2024.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1945, Leo grew up in a boisterous, row home, Catholic family of seven.  His beloved parents George Fredrick Strine and Alice Hobbs Strine both worked to support the family and help Leo attend parochial schools.  Leo himself took jobs so he could afford the tuition to go to Mount St. Joseph High School, the leading boys’ Catholic high school in the Charm City.  When he was a freshman in high school, Leo asked a smart, pretty girl from Seton, the leading girls’ Catholic high school, Peggy Lane, to a movie and afterward they talked on her front porch until 2 in the morning.  Leo said, “I think I would like to see you again.”  They soon fell in love or perhaps already had.

Being Catholic but not having much dependable rhythm, their plans for their post-high school future took an unexpected course change and Leo and Peggy married and soon had two sons, Leo Jr. (still haunted by the family moniker, “little Leo”) and Michael.  Starting off his career in Baltimore, Leo worked his way up in the Department store business, starting at Montgomery a/k/a “Monkey” Wards and became a buyer at the Hecht Company.

Having an opportunity to improve his family’s lot, Leo took a senior buyer position with Litt Brothers in Philadelphia and moved with the family to Hockessin Delaware in 1973.  Consistent with their belief in the importance of education, Leo and Peggy chose Hockessin because it was in the old A.I. DuPont school district.  Peggy soon joined the then-Farmer’s Bank of Delaware, starting her banking career as a teller.

As economic downturns hit the department store industry, Leo, like many Americans in the stagflation era, had to change careers.  He embarked on a career in insurance and financial planning, starting at John Hancock, moving on to Acacia, and then finding his professional home nearly 30 years ago with the amazing professionals and good people at the Financial House in Centerville.

A huge believer in ethics and serving clients with empathy, skill and integrity, Leo did everything he could to master his profession, receiving his chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant designations, and master’s degrees in financial services and management from the American College of Financial Services.  The people were the thing for Leo:  the best interests of his clients and the collegiality of his profession.  Throughout his career, Leo regularly served in important professional leadership positions, for example, as a director on the national board of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.  Leo loved his friends in the financial advisory profession and helped start a multi-disciplinary group of Delaware leaders in financial and tax advice, colloquially called the “The Study Group,” and counted its members as among his dearest friends.  In recognition of his industry leadership and service, he received the Charlie B. Palmer Memorial Award from the New Castle County Life Underwriters Association and the Douglas Benetti Award from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in recognition of his industry leadership and service.  Leo was so devoted to his profession and colleagues that he only fully retired from the Financial House in May of this year.

But Leo took the most satisfaction from the solely personal side of life:  his friends and family.  Leo did whatever it took for his wife and children.  A feminist for real, not just by rhetoric, Leo supported the career of his wife in every way possible, taking great pride in her rise in banking (from Farmer’s Bank in the merger daisy chain through to Citizens Bank) and community leadership, and championing her at every step.  As a team, Leo and Peggy were committed community members who loved their chosen state of Delaware and worked together to make it better, volunteering with charities like Christmas in April and the Salvation Army.  Most important, Leo did the things a supportive and loving spouse does — the laundry, the dishes (he had strong views about the way to load a dishwasher), the nitty-gritty, the being there for the kids and family — in a real partnership of equals.  And when Peggy suffered serious health setbacks, Leo was a devoted, protective caregiver.

Leo wanted his children to have the opportunities he had missed out on.  Higher education was essential.  So was pursuing your passions.  Service to others was the highest calling.  When the A.I. High School soccer team lost its coach to a reduction in force in 1981 shortly before the season and the team was in a lurch, Leo stepped into the breach for his two sons’ team, and coached them to the best season in the school’s recent history, defeating the defending state champions in an overtime playoff game and reaching the state semi-finals.  Anything his sons needed, Leo provided, and he has been instrumental to any success they have had.

He was also a wonderful grandfather.  The sidelines of volleyball courts and soccer fields on which his grandchildren played were his favorite places for the past generation.  Seeing Charlie take on the important role of a public school teacher and marry a loving life partner this autumn meant the world to him.  So did watching his grandsons help lead their Washington College soccer team (“go WAC!”) to unprecedented levels of success and supporting them as they embark on their chosen professions.

Leo was passionate.  He loved life.  The Baltimore Colts, soccer, Donna Summer, the Village People, foie gras, liver pudding with pancakes (gross?), a glass of rich Bordeaux, a pint of Guinness, A Christmas Carol, Funland (or anything) with the grandchildren, chocolate covered cherries, his “chair,” the mustard in Maryland steamed crabs (gross?), O’Friel’s Irish Pub, Alabama football, James Joyce, Patricia Kaas, Edith Piaf, the absence of green vegetables, Hope Solo, the Delaware Democratic party, Olivier Giroux, and foreign travels.  Many people love French Food and Irish Music.  Leo did too.  But who loved both Irish food (oxymoron?) and French music (same)?  Leo.

Leo loved a good joke.  And many bad ones.

More than anything, Leo loved his friends.  Loyalty was his brand and he saw the best in people.  If you were his friend, he had your back.  You stayed friended.

When his health turned sharply downward this year, his friends and extended family comforted him and lifted his spirits when he needed it most.  Leo was profoundly grateful for that and left this life feeling loved, and he wanted everyone to know that.  The next time you hear a good joke or lift a glass with a dear friend, think of Leo and smile!  He would love that.

Leo is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Peggy; by Carrie and Leo Strine, Jr., and grandsons James and Benjamin; and by Michael and Sharon, and his grandchild Charlie and her spouse Ellie.  Leo also leaves behind his beloved sister Mary and her wife Diane; sisters-in-law Phyllis and Rose Strine; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.  Leo missed his cherished brothers David and Eugene who died some years earlier, and his big brother John, who passed just this same month.

A celebration of life will ensue in coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, contributions of any amount to the Southern Poverty Law Center, https://secure.splcenter.org/page/64745/donate/, First State Community Action, https://www.firststatecaa.org/, and the Ministry of Caring, https://www.signup82north.com/MinistryOfCaring/, in Leo’s memory would be wonderful, as those causes were close to his heart.