Obituary for Edward Joseph LeBlanc Jr. Obituary for Edward Joseph LeBlanc, Jr. Edward J. LeBlanc of Tupper Lake died peacefully on November 15, 2018, 15 days shy of his 99th birthday. He was born on November 30th, 1919 in Tupper Lake, New York, the son of Hildagonde and Edward J. LeBlanc, Sr He grew up in Tupper Lake, the third of 9 children.
He graduated from Holy Ghost Academy, class of 1938. He also studied at St. Bernard’s in Alabama, Sienna College and New York University. On January 28, 1950, he married Helen Kalinak at St. Cyril’s Roman Catholic Church in Binghamton.
They were married for 63 years. Ed and Helen made their home in various parts of New York State for Ed’s teaching career. In 1967, he returned to Tupper Lake where he taught high school English until his retirement in 1981.
Ed is survived by his 6 children: Anne LeBlanc Hinkley and her husband Robert of Alexandria, Va. ; Edward J. LeBlanc III of Palm Springs, California; James R. LeBlanc and his wife Christine of Blythewood, S.C.; Mary Jane Griffith and her husband Brad of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Christopher J. LeBlanc and his wife Lori of Tupper Lake, N.Y.; Elizabeth L. Mercer and her husband Gary of Glen Allen, Va. ; and grandchildren Jack Hinkley, Michelle, James and his wife Sarah, Elizabeth and Joseph LeBlanc, Sam Griffith, Jenna Griffith and her fiancé Josh Holford, and Sarah Griffith and her partner Austin Andrews, Scott LeBlanc and his partner Ciera, and Krista LeBlanc, Gregory and Adam Mercer; and five great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by a brother, Val and his wife Colette of Mountain Home, Arkansas and many nieces and nephews, special among them Michelle Blair, Alan LeBlanc, Karen Caruso, Jody LeBlanc and Marilyn Watkins and Janice Rounds. Ed is pre-deceased by his beloved wife Helen. He is also predeceased by his brothers, Rene, Maurice, Pierre, Ernie, Alexander (P-2) and Donat and his sister Irene.
For years, Ed ran Ed’s Bike Shop fixing bicycles for locals as well as touring cyclists from other towns and states. He was an avid sportsman. In high school he played basketball and was a speed skater.
He enjoyed fishing in the summer and ice fishing in the winter. The Tupper Lake Free Press once called him “The Mayor of Raquette Pond”. He became famous for his “pike burgers” and was featured in MidYork Sportsman magazine.
His enthusiasm for Big Tupper Ski slope could be shown in his daily runs down the slopes. In his mid-seventies, Ed became an avid golfer. He liked to be the first on the course at the Tupper Lake Country Club where he played his “9 before 9” most days Ed will be remembered for his joy, gratitude and enthusiasm for life.
Donations can be made to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks. Calling hours will be at the Stuart- Fortune- Keough Funeral Home in Tupper Lake on Sunday, 11/18 from 4-7PM. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Alphonsus Church in Tupper Lake on Monday, 11/19 at 11AM.
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