Todd Leacock was a great man taken far too soon at the age of 44.
He is survived by his grief-stricken, yet grateful, wife Melissa Baldry, their cherished son Robert Leacock and countless family and friends.
He was a loving husband, adoring father, faithful friend and the first person you would call if you were stuck in a jam. He was the most talented carpenter and woodworker most of us will ever know. He was truly an artist but hesitated to consider himself one. His smile was literally infectious and his laugh sincere. He loved helping people. He loved teaching people about the things he enjoyed. Seniors and children gravitated to his warmth and his genuine interest in them. He couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with everyone in his path - as his wife liked to say, he could talk to a tree stump for hours.
Todd loved his family. He never wavered in his devotion to them. From the moment his son Robert drew breath, he was addicted to him. He couldn’t believe his luck in finding his family so young and was the most enthusiastic father and husband. He was an endless source of support and encouragement to his wife. He celebrated her every victory no matter how small and could ease her many worries by making her stop and see the beauty and the miracles that surrounded them in the moment.
Todd loved music. He always said if he had three wishes he would use one so he could be a great singer. When his favourite songs played, he would sing anyway which would make all those around him smile. Music spoke to him and he couldn’t abide silence. He would spend hours teaching himself guitar. He would share songs that said the words he felt he didn’t have. If you knew him, and a song comes on that touches your heart, please know it’s from Todd.
Todd loved food. He loved to cook and loved being catered to by Melissa. When she started baking bread, he would gush to everyone how it was the best he’d ever had (it truly wasn’t but that’s not the point). They watched the Food Network endlessly for inspiration and Todd loved to shop the spice aisle to find something he’d never tried. When his son would cook for him, he always gave it 10 stars and would make him feel like a Micheline-rated chef.
Todd loved sports. The Leafs were his heart and every single year without fail he was sure “this was their year”. The eternal optimist.
Not everyone gets to live their dream but Todd and Melissa were making it happen. They gambled it all and moved to the north to live their dream of a tiny homestead on a lake that was their happy place. He built his house with his own two hands and the help of his wonderful friends. He delighted in spending days on the lake fishing alone or with friends or carting his wife slowly along the shore to breathe in the peaceful air. He loved winter and as soon as the snow was deep enough, he was off sledding or ice fishing and would come home frozen but joyful. Their gardens were known far and wide and they liked to spend their evenings wandering through them marveling at their progress and cherishing every bloom and vegetable that appeared. His beautiful puppy Dolly gave him such joy as he watched her explode from a crazy pup to a beautiful giant of a girl with a tail that he found utterly stunning. He loved their adventure walks and teaching her tricks, and she is lost without him now.
A celebration of Todd’s life will take place on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the Port Loring Legion Hall and on Friday, May 3 at the Brown Barrel Eatery, Hamilton from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.
To leave a tribute or memory for the family, please visit paulfuneralhome.ca or call Paul Funeral Home, Powassan at 705-724-2024.