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- By Peggy Perry -
If you've been at UVTO for a while, you certainly already know this couple — energetic Dev Leahy and always-smiling Midge, residents of UVTO for three years this month. The continental breakfast bunch is familiar with Dev stirring flaxseed into his cottage cheese and his purposeful stride on his early morning walks around the campus. You may even be one of the dozens of incoming residents welcomed with a Trader Joe's bag of goodies delivered by the Leahys, who were enthusiastic original members of the Hospitality Committee.
Dev grew up in Evanston; when he graduated from USC, good engineering jobs were scarce in Los Angeles so he headed back to Illinois and the Northwestern University campus, where Midge was studying. When they met on a blind date, Dev and Midge discovered they had attended the same grade school in Chicago — but two years apart, so they never met. They celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary this August.
The Leahys had two small sons when they headed for California and began an idyllic life in Fullerton. At North American-Rockwell Space Division in Downey, Dev worked on the Apollo Moon Landing and Space Shuttle programs as an Engineering Development Lab Supervisor and Technology Marketing Manager. After a baby daughter completed the Leahy family, Midge became a super volunteer and even organized a babysitting club. Dev and the boys were in YMCA Indian Guides; Dev coached the boys' Little League teams, and one year they won the city Pony League championship. He helped found the Fullerton chapter of SPEBSQSA (you Barbershop Quartet devotees can translate) and for several years served as the Master of Ceremonies at district-wide chapter shows and competitions.
When the children were older, Midge became the professional District Director of Camp Fire Girls, Orange County Council. In 1981 Dev's dad died, and Dev inherited the family court-reporting business, which he managed for several years. After living in Glendale for eleven years, they retired, buying a Ventura home with a granny apartment where Midge cared for her mother.
Along the way, the Leahys' life included "you name it" at their church, where they sang in the choir, were handbell ringers, Midge loved arranging flowers for worship services, and both had their fill of rummage and bake sales. They were avid genealogists — ask about their four trips to the British Isles and the family members they discovered there. All along, there was Dev's devotion to the Rams and his beloved USC Trojans, and being a docent at the Ronald Reagan Library from 2003 through 2007. Oh, and nine grandchildren!
Memorable UVTO interests have included Jim Birren's autobiography class, Carmen's Spanish conversation group, landscape painting, helping organize the Robert Burns Scottish dinner and the talent show, judging the doggie parade and much more. Even the hummingbirds at their porch feeder recognize Midge and Dev Leahy as Noteworthy Neighbors!