GARFIELD, Richard Leschynski, 88, died Sept. 30. Born in Clifton, he attended Clifton Schools, moving to Garfield in 1947 and was a parishioner of Ss. Peter and Paul Polish National Catholic Church, Passaic.
   An Army Veteran of WWII, he served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and jumped into Nazi-occupied Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. He survived four major battles, the Normandy, the Market Garden, the Bulge and the Rhineland, and received two presidential citations.
   Active with Scouting for many years, he served as Scoutmaster for both Troops 57 and 75 in Clifton for 17 years. After his term as Scoutmaster he continued his involvement in Scouting as a Unit Commissioner for Pack 40 and Troops 13 & 40. He served as the assistant chairman for the Southern Valley District Klondike Derby 1975-1976, and 1980. He chaired the Klondike Derby in 1977-1979. In 1981, He served as chairman of the Southern Valley District Spring Camporee. He is also one of the original founders and organizers of the Athenia Veteran Post.
   He was the husband for 65 years of Mary; father of Laura Leschynski of Garfield and the late Richard and his wife, Linda, of Garfield; grandfather of the late Richard; brother of Regina Colatsky and her husband, Al, of Clifton; and brother-in-law of Helen Skoratowicz of N.Y.
   Funeral was Oct. 5 at Sts. Peter and Paul PNCC, Passaic, with interment at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton. Arrangements by Shook Funeral Home, Clifton.

[Community News Garfield, New Jersey 11 Oct 2012, Thu • Page A20]