Dr. Leo Lemuel Laughlin, Jr., CDR USN (Ret), of Bradenton Florida, passed away on September 16, 2022, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Leo was born on March 13th, 1938, in Orange, NJ to Mary and Leo Laughlin. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 1959. Hear earned his master’s degree from Drexel University in 1965, and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire in 1973. Leo joined the United States Navy in 1962 and served as a biochemist. During his service, Leo was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He retired in 1984, attaining the rank of Commander. After leaving the Navy, Leo worked for Batelle as a research scientist from 1987–2002 in Crystal City, VA.
He retired in 2002 and relocated to Bradenton, FL in 2003. Leo was an active member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Sarasota, FL. After he retired, Leo picked up cooking as a hobby and became quite the accomplished chef, making everything from homemade deep-fried doughnuts to his famous "coffee toffee" ice cream. Leo was a voracious reader, devouring every novel he came across. When he wasn’t cooking or reading, he enjoyed spending his time with his beautiful wife of sixty years, Betsy.
Leo is preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister Mary Elizabeth "Meg" Hayden, his brothers-in-law William McCarthy and Donald Hayden, and his nephew William McCarthy, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy“ Ann Sylvester Laughlin, his two sisters, Laurie McCarthy and Kelly Burkett, his brother Mark Laughlin, his sister-in-law Mary Cashman, his children, Leo Laughlin III, Dennis Laughlin, Margaret Laughlin, Timothy Laughlin, Kathleen Laughlin Stotler, Elizabeth Laughlin Hattman, his 18 nieces and nephews, his 17 grandchildren and his 10 great-grandchildren.
Leo’s celebration of life and a reception will take place on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, from 4 to 6 PM at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at Manasota Memorial Park, located at 1221 53rd Ave East, Bradenton Fl, 34203 with a reception to follow.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ManasotaMemorial.com for the Laughlin family.
