MANCHESTER – Grace Margaret (Smith) Leonard, 86, of Manchester, passed away on August 5, 2022. Grace died peacefully at home surrounded by family. Grace was born on July 12, 1936, in Medford, Mass. She was the daughter of Eugene W. Smith and Beatrice L. (Hughes) Smith.

Grace was deeply committed to her career at the University of Maine at Augusta and to the broader mental health and human services field. Grace obtained her bachelor’s in elementary education and her master’s in guidance counseling from the University of Kentucky where she and Jim attended school together as newlyweds. They began their careers side-by-side; he as a VA psychologist and she as an elementary school teacher and guidance counselor. She soon advanced to teaching at the college level when Jim took positions at VA hospitals in Bath, N.Y., and Cleveland, Ohio.

Once they settled in Maine, Grace quickly became immersed in the educational community. She won a seat on the Manchester school board in 1971. She also started teaching courses at UMA in 1971. It was not long until she became a professor of psychology and mental health in 1974 and eventually the Dean of Natural and Social Sciences in 1997. She served in this position until she “retired” in 2015.

A proud achievement was developing UMA’s degree program in mental health and human services and fostering relationships between the university and local human service agencies to ensure graduates would find meaningful employment. After becoming professor emerita, Grace continued to teach a variety of courses through UMA’s Senior College. It was clear that she had a profound impact on the many students and colleagues she mentored over the years.

Grace served on numerous boards and committees for the city of Augusta and the state of Maine. Some of these include, but are not limited to, the Board of Directors for the Augusta Mid-State Cerebral Palsy School, the Department of Mental Health Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health, the state Board of Substance Abuse Counselors, the Advisory Board of Riverview Psychiatric Center, the Greater Augusta Elder Abuse Task Force, and, most beloved to her, the Board of Directors for Motivational Services, Inc. Grace championed mental health programs by securing bi-partisan support when she spoke in front of the Maine state legislature.

Grace will long be remembered for her hard work and her generous spirit. She never intended to stop working for the causes she believed in and worked up until weeks before her unexpected passing.

Grace delighted in spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed staying in touch with extended family. She was an avid reader, especially of historical non-fiction and biographies. She loved watching independent films at the Railroad Square Cinema with her friends and she was later delighted to learn how many foreign films were available on Netflix. She also enjoyed leisurely walks around her Gardencrest neighborhood.

Grace was recently predeceased by her devoted husband of 67 years, Dr. James Robert Leonard on May 6, 2022. She and Jim were beloved by their immediate family and large extended family.

Grace is survived by her younger brother, David A. Smith and wife Laurella of Millbrook, Ala. She leaves behind her children James R. Leonard, Jr. and wife, Kristen Kravitz of Topsham, John M. Leonard of Melrose, Mass., and Andrew E. Leonard and wife, Kathleen C. Leonard of Groton, Mass. She will be missed by her grandchildren Collin and partner, Makenzie Nichols, Genevieve, Elise, James, and Emily; and by her great-granddaughter, Evelyn. Grace is also survived by many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery 163 Mount Vernon Rd., Augusta, Section B.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME 04330. Condolences, stories and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, Grace wanted any donations to be made to

Motivational Services, Inc.,

71 Hospital St.,

August, ME, 04330

https://mocomaine.com/donate/

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