Obituary of Leo P McGinty

Leo P. McGinty, Jr. passed away peacefully Tuesday morning March 7th at home surrounded by his loving family. Leo was born in Philadelphia and raised in Atlantic City. He was a graduate of Our Lady Star of the Sea Grammar School (55) and Holy Spirit High School (59). He received his BA in English from Villanova University (63) where he participated in the NROTC program. After marrying he began his career in the Navy, completing flight training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. The family moved on to Patuxent River, MD and was part of the VP-44 squadron. Then to Princeton, NJ where he was an Assistant Professor in the NROTC program at Princeton University. Next based in Almeda, CA, Leo boarded the USS Enterprise CVAN-65 for a Vietnam deployment as part of the VP-68 squadron where he was a catapult officer, and a patrol plane commander flying P-3 aircraft. In 1972 Leo and his family settled in Greensboro, NC where he began his career as a commercial pilot. He flew as the chief pilot for Blue Bell Airlines (later named Tradewinds) flying large cargo CL-44 and L-1011 aircraft. He retired as a commander from the Naval Reserve service in 1996. After retirement from piloting, he served the Federal Aviation Administration as a safety inspector until his final retirement in 2007. Leo then began his second career in 2008 with a life in baseball, joining the Greensboro Grasshoppers as a suite greeter. He was the Hoppers second longest employee, working up until this past summer of 2022. More than flying and baseball Leo loved his family above all else; his beloved wife of 59 years Sylvia (Fidler) and his children and their spouses; Leo P. McGinty, III, Kathleen (McGinty) and Chip Loye, Lara (McGinty) and Shane Kilfoil. He was the proud grandfather to 3 grandchildren, Ryder Kilfoil, Drew and McKenna Loye. He is also survived by his loving extended family; sister Eileen Eger; brother James & Geraldine McGinty, brother Ronald McGinty. Blessed with 13 nieces and nephews, 25 great nieces and nephews and 6 godchildren. He loved nothing more than to have the entire family together for meals and trips, and always insisted on picking up the bill. He was predeceased by his parents Leo P. McGinty, Sr. and Dorothy (McHale) McGinty, and his in-laws Lynn Fidler and Mildred Fidler, Brother-in-law Fred Eger, Sisters-in-law Taina McGinty, Dolores Coppolecchia, Lynette and Joe Michael, Doris and Bob Adams. Leo was a social guy that loved to tell a story. At Holy Spirit he was the Student Body President, was the editor of the school yearbook sports page, had a headline role in the school play. Through college he worked with his family at the Atlantic Coast TV Cable Corporation and had plenty of stories to tell about backstage at the Miss America Pageant. He loved sports and spent hours watching everything from NASCAR, football, basketball, and baseball to his daughter's triathlons and his grandchildren's soccer games. He traveled to many ballparks across the country with his son Leo, but loved the one in Greensboro the best, making as many games as he could, going all the way back to the 80's. He also especially loved the challenge of feeding the backyard birds, when he knew the squirrels would win in the end. Leo had a sense of adventure for the world and enjoyed traveling with his family and friends internationally. But, with a highlighted map in hand, you could not do better than a trip with his family to the beach, from the boardwalk of Atlantic City to Myrtle Beach, SC, all the way to Puerto Rico. He took such joy in making those memories together. He was deeply rooted in his Catholic faith and committed to working hard every day to ensure his family had every opportunity possible in life. He was a steadfast man with a wicked sense of humor. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a favorite charity in Leo's name, he was a supporter of so many wonderful causes. And further, support your local minor league baseball team and give a shout of "Big Hit!" in his honor. A visitation for friends and family will be held 7-9pm Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Gormley Funeral Home 2706 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Leo 10:00am Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 2651 Atlantic Avenue Atlantic City. The Rite of Committal will be offered at Holy Cross Cemetery, 5061 Harding Highway (Route 40) in Mays Landing, following Mass. Arrangements by the Gormely Funeral Home LLC, AC.(gormleyfuneralhomellc.com). A Celebration of Life will be held in Greensboro, NC at a later date.