Of the eleven children born to Fred and Bessie Leake in Wadesboro, North Carolina, Bristol S. Leake, born July 28, 1927, became the most mercurial and entrepreneurial. He was enigmatic –charismatic, captivating and compelling yet alternately feisty and temperamental.

“He was a vital and vibrant character both on and off the stage,” opines close friend and theater director Ty Collins. “He had a witty, whimsical persona and could always create a humorous moment. He had swagger and star quality.”

Bristol, who came from humble beginnings and had a strong work ethic, was a civic minded neighborhood activist who was a poll officer and was recently elected as Judge of Elections for his Ward. In prior years, his primary career was as an accomplished adjudicator for the Veterans Administration. Other jobs included work as a taxi driver, a Tupperware salesman, and the owner/operator of his own bar tending and catering service. Most recently he performed in the role of a passionate, politically savvy block captain for his beloved community of Wynnefield Heights in West Philadelphia.

“He was opinionated, but extremely well liked,” says longtime neighbor Lorraine Johnson. “He enjoyed beauty, dancing, singing, bowling and our nice lawns. He was a jolly man and a true neighbor.”

Bristol Leake enjoyed a productive and purpose driven life. He was a decorated World War II Army paratrooper serving in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. He was a businessman, humanitarian, thespian, community organizer, political activist, and --dearest to his heart-- a devout parishioner of Saint Matthias Parish holding numerous responsibilities including; Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Usher, Photographer, and choir member. He was a member of both the Knights of Columbus and the NAACP and was a proud alumnus of Saint Joseph's University. Bristol was sophisticated, classy, creative and complex. He was a dynamic gentleman with a decidedly different spunk, spirit and style -as demonstrated by his practice of spelling his last name Leake’---with the accent on the last letter---and suggesting he was “born on international waters aboard the Liberte’.”

“My brother was fun-loving, intelligent, quirky, competitive and sometimes frugal,” fondly recalls Celia O. Jones. “He was always the star of the Leake family.”

Bristol is survived by Mrs. Jones, as well as sisters A. Ozella Ingram and Thalia M. Glenn; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and many dear friends.

Bristol Leake lived a marvelous and meaningful life that truly mattered---and for that, he will be missed.

- Maynard Eaton, nephew