Walter M. Leask

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Walter M. Leask following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Walter passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family in the early hours of Sunday, January 10, 2021.
Born in Ann Arbor, MI, the son of the late Haldane and Laura (Manchester) Leask, he had been a Fairfield resident for many years prior to moving to Shelton. He earned his B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University and his Master's in Taxation from the University of New Haven. Walter served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded five Bronze Stars with oak leaf clusters and a Purple Heart. He served as Administrative Principal and President and Chief Operating Officer of Leask & Leask P.C., a successful accounting company he operated with his brother, John (Mac) Leask. Prior to joining Leask & Leask, he served as an Internal Revenue service officer in Boston. Walter was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants. He presented a wide variety of tax seminars to various groups throughout his career.
Walter was very active in his community serving as President of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, President of the Fairfield Rotary Club and the Fairfield Recycling Center as well as serving on the Boards of Directors of other local organizations. He was elected to the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting and served on the Finance Committee. In addition to serving on the Boards of Directors of Woodfield Family Services, CLASP Homes, CT Burns Foundation and Parish Court Housing, he served on the Board of Directors of the Fairfield Rotary Foundation. For his outstanding contributions to the ideals of Rotary and his community service, he was awarded the Paul Harris Community Service Award in 1990 by the Fairfield Rotary. Walter truly loved his time as a Rotarian, and was one of three Presidents of the club whose leadership resulted in the Pettengill Award for the club in 1989. He was also named Fairfield JC "Man of the Year" in 1980. In 1992 Walter was awarded the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce's Harold B. Harris Award along with his brother Mac for their long-standing community involvement. In his spare time Walter enjoyed playing golf, listening to music, reading, and his many trips to Las Vegas. Above all else he cherished spending time with family and friends.
He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife of 44 years, Patricia Hermann Leask of Shelton; a loving and devoted step-daughter, Meredith Hiltz Fiumidinisi and her husband Michael of Stratford; a cherished granddaughter, Juliana Fiumidinisi; two brothers, William Leask of Fairfield and John (Mac) Leask and his wife, Phoebe of Herndon, VA; a sister, Anne Leask Knope of New Britain, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Charles Leask.
Due to current circumstances, funeral services will be private. The family wishes to thank Dr. Neal Fischbach, CT Hospice Home Care - Rebecca, Mary Ann, Mike, and Mara for the wonderful care they provided.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The CT Burns Care Foundation, 601 Boston Post Rd., Suite 2, Milford, CT 06460. Or The Fairfield Rotary Club PO Box 411, Fairfield, CT 06824. Or Life Bridge Community Services (previously known as Family Services Woodfield), 475 Clinton Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06606