Lesko, Mary Valinda

Linda Lesko, a generous, loving and beautiful lady died on September 20, 2019. Diagnosed with
acute myeloid leukemia on July 23, she underwent aggressive treatment and made her best effort
to fight against the disease. She made her final journey with grace and a sense of peace while
asking the unanswerable question, why? Permeating her questioning and patience was an
enduring faith in the mystery of life in all its facets.
This quality of faith and belief began in Brooklyn and Forest Hills, NY on September 1, 1941 as
the eldest daughter of Dr. James E. McCoy and Mary Nolan McCoy. Dr. McCoy’s work in
pediatrics and his explorations in treating RH Negative babies along with her mother’s college
teaching in dramatics set an intellectual frontier for her. Linda’s family had a sense of
responsibility and caring for others that instilled a grace toward others and concern for their
wellbeing. After high school at Mary Louis Academy in NY, she graduated from Trinity
Washington University in May 1963. She married Ronald JP Lesko in July 1963 and taught
grammar school on Long Island. During the years when her two daughters were born she
finished her work on a Masters in Philosophy. From 1970 – 1997 she taught college philosophy
and was head of the Humanities Department at the Academy of St. Joseph where the girls
attended school. Upon retirement to Brooklin, Maine in 1998 she became actively engaged in
many community activities including Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Volunteer Association Board,
an active and vibrant book club, Blue Hill Concert Association Board, Center Harbor Yacht
Club, Founder and Board of Colloquy Downeast, presenter of the High Definition Metropolitan
Opera previews at the Blue Hill Library, and member and officer of the Brooklin Garden Club.
Grace, order in life, understanding others and a sense of peace in turmoil marked her moral and
daily life.
After sixty years together, Linda’s love, presence and guidance are deeply missed by Ronald JP
Lesko, her beloved husband of 56 years, daughter Lisa Anne Lesko, partner Allen P. Dodge, and
grandson Theodore Ronald Lesko of Blue Hill, ME; daughter Deirdre Mary, husband Peter L.
Hobson and grandson Oliver Joseph Hobson of Cohasset, MA; sister Katherine Davidson and
husband William; sister Susanne McCoy; brother James E. McCoy and wife Holly; and several
nieces and nephew as well as the multitude of beloved family and friends who have gathered
around Linda for over her 78 years. She was predeceased by her father, James E McCoy in 1979
and her mother Mary VN McCoy in 2004.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11 am, Saturday, September 28, 2019 at St Francis By the
Sea, 330 Hinkley Ridge Rd, Blue Hill. Gifts in Linda’s memory to the Jesuit Refugee Service,
USA(jrsusa.org).