Mary Jill Cassidy Leonard

Albany, NY - Leonard, Mary Jill (Cassidy)Our beloved sister Jill left this life on July 18, 2022, after a tremendous demonstration of strength, courage and independence in her battle with metastatic melanoma. She is reunited with her beloved husband Tim whom she married on May 24, 1975. Jill was born in Albany on September 1, 1943 to Thomas F and Margaret Faire (Marshall) Cassidy. Jill is preceded in death by both parents, her cherished husband Tim, sister Margaret (Peg) Perfield Levine and brothers Thomas F Cassidy, Jr and William. Jill Is survived by her sister Maureen Cassidy (Gerald Kluft), brother Michael J Cassidy (Janet Cassidy), sister in law Nancy Carey Cassidy, brother in law Alan Levine, nieces Jill Perfield Anelli and Elizabeth Faire Cassidy and nephews David Perfield (Lisa), Colin Cassidy (Nicole), Kevin Cassidy and Thomas Hugh Carey Cassidy. She loved her adorable great-nephews and nieces Brandon Anelli, Anna and Lexi Perfield and Jack, Sienna and Chloe Cassidy and thoroughly enjoyed watching them grown up. They all will enjoy their Aunt Jill memories. Always outgoing, pretty and personable, Jill had a fun and varied career. She is a graduate of the Academy of the Holy Names (1960). After Holy Names, she did an internship with Josef Yezzi’s, a well-known woman’s dress shop, in downtown Albany. She then went on to work at Berdorf Goodman's in New York. During her time at Berdorf’s, she coordinated the Truman Capote and Katherine Graham’s Black and White Ball. She later went to work for Mohawk Airlines, based in both Albany and Boston and traveled extensively. Politics caught her eye and she went to work on the staffs of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, Perry Duryea and Joseph Bruno. Always independent, she was a proud and active Republican, much to the chagrin of Tim, a life-long Albany Democrat. After her family, Jill was most proud of her community service which she participated in with joy and enthusiasm.. Jill was a member of the Junior League of Albany. She was a founding chairperson of the volunteers for the “Melodies of Christmas” concerts and Dancing in the Woods, founding board member of The Ronald McDonald House, member of the Albany Institute of Art and board member of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Tim and Jill were members of Wolfert Roost Country Club. Jill and her family are most grateful for the amazing healthcare she received from Joanne Fogarty, MD, Michael Postow, MD from MSKCC and the wonderful and compassionate staff at Albany Medical Center. Services will be private at Jill’s request. In lieu of flowers, Jill would like contributions made to The Albany Ronald McDonald House 139 South Lake Avenue, Albany NY 12208, in her honor. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Mary Jill Cassidy Leonard

September 1, 1943 - July 18, 2022