Obituary of Douglass Lester Leaman

Douglass Lester Leaman, age 87, longtime resident of Oaks, PA, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 after a brief struggle with a rapid onset of dementia.

He was born in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1936, the son of the late Paul L. and Marie (Douglass) Leaman.

Doug and his wife Ruth were longtime residents of Oaks until recently moving to their shore home in Ship Bottom NJ.  He was a parishioner of St. Teresa of Avila RC Church in Audubon, PA.  In his earlier years, Doug began working as a lifeguard in Wildwood which is where he met the love of his life Ruth.  Doug had a long career as a teacher for the Lower Moreland School District and coached basketball.  During his summers off, he worked mowing lawns at Valley Forge Park.   When he retired from teaching he worked odd jobs and ended up at the Lower Merion District court.  Starting in his early teens Doug was an avid basketball player.  He told stories of playground ball and would often fondly recall his time playing at Overbrook High School alongside Wilt Chamberlain.  He enjoyed time spent at the beach with family, casino trips,  dancing and being the life of the party.  Frank Sinatra’s music was always playing in the house and car.   He wrote short stories, many published in local newspapers and he fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams of  completing two published books, “Toilet Tales” and “Swish”.

He honorably served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth E. Leaman (née Mace) of Ship Bottom, NJ; son, Michael (& Melissa) Leaman of Oley, PA; three daughters, Beth (& Jeffrey) Barrett of Tampa, FL, Laura (& Donald) Ingram of Gilbertsville, PA, and Karen (& Jonathan) Sbei of Phoenixville, PA; brother,  William (& Diane) Leaman of Cape May, NJ; and sister, Linda (& Gerald) Hermansen of Drexel Hill, PA.  He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Amanda, Mikaela, Kaitlan, Brandon, Paydra, Nathaniel, Alexander, and Allison.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Cifone; brother,  Robert Leaman; and daughter-in-law, Kelli Leaman. 

His Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel at St. Ann's RC Church, 502 Main St., Phoenixville, PA 19460.  Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing on Saturday morning from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM in the Chapel prior to Mass.

Interment will be private at a later date in Forest Hills Cemetery, Huntingdon Valley, PA.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to St. Joseph's University at http://giving.sju.edu/dougleamanmemorial.

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 224 West Main Street, Trappe, PA, (610) 489-7900 www.msrfh.com