HOPE VALLEY — Father Michael J. Leckie, 76, of Deep River, Conn., died November 15 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was born in Providence, son of the late Arthur and Theresa (Doris) Leckie. He is survived by sisters Susan, Barrington, RI; Kathy, So. Dartmouth, MA; Sharon (Richards) Mignone, Franklin, MA; 4 nieces; 3 grandnieces and 1 grandnephew. He was the brother of the late Chris Leckie, and stepson of the late Mary Murphy-Leckie.
Father Leckie studied for the priesthood at Our Lady of Providence Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. He was ordained on July 30, 1976 in St. James Church in West Warwick. He served as assistant pastor at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, St. Joseph’s in North Scituate and St Benedict’s in Warwick. He was appointed pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in Hope Valley on June 20, 1991. He also served as Assistant Chaplain to the diocesan Apostolate for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. He was a member of the St. John Neumann Council Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains and a founding member of the RI Critical Incident Stress Team. He was the recipient of the Federation of Fire Chaplains Founder’s Award in 2025. He also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
His life-long interest in railroads led him to volunteer as a presenter for Operation Lifesaver, a program of railroad safety, and as a volunteer on the Old Colony & Newport Railway, a local tourist railroad.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial was held at St Joseph’s Church, Hope Valley, on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Contributions in Father Leckie’s memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Church in Hope Valley, or to the American Heart Association.
