Leo "The Ace" Fallon - Part 2

After the war Leo went to college to get his degree. He first went to East Stroudsburg Teachers College, and graduated with a BS in education, then to Montclair State for a MA in Administration. He matriculated at Columbia University for his educational doctrine but he never finished. After teaching in the Clifton and Montclair school districts he got a job as Principal of Northvale Elementary. He was very proud as it was a brand new school and he was its first principal.
Not only was Leo a huge Civil War buff but he was a captivating story teller. His son Pat tells the story of one time he was lucky enough to sit in on a history class that Leo was substituting for.

"On this history class I sat in on, Leo taught a lesson on, of course, the Civil War. I can remember no further particulars of the lesson itself, except that he excelled as much at engaging the History class as he did when if front of the kids at our family gatherings with his "Pierre Stories." (more on that in a minute) So much so, that he ended the lesson with some sort of flourish, punctuated perfectly by the buzzer sounding for the end of class. For the only time I can remember, a classroom I was in erupted in spontaneous applause by kids who had actually enjoyed themselves."

During the summers when Leo was not teaching he worked at Willow Dell House in Minisink Hills, PA every summer for 12 years as the entertainment director. Every year he would bring his family up to spend the summer in their own cabin and the kids would have the run of the place. Leo would plan a different event for every day of the week for all the guests, trips to the animal farm, casino night, softball games. In his words ”My job as Social Director in the Poconos for 12 years was very challenging; plenty of kicks and almost left Nan 3 times.”

One summer his wife Nan was pregnant with their son Patrick and the pool at Willow Dell was closed so you had to go to the Delaware Water Gap if you wanted to swim. Leo's parents had come down one day and Nan was mad at Leo because he didn't want to go down to the gap and she had to go with Anna and James. After Nan got down to the gap she called Leo at the resort and told him there was an emergency and she needed him. He jumped in the car and raced down there but realized he had no money to get through the toll booth. The collector asked him if he had anything of value on him so Leo gave him one of his shoes. On the way back all the toll collectors were laughing outside their booths at the man who had to trade a quarter for his shoe back. Leo almost killed Nan for that one.

In 1967 Leo was hired as the first superintendent the Union Beach school district. He entered into this position during a particularly difficult time in the district when there was a mass exodus of teachers the previous school year. Leo said he was lured into the job by the challenge of rebuilding a troubled district. He stayed in the position for two years before resigning, and later being appointed to head a new division of educational facilities developing specialized educational classrooms. After that position he became a sales rep for Rand McNally and Riverside publishing. On top of all that he was also president of the Candlewood Homeowners Association. He was a member and lector of Church the Assumption. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, PT Boats Inc., Elks; and was the first director of Candlewood Swim Club. In other words, the man was nonstop.

But working was not the only thing Leo cared about. Family was very important to him. His mother Anna's family was very close, and very large. They were always hosting parties and get togethers and had almost yearly family reunions where everyone would come in from all of the country and Leo was usually the star of show. His children and their many cousins would all gather round and he would "spin a new episode of the continuing story of the amazing adventures of the plucky youth, "Pierre," who would always escape an inescapable predicament with some kind of clever trick, complete with sound effects that Leo provided himself, sinister under lighting with a flashlight, and always some "BOOM!!" or other at a crucial plot point that startled all the kids half to death. It was great and they loved it." says his son Pat.

His daughter Coleen says "He had a real joy of life. He always had something going on; a bet, a joke, or a story."

On February 18, 1999 he and Nan celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Leo died a few days later on February 24. He was survived by his wife, 6 children, and 10 grand children.
I don't recall if I ever met Uncle Leo, if I did I was too young to remember him. But the way his family talks about him I only wish I could have known the legendary man that once was. The entertainer, the prankster, the educator, the story teller, the civil war buff, the lover of Italian Opera, the life of the party, "The Ace."

PS Big huge thanks to Leo's children Pat and Coleen for helping fill me in on their father!

 The Ace, left, his college chum The Cooter, right. They worked as waiters and put on skits for the vacationers at Willow Dell House in Minisink Hills, PA, while going to ESSC.

 James, Leo, and Anna Fallon at Leo's graduation

 From Leo's son Pat - There is a famous picture of JFK alone, walking the windswept dunes near the Sea. I have heard it was JFK's favorite picture of himself.

I know it was The Ace's favorite photo of JFK. He liked it so much he asked me to take a picture of himself, which he never asked me to do, as he recreated the photo.

 Leo, Nan, Anna, Mary, Pat, Coleen, Laurie, and Nancy

I was blessed enough to get a hold of my nana Joan's photo albums, and this photo is the first photo I came across of Leo.

Apparently this was their Christmas card one year and Leo even sent it into the Neuweiler beer company who then sent him two cases of beer. Poor Nan looks horrified.

 

 Leo at his son Pat's wedding, microphone in hand.

 Leo at a family gathering, probably telling one of his famous Pierre stories. His cousins Joan, Jane on the left, and  cousin in law Prudence on the right


You may also like:
Leo Fallon - Part 1
Jane and Joan McGonigle - Part 1 (his cousins)
Joan McGonigle - Part 2,  Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Jane McGonigle - Part 2
Mayme Kelleher - his aunt