John Robert Leo

The world lost a singular light when John Robert Leo, University of Rhode Island Emeritus Professor, passed away on September 25, 2024. He was born on February 10, 1943, in St. Paul, MN, then moved with family at a young age to Seattle, WA. 
John demonstrated his considerable intellect early on. He received a full scholarship to Yale University (Berkeley College) in 1961, graduated with a B.A. degree in English in 1965, and was a member of the prestigious Skull and Bones society. From there, he went to Northwestern University, where he received both a M.A. (1967) and a Ph.D. {1972) in English, as well as studying as a M.A. candidate in Art History. 
His talents were quickly appreciated at the esteemed University of Rhode Island (URI), where he began teaching in 1973, and from where he retired in 2009. During his long and respected tenure, he served as a Professor and Interim Chair of English, Professor and Director of Comparative Literature Studies, and Director of (then new) Film Media Program. He was also a three-time Nominee for Excellence in Teaching. 
Always a student of the world, John brought his teaching skills abroad on several distinguished occasions. He was awarded an impressive three Fulbright Scholarships. Two were at the Maria Curie­Sktodowska University, Lublin, Poland, where he served as Distinguished Chair of American Studies / American Literature, 1998-1999, and was renewed as Senior Fulbright Scholar 1999-2000. The third Fulbright was as a Senior Scholar in American Literature and Film at Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia, 2003-2004. 
John also received the Hugh Le May Fellowship at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa in 2010. This Fellowship is awarded only to senior scholars with substantial research records. 
He continued vigorously researching, writing, and traveling as long as possible after his so-called 
"retirement". In a cruel twist of fate, John was robbed of his brilliant intellect in his last few years. He ultimately passed away due to complications from Alzheimer's in his longtime domicile of Providence, Rhode Island, surrounded by dear friends Gary White, Liz Cheng, and Jerry Cadolla. 
John was preceded in death by his parents, Frances LeDuc Kiichli and Robert John Leo; siblings, Mary Beth Juknavorian and William (Billy) Leo; and cherished friend Bill Martindale. He is survived by his sisters Janice Kiichli (Katy Budge) and Laurel Kiichli (Carl Wolfe); longtime friends Gary White (Nate Andary), the family of Liz Cheng and Jerry Cadolla, and David Ricketts; as well as several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and great-grand-children. 
A memorial party (not service, as he requested) will be held at a later date. If you wish to offer remembrances please support and donate to the Rhode Island Food Bank, ACLU, Berkeley College at Yale, a local arts organization, and/or a LGBTQ+ group of your choice. Acknowledgements may be sent to either Janice (jkiich@sbcglobal.net), or Laurel (kiichlila@hotmail.com. More information on John R. Leo's life and career is available on his Facebook page. 
John's vast thirst for knowledge and travel took him to almost every continent, and now he can visit the remaining corners of the universe. Safe travels, John R. Leo, or as he would say, "Peace, pot, and microdot." 

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