Leo J. Bergeron, 85, died of natural causes on Feb. 10, at home. Leo is the beloved husband of M. Lucille (Gosselin) and father of Karen Zopatti and her husband Richard. He also leaves behind a beloved brother, David Bergeron and his wife Lucille, and many nieces and nephews.

He was born in Haverhill, the son of the late Leo M. and Alice (Lang) Bergeron. He spent three years in a seminary in Pennsylvania before leaving and returning to his home in Haverhill, and worked in a shoe shop.

He was drafted in the Army and served as a sergeant in the military police during the Korean War. Utilizing the G.I. Bill, he attended Merrimack College and studied to become a teacher.

A musician, Leo formed a band to financially support him and played big band music on his trumpet all over the North Shore. He met and played with Fats Domino and Nat King Cole.

He met M. Lucille at a dance and told her upon their meeting that he was going to marry her, and he did, on June 25, 1955. Together, they moved to Brockton, where he began his career as a teacher in grades 3, 4, and 5. He obtained his Master’s degree in school administration at Bridgewater State College, and became a principal in the Mansfield Public Schools. After one year, he returned to Brockton, and was principal at the Ellis Brett Elementary School, the Ashfield School, and spent his remaining 34 years as principal at the Hancock School.

Leo participated in many civic and religious groups. He was the Head of Religious Education at St. Margaret’s Church in Brockton, and was a Eucharistic Minister and lecturer. He taught a course at Bridgewater State College called "the gifted student."  He was a member and former director of the University Club in Brockton. He was Past Grand Knight and District Warden in the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Fourth Degree Honor Guard, and was a past Faithful Navigator.

In 1973, Leo and his wife purchased a home in Wareham, where they summered for many years. Leo was past president of the Indian Mound Beach Association for a period of time. After his retirement from the Brockton School System, Leo and his wife moved permanently into their home in Wareham.

In 1992, his daughter Karen married Richard Zopatti, Jr. Leo loved his son-in-law very much, and treated him like his own son.

Leo enjoyed dancing, singing, traveling, and boating, but most of all, being with his beloved family.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, Feb. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m. only, in the Wareham Village Funeral Home, 5 Center Street. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.

Leo’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Saint Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street, Wareham. Relatives and friends are asked to go directly to church on the morning of the funeral. Interment will follow in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Town of Wareham COA, c/o Pam Dudley, 48 Marion Rd. Wareham, MA 02571.

For online guestbook, visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com.