Douglas A. LeBlanc

Douglas A. LeBlanc, 82, of Leicester, passed away Saturday, February 28th., at his home following a long illness. He leaves his daughters, Nicole M. LeBlanc of Leicester and Bridget P. Buckley of South Boston; his son, Benjamin D. Buckley of Marshfield; and his granddaughter, Tiana L. George of Leicester. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Paula LeBlanc of Southwick; his niece, Danielle LeBlanc Maurice of Southwick; and his former wife, Virginia Lange of Sutton. He was predeceased by his daughter, Stephanie A. LeBlanc, and his brother, George LeBlanc. He was born in Worcester, the son of George A. and Martha (Richards) LeBlanc, and later his stepmother, Betty (Powers) LeBlanc. Doug graduated from David Prouty High School in Spencer, Massachusetts, where he was a proud member of the men’s basketball team. Following high school, Doug attended Worcester Junior College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and later took courses at Assumption College in Worcester before going on to earn his teaching degree from North Adams State College. After graduating from college, Doug moved to Webster, Massachusetts, where he taught middle school for a short time before later moving to Auburn, Massachusetts. Before his career as an educator, Doug was also a vital part of his family’s business, "LeBlanc’s Restaurant" in Spencer, Massachusetts, where he wore many hats and contributed to the success of the restaurant. Doug later dedicated his career to education and was a teacher for 19 years at Auburn High School and Auburn Elementary Schools before retiring in 1986. In 1984, Doug opened and owned one of the most well-known bars in Amherst, Massachusetts, “The Spoke.” For 33 years, he proudly served the Amherst and UMass Amherst communities, something he was extremely passionate about. In 2017, he sold the business to another proprietor and retired. He was a longtime member of the National Education Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and served as a member and Director of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. After his retirement, Doug remained very active. He was an avid tennis player and belonged to the Paxton Tennis & Fitness Club. He was also a big foodie, known for putting ketchup on just about anything he could, and enjoyed visiting many different bars and restaurants. One of his favorite local spots was "308 Lakeside" in East Brookfield, Massachusetts, where he loved spending time with family and friends. Doug had a deep appreciation for fine art and fine dining and was a passionate Boston sports fan, especially cheering for the Red Sox, Patriots, and his one true love, the Boston Celtics. Most importantly, he cherished the time he spent with his children and granddaughter. Doug’s warmth, humor, and passion for life will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Doug's funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 11th. at 10:30 a.m. in St. John's Catholic Church, 44 Temple St., Worcester. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. (Friends & family are asked to go directly to the church). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choosing.