Thomas Speros Leanos, age 76, of Burlington, Massachusetts, formerly of Long Valley, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on February 4th, 2025. He was the devoted husband for thirty-nine years of Karen (Brigham) Leanos, dedicated father to Jonathan and Brendan Leanos and loving "Pappou" to his three grandchildren, Leigh, Owen and Harvey. He was also an inspiring coach and mentor to hundreds of student-athletes during his career as a college lacrosse coach.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 6, 1948, Tom was the son of the late Speros and Patricia Panos Leanos and brother to James Leanos and late brother Christopher Leanos.

Tom was drawn to athletics from an early age as a way to build connections, foster community and drive his competitive spirit. After graduating as a top athlete from City College High School in Baltimore and then a local junior college, he attended Hofstra University where he was a member of the Flying Dutchmen lacrosse team and earned his bachelor's degree in 1970. Among his many accomplishments, he earned All-District honors as a midfielder and played in the prestigious North-South All Star game. Tom's time at Hofstra also coincided with watching his beloved Baltimore Colts and Baltimore Orioles lose championships to the local New York Jets and New York Mets in the same year – formative events as a sports fan that he would remind his friends and family of for years to come.

Tom's passion for lacrosse developed into a career, starting as an assistant coach at Salisbury University and working in sales and distribution for STX. His head coaching career started at Southampton College on Long Island, NY in 1980 where he spent three years leading the program. Tom then moved to New Jersey where he spent 34 years as the head mens' lacrosse coach of Drew University in Madison, NJ. Early in his coaching tenure at Drew he met his wife Karen Rose Brigham in Morristown, NJ. He described being drawn to Karen's striking blue eyes, and convinced Karen to go out with him partly by telling her about the Hampton's home that he sometimes lived in (but omitting that "living in the Hamptons" meant that he occasionally would house-sit for a friend there). They were married on August 24th, 1985 in New Vernon, NJ.

Tom's prestigious coaching career at Drew University spanned four decades and he left the program as the all-time leader in wins (234) and games coached (450). He earned six "coach of the year" awards across the ECAC, MAC and Landmark conferences, and coached 6 USILA All Americans and two academic All Americans. Tom was twice named coach of the North South college All Star games in 1991 and 2009. Drew University inducted Tom into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association inducted Tom into their Hall of Fame in 2021.

Beyond Drew, Tom was a fixture in the New Jersey lacrosse community where he ran multiple summer camps and coached youth teams, helping grow the sport of lacrosse throughout Morris County, NJ and beyond. Tom was inducted into the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2005 for his stewardship of the sport.

His family and friends will remember Tom for his zest for life, his infectious energy and passion, and his selflessness. What he lacked in physical size, he made up for in his larger-than-life personality. When he wasn't holding a room telling a story, you could find him listening to John Prine, watching a World War II documentary, "cutting some rug" on a dancefloor or playing sports with his children (and grandchildren). Tom was known to go out of his way (often, many miles out of his way) for a cone of Rum Raisin ice cream, an Arnold Palmer or a Mount Gay and tonic cocktail. His players will remember him for his empathy, his energy and his perpetually raspy voice.

Tom is survived by his wife, Karen Leanos, of Burlington, MA; his oldest son, Brendan Leanos, daughter-in-law Callie Lawrence and grandchildren Leigh Lawrence and Harvey Lawrence, of Denver, CO; his youngest son, Jonathan Leanos, daughter-in-law Christina Leanos and grandson Owen Leanos, of Concord, MA; his older brother, James S. "Jim" Leanos, and sister-in-law Henriette Horchler Leanos, of Parkville, MD; his nephew, Alex Leanos, and family, Anne Cossitt Leanos and Chrisopher Leanos, of Wilmington, NC; and his nephew Nick Leanos, of Greenbelt, MD.

Family and friends will celebrate Tom's life during a funeral service on Monday, March 3rd at 11 am in Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center. Services will conclude with a reception at Nosh, 97 Lowell Road, Concord. The family will gather privately for Tom's burial at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Tuesday, March 4th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in his memory to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research or Harlem Lacrosse to help fund youth lacrosse programs nationwide.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.