Deceased: 2014-04-24
Diocese: AUSTIN
Seminary Graduation Year: 1956
Donald McLeaish had a full life of joy and accomplishment. He found his joy in serving and giving to others. He was born in Beaumont, Texas, on an April morning in 1926. He was educated in a one room school house, later attending French High School. Donald went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree from Rice University, his jurist doctorate degree from University of Texas, his Divinity degree at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and finished his seminary degree at North American College in Rome, The Vatican. He served many years in the Vatican, but also served in the most impoverished parts of Guatemala, Central America. He wrote several books on Catholic Church law and he spoke several languages including Spanish, Italian, Latin, and Portuguese. When he returned to the United States, while serving the Church, he founded The Regis Retirement Facility in Waco, Texas.
He had a beautiful voice and sang occasionally in Latin while sitting in his office when he thought no one was listening. After his years of service to the Catholic Church, he began practicing law in the State of Texas. His practice brought him into contact with Senators and Congressmen, but mostly people of humble means. He made no distinction between races, economic status, education, religion, or creed. He treated all with dignity and respect. He especially had a heart to serve poor people and those who could not speak English, receiving many pro bono awards, year after year from the Dallas Bar Association. His life was one of hard work, love of family, and of giving. He would have rather lived in a tent and given every penny he had to help those he loved and those he worked to assist, even those he did not know. He was a good man and a wonderful husband and father.
He will be remembered, loved, and missed for all of time.
De gustibus non est disputandum, Dad. There will be no more disagreements regarding opinions and tastes…at least for now. We love you.
