Gilford, N.H. – Eugene Wells Leach Sr., 73, of 55 Cat Path, died at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia, N.H., on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Eugene was born at home in Dry Mills, on July 3, 1934, the son of Victor W. and Hortence H. (Lowe) Leach.

He graduated from Pennell Institute in Gray, in 1952, and attended Maine Technical Institute in Portland. He played semi-pro baseball for the “Auburn Aces” in Auburn for several seasons after trying out as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Braves in Atlanta, Ga., and later was asked to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Eugene had been a resident of Gilford, N.H. since 1964, coming from New York State where he had been employed for several years with Perini Corp. He worked for Perini Corp. of Framingham, Mass., for 30 years before retirement, working all over the U.S., cleaning up federal super fund sites and interstate highways as a civil engineer. He also worked for Pike Industries and for a few years, in the 80s he had his own excavating business locally called C. & L. Contractors, and most recently with North American Reserve, Laconia, until his death.

He had been a member of the Cumberland Lodge 12, A.F. & A. M. in New Gloucester, since 1954. He was a lifetime member of Maine Consistory Scottish Rites, Portland,and a member of the Winnipesaukee Shrine-Bektash Temple, Concord, N.H.

He was a very loving husband to his wife of 54 years, Susan (Spearin) Leach, of Gilford, N.H. He is also survived by daughters, Sharon L. Siers and her husband, Gary, of Post Falls, Idaho, Linda L. Wagner of Laconia, NH., Lisa L. Mowery and her husband, Scott, of Laconia; sons, Eugene W. Leach Jr. and his wife, Danette, of Gilford, Ryan P. Leach and his wife, Dana, of Midway, Utah; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Cora Skillings, of Gray; and five nephews.