Leslie P. Mason Jr.

Friday, December 4, 2009

BROOKLINE – Retired Lt. Col. Leslie P. Mason Jr., 74, passed away on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009.

He was born Nov. 2, 1935, in Iron River, Mich., to the late Leslie P. Mason Sr. and Martha (Kumkoski) Mason. A 1960 West Point graduate, he was commissioned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He earned a master’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina and was an instructor and course director in the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership at West Point.

He served in the 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups (Airborne) and Special Forces (Vietnam). During his service, he earned many commendations, including a Bronze Star, and served as a battalion and group executive officer and as post inspector general. He retired from the Army in 1980 and then served as the business administrator to the New Hampshire Adjutant General. After retirement, he served as a bailiff at Nashua Superior Court.

He was an avid fly fisherman and an active member in the Christ Presbyterian Church in America in Nashua.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda (Stevens) Mason; their seven children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Les’ children include Dwayne Mason, Martin Mason, Peter Mason and Jennifer Foley, and Linda’s children include Jeff Burgess, Steve Burgess and Roann Rubin.

Calling hours were in the George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 2-4 p.m., and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the First Congregational Church, 7 Baboosic Lake Road Merrimack, immediately followed by a burial at 1 p.m. with full Military Honors at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in honor of Les at the Christ Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 336, Nashua, NH 03061, or the Brookline Ambulance Department, 1 Post Office Road, Brookline, NH 03033, or a charity affiliated with Veteran’s Affairs.