Leo H. Bedard

12/25/2003

Leo H. Bedard, 87, of 15 Forest Park Ave., a longtime area automobile dealer and civic leader, died Thursday morning at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. Born in Adams on Sept. 2, 1916, son of Nelson and Delia Bechard Bedard, he attended schools in Cheshire and Adams. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a turret gunner on a B-25 aircraft with the Army Air Corps in the Asiatic-Pacific-Indian theater. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Bedard returned to Adams and went to work for the Gulf Oil Co. in Pittsfield for several years. He then moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., for two years, where he operated a diner named The Alibi. Upon his return to Adams, he operated a used-car dealership on East Street in Pittsfield, until he started selling Saab automobiles in 1957 from 26 Maple St., Adams. He added Volvo as a subdealer in 1958, and in 1960 became a franchisee for Volvo, and established Bedard Brothers Auto Sales at its present location in Cheshire with his brother, Leonard. He added Honda automobiles in 1973 and Dodge in 1980. He remained active in the business daily until last year, and the dealership is now operated by his sons. Mr. Bedard was a communicant of the Parish of Notre Dame and St. Thomas Aquinas, Adams. He was a member and past exalted ruler of the Adams Lodge of Elks, a member of Forest Park Country Club, and a member of Adams Post 160 American Legion. He was a former corporator of South Adams Savings Bank, and a former member of the Adams Lions Club. He also wintered in Cape Coral, Fla., for many years. He leaves his wife, the former Gertrude C. Lang, whom he married Oct. 12, 1942; two sons, Ronald N. Bedard and Brian G. Bedard, both of Cheshire; a daughter, Donna L. Bedard of Loudonville, N.Y.; a brother, Leonard Bedard of South Deerfield; two sisters, Rachel Ferguson and Harrietta Bator, both of Cape Coral; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 9 a.m. from AUGE-PACIOREK-SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church, Adams, celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. Boyle, pastor of the parishes of Notre Dame and St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Stanislaus Kostka, Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or to the National Kidney Association through the funeral home.

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