Leon E. Briggs Sr.
Leon E. Briggs Sr., retired member of the College's Custodial Operations staff, died March 11, 2012, at Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs.
Born May 18, 1926, in Baltimore, Leon was the son of Edmund and Blanche Bunting Briggs. Leon married Jennie Cassetta and they had three children.
Leon joined the U.S. Air Force and served 36 years, including in World War II and the Korean War. Following retirement from the service he joined the Skidmore staff in 1985. He held the titles of custodian and housekeeper during his years on campus. Colleen Manning, supervisor of events and housekeeping in Custodial Operations, worked with Leon for several years. She called him "the nicest guy – he had a soft heart. Leon often worried about everything being just right." Although Leon typically worked the third shift in the library, Manning said, "if we had a party on the schedule, he would be there to help. There aren't many people like that. He was such a gentleman."
Leon retired in 1999.
Survivors include his wife, daughter Mia Briggs, and son Leon Jr. (Lee Kelpy), all of Saratoga Springs; son-in-law Thomas Waicosky Jr.; brother-in-law Carmen Cassetta; two grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Daughter Ruth Briggs Waicosky and sister Violetta Wade predeceased Leon.