Frank Ashton Leamy – Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard

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From a contemporary press report:

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Passed away on February 27, 2003 in Walnut Creek, California. Helen was born in San Francisco on May 14, 1911, the first child of Eda Peel Butterworth and Arthur Butterworth.

Helen’s great-grandfather James Butterworth arrived in California during the Gold Rush of 1849, thus, she considered herself to be “A Native Daughter of the Golden West.” Starting, as she described it, “a very exciting and adventurous life.”

At age 6, Helen sailed with her family aboard a freighter via the Panama Canal. Her father, the inventor of the Butterworth System, was employed as a Marine Engineer for two major oil companies and moved the family from California to Texas to Florida and then to New York during the 1920’s. While living in New York City, Helen attended Barnard College and became interested in theater and costume design. As a Powers Model, her picture appeared in fashion magazines and Chrysler automobile publications.

In 1937, she married Commander Frank A. Leamy, a U.S. Coast Guard officer and early Coast Guard aviator. The Coast Guard, a small, close-knit service, soon became her family. Helen was a gracious hostess to dignitaries during her husband’s administration as Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Admiral Leamy passed away in the spring of 1966 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

In 1970 Helen married Rear Admiral Henry (Cy) Perkins USCG (Ret.), and settled in Walnut Creek. They kept a full civic, social and travel schedule. Admiral Perkins passed away in 1994 and is also buried in Arlington.

Helen is survived by her sons, Frank A. Leamy Jr. of San Diego, California, and Lieutenant Colonel David A. Leamy USA (Ret.) of Carrollton, Texas; grandsons, Frank A. Leamy III, David A. Leamy Jr. and Christopher A. Leamy; granddaughter, Michele Leamy Debain; great-grandson, Frank A. Leamy IV and great-granddaughters, Margaux and Olivia Debain and Skye Marie Leamy; and nieces, Carol Kelly and Toni Lea Kelly Hagerman and her family, and by Helen’s dear friend, Laura Barsotti and her family. On the Perkins side of the family, Helen is survived by Henry C. Perkins Jr. of Tuscon, Arizona, and Shirley Perkins Sillaman of Palm City, Florida, and their families.

A memorial service was held on March 26, 2003 in Walnut Creek California. Graveside services and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, on May 14, 2003 at 1 p.m. Following services, a reception will be held at the Fort Myer Spates Community Club.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: USCG Academy Alumni Assoc. {benefit Leamy Hall}, the American Institute for Cancer Research, or the National Parkinson Foundation.

Leamy Hall is named after Rear Admiral Frank Leamy (class of 1925). Admiral Leamy was the Superintendent of the Academy from 1957-1961. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for a daring rescue of a critically injured man from a fishing trawler.

Lieutenants Frank A. Leamy and Richard Burke became the second and third Coast Guardsmen respectively to be awarded the DFC when Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau gave them their awards later in 1938.

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LEAMY, FRANK ASHTON

  • RADM   US COAST GUARD
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 02/28/1918 – 02/28/1960
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 05/13/1900
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/24/1966
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 06/28/1966
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3147-B
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

PERKINS, HELEN BUTTERWORTH

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 05/14/1911
  • DATE OF DEATH: 02/27/2003
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 05/14/2003
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 4  SITE 3147-B
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF LEAMY, FRANK ASHTON RADM US COAST GUARD

 

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