Leonard Pompa passed away on Tuesday July 5, 2011 at his residence in Ardmore, PA. He lived to be 99½ years old - and was vibrant until the very end of his life. He was born on January 6, 1912 in a little town in the Apulia region of Italy named Castelluccio Valmaggiore. He and his mother came to Philadelphia in 1927 to join his father and brother, who had immigrated here several years earlier to build a life for the family (his sister remained in Italy). Once here, he began to learn English and then went on to get a high school diploma, followed by a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Villanova University, which he completed in 1940. Subsequently, he continued to study Civil Engineering on the graduate level at the University of Pennsylvania.

Leonard began his career working for two years in general engineering at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, followed by a position as a project engineer at General Electric for the next three years. In 1945, he was hired by Lukens Steel Company in Coatesville, PA, as a project engineer in their Fabrication Facility, beginning a very successful 30-year career there. In 1947, he was promoted to Chief Engineer, with a specialty in welding, the fabrication of high-strength steel, and particle acceleration. In the early 1950s, Leonard worked with a team to develop a nuclear engine for the Nautilus submarine, under the direction of Rear Admiral Hyman Rickover. Subsequently, he was named Foreign Representative for Lukens, taking him to dozens of countries in Europe and Asia, spanning the latter 20 years of his career. He received several awards for his work, including the prestigious Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation Award.

Throughout his life, Leonard enjoyed a wide range of friends and colleagues. His intelligence and curiosity made him a fascinating conversationalist and, especially in his later years, he developed friendships with younger people from the neighborhood and from the extended family, who looked up to him as a role model. He served his community in a quiet way, helping out older people with their taxes and creating certificates for a program involving people inside prison. He felt that it was important to share his expertise with others when it would be useful. He also had a deep interest in different cultures, as well as a love of classical music, taking in operas whenever possible, whether in Philadelphia, Milan, or Budapest.

Leonard was married for 62 years to his wife, Mary (nee Lorine), whom he cared for at home in her final years, until her death in 2005. They met and began their marriage in West Philadelphia, moving to Ardmore, PA, in 1950, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Leonard is survived by four children (Mary O'Neill, Anita Moran, married to Anson B. Moran, J. Anthony Pompa, and Lori Pompa) four grandchildren (Mary Schugsta, Melissa Cunicelli, Katherine D. Moran, and Lissa Moran), three great-grandchildren (Marco Cunicelli, Samantha Schugsta, and Sofia Cunicelli), and his beloved sister-in-law (Marguerita Lorine). Family was always deeply important to him, and he was surrounded by their love and care in his final months.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday July 11, 10 AM St. Colman Church, Lancaster Ave. & Argyle Rd., Ardmore, PA. Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing Sunday July 10, from 6 to 8 PM at McConaghy Funeral Home, 328 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA or on Monday from 9 to 10 AM at the Church. Int. Calvary Cem. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Penn Home Care & Hospice Services, 150 Monument Rd. Suite 300, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 or to The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, Suite 331 MB 66-10, 1810 Liacouras Walk, Temple Univ. Philadelphia, PA 19122