Leo (Lee/ Tony) Paveglio

Leo (Lee/Tony) Paveglio died suddenly and unexpectedly at Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital on December 12, 2023. He had just returned from a trip to Finland with his wife Pat. They watched the northern lights 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, drove a dog sled team and then returned home to Cadillac to eat out and play cards with friends. His life was filled with adventures, quiet pursuits and connecting with people. He had a dry sense of humor and loved to pun and laugh. Leo was born on October 21, 1946 to Leo Earl and Esther Marie (Knowles) Paveglio who preceded him in death, along with his brother-in-law, Fred Retlewski. He is survived by his wife Pat (Harvey) and daughter Lynn (Bart) Heil of Midland, and his siblings Mark Paveglio, Betty (Bill) Schubert, Ruth Retlewski, Glen (Kim) Paveglio, his in-laws Sue Hopkins, Steve (Nancy) Harvey, Richard (Marcie) Harvey, and many nieces and nephews. He cared deeply about the many young people in his life. He began his 36-year teaching career in Lapeer, Michigan. After many years of teaching high school math and being a department head, he moved into a curriculum coordinator position. He was a distinguished educator, passionate about teaching, loved to connect with students, and wore red socks on Fridays. Perhaps the most important thing that came from his teaching career was meeting his wife, Pat. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage. They moved with their daughter, Lynn, out to the country and began raising bees, rabbits, goats and chickens, and made maple syrup. Upon their 2005 retirement they relocated to Cadillac. They enjoyed rich relationships with special friends everywhere they lived. Leo was active throughout his life in a wide variety of pursuits. In college he was a gymnast. He ran throughout several decades, completing triathlons and marathons. He orienteered, skied cross country and downhill, climbed mountains, backpacked, camped, hiked, sailed, canoed and went on sea kayaking trips. He summited Mt. Rainier, traversed Michigan by bike multiple times, hiked portions of the AppalachianTrail, hiked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim, and earned his scuba certification. In recent years, he enjoyed yoga and annually met the YMCA challenge of swimming 100 miles. He loved to travel, having visited many national parks, all 50 states, many countries and exciting destinations like Antarctica, the Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Greenland and Iceland. This summer he spent several weeks on a sailboat in Glacier Bay, Alaska with his family. He and Pat had plans to visit their seventh continent in March. His life was full. He enjoyed bird watching and was a voracious reader. He enjoyed concerts and theater. In the 1980s he auditioned for a play on a whim and ended up acting for decades, serving on theater boards, judging playwriting contests and being active in the theater. He was an avid photographer from the early days of black & white film developed in his darkroom to many photography trips to Alaska, Costa Rica, Kenya and Yellowstone in the winter. Volunteering was in Leo’s nature. He was a counselor, board member and treasurer for the Council on Aging. He served on zoning boards of appeal, monitored two sections of the North Country Trail, was an instructor on the Inland Seas’ schooner, was a ski patroller at Caberfae, and mapped routes for the Pedal Across Lower Michigan bike ride. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Peterson Funeral and Cremation Services with Reverend John Doud officiating. Friends may meet with the family Tuesday, December 19 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Inland Seas Education Association, North Country Trail, or Interlochen Public Radio. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.

Leo (Lee/ Tony) Paveglio

October 21, 1946 - December 12, 2023