William D. Leicht 1945-2026

Bill was born May 18, 1945, in Youngstown, to William and Betty Leicht, and raised in Mt Jackson, Pa.

Although he grew up with modest means, his childhood did not lack for love or adventure. Bill loved telling stories about his father teaching him to play pool and blackjack, giving his brother Lynn a box of snakes for his birthday, or playing for hours in “the crick.” His strong work ethic developed in these early years. He picked up odd jobs and worked on a farm during the summers to earn extra money.

Bill met the love of his life, Nancy Mack, when they were just teenagers. Bill and Nancy married in 1966 and raised their family in Boardman.

He would be the first person in his family to graduate from college, earning a degree in accounting from YSU.

He would eventually open his own accounting practice, William D. Leicht & Associates. His son Matthew would work with him, something they both enjoyed.

Bill was a public servant in the truest sense. He served on several boards, including 12 years on the school board for Boardman Local Schools. He was president of the Easterseals Society and made lifelong friends on the Youngstown Country Club board.

His longest and last public service stint was his role as fiscal officer for Boardman Township. He would proudly serve the township for 30 years, retiring in early 2025.

Even with all this work for his community, Bill found time to enjoy his hobbies. Some of his happiest times were spent with “the Rhinos,” a group of friends and family that loved to ski, bike and scuba dive together. He was a lifelong Steelers fan and, in recent years, attended games with his son, David. He and Nancy loved trips to Las Vegas, where he could still test out his blackjack skills.

Bill was a fixture at grandson Jack’s taekwondo tournaments, traveling all over the country to proudly cheer him on. Jack recently took up golf, one of Bill’s favorite pastimes, and was thrilled to get out on the golf course with his granddad this past year.

Bill was also a proud granddad to Malcolm and Miles. He never missed a band concert or sporting event and shared their love for football. They’ll always remember their sleepovers, playing games and trips to Disney.

What we will remember most about Bill was his ability to lift others up. As a Little League coach, he let every child play regardless of ability. He mentored countless people throughout his lifetime, giving opportunities to those who needed them most. He always wanted people to see the best in themselves.

Bill was a huge animal lover, adopting many animals over the years. In his final act of service, Bill was volunteering at Animal Charity of Ohio. He worked with pitbull mixes, his favorites being Kado and Randall.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; his sons, David (Jackie) and Matthew (Tracy); his grandsons, Malcolm, Miles and Jack; his sister, Cindy; his sisters-in-law, Ruth (Lynn) and Patti (Sam); as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Betty, and his brothers, Leslie, Sam and Lynn.

Visitation is scheduled 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Animal Charity, 8469 Southern Blvd., Building 3, Boardman, OH 44512.

Our family thanks the staff at Hospice of the Valley Hospice House for their care and compassion during this difficult time.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman. Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to give condolences to the family.

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