Lynn has lost a powerful force in Dr. James “Jim” Leonard, a man who helped change the school system forever.

Leonard, who died on Dec. 3 at the age of 91 and is being buried today. He had a lifelong career in education as a teacher, coach, adjunct professor, and the former superintendent of schools. He changed the lives of many children in Lynn, fighting for equal education and equal rights.

Leonard started his career in 1958 as a special education teacher, a baseball and basketball coach, and an adjustment counselor. He’d continue to serve as the principal of Washington Community Elementary School and as deputy superintendent. Leonard was also an assistant football coach at Lynn English and coached American Legion baseball for 20 years.

During his time as superintendent, one of his biggest achievements — according to James Mazareas, Steve Upton, and Tom Bourque — was the huge effort he made to get funding for Lynn English, Lynn Classical, and Lynn Tech.

“We were building the new Classical and renovating English and Tech. I think that was one of his biggest legacies,” Mazareas said.

Leonard would oversee more than $100 million in construction for the City, doing it with 90% reimbursement from the Commonwealth.

Mazareas, who served as deputy superintendent during Leonard’s time as superintendent, noted the great deal of respect he had for him.

“He was an advocate for children from underprivileged schools,” Mazareas said.

He spoke about Leonard’s time as principal of Washington, which served disadvantaged children.

“He knew that they needed additional support, and that’s why he was a big advocate of Title I funds going to schools like Washington, Ingalls, and Harrington,” he said.

Leonard, in the fight for equal opportunity, believed that more resources needed to be committed to schools that had a large population of disadvantaged children.

“He saw that we needed to prioritize giving these children the skills they needed to succeed,” Mazareas said.

He also noted that they had been involved in defending the Massachusetts Racial Imbalanced Plan.

Upton, former school business manager, worked with Leonard and said that first and foremost, he was a terrific guy who was well-liked and respected.

Upton highlighted that Leonard had been the principal of the first magnet school in the city.

“During his superintendency, he got the first desegregation plan passed. He was also instrumental in getting six elementary schools rehabbed or expanded,” Upton said.

He continued that Leonard got so much done as superintendent and that his desegregation plan “guided the system for years.”

“He was a very humorous guy. He lessoned anxiety by telling good stories, while at the same time working on all of these really big things,” Upton said.

Bourque first met Leonard when he coached Bourque’s 17-18 American Legion baseball team.

“He was a principal at the Washington School, and it was a magnet school, and he used to talk about his time there all the time. He used to say that that school was the best school they ever had in Lynn, that they had the best staff and teachers. He was so proud of that,” Bourque said.

Over the past 30 years, Bourque and Leonard would get lunch every Tuesday until the last three years, calling it “lunches with Leonard.”

“It was just funny stories about sports, but the thing I think is most not understood about him is that you look at him, and he was a big, handsome, white guy, but he was a merit kind of guy. He was very proud that he came from nothing academically… He ended up having a legit doctorate… And he was very progressive,” Bourque said.

He continued that, as a baseball coach, all of the players loved him, and he was a positive guy. Bourque commended Leonard for his wit and incredible personality.

The impact Leonard had on the City is something that will never be forgotten, as it transformed the landscape of Lynn’s schools, opening the doors for all students to receive an education.