Joseph F. Leszcz, 87 DOVER - Joseph F. Leszcz, 87, a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and an Attorney in Dover, died at his home April 27, 2010, with his wife, Marianne at his side. Marianne was assisted during her husband's final days by caregivers Alfredo, Krystal, Valarie and Bud, and Melissa. A Command Pilot with more than 9,000 flying hours and 300 hours in combat zones, including combat in the European Theater during World War II and Viet Nam, Lt. Col. Leszcz served in the Army Air Corps and Air Force from 1942 to 1972. He then attended the University of Maryland School of Law and maintained a law practice in Dover until he retired a second time in 1988. Joseph Frank Leszcz was born Feb. 14, 1923, in Manhattan, N.Y., and graduated from high school in 1941. Enlisting in the Army Air Corp in 1941, he attended Aviation Cadet School at Foster Field, Texas, receiving his pilot's wings in 1943 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. During his military Career he attended the University of California at Los Angeles where he received a graduate level certificate and his Meteorologist designation in 1955. He had previously attended the University of Maryland at College Park where he received his bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 1954. Returning to the University of Maryland in 1972, he received his JJD in 1974. During World War II he served as C-46 transport tow pilot in several troop and glider assaults with the 434th Transport Squadron including D-Day, the Rihineland, Northern France, the Ardenne, and Central Europe. After the end of the war, he returned to an assignment in Germany with the occupation forces and participated in the Berlin Airlift. He also converted from the Army to the newly formed Air Force and from a reserve to regular commission. After Germany he served as a Meteorologist in the Air Force Air Weather Service in several assignments in various locations including California, Alaska, Maryland and the Panama Canal Zone. During his five year assignment at Fort Meade Maryland, he was detailed to the 2nd US Army G2 Intelligence component as Staff Weather Officer. After his Panama Canal Zone assignment ended in 1967 he returned to the cockpit fulltime and his final assignment was at Dover AFB as a squadron operations officer and Command Pilot flying supplies and med-evac in C-141 Star Lifter transports to and from Viet Nam. During his military career he and his family had many adventures during their vacations traveling in France and Germany in post-war Europe, traveling cross country to see the USA several times, and driving down the ALCAN highway after the Alaska assignment. Among his military awards are the Air Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the American Campaign Medal/European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with Silver Star, the Medal for Humane Action with Berlin Airlift device, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Croix de Guerre (France) with bronze palm. He established his law practice in Dover, and before retiring a second time, he coordinated pro-bono defender services in Dover under a Widener School of Law grant. In retirement, he enjoyed his World War II squadron reunions, golf, cards, and his family and friends. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Marianne Joss Leszcz of Dover; his sister and brother-in-law, Helen and William Matzok of Grant, Fla.; seven children, Michael (Mary Eileen) Leszcz of Laurel, Md., Mary Lippincott of Montgomery, N.Y., Madalaine (Harry) How of Ocean Pines, Md., Miya (Les) Patrick of Barnstable, Mass., Mark (Cathy) Leszcz of Pasadena, Md., Matt (Pam) Leszcz of Fayetteville, N.C., and Martin Leszcz of Pawtuket, R.I.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Lillian Liszcz of Florida; sister-in-law, Bette Becker of California; daughter-in-law, Nancy Roman Leszcz of Pawtucket, R.I.; and son-in-law, Ben Lippincott. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, May 2, at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Monday, May 3, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State St., Dover. Burial will follow in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Kent County S.P.C.A., 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19934. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.