LeRoy J. Haugh, 94

LeRoy Haugh

Arlington, Virginia Easton native LeRoy J. Haugh, age 94, died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, on Aug. 10, 2020, surrounded by his family. LeRoy was born on Dec. 13, 1925, to William E. and Eldora (Ascheman) Haugh on the family farm in Barber Township, Faribault County. He attended a one-room country school and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel school in Easton, and graduated from Delavan High School in 1942 at the age of 16. After a year at St. John’s University in Collegeville, LeRoy was accepted in the Navy’s V12 officer preparation program and was sent to the University of North Dakota, the College of St. Thomas, and Columbia University, where he studied the Japanese language. He was commissioned as an Ensign at the age of 19 and served on Guam and in the Philippines. At the end of World War II he was released from active duty. LeRoy received a BA from the College of St. Thomas in 1949. While at St. Thomas he had lead tenor roles in St. Thomas-St. Catherine operas. The college newspaper referred to him as “The Voice.” He supplemented his GI Bill tuition by singing for weddings and funerals at the St. Paul Cathedral.

When the Korean Conflict began in 1950, LeRoy was recalled to active duty by the navy and sent to the Defense Language Institute in Panama, where he became fluent in Russian. He was released from active duty in 1952 and began a career in public service in Washington D.C., first with the Department of the Navy, then with the Department of Defense, and ultimately with the Office of Management and the Budget, where he served as Deputy Director for Procurement Policy. During his government career he earned a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and an MBA from George Washington University. After retiring from government service, LeRoy became the Vice President for Procurement Policy with the Aerospace Industries Association. He was a nationally- and internationally-recognized expert on procurement policy matters, and served as a consultant to former East-Bloc nations after the fall of the Soviet Union. LeRoy married the love of his life, Marilyn Baietti, in New York City in 1954. They traveled the world together in their 66 years of marriage. LeRoy enjoyed classical music, theater and bridge, and read the Washington Post cover to cover every day.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn, his seven children, Mary Lee (Steve Fritts), Therese (Harvey Largen), Anne, John, Andrew, Margaret Mary (David Simmons) and Paul (Heather), 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. LeRoy loved nothing more than to be surrounded by family and to talk about his younger days in Minnesota on the farm.

In addition to his parents, LeRoy is predeceased by his brothers, Harold, William and Raymond, and sisters, Maryce (Bill) Murry, Sister Eileen, OSF, and Margaret (Karl) Wombacher.

He is survived by his sisters, Evelyn (Neal) Wallace, of Vernon Center, Rita, of Mankato, Ann (Allan) Rath, of Mankato, and Katy (Dr. James) Eiselt, of Madelia; brothers Charles (Eileen), of Rochester, and Howard (Nicole), of Mankato; sisters-in-law, Patricia Haugh, of Albert Lea, Janet Haugh, of St. Paul, and Irma Haugh, of Easton.

LeRoy will be remembered for his humble nature, sense of humor, kindness to all, brilliant mind and faithfulness to God and family. His funeral Mass took place on August 21, 2020 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington. LeRoy will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.