Leon P. Petropol

Averill Park- Leon Peter Petropol, 89, passed away on March 5, 2026. A man of immense intelligence, charm, and skill, with a larger-than-life personality, Leon was a stone mason and master craftsman who spent his life building things meant to last. He was also a proud veteran of the United States Army.

Throughout the capital region, his signature is written in stone and brick. He took pride in his life's work; whenever he and his daughters drove past a building he'd worked on, he would point to it with a smile and say, "I did the stone work on that one." When he wasn't working in construction, he was an exceptional wood artisan, hand-carving and engraving intricate gun stocks, walking sticks, and canes with meticulous precision and an artist's eye.

Leon found his greatest peace in the woods, where the fresh air and rustle of leaves felt like home. A passionate hunter for much of his life, he later traded rifles and bow and arrows for feed, captivated in caring for the wild deer he fondly called "his pets." His love for animals and nature never faded; on quiet afternoons, he could be found on his back deck, watching hummingbirds dart and shimmer as they sipped nectar.

Born in Queens, NY, Leon was predeceased by his parents, Peter Leon and Nancy Petropol; his wife, Jeanne L. Petropol, for whom he was the primary caregiver during the end of her life; his twin sister, Ann M. Benson, and his brothers, Jack Petropol and Michael Petropol. He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Anne Petropol (Matt Haner) and Jennifer Lee (Jeff) Austin; his sister, Nancy Ann Shrump; and his granddaughters, Rachel, Amanda, and Ashley Haner. To his daughters, Leon was not only a father, but a best friend.

Leon was the person you called when you needed a good story, a sharp opinion, or a laugh that made any hard day a little easier. He loved spending his mornings at "the diner" in Averill Park with his close-knit group of friends, or "the boys" as he affectionately called them. A special thank you to James Constanza, Rocco Testo, Michael Petropol, Jr., and Dan Stewart (or Dan, Dan the Apple Man, as Leon called him) for their years of friendship, love, and support.

Leon lived a life built on laughter, wit, stone, sawdust, and heart. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held for Leon at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave. Rensselaer, NY 12144.

Interment will be held privately in St. Henry's Cemetery, Averill Park, NY.