Marblehead - Bob died during the night of July 10-July 11 in his Marblehead home, after a day of yard work, preparing the boat, golfing, and enjoying sunset from the Corinthian porch. A day well lived that was one of many in a life well lived.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Haran, and his son, Scott Leslie. Married for 45 years, Bob and Beth were truly devoted to one another. They especially enjoyed adventure travel, some of Bob's favorites were biking in South Africa, sailing around Cape Horn, hiking in Patagonia and boating from the northern coast of Ireland through the islands off Scotland to Iceland and the Arctic Circle.

Bob's love of boating may have begun at the age of 11 when he found an abandoned 10-foot dory in the Hampton River, fixed it up, set it on the water, and in this newly discovered hobby found a lifelong interest. From the seas to the streets, his interests broadened to cars, starting in his grandfather's garage where he worked in the early 1960s, eventually becoming a skilled mechanic. He built his own stock car and raced it in the Dover NH races at age 15. Beginning his studies at Cape Cod Community college in 1966, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1969 with a degree in business management. He completed US Navy flight training in Pensacola; however, a late-discovered spinal defect kept him from his Navy wings. Not being in the US Navy Air Force was a major disappointment in his young life.

After a brief stint at the Amherst Record, Bob's love of cars brought him back to Boston where he worked as a salesman at Foreign Motors. Two years later, in 1971, Bob was lured to the North Shore where he settled into his lifelong profession as a yacht broker working initially at Graves Yacht Yard in Marblehead, then for Sailboats Northeast. In 1985 Bob acquired the Marblehead office of Northrop and Johnson, which he managed for 22 years until he sold the company in 2007. He continued to work as a broker out of N and J's Newport RI office. In his career, spanning six decades, Bob was known for his professionalism, respected by his colleagues and in 1991 named Broker of the Year. He served as a president of the Yacht Architects and Brokers Association which later became the Yacht Brokers Association of America. He was also a part of the team that developed the criteria and the examination for the Certified Professional Yacht Broker, an honor reserved for brokers with an unblemished record who pass a written exam.

Bob was an active member of the Corinthian Yacht Club as a sailor and most recently as the "Keeper of the Silver." An avid ocean racer in the 1970s,1980s and 1990s, he participated in four Newport to Bermuda races, several SORC regattas and many Marblehead to Halifax races. He was a familiar figure on the foredeck of the Loose Goose, and his passion for the water was evident to all who sailed with him.

An accomplished alpine ski racer, Bob was in several race leagues in the Mt. Washington Valley, most notably Mountain Meister's, The Attitash Race league and USSA Masters. He was racing and skiing at the age of 80, delighted that the lift tickets were finally free! He was also an avid cyclist, riding his road bike around Cape Ann on a regular basis. Bob came full circle on his love of cars recently buying a red, 1951 MG TD coupe. He was in local shows and was excited about being accepted at the Misselwood Concourse d 'Elegance, which sadly he won't make.

Bob was a member of the Gerry 5 VFA, in Marblehead, where he was a regular at the club enjoying a spirited pool game while never failing to roast his opponents, and getting it in return. Bob's Friday afternoons were reserved for golf with his long-time golf league brothers. As with his pool buddies the roasting was nonstop.

Bob also had a passion for traditional jazz. While attending high school in Portsmouth New Hampshire he played string base in a 12-piece jazz dance band, The Velvetones. He was later a member of The Cold Fusion Jazz Quartet which played numerous gigs in the Virginia and Washington DC area entertaining veterans at retired veterans' communities.

In addition to Beth and Scott, Bob leaves the Ryan cousins and their families, beloved family friends; and a long list of friends who loved the activities they shared together, almost as much as they loved him. It was impossible not to enjoy his company, and he will be deeply missed.

Please enjoy a sunset, some time on the water, a bike ride, a hike, a ski run, a four-iron shot, or a spirited ribbing with friends---and think of Bob.

A celebration of life will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club, 1 Nahant St., Marblehead, MA 01945, Thursday, July 30, 2026 at a time to be announced on the funeral home's website. Arrangements by the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, MA 01960. For online guestbook and directions please visit www.ccbfuneral.com. If you would like to make a donation, a scholarship has been set up in his memory: The Robert D. Leslie, Helen and Francis Haran Scholarship, Salem State University. Contributions may be made online at https://participate.salemstate.edu/give or check payable to SSU Alumni Association and Foundation, mailed to Salem State University, Advancement Services, 352 Lafayette St., Salem, MA 01970.