The world is full of bad news, and there seems to be a constant stream of news about the worst things people do to one another, but every once in a while, a person comes along who provides light in the darkness, a beacon of hope that counters despair. Raymond Leonard was one of those people.
Born in Monaghan, he moved to Armagh at the age of eight, where he attended Armagh CBS and St Brigid's High School. Up to this point, it was a fairly normal life, but as he grew and matured, he blossomed into the kind of person every community needs but few are lucky enough to have.
Raymond was a special person in many ways – a very spiritual young man, filled with goodness and kindness, who always put others first.
His deep interest in history has made him a valuable contributor to many local history groups. He has an insatiable passion for “Old Armour” and the material he has produced, particularly his collection of rarely published photographs, has created a huge buzz on social media.
His online musings on life and current events highlighted his unmatched sense of humor. He loved to joke and chat. One close friend described him as a witty, quirky “emblem of ARMOR.” Another said Facebook would not be the same without him.
Raymond's other great passion was literature: he read widely, especially Irish and Roman history, and he also studied philosophy to gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual way of life.
His ethical and moral principles are not just theory, they are actionable – the most amazing example of this is when he volunteered for an organ donation program, donated his kidney and changed a young boy's life – a story that Raymond himself has told online.
When asked why he did it, he replied, “The only answer I can honestly give is because I wanted to. I had two kidneys and I only needed one, the extra kidney could help other people, and kidney transplant surgery is safe, so why not? That's really the biggest challenge. I guess my way of looking at things made me do it. That's all. I don't think it's 'extraordinary'.”
A month before the operation, Raymond was told that a perfectly compatible kidney had been found for a three-year-old boy who had been born with kidney failure, and later discovered that it would enable him to eat solid food for the first time in his life.
Raymond said: “I'm not saying that you should donate your spare kidney to a complete stranger – you can get away with one kidney just as easily as you can with two – I and many others are living proof of that – I'm just saying that you're unlikely to regret donating – in fact, quite the opposite.”
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Raymond took part in the 2018 Dublin Marathon just one year after donating his kidney, and it was one of his proudest moments.
A deep thinker, Raymond knew there was more to life than this short life on earth.
He was an incredible person whose warmth and personality touched so many hearts, an exceptionally sociable young man and a man who forever embodied happiness and love.
A deep thinker, Raymond knew there was more to life than his brief life on earth.
Many who knew him will have lost a bright spot in their lives, and his example and influence will continue to inspire others.
Raymond died suddenly on January 18th, aged just 44, in a tragic accident at home. His funeral was attended by a 10-year-old kidney transplant recipient who had flown in from the UK.
