Obituary of Leroy O. Prophet

LeRoy Otto Prophet, of Sun City Center FL, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died Sunday April 2 of heart disease. He was 82 years old.

Roy was predeceased by his wife of sixty years, Susan Prophet, also of Sun City. He met her at a church hayride. They were married in July 1961.

Roy and Susan had three children, Scott, Derek, and Michelle (Shawn Wilson) and three grandchildren, Hannah, Dylan, and Nicholas, all of Florida. Roy is also survived by two brothers, Wayne Prophet (Colleen) of Madison, WI, and Craig Prophet (Becky) of Alfred, NY, and several nieces and nephews.

LeRoy was born in Waltham, MA on May 21, 1940.

As a youth, he led his two younger brothers in a USO-style show that toured hospitals and nursing homes, mostly for veterans.

Roy graduated from Waltham High School in 1958 and entered Northeastern University that fall. He worked in journalism while in college; after graduation he started a 38-year career at The Boston Globe, serving over time as a copy editor, writer, and headline editor. He was a day editor for the evening edition and then, for many years, he was editor for the Sunday edition of the Globe.

Roy loved sports of all kinds. From coach of a little league team to inveterate fan of all Boston professional sports, Roy cheered on his teams right up to his last days.

He was a lifelong golf enthusiast and was always an entertaining round if you played with him. He saw the course from many angles.

Roy always loved excellent journalism- both print and broadcast-- music, sleek cars, detective fiction, and good humor. But most of all he loved and supported his family.

Services will be at the Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive. Visitation will be on April 11 beginning at 4 p.m. On April 12, a short service will be held at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, to be followed by burial at Lake Wimauma Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a preferred charity.