Remembering Dr. Edith Earle Leonard

Elizabeth Edwards wasn’t the only inspiring woman who died yesterday. Dr. Edith Earle Leonard, one of the first women podiatrist in the state of Maryland, also died yesterday. She was my neighbor and one of the first people I met on moving to Annapolis in 1984. She was 86 years old.
According to her family, Edith arrived in Annapolis at the age of five and graduated at age 16 from Annapolis High School. She had three younger brothers, and her family ran a grocery store. Her father was determined that his oldest child went to college, it didn’t matter whether that child was a girl or a boy. Edith attended Temple University, Podiatry College, and graduated at age 20. She was too young to practice medicine. She had to wait until she was 21. So in the meantime she taught at Howard University and interned with a podiatrist in Washington D.C.
At Temple University, she met her future husband, Nathan Leonard, another podiatry student. They were married for 60 years and had two children; Sandy and Ellen.
Prior to the start of their family, Dr. Earle and Dr. Leonard worked side by side. Their second office, which I remember, was located on Cathedral Street, around the corner from 49 West Cafe. Edith continued practicing medicine part-time while raising a family. She also did volunteer work which included tutoring immigrant children to learn English.
A very thoughtful and kind individual, she always was sending over little packages of goodies to my children to celebrate the holidays: Halloween, Christmas, Easter. I think she liked all the holidays, regardless of being a practicing Jew and an active member of the Kneseth Israel Congregation. She also liked every kind of food including pizza, ham. crabcakes– but yes she was renowned for her molasses cookies.
Edith was devoted to her husband Nate, and to her entire family who she nursed through various illnesses. I enjoyed hearing her stories about the way Annapolis used to be years ago and her descriptions of the Murray Hill neighborhood when there were several nearby pharmacies, stores and barbershops now no longer in operation. She was always cheerful and witty and I’ve heard, an excellent bridge player. She was a classy lady and lived a rich, full, life. We’ll miss her.