Dolores Leckey, APAH Co-Founder, 1933 – 2023
15th anniversary celebration (2004).
Yesterday, January 17, 2023, Dolores Leckey (1933 – 2023) passed away at age 89 after a brief illness. We honor Dolores Leckey as one of the eight co-founders of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) in 1989. Her husband, Tom Leckey, was APAH’s first (unpaid) Executive Director. The four founding couples were members of a prayer group, motivated to act on the need for affordable housing in their hometown of Arlington.
The 1986 Pastoral Letter from the US Catholic Bishops inspired them to address the need for affordable housing in Arlington. From the introduction: “This letter is a personal invitation to Catholics to use the resources of our faith, the strength of our economy, and the opportunities of our democracy to shape a society that better protects the dignity and basic rights of our sisters and brothers, both in this land and around the world.”
Beyond APAH, Dolores led a remarkable life: author of 12 books on spirituality and faith, recipient of numerous honorary doctorates and awards, founding director of the Secretariat for the Laity at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (1977 – 1997), senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Seminary at Georgetown University, and mother of four children. Arlington County named her a Person of Vision in 2003. Her latest book, “Reviewed: Scenes From A Long Life”, was published in December 2022.
Learn more about Dolores Leckey’s extraordinary life and her seminal work at APAH through the link below.
A Wake/Prayer Service will be held on January 25, starting at 7 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be held on January 26, starting at 11 am.
Both events will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 2700 19th St S, Arlington, VA 22204.
