Groton - Spencer Jennings Leech Jr., 72, died on July 3, 2010, at his home in Groton.

Born April 5, 1938, in Greenwich, Conn., Spencer attended Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., and graduated from The Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Cruising Club of America, Ram Island Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club and the Mystic River Mudheads. Spencer's love of both cruising and racing took him all over the world.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lynn (Howe) Leech, one sister, Barbara Jacquette of Sheffield, Mass.; two brothers, Stephen Leech of Orient, N.C. and David Leech of Seward, Alaska; one son, Spencer Leech, III, of Annapolis; daughter, Elizabeth Leech of Seward, and daughter, Susanne Leech Drake and her husband, Jed Drake, of Simsbury, Conn.; two stepdaughters and their husbands, Kate Longbotham Fox and Matthew Fox of Beverly, Mass. and Carolyn Longbotham Russell and Christopher Russell of Greenwich, Conn.; and five grandchildren, Nichole Drake, George and Nicholas Fox, and Parker and Lane Russell, whom he adored.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, at the Noank Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Spencer J. Leech, Jr. to the Schooner BRILLIANT at Mystic Seaport or the COPD Foundation.