05/18/2021
We are mourning the loss of a dog’s best friend. Leesa was a regular at the dog park from its inception and beloved by all visitors. Her German Shepherd “Tuck” (named after Justin Tuck) was a staple at the park for years until he passed and only the second canine to be honored on the park’s memorial plaque (behind Leesa in this picture).
Wake will be held at Blackleys in Ridgefield on Wednesday May 19, from 3 to 7pm.
Elizabeth “Leesa” Downham Povinelli
1969-2021
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you of the passing of my beautiful wife Leesa, after her long battle with metastatic breast cancer. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family of humans and dogs.
She is at peace, and free of pain now. She’s having a beer with her dad, and playing ball with her beloved German Shepherd, Tuck, and many of the other rescue dogs she fostered over the years that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Leesa was incredibly tough. She would not let cancer define her, and prevent her from caring for her family and helping vulnerable rescue dogs, or people. No matter how worn down she was from perpetual chemotherapy and doctor appointments over the past few years, she made time for our kids’ games and school events, and the 5 a.m. trips over to the Bronx with a truckload of rescue dogs and cats for spay day. Life came first, rest could wait.
She was a fiercely protective mother to our children Alaina and Jack, and nurtured them to become the fine young adults I am so very proud of.
She was the smartest person I’ve ever met, who could discuss at length English literature, world history, or heavy metal bands that she saw in concert.
Leesa was the quintessential cool chick. The sweetest, most easy going, anti-dramatic, laid back person you could ever have the pleasure to meet. Putting up with me for 25 years is a testament to that!
We will miss her terribly, and we loved her more than words can convey, but she taught us how to be strong, and we will take solace from her strength, and feed off of her energy. We will be okay.
-Paul.
