Bench & Bar November/December 2025

Linda Brumleve Sullivan Leahy, age 77, died on Octo ber 11, 2025, in Louisville, Ky., where she was born and raised. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, the Uni versity of Kentucky, and the University of Kentucky Law School. Linda was a dedicated lawyer for nearly 50 years and

practiced in Kentucky, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. Throughout her career, she defended the underserved and underappreciated as one of the first public defenders in Fayette County, Ky.; ruled fairly and impartially as a domestic relations commissioner in Lexington; and provided zealous representation as a plaintiff-side employment lawyer in every state where she practiced. At a national trial institute early in her career, she met another young public defender who practiced in New Hampshire. They reconnected later in life, married, and practiced law together in Penacook, N.H., as Leahy and Leahy PLLC, until they headed south for warmer weather. Linda was devoted to her children and her faith. She was a parishioner of Christ the King in Lexington; St. Theresa Catholic Church in Henniker, N.H.; Stella Maris in Sullivan’s Island, S.C.; and Epiphany Catholic Church in Louisville. She participated in Bible Study, choir, sewing circles, and wel coming committees. Linda inherited her passion for gardening and plants from her mother, Gene, and her love of cookies from her father, Cletus. She loved Elvis, Scrabble, margaritas, UK Basketball, her adopted Boston Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox, the ocean, and spending time with her family and friends. In her last year she traveled to Hawaii for her daughter’s 40 th birthday; Puerto Rico with her “high school buddies;” St. Louis for college hockey’s Frozen Four; and took a river cruise with her best friend Phyllis Robinson from Memphis to New Orleans, always one to experience life to the fullest. She is survived by her devoted husband Peter (“Scoop”) Leahy; her sister, Nancy (Mark) Hill, and her brother, Gary (Gail) Brumleve; her children, Daniel (Jenny) Sullivan and Margaret Sullivan; her stepchildren Heather Gatnarek (Josh Jennings) and Sean Leahy (Audra Winn); and her grand children Russell Sullivan, Hudson Sullivan, Esme Leahy, and Cyrus Leahy. She is also survived by numerous beloved, lifelong friends. The family celebrated Linda’s life with a funeral mass and celebration in Louisville, on November 7, 2025, and requested donations to local animal shelters in Linda’s honor.

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