Robert J. “Bob” Leydon of Melrose, known to family and friends as Spider, died peacefully on October 15, 2026 at a Chelsea rehabilitation center, Highland Park. He was 87.
He was born on December 29, 1938 in Medford, the son of John and Rose Leydon, grew up in Somerville, graduated from Boston’s Cathedral High School in 1956 and did a stint in the Air National Guard. At Boston College, Class of 1964, he met Carole Doyle while carpooling to campus; they married at St. Polycarp Church in Somerville on July 23, 1966 and spent nearly all of their 60 years together in Melrose, where he was a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary of the Annunciation. He built a long career in the computer industry on conversation and quick wit, retired in 2012 as a self-described “Retired Gadabout,” and in 2000 announced that his grandchildren would call him Spider. They did, and so did most everyone else. He was one of many children in a large, close family and treasured the gatherings, stories and laughter they shared.
Carole survives him, as do two daughters, Lisa Leydon, married to William Brady, and Juliet Leydon, married to Eric DiNoto, and four grandchildren, Lily, Rose, Claire and Liam. Two brothers, Jack and Fran Leydon, also survive him, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. A daughter, Laura Ann, and four siblings, Mary Ploughman, Edward Leydon, Therese Campbell and William Leydon, died before him. The family thanks the staff at Highland Park and at Care Dimensions Hospice.
Visiting hours are Wednesday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster Street, Melrose, followed by a funeral service at noon in the funeral home. Burial is private. The family suggests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Compiled from information published by Gately Funeral Home. Photograph courtesy of the family via Gately Funeral Home. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
