Edward Leigh Gates Jr. was born in 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, the second son of Edward Sr. and J. Jane (Soulé) Gates. Tom (his nickname from early youth) grew up in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, and attended Manchester Public School, Shore Country Day School, and Phillips Academy Andover, class of 1952. He enrolled at Harvard University in the fall of 1952 as a mathematics major but joined the US Marine Corps in July 1953 on turning 18. En route to combat service in Korea, his excellent typing and administrative skills led to a position in Kobe, Japan, and then Middle Camp Fuji until December 1955, working in Personnel and reaching the rank of Sergeant. After finishing his service with the Marine Corps, he resumed his studies at Harvard in September 1956. However, in December that year he returned to the military, this time with the US Army, and enlisted as a Specialist 3. He attended the Army Language School (now Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center) in Monterey, California. He received the Maxwell D. Taylor Award from that institution and graduated with a degree in Italian (February 1959). After passing through Fort Dix, Tom was sent to the 5th MASH in Heidelberg, Germany, and next ended up posted in Stuttgart, which did not suit his Italian language expertise or professional interests. He attended the NCO Academy in Bad Toelz, and left as a graduate with honors, now a Specialist 4. Finally, an opening for a post in Italy arrived and Tom moved to Verona in late 1959, where he remained until 1962, having reenlisted to serve a total of 6 years, and achieving Specialist 5, Grade 5.

In Verona, Tom took college classes offered to US service personnel abroad by the University of Maryland. When he left the Army, he decided to complete his undergraduate degree at UMCP, and had his red Triumph Herald sports car shipped to Maryland from Italy. He began classes in the summer of 1962 and graduated in 1964 with a major in Modern European History. He immediately began an MA, and taught classes for his thesis advisor, Prof. Gordon Prange. He also took the US Civil Service Exam, on which he received a perfect score. Before he could finish his MA degree, he was recruited by the US Census Bureau, particularly for his computer expertise and foreign language skills. He began working in July 1965 at the US Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland, Maryland, as a Grade 7. He achieved Grade 13 by 1971. He retired from the International Division of the Census Bureau in 1990 as a Grade 14 and continued to work as a contractor for several years. He served on the US Board on Geographic Names as a Representative from the Department of Commerce from 1987 to 1991. From 2001-2005 he worked as a substitute Italian teacher for Montgomery County Public High Schools, and many other subject areas. His professional life was characterized by service to the American people, the federal government and the students of the State of Maryland. He performed his work with distinction, skill and intelligence.

Tom’s keen appreciation of classical music led him to meet the love of his life, Edith Eckenroth, a young orchestra conductor and music teacher at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. They married on August 4, 1968. They had a daughter, Carolyn Jane, and a son, Edward Leigh, III. Tom became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church and was a devoted supporter of Edith’s many musical concerts at SDA elementary schools. He also wrote the program notes for The Washington Chamber Symphony under the direction of Stephen Simon from 1996-2002, and frequently composed poetry in many forms for family members. Tom and Edith lived in Burnt Mills Hills and Colesville, Maryland, and celebrated 54 years of marriage together. After Edith’s passing in 2023, Tom moved to Salem, Virginia, to live near his son and beloved daughter-in-law, Ted and Kimberly (Dummitt) Gates. He joined a local writer’s club, The Inkslingers, and became an avid attendee of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s concerts.

Tom passed away peacefully at home in Salem, Virginia, on August 28, 2025, with his son and daughter-in-law at his side. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn Jane Gates and Jean-Philippe Gury, and three granddaughters; his son and daughter-in-law, Edward Leigh III, and Kim Gates; his brothers, Timothy Gates (and spouse Katerina) and Henry Gates. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Dr. Edith Eckenroth Gates. He is remembered for his poetry, love of music, sense of humor, foreign language skills, and numismatic enthusiasm. Addio! beloved father and grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, author and teacher!

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