Age 75, of Dedham and Nantucket, MA passed away suddenly on October 20, 2020. Beloved husband of Carol Searle, devoted Dad and “Advisor-in-law” to Morgan and his wife Deirdre Ryan of Wayland, MA; Brooke Matarese and her husband James of Dover, MA; Whitney Jackson and her husband Adam of Concord, MA; and to Haven and her husband Will Wilson of Seattle, WA; and “Pop Pop” to his nine grandchildren, Neve, Aine, Keira, Andrew, Charlotte, Henry, Oscar, Eliot and Harper, who loved him fiercely.
Drew is predeceased by his parents Douglas and Ruth Ley of Belmont, MA and sister Kristie “Duckie” Ley of Winchester, MA.
Born in Boston in 1945, Drew attended Belmont High School and later Dartmouth College, graduating with his AB in Government in 1967. He memorably served as Social Chairman of Chi Phi, fine tuned his study skills at Dragon Senior Society and exercised a bit on the rugby pitch. He committed to Marine Corps ROTC and joined the active service the year of his graduation, serving proudly as a naval aviator stationed throughout the US and Japan. He married his first wife, Susan Dearborn (Wilde), in 1969 and returned to Massachusetts to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve until his retirement in 1991 at the rank of Colonel and Commanding Officer (CO) at South Weymouth Naval Air Station, home of Marine Attack Squadron 322 (VMA-322 Fighting Gamecocks).
In 1975, Drew graduated with his JD from Boston University School of Law, then selectively and sequentially joined the Boston offices of Goodwin Proctor LLP, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, and Jager Smith LLP, where he was Partner for over 23 years leading the commercial real estate practice. He concluded his law career as Of Counsel with Ley & Young, LLP.
Following his retirement from the Marines Corps Reserve, Drew traded his joy of flying A-4 Skyhawks for racing Porsche 911’s. He and Carol were active members of the Porsche Club of America, where Drew was past President of the Northeast Chapter. Together, they spent many fall weekends organizing and driving in road rallies throughout New England.
He was deeply committed to civic engagement serving on the Greater Boston Advisory Board for the Salvation Army for over 20 years and was a Life Trustee to the U.S.S. Constitution Museum. He was a longtime supporter of the Smithsonian Institute, and the Marine Corps Aviation Association.
Drew’s devotion to Nantucket began in 1953 when his father purchased a cranberry-canning cottage on the corner of Nonantum Ave and Uncatena St, which along with six other houses comprised the beginning of Surfside neighborhood. Nearly 70 years later, after countless toes-up dips in the ocean, neighborly cocktails and jaunts to Great Point, the cottage remains as it was (except for an upgrade from a 21” to 24” stove) - a place of rest and memory for Drew, Carol and their extended family. Drew served on the Board of The Surfside Association and enjoyed supporting The Great Point Circle initiative.
Some of his other many and varied interests and talents included: enjoying Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts; pursuing phantom bluefish while surfcasting from Fisherman’s Beach; a sardonic and dry wit; a love of books and contemplation; captivating and tedious magic tricks; a stop-in-your tracks whistle and eye brow raise; Mount Gay rum; and hosting an annual Christmas Eve celebration pinned for each and every year by his adoring family.
Given the suddenness of his passing and COVID restrictions, the family will plan a future memorial service to celebrate, reminisce and roast Drew.
Semper Fi
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About |
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| Name | Andrew James Ley |
| Date of Birth | May 18th, 1945 |
| Date of Death | October 20th, 2020 |
| Home Town | Boston, MA, US |
| In Memoriam Donation | The U.S.S. Constitution Museum |
| In Memoriam Donation | Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. |
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published a tribute .
Drew was my favorite Porsche driving instructor at Lime Rock. After the left hand turn I can still hear him saying "One potato, two potato,GO" for the next right hand turn. He was a lot of fun.
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published a tribute .
"Drew" was a guest speaker at the event that I organized to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the closing of NAS South Weymouth back in 2017. Here he is speaking at this event. Semper Fi...
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Drew and I flew together for many years at VWA 322. He was my Executive Officer and successor as CO of the squadron. He was an exceptional pilot. His mantra "On Target On Time". He was a great professional and a very good friend.
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Saddened to hear of Drew's death. Flew with him in VMA-322 and remember him as a fine pilot and Marine and a good man. Will miss him. My condolences to family and friends.
Semper Fi, Marine.
Dave Reynolds
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If anyone wants to read more about dad and consider a donation to further something he was so happy to be a part of year after year .
http://www.usscm.org/ley-fund
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I was so sad to hear of his passing. I was a paralegal at McDermott Will and Emery, and he was among the first lawyers I met that showed me you didn’t have to be a jerk to practice law. He was always hilarious, always kind, and I’m glad that when a I bumped into him a couple years ago on the Needham line I got to tell him that he was a role model for me. I think he feigned horror. Or maybe it was real (he’d always say “why would you want to be lawyer? You see what it’s like...,”) or words to that effect.
Given how much I enjoyed our time at MWE, I can only imagine how painful this loss is for family and friends. My deepest condolences.
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published a tribute .
So sad to hear of his passing. When I knew the Colonel, he was Capt. Ley. I was assigned asa young Sgt to the MARTD staff at NAS So Weymouth and worked on the jets he flew. He always had encouraging words and a sharp wit. He was one of the finest Marine officers I ever had the priviledge of serving with in my 7 years in the Corps. Semper Fi Colonel Ley
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published a tribute .
So sorry to learn of Drew's passing - I first met him at SoWeymouth where we overlapped briefly, and got to know him as he supported many events for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to include the annual Boston luncheon after his retirement. I wanted to extend my thoughts and sympathies to his family - Semper Fi and all the best
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He was the best always made me smile miss him dearly, Miss you Pop Pop I hope to see you soon
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My deepest condolences to you all. I was so very saddened to hear the news. I will forever be grateful for Drew's friendship and his wisdom. He taught me what lawyering is all about - developing real relationships with people and helping them to solve their problems. He taught me the importance of making family a priority. And he taught me that you can't sit by on the sidelines of life - you need to enjoy it to the fullest. Some of my most valued life lessons. Our loss is heaven's gain.
published a comment .
I am so sad to just have heard about my most favorite person in the world that I had to honor to work for ... I have so many beautiful memories of Drew. He made me laugh every day, it was always easy to go to work. My deepest sympathies to the entire family, he loved his family so much.
published a comment .
thank you both for such kinda words and for reitterating what we all loved the very most about my dad. he was truly one in a million . He would of done anything for us and he did it with a quiet force and a twinkle in his eye.
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published a tribute .
Drew and I were co-counsel for a mutual client over many many years and his quick wit was more than matched by is impeccable legal skill. We got a lot done together, meeting many deadlines, but always finding a way to toss in either a latin cuss-word phrase or a Shakespearean reference amidst our prepayment penalty or liquidated damages discussions. He was a delight to be with. God speed, Drew.
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published a tribute .
Just heard on Marine Corps birthday 245. Spent time together at USS Constitution Museum. Good friend, fellow Marine , and free spirit . A loss .
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Larry, thank you for this. Seeing a sentence with both "Marine" and "free spirit" is likely fairly rare and also perfectly describes Dad. Thanks so much for your thoughts.
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published a tribute .
Many fond memories of Surfside meetings/cocktail parties at the end of the summer. Drew and I would talk about all things Porsche, and yes, we did also share an affinity for Mt. Gay. Great minds and all that.
What always struck me however, was his interest in my father’s flying career. My dad was an RAF pilot in WWII, flying B24 Liberators. Drew, naturally, was curious about dad’s experiences, and we spent quality time swapping stories. These aviators are a close knit bunch.
When my dad died (13 years ago) Drew and Carol sent us a nice, heartfelt note. Class all the way.
So sorry to hear of his passing.
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published a tribute .
Andy was a Belmont High School classmate and track teammate of my late husband, Brian Mahoney. Andy kindly wrote to me when Brian died ten years ago this weekend. Brian always spoke fondly of Andy and their good times at BHS. They shared mutual respect between an Army veteran and a Marine veteran. Semper Fi.
published a comment .
I too was a classmate of Andy and Brian in Belmont
Sad they both are gone too soon
I met Andy in kindergarten and followed him home from the first day of school
He was witty and fun, a gifted athlete and all around good guy
He will be missed
Semper Fi
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Thank you for sharing these memories of my dad ...I love hearing stories about him as a young man .
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Whitney
I have memories and photos of your dad
Please provide your email address for me to send them along
You can decide whom to share them with
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published a tribute .
I served as part of the MARTD staff at NAS S Weymouth from 1973-1976. I knew him then as Capt. Ley. Col. Ley was one of the finest Marine officers I had the priviledge to serve with in all my years in the Marine Corp. God Speed and Semper Fi
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Drew has been a family friend and squadron mate for many years. His immediate friendly greeting and joyful smile will forever be remembered, along with his quick wit and candid jokes. Always enjoyed seeing Drew when he visited the Cape. Fair winds and following seas Colonel. Semper Fi
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Finest kind. Thank you for your mentorship, friendship and periodic debates to keep me focused on the goal/doing right. I learned much from you. Rest peacefully
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Finest kind. Thank you for your mentorship, friendship and periodic debates to keep me focused on the goal. I learned much from you. Rest peacefully
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Our deepest condolences to you all . Drew was a great guy snd lots of fun. We knew him from Porsche Club. May he Rest In Peace.
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My deepest condolences. So many fond memories of Drew. He will be missed by so many. Holding you all in my prayers.
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published a tribute .
Although I served tangentially with Col Ley as a Marine at Naval Air Station, South Weymouth, MA Col Ley being a pilot with VMA-322, an A-4 attack aircraft, and I being in a helicopter squadron, we often crossed paths. When I first met Andrew Ley he was a Captain. The first thing I noted was his smile and greeting. He was the proverbial "nice guy". The years went on and the smile and greeting never diminished. A man's memory is eternal as long as his comrades speak his name. Semper Fidelis Colonel Ley. You were one of the Good Guys.
published a comment .
Drew Ley will forever be remembered by his fellow Marines, myself included, for his devotion to family, the community and the Marine Corps. Semper Fi, rest in peace Drew.
Coley Foley
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Another Good Man and Marine has been issued PCS Orders. A trusted advisor and a Great Leader of Men. I shall report to Colonel LEY when my PCS Orders arrive. Fair Winds, Following Seas and God Bless You, Sir.
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Rest peacefully Pop...we will take care of CG and each other...love you forever...
"You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them..."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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published a comment .
Honored to be a part of this day long ago, and proud of the wonderful young lady you have become. So terribly sorry for your loss, Drew was very special. Love, Ellen
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published a tribute .
outstanding A4 pilot and co
an honor to have served with you sir
semper-fi
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