Leonard “Len” William McAuliffe Jr., 85, passed away peacefully at his home on September 29, 2026.

Len was born on March 12, 1941, in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the son of Leonard Sr. and Geraldine (Dinan) McAuliffe. He graduated from St. Charles School in 1955 and Bellows Falls High School in 1959.

Following high school, Len attended the New England Institute of Embalming and Funeral Directing in Roxbury, MA where he lived and worked at the P.E. Murray Funeral Home. He later relocated to Keene, New Hampshire, where he completed a two-year apprenticeship at Fletcher Funeral Home. After earning his license, he remained in Keene and continued his work in funeral service.

In 1963, Len joined the U.S. Army. Following basic training, he was assigned to the U.S. Mortuary System in Europe and stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he served as a funeral director and embalmer. Before receiving his honorable discharge, he was promoted to E-5 (Sergeant) and served as the NCO in charge of the “K-Town” Mortuary.

During his time in the Army, Len returned home to marry his beloved wife of 61 years, Maggie (McGettigan) McAuliffe. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Wilton, New Hampshire, on June 26, 1965.

Following his military service, Len returned to Fletcher Funeral Home before beginning a new career as a salesman for Will Ross Inc., a national manufacturer and distributor of medical products. His territory covered northern Vermont and northern New Hampshire. Len and Maggie relocated to Barre City, Vermont, where they purchased their first home.

Although Len’s territory was initially the smallest in the country, his determination and natural ability quickly distinguished him. Within a few years, he consistently ranked among the top three sales representatives in the United States for both sales and gross profit.

In June 1974, Len was promoted to Division Manager for Will Ross/GD Searle, overseeing six New England states from the company’s office and distribution center in Stoneham, Massachusetts. His career brought numerous promotions and gave Len and his young family the opportunity to live in beautiful areas of Wisconsin and Texas.

In 1981, Len moved his family to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he opened a home care company, Medical Market. The business grew to include several locations throughout southern New Hampshire.

Len and Maggie spent the following decades in their welcoming Portsmouth home, which became a gathering place for family and friends. Their home and pool were filled with friends of Kara, Jack, Marty, and Jimmy, and later with their children’s spouses and, most importantly, their grandchildren.

Len was known as an avid storyteller and historian. His recollections were often humorous and filled with wonderful and often humorous stories about the many people he had known and the experiences he had shared throughout his life. He had a remarkable ability to bring the past to life, and his stories were a gift to his family and friends.

One of Len’s greatest joys was spending time with family and friends. He loved nothing more than having people around him, telling stories, and enjoying the simple pleasure of good company and Maggie’s cooking. His homes in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and later at the lake house in Middleton, New Hampshire, became special gathering places where family and friends came together and made lasting memories.

Len also found great happiness in gardening. He tended his gardens and enjoyed watching things grow, whether planting flowers, caring for his yard, or simply spending time outdoors. Gardening gave him peace and satisfaction, and he loved sharing the beauty of his surroundings with the people he cared about. Both homes reflected his love of the outdoors and his enjoyment of creating welcoming places where family and friends wanted to gather.

Len is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Maggie; his daughter, Kara Loch and her husband, Stephen; his sons, Jack McAuliffe; Marty McAuliffe and his wife, Steffany; and Jim McAuliffe and his wife, Amy; and his grandchildren, Tommy, Mikey, Ezra, Cal, Delaney, Ben, Katy, Jordan Fletcher, and Jordan Trombino. He is also survived by former son-in-law, Dan Jolly, relations in County Sligo, Ireland, and his brothers, Jim and Gerald McAuliffe.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial funeral Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church(Corpus Christi Parish) 98 Summer Street on Thursday, October 8 at 10:00 AM in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Burial will follow at a later date at the McAuliffe family lot at St. Charles Cemetery in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Corpus Christi Parish Summer Street in Portsmouth.