Leo Fagan, a man who could make a stranger feel like an old friend before the appetizers were gone, passed away peacefully in Daytona Beach on May 2, 2026. He was 84 years old, and he made every one of those years count.

Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Leo eventually headed south to Florida where he earned a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Management at Florida State University, and then continued his education earning a Master's in Counseling. He joined what was then Daytona Beach Junior College where he spent his career teaching psychology and counseling students until he retired. He built a beautiful home and refuge in Daytona and its door was always open - it became a natural gathering place for friends and community.

A passionate advocate of critical thinking and personal growth, he had a gift for challenging people to think bolder and deeper than they thought they could. He was a champion for each and all to find their inspiration and potential. Friends and former students called him teacher, mentor, friend, provoker - sometimes a muse, often a coach - but always said with love. He was an engaged and thoughtful listener and delighted in learning as much as teaching.

Outside the classroom, Leo was a force of nature with a wide grin and an even wider circle of friends. For many years, he hosted Thanksgiving potlucks that were legendary in the community — open to friends, neighbors, strangers, and anyone who needed a table to sit at. He also volunteered at Christmas events as Santa Claus, a role that required very little acting on his part. Always a defender and protector of rescued dogs, he was never without animal companions who became unique characters just like Leo.

Leo loved to be near the water and had several boats and was an avid traveler who roamed the world with curiosity and delight, collecting experiences and coming home with stories that were funny, irreverent, astonishing and entirely his own. He was the kind of storyteller who made you wish you'd been there — and then made you laugh that you weren't.

Leo was a one-of-a-kind human being: warm, witty, intellectually restless, and genuinely interested in the people around him. The world is less colorful and quieter without him, and a lot less interesting.

Leo is survived by the enormous community of people whose lives he touched, challenged, fed, and made better simply by being in their lives. At Leo’s request, there will be no service, and those who wish to remember him are encouraged to make a donation to Halifax Health - Hospice Care Center or the Halifax Humane Society.