Hope Leeger Pinkerton

Hope Pinkerton ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Yuma Mortuary & Crematory on Mar. 9, 2026.Hope Leeger Pinkerton, 96, of Yuma, AZ, passed away peacefully at homeon March 3, 2026 with her daughter Wendy by her side.Hope was born June 23, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Anna (Hellman) andLeon Lichtenberg Leeger.After graduating from high school,Hope went on to the State University of New York, College at Buffalo earning a bachelor'sdegree in Education, followed by a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology and aSixth-Year Administrator Certification from Southern Connecticut State University.Hope worked in several school districts in New York and Connecticut before enjoying a long andsuccessful career in Speech-Language Pathology, Special Education, and Administration for theCity of Waterbury Board of Education in Connecticut. Hope also served as the PracticumSupervisor for graduate students of Speech-Language Pathology at Southern Connecticut StateUniversity.Hope was a member of numerous professional organizations during herdistinguished career, including the American Speech-Hearing Association, National EducationAssociation, Connecticut Speech-Hearing Association (recording secretary and DistinguishedService Award), Connecticut Education Association, Waterbury Administrators Association,Council for Exceptional Children, and the Council of Special Education Supervisors.Preceding Hope in death are her husband of 33 years John Pinkerton, her eldest daughter Joy(Crespi) Liebeskind, her parents Anna (Hellman) and Leon Lichtenberg Leeger, her sister Vera(Leeger) Lindbeck, and her brotherErnest Leeger.Remaining to cherish Hope's memory are her daughter Wendy Crespi Morgan of Yuma; her sonTony Crespi (Cheryl) of Meriden, CT, and her six grandchildren: Tammy Frattini, Gary Sharlow(Juliana), Jamie Beau Morgan (Aria), Cammi Mara Morgan (Ruin), Sarah Liebeskind, andJoshua Liebeskind.Hope added six step-children to her family when she married John: Jean Pinkerton Kelley(Tom), Rick Pinkerton (Marianne), Suzanne Pinkerton Kostuck (Jim), Ken Pinkerton, StevePinkerton (Dana), and Jay Pinkerton (Kathy), along with many step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. She will also be remembered by her extended family of nieces, nephews,sisters-in-law, and her many good friends in Yuma, AZ, where she has had a home since 1991,and in Cheshire CT, where she lived for 56 years before becoming a full-time resident of Yumain 2018.After Hope and John retired, they embarked on a shared dream to travel the United States in arecreational vehicle, visiting all 50 states. It was on that trip that they discovered Yuma andbought a second home.Hope especially loved crocheting afghans to give to friends and family, gardening and flowerarranging, and watching the hummingbirds outside her kitchen window.She also loved to look at the full moon. So it was especially meaningful that she passed duringthe full moon at the end of the full lunar eclipse.A private scattering of ashes will take place in the future near the Imperial Sand Dunes to honorher wishes.Memorial donations in Hope's memory may be directed to a charity of choice.To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hope Leeger Pinkerton, please visit our floral store.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.