Nancy Ann Leonard

Nancy Ann (Root) Leonard passed away peacefully in Carmel, Indiana on September 23, 2025 at the age of ninety-three. She lived an extraordinary life which began in Indianapolis, Indiana on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932. Her parents, Roy and Roberta Root, were living in Indianapolis temporarily because her father was scheduled to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals. He had a ticket for the train to St. Louis when Nancy made her appearance. He missed tryouts. Instead, Roy and Roberta moved back to South Bend, Indiana. In South Bend, Nancy attended Lincoln School through eighth grade and graduated from Riley High School in 1950 where she was first chair trumpet for the Marching Wildcats. She was also a Rainbow Girl affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star, played piano and ukulele, and rode the city bus downtown to work in a dress shop part time during high school.

Nancy Root went on her first date with Bobby Leonard on January 15, 1951 when they were freshmen at Indiana University. He told her to meet him at the gym to see a basketball game. Imagine her surprise when she heard his name and jersey number on the public address system as she entered the facility! And so it began. Her date hit the winning free throw to win the 1953 NCAA championship for IU, while Nancy and her Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters sat in their pajamas listening to the game in Kansas on radio. It was all basketball from then on. They were married on June 15, 1954 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in South Bend, the Tuesday after IU graduation. Yes, Tuesday. It had to be the 15th!

Professional basketball took Bob and Nancy to Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore and finally back to Indiana. In Kokomo, Nancy taught third grade and then high school business classes at Taylor High School. She was the first sponsor of the Taylor yearbook, Helio, and was beloved by her students. When Bob became the coach of the Indiana Pacers, they moved to Carmel and Nancy became the first cheerleading sponsor of the Pacemates, and the first woman in the National Basketball Association to hold the front office position of assistant general manager. As a charter member of the infamous Murderers Row, she and her closest Pacers pals, seated courtside, instilled fear in the hearts of visiting referees. She attended Pacers games well into her ninety-third year and was the loudest voice behind the team bench. Nancy also was an award winning realtor with F. C. Tucker Company, held a Series 7 license making her a financial professional, and served as the coordinator of the F. C. Tucker St. Mary’s Auction for twenty-five years. For a number of years, she found time to assist Bob with his Herff Jones class rings and announcements business, and run Bobby Leonard’s Scoreboard Restaurant in Carmel and Bobby Leonard’s Sports Camp in Bainbridge. She received the highest Governor’s award given in Indiana, Sagamore of the Wabash, from Governor Eric J. Holcomb on March 28, 2022. Some women cracked the glass ceiling. Nancy busted it into pieces.

Nancy was the mother of five, grandmother of twelve, and great grandmother of nine. She was a true relocation specialist and never seemed to be bothered by another moving van in the driveway. She successfully served as family CEO and kept all of the plates spinning in the air, all of the time. Nancy made a mean oyster casserole and peach cobbler, and was a whiz at organizing and hosting very large family gatherings and holidays. Her Christmas tree touched the living room ceiling and took weeks to disassemble. Gifts from the grandchildren adorned her tables and walls year round.

Nancy became a member of Carmel United Methodist Church in 1970 and served on the church council. In her house, if one did not have time to go to church on Sunday, one could spend the day in one’s room.

Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Robert (Bobby) Leonard and her parents Kathleen Roberta (Payne) Root and Royal Bennet Root. Her only sibling, sister Joyce Root Katona, passed away in 2019. Nancy’s daughter-in-law, Tami Suttles Leonard, passed away in May 2025. Also preceding her were her mother and father-in-law, Hattie and Raymond Leonard, sisters-in-law Madonna Leonard Jackson and Darlene Leonard Crynes, and brothers-in-law Joseph Katona, Jr., Max Jackson, and Donald Crynes.

Nancy is survived by her five children: Terry (Larry) Grembowicz, Bobby Leonard, Billy (Suzi) Leonard, Tommy (Kristin) Leonard, and Timmy (Kristy) Leonard. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren: Katie (Casey), Elly (Tim), Robert/Bo, Nick, Tyler, Allison (Luke), Hannah, Wyatt, Stella, Briana, Maizie (Carlos), Timmy and nine great grandchildren: Wyatt, Aubrey, Alivia, Elliana, Lauren, Rayna, Brooke, Savannah, and Santiago. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews, and extended family members.

The Leonard Family is extremely grateful for Nancy’s care at The Barrington of Carmel, Paradigm Health, IU North Hospital, and Ascension St. Vincent Hospital. She had wonderful doctors, caregivers, and healthcare personnel.

Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to: Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032. Riley Children’s Hospital, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Indiana University Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

The Leonard Family is planning a private Celebration of Life for Nancy. Flanner Buchanan - Carmel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.flannerbuchanan.com.