His title was “Suite Greeter”, and he would be at the steps that go up to the Upper Level/Third Level at First National Bank Field, and he would check the fans tickets/suite passes and make sure they got where they were going, as the baseball patrons would be making their way to the luxury boxes/suites where they would take in, and enjoy watching a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game…
His title was “Suite Greeter”, and that he was, and he was one of the best at what he did…Very loyal and one of the most dedicated people that you will ever come in contact with…
I just knew him at Leo McGinty III’s dad, and he was Leo McGinty Jr. I usually just called him Mr. McGinty, since he was older than me, and to me, he and his son were both just, Leo McGinty..
Me and Mr. McGinty would exchange pleasantries as I made my way up the Press Box at First National Bank Field, and I did not see him every day, because some days, on some years, I would take the elevator to the top, but most days over the years, I would pass by Mr. McGinty, and would share a word about how hot the weather was that day….He was a fair and square type of guy, and I always had the utmost respect for Mr. McGinty, and that was mainly because his son, Leo McGinty III, loved sports just like his dad did, and the younger Leo McGinty, was a sportS nutt, and went after it hard…
Little Leo, was a Western Guilford High School kid back in his day, and I can still vividly remember him with his broadcasters microphone, interviewing some of the basketball stars at Fred Whitfield’s Achievements Unlimited Basketball Camp, which USED to run out at Western Guilford HS every Summer, and every Summer, Michael Jordan would make a special guest appearance at the Achievements Unlimited Camp…
Michael Jordan would be there, and there would be the younger Leo McGinty working to get an interview with Michael, or WITH many of the other special guests at Fred Whitfield’s Basketball Camp…Little Leo McGinty was a true sports man, and hIS dad was always proud of the work Little Leo did…
Little Leo, the younger Leo McGinty, did not make the front set of the TV sports broadcasts here locally, but he did end up working in production for WGHP FOX 8 Sports, where he would produce Rich Brenner, Kevin Connoley, Danny Harnden, Jim McSorley, Jay Shurling, Steve Kaschel and others over the years…Little Leo would make those FOX celebrities look real good on your local TV sports broadcasts..
Later Little Leo moved toward the news side of WGHP FOX 8, at least that is what I heard, but he was always a loyal FOX 8 man, just like his dad was always a hard-working and loyal Greensboro Grasshoppers Greeter…
I didn’t even know Mr. McGinty had passed away until they ran a tribute to him on the video scoreboard, at a recent Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game…I think the deal was, it was Leo McGinty’s birthday on July 27 of last month(born July 27, 1941), and that is the night the showed the tribute, and Greensboro Grasshoppers’ public address announcer Stuart Barefoot read the tribute to Leo McGinty Jr., with the details…The photo on the video scoreboard sure got my attention, because I didn’t even know Mr. McGinty was gone…
Sad to learn of one’s passing in that manner, but sometimes that is how you have to find out….Sure did appreciate seeing Mr. McGinty every day down at the ballpark, and his family can know in his passing, that he left many great memories for those who crossed his path…Leo McGinty Jr. did not have to say a lot, it was just his voice greeting you each day, and knowing he was there, and he was looking out for us…And just his thoughts on how HOT it was, and on some of those Summer days, it sure was hot at the ole ballyard…..
Thank-you Mr. McGinty, and RIP:Leo McGinty Jr.
(Thank-you for your military service, your service to local baseball community, and GodSpeed to your family and loved ones.)
**********A key line from an old song…Anybody here, seen my old friend Leo, can you tell me where he’s gone, he helped a lot of people, but it seems the good they die young/too soon, I just turned around and found out he was Gone…**********
[Leo McGinty Jr. Obituary]
Leo McGinty Obituary
McGinty, Leo Patrick
July 27, 1941 – March 7, 2023
LEO P. MCGINTY JR. 81 of Greensboro, N.C. passed away peacefully Tuesday morning March 7th at home surrounded by his loving family.
Leo was born in Philadelphia and raised in Atlantic City, N.J. He was a graduate of Our Lady Star of the Sea Grammar School (55) and Holy Spirit High School (59). He received his BA in English from Villanova University (63) where he participated in the NROTC program. After marrying he began his career in the Navy, completing flight training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. The family moved on to Patuxent River, Md. and was part of the VP-44 squadron. Then to Princeton, N.J. where he was an Assistant Professor in the NROTC program at Princeton University. Next based in Almeda, Calif., Leo boarded the USS Enterprise CVAN-65 for a Vietnam deployment as part of the VP-68 squadron where he was a catapult officer, and a patrol plane commander flying P-3 aircraft. In 1972 Leo and his family settled in Greensboro, N.C. where he began his career as a commercial pilot. He flew as the chief pilot for Blue Bell Airlines (later named Tradewinds) flying large cargo CL-44 and L-1011 aircraft. He retired as a commander from the Naval Reserve service in 1996. After retirement from piloting, he served the Federal Aviation Administration as a safety inspector until his final retirement in 2007. Leo then began his second career in 2008 with a life in baseball, joining the Greensboro Grasshoppers as a suite greeter. He was the Hoppers second longest employee, working up until this past summer of 2022.
More than flying and baseball Leo loved his family above all else; his beloved wife of 59 years Sylvia (Fidler) and his children and their spouses; Leo P. McGinty, III, Kathleen (McGinty) and Chip Loye, Lara (McGinty) and Shane Kilfoil. He was the proud grandfather to three grandchildren, Ryder Kilfoil, Drew and McKenna Loye. He is also survived by his loving extended family; sister Eileen Eger, brother James & Geraldine McGinty, brother Ronald McGinty. Blessed with 13 nieces and nephews, 25 great nieces and nephews and six godchildren. He loved nothing more than to have the entire family together for meals and trips, and always insisted on picking up the bill.
He was predeceased by his parents Leo P. McGinty, Sr. and Dorothy (McHale) McGinty, and his in-laws Lynn Fidler and Mildred Fidler, Brother-in-law Fred Eger, Sisters-in-law Taina McGinty, Dolores Coppolecchia, Lynette and Joe Michael, Doris and Bob Adams.
Leo was a social guy that loved to tell a story. At Holy Spirit he was the Student Body President, was the editor of the school yearbook sports page, had a headline role in the school play. Through college he worked with his family at the Atlantic Coast TV Cable Corporation and had plenty of stories to tell about backstage at the Miss America Pageant.
He loved sports and spent hours watching everything from NASCAR, football, basketball, and baseball to his daughter’s triathlons and his grandchildren’s soccer games. He traveled to many ballparks across the country with his son Leo, but loved the one in Greensboro the best, making as many games as he could, going all the way back to the 80’s. He also especially loved the challenge of feeding the backyard birds, when he knew the squirrels would win in the end.
Leo had a sense of adventure for the world and enjoyed traveling with his family and friends internationally. But, with a highlighted map in hand, you could not do better than a trip with his family to the beach, from the boardwalk of Atlantic City to Myrtle Beach, S.C., all the way to Puerto Rico. He took such joy in making those memories together.
He was deeply rooted in his Catholic faith and committed to working hard every day to ensure his family had every opportunity possible in life. He was a steadfast man with a wicked sense of humor.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a favorite charity in Leo’s name, he was a supporter of so many wonderful causes. And further, support your local minor league baseball team and give a shout of “Big Hit!” in his honor.
A visitation for friends and family will be held 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Gormley Funeral Home 2706 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Leo 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 2651 Atlantic Avenue Atlantic City, NJ. The Rite of Committal will be offered at Holy Cross Cemetery, Route 40 in Mays Landing, following Mass. Arrangements by the Gormely Funeral Home LLC, AC. A Celebration of Life will be held in Greensboro, N.C. at a later date.
