Leo F. McGrath

McGrath was born and educated in Peabody. He was elected to the Peabody city council as a councilor at large in 1942.^[3] In 1945 he defeated incumbent mayor Joseph B. O'Keefe.^[4] During McGrath's tenure as mayor, J. B. Thomas Hospital reopened and the new Peabody Municipal Light Plant was constructed. In 1951, he was defeated for reelection by city councilor Philip C. O'Donnell.^[5] After leaving office, McGrath served as clerk of the Peabody district court. He retired in 1971 and spent his later years residing in Danvers, Massachusetts. McGrath died on April 10, 1977, at a nursing home in Peabody after a lengthy illness. He was 78 years old.^[3]