TUCSON, Ariz. — Air Force veteran, successful financial manager, beloved brother and uncle, skilled tennis player and skier, avid hiker and world traveler. Leo Roop was all of these things and more. But one of Leo’s most enduring legacies will be his generosity. Leo died peacefully at his Tucson, Arizona, home on July 17, 2024. He was 88.

Leo so valued education, both in the classroom and out, that he made significant contributions to the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and the School of Behavioral Sciences, where he became a founding member of the Magellan Circle of donors in 2004.

Leo’s gifts created the Leo Roop Summer Career Paths Internship and Research Training Scholarships in the Center for Latin American Studies. His contributions over 20 years funded scholarships and grants for more than 30 UA students, many who have gone on to extraordinary careers.
In addition, Leo funded the higher education of several family members and helped others with projects.

Leo also served on the Pima Community College Foundation board of directors from 2007 to 2018.

Leo Allen Roop learned hard work as a youngster growing up near Milton, North Dakota, and in Northern Illinois, where his first job was delivering the local newspaper. He learned to drive at age 14 on the family’s tractor.
Born in 1936, Leo was the third of four children of LaRue and Ralph Roop. Before Leo started school, the Roops moved their growing family to Illinois, where Leo graduated from Rochelle Township High School in 1954.

Having been active in Boy Scouts, Leo spent the next two years as a counselor at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, N.M. His time there sparked a lifelong love of the American Southwest and Latin American history.

In 1958, Leo received his draft notice, joined the U.S. Air Force and qualified for navigator training.

Serving in Texas, California, Nevada and Kansas, he became a navigator-bombardier on a B-47 nuclear bomber, a turbojet-powered aircraft that was capable of striking targets within the Soviet Union from Europe.
During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Leo and his team were sent to Spain and placed on alert with a payload ready to target Soviet cities. To his relief, orders to attack never came.

By November 1962, Leo had logged more than 1,100 hours as a navigator and was promoted to first lieutenant. He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Air Force and had hoped to make it a lifelong career, but was medically discharged at age 27, a move he fought.

He relocated to Arizona to be near his oldest sister and enrolled in the University of Arizona on the GI Bill. He earned his degree in finance in 1967 and worked in banking in Tucson for more than 30 years at First Interstate, Wells Fargo and Mission Management & Trust Company.
Leo hiked extensively throughout the Southwest and traveled to more than 80 countries, often inviting a niece or nephew, providing treasured memories for his family. He also joined UA Magellan Circle excursions to Italy, Mexico City, Oaxaca and Vietnam, among others organized through the university.

He enjoyed reuniting with buddies at several reunions of his 310 Strategic Aerospace Wing, including one he organized in Tucson. Leo also enjoyed a longtime membership at the Mountain Oyster Club, hosting gatherings for family and friends.

Leo was a lifelong bachelor and had no children, but his six nieces and nephews and their extended families admired him as a vibrant, stylish, kind, curious and generous mentor.

He is survived by his sister, Beulah Carter, and brother, Dale Roop, of Tucson; nieces and nephews in Arizona and Wisconsin: Debra Bradley (Doug), Greg Woods (Barb), Sue Woods, Cindy Yenser (Tim), Doug Carter (Susan) and Lori Carter; and several great-nieces and -nephews in Wisconsin and Arizona. Leo was predeceased by his parents and sister, Erma Roop.

The family is immensely thankful for the care he received from his Bayada home health team Lisa, Elisha and Lori, as well as Casa de la Luz Hospice nurse Mike, chaplain Susan and aide Omar.

Along with Leo’s family, these amazing people allowed Leo to spend the last months of his life as he wished: comfortably at home, eating tasty food and enjoying happy hour.

He requested no services. His family will hold an interment gathering at a later date at the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Marana, Ariz.
Anyone wishing to commemorate Leo’s full and charitable life may donate to the Roop Scholars fund at the UA at: https://give.uafoundation.org/leoroop