Tad lived a life defined by his love of people, his endless curiosity, and his gift for bringing others together. Whether sharing a homemade chocolate truffle, hosting friends for dinner, striking up a conversation with a stranger, or running around with his grandchildren, he approached life with warmth, humor, and genuine interest in others.

Born in Montclair, N.J., to M. Theodore “Ted” and Susan “Sue” Duff Van Leer, Tad grew up in Glen Ridge, N.J., alongside his siblings Katie, Peter, and Mary. He was proud to call himself a “Ridger” throughout his life and maintained close friendships from his Glen Ridge High School years until the very end.

After graduating from Washington and Lee University in 1977, Tad joined the family chocolate business founded by his grandfather, Van Leer Chocolate Corporation of Jersey City, N.J. Over the course of his career, he became a nationally respected chocolatier, producing chocolate inclusions for ice cream makers across the country, including Ben & Jerry’s, Hagen Dazs, Blue Bell, and many others.

Following the sale of the family business, he continued pursuing his passion for chocolate by purchasing J. Emanuel Chocolatier in Chester, N.J., where he delighted in creating wine truffles, almond butter crunch, chocolate bark and countless other confections. He found as much joy in sharing chocolate with family and friends as he did in making it.

Tad was equally passionate about athletics throughout his life. At Washington and Lee, he was an All-American swimmer and was later inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He remained a fierce competitor long after his swimming days, becoming an avid tennis and paddle tennis player. He delighted in introducing his daughters, stepson, sons-in-law, and later his grandchildren to the sports he loved. As his family will happily tell you, he would have been disappointed if his obituary failed to mention his many athletic accomplishments.

An avid traveler, reader, and collector, Tad never stopped learning. He was fascinated by history, world events, and craftsmanship, which he loved sharing with those around him. His interests carried him around the globe. Some of his favorite trips were to Tanzania, Kenya, The Netherlands, Cuba and Cambodia.

O f all the places he loved, none captured his heart quite like Alamoosook Lake in Maine. Since 1965, he spent every summer there sailing, eating lobster, entertaining family and friends, and creating treasured memories on the water. He proudly served as president of the Alamoosook Lake Association from 2024 to 2025. Maine was his favorite place in the world, and he found great joy in being a steward of the camp for his children and grandchildren.

Above all else, Tad cherished his family. After spending much of his adult life in Glen Ridge and Chatham, New Jersey, he retired to Lexington to support his parents in their later years. As a father, Tad passed along his sense of humor, resilience, and love of dogs to his daughters, Katharine and Elizabeth, and his stepson, Christopher. He was immensely proud of their accomplishments and encouraged them to approach the world with confidence, independence and an inappropriate joke.

In recent years, his greatest joy was being “GrandTad.” In 2023, he moved to the Pittsburgh area to be closer to his grandchildren, who filled his days with laughter and purpose. He could always be counted on for an ice cream sandwich, a swim, a boat ride, or a cuddle. He would tell anyone who would listen that he was sure one of his grandkids would take his place as the great athlete in the family. Nothing made him happier than sharing his favorite things with them.

Tad is survived by his daughters, Katharine Van Leer (Steven Beckmeyer) and Elizabeth Van Leer (Chip Cope); his stepson, Christopher Barba; his beloved grandchildren, Alexander Van Leer Cope, Miles Van Leer Cope and Talia Armstrong Barba; his siblings, Katie Parkinson (John) and Peter Van Leer (Barbara); his former wife Caroline Van Leer, his nieces and nephews; and his faithful dogs, Crosby and Cocoa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Robertson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you raise a glass of your favorite wine or IPA and/ or make a donation to the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust or the Alamoosook Lake Association in Tad’s honor.

Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes, McMurray, Pa. NG