In October 2001, [Leroy] Richmond, at that time a 34-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service, was working at the Brentwood Post Office in Washington, D.C., sorting mail and packages for delivery to the White House and Senate.
The Brentwood facility processed an anthrax-laced letter that was delivered to the office of then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle just a few weeks after the 9/11 attacks.
Richmond, 56 at the time, woke up one morning that month with flu-like symptoms that worsened over the next week until he could barely breathe. A blood test confirmed inhalation anthrax, considered to be the most deadly form of anthrax.
Richmond spent 27 days at Inova Fairfax Hospital being treated for the infection. During that time, at least 22 people contracted inhalation or cutaneous anthrax and five died, including two of Richmond’s coworkers from the Brentwood post office.
Richmond continued to suffer from the effects of anthrax for years after the attacks, but he returned to his job with the Postal Service and retired after a total of 42 years.
Leroy’s Obituary
Twenty years ago, October 2001, the country was reeling from a deadly outbreak of bioterrorism, stemming from anthrax-laced letters sorted through the Brentwood mail-sorting facility in the Nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. At the time of his exposure, Mr. Leroy Richmond was one of the first people in the world known to survive after inhaling anthrax spores. He said, “Because I had the faith to know that I’m going to survive.” During the tenth-year anniversary of the anthrax attacks, Mr. Richmond spoke to co-workers, friends and family at Curseen and Morris Postal Processing Facility in Washington, D.C., formerly the Brentwood facility.
On October 1, 2019, Anthrax attack survivor, Mr. Leroy Richmond died after five years of battling cancer. Mr. Richmond, a man of incredible integrity, strength, courage, and compassion was one of the “quiet heroes of the entire nation” during the anthrax scare, according to Postmaster Patrick R. Donahoe during the ten-year anniversary of the anthrax attacks. His family and friends will miss him greatly but know that he is at peace.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 13, at 11 a.m. at A. L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, 200 Butternut Drive, Fredericksburg, with the funeral service at 12 p.m.
The repast will follow at 2180 Potomac Club Parkway, Woodbridge, VA 22191.
Rest in peace .
Our brother.
From NALC Arizona
My Sincere Prayers and Condolences to the Richmond Family. God Bless the Family and Friends. The Washington Bulk Mail Center mourns with you. Rest in Paradise in the Heavens Above in Eternal Peace, Leroy.🙏
R.I.P.