Leonard A. Cortese

Leonard A. Cortese, 63, of Kingsport, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on April 4, 2026. Leonard was born in Chicago, IL, he lived there prior to moving to Kingsport. He attended and graduated from Sullivan South High School in 1981. Leonard found his high school sweetheart, Tami; they were married for 44 years, going on 45 in October. After graduation, he enlisted in the USAF and served at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, where he and Tami lived for 14 years. They moved home to Kingsport in 1995 where he went to work for JCMC as a registered nurse. He worked at several hospitals in the area and assisted in organizing the transplant department at Wake Forest, where he worked for 4 years. He returned home and worked at Indian Path and JCMC and most recently, he spent time as an instructor at ETSU educating the next generation of nurses. Leonard loved his work and those he worked with.

Leonard was preceded in death by his father, Carl Cortese; his mother, Mabel Fink Cortese Hoskins; father-in-law, Tom Breeding; and nephew, Jeff Nicksic.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Tami Cortese; children, Josh Cortese (Cindi), Justin Cortese (Jody), Jamey Cortese (Ashley) and Kaley Sizemore (Dylan); grandchildren, Carson, Camden, Noah, Grayson, Arlo, Dylan, Connor, Logan, Ryleigh, Kenley and Leia; great-grandchildren, Marcellus and Wrenleigh; mother-in-law, Phyllis Breeding; sister-in-law, Cindy Nicksic (Brad); nephew, Phillip Sanders (Shannon); great nieces and nephew, Alyssa, Devon and Madison; and his special dog, Griffin.

The family would like to extend special thanks to all the doctors and nurses at the Med Center; students and fellow instructors for their care and support.