Frade was born in Havana, Cuba, on 10 October 1943. He is the son of devout Methodists Leopoldo and Angela Frade. Frade attended Candler College, a Methodist school in Cuba and received a B.L. in 1960, He continued his college education in the United States at Asbury College, but left at the end of his junior year to join his family in New York and to go to work. While in New York, Leo Frade decided to join the Episcopal Church and after moving to Miami in 1969, he was confirmed and started to prepare for seminary. He studied theology at the University of the South and received an M.Div. in 1977. He also received a B.A. from Biscayne College, now St. Thomas University, in 1978.
Honorary degrees
Frade has received the following honorary degrees:
Frade was ordained to the diaconate April 17, 1977, and to the priesthood October 17, 1977. On January 25, 1984, he was consecrated bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras. He served as curate of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Miami, Florida, from 1977–1978, and priest in charge of Hispanic ministries of Grace Episcopal Church, in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1978-1982. After the Mariel Boatlift, Frade was one of two Episcopal priests to be convicted for "trading with the enemy" for their part in bringing 402 refugees from Mariel on a converted minesweeper, the God's Mercy. The conviction was later overturned. He served as Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Honduras from 1984–2000, when he was elected the third Bishop of Southeast Florida on May 6, 2000. He was enthroned on September 16, 2000. In his ecclesial ministry, he welcomed Father Alberto Cutié into the Episcopal Church, something which provoked a negative reaction from local Catholic leaders, who said it could harm relations between the two congregations. According to the decision of the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church allowing bishops to authorize same, Bishop Frade approved a petition by All Saints Episcopal Church rector, Father Sherod Mallow to perform a special blessing ceremony of same-gendered couples. The special ceremony was held in April, 2012.
Family
Leo married Carmen Frade and had two children. Leo married Diana Dillenberger on December 22, 1987.
