Leighton Dopp

Leighton (Steve) Dopp, died peacefully after a long decline on April 5, 2010, in a nursing home in Tonawanda, N.Y. Born on May 27, 1918, she would have been 92 next month. A native of Roanoke, Va., she had the misfortune to attend Jefferson High School, thus leading to a friendly lifelong rivalry with her eldest son, a graduate of Andrew Lewis. In college at Mary Washington in Fredricksburg, she was state college tennis champion of Virginia two years in a row. She remained a lifelong athlete, coach, and physical education teacher. Married twice, she is survived by three sons, Stephen, Gregory, and Kevin; a daughter, Beverly; six grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; as well as numerous friends and admirers, all except one son residents of the Buffalo suburbs. The eldest of five sisters, she was the last to survive, as the sisters passed on in reverse chronological order. Wishing to continue to teach even in death, she had insisted that her body be given to the University of Buffalo Medical School to be used to train medical students. There will be a memorial service in a few weeks, probably at the Baptist church she used to attend in Kenmore, N.Y., just north of Buffalo.