Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FREEMAN LEIGHTON Obituary
Chairman Emeritus of Leighton and Associates and Professor Emeritus of Whittier College , died at his home in PGA West La Quinta, California on 10/3/2012 at the age of 87.
He graduated from the University of Virginia where he served as President of the Student Body, Chairman of their esteemed Honor System, and Battalion Commander of the NROTC unit. On the same Saturday he received his degree and his Ensign commission he was married to Wanda Jean Downey of his native Champaign, Urbana, Illinois. After attending Harvard Business School, he served on active duty in the Panama Canal Zone as a supply officer. A year later he received a scholarship to the California Institute of Technology where in 1951 he received his P.H.D. in geology. A scholarship has been named after him at his alma mater.
His consulting firm became a leader in landslide prevention and
control and hillside development. Before his retirement in 1988, the company grew to a staff of 385 employees distributed throughout 12 California offices headquartered in Irvine, California.
Leighton has been internationally honored with Distinguished Practice and Career Awards. He was best known for removing the guesswork from slope instability and for restoration of large landslides such as the Laguna Beach Landslide. A prolific author, he produced over 40 published works.
Through his Palm Desert Office he discovered the beauty of the Coachella Valley. He leaves behind his three children, Jamie Marie Young, Richard Beach Leighton, Roger Loren Leighton and two brothers Morris W. Leighton and Richard Leighton. The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 723123-1718 in honor of his oldest son, Stephen Morris Leighton, who succumbed to cancer in 1997.
A service will be held Saturday October 13 at 2 P.M. at Fairhaven Memorial Services 27856 Center Drive, Mission Viejo, CA.
Memories and Condolences
for FREEMAN LEIGHTON
BIll Elliott
November 10, 2024
Beach will be missed and remembered by all who knew and worked with him. Bill Elliott, Consulting Engineering Geologist 11-10-2024
donald coates
October 16, 2012
I knew Beach thruout our professional lives. He was an unusually gentle person.His chapter in my edited LANDSLIDE volume was a beautifully crafted example of superior research
Jim Lee
October 13, 2012
I married Beach's brother Brud's daughter, Kathy. We had a wonderful service for Beach today, with very tearful and hearfelt stories of his life told by his family. A beautiful photo of Beach was surrounded by flowers. We had a reception afterwards, followed by a get together in the courtyard of the Ayres Hotel around flaming rocks in the cool evening air. Then dinner together, and more stories of Beach and the kids. I am very lucky to have married into this special family. Thank you all for sharing your kind words on this Guest Book. Photo of my beautiful wife and daughter Rachel. Rest in peace, Beach.
Sally Bilodeau
October 11, 2012
Beach was my hero and mentor. He had won the Holdridge Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Engineering Geology when I graduated with my BA I worked for him in La Habra and in Redwood City and learned at the feat of the master. He was brilliant and inspirational and encouraged me to get my MS which I did at Stanford. His dedication to excellence, lifelong learning, and publishing your work also inspired everyone who worked for him. He will be sadly missed but NEVER FORGOTTEN. He lived such a full life with all his research and travels, I can't believe we will not be receiving those Christmas cards anymore with 50 places he'd traveled to that year.
Love and condolences to all his family and friends and to the geology profession who has lost one of its finest.
[email protected]
October 11, 2012
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Beach Leighton. I was so sorry to learn of the passing of my dear life-long friend, partner, and mentor. I have known Beach for nearly 60 years and was his student at Whittier college and his second full time employee. Like so many, I owe my entire career in engineering geology to Beach. I enjoyed many wonderful days in the field, down in borings and trenches, reviewing geology up close and personal, the way he liked it. Love to all, Larry Cann
Pinyon Flat Qls -- Beach would have loved rhis one1
Bill Elliott
October 9, 2012
October 9, 1012 To family and friends of F. Beach Leighton. I'm so sorry to hear about his passing. He was certainly a prominent leader in the field of Engineering Geology and landslide studies.
Working as an independent contractor for Leighton & Assoc. in the late 1970s, I recall being asked to down-hole log a test boring in an area of active landsliding -- using a rope ladder -- a few days after the hole had been completed to TD. I did, reluctantly, just me with the wiggly rope and wooden rungs tied to the bumper of my truck -- no backup in the event of an accident! That was an OTO -- One Time Only! Once! Never again! I prefer being in a cage on the end of a sand line with a driller and helper standing by to haul me out in the event of bad air or rising ground water.
We are all indebted to Beach for his pioneering work and guidance in the early days of Engineering Geology and landslide investigation in Southern California.
My best to all who knew and loved him. With mixed feelings of sadness, and gratitude for privilege of knowing him. Bill Elliott, Engineering Geologist
Chaplain Brad Stetson
October 9, 2012
Dear Jamie and family: Please accept my sincere condolences on Freeman's passing. What an extraordinary man, who accomplished so much, professionally and personally. You must be so proud of him. God's peace be with you, sincerely,
Bruce Hilton
October 8, 2012
Beach was my first employer and my lifetime mentor. He was a brilliant engineering geologist and taught so many of us the importance of simple communication of an otherwise complex subject. He did it so well through writing and speaking. I was so fortunate to have Beach as a friend and mentor.
October 8, 2012
My condolences and warm wishes to Jamie, Richard, and Roger, and to his brothers Brud and Richard. I know you all will miss him. My love to you all. Jane (formerly Leighton) Coleman, Hobart, Indiana
Robert H. Sydnor
Robert Sydnor
October 8, 2012
I was a geology student under Dr. F. Beach Leighton at Whittier College from 1965 to 1969. After I completed graduate school in geology at the University of California, Riverside in 1973, Dr. Leighton hired me as a staff geologist at Leighton and Associates. He mentored me from 1973 to 1977 at his consulting firm, working intensively on landslides and active faults. I then accepted a career promotion to become Orange County Geologist in 1977, and Dr. Leighton and I maintained our close professional relationship. He was a great leader in the field of engineering geology, and more than five dozen prominent engineering geologists received their initial training at Leighton and Associates.
I send my condolences to the extended family of Dr. Beach Leighton.
With sincere condolences from Robert Hadley Sydnor, RHSydnor @ aol.com 916-335-1441; Life Member, Association of Engineering Geologists and Fellow, Geological Society of America
Garry Maurath
October 8, 2012
You have our condolances and are in our prayers.
October 8, 2012
For the family and friends of F. Beach Leighton, you have my condolances for your loss. I was employeed by Leighton & Associates in San Diego for 5 years until 1988 as senior geologist and chief engineering geologist. Most everyone in the office respected Beach for his guidance and professionalism. The field of engineering geology benefited greatly by Beach Leighton's leadership.
May he rest in peace.
Gregory T. Farrand
San Diego, CA
[email protected]
Andrew Wang
October 8, 2012
Rest In Peace
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
Make a Donation
in FREEMAN LEIGHTON's name
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
Memorial Events
for FREEMAN LEIGHTON
How to support FREEMAN's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor FREEMAN LEIGHTON's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
