Leslie L. Ito

Today's June 29th 2023 AND I STARTED THINKING OF MY YOUTH GROWING UP IN OAK LAWN ILLINOIS AND I THOUGHT OF THE MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR I HAD IN MY YOUTH AT 14 YEARS OF AGE 1975 HIS NAME WAS LES ITO. WE WOULD MEET HIM AT THE GYM ON 95TH STREET AND HE WOULD GIVE US POINTERS HERE AND THERE HOW TO KICK AND HE WOULD TRAIN US A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE BETWEEN HIS OWN WORKOUTS. AND I LOOKED AT HIM AS OUR HOMETOWN BRUCE LEE. I THOUGHT HE WAS SUPER COOL SUPER GOOD AT MARTIAL ARTS ...

I heard about Les's death late and am sorry I was not able to attend the wake. When I was younger, growing up in Oak Lawn, Les and his brother Daryl were great friends of mine and my brother. I saw Les about a year ago for the first time in many years and he was his usual very friendly self. He spoke of the love he had for his deceased parents, and of his admiration and love of his brother and sisters. My condolences go out to Daryl, Shelly, and Tami who had a great brother who will be missed...

Will always remember Les as a happy go lucky guy. Never saw him down. Crazy enough to go out on that truss @ Johns Manville just so I could take his picture.