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David Leach Obituary
David passed away at his home in Redondo Beach, California on December 11, 2012. He was born in Warren, Ohio on June 19, 1926. He is survived by June Leach, his wife and sweetheart for 59 years, and their five children#8212;Craig (Judy), Doug (Debi), Mike (Luz), Amy, and Vicki (Greg), their seven grandchildren#8212;David (Taryn), Paul, Daniel (Kristen), Kyle, Matt, Michelle and Megan as well as one great grandchild#8212;Ryder. David spent his childhood in Warren, Ohio before moving to Los Angeles in 1943. He completed a semester at UCLA before entering the military in 1944 where he served in the Air Force for two years. He returned to Los Angeles and obtained both a Bachelors and Graduate degree from UCLA. He began his teaching career at Redondo Union High School in 1955 as a Biology, Physiology and Driver's Education Instructor and taught until his retirement in 1986. He was the consummate teacher spending 17 summers at the Palos Verdes Swim Club as a swim instructor/lifeguard as well as coaching numerous youth sports teams as his family grew. He loved golf, having played at UCLA, and taught his children and grandchildren to love the game like he did. He and June were founding members of the St Lawrence Martyr Parish in Redondo Beach where they have always been very much involved. His wife and his family were the constant love and focus of his life. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing such a great man. Services will be held Monday, December 17 at 10:00am at St Lawrence Martyr Church in Redondo Beach with an onsite reception to immediately follow. Go to www.lafuneral.com to send the family messages. Sign the guestbook at www.dailybreeze.com/obits.
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Memories and Condolences
for David Leach
April Kubachka
December 28, 2012
Dear Amy,
Keith received your message about your dad - so sorry to hear about his passing. We would like to send a card but do not have your address. You can send it to [email protected] if you like. I just wanted to say your dad was my biology teacher in the early 1980's. He was so funny - once I had my feet up resting on the table in the back of the classroom and he said, "Can I get you anything April, how about a beer?" LOL He'll surely be missed.
Veronica Tanikawa & Family
December 19, 2012
Dear Craig and family
We are so sorry for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless
Edna Johnson Virgil (RUHS 1979)
December 17, 2012
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
Arnie Sigua
December 17, 2012
Dear Craig Leach,So sorry for your loss,Our thoughts & prayers are with you na your loved ones.Your dad is a wonderful man,we always talk in the ER when i see him volunteering.GOD BLESS!!! RIP David
Sue Legaspi / TMMC
December 17, 2012
To: Graig Leach and Family
Sorry to hear about your Dad passing away. By reading the notes here, it sounds like he had a wonderful life and left a mark and beautiful memories for all of you and his students. You must be very proud of having a father like him. God Bless you all and enjoy all those great memories.
MaryAnne Geber
December 17, 2012
To the Leach Family, Very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, The Geber Family.
December 17, 2012
Dear Leach Family, so sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Leach. He sounded like a wonderful man.My thoughts and prayers are with you.I know how especially difficult this is at the holiday time. Take good care of each other.
Debbie Landes
Kathleen Roecker
December 17, 2012
So sorry to hear about your loss. Our prayers are with you all.
The Deegan/Roecker Family
Lynda Stoodley
December 16, 2012
Dearest Leach family
I am so sorry for your loss!! Mr Leach's smile always lit up the room whenever I saw him. I will keep you in my prayers and ask God's comforting on all of you!!
Lynda
Mark Rubke
December 16, 2012
To the Leach Family:
I have so many great memories of Dave Leach. He was, quite simply, a remarkably good man. At the start of my teaching career it took me a while to figure him out. The first thing he told me was to walk out the doors of the Redondo High Science Building and keep going. "This is a mistake," he said. "You don't want to do this." He seemed a little disappointed that I did not understand, but from that point on he did nothing but give me support. That included an invitation to come to his home and have dinner with his family. Perhaps naively, I had entered a very challenging profession. Fortunately, someone very special was going to look out for me. And I was not the only one. It seemed as if he looked out for all of us.
He and I worked together the next ten years or so. The deep voice, the broad smile, the occasional slap on the back, and the great sense of humor; they were all treasures from a man who had more love and energy for teaching than he would ever admit. You just had to see him work those chalkboards with notes and remarkable illustrations to recognize his passion. You could kid him about the chalk dust on his forearms, or his box of hundreds of chalk nubs. He could take a joke on himself, as well as keep you on your own toes with his insight and wit. I did ask him about his impressive collection of chalk nubs once. His reply? With that big voice and big laugh, pointing at his classroom door, "Aw... Get out of here!" My suspicion is that he somehow worked them into those exploding golf balls that he would sometimes sneak in on some unsuspecting novice (or was it only me?).
Seeing him now and then over the years after his retirement, including last spring, he was no different. The warmth and humor, the big heart, was always there. Such a decent man is a rare thing, indeed. Thank you for sharing him with us.
December 16, 2012
To The Leach Family,
So very sorry to hear about your loss.
Our prayers are with all of you.
The Mascola Family
Dennis McGoldrick
December 16, 2012
Gosh, who will open the gym for us? It is hard to lose anyone, but Mr. Leach was so nice to us...thanks
Andrus Family
December 16, 2012
My prayers and condolences go out to the Leach family. David Leach was my biology teacher in the late 1970's..I will always remember his sense of humor, and complete fairness as an instructor. When a dissection was scheduled in lab, Mr Leach would allow the weak- stomached to sit in the back of the room (smile). I appreciated his thoughtfulness.
Debbie Humm-Bremser
December 15, 2012
Every summer of my childhood at PV Pool left an indelible mark on my life because of Dave Leach (and Larry Bark). Someone wrote that they didn't know he taught swimming. Well I didn't know he taught high school. I remember riding in his Winnebago and having Craig in my class at SLM. Sweet memories!
Fr. Gary Klauer
December 15, 2012
Dear June and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. You shared such a wonderful life together and showed the world how to really love. I will offer a Mass for your husband and for all your family. Be asssured of my continued prayerful support.
Jill Rossberg Carlton
December 15, 2012
Dear Mrs. Leach, Craig, Judy, and the entire family,
I was so shocked to hear the sad news. I have so many fond memories of Mr. Leach's enthusiasm, spirit and genuineness, especially those with him at the helm of the "Leachmobile." My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jim Ball
December 15, 2012
Dave was a great teacher-mentor to me in the Science Dept. at Redondo Union. He raised a wonderful family and had a rich, full life. He will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched.
December 15, 2012
Craig and Judy,
Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your entire family. Your dad will be always be remembered as a kind and friendly man. God's peace be with all of you.
Terry and Debbie Runzler
December 15, 2012
So long my (tmmc)buddy, save all your Golf jokes for me till we meet up there.miss you Already. Frank Paourlll
December 14, 2012
Craig, we're very sorry to hear of the loss of your father. He and all your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
John and Cathy Bellotti
Torrance, CA
Jiteshkumar Patel
December 14, 2012
Dear Leach Family,
From my family to yours, I'd like to extend my sympathies for your loss.
Sincerely,
Jitesh, Candice, Daniel, and Maya
December 14, 2012
Mr. Leach was my biology teacher in my junior year at RUHS and my physiology teacher in my senior year. I graduated in 1971 and I still remember him as my most favorite teacher of all time. He truly cared about his students and took great pride in his teaching ability. He was a kind man with a sense of humor who indulged my use of an alias (Maude Wicketts) during my junior year. In recent years, I meant to contact him to let him know how much I appreciated him as a teacher and a human being. I don't know if he would have remembered me but I will always remember him.
I send my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the Leach Family.
Marcia aka Maude
December 14, 2012
Craig,
Our sympathy to you and your family. Losing a parent is a huge loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family at this very sad time.
God Bless,
Pam and Harold Michael
Paul, Susan, and Mark Horejsi
December 14, 2012
To the Leach Family,
Our deepest sympathy at the passing of your father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We will pray a rosary for the repose of his soul. AMDG
Dorn Family
December 14, 2012
My heartfelt condolences to all the Leach family during this sad time. There are five Seahawks in our family with a ten year age spread from oldest to youngest, and what we all remember about Mr. Leach is that he was the same enthusiastic , encouraging teacher to the last one of us in 1984 as he was to the first of us in 1974.
Connie Senner
December 14, 2012
It was such a pleasure seeing your dad volunteering at Torrance Memorial. He will be missed by many.
December 14, 2012
Dear Craig, I am very sorry about your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Maria White, THA
Jennifer Lovoy
December 14, 2012
To the Leach Family. I just heard about the loss of your father and grandfather. I pray that God gives you all the strength and support you will need during this difficult time. Although I rarely see you Judy & Craig, you are often in my thoughts. Love, Jennifer Lovoy
Brian Hoffmann
December 14, 2012
Dear Leach Family,
So sorry to hear about your loss. I remember what a wonderful coach and caring man he was to all of us kids growing up with the Leach family.
Brian Hoffmann
December 14, 2012
Hi Judy and Craig, Vicki,
Sorry to hear about your dad passing, he was a great guy. I liked the breif summary in the obit, didn't know he taught swimming.
Nancy Stanbury
December 14, 2012
Craig and Judy, I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God give you His comfort and peace. Mary Goodloe
Jim Carreras
December 14, 2012
To the Leach family,
My prayers go out to all of you. I will always remember Mr. Leach at our baseball games with his smile and encourgement.
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