Leonard Richert Daughenbaugh

1944 - 2022

Leonard Daughenbaugh made his final ascent on July 10, 2022. He died of complications from pneumonia and Covid-19. He was also in the final stage of dementia. Leonard was born on November 16, 1944 in Los Angeles, California to John and Grace Daughenbaugh. His father was a high school administrator and his mother was a homemaker. He grew up in the California cities of Portola, Wheatland, and Tulelake. Growing up in small, rural towns, and becoming a Boy Scout, gave Len many opportunities to hike, explore and develop a love of nature.
After graduating from high school in 1962, he attended Chico State College for a year before enlisting in the Army. He served for three years between the United States, Korea, and Thailand. Once discharged in 1967, he went back to Chico State where, in 1968, he met his future wife, Susan. Little did he know that they would be together for fifty-four years. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business in 1970, and completed coursework toward a Master's Degree in Business. He always regretted not writing his thesis. After shifting to education, he earned a Secondary Credential in 1972.
Leonard loved teaching and was effective as much for his talents as for his sense of humor. He taught for Yreka High School, Moorpark Continuation High School in San Jose, and Santa Clara County Community schools before moving to Bishop. Leonard and Susan moved to Bishop so that their kids, Kristel and John, could enjoy the advantages of growing up in a small town. During his first six years in Bishop, Leonard worked as an Inyo County Juvenile Probation Officer. Once back in education, he taught for Benton Elementary School and then the Inyo County Community School in Lone Pine until his retirement in 2005.
Leonard had many hobbies and interests which he pursued both before and after retirement, but traveling wasn't one of them. He loved the Sierra Nevada and was never happier than when he was backpacking and climbing its peaks. He was a natural leader and started taking students on backpacking trips in 1975 and branched off to taking adult groups in 1979. His most popular class, offered through the Santa Cruz University Extension Program, was the Midnight Hike of Mount Whitney. He took his family backpacking every summer and they climbed Mount Whitney in 1994.
His love for research led him to put together an anthology of complete climbing stories in the Sierra Nevada between 1829 and 1930. Unfortunately, it was never published, but he did publish his next book, Sierra Crest Route, and other routes less traveled, in 2008.
Not surprisingly, Len was very active on the Inyo County Search and Rescue Team. During twenty plus years on the Team, he served as their President, Training Officer, Captain, and took on many other responsibilities. He was always ready to go if a mission was called.
Besides being an instructor and climbing California's twelve 14,000 foot peaks, he flew gliders before getting a pilot's license and, after a trip to Hawaii, pursued a scuba diving certification. He said he needed a "shot of adrenaline every once in a while," which is probably what led him to motorcycling. When he finally bought a Harley Electra Glide, Susan started riding with him, too. When he couldn't be in the mountains, he was gardening, umpiring, substitute teaching, researching, writing, or helping Search and Rescue.
Leonard was preceded by his parents. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather who was always playful and a big tease. He is survived by his wife, Susan, daughter Kristel (husband, Ben), son John (wife, Victoria), grandchildren, Nick, Aubrey, Bella and Leonard, sisters Kathy and Laura, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 on October 15, 2022 in Elk's Park, Bishop, CA. Donations in his memory can be made to Inyo County Search and Rescue; P.O. Box 982; Bishop, CA 93515