Leslie and I met in my freshman year at AC [1964-1965]. It seemed from the beginning that we were somehow destined to be a couple. I was older -- 24-25 -- and was going to be a 3-yr student. Leslie was already a Junior when we met.
Leslie spent a great amount of her life with her music. She was a brilliant pianist and highlights of her career were when she played with the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra and later with the Buffalo [NY] Symphony Orchestra. She played the very difficult Saint-Saens 2nd Piano Orchestra.
We had four great children together: Elizabeth [now 47], Richard [45 this year] both born in the Pasadena area, and Jonathan [39 this year] and Kimberly [37 this year] both born in Toronto.
Unfortunately, Leslie and I split up in the late 70's and early 80's but she continued to live in Toronto and was close to her children -- even though the girls moved to the West Coast. Elizabeth moved back and now lives with my wife and I, working as a Sous-Chef. Kimberly lives in England with her significant other and Charlotte who is 7.
Leslie died of cancer two years ago. I flew out to LA in May 2013 and we drove back together so she could be with her mother and help with her care. She had plannned to leave in October of that year.
We all remember her fondly --- her love of her family and her music!!!
I remember Leslie well (I remember you too). I was priviledged to work with her in the music department for a while when I was at AC. I always considered it a treat when she would come in for her practice and I would get to listen. She was a great pianist and a very nice person. I'm sorry to hear she is no longer with us.
C. Gary Reid (1964)
Leslie and I met in my freshman year at AC [1964-1965]. It seemed from the beginning that we were somehow destined to be a couple. I was older -- 24-25 -- and was going to be a 3-yr student. Leslie was already a Junior when we met.
Leslie spent a great amount of her life with her music. She was a brilliant pianist and highlights of her career were when she played with the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra and later with the Buffalo [NY] Symphony Orchestra. She played the very difficult Saint-Saens 2nd Piano Orchestra.
We had four great children together: Elizabeth [now 47], Richard [45 this year] both born in the Pasadena area, and Jonathan [39 this year] and Kimberly [37 this year] both born in Toronto.
Unfortunately, Leslie and I split up in the late 70's and early 80's but she continued to live in Toronto and was close to her children -- even though the girls moved to the West Coast. Elizabeth moved back and now lives with my wife and I, working as a Sous-Chef. Kimberly lives in England with her significant other and Charlotte who is 7.
Leslie died of cancer two years ago. I flew out to LA in May 2013 and we drove back together so she could be with her mother and help with her care. She had plannned to leave in October of that year.
We all remember her fondly --- her love of her family and her music!!!
Gary Reid
Martha J. Allen ((Nutt) Ruchalski) (1964)
Gary,
I remember Leslie well (I remember you too). I was priviledged to work with her in the music department for a while when I was at AC. I always considered it a treat when she would come in for her practice and I would get to listen. She was a great pianist and a very nice person. I'm sorry to hear she is no longer with us.