Ann R. Leo

Ann R. Leo age 93, Journalist, Teacher and lifelong Oregonian passed away of natural causes on Wednesday November 18th on her family farm at Champoeg. The daughter of a typesetter at The Oregonian, Ann was born and raised on Clinton Street in Portland, attended Hosford Grade School, and graduated from Franklin High School in 1940. Ann graduated from the University Oregon School of Journalism in 1944, where she wrote for the Oregon Daily Emerald and was the chair of the Student Union Board which developed plans for the Erb Memorial Union. Ann worked multiple jobs to pay tuition and expenses. Ann received a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Reed College in 1964. Ann married Gene Leo, Sr. of Portland, on Christmas Eve 1942 and was married for 58 years. Gene Sr. was a talented musician, who worked his way through the UO Business School by playing piano. After serving in the Army in World War II, Gene graduated as the ‘outstanding accounting student of 1945’, Ann and Gene moved back to Portland where Gene was a practicing CPA with Leo and Hunt for 50 years. On special occasions, Gene would play Ann “Stardust”, which was ‘their song’. Ann was mother to three sons, Roger (Joy) of Lake Oswego, a successful Portland Attorney; Gene Jr. “Geno”, Director of the Portland Zoo, the Portland Rose Festival and Tourism Director for Portland Oregon Visitors Association; and Greg (Rachel) of Champoeg, who has had an active career in Community Service and Public Affairs. Ann was predeceased by her husband Gene in 2000 and son Gene Jr. in 1994. She has one grandson, William, who is a student at the University of Oregon. She considered raising ‘three fine boys’ as her greatest accomplishment. During her career as a reporter, Ann wrote for the Oregon Journal, wrote a variety of children’s stories and served in public relations capacities for the Portland Zoo, Goodrich & Snyder Public Relations and for the Portland Reporter during the Portland newspaper strike. She taught English and Literature at Washington and Roosevelt High Schools in Portland in the 1960’s. She would say, “I don’t teach English, I teach kids”. Ann Leo had a lifelong commitment to the University of Oregon and would sing “Mighty Oregon” with her son after every touchdown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the University of Oregon “In Memory” of “Ann R. Leo”. These gifts will benefit students in the School of Journalism and Communication. Gifts may be made online at giving.uoregon.edu – click on the "Make a Gift" button, select “Scholarship Funds”, select “my gift is a tribute” and follow the instructions to complete the gift. Or send a check, payable to the “UO Foundation”, Memo: “In Memory of Ann R. Leo” and mail it to: 1720 E. 13th Avenue, Suite 410, Eugene, OR 97403-2253. Ann’s Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday November 28th at Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial, 6705 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97202, located in Sellwood. Service Information