David Earl Leech

David E. Leech, 85, of Loveland, Colorado, passed away at his home on March 16, 2021. He was a good husband, and a loving and encouraging dad and grandpa. He always had a twinkle in his eye, and liked to crack a joke. Born in 1936 in Fowler, Colorado, Dave was the sixth child of Clement and Vinnie Evelyn Leech. After surviving the Dust Bowl in Colorado, the Leech family moved to Pasadena, California, where they knew college was free. Having access to higher education was important to Dave’s parents. After they moved, the family grew by two more, making a family of ten. He had four brothers and three sisters. Clement and Vinnie bought a two-bedroom house on Sinaloa Avenue in Pasadena, and renovated the attic to make one extra bedroom for the four boys. Somehow the whole family got by with sharing only one bathroom! Dave attended Pasadena Academy (high school), then went on to Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University), where he earned a B.A. in Education. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Education at California State University, Los Angeles. In 1955, at Pasadena College, he met Patricia L. Rice in a stairway on the way to class. They were married in 1957 in Denver, Colorado. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their extended family in 2017. During (and for a few years after) college, Dave worked as a mechanical engineer for Johns Manville, making insulation for aircraft and bombs for the Korean War, while enlisted in the Army National Reserve. In 1959, he began his career in public education. He first taught junior high courses in La Puente, California. After six years of teaching, he earned his master’s degree in administration. He and Patty Lou moved from California to Loveland, Colorado in 1965, so Dave could start his first job as a principal at Garfield Elementary in the Thompson School District. Being a principal became his joy and life’s calling. He loved being a principal and helping any kids who were struggling. He knew every child’s name, and their family, in every school where he worked. Dave and Patty Lou started their family by adopting Heidi, then John, and a year after that they gave birth to Nancy. Over the years, Mr. Leech served as the principal in three Loveland elementary schools: Garfield (1965–1971), Lincoln (1971–1977), and Big Thompson (1986–1992). From 1977 to 1986, he was the Executive Director of Elementary Education for the Thompson School District. He retired in 1992. During his retirement, he worked at the Ore Cart Rock Shop in Estes Park, enjoyed playing golf, traveling to national parks and all over the world with Patty Lou, and spending time with his grandchildren. Throughout his life he enjoyed summer family camping trips to the mountains near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and restoring Mustang cars and a 1957 Chevy truck named Nellie Belle. He is survived by his wife, Patricia L. Leech, of Loveland, CO; his three children, Heidi Leech of Washington, DC, John Leech (spouse Alicia, and their children Kristi Manerchia, Megan Bethea, Rachel, Kaylee, McKenna and Braden) of Olive Branch, MS; and Nancy Leech (spouse Grant Dickson, and their children David and Wilson) of Loveland, CO; and in addition to the grandchildren, he has one great-grandson. He is also survived by his brother, Ronald Leech of Hurricane, UT, and many nieces and nephews. His family will hold a memorial service for him this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Park Service Foundation (nationalparks.org/support).