John Leonard

Longtime Santa Barbara News-Press advertising executive, dies at home in Solvang, August 24, 2011. John Leonard, an award-winning advertising and marketing executive, who for two decades helped build the Santa Barbara News-Press into one of the most recognizable brands on the South Coast, died Wednesday of cancer at his home in Solvang. He was 65. John worked for the News-Press from 1986 to 2006, during which he served as Director of Classified and National Advertising and later as Director of Electronic Media and Commercial Printing Sales Director. Mr. Leonard left the News-Press in 2006, to accept a position at the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce and then Clear Channel Communications before joining The Daily Sound as a Partner and General Manager. "He was huge in life to me," said Val, his wife of nearly 30 years. "He was funny. He had a great laugh. I will miss everything about him." The two would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5. John's greatest love (aside from his family and friends) was golf! If John wasn't working or spending time with his family he could be found on the golf course, (any golf course) or watching golf tournaments on TV endlessly! John was a huge Yankee's fan and a Raiders fan as well (but, kinda kept that to himself). John William Leonard was born Oct. 4, 1945, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of William Hadon Leonard (deceased) and Joan Leonard. He was raised in Portland, Ore. John met his wife Val 34 years ago, when he was a classified advertising manager at the Marin Independent Journal and she worked at Kaiser. The two lived in the same apartment building. They were both divorced at the time, and both had two-year-old boys. Val said that she knew that after spending two hours with him when they first met that she was going to marry him. The Leonards moved to Santa Barbara in 1986 when the News-Press offered John a job as director of Classified and National Advertising. "Through this whole ordeal he was the bravest man I have ever met," Val said. "It just became increasingly more clear as time went on that he fought until he took his last breath. He did not want to go." A couple of days ago, Val told their granddaughter Neva that Grandpa had "gone to heaven." Neva responded, "So you're all by yourself now?" Val said yes that she was, prompting the 4-year-old to say: "No, you're not, I have his glasses." The family gave Neva John's glasses, wiping cloth and case to remember him by. John is survived by wife Val Leonard; son Matthew Leonard (wife Julie), grandchildren Neva Marie and Charlie "John" Leonard, son James Leonard, grand-daughter Samantha Leonard, mother Joan Leonard of Gresham, Ore., brother Frank Leonard (wife Kathy), brother Scott Leonard (wife Tina), mother-in-law Ruth Valsecchi, 2 nephews and 1 niece, all of Oregon and in-laws of San Rafael, Ca. He will be laid to rest in San Rafael, Calif. Family members are planning a memorial service in Santa Barbara. The family requests donations to either The Cancer Research Center of Santa Barbara or Visiting Nurses/Hospice of Santa Barbara in John's name.