Leslie Anne DeLoach's Obituary
Leslie Anne DeLoach
Leslie died on July 31, 2015. Leslie was born in Mobile, Alabama, earned a B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1956 and an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1967.
Leslie lived the last years of her life Miami Beach, Florida, where she had always hoped to live in retirement. She loved the beach, the ocean and her home. She enjoyed hosting friends and family and they enjoyed visiting. She is remembered as kind and generous, shy and reserved.
Enlisted in the US Air Force as an Aviation Cadet in March 1957, retired May 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years of service. Trained as a Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer. During the Cold War (from 1960 to 1965), flew more than 100 missions in the EB-47TT reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea and along the Iranian/Russian/Afghanistan border, collecting telemetry from the Soviet ICBM and Space program test launches. Served in VietNam with the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing from October 1967 to October 1968. Flew intelligence collection missions in the EC-47. Trapped in quarters in downtown Saigon during the Tet offensive of 1968. Later served in Headquarters USAF in the Pentagon and as the senior military advisor to the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California. Received numerous decorations including the Bronze Star and eight Air Medals.
After retiring from the Air Force, became the Director of Administration of a large law firm in Beverly Hills, California, then the Executive Director of a large Los Angeles firm. She moved to New York City in November 1984. Worked for a year as the Administrator of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (now called Human Rights First). She worked for fifteen years as the Director of Administration of law firms in New York City, including the former Rubin Baum Levin Constant and Friedman (then a 100-plus lawyer firm in Rockefeller Center) and as a management consultant for smaller firms. Retired in 1999.
After her second retirement, she worked as a volunteer Legal Advocate in the Mental Health Project of the Urban Justice Center, providing legal assistance to low income mentally ill New Yorkers experiencing difficulties with government benefits, medical care and housing. She moved to Miami Beach in August 2004.
Leslie is survived by her daughter, an adopted son, and a sister. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the ACLU or a local Veteran’s organization.
Her cremated remains will be inurned in Arlington National Cemetery.
Arrangements by Blasberg-Rubin-Zilbert Memorial Chapel (305) 865-2353
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