Edwin "Ted" Leach

Longtime Corralitos resident Edwin “Ted” Leach passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 27, 2012 at the age of 82. Born in Long Beach, California to Edwin and Mae Leach, he served in the US Army in Japan. Upon his honorable discharge, Ted returned to school under the GI bill and went on to earn both a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Long Beach State. He and his wife Sally eventually relocated to Corralitos with their two young daughters.

Ted enjoyed a long and distinguished career with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. He served as principal at Aptos Junior High School and was also the principal of Mar Vista School, Bradley Elementary School and Hall District School. He was beloved by students, teachers and fellow administrators and was known for his calm manner and mediation skills. Ted loved his job and was a “substitute principal” for many years following his retirement.

Ted and Sally loved to travel and garden. During the last years of his life, Ted and Sally cruised down the Danube River in Austria and visited Boston and New York City. Ted’s grandchildren were the light of his life and over the past three years he was able to travel to Dartmouth College and Creighton University to visit two of them. In June of 2011, Ted and Sally proudly attended the college graduation of their eldest grandson Jordan from the University of California in Santa Barbara. Ted loved watching his grandchildren compete in sporting events from rugby matches to football games to Capitola Junior Guard Lifeguard Competitions. Ted also loved Disneyland; and a day at “The Happiest Place on Earth” was always followed by a chicken dinner at nearby Knott’s Berry Farm with his family.

If there was ever an award for “The Best Woodpile in Santa Cruz County,” Ted Leach would have been the winner! The famous woodpile taught both his children and grandchildren the importance of “being prepared” by having them stack and restack the mountains of oak he cut and delivered to his driveway on a regular basis. No one was exempt from working on the woodpile and this included all friends, friends of friends, kids of friends and visitors who happened to be at the house the day wood arrived. In fact, this wood was not technically a “pile” -- it was actually a wall of wood as tall as it was long. We will forever miss family “wood days.”

Ted is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sally Barnes Leach and his sister Donna Crouch of Washington. He also leaves behind daughters Christy Leach Marani and husband Rob, Nancy Leach Semas and her husband Randy of Sacramento, beloved grandchildren Jordan Wyatt of Sacramento, Angela Semas of San Diego, Caroline Marani, Nicholas Marani, Bobby Marani and Matt Marani. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, many of whom lived with the Leach family from time to time.

A Memorial is planned for Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Seascape Resort in Aptos, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Twin Lakes Church Care Program of which he was a faithful member or to Bradley Elementary School. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Alexander and his staff, Dr. Jay Meisel, and most especially his niece Jennifer Cole, who took incredibly good care of him during his final days.

Ave Maria Memorial Chapel has ben entrusted with the arrangements.



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