Leslie E. Wiletzky

Leslie E. Wiletzky, (Les) died Jan. 21, 2025, at home in Arizona after a 9-year fight with cancer. Born August 8, 1947, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Les attended Plainview HS in Long Island. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, then attended the University of Buffalo where he received a Master’s in Political Science.

 Les joined the United States Navy in 1970. He became a naval officer in 1972 and served on the USS Portland, LSD-37. Following sea duty, Les taught NROTC at Penn State University, where he obtained a Master’s in Public Administration. Les and his family moved to Hawaii in 1978, and he worked for Hawaiian Tel, Arthur Young and Company and Hawaii Pacific University. Les moved to the Pacific Northwest, teaching at Pierce College and eventually retired to Arizona.

 In retirement Les took up woodworking and fused glass where he found an outlet for his creative talents and became a mentor to others. He also loved to travel, and he and his wife, Connie, were able to take many cruises together as well as visit destinations all over the world including England, Scotland, Tahiti, New Zealand, the Panama Canal, Mt. Rainier, Montana and Alaska. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Connie, his son Michael, daughter in law Shibani and beloved grandchildren Jayden and Mira. The internment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ on February 14, 2025, at 1 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Robson Ranch House on February 17, 2025, at 1 PM. Memorial messages may be left at J. Warren Funeral (https://www.jwarrenfuneral.com/). In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Michael’s American Cancer Society fundraising page (http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Wiletzky).