This memorial website was created in memory of our loving Husband, Father, Brother, Colleague and Grandpa, Dana Ray-DeLaRonde Leach 68 years old, born on July 1, 1950 and passed away on February 7, 2019. We will remember him forever.
Saturday ~ February 16, 2019
3:30pm - 6:30pm
Barnsley Resort -Pavilion & Terrace
Our family is so thankful for all of love and support that we have received. We are very grateful for those of you that have reached out to make a donation in Dana's honor. In response, we set up an account in Dana's memory, which was donated in full to First Tee Atlanta. As a family, we felt this organization reflected two passions in Dana's life - golf and helping children.
Please share your pictures of Dana in our gallery. Details about the pictures would be appreciated. Please also feel free to leave a tribute to Dana below. We love to hear your memories together.
Tributes
Leave a tribute"Let the memory of Dana be with us forever!"
Leave a Tribute
Missing my Dad today! He would have 70 years old and still youthful!
I am sure we would be doing something super fun if you were still with us! Geoff your post reminds me the days Dad and I spent playing catch in the street. Dad would always call me a wild woman because I threw the ball so crazy.
I am grateful for those moments and have always cherished even as a little child.
The empty space that I cannot seem to fill will forever ache without you however, I know you are happy because I can still feel your eternal joyful spirit. For the time I have left remaining here I try everyday to exude pure love as you did. Its not always easy but then I think of you and I am reminded again to let go of the small stuff and allow grace for those that are struggling.
I am holding onto faith that it was your sweet spirit that rose from you the day you passed and I cannot wait until I get time with you again.
My Hero on his birthday
When Dana turned 50 he threw a big party in Lake Tahoe. I had just met my wonderful wife to be, Janet, earlier that year and this trip to Lake Tahoe would be Dana's first chance to meet her. Of course, he couldn't have been more wonderful and she couldn't have been more impressed with my best friend. We felt like honored guests at the family birthday dinner celebration.
Seven years ago, for my 64th birthday, Janet and I flew to Atlanta to spend it with Dana and Barbara. He asked how I wanted to celebrate...thinking we would go out on the town or do something extravagant. Instead I wanted to spend our time together doing what we did when we were kids together....make that, big kids together. During our first year of college we played baseball, almost daily, at his Mom and Dad's house minutes from Cal State Dominguez Hills. They had an empty garage and we created a perfect two man game. The batter stood at the back of the garage and the pitcher stood on the sidewalk by the street. We used a tennis ball. If the batter hit the ball out of the garage (though half the fun was seeing it ricochet around the garage) it had to get by the pitcher for a hit, on the fly for an extra base hit etc. If we weren't playing baseball we were playing basketball or going bowling. Pretty innocent fun for kids our age but we sure had fun together and I wanted to feel that fun again. Dana agreed and we spent days playing catch in his yard and finding a local church to play basketball. Still one of my favorite birthdays having fun with my best friend...my hero.