Obituaries : Arnie Leckman; High School Coach

Arnie Leckman, who coached tennis and football at Cleveland High School in Reseda, has died in a Thousand Oaks hospital. He was 64.

A longtime Westlake Village resident, Leckman died Saturday of complications of recent heart surgery, said his wife, Gloria Leckman.

Born in Pasadena, Leckman was raised in Beverly Hills and graduated from Beverly Hills High School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and later received a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree from Los Angeles State College, now called Cal State L.A. In 1950, he started teaching physical education, establishing physical education programs at Lowman Elementary School in North Hollywood and Washington Boulevard School in Los Angeles. Leckman later coached track and field, football and swimming at Lincoln High School in Los Angeles before he came to Cleveland High in 1959.

Leckman coached tennis for all 32 years he was at Cleveland High. This past season, the boys’ tennis team won the West Valley League championship. He also coached football from 1967-82, guiding the Cavaliers to five West Valley League titles. Leckman, who taught physical education and driver’s training and education, retired from Cleveland on June 20.

He was a member of the Thousand Oaks Racquet Club, UCLA Alumni Club, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at UCLA and the Alumni Athletic Club at Beverly Hills High School.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years; sons Edward Leckman of Camarillo and Fred Leckman of San Diego; daughters, Lori Leckman of New York City and Joni Bondanza of Jindabyne, Australia; and three grandsons.

A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 32111 Watergate Road, in Westlake Village.

A private burial service, with full military honors, will be held Monday at Los Angeles National Cemetery in West Los Angeles. Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary in Westlake Village is handling the arrangements.