Roderick W. Leonard Dies on Humanitarian Trip

Roderick W. Leonard, a retired deputy district attorney and noted legal ethicist who was a 20-year resident of La Cañada Flintridge, passed away June 29 in Rapid City, S.D.

He had traveled to South Dakota with a group from St. George’s Episcopal Church of La Cañada Flintridge to work at Red Shirt, a community on the Lakota Sioux reservation. He became suddenly ill with meningococcia, a virulent kind of meningitis. He did not respond to his excellent medical care and died two days later. He was 63.

Rod was born on June 12, 1944, in San Jose to Rhoda Walton Leonard, of Victoria, British Columbia, and Dr. Frederick Charles Leonard, professor of astronomy at UCLA. Rod was a Bruin from birth. He grew up in Westwood and attended University High School. An honors student at UCLA, Rod was active in Project India and UniCamp, UCLA’s camp for underprivileged children. At UniCamp he met Kathy, his wife of almost 40 years, and many longtime friends, including Tom and Gale Caswell of La Cañada Flintridge.

After he earned his J.D. at Boalt Hall Law School at UC Berkeley, where he also earned an M.B.A., Rod and Kathy served in the Peace Corps in Venezuela.

On their return, Rod joined the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where he established a statewide and national reputation for his expertise in professional responsibility and ethics for prosecutors. He taught numerous training seminars for prosecutors throughout California and the United States. He served as chairman of ethics committees of both the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. In 2003 he was honored with the Prosecutor of the Year award from the Association of Deputy District Attorneys in Los Angeles County. For several years he was also a law professor at Glendale College of Law. He retired from the District Attorney’s office in 2005 and was in private practice.

Rod was active in many activities, including sailing, skiing, golf, fly-fishing, yoga, and more. For 15 years he ran or walked with friends at 5:30 in the morning on the streets of La Cañada Flintridge. Rod volunteered in outreach programs both at All Saints Church of Pasadena and at St. George’s Church in La Cañada Flintridge, where a few years ago he served on the Vestry and as senior warden. Rod was never at rest, whether at work or at play.

Most important of all to Rod was his family, including Kathy, his sons Chris of Mammoth Lakes and Scott (and daughter-in-law Trina) of Carlsbad. Rod was an exceptionally joyful and devoted grandfather to young Shea and Matthew. He also leaves a brother, Fred, of Tucson.

Services were held on July 10 at All Saints Church in Pasadena.

The family suggests donations to UniCamp, 900 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024