Leslie Frederika Holt
Leslie passed away in the early morning hours of March 9 after several weeks of loving care from family and friends following a courageous year-long struggle with cancer. She was born in Reno, a 4th generation Nevadan, and grew up in Santa Barbara attending San Marcos High School and University of California Santa Barbara.
Leslie will always be remembered for her love of life, family and friends, and for her courage and willingness to always say what she believed. She and her husband Rick also have a special place in their hearts for dogs which Leslie wore proudly on her leg as a life-sized dachshund tattoo! She lived and traveled around the world including participating in the Peace Corps in Nigeria.
Leslie was a trailblazer for women in both athletics and work. In 1968 she placed 4th in the U.S. Olympic trials for the shot put and was ranked 10th in the U.S. in the pentathlon. She became one of the few women police officers serving with pride on the police force at UCSB and UCLA. After receiving her Master’s degree in public administration, she moved to Springville to be near her Mother. There she worked in administration for the Porterville Police Department. In her later years she became a certified yoga instructor and opened her own studio in Springville.
Leslie was preceded in death by her parents Lester Hilp Gliessman and Mary Evelyn Whitten Gliessman Tellez and leaves behind her husband Rick Holt, brothers Stephen Gliessman (Roberta Jaffe), Eric Gliessman (Sally) and nephews Erin Gliessman (Oriana) and Carlos Alex Gliessman (Heather) and their children. Leslie also leaves many memories with her friends, including life-long friends Vicki and Scott Garland and Suzanne Malloy. Her two loving dachshunds, Buster and Hildegard, along with family and friends miss her greatly.
Private family celebrations of life will be held to honor Leslie. Donations in her memory can be made to Animals for Education at Critter Creek Wildlife Station, www.crittercreek.org or 36710 Sand Creek Road, Squaw Valley, CA 93675.