Service measured not by GOLD,
                           but by the GOLDEN RULE

Service measured not by GOLD,
          but by the GOLDEN RULE

330.262.7771

Stephen H. Leslie of Wooster, Ohio  died on Thursday, October 14, 2021 after contracting a breakthrough, COVID-19 infection in late September.
Stephen was born on October 6, 1949 in Atlanta, GA to Herbert and Jayne Leslie, and is survived by his siblings: Christine Leslie, Sandra Cassidy, David Leslie, and Michael Leslie and their respective spouses: Mary Leslie, Lois Iiams, Cristi Leslie, and Naomi Seckinger.    Stephen was blessed with many nephews and nieces as well as with the love of his step-mother, Ferris Leslie, of Cumming, GA.    Stephen is also survived by a larger circle of family and friends too numerous to list who loved him dearly and who will miss him too.
Stephen held a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Tennessee, a Performance Certificate from the City of Mechlen, Belgium in Organ Performance, and a Master of Music Degree in Collaborative Piano from Houghton College, Houghton, NY that he earned after retiring in 2012.
Stephen’s professional career included his work for the Schantz Organ Company of Orville, Ohio from  1975 “ 1983 and from 1998 “ 2012.    He was a pipe organ voicer and tonal finisher.    In between those two stints with Schantz he was involved (and later principal) with Newton Pipe Organ Service in San Jose, CA where he lived from 1984 – 1997.    Stephen worked with the late Bob Newton, and later with his business partner, Roger Inkpen.    Stephen was also a sales representative for the Schantz Organ Company in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest while living there.
Stephen traveled the USA and the world to voice and tune and build/restore pipe organs.    Stephen also served as an organist/choral director for a wide variety of churches and denominations in Northern CA and Ohio over the course of his career.    Stephen had three other great interests in life:    restoring theater organs, assembling and displaying HO model trains, and restoring clocks.    His love of trains was so well known that his friends lovingly nicknamed him Chooch.
Stephen, beloved by many friends and family, will be remembered in a memorial service celebrating his life on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the United Methodist Church of Wooster, 243 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio at 2:00 PM.
The family is respectfully requiring that masks be worn by everyone attending Stephen’s memorial service.    Regrettably, also due to Covid-19 safety, there will be no reception following the service.
Stephen’s ashes will be interred by his family in the family burial plot in Milford, PA.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Stephen’s memory can be sent to Houghton College Advancement Office,  One Willard Ave, Houghton, NY 14744.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com

Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Stephen’s memory can be sent to Houghton College Advancement Office,  One Willard Ave, Houghton, NY 14744.

Service
Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the United Methodist Church of Wooster, Ohio at 2:00 PM.   The family is respectfully requiring that masks be worn by everyone attending Stephen’s memorial service

Visitation
Regrettably, also due to Covid-19 safety, there will be no reception following the service.

14 Comments

  1. Stephen gifted Westminster Presbyterian Church with his beautiful music and creative ideas. I’m so sorry for his passing and hope all family and friends have many wonderful memories of times with Stephen.

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  2. Stephen was such a loving and welcoming man. His smile could brighten a room. I remember him so fondly and am sorry to read of his passing.

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  3. Steve was a great friend and colleague. His gift of music, and his willingness to use it to bring praise to God and purpose to God’s people, will be long-remembered even as it was greatly appreciated by those who knew and loved him. The world has lost a great soul, but the sounds of his life linger on even as he lives in the embrace of the One who holds him now.

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  4. Please accept our sincere sympathy on the loss of Stephen. We knew Stephen when he was Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster. We were fortunate to be able to enjoy his wonderful organ and musical talent.

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  5. I have known Stephen since his tenure as an organist for Westminster. We kept in touch over the years after he left. I specifically appreciated the free community music events a.k.a. the Music on Market, offered by the Methodist Church. Stephen was instrumental in spearheading this project and program events planning. He had invited several renown pianists and violinists from out of states, traveled to Wooster, to perform wonder music for the Wooster community. After the events we would exchange fellowship during receptions and a few occasions we would meet and dine together at the local restaurants. I truly appreciated his kindness, caring and compassion. My condolences for the passing of Stephen. Rest in peace, Stephen. We will miss you forever.

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  6. I have known Stephen since his tenure as an organist for Westminster. We kept in touch over the years after he left. I specifically appreciated the free community music events a.k.a. the Music on market, offered by the Methodist Church. Stephen was instrumental in spearheading this project and program events planning. He had invited several renown pianists and violinists from out of states, traveled to Wooster, to perform wonder music for the Wooster community. After the events we would exchange fellowship during receptions and a few occasions we would meet and dine together at the local restaurants. I truly appreciated his kindness, caring and compassion. My condolences for the passing of Stephen. Rest in peace, Stephen. We will miss you forever.

    Reply
  7. Stephen was a kind and warm person and a fine musician. I enjoyed working with him and he will be missed. Our sympathy goes to his family and friends.

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  8. I sang in the choir that Stephen directed at Westminster Presbyterian Church. We became good friends. He was so talented and had a wonderful sense of humor. I miss him already. RIP.

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  9. Steve was a good friend. We knew one another through model railroading — first the Orville Model RR Club, & then the Route 30 Express. I moved away from Ohio 12 years ago, but was able to return on several occasions and spend time with Steve. He was gifted in so many ways. I will cherish the memories of the time we spent running trains, talking about all sorts of subjects, and enjoying one another’s company.

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  10. So sorry to learn of Stephen’s death. He was a fine man. We will not forget him playing at my father’s funeral service. He touched the lives of so many. We wish you peace in your loss and remember his many gifts and contributions to so many.

    Mark & Sue Reber

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  11. To Christine, Sandy, David and Michael, and Ferris, we are so saddened by your family’s loss. Stephen was a beautiful man, fine musician, and lived a life that touched so many. I loved following his career and marveling at his versatile and passion for music and love for those around him. Stephen and all of you are in our thoughts and hope you find peace in the memory of Stephen.

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  12. To Christine,Sandy,David,Mickael,Ferris and family. Our thoughts were with you at the Memorial Service and we are grateful we could attend the ceremony with you from a long way. We could feel Stephen’s presence the whole time and we hope getting to know his world was as comforting for you than it was for us. His smile will stay in our hearts forever.

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  13. Our sincere condolences to all of Stephen’s family. His smile, kindness, wit and talent will be missed by many. We were privileged to know him through Westminster Presbyterian Church and was grateful for his ministry of music. He literally pulled out all the stops on the organ some days and we remember him with fondness and much awe for the gift of music he shared with us.

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  14. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for Stephen ‘s death. My father, Austin Pease knew Steve well as he was a co-worker at Schantz Organ company. He mentioned Steve often, and enjoyed his amazing musical abilities and talents,and Dad also enjoyed working with him on the Schantz road repair team. I will miss hearing his artistry at the keyboard! Sincerely, Sharon

    Reply

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