I wish everyone to know that my dear lovely wife, Leslie Jean Darlington, passed quietly in her sleep yesterday morning. She had been battling uterine cancer, and seemed to pull through it well. But 2 weeks ago, something happened and she spiraled down. She is survived by her husband Daniel, and sisters Pamala and Katy. She was 71 years old. Daniel and Leslie were together for 30 years.

Let me celebrate her life for you. Leslie had a master’s degree in media design. She got it later in life, at 42, right after we got married. She built web sites for many companies in Baltimore MD. She made my scientific presentations modern and interesting. After moving to San Antonio, she taught media design for two private universities. I called her Professor Leslie.

But mostly, she was a passionate dancer; Ballet, Jazz, Modern, all the Ballroom Standards, Swing and Country Western. For 18 years, we worked together in Ballroom studios in Baltimore MD where every 6 months we would perform routines that we learn. We were on the Capital Swing team for 8 years. A West Coast Swing formation team consisting of nine couples performing competitive routines. Routines required changing formation, changing partners, and changing music. Were performed about once a month at dance competitions and exhibitions. Moving to San Antonio, we help start a club call Alamo West Coast Swing that lasted 10 years. Leslie and I taught Country Western Dance at Cowboys Dance Hall. Many of you know her teaching West Coast Swing for the Swing Junction in New Braunfels. She taught dance privately and in studios. She had many students and made friends through this endeavor.

Leslie had many other talents. She was a trapeze artist, a swimmer, rollerblades, open water diver. On a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands (Club Med), she saw a Circus Trapeze, said I can do that, climbed up 25 feet, grabbed the bar and jumped. Because she was a swimmer and high diver in college, flying over a net on a trapeze bar was nothing to her. On our honeymoon in the Caymen Islands, she spent two weeks learning open water diving. We dived three times a day for the entire time. She was also a member of Roller Quest (Baltimore Rollerblades club). Members would blade 20-30 miles a week. They prepared for 6 months to do a 100Km marathon. She did it in 6 hours, 10min.

Leslie touched the heart of many people through her dance and teaching of dance. She was extremely competitive, mostly with me, her husband. That competitiveness refined who I am. It is the gift she leaves me with.