John Ferard Leicester III, a resident in Pacific Palisades since 1961, died at home on Saturday, January 15. He was 87. Born in San Francisco in 1923, John graduated from Lowell High School and Stanford University, earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and his master’s degree in the same subject. About to be drafted into the Army, John instead joined the Navy and became an aviator. John met Dorothy Dodge at Stanford, and they married on April 8, 1950. After leaving active duty in the Navy in 1951, John became a reserve and also worked briefly at North American Aviation before joining Litton Industries. He helped develop pioneering airplane guidance control systems and retired 40 years later in 1991. A musician, John was involved in the Southern California Early Music Society and sang in the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church choir for nearly 50 years. He served as president and sang bass for the Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble and was president of the Foundation of Neo-Renaissance. Active in the community, John was also treasurer of the Miramar Homeowners Association in Paseo Miramar. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Dorothy; children John Leicester IV of Susanville, David Leicester of Virginia; Lynn Fay of Thousand Oaks, Melissa Sivvent of West Hollywood, Eanswythe Grabowski of Agoura Hills and Heather Leicester of San Francisco; and five grandchildren. A quiet home service is planned at an undetermined time. Donations in John’s name can be made to Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble: 6559 Provence Road, San Gabriel, CA 91775.
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