Leslie Norel Luza

The family lived in Oklahoma City until Leslie was around four then moved to Houston Texas a little after the moon landing in 1969. After four years the family moved to England. Leslie at first attended an English school which he said was not very exciting but he did get to see some exciting things such as: the class was going to St. James park he was able to see the Queen in all her jewels and crown traveling in the gold state coach on her was to open Parliament. Then once when driving by the Houses of Parliament he saw part of it blow up (thanks to the IRA).

At first we lived above the Chislehurst Caves in Kent, in which he explored with friends. Les had a pet snail named Snorkie (we were not allowed regular pets at this home). Then we moved to Hampton court. In the front of the house was the Royal Bushy Park and we had the Thames River in the backyard (Les fell in twice trying to feed the ducks and the royal swans). Then one morning when he was playing in the

front yard he saw Prince Phillip driving a four in hand cart for a special event at the palace down the street. How lucky to see such events. Also his van driver for school did Mars' bar commercials on the side.

The family returned home to Houston but then changed course and moved to the Republic of Singapore. Les attended the Singapore American school. There he enjoyed pets such as frogs, mina bird, cockatoo and two large parrots. Sometimes when mom and dad went to the American club in the evening, Les would take their other car and drive around Singapore at night. He only got caught once by his parents when he forgot to get the gate keys. He never got caught by the police. Then the family returned home to Katy, Texas for his final years of high school.

Leslie went to the Southwest State University to get a degree in Forensic Anthropology.

Where ever Leslie lived he had pets. Here, at home, it was cats, dogs, parakeets and parrots and an occasional rat, snake or lizard. Even in his travels he seemed to have an affinity with animals, they were never afraid of him and alway came straight up for pets.

Leslie traveled a lot for work and pleasure. One of the treats of going to school in Singapore, they would sponsor classes or trips between semesters. Les went to the top of the world, Nepal and went a little bit up on Mt. Everest. When at University he and his fellow classmates went on a dig in Belize. There he almost met Harrison Ford who was filming "Mosquito Coast" but since Mr. Ford was drinking and his character in the film was not very nice (and it rubbed off on him) Leslie said he was acting like a jerk. So Rita did not get her coveted autograph. Leslie went to the Czech Republic to work at a hostel he got to see a lot of Eastern Europe including Berlin. Les couldn't believe that he was walking where the Fuhrer and his army had marched. Les has always been fascinated by all WWII Germany (but not their ideals). When he was in Greece as a young boy he got his first collectible, a German helmet. Since then he has several uniforms, guns and badges. On a trip to Rome, Les was excited to stop and see where the battle of Monte Casino was fought during WWII. The tour guide of the Vatican City stated he never had such a young child that was well behaved and asked such intelligent questions (Les was nine).

Les was always interested in gardening, weather, sharks and music. He even played in a band during his University days. When he was upset, playing the guitar always seemed to relax and calm him down. Once in a while Les and dad would go to see Kiss, Twisted Sister and other concerts.

He also got interested in family history and stories. He traveled with Dad to Peru and there they met Uncle Manuel and Aunt Gloria as well as some cousins from Uncle Gus and Aunt Azucena. He also traveled to Macha Picchu and Cusco. Because Les once worked at the Harris County Morgue, Uncle Manuel got Les into Lima's morgue. There, still in a drawer, was the body of Abimael Guzman the leader of the shining path.

Les' working life varied. First he was a teaching assistant at the University, then Autopsy Assistant at Harris County Morgue, Line Cook at Galveston's Guidos Seafood, a Line Cook at the Squat and Gobble in Cut n Shoot, an assistant at Pennington Funeral Home and was the Chef at a mountain lodge in Washington State. For that job, Les and Dad drove across the country so Les would have a car for weekend side trips. He loved the mountains.

Leslie has always tried to help family and friends in need. When he traveled to Maui he stopped off in California to see his brother Bill and nephew Kevin. When he was a young child he tried to help his Uncle Sigmund to deliver a litter of piglets.

One of his last acts was to save the life of his sister Rita. Since she had been the caregiver for their dad and then himself she forgot to take care of herself. He realised she was so sick she couldn't even ask for help. Les made sure she got to the hospital in time and received proper medical care and was able to recover.

Leslie Luza was survived by his sister Rita Luza, his son Lochland Luza , his brother Bill Baker and nephew Kevin Baker. Also many loving cousins in Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and Peru. Also his beloved clowder of cats: Howard, Sardinia, Pas-De-Calais, Kocicka, Gnadige Frau Nesbit and Larry William.