Ted Herman Leimbach Sr.

April 7, 1936 – March 22, 2022

Theodore "Ted" Leimbach was born on April 7, 1936, in the Bronx, New York, to Frank and Helene Leimbach. The family moved to San Diego in May 1945.

Ted began working at San Diego City Schools as a teenager, following his father's footsteps in the Maintenance and Operations Department and working his way through the ranks from an apprentice to a well-respected supervisor. Ted was proud of establishing the District's Mobile Maintenance Team, outfitting trailers to serve as on-site maintenance shops, and stationing them at schools for several days at a time.

While at City Schools, Ted met the love of his life, Margaret (Margo) Saggese Leimbach. They were married for 67 years and together had five children, Debbie (David Ciccati), Ted Jr. (Lily), Kim (Jim Lasley), Dawn, and Mark (Ursula).

Ted was exceptionally dedicated to his Oak Park neighborhood and the San Diego Community, receiving several public and community service awards.

As a longtime fan of baseball - he and Margo had season tickets to the Padres for many years - Ted loved to coach Little League and mentored countless young people in the game's art over nearly a decade.

Ted also served as a Scoutmaster for his sons' Boy Scout Troops and volunteered as a Merit Badge counselor, introducing young scouts to several trade skills; he supported his daughters in Girl Scouts with equal commitment.

Ted was a huge believer in the value of learning and practicing a trade, encouraging his children to develop a skill in welding, electrical work, automotive repair, or other trade as a 'backup' to other jobs and career paths. This was something he knew would benefit them throughout life. Ted taught all his children to drive and believed it was especially essential that his daughters learn how to drive the "three on the tree" stick shift on his old Dodge pickup.

Ted's zest for traveling helped establish a love of adventure in all his children. He was famous for restoring a one-time Granny Goose potato chip truck in the mid-60s, converting it to a camper for his family, and taking numerous trips throughout California and the United States to see national parks and visit relatives. Later, he and Margo routinely visited Catalina Island on romantic getaways for two. Photos from these trips almost always showed Ted in a colorful print shirt, a jaunty straw hat, and a cigar.

Ted was heavily involved in the San Diego Garden Railway Society – an organization he helped form to share information about garden railways' construction, operation, and landscaping. His love of trains was passed to his children and grandchildren, who enjoyed helping run the train in Ted and Margo's backyard. During Christmas, the family would often board the North Pole Limited Train in Campo for a seasonal visit to Santa's Workshop for cookies, hot chocolate, and a holiday story.

As grandparents, Ted and Margo kept a busy calendar and rarely missed a recital, performance, athletic event, or the countless Citizen of the Month ceremonies. Family dinners, typically scaling three generations, meant completely taking over favorite restaurants for hours-long conversations filled with love and laughter.

In his later years, Ted loved nothing more than to be with his extended family at home, sitting on the patio with a good beer or hard cider and a fresh cigar. He was a gentle and kind man with the biggest heart and rarely sat next to his beloved bride without a few fingers entwined, touched together in love.

Ted is survived by his wife Margo, daughters Debbie and Dawn, sons Ted and Mark, eleven grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Paul (Linda), Maryann (Dick), Bill (Karen), and Barbara.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kim, and his younger brother Michael.

A funeral mass for Ted will be held Saturday, April 2, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel, 4470 Hilltop Dr., San Diego, CA 92102. Following the funeral mass will be a committal service from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Dr., San Diego, CA 92012.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the San Diego/Imperial Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.goodbodymortuary.com for the Leimbach family.