Jerry Campbell Leith

Jerry Campbell Leith Passed away on July 7, 2011 at his home in Larkspur, CA after a courageous battle with cancer. He fought until the end as we all knew he would. Jerry was born on January 5, 1936 to parents Dean and Kay Leith, fraternal twin brother to Tom and younger brother to Dean. After growing up in Michigan he attended a prep school in PA before going on to college at the University of Michigan in 1955 where he majored in journalism and played football from 1955-59. A busy time in his life, 1955 also brought a marriage to his high school sweetheart Nancy Carstens (Schroeder) and soon started a family with the birth of a son Campbell in 1956, daughter Elaine (Nina) in 1957, and later Jennifer in 1961 born in CA after the family relocated west. He ran a successful painting business in Marin County where he raised his family. He then attended Dominican college part time for three years in the late 60's early 70's obtaining a teaching credential required to coach high school football. He married his second wife Sue Finegan in 1974. In 1994 Jerry married his third wife and best friend Elizabeth with whom he has shared 17 happy years. Jerry leaves behind his loving family, wife Elizabeth, 3 grown children Cam, Nina, and Jennifer, 8 grandchildren, Angi 34, Thomas, 32, Kaci 27, Talya 21, Shelbi 20, Briana 20, Zachary 17 and Jillian 8, and 2 great grandchildren, Franklin 3 and Lorelai 2 months. The number of surviving friends, acquaintances and lives he's touched is innumerable. Jerry has been a lifelong sports enthusiast with an incredible love of football (more precisely U of M football) and a passion and commitment to running for health and pleasure. He's spent countless hours working and volunteering in both communities. His football involvement includes coaching high school football for 3 years at Terra Linda High School, Head Coach at Marin Catholic in 1975, Assistant Coach at College of Marin in 1976, Assistant Coach at Cal Berkeley in 1977, under Head Coach Bill Walsh at Stanford in 1978, and coached for one year at the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. Between 1989 and 1995 he coached three high school football teams as well as his own team in the semi-pro California Western League. Although he began running in the early 70's his involvement within the running community spans from 1980 to present day where he has been a member of the Tamalpa Runners, a board member since 1987 and president from 1990-95. He has served as a passionate loyal volunteer on the Dipsea committee, been a co-organizer of the Salmon Run since 1989, an organizer of the "Dipsea Opening" ceremony, co-creator of the Youth Running Program, volunteer coordinator for the Headlands 50K, helped start the Ultra Team, winner of the Jerry Hauke Perpetual Award in 1999 for leadership, dedication and sportsmanship and received a Lifetime Recognition Award for his work with the Tamalpa Runners in 2001. He has participated in many running events including Dipsea, Double Dipsea, Quad Dipsea, Pacific Crest Trail Run, Mount Burdell Challenge, Mount Tam Hill Climb, and the Pot Run along with several Marathons. When asked in an interview years ago what he would like his epitaph to read, his response was "DON'T STOP". Despite numerous physical setbacks from hip replacements to the most recent fight of his life, Jerry's stubborn will and steadfast determination has never faltered and he has remained a tenacious pillar of inspiration and motivation in the lives of all he has encountered. It is for this that he will always be honored and remembered on this final Hill Climb as the "Coach". Please join us for a Celebration of Life, July 28th at 4:00 PM at the Tam Valley Community Center in Mill Valley with pot luck to follow. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Zero Breast Cancer. " ...Blue are the blossoms to memory dear And blue is the sapphire that gleams like a tear; Hail! Hail to the ribbons that nature has spun' Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue!" -from Yellow and Blue, U of M Alma Mater-

Arrangements under the direction of Keaton's Mortuary, San Rafael, CA.