Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Holy Cross Cemetery 2200 East 18th Street in Antioch.
Leo Fontana, “Mr. Antioch” leaves a legacy of over 60 Years of Community service! Sports Legends Co-Founder, long time Antioch Rotarian, he had a perfect attendance record of 29 years with the Lions Club. Antioch’s voters elected him to the Antioch City Council, on which he served from 1982-1986. He was also an Antioch Planning Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Charter President of the Antioch Merchants Association.
Sports and recreation programs in the city all seem to trace their origins back to Leo. He participated in the creation of the Antioch Hornets football team, Lob Ball League, Antioch Softball League and Antioch Babe Ruth Baseball, for which he served as its first president. An athlete himself, Leo played catcher for the Antioch Merchants team and left halfback for the Antioch Alumni Football team in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Leo left an indelible mark on Antioch. He truly lived the Rotary International official mottoes of Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best. Leo will be missed.
What to expect: Come and help us celebrate the life of Ron “Mo” Molina. We will have guest speakers and singing from Alumni. After the Celebration there will be a reception in the cafeteria where you can gather and swap stories and meet up with longtime friends. (See his In Memoriam)
In the meantime, those interested can donate to the Ron Molina Memorial Scholarship. Checks may be sent to Antioch High, 700 West 18th St., Antioch, CA 94509.
Leo Fontana in one of his many roles serving the Antioch community, here participating in the Antioch Rotary Club’s Coats for Kids annual program. Photo: Antioch Rotary Club
Former business owner, long-time Rotarian, co-founder of Antioch Sports Legends and the Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation
Leo Fontana. Source: Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation
By Allen D. Payton
It was announced by several Antioch organizations on Monday, August 14, 2023, that long-time resident, two-time Citizen of the Year and former Councilman Leo Fontana passed away on Sunday. He turned 100 years old earlier this year.
The Antioch Rotary Club of which he was a long-time member posted a message on their Facebook page which reads, “It’s with great sadness to let you know that long time Antioch Rotarian Leo Fontana has passed away. Our condolences to Leo’s family. He will be greatly missed.” They also shared several photos of members with Fontana and mentioned his Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation benefiting youth in Antioch. An annual trivia night fundraiser is held and the winning team is awarded The Leo Trophy.
The Leo Trophy presented to the winning team of the annual trivia fundraiser. Leo Fontana with fellow Rotarians and AUSD representatives for a presentation of donations from the Antioch Rotary Club and Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation to the Middle School Sports Program in 2017. Sources: Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation and Antioch Rotary Club
A brief message posted on the Facebook page for the Antioch Historical Museum, where the Antioch Sports Legends wing is located, reads simply, “We grieve the passing of Leo Fontana” and later “A legend in so many ways.”
Leo Fontana (front left) with his Antioch Sports Legends co-founders (back row) Dave Sanderson, the late Jim Boccio, Sr. and Eddie Beaudin and (seated) Tom Menasco. Source: Antioch Sports Legends.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Antioch Sports Legends Program, shares the passing of Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame Community Sports Leader inductee and Co-Founder Leo Fontana.
Our condolences go out to his daughter Andrea, Family and Friends.
Leo Fontana’s bio from his 2008 Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame induction.
If it existed, Leo could easily claim the title of ‘Father of Modern Antioch.’ His behind-the-scenes involvement goes back six decades. He had a hand in bringing County East Mall, East County Bank, Delta Memorial Hospital and the Antioch Senior Citizens Center into existence. He’s served on the boards of several local charities and organizations. Antioch’s voters elected him to the Antioch City Council, on which he served from 1982-1986. He was also an Antioch Planning Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Charter President of the Antioch Merchants Association. The Chamber of Commerce honored him twice as Antioch Citizen of the Year. Leo might easily be called the ‘Cal Ripken, Jr.’ of service club members. He has a perfect attendance record of 29 years with the Lions Club and since 1978 with the Rotary Club of Antioch. Sports and recreation programs in the city all seem to trace their origins back to Leo. He participated in the creation of the Antioch Hornets football team, Lob Ball League, Antioch Softball League and Antioch Babe Ruth Baseball, for which he served as its first president. An athlete himself, Leo played catcher for the Antioch Merchants team and left halfback for the Antioch Alumni Football team in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was chairman of a committee that created a new corporation to run the Antioch Municipal Golf Course, and helped found the Antioch Bocce Ball League. His love of sports and his community led to his involvement in assisting in the creation of the Antioch Sports Legends Program and display in 2007, for which he was honored, with the other four founders, as Antioch Citizens of the Year.
Leo was 100 years old.
Funeral services for Leo to be announced!”
Leo Fontana was presented with a Key to the City by Mayor Wade Harper and the Antioch City Council. Source: Antioch Rotary Club.
Fontana was also honored with a Key to the City by the Antioch City Council, during Mayor Wade Harper’s term. The Leo Fontana Fountain at City Hall was first dedicated in 1987, then redesigned, rebuilt and rededicated last year.
The Leo Fontana Fountain at Antioch City Hall was rebuilt and rededicated in September 2022. Herald file photos
Publisher’s Note: Leo was my sponsor when I first joined the Antioch Rotary Club in 1994 and was a mentor and advisor to me while I served on the city council. Leo was my long-time friend, and we had the chance to meet one final time, last year as I brought him copies of the latest issues of the paper. We spoke about what was happening in, and he shared his concerns about, the city for which he cared, so much. Leo left an indelible mark on Antioch. He truly lived the Rotary International official mottoes of Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best. Leo will be missed.
It would be an understatement to say he was just a Music Man. He was also a charming coach, engaging educator, marvelous mentor, fabulous friend and loving husband.
Ron Molina, iconic director of Antioch High School’s Music Masters, passed away at home on May 30, 2023, after a lengthy illness.
Raised by parents Joseph and Dorothy Molina, he started his life at the old hospital in downtown Antioch. The eldest of three (brother to Debi and Susan), he attended AUSD schools, graduating from AHS in 1965.
It was at that school where he formed deep and lifelong friendships, which would eventually pull him back to Panther Country as a much-admired teacher.
When the young Molina wasn’t singing or playing ball, he spent summers fishing, hunting and camping in the Redwoods with his parents and sisters. It was a team effort with Dorothy setting up camp for the summer, Joseph working during the week and all gathering during the weekends. The family also enjoyed visiting and exploring the rich history of California’s missions.
Alter graduating high school, Ron attended Diablo Valley College before transferring to San Jose State University to major in music – the subject he loved most. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he worked in the private sector for several years.
Ron was a natural entertainer with a gift for singing and playing various instruments. He had the voice of an Italian tenor and would captivate audiences with his remarkable personality and melodic voice. He performed in a vast array of venues, including Carnegie Hall, and entertained passengers on many ocean cruises.
In 1986, after years in the spotlight, he returned to Antioch High initially splitting his time between running football plays and leading the music department – both with winning and long-lasting results. It’s nearly impossible to count the competitions, games, performances and student trips to Hawaii.
It’s even more impossible to measure or comprehend how many young people’s lives Mo – as he was affectionally called – helped shape, influence and guide. That was evident during the 2013 surprise concert featuring 150 of Mo’s Music Masters, who gathered to show their love when he retired. It was a mix of choir students from 1988 to 2013.
At the time, Jason Mullen (Class of 1996) said: “It needed to be larger than life because that is exactly what Mo is.”
Ron met and fell in love with his beautiful wife, Darcy Lauck, while teaching at Folsom High School. Their 1993 wedding was in Hawaii – their peaceful place, for which they shared a love. Darcy adored the tranquility of swimming with dolphins and turtles while Ron would enjoy a delicious pina colada or an ice-cold beer.
“I’m deeply touched (by everyone’s) kind words and thoughtfulness,” she said. “I am eternally grateful to each of you.” She added that “Ron is now singing in heaven for the angels, his voice resonating with a harmonious refrain.”
He leaves behind his wife of 30-plus years, son Joe (Dyan), grandsons Mason and Logan, sisters Debi and Susan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Darcy will host a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Aug. 26 in Antioch High’s Beede Auditorium. In the meantime, those interested can donate to the Ron Molina Memorial Scholarship. Checks may be sent to Antioch High, 700 West 18th St., Antioch, CA 94509.
Nuhad Saba Levasseur, age 69, of Marietta, GA passed away on March 31, 2023. She was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1953 to Salih and Maggie Saba. She and her family moved to Castro Valley, CA when she was six years old. She studied music and became a professional singer, performing with bands and doing studio work for many years in the Bay Area. She met Michael Levasseur in 1984 and for 39 years they were married and built a beautiful life together with their four children. She opened her own voice studio and coached people of all ages how to sing. For 30 years she selflessly poured into her students’ lives and loved mentoring them in their passion for singing and pursuing careers in music. In her spare time, she enjoyed musical theater, singing on the church worship team and choir, spending time with her family and her 13 grandkids, entertaining people in her home, shopping and taking pictures. She had a passion for life, people, family, and her faith. She loved Jesus and loved telling people about her Savior. In 2018, she and her husband and two daughters along with their families moved to Marietta, GA. She loved living in the south and in during her four-and-a-half years there she built great friendships, continued vocal coaching, and made great memories with her husband and family.
Nuhad is preceded in death by her father Salih Saba, her mother Maggie Eaton, and her stepmother Cindy Saba. She is survived by her husband Michael Levasseur, her daughters Marissa Havens and Hillary Fowlie, her stepsons Jason Levasseur and Justin Levasseur, her son-in-laws Chad Havens and CJ Fowlie, her daughter-in-laws Stephanie Levasseur and Katie Levasseur. She is survived by her 13 precious grandchildren whom she adored: Faith, Lilly, Amelia, Cash, Ethan, Dawson, Kason, Stella, Quinn, Kylan, Andrew, Matthew, and Everly.
A celebration of life service was held in Atlanta, GA at Passion City Church Cumberland Campus, on April 29, 2023. There will also be a celebration of life service held at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, CA on June 16, 2023, at 2:00pm.
Reverend Austin Miles passed peacefully on April 12th, 2023. His life was full of adventure, accomplishments, and callings to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
He was a professional magician, a circus ringmaster and had a successful career in movies, TV shows, and commercials. He served his country in the military and founded a ministry that trains chaplains.
He’s survived by his loving wife Shirley Miles, daughters, Lori (Bill) Jarema and Cathy Tabbi, stepsons, Michael Teeter and Shawn (Armida) Teeter.
A memorial service will be held Saturday June 3rd at 1:00 pm at Antioch Covenant Church 1919 Buchanan Road, Antioch, CA 94509
George Walter Pack, aged 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at his homme in Long Beach, California.
George was born on August 12, 1928, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Fred Pack and Elsie Pack (Lake). He had one sister, Beverly Wamsher, and two brothers, Jim Brennan and Patrick Brennan. His parents and all of his siblings preceded him in death.
On June 6, 1948, George married the love of his life, Edith Garcia, and they resided in various California cities until finally settling in Antioch, California, 31 years ago. They were married for 69 years when Edith passed away on April 8, 2017. They had seven children, Donald (Lillian), Robert, Janet Killian (Jim), Diana Ramirez (David), Vera McIntire (Ray), George Jr. and Donna Jordan (Mark). He also had 16 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren.
George worked at several different professions over the years, He was a tile setter, truck driver, modular furniture business owner and a roofer. He loved playing pool at the Antioch Senior Center, and he was the President of the San Francisco Golden Gate Archers in the 1980’s. He was an excellent archer, and he supported many of his club members in their quest to make the Olympic team.
Most of all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, and a kind-hearted person. He will be loved and missed by his family always.
His funeral services will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 11:00 am, at Oak View Memorial Park Cemetery at 2500 E. 18th Street, Antioch, California 94509. The reception will immediately follow the funeral at his granddaughter’s house, Bobbi Green, at 2111 Portside Court, Discovery Bay, California 94514.
The Celebration of Life for CharlesSmith will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, 301 East 13th Street, Antioch, CA 94509. Small luncheon refreshments will be provided after the service in the social hall. (See his obituary, here)
Our family would again like to thank everyone for the thoughtful cards, flowers, gifts, meals, and offers of help during this very difficult time. It is comforting to know that we are not alone in our grief.
“Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and forever dear.”
