LESHER, Margaret
Former Lesher Communications Chairwoman Margaret Lesher was found drowned in Bartlett Lake, AZ, while on a camping trip with her husband of six months. Lesher had earlier been married to the late Dean LESHER, who had built up a chain of newspapers that included the flagship Contra Cost Times and was sold to Knight-Ridder in 1995 for about $360 million. The 62-year-old Lesher was naked and legally drunk at the time of her death. The death is reportedly not considered a homicide at this time.
MARGARET LESHER, FORMER chairwoman of Lesher Communications Inc. in the San Francisco Bay area, was found drowned in an Arizona lake where she and her husband were camping. According to authorities, Lesher, the widow of Dean Lesher, founder of the Lesher group, was legally drunk when she died. The San Francisco Chronicle quoted Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as ruling out foul play "at this time" County medical examiner Phillip Keen said tests showed that the alcoholic content of Lesher's blood was 0.10--the legal definition of drunken driving in Arizona--when her body was found May 14. Lesher, 65, had been camping with her husband of six months, Collin "T.C." THORSTENSEN, 38, a rodeo rider and buffalo trainer. He reported that he awoke at 3:30 a.m. and found her and their boat missing. Several hours later, a television crew in a helicopter spotted her body in the crystal clear water of Bartlett Lake, a wilderness area 30 miles from Scottsdale. She was wearing only underwear. Her other clothes were in the boat, which was found about two miles from the campsite. Thorstensen told police he and his wife had been drinking alcohol before retiring for the night. The sheriffs office said Thorstensen, the son of South Dakota ranchers, allowed them to search the couple's Scottsdale home without a warrant. The Lesher chain, which included the flagship newspaper the Contra Costa Times, and four other East Bay dailies, was sold to Knight-Ridder in 1995 for a reported $360 million. Dean Lesher, a Harvard-trained lawyer, built his chain with a shrewd business sense and a true vision that Contra Costa County would become a major commuting area for San Francisco and Oakland. At one time, he owned several other dailies and weeklies in Northern California. Lesher was among the most civic-minded publishers in the country, giving away thousands to charity and community projects. Currently, the Times said, the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation has $37 million in assets. After Lesher's death, Margaret Lesher continued his philanthropy, giving to such causes as the Battered Women's Alternatives, Richmond Rescue Mission and the Contra Costa Food Bank. Much of her charity was anonymous, including her hosting of Christmas parties for underprivileged children. "Our organization is stunned at the news," said George RIGGS, CEO of Contra Costa Newspapers and a longtime friend of the Leshers. "Margaret was someone we all knew and worked closely with over the years. She was an integral part of our extended newspaper family, and even after the sale of Lesher Communications ... we've followed her changes in lifestyle. She seemed to have finally found happiness and we were happy for her." Knight-Ridder CEO Tony Ridder told the Times that it was difficult for Margaret to sell the Lesher group. "It was a sad day for her when she turned over the newspapers to us. She loved the newspapers and the community; he said. At the time of the sale, Margaret Lesher said that of all the potential buyers for the chain, she trusted Knight-Ridder to carry on her husband's commitment to high-quality community coverage and involvement. Margaret Lesher was born to a poor family in Texas. She became a local beauty queen, dance instructor and flight attendant. She had ended her first marriage when she met Dean Lesher, 30 years her senior, while working as an arranger of meetings for a hotel chain. A story in the Times said she was reluctant at first to marry him, not because of their age difference, but because of his prominence. The story said she preferred to use the last name of Lesher when in Contra Costa County to keep her roots in the community. Lesher also is survived by four daughters from her first marriage.

LOCKETT, Steven Dennis
Steven Dennis Lockett, 36, passed away on January 17th in Tempe. He attended Shadow Mountain High School and graduated from Chaparral High School where he was a member of each school's baseball team. He attended Glendale Community College and the University of Arizona where he also played baseball. Steve graduated Cum Laude from ASU with a Bachelor if Fine Arts degree in printmaking. He received a Master's degree in printmaking from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He loved art, especially printmaking and currently two of his prints are on display at the Herberger Theatre gallery. Steve was so deeply loved and is sorely missed by his family and friends. Steve is survived by his parents, Nancy and Dennis LOCKETT, sister Michelle SMITH and brother-in-law Chris SMITH of Peoria and his paternal grandparents, Winifred and Cleo LOCKETT of Phoenix. A celebration of Steve's life was held at Shadow Mountain Mortuary, 2350 E Greenway Rd. in Phoenix. Because Steve was an avid fly fisherman and loved the outdoors, donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Arizona Flycaster's Club, P.O. Box 47357 Phoenix, AZ., 85068 for conservation and education.

LONG, John F.
Developer. John F. Long is renowned for his generosity and commitment to giving back to the community. He started building homes in the Valley in the 1940s for returning veterans. In 1954, he started Maryvale, a master-planned community in west Phoenix named after his wife, Mary. Long has donated land for schools and financial aid to help build medical centers or other public facilities.

LONGEY, David Hosmer
David Hosmer Longey, 64, of Phoenix, AZ died suddenly at his mother's home, 296 Nott Street, Wethersfield, CT November 7, 2005. Born in Hartford, CT September 18, 1941, he was the son of Esther Parry Longey and the late Burton Hosmer Longey. He graduated from Wethersfield High School, Class of 1959. He attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture and Planning in 1964. David had a four decade career in Community and Land Planning and Landscape Architecture, employed in New England, the Northern Rockies, and the Desert Southwest. He had also served as an Adjunct Professor with Arizona State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design in Tempe, AZ. In failing health, David was semi-retired, but took an active interest in his hometown while visiting for the past six months, advocating for conservation, restoration, and enhancement of Old Wethers-field, Connecticut's "most ancient towne." Besides his mother, he is survived by his son David D. Longey and daughter-in-law Laura of Greenfield, MA, daughters Kathryn L. Katz of Rochester, NY, and Jennifer B. Longey of Brockton, MA; his grandchildren Hannah E. Longey, Michael D. and Elisabeth S. Katz, and Jessica E. Cappiello, his brother Keith W. Longey of Wethersfield, CT and sister Margaret V. Longey of Berlin, CT, a favorite Aunt, Virginia Parry Seabourne of Anniston, AL, and many cousins, nieces and nephews living throughout the United States. There will be no calling hours; burial will be privately observed by family and friends in Connecticut, Montana, and Arizona. Friends and business associates in Arizona may remember David's effort in championing environmental issues in the Southwest with a memorial donation to the organization or charity of their choice. Published in The Arizona Republic on 11/10/2005.

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