Leonardo Antonio Garcia

Leonardo A. Garcia, a brilliant scholar and dedicated educator, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, at the age of 83. He was born on November 16, 1942, in Havana, Cuba.

Leonardo arrived in California as an exile in 1958, fleeing the communist revolution, to start a new life with his family in Redondo Beach, CA. He distinguished himself academically at Mira Costa High School, but his true journey began when he converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while working in the Yosemite Valley. This faith led him to serve a mission in the Tahitian Islands, where he dedicated himself to serving the people and mastered the French language-the first of four languages he would eventually master. He went on to dedicate 38 years to education, earning two master's degrees (Educational Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy).

Leonardo's greatest legacy is the sprawling, vibrant family he built alongside his devoted wife of 57 years, Nancy L. Garcia. Together, they raised 11 children: David (Katharine Hitchcock), Bonnie (Jack Campbell), Elisa, Benjamin (Cathy Garcia), Diana, Daniel (Tracy Garcia), Maria, Sara, Michael (Amy Stonecipher), Joseph (Katie Garcia), and Adam (Lauren Garcia). He was a proud grandfather to 27 and a great-grandfather to five, serving as a constant source of wisdom.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernardo and Estela, his brothers Bernardo and Rudolfo, and his beloved granddaughter, Lauren. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth Gazin.

A celebration of Leonardo's extraordinary life will be held on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Thousand Oaks, CA. All who knew him are welcome to attend and help honor a journey that began in Havana, crossed the Tahitian Islands, and touched countless lives through the power of education and faith. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered for his resilient spirit and the vast family that continues his story.