Services today for LAPD's Rudy Deleon
Deleon, who lived much of his life in Lomita and Torrance, was a popular police official who
tried to steer kids from gangs by starting a boxing club in the basement of the LAPD's Hollenbeck Division station in Boyle Heights in the 1970s.The Los Angeles Times ran a lengthy story on Sunday.
Although he worked for LAPD, Deleon was also known to Torrance police officers. Retired Torrance police Capt. Emilio Paerels sent this remembrance in an e-mail this morning:
"Men like Rudy come along once in a lifetime if you're lucky, and leave their mark on the lives of thousands and thousands. Everyone who knew him, to a person -- will tell you what a monumentally positive impact he had on their lives, and the lives of others they knew about.Services were at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary in Lomita. Read the Daily Breeze obituary.
I never worked with the man; he was LAPD and I was Torrance -- but his legendary career had no jurisdictional boundaries. And I do mean "legendary." The true story of his life would be an all time best seller. He was loved by all that knew him."
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Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
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Denise Nix knew as young as grade school, when she spent every summer working on the camp newspaper, that she wanted to be a journalist. Denise has spent most of the last 12 years of her career in the courtroom. She joined the Daily Breeze in 2001, where she tracks and reports on hundreds of cases at every level of the justice system. And she's never, ever, seen a judge use a gavel.
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Rudy was a neighbor when I was growing up. Very, very nice man, a good father and husband. He and his sweet wife opened their home to many neighborhood children and provided good examples of how to live one's life with honesty and integrity.
Two things stick out in my mind; once, when I was about 15, I was invited to have dinner with the Deleons...several young, attractive policemen were in attendance, I think Rudy took several "newbies" under his wing on occasion. During dessert (strawberry shortcake), someone told a joke which resulted in me attempting to stifle a laugh due to my mouthful of strawberries. Of course, at 15, I was mortified when I ended up gagging in front of these gorgeous policemen!! Both Rudy and his wife Helen were very gracious about it and made me feel at ease while then assisted me in cleaning strawberries off my blouse.
Secondly, during my honeymoon some years later, my then husband and I ran into Rudy who happened to be staying at the same hotel in Ventura. I believe he was there to run a marathon. After some pleasantries and well wishes, we returned to our room to find a lovely, chilled bottle of champagne and two crystal glasses waiting for us, along with a lovely card from Rudy.
Thank you Mr. Deleon for many wonderful childhood memories! You were a good man and will be missed by many.