John (Jock) Leighton

August 30, 1925 – March 12, 2018

Jock Leighton was born in the highlands of Scotland in 1925. He joined the Indian Army at the end of high school and became an officer of the Ghurkas during WWII. He witnessed Partition and was involved in guarding the Red Fort.

After the war, he used the GI bill to attend the University of Aberdeen where he received a degree in engineering. He then played golf with his brother Bill for several months before his wanderlust took him to distant lands and eventually to Chile, where he met a beautiful woman who swept him off his feet. They married and had two daughters and travelled the world until settling in California. As a result of his hard work, ambition and success, he became the President of Kaiser Engineers. After retiring from Kaiser, he had a fulfilling career as a consultant.

Jock loved life. Until his last breath, he was still planning distant vacations and dinners out with his friends and family. He loved classical music, opera, ballet, champagne, chocolate, and a good political argument. But most of all, he loved his daughters and his wife, Carmen.

He will be remembered for being a charming gentleman, a keen golfer and an avid bridge player. He read voraciously with a never ending hunger for knowledge. He was incredibly open minded and ahead of his time. There is no one like him.

He is survived by his wife Carmen, his daughters, Lorna and Carla, his son in law, Ed Pinka, and his beloved sister, Terry, along with Scottish and Chilean family and great friends.

He was a very loving father and will be dearly missed as he was deeply loved by his family. He dealt us a blow by leaving us.