A celebration of life for Leila, is from 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 30, at the Thursday Club (1224 Santa Barbara St) in Point Loma, San Diego.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Longtime San Diego resident Leila Joan (Lande) Champ, 95, died Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Palomar-Pomerado Hospital in San Diego, Calif., following a brief illness. Her children, Leslie, Pam and Jeff were by her side.

A celebration of life for Leila, is from 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 30, at the Thursday Club (1224 Santa Barbara St) in Point Loma, San Diego.

Leila was born Sep. 11, 1928 in Seattle, Wash., the second of two girls born to John Herman and Sarah Ingeborg Krystina (Hall) Lande. John was a first generation American of Norweigan descent. He trained as a lawyer and worked in the insurance industry. Sarah immigrated with her family to the United States from Sweden when she was 12 years old, in 1910. She trained as an accountant and was a homemaker. Big sister Donna was born in 1926.

Leila graduated from Huron High School in 1945, when she was 17 years old. She attended Carleton College for one year, but after her father died in 1946, Sarah and the girls moved to San Diego where the Landes owned property in La Mesa.

Leila graduated from San Diego State with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a California state teaching credential. She was a member of the Chi Theta Sorority. She married her husband, Gerald Farnsworth Champ Jr. in 1948. Leila and Gerry made their home in various locations around San Diego County including Point Loma, La Mesa and Rancho Santa Fe. They adopted four children (Leslie, Pam, Brian and Jeff).

Leila was a homemaker extraordinaire. She created beautiful Halloween costumes and trendy outfits for her children. She led Brownie and Cub scout troops. She hosted cookie exchanges and gifted family and friends with her amazing fudge and English toffee. In between all this she participated in various San Diego womens groups, including Thursday Club, Makuas and Junior League, serving in various board positions with each group. She was an avid golf and tennis player and enjoyed both domestic RV and international travel. Over the years, Leila and Gerry hosted children and grandchildren to Christmas extravaganzas none of us will every forget.

After Gerry, her husband of 44 years passed in 1992, Leila remained in her RSF home. She attended her 50th High School Reunion, where she rekindled a relationship with a fellow she had dated in high school, Rollie Sanderson. Leila and Rollie traveled the world and Leila eventually sold her home and relocated to Rollie’s home in South Dakota. There, at home, in between travels, Leila and Rollie needed a pastime. They were not interested in going down to the local casino, so they started trading stock options. Leila was a very successful trader, growing her net worth by about a factor of eight.

After Rollie passed in 2011, Leila moved back to California and took up residence at Le Rondelet in Point Loma. She enjoyed her penthouse views of San Diego city and bay. She continued her travels, cruising with her long-time lady friends. She hosted numerous family reunions in San Diego, Honolulu and on her favorite Holland America cruise.

In the fall of 2019 Leila moved to The Glen at Scripps Ranch. She made her independent living apartment a home with furniture and photographs from a lifetime of family love and adventure.

She continued her traditions, decorating for each holiday and gifting sweet treats during the Christmas season. She was a Rummy Kub shark, playing several days a week and continued to host family gatherings, especially for her birthday.

She is survived by her children Leslie (Mark Zander) Champ of Salida, Colo.; Pam (Bill) Frioli of San Diego; Jeff (Amy) Champ of Prescott, Ariz.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna, husband Gerry, son Brian, granddaughter Rene and gentleman friend Rollie.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Rady’s Children’s Hospital, Father Joe’s Villages, or the charity of your choice.