FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Leslie “Les” Gore Jr., 63, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died July 11, 2011, from the result of septic shock from a bacterial infection that became virulent during his time recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fla., from a kidney transplant.
He was born June 7, 1948, in Queens, N.Y., to Leslie T. Sr. and Esther Williams Gore. On June 11, 1988, he married Ava Gunter, who survives.
On Nov. 29, 1965, he became an Eagle Scout and later a Scoutmaster. He graduated from Louis G. Brandeis High School, New York, N.Y.; attended Tarkio (Mo.) College and later graduated from Excelsior College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and international studies. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard June 7, 2008, with 28 years of service as food specialist, 1st Class Reservist. He was a member of the NASA Space Shuttle Launch Security Team in 1981 at Cape Canaveral (now Cape Kennedy). He continued to assist with the USCG security efforts. He served as part of the security team at the PGA Doral Open for the past six years. He was a certified electrician’s apprentice and a graduate for South West Alabama Police Academy. He was a police officer for the University of South Alabama for eight years. He was a member of Masonic Order, Scottish Rite, Abba Shrine Temple, John C. Peterson American Legion Post 49 and Providence Presbyterian Church USA, Mobile, Ala.
Also surviving are two daughters, Erin Gail Hudson, Pompano Beach, Fla., and Avriana Jean “A.J.,” Miami, Fla.; a son, Leslie Thomas Everett Gore, Fort Lauderdale; a brother, Edward (and spouse Marlene) Gore, Fair Lawn New Jersey; his mother-in-law, Avis Gunter; and a brother-in-law, Hal Gunter, Claypool.
A memorial service and burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Graceland Cemetery, Claypool.
***** Memorials may be made to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation or the Shriner’s Burn Hospitals.
