Leland Everett Lester

Leland E. (Lee) Lester Dec. 10, 1925 - Mar. 20, 2016 Resident San Jose PROMINENT ORCHARDIST, COMMUNITY LEADER AND BUSINESSMAN DIES AT 90.Leland E. (Lee) Lester peacefully lost his battle to Parkinson's on Sunday. In 2006 Lee was predeceased by his wife Eva of 54 years. Lee leaves behind his daughter Linda L. Lester, grandson Ryan L. Lester (Mackenzie) and his three great-grandchildren. Lee's family was the most important thing to him in the world. Lee was born in San Jose on December 10th, 1925. He is a third generation Orchardist/Fruit grower to have farmed here in the Santa Clara Valley. His grandfather Nathan Lester came to San Jose in 1883 from Ledyard, Connecticut to pursue a life of farming and fruit production due to the Valley's fertile soil. Lee started farming when he was 17 years of age while still attending Los Gatos High School. In 1946 when Lee was 21, his older brother Ray had returned home from the Navy. Lee invited Ray to join him in his agriculture business, growing prunes, cherries, apricots and walnuts, and Lester Brothers was born. At one time, the Lester Brothers farmed over 700 acres of fruit orchards. Some land they owned, others they leased. In addition to farming, in his younger years, Lee also had his own side business dusting crops with his spray rig for other local ranchers who owned fruit orchards nearby. Lee remembers working from midnight until 6:00 AM dusting crops, then starting his work day after breakfast only to get up and start dusting crops again at midnight. His hard work paid off. In 1951 while on a camping trip with his family in Yosemite, Lee met the love of his life, Eva, at the top of Glacier Point, while she was there camping with her family. In October of 1952 Lee and Eva were married in the old First Congregational Church on the corner of Third and San Antonio in San Jose. (No longer there) One year later Lee had his first home built on the Family ranch, located on Almaden Road near Koch Lane. In March of 1954 their daughter Linda was born. A few of Lee's many activities throughout the years included being Director of Santa Clara County Farm Bureau for 21 years, he served as president for two years in 1978 and 79.During that time, some of the other organizations Lee was active in were Sun sweet Growers, Commonwealth Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Right Temple, Chamber of Commerce, First Congregational Church, History San Jose, Pioneers of Santa Clara County and Rotary Club of San Jose. Lee also served on a 10 member Agricultural task force headed by County Supervisor Dom Cortese. Lee is past Director of the San Jose Production Credit Association. Lee served on the advisory board of Lieutenant Governor Mike Curb's California Commission on Agriculture from 1979 to 1982.Lee is Past President of the Country Crossroads, an Agricultural Direct Marketing Association representing Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. Past Chairman of the 145 member San Jose Chamber of Commerce agriculture round table and maintained that position for over 10 years. Lee served as Director of Rotary Club of San Jose from 1979 to 1981. Lee served as President of the Rotary Club of San Jose from 1986 to 1987 and proudly had the honor for the first time welcoming women as members into the Rotary Club during his presidency, among numerous other accomplishments that year. He was active on the Rotary BBQ committee for over 30 years. Lee was a member of the distinguished 30 member Professional Wine Society of Silicon Valley. As time has passed, the Valley of Orchards, aka The Valley of Heart's Delight became what we all know now as Silicon Valley. Farming in this valley had pretty much become a thing of the past, and with Lee's sound intuition, confidence and investment visions he lead his family into yet another realm of success with real estate investment and development in Santa Clara Valley. Since Lee has been fully retired, Linda continues to handle the commercial real estate, new and existing business properties, continuing to build onto the solid foundation that Lee so selflessly worked for and laid out for his family's benefit and future. Throughout the years, Lee and his wife Eva (before passing in '06), enjoyed entertaining and traveling. After Eva's parting, Lee continued to travel with his family and friends throughout the recent years, making even more memories. Lee especially loved reminiscing about the fishing trips to Langara Island in Canada with his grandson Ryan and their group of friends. Lee had a generous heart, and just a few of the organizations he was involved with were San Jose Children's Discovery Museum, Rotary Play Garden, History San Jose, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, American Musical Theater, Hope Services, San Jose Day Nursery, City Team, Via Services and numerous others! Most of the time, Lee chose to give anonymously. Lee is recognized and respected as a kind, generous, humble and honorable gentleman with a heart of gold, and loved by all who knew him. He is at peace, but will surely be missed.