Leslie Joy Mann

Leslie Joy Mann, 59, of Loxahatchee, died peacefully at home on February 8, 2018. She was born in Englewood, New Jersey on September 21, 1958, and grew up in a loving family in Oradell, New Jersey, and, after a move south in 1972, Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Leslie graduated from Twin Lakes High School, attended Florida State University and Palm Beach Junior College, and earned a B.A. in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University. Leslie had an illustrious career working in public service, and a comparable side career as an animal rights activist and organizer. She began her life in politics as Deputy Campaign Manager for Palm Beach County Commissioner Dennis Koehler’s campaign for the U.S. Congress; then served as an assistant to Nancy Pelosi at the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC, and was a delegate at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco; was a citizens’ ombudsman in the administration of Governor Mario Cuomo in Albany, New York; worked for the State Department of Information Services in Raleigh, North Carolina; and was Public Relations Coordinator for the Department of Children and Families of Broward County. Along the way, she had additional positions with the Victory School in North Miami Beach, the Palm Beach Coalition for the Homeless, NuVista Living at Wellington Green, and the Hippocrates Health Institute. In her second vocation – her true calling – Leslie founded and ran two animal rescue organizations: Whiskers in Troy, NY, and Independent Animal Rescue in Hillsborough, NC. She started these organizations on her own, and by the time she left each had dozens of volunteers and over 100 animals. Leslie successfully spearheaded a statewide campaign to establish the Florida Animal Friend license plate, to bring awareness and raise money for spay and neuter efforts across the state. Leslie was married for 10 years to Ayhan Celik, originally of Adana, Turkey. She had no children, but through her life was caring companion to many canine and feline children, including Eli, Emma, Nicholas, Raja, Teddy, Tigress, and Tyler. She was a loving daughter, caring sister, and doting aunt. She is preceded in death by her beloved mother, Flora Weissman Mann of blessed memory; and survived by her father Jay Mann of Loxahatchee; brothers Barry Stewart Mann and David Mann, sisters-in-laws Sheri Mann Stewart and Tara Mann, niece Rachel Mann, and nephews Ethan, Tendal, and Royce Mann, all of Atlanta, Georgia; and her latest menagerie: canines Chrissy, Kaija, and Rosie, and felines Adam, Joshua, Leo, Lucy, and Penelope. Donations can be made in Leslie’s honor to Independent Animal Rescue in Durham at www.animalrescue.net Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee Groves at www.bdrr.org, or any animal rescue organization of choice.