Colonel James Dwight Leslie III

James Dwight Leslie III, (COL Ret) U.S.A.F., 82, passed away at home in Buffalo, NY on November 20, 2022. Preceded in death by Lynne (Foster), Leslie (wife), Jean (Reichenbach), Leslie (mother), James D. Leslie Jr. (father), and James Foster. Bakke Jr. (great-grandson).

Jim is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Mary Anne (Pitzer) Leslie of Buffalo; their five children: Sigbrit (Michael) Bakke of Spring Branch TX, Kristin (Eddie) Gafford of Summerfield NC, Christopher (Shelley) Sigafoes of Longwood FL, Kevin (Monica) Sigafoes of Salt Lake City UT and Leah (John) Davidson of Buffalo NY.

Jim leaves behind sixteen grandchildren: Michael, James, Jonathan, Charles, Kristopher, Caroline, Cadee, Noah, Jordan, Kamryn, Mitchell, Jonus, Quinn, Claire, Lily, Avonmora; and five great-grandchildren; Brighton, Addison, Emersyn, Bodhi, Charley Ella.

Jim Leslie was born in Bethlehem, PA, in 1940, graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, class of 1963 (Varsity Basketball, ROTC, Chi Phi Fraternity), then served thirty-one years in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corp, 1963 - 1994. Jim achieved a Masters degree in Executive Healthcare Management and worked as a healthcare administrator/planner in support of each level of the AF Command, Joint Staff and National Guard. As Director Joint Medical Mobilization Division, J-4, Joint Staff he developed the first Integrated CONUS Medical Mobilization Plan that provided total federal medical response to contingencies in support of FEMA and Executive Order.

Jim is a veteran of the Vietnam War (three tours as a medic 1966, 1967, 1968), Operation Just Cause, and Operation Desert Shield/Storm. For his service, he earned: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 6 Air Force (AF) Organizational Excellence (OLC)/Air Medal, AF Commendation Medal, AF Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 5 OLC/AF Organizational Excellence Award, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, AF Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with 1 OLC/AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 OLC/Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with 1 OLC/AF Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Jim served honorably in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Colonel.

After retirement from the Air Force, Jim worked as a consultant with the Veterans Administration and Military Healthcare System.

Jim was a life time member of MOAA, DAV, the SML Lions Club, and Hamburg Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed volunteering, served on several boards, and loved traveling the world with his Mary. Above all, Jim was an avid golfer. He particularly enjoyed memberships and memories made at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington and Fairfax, Virginia and The Waterfront Country Club at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

An honorable gentleman, respected, generous, kind, and caring…will leave a void in the lives of many. "Jimbo" will truly be missed by his beloved family, many friends, colleagues, and his buddy, Tyler THE Dachshund.

A Celebration of Life service will be held January 14, 2023, 11:00 AM at Hamburg Presbyterian Church officiated by Pastor Rachel Brown.

Interment will take place spring 2024 at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hamburg Presbyterian Church, 177 Main Street, Hamburg, NY 14075