Gail Leland, who founded Homicide Survivors after the murder of her 14-year-old son in 1981, lost her 12-year battle with lung cancer Wednesday morning. She was 63.
Those who knew her described her as a fierce advocate for others who lost loved ones to violence and a dedicated mother and grandmother.
Leland was told she had six months to live when she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2001, but continually amazed her doctors, said Carol Gaxiola, Homicide Survivors director.
Leland had great plans for the organization she founded after the death of her son, Richard, and fought hard against the cancer to see them through, Gaxiola said. She didn't resign from the organization until June 2010, when she was physically unable to carry on.
"She had a mission to accomplish; there was a reason she was given 10 extra years," said Kathy Weir, who met Leland after her brother, Robert Curry, was murdered in January 1999.
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Leland founded the charter chapter of Parents of Murdered Children in Tucson on Feb. 19, 1982, and it later became Homicide Survivors Inc., according to the Homicide Survivors website.
The organization started as an all-volunteer group that offered support and advice to families of murder victims, often meeting in members' homes and talking on the phone. Later, members began advocating for crime victims' rights and lobbied legislators to pass laws that would provide crime victims with compensation and other assistance.
Leland and others in the program are also credited with helping to get laws passed pertaining to dangerous crimes against children, guilty-except-insane defendants and victims receiving mail from inmates.
Elliot Glicksman, who has served on the Homicide Survivors board for at least 10 years, said Leland had a passion for helping victims, whether it was by lobbying lawmakers, providing counseling or ensuring that surviving family members had an advocate with them in the courtroom.
"She set a model nationally for this stuff," Glicksman said. "She is one of a very few in the community who took her own personal tragedy and turned into something positive for the community," Glicksman said. "She spent every breath and waking moment helping others, whether it was her own kids or crime victims."
Weir said the first thing she thought of upon hearing of Leland's death was the irony of its timing.
Leland didn't feel like making Thanksgiving dinner the first year after Richard was kidnapped and murdered, but did so anyway, Weir said. Somehow, the family dog got hold of the turkey when they were out of the room and devoured it, leaving nothing but the wishbone.
Leland hung the bone on the Christmas tree, and every year since, friends and family members have given Leland their wishbones so she could hang them on the tree in memory of Richard, Weir said.
Leland was one of two women instrumental in helping her navigate through the criminal justice system after the death of her brother, Weir said.
Not only did Leland make it possible for Weir and others to attend the Prescott trial of her brother's killers, but she also kept her company through the trial and shared a motel room with her.
"She was very understanding. She always took the time to listen, and she never made judgments," Weir said.
Weir appreciated the fact that Leland always placed the focus on the victims, never taking the opportunity to discuss her own tragedy.
She admired the fact that Leland was able to set aside her pain to continue with her work, especially since her son's killer was never found, Weir said.
"She helped us through the process although she never got to experience it," Weir said. "It's sad enough having to go through the process, and I can't imagine losing a child and not getting any resolution."
Leland's youngest son, Michael, 36, described his mother as "unwavering," "selfless" and "strict."
She showed all of her children how to do the right thing by example and explained why it was the right thing to do, Leland said.
"She loved with compassion," Leland said. "She hurt when we hurt."
He and his brothers are better people because of her, Leland said.
"We were always surrounded by tragedy because of her work, but we were also surrounded by compassion and healing because of her work," he said.
In addition to Michael, Leland is survived by sons Andrew and Ralph and six grandchildren.
Arrangements are pending.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com
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