Former Toaz Science Teacher
Passes Away
Leslie E. Speed, Jr., who taught science for 17 years at Robert K. Toaz Junior High School, has passed away. He was 87 years old.
Mr. Speed began working at Toaz in September 1965 and stayed until the school closed in June 1982. He earned a bachelor's degree at Hofstra University in February 1950 and obtained a master's degree at New Paltz College in June 1956. He was certified to teach biology and general science, 7-12.
A resident of St. Ann Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Dover, New Hampshire at the time of his death, Mr. Speed passed away peacefully in his room on the morning of February 19.
Born January 3, 1924 in Queens, Mr. Speed was raised in Williston Park and graduated from Mineola High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Weber as a depth charge gunner during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres.
Mr. Speed's teaching career spanned 32 years in all. Following his retirement, he drove a school bus in the South Huntington School District for 15 years.
A devoted family man to his wife of 58 years, Marion and two sons, Eric and Errol, Mr. Speed had nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His wife predeceased him in February 2010.
Mr. Speed was very active with his sons, playing baseball in the backyard, bringing them water skiing in Huntington Bay, ice skating in Cold Spring Harbor, hitting a speed bag in their basement.
An adventurous man, Mr. Speed once took his family on a U.S. tour with a 25-foot trailer in tow. He brought his family to the beach and drive-in movies, played miniature golf and ping pong, organized cookouts, darted off to Carvel for ice cream cones and let his sons keep animals around the house and yard, including such creatures as a raccoon, wolf and boa constrictor.
Mr. Speed, who appreciated a good crumb cake, also became a passionate tennis player, earning quite a reputation. He became a private pilot in his forties and kept flying for more than 30 years. He found one reason or another to give his sons home science lessons, even breaking out a microscope on occasion.
"Toaz was a special place with special teachers," Huntington Superintendent John J. Finello said. "We were sorry to learn of Mr. Speed's passing. He will be remembered by his students and colleagues as a very good teacher who helped make learning fun."