Leslie “LES” Terpening Kyser, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 30, 2023 with his loving family at his bedside. He was predeceased by Pat, his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 58 years on December 5, 2013. Les and Pat will be reunited as expressed in his letter THANK YOU PAT … Until we meet again, I’ll be thinking of you and celebrating the great life we had on Earth as I look forward to an even better time in Heaven. Save a place for me next to you. With All My Love, As Always – Les
He was also predeceased by his parents, Leslie N. and Phyllis G. Kyser, avowed parents Curtis F. and Ruth E. Moth, sisters Helen (Thomas) Sheldon, Barbara (Elwyn) Carr, and Phyllis Joyce Jones, maternal grandparents John and Ann Terpening, paternal grandparents Frank and Cora Kyser, avowed grandparents George and May Kraft, uncles Russell Terpening, Paul Terpening, and Floyd Kyser, cousins Betty Shanahan, Jeanne Agrusti and Jack Terpening.
Les will be sadly missed by his loving daughter and son-in-law Allison and David Wood, a loving son and daughter-in-law Eric and Carol Kyser, loving grandsons David Wood and Michael (Jacqueline) Wood, loving granddaughter Erinn (Sean) Clifford and loving great-grandson Bryce Wood. Les is also survived by many special nieces and nephews; the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of his much loved and sadly missed sisters Helen, Barbara and Joyce.
Les was born in Syracuse, NY and lived in Minoa, NY until after graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He would often remark on how lucky he was to be born when he was and live in such a great town where everyone had your back and you didn’t need to think about locking your doors. Les would often say, he had a wonderful childhood and a great life. On his recent 89th birthday he was able to visit all of his childhood homes that were so special to him. He graduated from Minoa High School in June 1951 and spent his next five summers working with his dad and uncle at Kyser Brothers Lumber and Feed Mill while attending MIT in pursuit of a BS in Aero Engineering. In the summer of 1951, he was also proud to have obtained his Private Pilot’s license. After graduating from MIT with his BS in June of 1955, Les and Patricia were married in August. Les was hired into the Inlet Design Group within the Propulsion Department at the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (now part of Northrup) in November 1955. His immediate supervisor at Grumman was the person responsible for the development of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM). Except for a 3-month departure to complete basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Les worked at Grumman until joining Link Aviation in Binghamton, NY in January 1962. He remained at Link for over 32 years working in various capacities until retirement on June 1, 1994. While working at Link he attended Syracuse University and obtained an MS in Electrical Engineering in 1967.
Watching or participating in sports was always a part of his life. Les enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren pursuing their interests in sports and band. He played basketball, baseball and football at his beloved Minoa High School, played golf for many years while at Grumman and Link, and always enjoyed bowling. While at Link he made many wonderful friendships that lasted the rest of his life. In his later years he particularly enjoyed bowling at the local Midway Lanes where he made a number of great friends among the bowlers and the staff. He also enjoyed card games including rummy, pitch, pinochle, and poker. The NY Yankees, NY Giants and Syracuse University Basketball were among his favorite teams. Les enjoyed investing in various securities, followed the markets on a daily basis, and blended old-world fundamentals with contemporary logic.
The family would like to Thank the wonderful people of Lourdes Hospice and Mercy House of the Southern Tier for their loving care.
In accordance with the wishes of Les, private services will be held at the convenience of his family. Family and friends are invited to visit at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, NY on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 4-6 PM.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the memory of Leslie T. Kyser, may be made to Mercy House of the Southern Tier, 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760 or MercyHouseSouthernTier.com.