Remembering Leslie Taft

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Most well-known as Coach, Leslie established the Desert Fencing Academy over 20 years ago in Palm Desert. Leslie began her fencing career at Cal State Los Angeles in 1976, where she competed on the women's foil and epee teams. Upon graduation, she continued to compete for the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Leslie moved to the desert in 1984 and began teaching fencing classes at College of the Desert in 1986. In 1990, the C.O.D fencing team was formed and has been successfully competing in foil, sabre, and epee.

While she was an award-winning fencer with many medals, her proudest achievement was coaching youngsters and adults alike in the art of fencing. She was a passionate and skilled instructor, as well as mentor, and friend to her many students.

Leslie, 69, passed away on November 10, 2024, in Palm Desert, California, after a fierce, yet quiet battle with cancer. Born on February 24, 1955, in Los Angeles, California, Leslie was predeceased by her loving parents, Edward and Betty Taft.

Leslie’s fencing accomplishments

1995
Pacific Coast Women’s Sabre Champion

1998
"A" rating in Women’s Sabre, World Cup Championships

2001
North American Cup, Women’s Sabre Champion

2005
3rd Place, Women’s Sabre, Pacific Coast Championships

2012
3rd Place, Veteran 50 Women’s Epee, Summer National Championship

2014
6th place, Mixed Saber, 34th Annual Haake und Slasche

2015
1st place, Mixed Saber, 35th Annual Haake und Slasche

2015
2nd place, Veteran 60 Women’s Saber, Summer National Championships

2016
1st place, Mixed Saber, 36th Annual Haake und Slasche

2016
6th place, Veteran 60 Women’s Epee, Summer National Championships

2017
San Bernardino Division Women’s 3-Weapon Champion

2018
1st place, Women’s Saber, San Bernardino Division

2018
2nd place, Women’s Foil, San Bernardino Division

2019
1st place, Women’s Epee, San Bernardino Division

2019
San Bernardino Division Women’s 3-Weapon Champion

2020
2nd place, Women's Epee, San Bernardino Division

2020
San Bernardino Division Women's 3-Weapon Champion

1995,1998, 1999
California State Women’s Sabre Champion

1999, 2000
World Cup finalist, Women’s Sabre

2002
Long Beach Invitational, Women’s Sabre Champion

2007
1st Place, Mixed Sabre 27th Annual Haake und Slasche

2012
5th Place, Veteran 50 Women’s Saber, Summer National Championship

2014
2nd place, Women’s Epee, 34th Annual Haake und Slasche

2015
2nd place Women’s Epee, 35th Annual Haake und Slasche

2015
3rd place, Veteran 60 Women’s Epee, Summer National Championships

2016
4th place, Women’s Epee, 36th Annual Haake und Slasche

2016
14th place, Veteran 60 Women’s Foil, Summer National Championships

2018
San Bernardino Division Women’s 3-Weapon Champion

2018
2nd place, Women’s Epee, San Bernardino Division

2019
1st place, Women’s Saber, San Bernardino Division

2019
2nd place, Women’s Foil, San Bernardino Division

2020
2nd place, Women's Foil, San Bernardino Division

2020
1st place, Women's Saber, San Bernardino Division

Leslie’s training and coaching:

2002
USFA Coaches College, Level One Foil & Saber

2004
trained with European fencing masters in Hungary

2005
USFA Armorers College, Level Three Armorer

2006
USFA Coaches College, Level Three Epee

2007
worked with U.S. Olympic Sabre coach, Ed Korfanty

Fencing choreography for numerous high school and college plays.

2003
USFA Coaches College, Level One & Two Epee

2005
USFA Coaches College, Level Two Saber

2005
worked with U.S. Olympic Sabre coach, Ed Korfanty

2006
studied with Mario Rodriguez, U.S. Paralympian sabre fencer, Gary Copeland, Junior National Epee coach, Ed Korfanty, U.S. Olympic Sabre coach.

2010
Fencers Club, New York, Coaches Saber Camp