Leigh F. Stephens

Leigh F. Stephens.  Cal State Sacramento Professor Emeritus Leigh Fine Stephens passed away peacefully July 14, 2018, surrounded by family and friends in Sacramento, California.  Born and raised in Americus, Georgia, she was less than three weeks shy of her 81st birthday.  Ms. Stephens is survived by her husband of 31 years, Bob Aldrich. and her four children, four grandchildren, and one great grandson: daughter Reagan Wisham of Linda, CA; daughter Lisa Trask, her husband Sean Trask, their son (Leigh’s grandson) Jonathan Trask and wife Kristen Trask, and their son (Leigh’s great grandson) Xavier Trask; her grandson Stephen Trask and wife Katarina Trask of San Angelo, Texas; son Jay Wisham and wife Valerie Feldman of Sacramento and grandchildren Nathaniel Wisham and Vida Wisham; son Peter Wisham of Sacramento; and many lifelong friends.  Leigh F. Stephens was professor emeritus at California State University Sacramento where she taught for 26 years in the journalism and communications studies department before retiring.  She was also a visiting professor to the University of Hawaii at Manoa for 22 years and an instructor of courses at University of California in Davis and Berkeley.  Ms. Stephens was director of her own communications company, Creative Communications Associates, for more than 30 years.  She taught writing, editing, public information, and research for military branches, government and private business and gave seminars in written and spoken communication.  For a number of years she has been a contributing writer for Valley Community Newspapers.  Stephens is the author of more than 500 articles and textbook publications.  She is also the author of the books Covering the Community: A Diversity Handbook for Media, Twelve Steps to Clear Writing, and The Grass Roots City Tree Planner.  Ms. Stephens was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.  She received her Master of Arts Degree and a doctoral equivalence from California State University Sacramento.  She did additional work at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Fresno State, American River College, Sacramento City College, Esalen Institute, Holy Spirit College, and Stanford University.  “She loved the English language,” said husband Bob Aldrich. “She loved teaching grammar and usage to aspiring writers and journalists.  She would sit in the evenings and critique the language used by TV newscasters, pointing out faulty noun-verb agreement.  She was always editing the books and magazines she was reading, and she read voraciously – two to three books a week.  She was the penultimate teacher.”  Ms. Stephens was the recipient of dozens of awards and recognitions including a national book award from the National Federation of Press Women and numerous article awards from California Press Women. She was also a recipient of a Poynter Institute for Media Studies Fellowship.  Ms. Stephens was a member of many professional organizations including: American Association of University Women (AAUW), local chapter president; California Writers Club, past board of directors; National League of American Pen Women, past vice president; Sacramento Women in the Media, past editor of newsletter; Society of Professional Journalists, past board member of professional chapter and adviser for campus chapter; American Educators of Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC); National AEJMC Committee on the Status of Women; National Federation of Press Women, Inc.;  California Press Women board of directors; and was a member of Sisters in Crime, national and Sacramento/Capitol Chapter.  Leigh will be remembered by the hundreds, if not thousands, of students whom she taught and others whose lives she touched in Georgia, California and Hawaii.  In lieu of flowers, she can be remembered by a contribution to the Professor Leigh F. Stephens Journalism Scholarship fund at California State University Sacramento. Donations can be sent in Ms. Stephens’ memory to The University Foundation at Sacramento State, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA  95819.