Leon Axtman

July 21, 1891 - May 23, 1977

Leon Axtman, member of a pioneer South Pasadena family, passed away on May 23 in Laguna Beach. He was 85.

Born in Chicago, Mr Axtman arrived her in 1902 with his family. He graduated from El Centro School, South Pasadena High School and the University of Southern California.

A respected member of the engineering community in Southern California, he served the County of Los Angeles for nearly 50 years and was the Chief Engineer of Design for the County's Road Department at his retirement in the late '50s.

Axtman in his youth was a choir boy and acolyte at St James Church whose property adjoined the Axtman's on Monterey Road. He also carried a paper route for the South Pasadean, which his father owned, published and edited, and later for the Los Angeles Examiner. His route, which he covered on a bicycle, included all of South Pasadena and half of Alhambra.

His contributions to the highway system in Los Angeles County are numerous, and include the design of pre-freeway links to Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and other places which were remote at that time.

He leaves his wife of more than 60 years, Grace; a son, Grice Axtman '35 of South Pasadena and grandchildren Michael Axtman and Melanie Axtman, and sisters, Marie Axtman '11 and Eugenie Axtman Sterling '17.

South Pasadena Review, May 25, 1977