William (Bill) Birch Leisher January 4, 1932 - November 4, 2024 William (Bill) Birch Leisher passed away on November 4, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 92. Born on January 4, 1932, to Daniel Loy Leisher and Florence Getman Leisher, Bill grew up alongside his older brother Richard, attending schools in Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Texas, and later Santa Fe, New Mexico. His passion for music was evident early in life, as he pursued an extra year of high school to remain in the marching band and perfect his clarinet skills. After graduating high school, Bill studied music for one semester at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. When the Korean War broke out, he enlisted in the Navy, aspiring to join the Navy Band, but a sleepless night and his lifelong stutter affected his audition. The Navy suggested he become a jet engine repair technician instead. During his military service, he worked on battle-damaged FH2 Banshees in Korea and later rebuilt jet engines in Okinawa, Japan. Following his service, Bill utilized the GI Bill to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from New Mexico State University. During a visit to his parents in Santa Fe, he met Esther Curtis. Despite their nine-year age difference, the two quickly fell in love and married. Bill and Esther began their life together in San Diego, California, where Bill started a new job. Although he was laid off within a year, San Diego was always a magical place for them. The next move was back to Las Cruces. There, Bill earned his master's degree in mechanical engineering, and their first son, Mark, was born. The family eventually moved to Tennessee, where Bill worked on aircraft turbine-engine propeller testing, and their second son, Craig, was born. In 1966, Bill accepted a position at Sandia National Laboratories, prompting the family to settle, first in Albuquerque, and then in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. Their home in the Sandia Mountains became the foundation of family life for the next 49 years, where they welcomed two more children: Laurel in 1977 and, three years later, Paul. Over his 31-year career at Sandia Labs, Bill became a recognized expert in nuclear material transportation and O-ring technology, eventually retiring in 1996 as head of the Testing and Calibration Lab. Known for his sense of duty, Bill also served his community for over two decades as a volunteer firefighter, rising to the rank of assistant chief. His contributions extended to maintaining the local water system, where he installed a warning light visible from his house to monitor water levels. A man of many interests, Bill was deeply passionate about airplane engines, music, and science fiction. He was a voracious reader, consuming three to four books a week for decades. Though he was often quiet, he was a loyal friend and cherished his favorite pastimegathering with friends, often at Burger Boy in Cedar Crest, where he invariably ordered a smothered beef burrito and coffee. Bill's mechanical skills were legendary; whether rebuilding a Studebaker Hawk or troubleshooting his 486 computer, there was little he couldn't fix. In retirement, he enjoyed reading, tinkering with his computer, and playing endless games of solitaire. Bill spent his final years at home with Esther, lovingly cared for by their daughter Laurel and her husband Aaron as both Bill and Esther navigated Alzheimer's. Despite the challenges, their home was filled with laughter, love, and plenty of pie. He is preceded in death by his brother, Richard; and survived by his wife, Esther; his children, Mark (Lara), Craig (Susannah), Laurel (Aaron), and Paul (Emily); and grandchildren, Zimri Bhai, Kai Halun, Ilem Birch Bradford, Agustin Lopez, and Leonor "Nora" Bonnie Leisher. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill's memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Services will be held Jan. 4th, 2025 at St Marks Episcopal Church 431 Richmond Pl NE in Albuquerque at 1pm.
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