Leslie Todd Farina passed away suddenly on September 27 at the age of 75.  She will be remembered as a loving mother by her three daughters Catherine Keller, Suzanne Todd, and Jennifer Todd, and her sons-in-law Steve Keller and Chris Messina; and as a devoted grandmother by her grandchildren Elizabeth, Hunter, Julia, Dash, Serena, Milo, and Gio. As Nurse Practitioner and College Professor, she will also be missed by her many patients and students.

Born in Manhattan, New York, Leslie grew up both in the city and in Seaford, Delaware. She defied the norms of the time earning a private pilot’s license, joining the civil air patrol, and insisting she could be in both the future Nurses club and future Teachers club (the only professional clubs at her high school open to girls). After marrying James P. Bailey and following him through his Air Force career, she settled in Southern California in 1968 and lived in Northridge where she studied then taught at CSUN.After they divorced she split her time between Los Angeles and Rancho Mirage. She was a Professor Emeritus of the College of the Desert having taught in the Nursing program there for many years, and owned Towne Center Pharmacy in Palm Desert with her second husband Mort Farina who predeceased her. Leslie was known for her expertise with natural hormones and appeared many times on health programs both on television and radio. She was a life time lover of movies and an avid member of Women in Film.

Please share your memories, stories and photographs of her here for us all to enjoy.

There will be a celebration of her life in the future - please leave your details here if you'd like to be notified about the service.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Leslie Todd Nursing Scholarship fund at the College of the Desert at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/thepledgeatcod or gifts can be made by mailing a check to College of the Desert Foundation, 43-500 Monterey Avenue, Palm desert, CA 92260.  In the memo section of the check please write in Leslie Todd Nursing Scholarship.  Thank you.