(Lee) Fichman

East Moline, Illinois
Leon ?Lee? Fichman, 88, of East Moline, Illinois, died Monday, August 31, 2009, in Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis, Illinois.
Services are 6:00 p.m. Thursday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Memorials may be made to the The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Leon Fichman was born February 23, 1921, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Harry B. and Minnie (Schlein) Fichman. He married Patsy Jean Skeppstedt on August 20, 1960, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died October 1, 1994.
Lee grew up in Los Angeles, working as a child actor on movie sets at least two days a week from the time he was 2 until he was 15. He acted alongside such acting greats as Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, and Will Rodgers. Most notably, Lee pitched to Babe Ruth in the movie, ?Slide, Babe, Slide?, and is believed to have been the last living person who ever pitched to Babe Ruth.
After High School, Lee received a scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama, where he played in the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl. He served in the United States Army during World War II, serving in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he played tackle for two seasons for the Detroit Lions before retiring due to injury.
He received his Master?s Degree and began a career as a science teacher in the Glendale School System in Glendale, California, retiring in 1960 after 28 years of teaching. He moved to East Moline in 1960 and spent 18 years at Arrowhead Ranch as a youth supervisor and substitute teacher.
He served on the Board of Directors for the California Teacher?s Credit Union and was a member of various other teacher organizations in California. He enjoyed gardening, especially his tomato plants, photography, and gourmet cooking. He was a very giving person and had many close friends.
Lee is survived by daughters and a son-in-law, LeeAnn and Kent Richert of Marengo, Illinois, and Kathy Johnson of Rock Island, Illinois, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a sister, Dorothy Berman, and two brothers, David and Floyd Fichman. He was preceded in death by daughters, Gail Henley, Kimberly Cole, and Margaret Fichman, and a son, Paul Fichman.
The family invites you to share stories and condolences, and light a candle in Lee?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.