Leslie D. Teicholz, who for the past decade has been President and Chair of the Board of Tannery Pond Concerts in New Lebanon, N.Y., died on September 7, 2015 in Richmond, Massachusetts. Leslie was 70 years old, and the cause of death was lung cancer.
In the summer of 1969, while photographing the legendary Woodstock concert for Channel 13 (WNET), Leslie met the renowned photojournalist W. Eugene Smith. They met in the press tent, where Leslie had taken refuge after her camping supplies were stolen, and her travel companion left for reinforcements, but never made it back. This was the beginning of a long friendship and working relationship. Leslie began as Smith’s assistant, but eventually became the executor of his artistic legacy.
Leslie was instrumental in putting together Smith’s large retrospective at the Jewish Museum in 1971 entitled Let the Truth be Prejudice, consisting of 542 images and a slideshow of his WWII documentary work.
Leslie donated part of her personal collection of Smith’s work to the University of Arizona (Smith’s Alma Mater), as well as to the International Center of Photography in New York City.
Throughout her life, Leslie was a generous and active supporter of the arts, both personally and professionally. Aside from her work in photography, she was also a writer. Leslie reviewed restaurants for various New York City periodicals, as well as the Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass., for which she also wrote profiles.
In more recent years, Leslie devoted her energy to Tannery Pond Concerts, an organization presenting chamber music concerts in the Berkshires. She was President and Chair of the Tannery Board, working closely with its founder and artistic director, Christian Steiner.
Leslie is survived by her husband Bob Dahlen, her son Matthew Shafer, her grandson Jacob Shafer, her two brothers, Eric and Paul Teicholz, and her two stepsons, Robby and Scott Dahlen.
In a previous notice, the Board of Directors of Tannery Pond Concerts provided the following announcement:
New Lebanon, N.Y. — The Board of Directors of Tannery Pond Concerts sadly notes the passing of our long-standing and beloved President, Leslie Teicholz, after a 13-year battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully Monday, September 7, 2015. Leslie, together with our Artistic Director, Christian Steiner, has been the driving force behind our concerts for many years. Leslie’s bright spirit, ceaseless energy, irrepressible humor and keen intelligence have left an indelible mark on the series. The Tannery Board, artists and audience will miss her sorely. We send our condolences to her family, and especially to her husband, Robert, her son and grandson, Matthew and Jacob, her brothers Paul and Eric, and to her many friends.
Our final concert of the year, on Saturday, September 26, will be dedicated to Leslie’s memory. A future memorial concert specifically in her honor is being planned.
