San Marino High School Junior Passed Away Sunday Morning After Single-Car Accident
Brendan Leon, a junior at San Marino High School, lost his life early Sunday morning in a single-car accident near the Rose Bowl. He had just celebrated his 17th birthday a few hours earlier at a gathering of friends and fellow students.
Affectionately known as ‘B-REN’ to his legion of friends and teammates, Brendan was a defensive back and running back for San Marino High School’s Rio Hondo League and CIF champion football team and also participated in track.
His friends and teammates converged at the site of the accident Sunday morning and really haven’t left, constructing a makeshift memorial that includes candles, photos, cards, t-shirts, trinkets and, curiously, bags of fast food.
Brendan’s mother, Patricia Leon, said she found out of her son’s love of the guilty pleasure when his friend, James Dahlstein, praised her skills in the art of sandwich-making.
“He was giving his lunches away and getting fast food,” she said, laughing. “I guess I found out the hard way.”
His affection for burgers and fries was eclipsed by his passion for the game of football, which he played with unbridled enthusiasm. Generously listed in the Titan football program at 5’5” and 135 lbs., Brendan split his time this past fall on the varsity and junior varsity squads where his huge heart coaxed heroic actions from his relatively small frame. In a junior varsity game against Arroyo, Brendan made a game-saving tackle as the Knights’ quarterback was about to cross the goal line for a two-point conversion.
Fellow Titan Chaz Davis recalls Brendan intercepting a pass, absorbing a bone-jarring tackle near San Marino’s sideline and then quickly popping to his feet. “He just yelled ‘yeaaahhhh!’” Davis said. “He was so excited to make that play.” “Brendan was one of the toughest, most tenacious, but friendly people I had ever met,” Chaz continued, of the young man he called ‘Leopard.’ Nicknamed ‘the sharks’ as a group, each defensive back on the squad received a nickname for a species of shark. “Brendan’s was easy since the first three letters are the same,” he explained.
“Brendan was a good friend and an outstanding teammate,” Chaz continued. “He didn’t need to be the starter or the star, he just wanted to contribute in any way possible. Brendan was the guy who was totally OK with just being a role player; he just loved the game and his teammates. Brendan may have appeared small, but let me tell you he had a strong upper body and laid ‘hat’ on people two to three times his size on a regular basis.”
Teammate Quentin Dunkel, who became friends with Brendan at Huntington Middle School, agreed. “His small body wasn’t exactly an advantage in the sport, but his brain made up for it,” said Dunkel, a senior.
“Last year in a junior varsity football game, the coach put me in to kick off. Brendan stood next me ready to knock a kid on his butt. While I stepped back to kick Brendan started yelling, ‘onside kick, kick it to the right!’ The whole team started laughing because we knew that his plan was to get into the other team’s head. I was laughing so hard with Brendan and the team I forgot to focus. I kicked an onside kick to the exact spot where Brendan had called it even though I was aiming 50 yards back to the left. Brendan recovered the football and was going absolutely crazy, jumping up and down and screaming that he made the call of the game. That day, I saw B-Ren’s face light up, and I have never seen Brendan without the same smile across his face. Brendan Leon and his contagious smile will be missed.”
Brendan and sophomore Allison Abrams went out on their first date together last Friday night and she got the opportunity to experience that phenomenal smile for an entire evening. “Brendan was unlike anyone I’ve ever known,” Allison recalled. “He was different, but in a special, one-of-a-kind way.
It was adorable how nervous he was to ask me out on our first date, because I think he really wanted to impress me. The thing was though, Brendan didn’t need to try to do that, because everything about him did. He was so genuine, so sweet, and also ridiculously funny when you broke him out of his shell.”
“Our date was one of the best nights of my life, and I am forever grateful that we got that one special night. Something this terrible should have never happened to anyone, let alone a boy this extraordinary. I feel honored to have spent his last Friday night with him cracking up at the movies, and the memories of his amazing smile will always be with me.” “The thing I want most in the world is that second date, because it undoubtedly would have happened. I never stop thinking about him, which is what he definitely would have wanted, but I just wish I could tell him that. I miss you so much Brendan, more than words can express. Rest in peace.”
“Brendan truly was an amazing soul filled with kindness and selflessness,” said senior J.P.
Shohfi, who apparently arrived at a similar conclusion. “Seeing his smile every day made you comfortable and happy. My best memories with B are on the football field. Seeing him work as hard as he did with every chance he had was inspiring. He forced me to work harder and become a better player.
I loved how hard he would hit people on the field; he always showed fearlessness and passion for the sport. I am devoting the rest of my football career, whether that be just college or even beyond, to playing for and like B-Ren. His spirit, care, and work ethic are something to replicate in all aspects of life. I’m going to miss him so much.”
Titan football Coach Mike Hobbie remembers Brendan as “a fairly quiet kid off the field but extremely scrappy on the field. When I think of Brendan, I will remember that he always had a smile on his face,” said Hobbie. “It was always great to see him and it seemed like he was always glad to see you, and that is an outstanding quality. He always played hard and tried hard and played much bigger than he was.”
Kirk Pastre was Brendan’s defensive backs coach and also taught him U.S. History this past fall. “When I think of Brendan León, as I called him, without a doubt, it’s his competitiveness, fire, and sheer tenacity on the football field,” Pastre said. “He almost always was the smallest guy out there, but that never stopped him from competing like hell on every single repetition. It all makes sense when you look at his last name, he was a ‘Lion.’”
“I used to sit with Brendan every day at lunch, and he always made his presence known through his laugh and smile,” said classmate Ruben Garcia. “Additionally, Brendan was a giver; he never hesitated to give up a portion of his food to somebody without a meal. During his final lunch period, he took a trip to McDonald’s, so we obviously all swarmed around him when he returned. He gave something to every single one of us. Even though he isn’t on this Earth anymore, he will always be with us. Rest in peace.”
Owen Boss has visited the memorial and grieves the loss of his friend.
“Brendan was one of the nicest people I knew,” said Owen. “One of his best qualities was his ability to get along with everyone. No matter whom he was with he always had a smile on his face, and he never had a complaint. I will miss him so much.”
Junior Omar Hamawi was a friend of Brendan’s since their freshman year. “B-Ren was a real chill guy and one of my good friends,” said Omar. “He would always smile and laugh at everything. Everyday before a soccer game he would drive me to Jamba Juice. I would always get the same thing and he would always make fun of me for it. He might have not been the best at soccer, but he was probably one of the hardest working people on the team. B-Ren will be missed.”
“Brendan was not only a friend, but a person who was someone to look up to,” said Chris Cotter. “His attitude was different than everybody else and he just wanted everyone to be happy. He showed me that if you try hard you could achieve so much. One of my lasting memories of Brendan that will be with me for the rest of my life was the night of his 17th birthday. We had an amazing time. At the end of the night he told me ‘Thanks for the best birthday I’ve ever had and can’t wait to hang more.’ I wish we could have another chance to hang. I miss you Brendan and we love you.”
“B-Ren was one of a kind,” said Jadyn Torres. “Playing football for three years with someone really helps you get to know them and from that I can say B-Ren was one of the hardest working kids with a determination to do what he wanted to do. You would never think a kid with his size would get on the field, but he did and he excelled. Brendan was the kind of kid who would never say anything back to the coaches even when everyone else was complaining while also keeping a huge smile on his face. Although he was not the loudest kid out of our friends, he lit up our lives with his smile and the world is definitely a duller place without him. Brendan always thought of others before himself and was one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. He always made my day better and I will always remember the many awesome memories we shared. He was the smallest kid with the biggest heart and he will be missed, but never forgotten.”
A memorial service for Brendan will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1501 Fremont Ave. in South Pasadena. A reception will follow in the church hall.
Brendan Leon was born on May 7, 1999 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance. Brendan attended school at Sts. Felicitas & Perpetua, St. Monica Academy, Huntington Middle School and San Marino High School. He is survived by his parents, Robert and Patricia Leon; brother Trevor, a freshman at San Marino High School; grandparents, Ralph and Olga Leon and Luis and Maria Escalante, step-grandfather, John Kraft, Great-Uncle Samuel Robles.
