User:Historyhermann/Donald Leifert

Donald L. Leifert Jr. (February 27, 1951 – October 23, 2010) was a director, teacher at Towson High School, in the U.S. army during the 1960s, acted in some of the Baltimore-made Don Dohler movies, edited Dohler's fanzine MOVIE CLUB in the 1990s and a FANEX panel perennia. According to Mr. Silver of SF site news, Mr. Leifert appeared in several science fiction and horror films, including Crawler, The Galaxy Invader, Nightbeast,and The Alien Factor. Called Don or Donny by his friends, he was a funny and likable person according to many that knew him. Many also described him as witty and funny.

Early life
Donald Leifert was born in 1950 in Pikesville, Maryland. He graduated from Perry Hall High School in his hayday. A skilled baseball player, he chose to forego a varsity letter instead following his newfound love of the performming arts. He later attended Towson State University, the London Academy of Dramatic Art, and the University of Baltimore School of Law. As part of his formal theater studies in England, Leifert was required to study ballet, to which he famously quipped "the sight of me in tights was enough for one to lose their lunch."

U.S. Army Service
Donald served in the U.S. army for numerous years, being drafted during the Vietnam War. He went to Vietnam and in hindsight said "I was happy I never killed a man." As the Vietnam War came to close, he finished his tour in Germany. Leifert performed in a travelling acting troupe presented sketches to soldiers warning of the dangers of drug use. Among his colleagues, future Seinfeld star, actor Michael Richards. After this he went to Oxford University and then studied theater in England.

Teaching Career (1970?-2009)
In the 1970s started by teaching at Dundalk High School. Later, he would teach at Catonsville High School and The Carver Center for Arts and Technology. At the end of his career, he taught Towson High School. Donald prided himself on the fact that for most of his recent teaching career, he taught in three different departments in Towson High School: English, Theater and Social Studies: As a teacher of Theater he directed many plays during his career. In addition, Leifert eagarly shared his love of cinema with his students. In particular, he sought to introduce students to the medium of black and white film. He also maintained a passion for 16mm film. Leifert was known for many practical jokes as a teacher. Some of his antics included taking students out of sight, or behind a partition, and proceeded to make sound effects that would lead one to believe he was savagely beating the student. Other times, he would walk into crowded cafeterias, asking for everyone's attention, and then leave. While administering quizzes and tests, Leifert would provide comic relief to students by snatching a students test, a proceeding to simulate ripping the paper in half.
 * Taught English for 30 years
 * Taught Theater for 20 years
 * Taught Trial Advocacy for 4 years

Recent Teaching Career (2009-2010)
In 2009, Donald stopped teaching Theater because he said he was tired of it. In 2010, he taught Trial Advocacy and more of what he loved to teach, English. Then part way through 1st quarter he took extended leave from Towson High School to have an surgery done to end his back problems.

Du Ex Machina: Donald's sudden death
According to a social studies teacher at Towson High School, on October 23, Donald died of a heart attack. Some believe he died because of blood clot. Numerous students who attended Towson High School have said his death was announced at a football game.

Towson High School Honors Donald's death
After Donald passed away, one student, Elizabeth Nance organized an event to "honor...his life and legacy... he will leave behind [by] wearing yellow. It is a fun and in-your-face color just like he was and always will be." As many as 100 students wore yellow and many facility members did as well. Dr. Jane Barrenger, the head of Towson High School had a moment of silence at the beginning of October 25, 2010 to honor Donald as a person.

Testimonials
Excerpts from testimonials on Yuku's forum:

"He was like a big brother to me...I miss him terribly already. I knew Don for over 20+ years...When I was 17 years old, I heard [a] teacher who loved classic horror films...He was a wonderful friend... I am definitely all the richer for knowing him." - Bela, Boris and the gang.

"Don was a treasured friend of mine for thirty...years...Every time I saw Don over the next three decades he would look at me, grin, and exclaim at the top of his voice...Don was a warm, bright charming, and witty companion...You were quite a guy, and a treasured pal." - Steve

"Don was a nice guy...I had the pleasure of meeting Don back in 1992 [when] he gave me a wonderful piece of production art of him in costume from the film. I still have it...Don was a wild man and could command a room." - Gene

A common theme from all of these testimonials is that Donald was a nice person and had a wonderful personality.

Filmography

 * The Alien Factor, Ben Zachary (1978)
 * Fiend, Eric Longfellow (1980)
 * Nightbeast, Drago (1982)
 * The Galaxy Invader, Frank Custor (1985)
 * Crawler, Zachary (2004)