Leslie C. Dossigny, native of Colorado and longtime resident of Las Vegas, beloved husband and Veteran of the U.S. Navy, lost his battle to COVID-19 on Feb.9.2021. He leaves behind his wife Heddy Dossigny, three adult daughters, two adult step-children and grandson and step-granddaughter. His passing is devastating to his family, friends and his beloved Local Union 159 community.

You can help the family deal with their loss and his wife's future by donating here to alleviate the financial hardship left by this tremendous loss.

My step-father Les, mother Heddy and aunt Sylvia have lived together for several years and in their advanced age, we were concerned when a national emergency was announced, as we were all in California and had to cancel all plans to visit them. During the pandemic, we offered emotional and financial support as they were getting used to a limited income after retirement. They were extremely careful for all of 2020 and doing their part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sometime in January 2021, they were struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of Sprout’s market while in their car, picking up their weekly groceries through a contactless service. They were not hurt, just startled. A few weeks after their vehicle was serviced, they noticed the car’s reverse gear didn’t work. They went back to the garage, as their insurance suggested, and were made to wait in a small office for over 3 hours while they worked on their car. Several days later, they were very sick. Their Doctor confirmed they tested positive and within days of infection, my mother Heddy, fell several times, losing her balance and suffering from a high fever, while Les, still not fully symptomatic, took care of her while trying to sustain his own fighting immune system. This was very hard for all of us to hear and were constantly on the phone and on video with them.

While Heddy was going through the worst of it, Les’ oxygenation level dropped below 90 and she made the hard decision to call 911 to get him stabilized. He never came back home.

Slightly 10 days into his stay in the ICU, he passed away while Heddy watched her husband from another room. Truly the hardest thing she had ever had to do during their 25 years of marriage. 

We all had a chance to talk to him the days prior to his passing and through the help of the staff at Centennial Hills Hospital, his whole family was able to see and talk to him, even though he could no longer respond verbally. During all these events, my aunt Sylvia was suffering greatly as Covid-19 went through her and Heddy was once again having to call 911 when Sylvia’s oxygen fell behind. Heddy has been steadfast, strong and tried to stay calm during all of this and now she’s suffering from foggy memory, as one of the long-tailed effects of post-covid still hangs around and the shock of a lost husband weighs in. Sylvia has gotten better and is still improving. This has been incredibly difficult for all of us but Heddy now has to deal with a financial situation she wasn’t prepared for. 

The sudden, devastating death, cremation services and other expenses will drain financial reserves that have been depleted during the long pandemic, specially now with a fixed income

So, we’re turning to the community, hoping for donations that will help sustain my mother and her sister as they deal with their loss. We are doing all we can to find a permanent solution that will be financially stable but we need help now to fill in the gaps. 

Les was born in Glenwood Springs, CO, 1939. He joined the navy at 17 and spent 2.5 years in active service as a weatherman and followed with 20 years as reservist. While in Las Vegas, he worked as a security guard for the Stardust and worked along Siegfried and Roy for 3 years, before their act moved to the Mirage. He worked as painter with his brother in Colorado before deciding to move to Las Vegas permanently after meeting Heddy. There he continued to work as a Faux painter for Las Vegas hotels under the Local Union 159 until his retirement.