Leslie Louise Fournier (Radha) of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia passed away Jan. 16, 2023 in her sleep after a long battle with cancer.
Leslie is survived by her siblings, Karen Fournier, Bill Fournier and Steven Fournier; also by adopted daughter, AmanDa Bapty and her grandson, Benjamin Bapty. Leslie was predeceased in death by her sister, Diana Fournier; mother, Donna Mast Fournier; and her father, James Damon Fournier.
Leslie grew up in Mount Angel, Oregon where she found a passion for horses. She graduated from Silverton High School in 1979 and attended the University of Oregon from 1979 to 1985 majoring in Music Education and minoring in German. In the 1980s, she studied in Germany, traveled around Europe, and discovered her love of sailing in Australia.
Leslie moved to Scappoose, Oregon on her houseboat in 1993. She met Jay Fraser who joined her on a sailing trip from 1998 to 2001. In 2004, Leslie and Jay married and moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia in 2006.
Over the years, Leslie worked for Blackwell Book Depository, Intel, Salt Spring Island School District, and was instrumental in starting a new radio station, “Gulf Islands Radio.”
From 2017 to 2019, Leslie lived off and on in Bend, Oregon to help her step-mother Caroline Fournier take care of her dad.
She was positive and compassionate, but was also pragmatic and direct about her beliefs and boundaries. She was loved by those who met her and will be sorely missed.
A memorial will be held this summer in Oregon, date to be determined.
