Leroy (Poochie) Pittman Jr.

Leroy Pittman Jr. passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the age 76 after a heroic battle with cancer and dementia. He was known as “Poochie” to his closest friends and family and later in life as “Skillet”. Born to Lucille Garner and Leroy Pittman Sr. on June 25, 1945, in Mer Rouge, Louisiana. He relocated with his family to Portland, Oregon in 1949 where his father found work on the railroad. Leroy was recognized for his exceptional athletic ability as a dual-sport athlete in football and baseball. He excelled in baseball at Washington High School earning an MVP honors for a state playoffs championship among other letters and accolades. After a year of playing baseball for Clark College his talents as short stop led him to the Kansas City Athletics AA team where he roomed and played with Reggie Jackson. Leroy had also enlisted in the military at one point, he was cook and obtained a certification in helicopter repair and earned his M14 marksman’ badge.

Leroy was a charismatic man always surrounded by many friends. He enjoyed life to its fullest and was always in good spirits naturally keeping everyone in his presence entertained. He could be counted on to offer a helping hand to those in need and spent a significant amount of time serving as an advocate for the homeless community in the Portland area, helping individuals to navigate the system to secure housing and the funding needed to support daily living expenses.  He was an exceptional chef that always made sure there was plenty of food to feed the soul at many family events.  Leroy had a gift for numbers and was considered a brilliant math genius that could retain tons of information and spot patterns that others often overlooked.  His many talents led him to taking on many roles and excelling at them all including breaking racial barriers by becoming the 2nd African American appointed as a bank officer at First Interstate Bank in Oregon and by obtaining one of the 10th highest scores on the IRS Tax preparer exam. He was gifted beyond measure and was able to excel at whatever he set his mind to, including Retail Banking, Finance, tax preparation, Government procurement contracts, and project management.  He used his talents to support the community by helping to write grants and proposals for multiple non-profit organizations in the Portland metro area. He leaves with us a legacy of accomplishments and has set the example of how to show compassion for those that can’t advocate for themselves.

All of this considered, his greatest trait and achievement was his love, support, and adoration for his family and friends, especially his “nieces (and nephews) he loved to pieces”. He was a son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend to so many more. The best dancer in the neighborhood and at one time the sharpest dresser.

Leroy was preceded in his passing by his siblings, Eleanor Pittman, and Edna Pittman; and his son, Trent Pittman. 

Leroy leaves to mourn him, his siblings, Roy Pittman, Helen Pittman, and Franklin Pittman; his children, Randi Pittman, Michelle Lawrence, Leah Pittman-Jackson, Corey Pittman, Domanic Roses(Pittman), Taleesha Pittman, Theodore Pittman, Chisa O’Quinn, and Terrell Pittman; and host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, “nieces he loved to pieces” and many other relatives that loved him dearly.

A celebration of life event will be scheduled at a later date due to COVID

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