'She knew exactly what she had to do, and she fought'
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SEATTLE -- The moment Tom Leonidas heard about the deadly shooting at Cafe Racer, he thought of his wife.
But he convinced himself she was nowhere near the University District cafe.
Five minutes later, he got a call to come to Harborview Medical Center and heard five words that changed his life: "I have some bad news." His wife had been shot, he was told.
Only days later would he learn the details, how his wife stood up to her attacker and fought to the end.
"She knew what was going on," he said. "She knew exactly what she had to do, and she fought."
Leonidas has found solace in knowing that in the scariest moments of her life, his wife quickly sized up a madman and didn't hesitate to react.
"I understand at one point, she kicked gun out of his hands. And I would have expected nothing less of her," he said.
Gloria Leonidas was parking outside Town Hall when Ian Stawicki shot her before fleeing in her car. He had just fatally shot four others at Cafe Racer.
The victim's husband says his wife gave the gunman a "hell of a fight," giving witnesses time to note the car's license plate. Police would later use that information to activate the car's GPS.
"I think what she did played some small role in bringing this to a quick end and finding that car and him," he said. "If there is any bit of anger, (it's that) the man that did this got to choose how he died. The other victims didn't; he made that choice for them."
Tom Leonidas lost his wife of 19 years. His daughters Sophia and Christina lost their mother.
"I don't know that the kids and I will ever get over that one," he said. "What can we do better to get people like that off the streets or prevent them from having weapons?"
While those questions burn, a light shines every night at the spot where Gloria Leonidas died. The light pays tribute to the the expert electrician who helped redesign the lighting at the statue of liberty.
Eight employees of Town Hall who witnessed the murder say the light memorial is a small symbol that shows Gloria Leonidas was not alone in her last moments. They quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. in saying, "Darkness can not drive out darkness. Only light can do that."
Those who knew Gloria Leonidas remember her as a tireless volunteer, a beloved mother and friend.
"I just want to thank the community at large," said her husband. "One thing that helped us through is the fact that we are not grieving alone; there's a whole city grieving."
The public is invited to join Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and other city leaders fora community conversation on public safety at Town Hall on June 18.
But he convinced himself she was nowhere near the University District cafe.
Five minutes later, he got a call to come to Harborview Medical Center and heard five words that changed his life: "I have some bad news." His wife had been shot, he was told.
Only days later would he learn the details, how his wife stood up to her attacker and fought to the end.
"She knew what was going on," he said. "She knew exactly what she had to do, and she fought."
Leonidas has found solace in knowing that in the scariest moments of her life, his wife quickly sized up a madman and didn't hesitate to react.
"I understand at one point, she kicked gun out of his hands. And I would have expected nothing less of her," he said.
Gloria Leonidas was parking outside Town Hall when Ian Stawicki shot her before fleeing in her car. He had just fatally shot four others at Cafe Racer.
The victim's husband says his wife gave the gunman a "hell of a fight," giving witnesses time to note the car's license plate. Police would later use that information to activate the car's GPS.
"I think what she did played some small role in bringing this to a quick end and finding that car and him," he said. "If there is any bit of anger, (it's that) the man that did this got to choose how he died. The other victims didn't; he made that choice for them."
Tom Leonidas lost his wife of 19 years. His daughters Sophia and Christina lost their mother.
"I don't know that the kids and I will ever get over that one," he said. "What can we do better to get people like that off the streets or prevent them from having weapons?"
While those questions burn, a light shines every night at the spot where Gloria Leonidas died. The light pays tribute to the the expert electrician who helped redesign the lighting at the statue of liberty.
Eight employees of Town Hall who witnessed the murder say the light memorial is a small symbol that shows Gloria Leonidas was not alone in her last moments. They quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. in saying, "Darkness can not drive out darkness. Only light can do that."
Those who knew Gloria Leonidas remember her as a tireless volunteer, a beloved mother and friend.
"I just want to thank the community at large," said her husband. "One thing that helped us through is the fact that we are not grieving alone; there's a whole city grieving."
The public is invited to join Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and other city leaders fora community conversation on public safety at Town Hall on June 18.
