MORAINE — A Kettering teenager died Monday, October 11, during rowing practice in Moraine.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office confirmed Leon “Leo” Lehner, 15, died in the incident.
“We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of one of our students, Leo Lehner, a member of the class of 2025,” said Greg Mueller, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School principal. “In his short time as a student at Chaminade Julienne, Leo demonstrated a love for learning and an interest in taking advantage of all that CJ has to offer.”
Crews responded to the Dayton Boat Club on East River Road in Moraine just after 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11.
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“We are at the rowing club and we have a rower in the water who has not come up,” said a woman in a 911 call.
“They were in the boat at the time of the incident,” said Five Rivers MetroParks Chief of Public Safety Mark P. Hess. “After the young man had a seizure and collapsed/fell over into the water, his coach jumped in to look for him.”
Lehner’s father said he had a history of epilepsy, according to a Five Rivers MetroParks report.
His body was pulled from the water about an hour after he fell in. The death is being investigated as an accidental drowning/medical issue, Hess said.
On Monday, Oct. 18 a burial service will be held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. CJ is closed today so students and staff can attend.
To allow our students, faculty, and staff members to attend the Monday services for Leo Lehner '25, campus will be...
Posted by Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School on Sunday, October 17, 2021
Lehner was the grandson of Peggy Lehner, a former state senator and current candidate for Kettering mayor, according to a post on her Facebook page.
Please keep our 15 year old grandson Leo and our family in your prayers. Leo passed away last night when he fell from a...
Posted by Peggy Lehner for Kettering Mayor on Tuesday, October 12, 2021
“We grieve with his parents, Mike and Kate, his siblings, his grandparents, his classmates, and all those who loved him,” said Dan Meixner, CJ president.
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