A popular speech coach, author and teacher who lived and worked in Broomall and Philadelphia for more than 40 years, has died, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Leila B. Alson, 92, of Las Vegas, died Saturday, March 13. Throughout her career, she worked with business and political leaders, children, athletes, salesmen and others to help them improve their speech.
Mrs. Alson was drawn to the sound of language and the use of words.
She had her own coaching business, Alson Power Speaking, from 1992 until recently.
Mrs. Alson was an instructor in speech and language at Temple University, West Chester University and Hunter College. She lectured at the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and Florida Atlantic University.
“People make judgments as to your intelligence and ability based on how you sound,” Mrs. Alson said in a 1992 article in The Inquirer.
She started her career in 1954 out of a home office in Broomall, helping local children overcome speech defects.
She later opened an office in Philadelphia, with clients that included boxing champion Meldrick Taylor, former Mayor W. Wilson Good Sr., and former Eagles players Andre Waters and Greg Brown.
Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about the life of Leila Alson.
Watch this 2015 promotional video featuring Leila Alson and stand up comedian Stanley Isenberg.
