Robert E. Leslie Sr., 76, cofounder of New Freedom Theatre

Robert E. Leslie Sr., 76, of Southwest Philadelphia, cofounder of New Freedom Theatre in North Philadelphia, who championed bringing the performing arts to African American communities, died Thursday of a heart attack after a short illness.

In 1968, Mr. Leslie joined John E. Allen Jr. to expand a theater group Allen had started two years earlier. They formed the New Freedom Theatre, more commonly known as just the Freedom Theatre.

Though Mr. Leslie wrote plays and directed a little, he focused more on the theater's administration and, at one time, served as general manager, said his daughter Gail Leslie, director of operations at New Freedom Theatre.

She said her father took great pride in New Freedom's training program, which he developed and oversaw for a period.

"Some of us have had instruction here, performed here, and worked here," she said.

Her father, she added, "was not a performer." Rather, his devotion to the organization reflected his "commitment to the community."

She said he contributed to the community in other ways, too, coaching baseball and basketball at the Haddington Homes. "He sold Christmas trees as fund-raisers for uniforms," she said.

Mr. Leslie had worked for 20 years as a circulation manager for the Evening Bulletin, supervising drivers and newsstand sales. When he retired in the late 1970s, he devoted all of his time to the theater, Gail Leslie said.

"Through many tough times when others might have wavered, Bob fought indefatigably for the theater to pull through," said Derek Hargreaves, president of the New Freedom board.

Sandra N. Haughton, executive director of the theater, said Mr. Leslie "insisted that the arts be taken seriously."

"He taught so many of us that we had to stand up for artists, our youth, and the values and culture which make African Americans so special," she said.

Patricia Scott Hobbs, managing director of the performing-arts training program, said New Freedom had not only trained legions of young people, but also allowed for the continuous development of arts educators.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Leslie is survived by daughters Diane and Verna Leslie; sons Robert Jr. and Gerald; stepdaughter Valerie D. Allen; a sister, Ruth Richardson; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A viewing will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the New Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St.; and Thursday, Feb. 24, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church.

A service will follow at Hickman Temple from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a private burial at Woodlands Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to New Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St., Philadelphia 19121.