LEONARD KOLLENDER NASH

About

Harvard University University of Illinois

LEONARD NASH Obituary

Nash, Leonard Kollender
Leonard Kollender Nash of Lexington and Brookline died November 9, 2013, at age 95 after several years of declining health. He spent most of his professional life at Harvard University, starting as an undergraduate at age sixteen, completing his doctorate in 1944, and teaching in the Chemistry Department from 1947 until his retirement as the Kenan Professor of Chemistry Emeritus in 1986. He worked as a chemist on the Manhattan Project during World War II and briefly taught at the University of Illinois until returning to Harvard. He was a renown and popular teacher, and in addition to publishing in the field of physical chemistry and science education, had a particular interest in the philosophy of science. His insights on this topic were summarized in The Nature of the Natural Sciences, published in1963. The only child of the late Adolph and Carol Nash of New York City, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ava (née Byer). He is survived by his two children, Vivian of Brookline and New Haven and David of Cincinnati, and by four grandchildren, Aaron Sklar, Shana Sklar, Nathan Nash, and Samuel Nash. For guestbook visit bostoncremation.org
Boston Cremation
888-370-0020

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Nov. 11 to Nov. 17, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for LEONARD NASH

10 Entries

Julio Maclay

December 29, 2015

Professor Nash was an amazing person. I took his intro chem course as a freshman in the fall of 1979. He was creative and enthusiastic, but above all I remember his incredible joy in teaching. Some of his demonstrations were incredibly fun - I still remember his dust explosion -- but behind all that he also taught us quite a bit of science. He really loved helping students learn and we as his students loved him in return.

Christopher Lohse '81

July 13, 2014

Nash was a fine teacher and a fine advisor. His unstinting honesty saved my academic career at Harvard. He sat me down in his office and told me that I was not going to succeed as a Chemistry concentrator and offered to call the chairman of any other department and help me change my concentration. There was not a scintella of condescension in his voice. He was honest, kind, and devoted to helping students, especially those who found chemistry challenging.

Dale Fin

March 5, 2014

I took his class, "The Macrocosm and the Microcosm" in the fall of 1967 as a freshman. (His semester was the macrocosm and the spring semester was taught by others, focusing on molecular biology.) He was everything I dreamed about in a professor when I imagined going to Harvard--dynamic, witty, knowledgable, thought-provoking. I still remember that he "rubbed it in" a bit that the Radcliffe women always outscored the men on his tests. May his family extol and be blessed by his memory.

Howard Kramer

December 31, 2013

My first contact with Professor Nash was as a freshman student in Chem 2 (1957). His energy and enthusiasm punctuated every class. One of many memorable moments occurred after a student gave a particularly uninformed answer to a question. Prof. Nash ran up the steps of the lecture hall to where she was sitting, bent down, looked her in the eyes, and said for all to hear, “You don't know one helluva lot of chemistry, do you?” To say that without malice but in his unique good-natured way was part of his natural charm. Years later, as a graduate student, I came to know him on a more personal level. I have always felt a warm fondness for him, and it hurts me to learn of his passing.

Howard Kramer

December 31, 2013

My first contact with Professor Nash was as a freshman student in Chem 2 (1957). His energy and enthusiasm punctuated every class. One of many memorable moments occurred after a student gave an obviously uninformed answer to a question. Prof. Nash ran up the steps of the lecture hall to where she was sitting, bent down, looked her in the eyes and said for all to hear, “You don't know one helluva lot of chemistry, do you?” To say that without malice but in his unique good-natured way was part of his natural charm. Years later, as a graduate student, I came to know him on a slightly more personal level. I have always felt a warm fondness for him, and it hurts me to learn of his passing.

Michael Bate

December 29, 2013

I only took one chemistry course at Harvard. It was Chem 2, a freshman course. Professor Nash was a great teacher and I remember him vividly, after more than 60 years. He would stay long after each lecturer, answering questions and helping the students.

Alan Cohen

December 28, 2013

Professor Nash was the finest teacher I have ever met and it was a pleasure to be a graduate assistant for his various courses in the early to mid 1970s

Bob Little

December 5, 2013

As an Instructor at Harvard from 1962 to 1965 I helped Leonard with Chem 2 and the first run through of its successor, Chem 6. Leonard was an inspired and inspiring teacher. I learned a lot about lecturing and will always remember him running up the steps in MB8 to put on his own slides! I feel very privileged to have served under him.

Allan Smith

November 17, 2013

Professor Nash was one of the best professors I ever had. As a freshman at Harvard in the fall of 1976, I took Chem 10. Spending time with Lenny Nash - either in class or in his frequent office hours -- wsa a wonderful introduction to the best of Harvard. Nash was fiercely devoted to teaching. He had a serious yet fun attitude. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. With sympathy, Allan Smith

Jody Williams

November 14, 2013

Leonard K. was my professor in Chem 2 in 1952. He was very generous with his time and offered me a deal: he would give me an hour of tutoring on Saturdays if I would amuse his children for 2 hours so his wife could enjoy Harvard Square. From that relationship I enjoyed a friendship with him and Ava that lasted over 55 years. I was Jody Fisher then.

Showing 1 - 10 of 10 results