Leon Marker

1922 - 2016

Leon Marker

Leon Marker, 94, of Akron, Ohio, died peacefully in the early hours of Monday, October 10th, 2016.

Born in Philadelphia on January 6, 1922 to Jewish immigrant parents Sam and Bertha, Leon outlived his beloved older siblings, Helen Pinsky and Victor Marker. As a child Leon competed in citywide mathematics competitions. Leon continued to solve number puzzles every day until the end of his life.

Leon was proud of the fact that he served in the Army Signal Corps and was at the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. Leon completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Temple University and his graduate studies at the University of Utah, where he obtained his PhD. While pursuing post-graduate work at the University of Nebraska he met Eve Heimer at the Love Library, where she was working as a science librarian. They were married in 1953. Leon steadfastly cared for Eve for 10 years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's until she passed away in December, 2005.

Leon worked for 27 years as a Senior Research Scientist for General Tire, later GenCorp, in Akron, where he was highly respected by his colleagues and made significant contributions to his field of polymer science. He cared deeply about making tires safer for everyone and received six patents for his innovative work, as well as patents for tennis balls, which he used in one of his favorite sports. After his retirement, Leon took classes at Kent State University and participated in many cultural and recreational activities. He also remained an active member of the Akron Physics Club until the end of his life.

Leon is survived by three children, Laurie Marker of Stow, Karen Marker (Andy Wolpert) of Oakland and Susan Cosens (Barry Cosens) of Minneapolis, and two grandchildren, Sophie Lee of Philadelphia, who shares his love of science and follows in his footsteps as a chemical engineer, and Rachel Lee, of New Orleans, who shares his passion for reading and social justice. Leon is also survived by many nieces, nephews and dear family friend, David Stout. He will be missed by his communities at Brookdale at Montrose and the UUCA Church of Akron.

Together with almost a century's-worth of friends and community, the family remembers Leon for his sharp, analytical mind, his mischievous sense of humor, and his deeply humanist moral compass. Like his hero Albert Einstein, he was "satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness...of the marvelous structure of the existing world."

Services will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 3300 Morewood Rd., Fairlawn, Ohio, on Sunday, November 6 at 3 p.m., with a reception afterward in the church's fellowship hall. All are welcome.