Robert B. Leonard

Dr. Robert “Bob” Leonard passed away September 22, 2015.

He was born February 26, 1926, the son of Robert and Charlotte Leonard.

At the age of 17 he volunteered to serve in the US Army, and was awarded the American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals before his honorable discharge in 1946.

Bob earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He then spent six years in Venezuela as a field party geologist directing structural and stratigraphic mapping expeditions for oil exploration in remote areas of Venezuela and Columbia. He and his team explored portions of the Andes, the Falcon Desert and the Coast Range on mule back.

He met his wife, Mary, while she was visiting her brother in Venezuela.

Bob went on to earn a PhD in Geology from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1959, where he was elected to membership in Sigma Xi. He was a scientist with the US Geological Survey (USGS) for 25 years, spending two years in New Mexico as a visiting professor, and five years in Montana as a geothermal hydrologist. Bob retired from the USGS, Water Resources Division in Lawrence in 1987.

As an avid and vibrant outdoorsman, Bob was in his element when he was outside enjoying nature’s diversity.

Survivors include Mary, his wife of 63 years, son Andy, daughter Suzanne, four grandsons and one granddaughter.

In honor of Bob’s wishes, no service is planned; a family gathering will be held at a later date to celebrate Bob’s life.