Leon Lederman was a physicist and recipient of the Nobel Prize. He was also passionate about science education. He passed away on October 3, 2018 at the age of 96. Leon won the Nobel Prize in Physics for work he did with two other scientists. He and his team discovered that there are different types of neutrinos, which are a type of particle.
Leon was also involved in the production of the Tevatron Collider. This was the largest atom smasher in the world from 1983 to 2010. Additionally, Leon was the author of a controversial book called “The God Particle: If The Universe Is The Answer, What Is The Question?”
Leon stated that there were two reasons that he chose that name for his book. He stated that his publisher made him change the original name of the book. He also stated that he made a connection between that book and an older book. He referenced a passage in Genesis in the book.
Leon started his career in science after he served in the United States Army. He earned a B.S. in chemistry prior to joining the military. He decided that he wanted to become a physicist. After he left the military, he attended Columbia University and earned his PHD.
Leon was married twice and the father of three children. He was diagnosed with dementia later in his life. The medical bills created a major financial burden for him and his family. He was forced to sell his Nobel Prize for $765,000 in 2015 to pay his medical bills.
Leon passed away at a long-term care facility in Rexburg, Idaho. He died from dementia-related complications. The Femi National Accelerator Laboratory was the first one to announce Leon’s death. He served as a director of the facility from 1978 to 1989.
