Leslie Eleazer Orgel. 12 January 1927 — 27 October 2007

Leslie Eleazer Orgel was a theoretical chemist and investigator of the origins of life who made deep and lasting contributions to both of these scientific areas. He was born in London, UK, on 12 January 1927, the second of three children of Simon and Deborah (Gnivisch) Orgel. His elder brother, Nevill, was born on 2 July 1922 and died on 28 December 1957. His younger sister, Delia, was born on 19 June 1933 and currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. Leslie Orgel died on 27 October 2007 in San Diego, California, from pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Alice (Levinson) Orgel, by his three children, Vivienne (b. 4 April 1955), Richard (b. 29 November 1956) and Robert (b. 25 June 1968), and by five grandchildren.