LEONARDS, JACK R. (25 Feb. 1919-15 July 1978), internationally known for his biochemical research and a world expert on aspirin, was born in Montreal, Canada, son of David and Sara R. Leonards. He graduated from McGill University in 1939, and 2 years later received master's degrees in chemistry and nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He became associated with Western Reserve University in 1941 as a research fellow and received his doctorate there 2 years later. In 1957 he received a medical degree from the university. In 1943, Leonards joined Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc., as a researcher. The BEDFORD firm was an early manufacturer of penicillin; Leonards did some of the original research on its production. From 1948 he was associated with Miles Laboratories as a consultant; he later operated his own laboratory, the Dr. Jack R. Leonards Medical Laboratory, in the Lakeland Medical Bldg. in EUCLID. From 1953 he was also associate professor of clinical biochemistry at Western Reserve School of Medicine. In the last 10 years of Leonards's life, most of his research was concerned with aspirin. He testified as a leading expert at the FDA hearings on aspirin. During his career he had other notable achievements, including the development of glucola, a test for diabetes, and instant glucose as emergency treatment for persons in a diabetic coma. He also codeveloped one of the first mechanical kidneys. Leonards authored over 125 articles published in professional journals throughout the world.
Leonards was married twice. With his first wife, Alice E. Sizer, whom he married on 21 July 1941, he had five children: Alice, Ruth, William, Ralph, and George. After divorcing in 1958, Leonards married Margaret C. Degar on 10 Aug. 1961. They had no children. Leonards died in CLEVELAND HEIGHTS and was cremated.