Leonard B. Kirschner, 92, of Pullman, died on May 4, 2016 at Bishop Place Retirement Community. HIs priorities were always family, research and making people smile. In the words of Dad's niece, he was the "most clever, curmudgeonly, flirtatious and dashing man; a scholar, indifferent housekeeper and a man who loved red wine but might forget to eat if the research was right."

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Dad served as a Naval officer during WWII. He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the University of Illinois. He met his wife and life-long friend Barbara Jean while completing his PhD in Physiology at the University of Wisconsin. The couple eloped six weeks after meeting and the relationship lasted for almost 60 years.

Dad came to Washington State College in 1953 after completing a two-year post-doctorate fellowship with the Polio Foundation in Denmark. He gained an enduring affection for Copenhagen from his time there. During his tenure at WSU, Dad was a leader in campus minority affairs established a PhD program in physiology, maintained decades of unbroken grant support for his research, published dozens of papers and mentored numerous graduate students.

Dad was the quintessential life-long learner. Motivated by his love of Denmark, Dad enrolled in Danish conversation courses at WSU, which he repeated 16 times "for practice". He was also generous, donating to many different causes over the years and establishing endowments in the memory of his wife and mentors. Dad enjoyed the arts (especially opera), and loved to travel.

While teaching and research were important to Dad, his family was central to his being; he was a devoted grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend who counted all those close to him as family. He is survived by his four children, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara and brother, Don, as well as his parents.

We thank Gentiva Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to our Dad over the last nine months of his life. We especially want to thank the wonderful staff at Bishop Place for the care and love they demonstrated to him on a daily basis these past few years.

No public services will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the WSU Foundation, Friends of Hospice, Pullman, WA or the charity of your choice. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA is caring for the family.