Leon's work also epitomized the Neuro's strong connections with McGill. When Allan Elliott took on the McGill Chair of Biochemistry in 1965, Leon became Director of the Donner Laboratory at the Neuro as well as Professor of Biochemistry at McGill. Another example of his interaction with McGill was the acquisition from the MRC by a half-dozen McGill departments of a mass spectrometer instrument, which has been invaluable for identifying small quantities of organic products. In 1995 Leon gave the distinguished Hughlings Jackson Lecture of the MNI summarizing his research on brain lipids.

In a tribute, his colleague Hanna Pappius writes, "Leon's enthusiasm for science in general and his global view of it, his deep knowledge and understanding of the brain and its workings, his ready willingness to share his ideas, made him an exciting colleague. He read widely, loved music and art, played the piano, was a potter, collected stamps, was a bridge player, all with boundless energy. Life in his orbit was never dull and was a privilege".

For many reasons, Leon would have enjoyed the recently released film, The Lord of the Rings, based on Tolkien's stories. First of all its Director, Peter Jackson, born in New Zealand, saw to it that the film was shot either near Wellington or in the country just south of Auckland, where the Hobbit "Shire" was created. The film features footage of the wild, snow-capped mountains, the land-sweep of green valleys and the deep-canyoned rivers of the country where Leon grew up as a young man. Perhaps we can imagine the metaphor of Leon, later in his life, the inspired neuroscientist, as Tolkien's Gandalf the wizard, leading his team of loyal Hobbits - Pappius, Lowden, Spence, Coceani, Wherrett, Heller, and many others _ through exciting neurochemical territories.

Finally, we may all reflect with admiring satisfaction on the accomplishments of Leon's life. His work and spirit will live on here at the Neuro, to which he gave so much. To paraphrase the wise advice of Gandalf to Frodo Baggins, "Do what you have to do in the time that you have to do it".

ã William Feindel