Former U chemistry chairman dies

Leigh C. Anderson, University of Michigan professor emeritus of chemistry and former chemistry department chairman, died Thursday at Leelanau Memorial Hospital in Northport, Mich. He was 83.
He is survived by his widow, Alloa Anderson of Lake Leelanau, Mich; three sons, Leighton and Peter, both of New Orleans, and Robert of Chattanooga, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leelanau Memorial Hospital, Northport, Mich.
Two memorial services have been arranged. A Masonic committal service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 8) at Washtenong Memorial Park Mausoleum in Ann Arbor. On Sunday (Jan. 9) at 4 p.m. a memorial service will be held at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.
PROF. ANDERSON retired from the U-M in 1969 after 51 years of service. For 18 of those years he had served as chemistry department chairman.
Born in Muskegon on March 28, 1899, he received a B.S. degree in 1921 and a Ph.D. degree in 1924 from the U-M. He then joined the U-M chemistry faculty, rising through the ranks to full professorship in 1944. He served as department chairman from 1948 to 1966.
Prof. Anderson's special interest in organic synthesis was focussed on analysis through the study of absorption spectra and on the effect of radiation on chemical reactions.
Prof. Anderson also had maintained an interest in the teaching of chemistry and other basic sciences in secondary schools. Active in the training of teachers on campus, he was a national committeeman of the Academic Year Institute and directed the Institute for 1960-61.