York countians have it down to a science, working with their hands and minds, Part II
York College of Pennsylvania’s John Levisky II, who died recently, was another in a long line of scientists who called York County home for all or part of their lives. Yorktownsquare.com is developing a list of such luminaries. The forensic anthropologist worked on the ‘Boston Strangler’ case, among many others. Also of interest: Working with their hands and minds, York countians have it down to a science.
John Levisky was a world renowned scientist, who made headlines in York County and elsewhere for his work. A York Daily Record/Sunday News obituary story runs down many of his cases.
He’s not alone as a scientist of renown in York County, past and present. (See below).
But we’ll let this newsmaker story from the York Sunday News give a summary:
An often-repeated phrase around the YDR newsroom is, “There’s always a York connection.” It’s amazing how often we’re able to find a Kevin Bacon-like local link to national news events.
John “Jack” Levisky II was that connection a number of times.
The York College professor of forensic anthropology played a role in several high-profile cases, including the exhumation of the remains of Albert DeSalvo, the confessed “Boston Strangler” – and the case of biochemist Frank Olson, who jumped out a window in 1953 after the CIA gave him LSD in a secret experiment.
He also helped investigate many local homicide cases.
And so, of course, Professor Levisky’s own death made news last week after he lost a battle with prostate cancer.
Rest in peace.
Other researchers with York County roots:
– Add Larry Bowers name to long list of scientists with York County, Pa., links
– Add Penn State researcher Herschel Leibowitz to long list of York countians who excelled in research.
– Two women with York County, Pa., roots excelled in the medical laboratory
– York, Pa.-born Edwin Shneidman, suicide prevention pioneer, dies in Los Angeles
– Pennsylvanian Daniel Drawbaugh: ‘The Edison of the Cumberland Valley’
– Area native shares Nobel for Medicine.
– Few know it, but digital computing’s first pioneer George Stibitz was born in York, Pa.
– Author with York County ties: Learned the brain inside and out in writing ‘How We Decide’
– Who was Phineas Davis of York City school fame?.
– Who was Edgar Fahs Smith of York City middle school fame?
Also:
York, Pa.’s link to the use of steroids in sports: ‘Pecs, pink pills and power’
