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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’