Irving Leskowitz (90), Professor Emeritus of Biology at Southern Connecticut State University, died at CT Hospice in Branford on Friday November 26, 2010 after a short illness.

He was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 21, 1920, but for most of his childhood he lived in the Bronx.

He was a proud graduate of Townsend Harris High School in Flushing,which accepted him by competitive exam, and where graduation entitled admission to City College of New York. Irving graduated from CCNY in 1942 and shortly thereafter enlisted in the US Army, achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant and with honorable discharge in 1946.

Leskowitz continued his education with a Masters of Science in Microbiology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Irv soon met and married his wife of 60 years, Ann, moving to Bethany and residing there until his passing.

He taught Microbiology at SCSU from 1962 until his retirement in 1987.

His enthusiasm for education of all sorts led him to establishing programs including the BSCS Institute for High School Biology teachers and the Elderhostel program for students age 60-plus!

Following his retirement, he worked with Literacy Volunteers as a tutor and as a trainer of tutors.

He leaves his wife Ann Elizabeth of Bethany, son Fred and wife Zina of Killingworth, daughter Ruth and husband Wayne of Sharon CT, and son Joel.

He is also survived by sisters Myra Plotnik, Blossom Barsky and her husband Perry, sister-in-law Thelma Leskowitz, brother-in-law Ernest Kinoy, and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Sidney Leskowitz, Tufts Professor of Immunology.