
Robert LeLevier passed away peacefully at his home on Jan. 2, 2017, at age 93.
Dr. LeLevier was a graduate of UCLA, and an ardent alumni supporter and Bruin sports fan. A physicist with an international reputation, he made marked contributions to technical problems in national security, including nuclear weapon matters, space systems and submarine security issues.
During WWII, he served in the Navy in the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He received all three of his degrees from UCLA, graduating with a Ph.D in theoretical nuclear physics in 1951.
He began his professional career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and moved to Southern California in 1957 to join the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, California. He later became founder and principal of R & D Associates and consulted for various aerospace firms. He also held numerous senior technical positions in industry over the subsequent several decades. He received numerous significant awards, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in November 2000.
Robert graduated from Washington High School in LA and married his high school sweetheart, Marie, in 1945. They moved to the Palisades in 1957 and he resided in the same home until his recent death. He had a lust for life and loved to be surrounded by friends and family. He had a special relationship with his grandchildren, Zachary and Nicole, having spent many holidays, summers and special occasions with them in Maui, Alaska,and his home in the Palisades. He was delighted to be a great-grandfather to Emme (age 1).
Also known as Dr. Bob and Robaire, he and Marie loved the Palisades community and their home. Some of his favorite pastimes were playing golf with his son-in-law Gary and his grandson Zachary, having a glass of Chardonnay with his devoted cul-de-sac neighbors, crossword puzzles, cracking jokes, Bruin basketball and chancellor lunches before football games.
He especially enjoyed dinners with his granddaughter Nicole, who was his roomie for several months while attending graduate school. He loved travelling with his daughter Sue and son-in-law Gary, and he always enjoyed a good meal. He was a regular fixture at Back on the Beach café at Annenberg, where a daily “reserved sign” was present at his table. Over the years he frequented Tivoli’s and Vittorio’s, and the staffs treated him as family.
We are grateful that he spent a healthy Christmas with his family and grandchildren at home. He will be sorely missed but remembered fondly.
Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marie. He is survived by his sons Robert and Jon, daughter Suzanne, son-in-law and good friend Gary Joseph, grandchildren Nicole and Zachary, and great-granddaughter Emme.
A celebration of his life will be held at his home on Jan. 22.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s honor online to the chair’s discretionary fund in the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy. For more information, visit giving.ucla.edu/pa.
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