Gerald Levenson

Gerald Isaac Pasternak Levenson BSc. PhD, FRSC, C. Chem, FRPS (12 November, 1917 in Ammanford, Wales – 22 January, 2008 in the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, Wales) was the youngest surviving of eight children of Morris Levenson (formally Pasternak) a draper and Rose Levenson (nee Rutter) of Cardiff. After attending Ammanford and Swansea Grammar Schools he moved to north London where he became a distinguished scientist, working in the Research Laboratories of Eastman Kodak in Harrow, Middlesex, England. He and his colleagues worked on many top secret projects during World War II. His speciality was to do with the processes involved in the development of film. In 1953 he was awarded the Davanne Medal for his research work by the French Photographic Society (Société Française de Photographie). He is cited by many eminent photographic chemists and his publishings are still relevant today. He retired from Kodak in 1981.

Personal life

Levenson was also a talented artist in several media. Sketching, oil, pastels, etching and clay. He exhibited in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on more than one occasion.

His hobbies were his art, his boat and his travels on the Norfolk Broads and the River Thames.

He was married to Kate for 66 years and they had three daughters. Sarah, Susan and Jennifer.