Garay, Leslie

Leslie Garay, of Blacksburg, was born in Hosszúhetény, on the outskirts of the city of Pécs in Hungary on August 6, 1924. In the aftermath of World War II, he emigrated to Canada in 1948, and eventually moved to the United States in 1958, settling in Cambridge, Mass.

He led a life of faith in God and Jesus Christ, which saw him through the great many changes in his life. He was a member of the 3rd order of the Society of Mary (the Marists), and a man of unwavering conviction who touched many lives. He also became a renowned botanist, receiving his PhD from Tufts University. He was a Guggenheim Fellow and the Curator of the Oakes Ames Orchid Herbarium at Harvard University from 1958 through 1986, during which he authored over 250 publications. He retired from Harvard in 1986 and moved to Blacksburg VA, attracted by the beauty of the hills that reminded him of his birthplace.

Leslie passed away on August 19, 2016, at the age of 92. He is survived by his nephew, Andrew Sandorfi and wife Juliet; and his grand-nieces, Christine Kaminski and Joanne Curry. He is sorely missed.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Blacksburg on Sunday August 28, 2016 with a vigil at 2 p.m. and a Mass of Resurrection at 3 p.m., followed by interment in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Associazione pro Terra Sancta for relief efforts in the Holy Land, at http://www.custodia.org/default.asp?id=1004 . Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, VA.