Dr. E. Leon Barnes' Obituary
Dr. E. Leon Barnes, Jr., 81, of Bethel Park, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 24, 2023. Born in Jonesboro, AR, on April 28, 1941, the son of the late Elvis Leon and Gladys (Bratcher) Barnes, Sr., Dr. E. Leon Barnes, Jr., was a world-renowned Surgical Pathologist of the Head and Neck.
Following his graduation from Jonesboro High School, Leon entered Arkansas State University and graduated in 1962 obtaining his B.S. degree in Biology. He then entered the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and was awarded both his M.D. and B.S. in Medicine in 1966. Following graduation, he immediately began his internship and resident training in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Pittsburgh. Before being able to finish his residency, Leon was drafted into the US Army due to the Vietnam War and served two years as Chief of Pathology at Darnall Army Hospital in Fort Hood, TX. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he returned to Pittsburgh to complete his residency where he met the love of his life, Carol, who was working as a medical secretary in the department.
Dr. Barnes held his first academic position as Assistant Professor in Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and, except for one year spent in private practice, remained in that institution until his retirement in 2010 as an Emeritus Professor of Pathology. During his 38-year tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Barnes served as Director of Anatomic Pathology, Chairman of Oral Medicine and Pathology, and Director of the Division of Head and Neck Pathology. He received an endowed Chair of Pathology established in his honor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh.
During his career he had the opportunity to write seven pathology textbooks and over 200 peer-review manuscripts. In addition he has given numerous invited lectures and continuing educational courses throughout the world including in Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hawaii, Argentina, and Mexico.
He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and was also awarded the Honorary Diploma from the European Society of Pathology for outstanding achievements. In 2005, Dr. Barnes was selected by the World Health Organization to edit the book on The Pathology and Genetics of Head and Neck Tumors. In 2012, he received the Fred Waldorf Stewart Award from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Department of Pathology for an individual deemed to have contributed significantly to the study of human neoplastic disease.
Perhaps Dr. Barnes' strongest contribution to Head and Neck Pathology is his education of young pathologists. His legacy lives on through the graduates of his program who are distributed all over the world and are the future of Head and Neck Pathology.
His great joys following retirement came from the time spent and memories made with his family. He enjoyed catching up on reading books, and working in the yard as an amateur landscaper. He will be greatly missed by friends, family, and colleagues.
Leon is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Carol (Terkay) Barnes; his two beloved daughters, Christy Barnes and her husband, Joseph Villella, and Lori Lauffer and her husband, Daniel; and his two grandchildren, whom he adored, Lucas Villella (9) and Ava Villella (7).
Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for visitation on Monday, February 27, 2023 from 2- 8 pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. A service in celebration of Leon's life will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Leon's honor may be made to Shriner's Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. To leave online condolences please visit www.jeffersonmemorial.com
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