Ernest D. Nicolaides (Ph.D. 52', Leonard) passed away October 21, 2011 at his home in Longmont, Colo. He was 87 years old.

Dr. Nicolaides was born on September 11, 1924, in Monmouth, the third child of Tom Nicolaides and Charlotte Sedwick Nicolaides. He graduated from Monmouth High School and Monmouth College before receiving his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1952. He was a veteran of WW II.

Ernie married Rita Kresge on September 12, 1951, and shortly thereafter accepted a position at Parke-Davis in Ann Arbor, Mich. where he served as a pharmaceutical research chemist for 34 years. He established several dozen patents in peptide chemistry before retiring in 1985. After retirement Ernie and Rita moved to Ramona, Calif. Rita passed away in February 2000 and Ernie moved to Longmont, Colo. in April 2004 to be closer to his daughter.

Nicolaides is survived by a sister, Lois Bishop of Monmouth; three children Mark Nicolaides of London, England, David Nicolaides of Cambridge, England and Mary Nicolaides of Boulder, Colo.; six grandchildren Alexandra, Andrew, Austin, Tom and Tehilla Nicolaides and Kara Rigby. His wife and a brother preceded him in death.

Ernie was a skilled potter and carpenter, loved cooking and eating fine food, cross-stitched obsessively and was fascinated with collecting and repairing antique pocket-watches and clocks. Most especially, Ernie loved to garden.