Dr. Leslie Andrew McClaine, PhD, age 87, died Jan. 25, 2009, at Briarwood in Issaquah. He was born August 21, 1921 in San Mateo, Calif., to Millard A. McClaine and Amanda Helen Victoria (Carlson) McClaine.

Leslie graduated from San Jose High School in 1939 and received his BA from San Jose State College. He received his MA and PhD in chemistry from Stanford University.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. After an honorable discharge as lieutenant junior grade, he taught science at San Jose State.

He was married to Marilyn Jean Fleming at St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove, Calif., in 1948.

Leslie later worked as a research chemist in Richland, Wash., for General Electric and for Arthur D. Little in San Francisco and Cambridge, Mass. He moved with his family to Wellesley, Mass., in 1963 and worked as Laboratory Director for the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Laboratories.

He retired in 1983, moving with Marilyn to Peterborough, N.H., in 1987 and then to Coupeville, Wash., in 1988 where they enjoyed 20 years of beautiful Olympic Mountain views across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

He was a lifelong Episcopalian, worshiping at Trinity Church in San Jose, Calif., St. John’s in Ross, Calif., St. Mary’s in Newton, Mass., and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oak Harbor.

His interests included world travel to Scotland, England, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Israel, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand and Japan. Other passions were woodworking, reading, hiking ( especially in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California), and volunteering as a docent at the Admiralty Head Lighthouse in Coupeville.

Leslie is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Marilyn (Fleming) McClaine of Coupeville; his sister, Virginia Holt of Los Altos, Calif.; sons Andrew W. McClaine of Lexington, Mass., and John L. McClaine of Maple Valley, Wash.; his daughter, Margaret J. Jean of New Boston, N.H.; his grandchildren, Amanda L. McClaine of Waltham, Mass., Christopher V. Jean of Shrewsbury, Mass., Leslie W. McClaine of Portland, Ore., Carrie L. Jean of New Boston, N.H., Sara (Jean) Heaton of Homosassa, Fla., Michael A. McClaine of Montana, Mandy K. McClaine of Wisconsin, and Scott C. H. McClaine of Maple Valley; and his great-grandson, Alex Heaton of Homosassa, Fla. His sister Gladys Ross preceded him in death.

The family will receive neighbors and friends at a memorial service on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oak Harbor. A reception will follow the service. Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Corp or the Salvation Army.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and thoughts on the online guestbook at www.flintofts.com.