John Leopold Neumeyer

Dr. John Leopold Neumeyer, a professor of medicinal chemistry whose lifelong research led to the better understanding of neurological diseases, died on Thursday, February 16, at his home in Wayland, Massachusetts. He was 92.

Neumeyer served as the Director of Medicinal Chemistry at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, retiring at the age of 90.

John was born Hans Leopold Neumeyer on July 19, 1930 in Munich, Germany. At the age of nine, he escaped Nazi Germany with his widowed mother and sister to Manchester, England. In 1945, after arriving in NYC, he was separated from his mother and sister and sent to live on a chicken farm in Connecticut. At 15, he was orphaned.

Despite hardships, Neumeyer’s drive, intelligence and sunny personality enabled him to rise above adversity. In 1948, Neumeyer graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and Columbia University. In 1961, he earned his Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He proudly served in the US Army during the Korean War from 1953-55.

His career started with his discovery of novel suture packaging at Johnson & Johnson, which is still used today. After working six years as a medicinal chemist at Arthur D. Little in Cambridge, he joined Northeastern University as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, creating and serving as Director of the PhD program. He was also awarded the first Matthews University Distinguished Professorship. In 1980, Neumeyer and his wife, Evelyn, founded Research Biochemicals, Inc. (RBI), a neurochemical company. In 1996, he joined Mclean Hospital/Harvard Medical School as Director of Medicinal Chemistry, a position he held for over 24 years.

Throughout his career, he also held many public service positions including state and national advisory committees, professional boards, and the Eagle Scout (Queen’s Badge), the latter one he was especially proud to have received.

Neumeyer was a holocaust survivor who truly believed in the American dream, having gained tremendous success in this country and rebuilding his family despite having lost his own at a young age.

Neumeyer was a gifted scientist, adored professor and keen entrepreneur as well as a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His dearest accomplishment was the creation and nurturing of his family, his wife, Evelyn, to whom he was married for 66 years, his children, Ann Neumeyer (Gary Chinman), David Neumeyer (Stella Chow Neumeyer), and Elizabeth Neumeyer Orgel (Rob Orgel); grandchildren, Max (Anna), Rebecca, Julia, Andrew, Calvin, Evan, Caroline, Corinne and Aaron, and great-granddaughter, Sasha.

A funeral service for John will be held Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 9:30 AM at Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Rd. Wayland, MA 01778. Following the funeral service, burial will be held in North Cemetery, 60 Old Sudbury Rd. Wayland, MA 01778.

In lieu of flowers, John's family requests donations in his memory may be made to the following organizations:

Northeastern University Neumeyer Family Scholarship Fund:

https://giving.northeastern.edu/live/profiles/1283-neumeyer-family-scholarship-fund

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation:

https://p2p.onecause.com/nationaldiy/memorial/john-neumeyer-memorial