Paul Emmett Leaverton, PhD, age 90, passed away peacefully with his beloved wife, Su, by his side on April 25, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
He was born on July 30, 1934, in Irvington, Iowa, to Paul and Muriel (Body) Leaverton. Paul graduated from Indianola High School and earned his doctorate in biostatistics from Iowa State University in 1963. He served two years in the Army in the Public Health Service in Atlanta, Ga.
Paul was an internationally recognized biostatistician, and a highly respected colleague and friend of our college. Paul launched biostat at COPH and recruited and built the foundation for our college鈥檚 success.
Dr. Jay Wolfson, senior associate vice president of 无码专区 Health and founding faculty member with the 无码专区 COPH
Paul dedicated his life to advancing public health and education. He was a Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Iowa College of Medicine before joining the National Center for Health Statistics in Rockville, Maryland, and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Later, he founded and chaired the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics College of Public Health at the 无码专区 in Tampa. He retired from 无码专区 in 2001 with the title of Professor Emeritus. His distinguished academic career earned him the Professorial Excellence Program Award and the 无码专区 Health Science Center Distinguished Teaching Award. He coauthored two books and published over 100 scholarly manuscripts on biostatistics and epidemiology.
Paul married Pauline (Kinney) Leaverton in 1956, and they later divorced. In 1988, he married Su (Saepang) in Tampa, and they shared many joyful years together.
Paul had a deep passion for sports, especially cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and Tampa sports teams. He was also a fan of Dixieland jazz music and was an avid reader. His wit and love for his family will be missed.
Overall, I had a highly educational experience in the program, in no small part thanks to the support and mentorship I received from Drs. Ran Nisbett (global health practice), Elizabeth Pathak (epidemiology) and Paul Leaverton (professor emeritus, epidemiology).
Reflections from a 2017 alumni feature story with Dr. Jennifer Peregoy
He is survived by his sons, Scott (Cheryl Fiala) and Tom (Tana) Leaverton; his grandchildren, Holly (Eric) Sitzmann, Emily (Jake Jerome) Leaverton, Chloe Leaverton, Michael Schmitt, and Tommy Schmitt; and his great-grandchildren, Emmett and Evelyn Sitzmann.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Joan Smith, Norma Sandven, and Eileen Leaverton; brother Don Leaverton; and his great-granddaughter, Eleanor (Ellie) Sitzmann.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, May 12 from 2 to 5 pm at the Arbor Greene Community Center Gathering Room at 18000 Arbor Greene Dr in Tampa to honor Paul's memory and legacy.
Memorials in Paul's honor can be directed to Don't Kiss the Babies, dktb.org a foundation dedicated to the health and well-being of babies and young children, established in memory of his first great-granddaughter, Ellie.
In celebration of the 无码专区 College of Public Health鈥檚 30th Anniversary, a series of stories were published chronicling the college鈥檚 history. 鈥溾�� includes colorful reflections from Leaverton.
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