Leslie Ann Hallidy-DiVerdi died Sunday, Jan. 10, age 63, after a twelve-year battle with frontotemporal dementia.
Predeceased by her father, William H. Hallidy of Skaneateles, NY. Survived by her mother, Dorothy DiPietro-Hallidy of Webster; her children, Stephen (Zoe) DiVerdi, Oakland, CA, Julia (Adam) DiVerdi-Mundy, Fort Collins; granddaughter, Gabriella DiVerdi, Oakland, CA; siblings, David (Stephanie) Hallidy, Irondequoit, Dawn Hallidy-Desse, leHavre, France, Todd W. Hallidy, West Henrietta; nieces & nephews, Sandra Werner, Pittsford, Melinda Desse, St. Ettienne, France, Lindsay Hallidy-Spike, Leicester, David W. Hallidy, Brewerton, Frederic Desse, New York City.
Leslie attended Pittsford Schools and was the Harvest Queen in her junior year. She graduated with high honors from Pittsford Sutherland in 1970, and then proceeded to Bryn Mawr, PA, where she graduated Cum Laude in 1974. She went on for graduate study at the University of Pennsylvania where she attained a PhD in physical chemistry in 1981. Her dissertation is entitled Picosecond Studies of Solvent-Solute Interactions.
Leslie married Joseph DiVerdi and proceeded to Colorado State University, where she was a beloved professor of physical chemistry until she took early retirement and because of her illness, when she moved to Webster to be with her mother.
She was well loved by everyone who knew or met her and she will be sorely missed by her family, friends and acquaintances. Her family is grateful for the excellent care in the memory care unit at the Friendly Home. Memorial donations may be made to The Friendly Home, Memory Care Unit at 3156 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14618.
A chemistry scholarship has been established at Colorado State University in her name for graduate chemistry students. Donations in her memory may be made at plannedgiving.colostate.edu.
A celebration of her life will be held April 9, in Webster, at a time and place to be announced. The Department of Chemistry will hold a memorial service for colleagues lost this winter, including Leslie, on April 6.
