Leon Mestel

United Kingdom

1927-2017

Obituary:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/sep/20/leon-mestel-obituary

Personal Note from Teresa Lago:

He could look quite frightening to a 1st year PhD student but his smile would soon replace the first
impression. Leon was a very kind person, a very bright mind, a remarkable theorist who even so
had accepted to co-supervise my mixed observational/theoretical project for a PhD: “magnetically
driven winds of young stars” more than 40 years ago.

I will also not forget his willingness in helping to accommodate my somehow complex personal
challenge of pursuing a PhD abroad while raising a very young child.
I am grateful for what I have learned with him, I will miss him.

Past affiliation(s) within the IAU

Past President of Commission 35 Stellar Constitution (1973-1976)
Past Vice-President of Commission 35 Stellar Constitution (1970-1973)
Past Member of Division D High Energy Phenomena and Fundamental Physics (until 2017)
Past Member of Division E Sun and Heliosphere (until 2017)
Past Member of Division G Stars and Stellar Physics (until 2017)
Past Member of Commission 35 Stellar Constitution (until 2015)
Past Member of Commission 44 Space & High Energy Astrophysics (until 2015)
Past Member of Commission 49 Interplanetary Plasma & Heliosphere (until 2015)
Past Member of Division II Sun & Heliosphere (until 2012)
Past Member of Division IV Stars (until 2012)
Past Member of Division XI Space & High Energy Astrophysics (until 2012)