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Masako Leon
Nora León
Francisco “Paco” Alexander Leon passed away peacefully at home in Palo Alto, CA on November 29, 2024, from aphasia.
Born on February 26, 1953, in Yonkers, New York, to Eleanor (Smith) and Fernando Leon, Paco was the fourth of six children. The family relocated to Michigan in 1955, where Eleanor had grown up. Fernando, an exile from the Spanish Civil War, met Eleanor at Black Mountain College. Growing up, Paco was immersed in Spanish history, culture, contemporary music, and art, thanks to his parents’ rich cultural heritage.
Paco began high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied piano. After transferring to Cranbrook Academy, he graduated in 1971. His college studies began at Grand Valley State College where he studied jazz piano, expanding his passion for music which continued throughout his whole life. He transferred to the University of Michigan to pursue his other great intellectual passion, physics, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977. He pursued doctoral studies at MIT, completing a Ph.D. in physics in 1984. His degree was entitled 'Molecular Partitioning and Approximate Coupling Techniques in Multiple Scattering Theory.'
In 1984, Paco relocated to Northern California to join Intel, where he specialized in semiconductor device modeling. After over a decade at Intel, he transitioned to various startup companies including PetaLogic, MTA, and Nanosys. He later joined Philips Lumileds to conduct research on LED lighting. Eventually, Paco founded his own consulting firm, psisq (psi-squared software, LLC), where he worked until his retirement.
During his middle school years, Paco became an avid ham radio operator. He built his own radio from a kit (thus began his obsession with circuit boards) and became an amateur operator (call sign WN8UTG). He communicated with people from all over the world from his upstairs “lab” in the farmhouse in Bay City. To optimize reception, he would even climb nearby trees to position his antenna. He attended ham radio gatherings where he was routinely the youngest attendee by several decades.
Throughout his life, Paco was actively involved in the Democratic Party, volunteering for local and national campaigns as well as social and political justice causes. After high school, he volunteered at The Other Room, a crisis center in Bay City.
Throughout his adult life, Paco’s passion for jazz piano continued to thrive. He performed with combos in clubs, starting in Grand Rapids and continuing in the Bay Area, and even toured Vietnam. During a sabbatical from Intel, he made the extraordinary decision to dedicate himself to mastering jazz piano classics. Paco's music had a way of touching people's hearts. His friends and family often recall the joy and inspiration they felt when listening to him play.
While working at Intel, Paco participated in a study and research exchange program in Japan, where he developed a love for the country and its language. He met his future wife, Masako Shibazaki, at a friend’s wedding in California. They married in Tokyo in November 1994 and created a beautiful home in Palo Alto, frequently traveling to Japan and other Asian countries.
Paco is survived by his wife, Masako, and four siblings: Fernando (Mary) (North Carolina); Roderic (Michigan); Eleanor (Connecticut); and Stacy (Michigan) as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, all who loved him dearly. He was predeceased by his parents and his oldest brother, Hubert “Garby”.
Paco was a beloved husband, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He was incredibly gifted, both intellectually and musically. Yet, despite his brilliance, he was always generous and kind. His humor had a way of making everyone feel welcome and included. Even when discussing complex ideas and projects, he never made anyone feel inferior. Paco possessed a remarkable ability to cut to the heart of a matter, offering clear and insightful perspectives, even during heated debates. As one friend said, “Paco is the sweetest person I’ve ever known.”
