Leo M. Kaiser Sr., 82, a Loyola University Chicago classicist who translated into English works by Tibullus, and Plautus, died Saturday, Feb. 17, in Resurrection Medical Center of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. A professor of classical studies at Loyola from 1954 until 1986, he translated and published more than 300 Latin and Greek transcripts while garnering a reputation among Loyola students for a Latin course that was rigorous in its attention to detail. “He was a brilliant Latinist and expert grammarian,” said James Keenan, professor of classical studies at Loyola. He was passionate about researching texts for translation. “He was just very focused on his work,” his son Jeff said. “When he worked, you could have a band go through in back of him and he’d work through it.” A native of St. Louis, Mr. Kaiser followed his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University with a master’s and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the late-1940s. He married the former Aurelia Mueth in 1945 and taught at the U. of I. and at a private college in Philadelphia before coming to Loyola. He spent his years as a professor emeritus translating texts at his home in St. Louis. He moved back to Chicago in 1996. In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Kaiser is survived by three other sons, Gerold M., Leo M. Jr. and James H.; two daughters, Joan H. Tomiuk and Andrea M. Kaiser; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the M.J. Suerth Funeral Home, 6754 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Thecla Catholic Church, 6725 W. Devon Ave., Chicago.
