YARMOUTHPORT - Francis Newton LeBaron, 87, father of Geoffrey S. LeBaron of Williamsburg, died on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at Cape Cod Hospital.

From Framingham, after graduating from M.I.T., he entered the U.S. Navy and served in the North Pacific on the USS Watts during World War II.

Upon leaving the Navy, he obtained a master's degree from Boston University and Ph. D. in biochemistry from Harvard University. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in England and 10 years of research in neurochemistry of the brain at McLean Hospital in Belmont, he moved to Albuquerque, N.M., to set up the University of New Mexico Medical School. He eventually served as chairman of the biochemistry department while continuing his research on the aging of the brain.

He helped establish the American Society for Neurochemistry, published many research papers and served on editorial boards of several scientific journals. Following retirement from U.N.M., he lived in Blue Hill, Maine, for one year where he became a certified yacht surveyor.

A dedicated conservationist and avid mountaineer, Fran and his loving wife, Margaret, who predeceased him in May of this year, were residents of Cape Cod for the past 25 years. They were deeply involved as volunteers at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Massachusetts Audubon sanctuaries on the Cape, including setting up two of the world's first nature trails specifically designed to introduce lichens to the general public. An avid bird watcher, he also volunteered as a warden protecting endangered species on coastal beaches.

He is survived by his son, Geoffrey, and daughter-in-law, Heidi L. Johnson, of Williamsburg; brother Kenneth of Sudbury; and many loving extended family members.

To celebrate Fran's life there will be an informal gathering at Heatherwood in Yarmouthport at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the McCarthy Care Center , 73 Service Road, Sandwich, MA 02563, or to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. To post an online condolence or for more information, visit www.morrisoconnor.com.