Leroy Jack Syrop of Zephyrhills, Florida, 84, died peacefully on May 11, 2020 at his lovely residence in Zephyrhills, Florida. He entered a world of divine perfection where nature is revered and respected, peace and harmony rule and man is free.

He was born on July 25, 1935 to Abraham Syrop and Rose Syrop in New York City, New York. He married Yupin Ngarmwaen on October 4, 1983 in Chiang Mai, Thailand and renewed their marriage on August 9, 1985 in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. She was at his bedside comforting him when he passed. They were married for over 37 years at the time of his passing.

He attended Venice High School, California; Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica, California -Chemistry, 1953-1955; University of California, Los Angeles, California -Chemistry, 1956; University of California, Berkeley, California -Chemistry & Criminalistics, 1957, and graduated with Bachelor of Science from University of the State of New York, Albany, New York, 1986.

He published PUBLICATIONS, PATENTS, and BOOKS:

Two U. S. Patents (#3,699,176 and #3,832,142) for invention of a high-capacity extraction, purification and recrystallization apparatus and process for production of high purity, high density, thermally stable high explosives. Co-author of "High Energy Hydride Solid Propellants" (Confidential, unclassified title) presented to the 16th Meeting of the JANAF Solid Propellant Group at Dallas, Texas. U. S. Composition of Matter Patent pending for invention of very high energy castable fluorocarbon-binder solid propellants. Meaningful to me, by Leroy Jack Syrop, a book, a collection of wisdoms quotes that are meaningful to him. He started this collection of "Flashes of Insight, Chips of Irony, Glints of Wisdom" in the late 1950s, and published the 1st edition in 1981, the 4th edition in 2008, and the 5 th edition in 2012. He was happy to scatter this collected wisdom by giving gift copies of the book to many people of influence.

He founded and chaired Skybird Properties, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii from May 1992 until his passing. He was Property Manager at Monroe & Friedlander Management, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii from September 1990-May 1992.

He held Various University Teaching Positions in Thailand and Hawaii 1985-1990:

University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii English Lecturer, 1988-1990;

Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand English Instructor, 1985;

Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy, Sam Phran, Thailand Instructor, 1985-1987;

Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand Deans Assistant, Technical Editor and English Instructor, 1985-1987.

He co-owned and operated Pacific Tour and Taxi and Free Spirit Island Tours, Maui, Hawaii 1973-1982 where he conceived, established, and operated a personalized, family-oriented, island-wide tour service on the exotic Hawaiian Island of Maui. Offered the only private party around-the-island tours. Managed a fleet of 15 vehicles and 40 drivers. Free Spirit Island Tours was the first company utilizing passenger vans and wireless telephones in the tour business on Maui.

He was the President and Managing Director of Polynitro Inc., Novato, Calif. 1971-1973 where he had total responsibility for all operations of a small corporation specializing in custom synthesis of heat resistant and other exotic explosives, marketing and distribution of commercial explosives and pyrotechnic compositions and consulting in ordnance and chemical propulsion system programs.

He was the Manager at Explosive Technology Inc., Fairfield, Calif., Chemistry Division 1971 where he was responsible for all chemical production operations and a staff of 40. Duties included facility and equipment design, establishment of all chemical product specifications, and processing and manufacturing procedures, division budgeting, cost control and supervision of chemical production and marketing operations.

He was the Manager at Del Mar Engineering Laboratories, Los Angeles, Calif., Ordnance Division 1968-1971 where he had total responsibility for a staff of eight for conception, staffing, marketing and operation of a division with $400,000 annual sales, producing advanced exotic explosives and manufacturing sophisticated fuze components. This laboratory, in two years of operation, became the country's major supplier of the thermo-stable explosive HNS, producing the highest density recrystallized material available. Mr. Syrop was granted two U.S. Patents for his work. Synthesized exotic explosives on both a laboratory and pilot plant scale.

He was the Program Manager at Bermite Powder Co., Saugus, Calif. 1961-1968 where he had complete technical and financial responsibility for a staff of 15 in a program to redesign, improve and manufacture prototype versions of the SIDEWINDER/SHRIKE gas generator accessory power system. Involved in original conception, contract negotiation, and advance planning using PERT techniques, research, development, documentation, and prototype production of an improved system. This new system represented the then state of the art in gas generator and gas generator igniter design. Additional programs included overall responsibility for design and manufacture of various types of personnel signal devices, improved rocket motor igniters and several gas generator systems for specialized functions such as hydraulic and electric power units, bladder and tank pressurization, guidance and control systems, bomb fuzes and metal deformation.

He was a Research Engineer at Rocketdyne Corp., Canoga Park, Calif. 1960-1961 Development of high energy and high density solid propellants. His duties involved theoretical calculations of proposed systems incorporating extremely reactive oxidizers and high density metal fuels, design of small test motors including micro-motors and micro test stands.

He was a Research Propulsion Engineer at Hughes Tool Co., Culver City, Calif. 1959-1960 where he was responsible for research and development on an Air Force sponsored program to design a castable, case-bondable propellant system which incorporated light-metal hydrides into fluorocarbon binders. Conceived, designed and supervised a staff of seven who constructed a remote processing facility for solid propellant motor manufacture covering the entire operation of mixing, casting, curing, machining, assembly and firing. Papers on this work were invited by and presented to the 15thand 16th Meetings of the JANAF Solid Propellant Group.

He was a Research Chemist at Sunstrand-Turbo Corp, Pacoima, Calif. 1958-1959 where he was a member of a team involved in selection, testing and evaluation of candidate liquid fuels and monopropellants for the ATLAS Missile Accessory Power System. A successful research program with anti-coking additives resulted in the improvement of the burning characteristics of ethylene oxide monopropellant and analytical test methods for these fuels were significantly refined.

He was a Research Chemist at Aerojet-General Corp, Azusa, Calif. 1958 where he performed synthesis of candidate ingredients for the POLARIS Missile propellant. Designed and developed high explosive flexible shaped charges for underwater demolition. Developed and synthesized a series of homo, graft and block polymers using halogenated aromatic esters, finally resulting in a high tensile strength thermoplastic polyester fiber which was accepted by General Tire and Rubber Company for future commercial exploitation.

In California he served as a planning commissioner in the City of Novato and a juvenile justice commissioner for Marin County.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from February 13, 1953 to February 12, 1961 as a Corporal with honorable discharge.

He is survived by his spouse Yupin, Zephyrhills, Florida; three sons and their spouses, Timothy Andrew Syrop, Kapolei, Hawaii, George (Syrop) Oldham and Debbie Oldham, Burlingame, California, and Nicholas Toon Syrop and Napapach (Kay) Syrop, Zephyrhills, Florida; one brother, Glenn Syrop, Seal Beach, California; Five Grandchildren; and one Great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first granddaughter, Lisa Marie Syrop and his youngest brother, Jay.

Leroy was born a good son, a dreamer, a thinker, a world traveler, an explorer, a great husband, a loving father, a caring grandfather, a hero, a good teacher, a very smart and intelligent man, and a scientist (chemist). He enjoyed collecting words of wisdom that became the treasures of his life, the seeds of thought. He longed to scatter these seeds to germinate, and to grow their fruit. In his remembrance, to honor his wish, and to carry on his legacy, his book of wisdom collection "Meaningful to Me" will be given as a gift to anyone who seeks Flashes of Insight, Chips of Irony, and Glints of Wisdom and to anyone who contacts his wife for it.

The cremation of remains with the least possible ceremony is under the charge of Hodges Family Funeral Home, 36327 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Florida.