WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — The Bowling Green community and beyond are mourning the loss of a well-known and respected city council member and former BGSU professor who died in a car crash on Tuesday night.
The Wood County Sheriff's Office says Neocles Leontis died in the crash on State Route 25 near Nims Road around 6:10 p.m.
Police say Leontis was driving southbound on SR 25 when his vehicle went into the opposite lane and hit a vehicle traveling northbound.
Leontis' vehicle then hit a second northbound vehicle in a front-end collision.
Police say Leontis was pronounced dead at the scene and multiple people were taken to the hospital for medical treatment, including Leontis' wife.
Their conditions are unknown and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Leontis had been a chemistry professor at Bowling Green State University since 1987 and was elected to a seat on city council in 2019.
Leontis was a prominent, active member of the Bowling Green community, advocating for environmental and social justice issues long before joining city council. Tributes began to pour in shortly after his death was known.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, a Bowling Green native, tweeted Wednesday morning, "Marcia and I express our deepest sympathies to Bowling Green Councilman Neocles Leontis’s loved ones as they mourn the Councilman’s untimely passing. We pray for a speedy recovery for his wife and all who were involved in the accident."
Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher, a former councilman himself, also issued a statement:
"I am saddened by the tragic and untimely death of Neocles Leontis – I am saddened for his family, his students and peers at Bowling Green State University, and our community. I wish to extend my most heartfelt condolences to Neocles’ family.
"Neocles was a tireless advocate for issues such as sustainability and science, improved housing conditions and social justice. While on City Council, Neocles proved to be a vocal supporter for these issues, devoting countless hours working to improve our community. He made a significant positive impact on both his students and our community and his loss will surely be felt."
The Bowling Green State University Chemistry and Photochemistry Department tweeted Wednesday morning, "It is with great sadness we have learned of the tragic loss of Prof. Neocles Leontis. We are all in mourning for our colleague, mentor, professor, and friend."
And former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper released a heartfelt thread regarding Leontis, calling him a "big thinker" and a "public servant with heart."
"Neocles Leontis was a councilmember in Bowling Green, and a great public servant. But he never stopped thinking about big ideas for our state and nation as well," Pepper wrote.
State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) said, "My prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues of Bowling Green City Councilman Neocles Leontis who was killed last night in a multi-car accident on State Route 25 in Wood County. According to reports, several others sustained injuries including his wife."
Former Bowling Green councilwoman and current state Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) tweeted Wednesday morning, saying, that though she and Leontis didn't see eye to eye on all issues, she knew Leontis "cared greatly for BG and its people."
And BGSU student Brionna Scebbi, channel director for BG Falcon Media, reflected on the care Leontis had for students in a tweet on Tuesday.
"At the center of BG city councilman Neocles Leontis' platform was a genuine care for students and the people of Bowling Green. Prayers to his family and the city of bg during such a devastating loss."
Leontis touched the lives of many students during his long tenure, including Anton Petrov of the European Bioinformatics Institute, for whom he was a PhD adviser.
"Devastated to hear about the sudden death of Prof Neocles Leontis. As my PhD advisor, he influenced my life in so many ways. I am grateful for the privilege of learning from Prof Leontis, and I am sure that he will continue to inspire everyone who knew him."