NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Former New York medical examiner Dr. Leslie Lukash, known for identifying the remains of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, has died at the age of 86.
Newsday reported Tuesday that Lukash, who served as Nassau County's chief medical examiner for 46 years, died from lymphoma at the North Shore University Hospital last week.
Lukash was among a group of medical examiners who traveled to Brazil in 1985 to determine whether a set of human remains were those of Mengele.
Those who worked with Lukash prior to his death last Thursday recalled a man who had respect for everyone, both alive and dead.
"I remember coming out there once and... one of the workers bringing the body out was chewing gum and talking about a ballgame and Dr. Lukash turned around and ordered him to stop chewing gum, and talking about irrelevant things and show respect to the dead woman," former New York chief medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden said.
The Long Island newspaper said Lukash is survived by his wife, Gladys; a son, Frederick; two daughters, Dianne Ray and Barbara Lukash; and five grandchildren.
