Frank H. Westheimer’s major contributions to biochemistry includes framing the understanding of how the body processes alcohol, which led to a much closer look at enzymes reaction, and explaining how organic molecules are assembled from atoms.rnrnWestheimer is a leading figure in the field of organic chemistry, but was also proficient in mathematics, physical-organic chemistry, and during World War II he worked as a supervisor at the National Explosives Research Laboratory.rnrn“Whether I would have made a larger contribution to chemistry if I had done fewer things and exploited them better, well, no one will ever know,” he said in 1988, receiving the Priestly Medal from the American Chemical Society.rnrnWestheimer was known as a personality to his students. He taught at the University of Chicago and Harvard.rnrn“Why spend a day in the library when you can learn the same thing by working in the laboratory for a month?” he would tell research assistants. rnrnBy Christine Ayala