Editing Richard Leakey (section)

==Personal life and death==
Leakey spoke fluent Kiswahili and moved effortlessly between white and black communities. While he rarely talked about race in public, racism and gender inequality infuriated him.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kahumbu|first=Paula|date=2022-02-18|title=Richard Leakey (1944—2022)|journal=Science|language=en|volume=375|issue=6582|pages=723|doi=10.1126/science.abo2200 |pmid=35175803 |bibcode=2022Sci...375..723K |s2cid=246942413 |issn=0036-8075|doi-access=free}}</ref> Leakey stated that he was an [[atheist]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Leakey |first=Richard E. |title=One Life: Richard E. Leakey: An Autobiography |date=1984 |publisher=Salem House Pub |isbn=978-0881620559 |page=38}}</ref> and a [[humanism|humanist]].<ref name="humanistinterview" /> 

Leakey came from a family of renowned archeologists. His mother, Mary Leakey, discovered evidence in 1978 that man walked upright much earlier than had been thought. She and her husband, Louis Leakey, unearthed skulls of ape-like early humans, shedding fresh light on our ancestors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siad |first=Arnaud |date=2022-01-02 |title=World-renowned Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey dies at 77 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/02/world/richard-leakey-death/index.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

Leakey was diagnosed with a terminal [[kidney]] disease in 1969. Ten years later he became seriously ill but received a [[kidney transplant]] from his brother, Philip, and recovered to full health.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Neuman |first1=Scott |date=3 January 2022 |title=Famed fossil hunter and conservationist Richard Leakey dies at 77 |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/03/1069888035/famed-fossil-hunter-and-conservationist-richard-leakey-dies-at-77 |access-date=4 January 2022 |website=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

He died at his home outside Nairobi, on 2 January 2022,<ref>Morell, Virginia, ''[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/richard-leakeys-legacy-in-science-conservation-and-politics/ Richard Leakey's Legacy in Science, Conservation and Politics]'', Scientific American, January 11, 2022</ref> less than a month after his 77th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.president.go.ke/2022/01/02/message-of-condolence-from-h-e-hon-uhuru-kenyatta-following-the-death-of-former-head-of-public-service-dr-richard-leakey/ |title=Message of Condolence from H.E Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta following the death of former Head of Public Service Dr Richard Leakey |first=Uhuru|last=Kenyatta |author-link=Uhuru Kenyatta |date=2 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 January 2022|title=Renowned Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey dies aged 77|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220102-renowned-kenyan-conservationist-richard-leakey-dies-aged-77|access-date=2 January 2022|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/02/fossil-hunter-richard-leakey-who-showed-humans-evolved-in-africa-dies-at-77|title=Fossil hunter Richard Leakey who showed humans evolved in Africa dies at 77|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=2 January 2022}}</ref> In accordance with his wishes, he was buried on a hill along the Rift Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2022-01-03|title=Richard Leakey Laid To Rest On A Hill Along Rift Valley|url=https://citizenwitness.co.ke/index.php/2022/01/03/richard-leakey-laid-to-rest-on-a-hill-along-rift-valley/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=Citizen Witness|language=en}}</ref>

{{Leakey family tree}}