Dr. Irene Rita Slagle, PhD. passed away December 1, 2025, at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Irene was born on October 31, 1944, in Bridgeport, CT, the daughter of the late William and Catherine (Coyle) Slagle. She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Kranyik, her nephew Matthew Kranyik, and her niece Melissa (James) Stewart, as well as her great nephews Andrew and Colin Stewart. Irene graduated as the salutatorian of Notre Dame High School's class of 1962. She received a B.A. degree in chemistry from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, MD then earned her PhD from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was a retired professor of chemistry at the Catholic University of America and was recognized as the co-founder of the photoionization mass spectrometer used to investigate the kinetics and mechanism of extremely fast reactions. She authored numerous technical publications and was reviewed in many professional journals. Irene was a current resident at Split Rock Assisted Living in Shelton and was a former resident of Fairfield, CT, and Silver Spring, MD.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. at Lesko Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, Fairfield Center. Services will continue at Holy Cross Church in Fairfield. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield.

For travel directions, or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.LeskoFuneralHome.com.