Leon was born in South Africa in 1937 to Irene Finestone and Max Chaitow. At 18 he sailed to England to study osteopathy, inspired by his uncle, Boris Chaitow and his cousin Stanley Lief, each of whom contributed significantly to the profession during their lifetimes. He worked with them both in Marylebone, London after graduating from the British College of Osteopathy (founded by Stanley Lief) in 1960. 

After several years in private practice, Leon met Alkmini  (née Metallinou) while holidaying in Corfu, where she was born in 1942. They both spoke of love at first sight, and they married in 1972. At first they settled in Worthing, on the southern coast of England, where Leon ran his practice. Sasha was born a few years later.
Leon became seriously ill in the early 1980s, so much so that they both feared for his life. They withdrew to Corfu for him to convalesce - or die - and for Alkmini as a young mother to have her family’s support. His recovery was long and arduous, and he began writing in earnest during this time as he was too unwell to work full time. His articles and books began attracting notice, and as he recovered, his work drew interest from many international quarters. 

From the late 1980s onwards Leon received many invitations to teach at American and British colleges and schools of manual therapy. In 1990 the family returned to England for him to resume full time work, and in 1996 he became the first osteopath appointed to an NHS practice (Marylebone Health Centre), and was also appointed Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster. Also in 1996, Leon became founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, which he headed until his final year of life. 

Throughout the 1990s he continued to teach internationally, his textbooks becoming valuable and popular manuals for therapists. After retiring in 2005, the University awarded him an Honorary Fellowship for his services to osteopathy. Despite his retirement from formal employment, Leon continued to write, teach, and edit his beloved journal until just days before he died. 

During his active years Leon maintained a private practice, taught internationally all over the world, wrote over 80 books, and was a loving and involved husband and father. He adored the family dachshund Dumbo, one of many dachsies he had over the years. He had a wry sense of humour, a twinkle in his eye, was intensely kind and painfully shy despite his confident exterior, and he liked nothing better than reading his paper or watching cricket under the arches in Corfu’s classical Esplanade Square. 

He passed away aged 80 in 2018 after a few months of critical illness, leaving Alkmini bereft and Sasha determined to preserve his legacy.