Elwyn L. Simons, known to many as the "father of modern primate palaeontology" for his discoveries in Egypt's Fayum region,  has passed away.    His discovery of 33 million year old Aegyptopithcecus in the 1960's  was heralded as the earliest known common ancestor of apes, monkeys, and humans.  Dr. Simons was also committed to   the preservation of living primates and he  helped  establish Parc Ivoloina, in Madagascar for the preservation of lemurs and other native species. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/science/elwyn-l-simons-primate-specialist-who-discovered-early-human-forebears-dies-at-85.html?_r=0