Robert Walter Parry 10/1/1917 ~ 12/1/2006 Robert W. Parry, 89, passed away December 1, 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born October 1, 1917 in Ogden, Utah to Jeanette (Petterson) and Walter Parry. He graduated from Utah State Agricultural College in 1940 receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He received a masters degree from Cornell University in 1942, and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1946. He married Marjorie Joyce Nelson July 6, 1945. They had two children, Robert Bryce Parry and Mark Nelson Parry. Robert Parry was a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan from 1946-1969. In 1969, he came to the University of Utah as a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, where he served in this capacity until 1997.

From 1997 until his death, he was Professor Emeritus at the University of Utah. He was an extraordinary teacher, teaching chemistry to thousands of undergraduate students. In 1970 he co-authored a high school chemistry text, Chemistry Experimental Foundations, which was widely used throughout the United States. In 1972 he received the Manufacturing Chemists Award for College Teaching. He was also an excellent research scientist, directing research groups at both Michigan and Utah. His graduate students serve on chemistry faculties at universities throughout the country. In 1980, he received a Senior United States Scientist Alexander Von Humbolt-Stiftung Award, taking him to West Germany for a year. In 1980, he received the first Governor’s Medal of Science from the State of Utah. His unique gift, however, was his ability to interact with people. He was a husband, father, teacher, consultant, and colleague. Robert Parry was extremely active in the American Chemical Society. He served as its president-elect in 1981 and president in 1982. He was a member of the Counsel of the American Chemical Society for more than 45 years. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Chemical Society from 1973-1983. From 1969-1980, he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. He was the founding editor of Inorganic Chemistry from 1960-1963. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gordon Research Conferences from 1967-1968. In 1993, Robert Parry received the Priestly Medal, the highest honor given by the American Chemical Society, for lifetime achievement in chemistry. He received the Distinguished Service to Inorganic Chemistry Award in 1965, the Distinguished Service to Chemical Education Award in 1977, and the Utah Award for Service to Chemical Education in 1978. He received Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from Utah State University (1985) and the University of Utah (1997). He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marj; two sons, Bryce and Mark; and his grandchildren, Russell, Marelle, Lauren, Kristie, and Robert. He is predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Dean and Edward; and sister, Jeanette. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. at the Evans & Early Mortuary, 574 East, 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, December 9, 2006. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the University of Utah Women’s Club Scholarship Fund would be appreciated.

Published in Salt Lake Tribune from Dec. 3 to Dec. 8, 2006

Excerpt of Robert W. Parry obituary in S.L. Tribune 12/3/2006
(See also “IN MEMORIAM” at back of Spring 2007 Newsletter, pp. 18,19)

The Science History Institute recently (2024) published a biography on Robert W. Parry, written by Judith Kaplan and Dennis Sauer.