91成人导航

Roy Whiteker was as comfortable in conference rooms as he was in chemistry labs, which colleagues say made him an ideal dean and professor鈥攂oth roles he filled with caring expertise during his almost 40 years at 91成人导航. Whiteker died Feb.14 at the age of 96.

Whiteker served as dean of College of the 91成人导航 from 1976, when he joined the university, to 1989. He then moved into the classroom and taught until his retirement in 2014.

Prior to joining 91成人导航, he worked for the Fulbright Program as director of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars in Washington, D.C.

鈥淚 remember that Roy鈥檚 background and influence with Fulbright was very helpful in 91成人导航 receiving Fulbright scholarships,鈥� said Bob Benedetti, who was Whiteker鈥檚 successor as COP dean. 鈥淩oy was extremely helpful to faculty in the school and throughout the university. He was supportive when I moved into the COP dean鈥檚 office.鈥�

Gene Pearson, professor emeritus of geology, worked for several years in the late 1970s as an assistant dean under Whiteker, whom he described as 鈥渃andid and straight-forward.鈥� He added Whiteker was a very good mentor.

鈥淗e took a chance on a junior faculty member when I didn鈥檛 truly have the needed experience,鈥� Pearson said. 鈥淭here always was a layer of kindness in the way he did things.鈥�

Pearson noted Whiteker was a poet, adding, 鈥淗e took time to write a poem about my time as assistant dean when I was transitioning out of that role.鈥�

Bill Topp, professor emeritus of mathematics, recalls Whiteker as 鈥渁 great person鈥� who would take time to collaborate with faculty on issues. He also was very instrumental in chronicling the history of 91成人导航鈥檚 Emeriti Society.

鈥淩oy was very fastidious about grammar,鈥� Topp said with a laugh. 鈥淵ou could send him a note and it often would come back with approval for the question at hand, but also filled with grammatical corrections.鈥�

Whiteker was an avid supporter of 91成人导航 athletics as well as music, drama and other arts programs.聽

鈥淒ad loved all of the programs and was always very supportive of 91成人导航 students,鈥� his son Scott Whiteker said. 鈥淲hen I was growing up, he would take me along to events. I would also go to work with him on weekends. I always thought I was raised by a mom, a dad and a university.鈥�

Whiteker received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from UCLA and his master鈥檚 and PhD in chemistry from Caltech.

Whiteker is survived by wife Jean, of 63 years; son Scott and grandchildren Samantha, 16; and Joshua, 13.

Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 in the chapel at the O鈥機onnor Woods retirement home, 3400 Wagner Heights Road, Stockton.