Official Obituary of
Marilyn Sue Kerr
September 13, 1935 ~ October 6, 2016 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Marilyn Kerr Obituary
Marilyn Sue Kerr (Dr. Kerr), 82, died peacefully at the Nottingham Senior Living Center in Syracuse, New York, on October 6, 2016. Born on September 13, 1935 in Sumner, Illinois, Marilyn was the daughter of the late Sue Willie Sumner Kerr and Francis Marion Kerr.
At a very young age the Kerr family moved from Illinois to New Jersey, where Marilyn spent her childhood. She attended Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in English (1957). She received both a Master of Arts (1961) and PhD (1966) in Zoology from Duke University, where she was only the second female to graduate with a PhD from the program. Dr. Kerr went on to complete post-doctoral research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1966-69) in Oakridge, Tennessee and was appointed as an assistant professor at Syracuse University in the Department of Biology, September 1970.
During her studies at Duke, Marilyn took a year off to join her Mom and Dad in Iran. Francis Kerr was stationed there with Texaco for 3 years (1958 - 1961). She spoke very fondly of the year she spent in Iran, traveling throughout the region, the food, and evenings spent dancing with American soldiers. This experience influenced many of her interests for the rest of her life. Marilyn was an avid reader and particularly appreciated historical and mystery novels, she was a connoisseur of good food and restaurants - driving several hours to a good restaurant was viewed as supporting the Upstate economy. She loved to travel and after retiring some of her travels included Alaska, a tour of the National Parks in the West, and home to Illinois to visit cousins and distant relatives.
Marilyn retired from the Department of Biology at Syracuse University in 2012 after 41 years of service. During that time, she served as an Associate Professor of Biology, as Director of the Health Professions Advisory Program (HPAP), and as chairperson of the Health Professions Advisory Committee for all SU and Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) students. Dr. Kerr's teaching contributions included laboratory-associated courses in Embryology, Comparative Vertebrate Biology, and Functional Anatomy. She also taught a one-credit anatomy course, Anatomical Development, Growth, and Maintenance and a course titled Everyday Implications of Biological Research. In addition, Dr. Kerr served as a summer faculty advisor for incoming students. Every fall semester she taught CAS 101 First-Year Forum in The College of Arts and Sciences. She also supervised undergraduate honors thesis, graduate dissertations, and internships. She was a beloved mentor and role model to the many graduate teaching assistant's she supervised during her tenure at SU.
Dr. Kerr played an important role at Syracuse University in guiding and counseling pre-professional students. She had a keen ability to ask the right questions and to stimulate students to think about their education and academic interests. She earned a high level of respect from both colleagues and students. She was known for her frankness, honesty, knowledge, thoroughness and professionalism, and was appreciated for her sense of humor and that twinkle in her eyes.
In addition to writing countless of individualized letters for pre-professional applicants to professional school, Dr. Kerr was known for the written materials she published for advising pre-health students: CADUCEUS a monthly newsletter; Words to the Wise, a 4-year guide for incoming first-year students embarking on their journey to pre-professional college; Prescriptions, individual handouts for podiatry, dental, physician assistant, optometry etc. In addition, she assembled packets of Summer Programs and Post-baccalaureate Programs to guide students on ways to experience and discover science. Under her guidance, HPAP developed and maintained one of the first web-sites on the SU campus. The website was accessed by pre-professional advisors and students nationwide and ultimately moved to the Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Dr. Kerr was also an active and involved member in the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP) as well as the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and served as a panelist and organizer for the new advisor's workshop more than a dozen times.
In the spring of 2000, Dr. Kerr was named Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year (a student-nominated award). In the same year, she also received the Faculty and Staff Inspirational Award from the chancellor. In 2001, she earned the Exemplary Service Award as a member of the SU Career Services Network Team. Most recently, Dr. Kerr made a very generous gift to create an endowment to support a graduate student in the Biology Department. Marilyn's colleagues will remember her most for her selfless dedication to SU students and members of the local community. She was an "on-call" consultant for the children of faculty, staff and their friends who did not attend SU but sought to attend medical, dental or veterinary college - she ran an ad-hoc post-baccalaureate advisory service. Many current healthcare professionals, from both SU and beyond, owe their successful transition into post-baccalaureate training to Dr. Marilyn Kerr's advice and guidance.
Marilyn leaves behind many colleagues and friends, her SU Biology family, Mrs. Barbara Carns (her secretary for 30+ years), students and alumni, as well as her cousins Louise Diver, Joan Childress, Gerry Cannon of Lawrenceville, Illinois and special friends, Kathryn and Jay Tunkel.
The Tunkel's would like to thank the staff at the Nottingham Senior Living Center, Hospice of CNY, as well as Sharon Glavin, President of Help & Hugs, and her staff for their outstanding care and dedication to Dr. Kerr.
An on-campus celebration of Dr. Kerr's life will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2016 in Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University. There will be a graveside service on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 2pm CST in the Sumner Cemetery in Sumner, Illinois. There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Marilyn Sue Kerr Graduate Scholars Endowed Fund, Syracuse University, 820 Comstock Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244.
State Route 250
Sumner, IL, 62466
At a very young age the Kerr family moved from Illinois to New Jersey, where Marilyn spent her childhood. She attended Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in English (1957). She received both a Master of Arts (1961) and PhD (1966) in Zoology from Duke University, where she was only the second female to graduate with a PhD from the program. Dr. Kerr went on to complete post-doctoral research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1966-69) in Oakridge, Tennessee and was appointed as an assistant professor at Syracuse University in the Department of Biology, September 1970.
During her studies at Duke, Marilyn took a year off to join her Mom and Dad in Iran. Francis Kerr was stationed there with Texaco for 3 years (1958 - 1961). She spoke very fondly of the year she spent in Iran, traveling throughout the region, the food, and evenings spent dancing with American soldiers. This experience influenced many of her interests for the rest of her life. Marilyn was an avid reader and particularly appreciated historical and mystery novels, she was a connoisseur of good food and restaurants - driving several hours to a good restaurant was viewed as supporting the Upstate economy. She loved to travel and after retiring some of her travels included Alaska, a tour of the National Parks in the West, and home to Illinois to visit cousins and distant relatives.
Marilyn retired from the Department of Biology at Syracuse University in 2012 after 41 years of service. During that time, she served as an Associate Professor of Biology, as Director of the Health Professions Advisory Program (HPAP), and as chairperson of the Health Professions Advisory Committee for all SU and Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) students. Dr. Kerr's teaching contributions included laboratory-associated courses in Embryology, Comparative Vertebrate Biology, and Functional Anatomy. She also taught a one-credit anatomy course, Anatomical Development, Growth, and Maintenance and a course titled Everyday Implications of Biological Research. In addition, Dr. Kerr served as a summer faculty advisor for incoming students. Every fall semester she taught CAS 101 First-Year Forum in The College of Arts and Sciences. She also supervised undergraduate honors thesis, graduate dissertations, and internships. She was a beloved mentor and role model to the many graduate teaching assistant's she supervised during her tenure at SU.
Dr. Kerr played an important role at Syracuse University in guiding and counseling pre-professional students. She had a keen ability to ask the right questions and to stimulate students to think about their education and academic interests. She earned a high level of respect from both colleagues and students. She was known for her frankness, honesty, knowledge, thoroughness and professionalism, and was appreciated for her sense of humor and that twinkle in her eyes.
In addition to writing countless of individualized letters for pre-professional applicants to professional school, Dr. Kerr was known for the written materials she published for advising pre-health students: CADUCEUS a monthly newsletter; Words to the Wise, a 4-year guide for incoming first-year students embarking on their journey to pre-professional college; Prescriptions, individual handouts for podiatry, dental, physician assistant, optometry etc. In addition, she assembled packets of Summer Programs and Post-baccalaureate Programs to guide students on ways to experience and discover science. Under her guidance, HPAP developed and maintained one of the first web-sites on the SU campus. The website was accessed by pre-professional advisors and students nationwide and ultimately moved to the Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Dr. Kerr was also an active and involved member in the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP) as well as the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and served as a panelist and organizer for the new advisor's workshop more than a dozen times.
In the spring of 2000, Dr. Kerr was named Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year (a student-nominated award). In the same year, she also received the Faculty and Staff Inspirational Award from the chancellor. In 2001, she earned the Exemplary Service Award as a member of the SU Career Services Network Team. Most recently, Dr. Kerr made a very generous gift to create an endowment to support a graduate student in the Biology Department. Marilyn's colleagues will remember her most for her selfless dedication to SU students and members of the local community. She was an "on-call" consultant for the children of faculty, staff and their friends who did not attend SU but sought to attend medical, dental or veterinary college - she ran an ad-hoc post-baccalaureate advisory service. Many current healthcare professionals, from both SU and beyond, owe their successful transition into post-baccalaureate training to Dr. Marilyn Kerr's advice and guidance.
Marilyn leaves behind many colleagues and friends, her SU Biology family, Mrs. Barbara Carns (her secretary for 30+ years), students and alumni, as well as her cousins Louise Diver, Joan Childress, Gerry Cannon of Lawrenceville, Illinois and special friends, Kathryn and Jay Tunkel.
The Tunkel's would like to thank the staff at the Nottingham Senior Living Center, Hospice of CNY, as well as Sharon Glavin, President of Help & Hugs, and her staff for their outstanding care and dedication to Dr. Kerr.
An on-campus celebration of Dr. Kerr's life will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2016 in Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University. There will be a graveside service on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 2pm CST in the Sumner Cemetery in Sumner, Illinois. There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Marilyn Sue Kerr Graduate Scholars Endowed Fund, Syracuse University, 820 Comstock Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244.
Graveside Service
OCT 21. 2:00 PM (CDT)
Sumner CemeteryState Route 250
Sumner, IL, 62466
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