Morris Henry ROBERTS Jr.

ROBERTS, Morris Henry Jr., 69, died November 11, 2009. Morris was born January 15, 1940 to Morris H. and Catherine P. Roberts and was raised in Westchester County, New York. He received his BA from Kenyon College and Master's and Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the College of William and Mary (VIMS). After receiving his Ph.D., he taught at Providence College in Rhode Island, then was a researcher for a private company in Boca Raton, Fla. In 1973, he returned to work at VIMS in Gloucester, Va. as a professor and researcher concentrating in toxicology. Morris became the Department Head of Environmental Sciences and served on many committees. He was also involved in the efforts to clean up the Elizabeth River system and numerous interests including wood working and gardening. He retired from VIMS in 2002, and joined his wife, Beverly, in running two pet stores and just recently closed the second store in September of 2009. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Beverly; daughter and son- in-law, Jean and Russell Shock; grandsons, Robert and Eric; sister, Anne Creveling; and her three children. A memorial service officiated by Reverend Jim Larsen will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point. In memory of Morris H. Roberts Jr., the family requests contributions be given to Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 1417, Gloucester, Va. 23061, or the Elizabeth River Project, Admirals Landing, 475 Water Street, Suite 103 A, Portsmouth, Va. 23704.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.