Arlene Louise Wyckoff Hartry passed away on June 5, 2010, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, intellect, and deep compassion. She is survived by her devoted husband, Donald Hartry, daughters Ann Hartry (husband Mike Dunn) and Ardice Hartry (husband Paul Covey), and her beloved grandchildren Keegan Covey, Kyla Covey, Alexandra Speiser, and Daniel Speiser.
Born to a loving family, she endured profound loss at a young age when her father was killed by a drunk driver. As an only child, she worked tirelessly to contribute to family support while also pursuing her passion for education. Her dedication earned her a full fellowship for graduate school, where she excelled in scientific research. She published her first peer-reviewed journal article on ulcers in rats in 1962 and, just two years later, her groundbreaking work on cannibalism in worms appeared in Science.
Although she thrived in academia, her heart led her to a career helping teenagers facing immense challenges—some with incarcerated parents, others who had witnessed unspeakable trauma. To many of these young people, she became a guiding light and a surrogate mother. When the emotional toll of this work became overwhelming, she and her husband embraced retirement, spending the next two decades traveling the world.
Their adventurous spirit was evident from the very start, when they had planned to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara but kept going north, through the Yukon, on a road that barely existed, until they reached Alaska. Throughout married life, graduated school, family, and career, she continued to seek out adventure. She climbed Mount Whitney, visited all seven continents and over 100 countries, and kayaked and fished in lakes around the world. She inspired those around her with a profound respect for the world, for diverse cultures, and for approaching life with both strategy and humor. Even after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, she remained optimistic, continuing to travel and embrace life to the fullest.
Her intelligence, kindness, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Born to a loving family, she endured profound loss at a young age when her father was killed by a drunk driver. As an only child, she worked tirelessly to contribute to family support while also pursuing her passion for education. Her dedication earned her a full fellowship for graduate school, where she excelled in scientific research. She published her first peer-reviewed journal article on ulcers in rats in 1962 and, just two years later, her groundbreaking work on cannibalism in worms appeared in Science.
Although she thrived in academia, her heart led her to a career helping teenagers facing immense challenges—some with incarcerated parents, others who had witnessed unspeakable trauma. To many of these young people, she became a guiding light and a surrogate mother. When the emotional toll of this work became overwhelming, she and her husband embraced retirement, spending the next two decades traveling the world.
Their adventurous spirit was evident from the very start, when they had planned to drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara but kept going north, through the Yukon, on a road that barely existed, until they reached Alaska. Throughout married life, graduated school, family, and career, she continued to seek out adventure. She climbed Mount Whitney, visited all seven continents and over 100 countries, and kayaked and fished in lakes around the world. She inspired those around her with a profound respect for the world, for diverse cultures, and for approaching life with both strategy and humor. Even after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, she remained optimistic, continuing to travel and embrace life to the fullest.
Her intelligence, kindness, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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