Larry Kevan

LARRY KEVAN, PH.D., 63, passed away unexpectedly at home June 4, 2002. Dr. Kevan was born December 12, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston. Recognized internationally in the field of Physical and Materials Chemistry, his research areas included ESR and catalysis. Dr. Kevan presented over 800 invited and contributed scientific lectures at conferences, universities, government laboratories and private industries, more than 50 of those in the last 3 years. He has been published in 770 research publications including 5 books, 60 of those in the last 3 years. Visiting Professorships have been at the University of Utah; Nagoya University in Japan; University of Paris; Technical University of Munich; Hokkaido University, Japan; and University of Florence, Italy. He was on the editorial boards of several journals including Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Reviews. He received numerous scientific awards including the Sigma Xi Research Award from the Univ. of Houston, Marie Curie Medal and the Silver Medal of the International EPR Society. Larry and his beloved wife Dr. Alice Gates had returned the previous day from an extended trip in Africa - one of many adventurous travels they enjoyed in recent years. This and their common love of sailing their yacht "Electron" were two of many things they shared. An avid sailboat racer, Dr. Kevan was a proud member of the Level 70 racing class and GBCA (Galveston Bay Cruising Association). He was a supporter of the arts, a patron of the Houston Ballet, and active member of the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food. A 1960 graduate of the University of Kansas, he earned his Ph.D. at the University of California at Los Angeles and did Postdoctoral work at the University of Newcastle in England. Dr. Kevan taught at the University of Chicago, University of Kansas and Wayne State University prior to joining the UofH Chemistry Department in 1980. In addition to Alice, he is survived by his mother Myrtle Kevan, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, sister Barbara Elliott, of Overland Park, Kansas, and his son Scott Kevan, of Los Angeles, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be sent to the American Heart Association and the Houston Ballet. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 7 in the chapel of The Settegast-Kopf Co., 3320 Kirby Drive. The family will receive friends at home following the service.