Reva Servoss Obituary

Reva Servoss 1927 ~ 2007 Reva Rebecca Gricener Servoss, age 79, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, passed away as a result of an accident on March 26, 2007. Reva was born November 25, 1927 in Kaunas, Lithuania to Sonia Sonkine Gricener and Leon Gricener. Raised in Liege, Belgium she survived World War II in hiding. After the war, she earned a candidate in science from the University of Liege (Belgium) in 1948. She then emigrated to Albany, New York and began studies in chemistry and nuclear science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. She received her Master of Science in Chemistry in 1951, and in 1954, became the first woman to receive a Ph.D. degree from RPI. During her countless hours in the chemistry lab at RPI she was often puzzled by unexpected results which were later explained by the antics of William Carr Servoss, a fellow chemistry graduate student who enjoyed practical jokes. They were married June 12, 1952. After the birth of their three children, Reva began her teaching career in 1963 as a professor of chemistry at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a female professor in a man's world and blazed her own trail. She was one of the pioneers in nuclear science research in the1950's, she became active in environmental science issues early in the 1980's, and always focused on mentoring women and immigrants in the sciences. Reva taught chemistry at Rockhurst for 33 years, 15 of which she was department chair. In 1987 she was honored with the H. Keis Award for distinguished service and outstanding contributions to Rockhurst University. After her retirement in 1996 she endowed a scholarship dedicated to young women pursuing studies in chemistry. Reva and Bill moved to Salt Lake City in 1998 and she continued her involvement with the League of Women Voters, environmental issues, and teaching and mentoring in science and mathematics. Reva enjoyed traveling, gardening, genealogy, and spending time with her children. She is survived by Bill, her husband of 55 years, three daughters, Sonia (Jeff) Woodbury of Salt Lake City; Linda (Hal) Keithley of Dallas; and Deanna (Ken) Austin of Los Angeles; 10 grandchildren Taylor, Arthur, McKinnon, Barbara, Amanda, Tanya, Julia, Russell, Isabella, and Sophia, and one great-grandchild, Ethan. A family service was held on March 31. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to City Academy (SLC) or Rockhurst University Servoss Endowed Scholarship (Kansas City) to help us continue Reva's legacy of promoting women in science. On-line condolences at www.larkinmortuary.com

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Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Apr. 1, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Reva Servoss

5 Entries

Bill Gillingham

April 3, 2007

I was saddened to learn of Reva's passing. She and I were hired on the same day in late November 1998 as teachers at the Turnabout Adolescent Treatment Center. We had a wonderful working relationship for six years, and I feel sure Reva would still be with the school had we not moved so far away to South Jordan. Reva was a real inspiration to the administrators and faculty as well as to the students. She maintained a brilliant mind at her age, and rightly felt no need to retire when she still had so much to contribute. I will always keep the fossil she gave me! Reva will be missed by many people at Turnabout.

Stephen Alvey

April 2, 2007

I was fortunate to have Dr. Servoss as my Environmental Science professor at Rockhurst. I admired her stories of perseverance through the holocaust, and of course, her lectures and lab projects. This is a great loss yet those of us who studied under her thank her for the enlightenment.

Brock & Margie Rosenblatt

April 1, 2007

Bill and Family,

We are so sad to know of Reva's passing. You are both wonderful neighbors and we've enjoyed getting to know you. We are right next door, if you should need anything at all.

Jason Groenewold

April 1, 2007

So sorry to hear of your loss. Reva was a wonderful woman.

I came to know Reva and Bill through their volunteer work with HEAL Utah. She was extremely patient and thorough in explaining the complexitites of nuclear science to me, and she helped ensure that the information we put together was always accurate.

Reva was always generous with her time, and I will sincerely miss her contribution to our community. Her knowledge and expertiese cannot be easily replaced, and nor will it. She was a wonderful asset to our community, and we will miss her presence. I do take heart, however, in the fact that her contribution made a lasting difference in protecting the health and safety of Utahns and our environment.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Bill, and your family.

Kelley Korb (O'Reilly)

April 1, 2007

So sorry to hear of your loss. I will always think of the house on pawnee as the Servoss', and of the classes in the basement. Funny how as a child we have no idea about someones parents, I had no idea about your mothers accomplishments! losing a parent is a difficult time, and I will keep you all in my thoughts.

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