Kay Perryman-Snow

1940 - 2025

Kay Perryman-Snow

April 11, 1940 - February 10, 2025

San Luis Obispo, California - Kay Perryman-Snow (AKA Elizabeth K. Perryman), born April 11, 1940, was the only child of Hugh & Sarah Perryman. As a teen, Kay played clarinet in the school band & on youth basketball teams in Memphis, TN. After graduating from Central High School, she earned her B. S. in Biology at the now University of Memphis (1964) and Ph. D. from University of Arizona (1972) where she first developed interests in Native American culture, particularly early artwork. That fall she became Assistant Professor, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Kay enjoyed teaching as well as research accomplished by securing federal funds for 4 summers at the University of Arizona. Overseas times were a sabbatical at Hebrew University, Jerusalem & later a research award at the University of Leeds, U K. Based on her peer-reviewed investigations of the pituitary gland, Kay was nominated and elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1981). A significant accomplishment, particularly for a daughter raised by a loving single parent of modest means.

Kay met (1982) Dr. George Snow, biology professor at Mt. St. Mary's University, Los Angeles. They married at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, December 1983. Summers 1991-96 they received Department of Energy fellowships at 2 New Mexico laboratories; thus gaining new technical experiences, Kay introduced these into her teaching. Her awards provided an internship for an accompanying Cal Poly undergraduate student. These times also allowed learning more about Native American life, especially visiting Hopi Land in Arizona. Subsequently, Kay became a legacy member of the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff.

Believing in international education, Kay taught Cal Poly students in a spring quarter London Study program. She retired from full-time teaching (2003) as Professor of Biological Sciences and began volunteer teaching with the non-sectarian Global Volunteers Service Programs. Favorites were the 4 assignments she and George taught conversational English at a village school in eastern Poland. They developed a long-time friendship with Kasia, their host teacher.

Kay was an avid gardener selecting and planting foliage around their house and who liked sharing produce from their fruit trees. More recently, afternoons were for Mah Jongg!

Kay (1976) joined Unitarian Universalist San Luis Obispo; she provided leadership & served in many tasks. She was a "thrifty Scot" but was generous as a legacy doner to multiple non-profit organizations. As part of her support for education, Kay endowed two scholarships and one research fellowship at the University of Memphis and a scholarship at Cal Poly in memory of her mother, Sarah.

For a memorial, please consider the Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo or Woods Animal Shelter, San Luis Obispo County (the source of 3 beloved cats over the years).

Kay is survived by her loving husband, George.