Obituaries

Lester, who died Oct. 10 at age 92 in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, headed the UB Department of Psychology from 1954 to 1964. She retired in 1974 after 49 years of distinguished service to the University of Buffalo.

She studied at Cornell University before transferring to the University of Buffalo, which then was located in old Townsend Hall on Niagara Square. She received her B.A. degree with honors from UB in 1924 and in 1926, earned a master's degree at UB. In 1931, she received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Her early intention had been to follow in the footsteps of her father, Lavant D. Lester, a lawyer. But her academic interests soon turned to a career in teaching and she joined the UB faculty in 1925 as an instructor, progressing through the ranks as assistant professor and associate professor, attaining the rank of full professor in 1946. In 1954, she was named chairman of the psychology department.

For 20 years, in addition to daytime teaching, she instructed evening students in Millard Fillmore College and from 1944-46, she conducted a program in human relations at a local aircraft plant.

She planned and taught the first course in psychology offered to local student nurses at Meyer Memorial, Children's and Deaconess hospitals.

The recipient of numerous awards, she received a Distinguished Alumni award in 1973 from the University of Buffalo in recognition of her service to the university, to Buffalo and to her home community. She received three citations for outstanding teaching from the UB School of Nursing, as well as an award from the College of Arts & Sciences in 1971.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Lambda Theta education honorary society, she served as president of the Academic Psychologists of the State University of New York System in 1971. A fellow of the American Psychological Association and a member of the Eastern Psychological Association, she was a board member of the New York State League of Nursing and a member of the Nurse Advisory Council, New York State Department of Education.

She was the author or co-author of numerous papers published in scholarly journals, including the Journal of Personality and the Journal of Social Psychology.

There are no survivors.

Robert Parke, first director of UB Student Union
Robert Parke, who was the first director of the Norton Hall Student Union at the University of Buffalo, died Oct. 15 in Alexandria, Va., where he had relocated from Amberleigh Retirement Community in Amherst. A real estate agent and outdoorsman, Parke had lived until 1991 in the Zoar Valley near Springville.

Parke was director of industrial research from 1927 to 1934 for Parke, Hall and Co., a realty firm established by his father, Fenton. He served as Student Union director at UB from 1934 to 1941.

During World War II, he was a training and safety officer with Sterling Engine Co. After a year with National Gypsum Co. he returned to the family firm, where he was a director and secretary.

Parke organized the local chapter of the Society of Industrial Realtors in 1965 and became its vice president. After his retirement, he became secretary in 1971 of the Route 219 Association, one of the many civic organizations in which he was active.

Parke studied for a business degree at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio. While there, he worked as an airplane mechanic and served as an observer on a cross-country flight with flying ace Jimmy Doolitte.

A memorial service was held Oct. 26 in Little River United Church of Christ, Annandale, Va. A service will be scheduled here in the spring.