Dr. Carol Marie Lalli (Parsons)

On May 17, 2024, at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Dr. Carol Lalli played finalis to a lifetime of music and scientific research, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Born Carol Marie Koester in Toledo, Ohio, in 1938, she obtained a dual B.S. and B. Ed (both cum laude) at Bowling Green State U. in 1960; went on to an M.A. (Biology) in 1962; and then a PhD at the U. Of Washington (Zoology) in 1967. Carol taught at McGill, Simon Fraser, Bamfield Marine Station, and the Sun Yat Sen University in Taiwan. She was an Honorary Research Associate, Zoology Dept., UBC, from 1980 to 1997 and Honorary Scientist Emerita at the Institute for Ocean Sciences (Sidney) from 1998 to the present. She was a visiting professor at universities throughout the world and was the world’s leading authority on various types of zooplankton. Having published several books and many articles, she was most famous as the co-author, with her late husband Dr. Tim Parsons, of Biological Oceanography: An Introduction, still in print (3rd edition) after 25 years, and still the most widely used textbook on the subject at universities across the world. Their marriage facilitated their scientific partnership, which was extremely productive. Dr. Parsons became the first (and only) Canadian to receive the Japan prize in 2001 for his oceanographic contributions, an accomplishment for which he gave much credit to Carol.

Although Carol received most honors and fame as a scientist, her true love was music, specifically the flute. She started playing at age ten and was the youngest first flute in the history of her university orchestra at age 16. She played with university orchestras and bands throughout her academic career, and joined the Sidney Concert Band in 2001, as first flute and librarian. She played in the band up to her death. As Silver and Ivory, Carol and pianist (and close friend) Janet Leffek performed at dozens of venues around Greater Victoria. Carol also played duets, mostly classical but including Latin American, Klezmer, jazz and ragtime several hours each week with fellow band member Ian Cameron and former band member Melanie Quenneville.

Carol was a fine flautist, and an amazing sight reader, who could play almost any passage perfectly the first time she saw it. She was a gourmet chef, and a renowned hostess. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Carol was predeceased by her loving husband, Dr. Tim Parsons. She is survived by her step- daughter Dr. Allison Krause (Wayne) of Tsawwassen; step-daughter-in-law Tracey Boudot (Bob) of Nanaimo; step-grandchildren Matthew, Ashley, and Brenna; cousins from Ohio; and many wonderful neighbors and dear friends in the Greater Victoria area and around the world.