Dr. Paul M. Parker

East Lansing, Michigan

Dr Paul Michael Parker, 84, was reunited with his beloved wife Gertrude on March 4, 2013.

Paul was born in Vienna, Austria in 1928. In 1947, he immigrated to the United States. He majored in physics at City College New York where he graduated in 1953 magna cum laude and was invited to join Phi Beta Kappa. That same year he became a US citizen. He was accepted for graduate study in physics by Ohio State University where he received his PhD degree in 1958. He spent 35 rewarding years on the faculty at Michigan State University, from where he retired in 1993 as Professor of Emeritus of Physics. He was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Award in 1972. His fields of expertise were optics and high-resolution molecular spectroscopy. In 2008, Paul established the Paul and Gertrude Parker endowed scholarship for students who have been academically successful in undergraduate physics classes. He also enjoyed the theater, ballet, opera and classical music.

He is survived by his daughter Claudia, son-in-law Philip, and grandchildren Andrea and Matthew Lussier.

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, March 12 at 11:00am at the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers and in accordance with Paul’s wishes, memorial contributions may be made to the Paul & Gertrude Parker Endowed Scholarship, Lyman Briggs College - Michigan State University, allocation #A52521, 919 E. Shaw Lane, Rm E-35, East Lansing, MI 48825-1107 or St. Mary Cathedral Parish, 219 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. On line condolences may be at www.greastlansing.com