Peter Spyers-Duran, age 91, of Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully at home on July 2, 2023. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1932, Peter leaves behind his loving wife of 59 years, Jane; his daughters, Kimberly (Trippon) Spyers-Duran; Hilary Spyers-Duran; his son, Peter Spyers-Duran II; his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth; eight grandchildren; Henry Williams; Alexis Trippon; Bryn (Tinny) Williams; David Trippon; Kathryn (Katy) Moynahan; Bridget Moynahan; Lauren Spyers-Duran and William Spyers-Duran.
He is also survived by his two brothers, Paul (Bonnie) Spyers-Duran; Lorand (Cindy) Spyers-Duran; his sister-in-law, Jacklyn Sullivant; nieces; a nephew; and cousins, all of whom deeply grieve their loss.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Spyers-Duran and Maria Alamasi Balogh.
As a child growing up in Hungary during World War II, Peter experienced and overcame the many challenges and hardships of living in a war zone. He persevered and in 1955 completed his postsecondary education at the Free University of Budapest, receiving a Certificate in Liberal Arts. After the Soviet army crushed the Hungarian Revolution fighting the Communist regime, he escaped and arrived in the United States on Thanksgiving Day in 1956.
Peter continued his formal education, earning a Master of Arts degree, specializing in Library and Information Science at the University of Chicago, Graduate Library School in 1960. He concluded his academic education in 1975 when he received his Doctor of Education degree, specializing in Higher Education Finance from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.
Peter began his professional career as the Head of Library Public Services at the University of Kansas, Wichita, Kansas in 1960. Two years later, he was recruited by the Administration Division of the American Library Association's National Headquarters in Chicago where he served as the Division's Assistant Executive Secretary during 1961-1962. Then in 1963 and continuing through 1967, he was the Associate Director of Libraries and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus. He then served as Director of Libraries and Professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan until 1970.
His career continued at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida where he became director of Libraries and Professor of Library Science during 1970-1976. He then flourished at California State University-Long Beach as Director of the Library and Learning Resources from 1976-1983.
At Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Spyers-Duran achieved the designation as Professor and Dean of the University Library and Dean of the ALA accredited Master's degree program in Library and Information Systems. His time at Wayne State was from 1983-1995.
Under his leadership, Wayne State University's national research library ranking increased dramatically from 37th place to 78th place; total membership in the American Association of Research Libraries at that time was 109. Dr. Spyers-Duran represented his institution at meetings of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
Peter has held the designation of Dean and Professor Emeritus at Wayne State University since 1995. In addition, he was honored to receive the prestigious G. Flint Purdy Award for Outstanding contributions to the university in 1998.
He has been affiliated with various organizations related to his area of expertise. He was the founding member and provided ongoing leadership to the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET). He was also associated with the Southwestern Michigan Book Consortium, the Southwestern Library Network, and the Library of Congress Center for the Book, Michigan Chapter. He was a lifetime member of the American Library Association.
Recognizing Dr. Spyers-Duran's renowned and innovative contributions to librarianship and higher education, Marquis Who's Who in America have included his professional biography in several of their publications.
Peter has written a number of published monographs and articles, as well as "Moving Library Materials" and "Public Libraries - A comparative Study of Basic Fringe Benefits." He also has been credited as the editor of ten publications between 1969 and 1985, including "Approval and Gathering Plans in Academic Libraries," "Economics of Approval Plans in Research Libraries," "Requiem for the Card Catalog: Management Issues in Automated Cataloging," "Austerity Management in Academic Libraries," and Issues in Academic Libraries."
He volunteered in various community projects throughout his life-from serving on the Kalamazoo County Library Board early in his career to President of the Bayou Club Homeowners Association in Largo, FL and most recently, as Village Representative at Eagle Creek Homeowners Association, Lake Nona, FL.
Peter loved tennis! He was an avid player who played competitively throughout his entire life, even playing on USTA 3.5 senior men teams well into his 80's. He also appreciated the beauty of nature, as well as finding delight in listening to classical and jazz music, doing house projects, gardening and landscaping, riding his bike, and travel with his wife, Jane.
Nothing gave Peter greater happiness and joy than the times spent with family, especially his grandchildren.
Service will he held at Woodland Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Florida 34734 on July 23, 2023 at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Peter and Jane F. Spyers-Duran Scholarship Fund at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI or to the Endowed Library Fund at California State University-Long Beach.
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