Deborah Kay Villalon ’87

Debbie died Jan. 21, 2024, in her hometown of Weslaco, Texas. She was brilliant, fiercely independent, and passionate about science, nature, and community.

Debbie came to Princeton from Weslaco High School and majored in biology. After Princeton, she earned a Ph.D. in plant physiology and biotechnology from Texas A&M. Debbie’s true calling was teaching biology. She started at Weslaco High School and was a professor at South Texas College until 2020. She continued to teach high school through 2023. Debbie earned numerous awards at STC, including the Community Service Award and Faculty of the Year.

Her impact reached far beyond academia; she loved her community. Debbie was a nature advocate, and the Valley Nature Center and the Frontera Audubon were close to her heart. She had a natural green thumb. Debbie earned a leadership award from the American Cancer Society, and she was Weslaco’s Volunteer of the Year in 2008 and Citizen of the Year in 2012. Most importantly, she was a devout Catholic with unwavering faith.

Debbie is survived by her parents, Ben and Emma; siblings Suzanne Villalon-Hinojosa ’82 and Belda, Ben, and Denny Villalon; and her many nieces and nephews.