Donald E. Parker *61

Donald Parker, retired professor of psychology at Miami University of Ohio, who later retired from the University of Washington, died Jan. 17, 2016. He was 79.

Parker graduated from DePauw University in 1958, and earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Princeton in 1961. He served in the Air Force as a captain, learned to fly, and conducted research on motion sickness. This began his lifelong research focus on the vestibular system and the effects of space travel on humans.

The first part of Parker’s career was spent as a professor of psychology at Miami University. While there, he took a leave of absence and spent three years in Houston working with astronauts at NASA. In 1992, he retired from Miami and moved to Seattle, where he was an affiliate professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Otalaryngology-HNS (head and neck surgery).

Parker spent many enjoyable hours in his woodworking shop, creating gifts for his grandchildren and teaching them woodworking skills.

He is survived by Sharon, his wife of 28 years; four children from his first marriage (including Susan Parker Bodine ’83 and Geoffrey ’86); a stepdaughter; and eight grandchildren. His first wife, Lynn, predeceased him in 1986.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.