Richard L. Parris *78

Richard Parris, a highly regarded mathematics teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy, died of cancer Oct. 23, 2012. He was 67.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Tufts in 1967. After receiving a master’s degree from Princeton in 1970 and before completing his Ph.D. in 1978, Parris taught math at Rutgers, Stonehill College, and Suffolk University. He started teaching at Phillips Exeter in 1978.

An instructor in mathematics, Parris also held the title of Wentworth Professor of Mathematics at Exeter. In 1991, the National Science Foundation awarded him the Presidential Award for excellence in teaching science and mathematics. Exeter also acknowledged his superior teaching abilities with the Ryberg Award in 1987, the Radford Award in 1988, and the Brown Family Faculty Fund award in 1993.

Exeter’s principal, Tom Hassan, wrote that Parris “was the consummate math teacher; he was certainly the definition of someone who lived and loved numbers, and who woke each day energized to teach someone new the joys of mathematics.” Hassan also recalled Parris’ intensity saying, “Young athletes were always made better players with Rick’s coaching.”

Parris is survived by his wife, Pamela; and two daughters.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.