PULLMAN, Wash. – Raymond Albrook, a lifetime resident of the Palouse area, passed away Oct. 1 in Clarkston, Wash., following several months of illness.
For four decades, Albrook was a fixture at Washington State University. If you took a chemistry class in Fulmer Hall between the late 1960s and early 2000s, you in all likelihood went to the bear-like stockroom manager for a lab assignment, chemical ingredient or perhaps just to tap into his in-depth knowledge of all things chemistry.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Basilio’s Italian Café, 337 E. Main, Pullman.
Dry humor, helpful attitude
Albrook’s friends and colleagues remember him as a man with a wry sense of humor who was nevertheless always willing to go out of his way to help a timid, young student.
“Everyone went to Ray for advice whether they were a student, TA or professor,” said Tom Martin, director of administrative services at the College of Arts and Sciences and a friend and colleague of Albrook. “He was great to work with but had this dry sense of humor that would shine through when you least expected it. I will really miss him.”
Lifelong Cougar
Albrook grew up on WSU’s Pullman campus where his father was a highly respected professor. His own tenure at WSU started as an undergraduate chemistry major in the early 1960s.
Following his graduate work at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a two-year stint of duty as an Army medic in Germany, he returned to WSU where he put his background in chemistry to work solving problems and answering challenging questions from both faculty and students.
A lover of coffee, literature and good conversation, he built a myriad of lasting friendships at WSU that are a testament to his character, warmth and humanity.
Remembrances may be given in memory of Raymond Albrook to Neill Public Library, 210 N. Grand Ave., Pullman, Wash 99163.