Roger McLean deRoos, age 85, passed peacefully at his San Juan Island home on Sept. 20. The third of five children, Roger was born in California on August 11, 1930 to parents Frank L. and Hilda C. deRoos.

After graduating from San Leandro High School in 1948, he attended the University of California – Berkeley for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After enlisting he was encouraged to serve as an intelligence analyst and remain state-side, but declined the offer and served in Korea with distinction, receiving both a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Roger returned to UC Berkeley to complete his undergraduate education, receiving a bachelor of arts in wildlife conservation. There he met Carolyn, also a student at Berkeley, who became his wife, his research partner, and life-long travel companion.

Roger continued his studies at Utah State University, received an masters in wildlife management and then returned to Berkeley to receive a doctorate in zoology, studying under the guidance of renowned endocrinologist Howard Bern. In 1961, Roger joined the faculty at of the University of Missouri, pursuing independent research in comparative endocrinology. Over the course of his career he taught undergraduate biology courses and graduate level courses in anatomy, histology and endocrinology, was extensively published in his field, and took his family on sabbaticals to Italy, Australia, Kenya and beyond. Roger was a dedicated advocate for students and the learning process, making clear the distinction between education and training.

He was recognized for these efforts with honors such as the Purple Chalk award, awarded by students for excellence in teaching.

Although their primary home was in Missouri, most summers were spent at the Friday Harbor Laboratories, Roger working alongside Carolyn conducting research on glucose regulation in the spiny dogfish. In the 1960s they purchased property on San Juan Island, and in 1992 with Roger’s retirement they relocated and quickly embraced the local community with open arms.

Roger’s retirement was a continuation of his intellectual life; trying to make sense of the world and his place in it and pursuing new interests. He continued his passion for teaching biology at the Skagit Valley Community College and became a board member on both the San Juan Island Sailing Foundation and the San Juan Island Preservation Trust. He was a tireless advocate of social justice and civil liberties, involved in multiple organizations and events to that end. Roger continued to travel with Carolyn to a wide range of international destinations, from Mexico to the Middle East, and learned to ski, sail and scuba dive.

Roger was thoughtful, engaged, curious and humble. His commitment to his family, friends, students, and the San Juan Island community was unwavering. His legacy of living life to the fullest, with integrity, enthusiasm, and kindness was an inspiration to many.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lois Cubicciotti, and his brothers Frank deRoos and Alfred deRoos. He is survived by his loving wife Carolyn, his son Paul deRoos of Seattle, Wash., his daughter Caroline deRoos and her two sons Tyler Retzer and Dalton Retzer of Stevensville, Mont., his daughter Christina deRoos of Detroit, Mich., his brother Phillip deRoos of Newport, Ore., his niece Kelly Lazaroni of Davis, Calif., his nephew Roger Cubicciotti of Winston-Salem, N.C., and his nephew Aaron deRoos of Troy, Mich.

A celebration in honor of Roger’s life will be held next summer. Memorial donations may be made to the San Juan Preservation Trust Stewardship Program, P.O. Box 759, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 (www.SJPT.org) or the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, 8 Bridge Street, Suite A, Northampton, MA, 01060 (www.BORDC.org).