Obituaries

Katherine Parker Ponder, MD, a highly accomplished physician-scientist whose career spanned decades at WashU Medicine, died July 18, 2026, of breast cancer. A memorial service will take place Sept. 19.

Kennedy Reed, a PhD candidate at WashU Medicine, died Aug. 4 following a car accident. She was 26. A celebration of life will be held Thursday, Aug. 13.

Guoyan Zhao, an associate professor of genetics and of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died May 15. She was 53.

Helen Davis, who worked for decades as leader of the Campus Y at Washington University in St. Louis, died May 21. She was 95.

Collin Charles Maher, a student in Arts & Sciences, died by suicide May 15. He was 19 and had recently completed his first year at WashU. Friends remember Maher for his open heart, big smile and the care he showed everyone he encountered.

Christopher J. Moran, MD, a professor emeritus of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, died April 30 of cancer. He was 78.

Peter H. Raven, the George Engelmann Professor of Botany Emeritus in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, died April 25, 2026. He was 89.

Richard “Dick” Roloff, a former administrator and trustee of Washington University in St. Louis, died Friday, March 6, 2026. He was 96.

Adrian Luchini, the Raymond E. Maritz Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, died Feb. 12 while visiting his native Argentina. He was 71.

Ralph S. Quatrano, an internationally renowned plant scientist, former dean of the Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering & Applied Science and former chair of the Department of Biology in Arts & Sciences, died Feb. 24, 2026, in St. Louis. He was 84.