01/07/2026
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kevin J. Parker.
As Diane Dalecki, Kevin J. Parker Distinguished Professor in Biomedical Engineering, shared:
"Professor Parker was a brilliant scientist, inventor, teacher, and importantly, a wonderfully kind and generous person. He was an important mentor, colleague, and friend. This is great loss for our scientific community and the University of Rochester.”
Our thoughts are with his family, colleagues, and all those who carry forward his remarkable legacy.
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🔗 Read more about Professor Parker's impact through quotes from his colleagues and former students: https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/kevin-parker-obituary-pioneer-in-ultrasound-imaging-691042/
With heavy hearts, we share the news that Kevin Parker, the William F. May Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Rochester, died in late December at the age of 71. He's being remembered as a pioneer in the field of ultrasound imaging, a revered faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and an influential administrator as former dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Professor Parker's research about elastography and techniques for diagnosing cancer, liver disease, and other pathologies shaped the field of ultrasound imaging and inspired countless researchers.
At URochester, Professor Parker served in numerous critical leadership positions, including as director of the Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound from 1990 to 2006, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1992 to 1998, associate vice provost for research and graduate affairs from 1996 to 1998, and dean of what was then called the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 1998 to 2008.
As our school’s longest-serving dean, he was instrumental in establishing the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the development of the Robert B. Goergen Hall. He was a remarkable person, and his legacy lives on through his students and through his immeasurable contributions to printing, diagnostics, and imaging.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, and their four children.
