Grover Everett Obituary

Grover Woodrow Everett, Jr. died February 24, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. He was a scientist, a teacher, an athlete, a traveler, and someone who made friends wherever he went.

Born March 21, 1941 in Lynchburg, Virginia to Grover Woodrow Everett and Nell Clingenpeel Everett, Grover Jr. was given the nickname "Rett". Both of his parents were teachers and athletes, interests that he also pursued. His father was a chemistry professor at East Carolina College in Greenville, North Carolina and had been a track star at the University of Virginia, holding a world record in the indoor low hurdles. His mother taught English at East Carolina and had competed in multiple sports including basketball. Grover had a younger sister, Sherby.

After receiving a college track scholarship, Grover attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, majoring in chemistry. He was eventually initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, The Order of the Golden Fleece, and The Order of the Old Well. He won Atlantic Coast Conference titles in cross-country and the indoor and outdoor two-mile run. 

While at Harvard for graduate school, Grover joined a young adult group at the nearby Harvard-Epworth Church, where he met Carolyn Curtis. They were married in December of 1963.

After receiving his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, Grover moved with Carolyn to Lawrence, Kansas where he began work as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas and where both of their children, Susan and Mark, were born. The KU Chemistry department became a close-knit group of friends who would gather for picnics and other events. 

Grover joined a group of faculty members who began running together every day at noon. This group eventually became known as the "Mad Dogs" and continued for many years. Grover later added road biking to his interests and loved riding the country roads around northeastern Kansas.

In 1974 the family took the first of many sabbatical leaves from KU, moving to Canberra, Australia. They enjoyed Australia so much that they returned on later sabbaticals to Perth, Townsville and Wollongong.

Another sabbatical in 1982 took Grover to Oxford University, where he worked on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and membrane research. After returning to KU, he began teaching a very large General Chemistry class in Hoch Auditorium, and became well-known for spectacular explosions and other visual effects to engage his students.

In 1994 Grover became a Distinguished Professor with the conferring of a Chancellors Club Teaching Professorship and also received an Outstanding Educator award from Mortar Board at KU. He was selected to highlight the capabilities of the new Budig Hall auditorium during its dedication. His chemical demonstrations delighted the Kansas governor and other state and university officials, though a piece of hot rubber from an explosion almost hit KU's chancellor in the front row.

Grover retired from KU in 1999 after 33 years and 25 graduate students, 18 of whom were Ph.D.'s. His research led to approximately 65 publications that included topics such as the macrocyclic complexes of gold and applications of nuclear magnetic resonance.  After retiring, he began to study subjects about which he had always been curious, beginning with geology. 

In 2001, Grover and Carolyn began spending winters in Venice, Florida where they spent time beachcombing and kayaking. Their granddaughter, Ella, was born and the extended family gathered often. Grover was an incredible father and grandfather, always active and perpetually playful.

Taking advantage of retirement, Grover and Carolyn took long trips to Kenya, Tanzania and Patagonia. By 2016 they moved to Tucson where they explored areas of the Sonoran Desert and met new friends. Grover enjoyed having plenty of time for his geology studies, took up birdwatching, played practical jokes on his neighbors, and spent as much time as possible on his bike.

Grover lost his beloved wife Carolyn in October of 2023, a few months before his death. He leaves his sister, Sherby McGrath, brother-in-law James McGrath, daughter Susan Everett, son Mark Everett, son-in-law Peter Riccio, and granddaughter Ella Everett Riccio. A celebration of his life was held in Tucson, Arizona on March 2, 2024. Plans for a gathering in Lawrence, Kansas are forthcoming.