WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Dr. Marilyn A. Parker, retired Monmouth University faculty member and longtime NCAA faculty athletic representative for the institution, passed on Saturday, May 6, 2023 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Parker served the Monmouth community for 36 years and was an avid supporter of athletics.
 
Parker served as the NCAA faculty representative for Monmouth University for 14 years. In 1994, she was a member of the first all-female voting delegation to represent a Division I University at the NCAA convention joining then University President Dr. Rebecca Stafford, athletics director Dr. Marilyn McNeil and senior woman administrator Joan Martin. Her legacy will continue to live on in part through the Marilyn Parker Award, established in 2013, that is given each semester to the athletic team with the highest grade point average.
 
"Marilyn passing was a big loss for Monmouth Athletics," said current Monmouth Director of Athletics Jeff Stapleton. "I had the great pleasure of having worked with Marilyn for 14 years while she served as our Faculty Athletics Representative. Marilyn was not only a positive voice for our Athletics Department while on campus she was also a huge Hawks fan. She loved watching the athletes compete and was seen at countless events throughout her career at Monmouth. Thank you, Marilyn, on behalf of all of the student-athletes' lives that you touched during a fantastic career."
 
"Marilyn was a dear colleague, friend, and professional," said Dr. McNeil, who recently retired from Monmouth after serving 28 years as the Director of Athletics. "She loved Monmouth, her students and athletics. She was the consummate faculty athletics rep because she demanded excellence, at the same time enjoying the competition. She helped our department do the very best for our student athletes and I will be forever grateful."
 
Born in Chicago, IL in 1940, Marilyn graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1962 and then earned her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Washington in 1966. Marilyn was a Professor Emerita of Chemistry at Monmouth, where she made a significant impact on the university and its students for 36 years. She served as chair of the Department of Chemistry for nine years, chair of the Department of Chemistry, Medical Technology and Physics for one year, Dean of the School of Science and Professional Studies for three years, and was Assistant to the Provost for four years.
 
Beyond her accomplishments in academia, Marilyn was known for her love of family, friends, and games. She was an exceptional competitor who never shied away from a challenge. She was an avid tennis fan and enjoyed supporting all of the Monmouth Hawks teams.  She was also a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), an organization that advances equity for women and girls, in Monmouth County, NJ and Fairfax, VA.
 
Parker is survived by her children, Melissa Parker-Combes and her husband Bill of Waukesha, WI and Chris Parker and his wife Yhoumey of Wilmington, MA; grandchildren, Hailey, Nathan, Heidi, and Kaitlyn Parker-Combes and Jackson Parker; siblings, Barb Blau and her husband Al of Fond du Lac, WI and Dan Ankeney of Pace, FL and many nieces and nephews.
 
A private memorial service will be held by her family at a date still to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to the Monmouth University Athletic Director's Excellence Fund in support of women's athletics in her honor either online at this link or by sending a check to Monmouth University with "in honor of Marilyn Parker" written on the memo line to Monmouth Blue/White Club, Athletics Department,  400 Cedar Avenue. West Long Branch, NJ 07764.