William L. Pak, 90, of West Lafayette, a pioneer in the field of neurobiology and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

William (Bill) was born September 27, 1932, in Suwon, Korea to the late You Pyung and Wechun (Kim) Pak. He immigrated to the United States in 1948, graduating from Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii and from Boston University with a major in Physics. While at Boston University he met Marion Whitehouse, who was then a student at Simmons College in Boston, and they married on June 21, 1958. They were partners for almost 55 years prior to Marion’s death on May 27, 2013.

Bill received his PhD in Physics from Cornell University in 1960. Following a brief stay as an assistant professor of physics at Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ), Bill came to Purdue University in 1965 as a professor in the Biological Sciences Department, where he stayed for the duration of his career before retiring in 2016. His research in neurobiology was groundbreaking. He pioneered the use of fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster genetics in the study of phototransduction, the mechanism by which light signals are converted to nerve signals in the eye, and this work continues to have impact in the field of vision research. Among numerous other awards, he was named the Purdue Oreffice Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences in 1987, and received the prestigious Friedenwald Award in 1995.

Bill was a lifelong teacher and student, with continued interest in politics, classical music, history and food, as well as his grandchildrens’ sports, dance, and academic achievements. His family will remember him for his outrageous spoiling of his grandchildren when they were small and his silly “grandpa” teasing when they got older. He was always extremely disciplined in both work and other activities. When he was 70, Marion finally convinced him to give up working in the office on Saturday mornings. However, he maintained his gym-going habit, still attending twice weekly at 90.

He is survived by his children William (Mary Dillon) Pak of Chesterton, IN, Dorothy (Jordan Clark) Pak of Goleta, CA, four grandchildren Emily Clark, Jonathan Pak, Isabel Clark, and Mia Pak, and great granddaughter Nevaeh Hollihan-Pak. Also surviving are his caregiver and honorary grandson, Tyler Galema, his brother Dr. Charles Pak of Dallas, TX and his sister Grace Seo of Honolulu, HI. His brother, Harry Pak of San Diego, CA passed in April 2023.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West.  Service will be 10:00 am on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, Rev. Andrew Winter officiating.  Interment will be at Meadow View Cemetery in Lafayette, IN.

Memorial contributions in Bill’s name may be made to the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette with a memo for Hearing Logos and Assistive Technology.