Family, colleagues and friends will gather Saturday, Nov. 10, to remember William Donald Cooke, Cornell professor emeritus of chemical and chemical biology and a longtime university administrator, who died Sept. 20 at age 89. The memorial will be held at noon in 200 Baker Laboratory at Cornell, and a reception will follow the program in the lobby.

Cooke came to Cornell in 1951 as an assistant professor and led the effort to modernize analytical chemistry, introducing instrumental analysis, including electrochemistry, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance. He became a full professor in 1959 and later became associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1962-64); dean of the Graduate School (1964-73); and vice president for research and advanced studies (1969-83).

Cooke was known for the broad scope of his career and for his generosity, sincerity and passion for justice. He continued an active teaching role throughout his administration postings and even past his retirement in 1987.