The Guelph community is mourning the loss of University professor emerita Pari Basrur, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 83.
Widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of animal reproductive biotechnology, Basrur began her distinguished career at OVC in 1959. Although she officially retired in 1995 from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, she remained actively engaged in the life of the College as a beloved mentor and advisor.
Dr. Parvathi (Pari) Basrur 1929-2012
Among her many awards and honours, she received the Order of Canada in 2004, the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award, the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction award for Lifetime Achievement, and most recently the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Her work in the 1960s with Dr. John Gilman on the cytogenetic causes of reproductive problems and infertility in domestic animals laid the foundation for the OVC’s renowned program in animal cytogenetics and reproductive technology, which continues to be a College research and teaching focus. Insights gained from the work of Dr. Basrur and her colleagues have been important not only to domestic animals but their research is also being applied to helping endangered species and solving problems in human health.
For more, see the obituary.
A public celebration of Dr. Basrur’s life and career is being planned for the coming weeks. Donations may be sent, in lieu of flowers, to the Grand River Hospital Foundation, 835 King St. W., Kitchener, ON N2G 1G3 or to another charity of choice.