Peter Rock, chemistry professor and founding dean of the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences in the College of Letters and Science, will be remembered in the Mondavi Center's Jackson Hall at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Rock, 66, passed away June 14 after an extended illness, leaving a legacy of more than 40 years of campus service. The memorial, hosted by Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and current Mathematics and Physical Sciences Dean Winston Ko, will feature speakers who are former students, colleagues, family and friends.

Rock was very influential in the evolution of the campus and was involved in many initiatives throughout the years to boost UC Davis programs. One of his lasting achievements was the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty at all levels to the division and to UC Davis. An advocate of research that cuts across disciplines, he developed protocols to make it easier to recruit professors with appointments in two, three or even four different departments.

He also initiated several facility improvement projects, including renovations of the Chemistry Annex building and the Physics/Geology Building, as well as the new $22 million Mathematical Sciences Building, which opened last March.

The memorial is open to the public, with a program from 4 to 5 p.m. and a reception immediately following.