SPRINGFIELD, Mo.
Drury University will host a celebration of life on Saturday, May 3, to honor the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Rabindra Roy, a beloved chemistry professor, mentor, and global humanitarian who passed away on February 27, 2025. The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. in Stone Chapel on campus, with remarks from former Drury presidents John E. Moore, Jr. and John Beuerlein, among others.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Roy made a profound and lasting impact on the university and beyond. As the Otto Charles Egdorf Professor of Pre-Medical Science, Chemistry Department Chair, and Walter H. Hoffman Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry, he was known not only for his academic excellence but also for his unwavering commitment to student success. He was also recognized as a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Scholar for his dedication to undergraduate research.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Roy developed a pioneering model for undergraduate research that trained more than 700 future scientists and healthcare professionals, shaping generations of leaders in the sciences. His passion for teaching and mentorship touched countless lives within the Drury community and across the globe.
Together with his wife, Protima Roy, Dr. Roy co-founded The Hem Sheela Model School in Durgapur, India, in 1995. The school includes a main 20-acre campus, a secondary school, and a tribal school in a nearby village that serves first-generation learners. In addition to providing quality education, the Roys also established a health clinic to serve the needs of the local community—demonstrating a lifelong commitment to equity, education, and care.
Following Saturday’s ceremony, a reception will be held in the O’Reilly Enterprise Center, located in the Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center. As part of the remembrance, a tree will be planted on campus in Dr. Roy’s honor, and a plaque commemorating his years of service will be placed nearby as a lasting tribute to his legacy.
The Drury community, alumni, and friends are invited to join in honoring Dr. Roy’s life—a life defined by service, scholarship, and compassion.
