We are deeply saddened to report that Professor Emeritus Gene M. Asprey passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2006 at the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Juno Beach, Florida.

Gene was born May 13, 1923 in Holstein, Iowa. He served as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corp in World War II and also served in the Korean War. He married Naomi Orr and had two sons, G. William Asprey of Sunset Beach, California and David R. Asprey of West Palm Beach, Florida, and one daughter, Jill N. Levin of Iowa City.

In 1947, Gene received his B.S. degree in Physical Education from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and later coached football at Morningside College. He received his M.S. degree from the University of Colorado in 1953, and his Ph.D. in Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1958.

In 1959, he joined the University of Iowa faculty as an assistant professor. In 1964 he was promoted to associate professor and in 1970, professor of physical education. From 1967-1979 he served as the assistant head and from 1979-1984 as chairman of the Department of Physical Education (Exercise Science, Integrative Physiology). In addition he served as director of the Department’s graduate program from 1978-1984.

Everyone who knew and had the privilege of working with Gene knew him simply as Geno. He was well known throughout the University and had many close friends in both the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. He was an active member of the Trinity Episcopal Church and a devoted member of the Iowa City Noon Optimist Club. Geno was the kind of person that simply made his community, the Department and the University better places to live and work. After his retirement in 1991, he and Naomi moved to Juno Beach, Florida. He will be truly missed by all who knew him and especially his loving wife Naomi and his two sons and daughter.