CSU Plans Memorial Service for Former University Professor

Colorado State University will celebrate the life, career and legacy of former professor, Dr. Ian Orme at a service on Friday, Sept. 28, from 2 – 4:30 pm in the Lory Student Center, Ballroom. A reception will follow the service.

Orme passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 19, 2018 while at his summer home in upstate New York. He was one of only two actively serving University Distinguished Professors to pass away since the UDP designation was created at Colorado State. (University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry John Stille died in a plane crash in 1989.)

Orme was one of the world’s leading experts in tuberculosis and immunology. He was also my wife's boss for 23 1/2 years.

He was more than just a boss, he was more like family. He literally took my wife around the world. Because of Ian, Jenny was able to travel to Singapore, China, India, Spain, Portugal, England, Australia, and all over the U.S. I even got to tag along on a few of the trips. He was probably the smartest man I have ever known, but also one of the funniest too. He had such a great sense of humor.

I was so pleased that Jenny had a chance to speak with him before he died. The last thing he said to her was, "I love you" and she said "I love you to". Isn't that what we all want?