A former staff member in the Department of Chemistry, Evelyn Carlier, 92, of Champaign, died on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.
Carlier worked in the physical chemistry area office in the Department of Chemistry from 1976 until her retirement in 1996 as head secretary. She retired around the time that physical chemistry faculty and staff moved from Noyes Laboratory into the Chemical Life Sciences Laboratory.
Greg Girolami, William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry, said under her leadership the physical chemistry office set the gold standard for how such offices should operate.
“She and her staff provided excellent, proactive, and enthusiastic support for the students and faculty of the Department,” Girolami said.
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Theodore L. Brown said Carlier originally came to the chemistry department to be the secretary for the journal Inorganic Chemistry, for which he was associate editor at that time.
“Evelyn was terrific in that job. She had no prior experience with that sort of work, but she picked it up very quickly, and the two of us quickly developed a fine working relationship,” Brown said. “Anyone who has done that sort of work knows that there is a lot of detail associated with it. Lots of different people to be in touch with and so forth and Evelyn did all the things necessary to do a first-rate job. She came into the department and did a wonderful job there in the various departmental offices.”
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry J. Douglas McDonald said Carlier was exemplary.
“She typed manuscripts for us and did a great job,” said McDonald, adding that she could do most equations without any help. “She was also very nice.”
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry Robert B. Gennis said he agrees that Carlier managed the office in an exemplary manner.
“Very calm and friendly, yet firm in providing timely service to the faculty and graduate students. She cared about what she did. She and her colleagues were essential for the faculty to function smoothly and efficiently,” Gennis said. “Evelyn was a wonderful person, and I mourn her loss.”
Thomas B. Rauchfuss, Larry R. Faulkner Research Professor of Chemistry, said Carlier was a role model for other offices, doing her job with authority yet with the characteristics of a mother – caring, protective, and kind.
“In addition to dispensing information and access, she projected an aura that things were under control,” Rauchfuss said.
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry James M. Lisy said he has very fond memories of Carlier from his time at Illinois. Lisy said he served as area head for physical chemistry and his old office was next door to the physical chemistry office.
He said she set the gold standard for running area offices, was also extremely supportive of the faculty and did an amazing job with both publications and proposals.
“I would like to share just one anecdote from my challenging days as a junior faculty member. I was under the gun to get a National Science Foundation proposal (that was successful) submitted with a deadline just days away. Evelyn offered to come in over the weekend, to help me get it done in time. I didn’t ask, she was simply willing to help. I never forgot that kindness,” Lisy said.