IN MEMORIAM: A. Kathleen Grey, UC Davis Medal Winner and Campus Stalwart

A. Kathleen Grey, 86, a recipient of the 2026 UC Davis Medal and a beloved member of the campus community, died peacefully at home on Sept. 5. Her death came just four months after the loss of her husband of nearly 65 years, Robert D. “Bob” Grey, a molecular and cellular biologist who served as provost and executive vice chancellor and the inaugural dean of the Division of Biological Sciences.

Kathleen, an expert in early childhood development and family-child interactions, served for more than a decade as a program specialist in the UC Davis Early Childhood Lab School within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 

Together, the Greys dedicated their lives, careers, and philanthropy to the university for nearly six decades. Upon receiving the UC Davis Medal, Kathleen said: “Bob and I have spoken so often about our gratitude for what UC Davis and the University of California system have given us over the years. It wasn’t just our jobs and careers, but the lifetime of friendships and relationships with colleagues and students that have been incredibly meaningful for us.”

“Kathleen’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of others was evident to me from the moment I met her as an undergraduate student at UC Davis,” said Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor. “Kathleen had a passion for helping others improve their lives through education, which she continued to do well into retirement. It has been my privilege to call her and Bob my dear friends. We are so fortunate she was part of the UC Davis family for six decades and we will miss her radiant smile and incredible kindness.” 

A life of service and generosity

Born in Liberal, Kansas, in 1940, Kathleen attended Phillips University in Oklahoma, where she met her future husband. She completed a degree in childhood education and began teaching preschool. A dedicated musician, Kathleen was a piano teacher early in her career, while also raising daughter Erin and son Joel.

The Greys arrived at UC Davis in 1967, when Bob joined the faculty as an assistant professor of zoology. Kathleen joined the university about a decade later, working first in UC Extension and later in the Financial Aid office. After earning a master's degree in early childhood education from California State University, Sacramento, she served as a head teacher. Then, for more than a decade, she was a program specialist at the UC Davis Early Childhood Lab School.

“Bob and Kathleen each played unique — and uniquely important — roles in the growth of our campus,” said Frédéric Chédin, dean of the College of Biological Sciences. “From the early days of their time on campus through the present, their vision, compassion and dedication helped shape the course of our history. Their UC Davis legacy across research, teaching and service will be fittingly enduring.”

She also contributed to the university's reputation as a leader in developmental psychology, collaborating with researchers on influential studies including the Baby Signs project, a groundbreaking and now widely recognized method of early childhood communication. In 1994, her contributions to the lives of children and families were honored with the annual award of the Yolo County Committee for Early Childhood Needs. 

After retirement, Kathleen continued to lead parent and baby groups, and she and Bob were active in the UC Davis community. The Greys’ commitment to the university includes not just decades of service, but also generous philanthropic support: In 2022, the couple made a $1 million legacy gift to the Center for Neuroscience, an endowment to sustain the center’s status as a global research hub. The gift also included an undergraduate research award for students at the Center for Mind and Brain.

“Kathleen and Bob were stalwart supporters of UC Davis, and the Center for Neuroscience,” said Marie Burns, the center’s director. “All current CNS faculty owe the Greys enormous gratitude for the Greys’ vision and commitment to creating our interdisciplinary center, and the countless fundamental findings and scientific careers that have grown out of their efforts. They will be deeply missed.”

A. Kathleen Grey is survived by daughter Erin Grey-Merritt and son-in-law Mark Merritt; son Joel and daughter-in-law Pilar Gonzalez Grey; and grandchildren Olivia Merritt, Joshua Merritt, Daniel Merritt, Agatha Grey, and Eloise Grey. The family requests that any donations in Kathleen’s memory be made to the Early Childhood Lab School of the UC Davis Center for Child and Family Studies.