John Richard Bristol

John R. Bristol, better known as Jack, beloved professor and respected academic administrator at the University of Texas at El Paso, passed away in El Paso, Texas on January 14, 2023, at the age of 84.

Jack was born in Mattoon, Illinois on April 11, 1938 to Mary and Dick Bristol. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa where he played varsity basketball. After high school, he attended Cornell College, earning a bachelor of science degree in biological science. He then taught high school biology in Cleveland, Ohio and began the journey to his doctorate. He married his college sweetheart, Sally Cook, in 1961 and they had two children, Scott and Kelly. He earned a PhD from Kent State in 1970 and received an appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP to begin his long and distinguished career at the university.

In 1975, Jack married his second wife, Lillian Mayberry of Boulder, Colorado. They both held Ph.D. degrees in parasitology and shared a lab at UTEP. Their long collaboration produced an extensive record or scientific publications, numerous presentations, collaborations, and active participation in professional organizations, all while providing a secure and nurturing environment to raise Scott and Kelly.

As a nationally recognized parasitologist and a respected member of the Department of Biological Sciences faculty from 1970 to his retirement, Jack’s record of unparalleled service to the university was long and distinguished. He held leadership positions at every level of academic administration except the presidency and served a facilitator for countless endeavors on campus.

Jack’s administrative appointments included Vice President for Academic Affairs, Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs, Dean of the College of Science, and Chair of the Biological Sciences Department. During his tenure, he spearheaded the development of the university’s Border Biomedical Research Center and played an important role in acquiring the Model Institutions for Excellence grant, which designated UTEP as a national model for improving the quantity and quality of science, engineering and mathematics graduates and doctoral degree recipients.

His focus on teacher preparation as co-director of the Partnership for Excellence in Teacher Education, a ground-breaking initiative in cross-college cooperation, had a tremendous impact on the preparation of mathematics and science teachers for the El Paso community.

As a former Fulbright Research Fellow and consultant for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, Jack was instrumental in the acquisition of UTEP’s doctoral programs in computer science engineering and biological sciences.

In December 1998, Jack retired and was granted the honored title of Professor Emeritus but continued to serve the University with as director of the highly regarded Texas Western Press. Under his supervision the Press solidified its reputation as an academic press of top rank and published some of its finest and most acclaimed works. He also continued to advocate for the educational benefits of a strong natural and cultural history museum on campus, serving as an energetic ambassador for the Centennial Museum’s many scientific activities, including establishment of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, an acclaimed botanical display of plants from the Chihuahuan Desert region and a popular resource for the promotion of their use in water wise landscaping in the desert region. Jack further lent his support to the development of the Indio Mountain Research Center, a near 40,000-acre preserve of Chihuahuan Desert flora and fauna that serves as a resource for teaching and research activities of UTEP students and faculty, as well as for other educational institutions across the Southwest.

Jack’s effective leadership and guidance of these many initiatives and his willingness to accept and excel in a wide range of administrative responsibilities benefitted a broad spectrum of faculty, staff and students, and ultimately the El Paso community as well.

He was involved in the Woodturners of El Paso and established near professional grade woodturning at his shops in El Paso and their cabin in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. He was an avid bird hunter and fisherman. He was also a proud member of several civic and church organizations including the El Paso Council for International Visitors, where he served as President, the El Paso Downtown Lions Club where he served as a Director, and Elder of the University Presbyterian Church.

Jack is survived by his wife Lillian, his two children Scott Bristol of Golden, Colorado and Kelly Lipsteuer of Littleton, Colorado, and his younger brother, David Bristol of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 3rd at University Presbyterian Church at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Bristol/Mayberry Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas at El Paso, which provides undergraduate scholarships to biological science majors at UTEP. Donations to the Fund at UTEP can be addressed and mailed to the Office of Institutional Advancement, made through the website at “givingto.utep.edu,” or by calling 915-747-0100.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMartin.com for the Bristol family.