Dr. Kenneth R. Scott

Kenneth was raised in Queens, NY and attended PS12 & PS 139 Elementary Schools, Corlears Hook Junior High School, and Stuyvesant High School. Stuyvesant High School at the time was an all-boys college preparatory school renowned for its rigorous math and science curriculum. As one of only a few students of color, he stated that his mother, Emma, helped to prepare him for the academic rigors by drilling him intensely every summer prior to high school. Despite the intensity of this academic preparation, he stated that one of the fondest memories during high school was his relationship with his mom. Every Friday he and his mother would go to the movies together. He related that they would buy French fries and smuggle them into the theater to devour during the movies.

Kenneth excelled academically with several teachers, such as Mrs. Portnoy and Dr. Jacob Lieberman stating that he was the best student that they ever had. In fact, it was Dr. Lieberman, Kenneth’s high school chemistry instructor, who advised his mother to enroll him in Howard University.

Not only did Kenneth shine in the classroom, but also on the basketball court. He played on several club basketball teams and was the starting forward his senior year on the Stuyvesant High School basketball team.

At Howard, Kenneth was the President of the Student Council and helped to rewrite its constitution. He was inducted into Chi Delta Mu, a Professional Fraternity for students and graduates in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry and Rho Chi, the International Honor Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Kenneth was initiated into Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated in 1954. He graduated with honors finishing second in his 1956 College of Pharmacy graduating class.

During his time at Howard University, Kenneth began dating one of his pharmacy classmates Elizabeth Miller of Salisbury, NC. Soon after graduating Kenneth and Elizabeth Miller married and moved to Buffalo, NY where he attained his master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

While in Buffalo, Kenneth and Elizabeth were blessed with two sons, Russell William Scott, and Preston Richard Scott, born in 1957 and 1959, respectively. In Buffalo, the couple developed lifelong friendships with Connie and Leroy Coles and Horace and Janice Laster. These friends served as baby-sitters and godparents to the boys, as well as a social support network.

Upon the completion of his master’s degree, Kenneth and his family moved back to Washington, DC where in 1960, he accepted an assistant professor position with the Howard University College of Pharmacy. Kenneth went on to obtain his Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) from the University of Maryland, College of Pharmacy, College Park, MD. He is widely acknowledged to have been the first Black student to earn a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland in 1964. Dr. Scott went on to become a full professor teaching Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Howard University for almost 50 years.

Dr. Scott’s research focus was anti-seizure and anti-epileptic compounds/drugs. His extensive research was widely published in pharmaceutical journals. He spent a sabbatical year at the National Institutes of Health where he continued his research to develop anti-seizure compounds funded by the Epilepsy Foundation. He stated that the genesis for his interest in anticonvulsant drugs emerged from his own father’s history of seizures caused by his being struck by a baseball bat while playing baseball during his youth.

Dr. Scott was an active member of the Howard University Pharmacy Alumni Association until his retirement. This association allowed him to stay connected with his current and former students. He was an admired teacher for many of his students, one of his students, Dr. Thomas Harrison and his wife committed one million dollars to arrange for the establishment of an endowed fund in the College of Pharmacy: “The Kenneth Scott Endowed Fund”. During his time at Howard University, Dr. Scott received numerous recognitions and honors, including the Bowl of Hygeia Award which recognizes pharmacists who possess an outstanding record of civic leadership in their communities.

Kenneth was an avid reader and was seldom seen during his vacation/ leisure time without a book in hand. His leisure activities included bowling, tennis, chess, listening to jazz & classical music and basketball. Kenneth was active in his community, serving as cub scout den leader, little league baseball coach and church youth basketball coach.

In 1999, Kenneth and Elizabeth Scott divorced. In 2000, Kenneth married Jackie Moore with whom he lived until her death in 2007.

In 2009, Dr. Scott retired from Howard University and at the urging of his youngest son, Preston, moved to Jupiter, Florida to be near him. He subsequently moved from Jupiter, FL to Tamarac, FL where he resided until his passing.

Kenneth Scott was preceded in death by his parents Howard R. Scott (1972) and Emma D. Scott (1978), wife Jackie Moore (2007) and youngest son, Preston R. Scott (2021).

Those remaining to commemorate his fruitful life are son, Russell W. Scott (Tami) of Richmond, VA; Grandsons, Sean M. Scott (Brittany) of St. Louis, MO and Taylor W. Scott of Fort Madison, IA and a host of former students, acquaintances, and friends.

A service celebrating the life of Dr. Kenneth R. Scott will be held at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, on November 19, 2022, at 12:30pm. Interment will be private and take place at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Hillcrest Heights, MD.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Howard University College of Pharmacy or the Epilepsy Foundation by following the links below under the "Donations" section.