Neil Lark, a physics professor who taught at University of the Pacific for more than three decades and helped establish Raymond College, died Nov. 9 in Stockton at the age of 90.

Lark began his 37-year career at Pacific in 1962 as an assistant professor of natural sciences. He was brought on to help develop the science curriculum for Raymond College, one of Pacific’s three cluster colleges that operated from 1962 to 1986.

The colleges, modeled after Oxford and Cambridge, integrated faculty and students into living and learning communities. In an oral history interview with Pacific’s Emeriti Society in 2011, Lark recalled fond memories working with students.

“We were doing something we really cared about, and put a lot into it,” he said. “We had a group of students who were very much aligned with us and very close to us. The relationships were excellent.”

Lark transferred to College of the Pacific in 1975 where he taught physics, eventually becoming chair of the department. Before retiring in 1999, he worked closely with Professor of Physics James Hetrick to prepare him to take over as department chair.

“Neil was a tremendous colleague, mentor, friend and one of the most thoughtful people I’ve met,” Hetrick said. “When about half of the physics department retired in 1997, he stayed another two years to help ease the transition for new faculty and ensure that some of the innovative culture of the cluster colleges was passed on. Neil’s inspired teaching lives on in the curriculum of our classes like The Physics of Music and Astrophysics, which he taught for many years.”

In addition to teaching, Lark was a dedicated researcher in the fields of nuclear physics and astronomy. His research took him around the world, including the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, the Brookhaven National Lab in New York and the Australian National University in Canberra. He also held various research positions during the summer months at Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore Lab, Los Alamos National Lab and Texas A&M University.

He also spent many years volunteering with children in area schools.

“Neil Lark was passionate about teaching and helping students at all levels understand the natural world,” said Associate Professor Lydia Fox, chair of the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences. “He created workshops for local school teachers to help them become better science teachers. In retirement, he volunteered in local schools as a science mentor for their students.”

The county-run program connected retired scientists and engineers with area elementary schools where they gave presentations to students

“I had my misgivings, thinking that I would not be effective in working with little kids,” Lark recalled. “But I went ahead and went through the training … and just loved it.”

He volunteered with the program for 11 years, continuing with assistance from his wife Liz after suffering a stroke in his second year.

Originally from Baker, Oregon, Lark earned his bachelor’s degree from Chico State College and his PhD from Cornell University.

He is survived by his wife Liz, sons Kenneth and David and seven grandchildren.