William Mey

William Mey passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on June 13th at the age of 87. Bill was born on December 3, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was predeceased by his wife, Suellyn Guerin Mey, his sister Merrill Rye and parents Leah and William Mey.

He is lovingly remembered by his daughters and their spouses Andree (Douglas) Miller, Meredith (Michael) Griffin, and Merrill (Scott) Mey-Brooks. Bill also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Jillian Miller; Brianna and Dillon Griffin; Emily, Sofia, and Catherine Brooks. In addition, he is survived by his beloved sister Lorraine Bourn, along with many extended family members and close friends.

Bill was born and raised in the Irish Channel in New Orleans and graduated from Redemptorist High School in 1955. After high school he enrolled in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. After the Air Force, Bill attended LSUNO and Tulane University where he received his doctorate in physics. In 1964 he married his wife, Suellyn Guerin. In 1971, Bill and his family moved to Plainfield, New Jersey, where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University. They later settled in Rochester, New York, where Bill spent nearly 30 years in the research labs of Eastman Kodak Company. During his extensive career with Kodak, Dr. Mey was granted over 50 patents and was appointed a Distinguished Inventor by the Kodak Research Scientific Council. He also served as an adjunct professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Bill was an avid lover of nature, finding joy in planting trees, bushes, and flowers that transformed each season into a vibrant display of color and life. While in Rochester he took up running and developed many lifelong friendships. Following his retirement from Kodak, Bill and Suellyn returned to their much-loved hometown of New Orleans in 2003. He continued his love of academics by teaching physics courses at the Hammond campus of Southeastern Louisiana University. Bill will be remembered for his sharp sarcastic wit, his love of academics and his guidance, love and support of his family. He will always be remembered as, “being easy like Sunday Morning.” His legacy lives on in the roots he planted both in the yard and in those who knew and loved him.

Private services for Dr. Mey were held at Greenwood Cemetery.