This summer, Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences lost two prominent alumni — Larry M. Simonsmeier, PH’67, and Alfred F. Viktor, PH’49.
Simonsmeier, 65, of Portland, Ore., who died on July 17, was a 1973 graduate of the University of Denver College of Law.
Viktor, 81, of Morton, Iowa, who died on June 15, was a World War II Navy veteran.
Both men were honored for their commitment to Drake and the practice of pharmacy with a Pharmacy Alumni Achievement Award — Simonsmeier in 2000 and Viktor in 2004.
Simonsmeier served as a professor, professor emeritus and dean at Washington State University’s College of Pharmacy.
He also served WSU as executive director of the Office of Intellectual Property, director of the WSU Research and Technology Park and president of the WSU Research Foundation.
In addition, Simonsmeier was active in many organizations, including American Society for Pharmacy Law. He also held positions at the Portland Development Commission, the Oregon Biotechnology Association and Foundation, Oregon Health and Science University and the Oregon University System.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; two sons, David of Spokane, Wash., and Stephen (Chris) of Vancouver, Wash.; two stepsons Scott Gerloff of Beaverton, Ore., and Mark (Lisa) Gerloff of Birmingham, Ala.; and two grandchildren in Vancouver, Canada, and two step grandchildren in Birmingham.
Viktor served as the alumni chair for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences within the Drake National Alumni Association in the 1990s. He was instrumental in attracting new members to the University’s President’s Circle.
He was a pharmacist who co-owned and operated Our X Drugs in Morton. He also owned and operated the Morton Medical Center Pharmacy from 1980 until his retirement in 1994.
After his retirement, he volunteered at Heartland Community Health Clinic in Peoria, Ill., where he received the Volunteer of the Year award in 1996.
Viktor is survived by his wife, Eunice Viktor of Morton; three sons, Cary (Cary) Viktor of Orlando, Fla., Kurtis (Theresa) Viktor of Mackinaw and Kevin Viktor of Queen Creek, Ariz.; one daughter, Marla Ann (Steven) Lacy of Pittsburgh, Pa.; seven grandchildren; one brother, Albert “Bert” (Charlotte) Viktor of Pocahontas, Iowa, and one sister, Henrietta Deal of Fort Dodge, Iowa.