John Karlem Riess

Age: 92

Summary: emeritus professor of physics at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1978 to 2005 who was the faculty advisor to fraternities and honor societies for more than four decades and served as the grand marshal who led countless graduation processions for 25 years, who won numerous awards and actively participated in many fraternal and academic organizations throughout his long career, including Phi Kappa Sigma, the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) honorary leadership society, and Phi Beta Kappa.

Cause of Death: Natural causes during evacuation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Born: April 17, 1913

Died: September 4, 2005

Location: Shreveport, Louisiana