Community members, alumni, academics and students gathered last week to honour the life and legacy of Walter Parry at the second annual Walter Parry Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Faculty of Theology in collaboration with the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation and Lückhoff alumni. Held on Parry's birthday (22 May), the event was not only a commemoration but also a celebration of a remarkable life dedicated to education, science and social change.
Walter Parry was born in District Six, Cape Town, in 1913. Parry went on to earn an MSc in physics (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town in 1934. Despite the systemic constraints of his time (apartheid), he partnered undercover with Professor Piet Zeeman of Stellenbosch University, on nuclear research projects that would later feed into the foundation of iThemba LABS.
A former resident of the Vlakte community in Stellenbosch, Walter Parry became a beloved mathematics teacher at the historic Ou Lückhoff School. However, he was more than an educator – he was a beacon of inspiration for the communities of Stellenbosch.
The second annual lecture themed “Academic Disciplines in Dialogue: Leveraging Science and Theology for Social Justice and Social Impact", invited tough yet transformative conversations. The panel, facilitated by Professor Burtram Fielding, Dean of the Faculty of Science, explored the intersection of faith and scientific thought, and how both can serve a shared vision of equity and empowerment.
“Parry's life reminds us that humility must guide both science and theology," said Prof Fielding. “This is not just about remembering him; it's about continuing his work through courageous conversations."
Professor Shaun Wyngaardt, another Lückhoff alumnus who is today a nuclear physicist and head of SU's Department of Physics, explained the overlap of theology and science by stating, “Science tells us how things happen, and theology tells us why. If we embrace both, we find meaning."
The panel also reflected on the personal and societal impact of Parry's life. “He wasn't just a brilliant mathematician; he was a parent, a mentor, and a community builder. He planted the seeds that now connect Cloetesville and Khayamandi to the University."
Speakers and attendees alike acknowledged the painful legacy of apartheid, noting that access to education for many communities was hard-won. “I am a woman of colour and a scientist," said physiological sciences lecturer, Dr Shireen Mentor. “In Parry's time, this would have been impossible. His story is part of the reason I am here today."
The audience raised critical questions about how the University is addressing issues such as high dropout rates and how to nurture a more holistic and inclusive educational environment. There was a shared call to action: to find and support the “next Walter Parry" within the local schools and communities.
The Department of Physiological Sciences shared a success story from its outreach work at Lückhoff School, which began with basic computer skills in 2018. Today, two of the school's alumni are pursuing their master's degrees – proof of how sustained access and mentorship can change lives.
Professor Aslam Fataar from the Faculty of Education noted, “Parry was a man of science, but he was killed by the conceit of science – the belief that only what can be proven is real. Apartheid was built on the so-called science of difference. But it is through human difference that we find our shared humanity."
The event closed with a shared sense of purpose: as theologians and scientists, the responsibility to make a change does not end in theory or discussion but begins with action.
