So so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. He was my number 1 mentor through college at Jacksonville University and have always been grateful for his guidance and friendship.

I’ll never forget the field trips and rap sessions at Ken and Gail’s house on Friday nights.

Please let me know of any arrangements and anything I can do.

All Blessings to His Family,

Dr. Relyea was a mentor to me all through my time at Armstrong. He believed in me and pushed me to do my best even as a single mom with two littles at home. The last time I ran into him it was at fresh market and he told me he wasn’t doing well at all. I prayed for him and let him know that I would continue. I am sorry to hear about his passing but I am thankful he suffers no more.

My Dear Professor
God willing I’ll see you in Heaven

Your faithful Student from Kuwait

My heart goes out to the family for their loss of a big and kind heart

So sorry to hear of Dr. Relya’s sickness and passing. I worked at Armstrong and he was so good at working with students. He was a great asset to the university. Just a nice man. My condolences to his family.

Dr Relyea was a mentor and father figure to me when I was a student at AASU. He was kind and supportive and made a true difference in my life. I will always be thankful for his guidance. I pray that his family and especially Bud find peace going forward and know that Dr Relyea was a gift to this world.

Dr. Relyea was a wonderful Biology professor who inspired and touched the hearts of thousands of students with his kindness and incredible knowledge of science. I had the fortunate privilege to be his student at Armstrong State University for numerous courses from 1993-1997; including embryology, vertebrate natural history and ecology. Over the years I thought about him often. He was admired, adored and will be dearly missed by generations of students. RIP dear sir.

Everyone has those professors they never forget and think the world of. He was mine. Thank you for teaching me how perfectly designed every organism is for it’s purpose, how sharks are the most beautifully crafted predators, thank you for teaching me about mycorrhizal networks, even though every time I see a lone tree in a parking lot it makes me sad. Evolution leaves me in awe, from flagellates in a termite to fish eye spots to the fullness and color of a squirrel’s tail. There is such a vast world existing beyond our everyday life, a world that depends on eating enough to stay alive, keeping your progeny alive and and not being eaten yourself. I learned that because of you.

I hope you’re wearing your Strawberry Fields Forever t- shirt and you and Darwin are kicking it on the HMS Beagle and talking about what else, fish.
Thank you for sharing your VAST knowledge with us, we are all better people because of it.

A man I admired. A man I could talk to. Thank you Doc, thank you JU.

Ken was one of the first and finest professors I met while at JU in the early 70’s. He proved to be wise, funny and a true mentor in my undergraduate days. Hanging out in his office between classes with Frank Phillips, with whom he shared an office, Bruce Sutton and Julian Humphries were some of my most enjoyable learning sessions at JU. Evenings and afternoons across the street at his home in Timberlake Trace were fun and served as a splendid display of his fish collection in the large aquarium in his living room. I collected killifish for him in Bermuda when I went there one summer on a research fellowship so he could continue his research on the genetics and evolution of those fish. Armstrong was lucky to get him after he returned from Kuwait to study Red Sea fish. Every time I see a VW van tooling around town, I think of him. What an impact and influence he had on his students and colleagues. I will never forget him.

I was searching for Ken and sadly found that he had passed away. I was best friends with her wife, Tamala, who passes away years ago. They were wonderful people. Now, I’m worried/wondering about Bud.

Please contact me at [email protected] regarding Bud.

Sorry for a delay, I found a notice of Ken’s death only now.
Our family remembers Ken nd Gail as extremely friendly people.
We met Ken in Kuwait in 1981.
In summer 1982, when due to political issues we could not spend summer holidays in our country, Ken invited us to his holiday house in Florida where we spent almost 2 wonderful weeks.
We are very saddened by the notice of his death.
Rest in Peace, Ken.