Northern Star Article March 29, 2005

"Former NIU professor dies of cancer"
Her work with infant nutrition helped many globally

Sondra Lynn King will be remembered around the world for her generosity and compassion.
 

King, a professor emeritus of family, consumer and nutrition sciences at NIU, died March 16 at the Swedish-American Hospital in Rockford of pancreatic cancer. She was 63 years old.

Before retiring in 2002, King was an associate professor in foods and nutrition with a specialty in maternal and infant nutrition in third-world countries, said her daughter, Kimi King.

Sondra King is survived by her two daughters, Kimi and Karisa King; her granddaughter, Marlene Meernik; her mother, Janney Bee Hines; and her two brothers, Steve and Mike Hines.

King was engaged to Art Webb, a new DeKalb resident who she had known for more than 20 years. The wedding was set for August 20, Kimi King said.

King’s funeral was held March 21 at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb. A memorial visitation and gathering also was held March 20 at Quiram-Sycamore Funeral Home.

Christine Gillette, a former student of King’s and an NIU alumna, gave a memorial speech on behalf of FCNS professors and students.

"She worked so diligently to make this world a better place, whether it was educating students or mothers and children in third-world countries," Gillette said. "She never expected anything in return. Seeing the positive outcome of her dedicated work was that reward. She was an angel to all whom she touched."

Kimi King said her mother was one of the most amazing, warm, loving, generous people she knew. She said King started international work in 1981, traveled to more than 35 different countries during her lifetime and was planning to travel to Ghana in West Africa this week.

In 2003, King conducted a study in Panama with children in a medical facility who were extremely malnourished. She conducted an experimental design to see if adding Power Flower, a malt flower, to the children’s normal porridge would better their health.

King also conducted research in Nicaragua, improving the nutrition of 850 children, as well as in Nukus, Uzbekistan, where she changed the nutrition habits of many once unhealthy children in an orphanage. She also converted the Food Guide Pyramid into Russian.

King was also very respected at NIU and received numerous awards such as the NIU Excellence in Teaching Award in 1992, the Lankford Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002, the Fisher Award for Faculty Excellence and Service and being recognized by the Illinois Dietetics’ Association as an Outstanding Educator.

"She was an amazing lady," Kimi King said. "She was my sister’s and my best friend."