Roger Spry, a longtime administrator for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has died. He was 85.

He retired from the School of Medicine in 1999 as assistant dean for Academic Affairs and Administration. He earned the school's Distinguished Service Award in 1998.

Spry joined the School of Medicine in 1971 as director of Fiscal Affairs. In that capacity, he organized and implemented the school's departmental administrative structure, and introduced computer programs for budgeting and controlling expenditures. He was promoted to assistant dean in 1975. He had responsibility for the daily administration and fiscal affairs of the school, and for the completion of several critically important projects. With oversight for the school's development function, he was instrumental in the initiation and completion of the school's first capital campaign, which raised more than $15 million for the construction of a new clinical research facility. He oversaw construction of the 100,000-square-foot building, Wayne State's first facility funded almost exclusively through private donations.

He implemented and coordinated the installation of the computer network for the medical campus, which provided computer linkage for 1,400 faculty and administrative staff. He also was instrumental in the development of the school's first comprehensive strategic plan.

During his tenure, Spry played a leading role in WSU's emergence as one of the nation's top medical schools.

He also served on the United Methodist Retirement Communities Board of Trustees for 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Lori; son, Bradley (Pat); daughter, Nancy (Frank) Klimko; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 16 at the First United Methodist Church, 1589 W Maple Road, Birmingham, MI.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his name be made to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or United Methodist Retirement Communities-Chelsea, Mich.