1920s
Venetia Mott Rountree '27, of Long Beach, Calif.; Oct. 7. She was a former Block Island (Rhode Island) innkeeper and homemaker. She married a U.S. Coast Guard officer and lived in several states while raising a family, but returned to Block Island every summer until 2006 to run the Narragansett Inn and the Spring House, which was owned by her family. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by three daughters, including Joan Rountree Hayes '54, six grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Hodgson Lingham '28, of Jefferson, Ohio; Dec. 25. She was a homemaker and member of the Austinburg (Ohio) Garden Club and Jefferson United Methodist Church. She enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, gardening, and reading. She is survived by a son, Richard M. Lingham, of 1299 Stanhope Kelloggsville Rd. Jefferson 44047; a daughter, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a brother.
1930s
Lilian E. Avila '30, of Southbury, Conn.; Dec. 31. She was a retired teacher. She taught for many years in private and public high schools, was an English professor at Bryant College in Rhode Island and a foreign languages and classics professor at the Univ. of Maine. She was also a professor of modern languages at Rhode Island College, where she retired as chairman of her department. She wrote many articles published in both English and French professional journals. She was a member of the Modern Language Association, the American Association of Teachers of French, the American Association of University Women, and the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association. She enjoyed traveling the United States, Canada, and Europe. She is survived by several cousins.
William R. Gill '31, '32 AM, of Darien, Conn. and Block Island, R.I.; Aug. 24. He was an investment banker with G.H. Walker & Co. in Providence until his retirement in 1982. He commuted between Darien and Block Island for 20 years while helping to run and maintain the Spring House on Block Island owned by the family of his former wife Bernice Mott Gill '31. He was treasurer and director of the Block Island Historical Society for 40 years, and was an active member of the Central Congregational Church in Providence, the First Congregational Church in Darien, and the Harbor Baptist Church on Block Island. In 2003, after suffering a stroke, he continued to maintain his two homes with gardens, to deliver Meals on Wheels, and to bake cookies for his granddaughter's business. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Helen Cornwall Duffy '36, of Webster, N.Y.; July 12. She was a retired teacher for the Rochester School for the Deaf. She is survived by numerous nephews and nieces.
Minot P. Fryer '36, of Evansville, Ind.; Feb. 15. He was a retired surgeon. He practiced at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and taught at the Washington Univ. Medical School for 35 years, retiring in 1981 as a clinical professor of surgery. He was past president of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons and vice chairman to the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He authored numerous articles published in surgical journals. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by two sons and five grandchildren.
Paul G. Nelson '36, of Barnstable, Mass.; Jan. 12, after a long battle with dementia. He was the owner of Nelson Coal Co. of West Barnstable, which later moved to Hyannis, Mass. The company eventually purchased the Gulf Oil distributorship for Cape Cod, where he remained active until his retirement in the late 1980s. He was active in Barnstable civic affairs, serving on the Barnstable School Committee, the Town Finance Committee, and the Barnstable Fire District Prudential Committee. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Hyannis, the Hyannisport Club, the Barnstable Yacht Club, and the Cruising Club. He enjoyed golfing and sailing. He is survived by two sons, including Paul G. Nelson Jr. '63; three grandchildren, including Christine Nelson Eldredge '86; and six great-grandchildren.
Saul Spitz '36, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 19. He was the founder and president of Spitz-Weiss Realtors and a former vice president of Heritage Homes in Florida. He was a member of the national and Rhode Island associations of realtors, the Redwood Lodge of the Masons, the Touro Fraternal Association, and Temple Emanu-El. He is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Jane Herr Towle '36, of Bethesda, Md.; Jan. 10, after a short illness. She was active in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps wives group and performed civic service with the George Washington Univ. Hospital of Washington, D.C. She is survived by two sons, a grandson, a great-granddaughter, and sister Nancy Herr Bare '41.
Hugh H. Conklin '37, of St. Augustine, Fla.; Jan. 23. He was a retired sales representative for the packaging, bottling, and labeling industry. He served as a deacon of his church and tutored high school students. He is survived by two daughters, a granddaughter, and a great-grandson.
Wilbur A. Hamilton '37, of Clearwater, Fla.; Dec. 31, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Gertrude.
Richard C. Scott '37, of St. Michaels, Md.; Dec. 10. He was a retired freelance editor employed for a time at Merkle Press Inc. in Washington, D.C. Fluent in seven languages, he was especially passionate about French. He taught in Bulgaria before World War II and later was a substitute teacher and French tutor in the St. Michaels school system. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. Phi Beta Kappa. He was an active volunteer at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum, the Friends of the Library, and Great Books reading groups. He enjoyed sailing, canoeing, crabbing, and gardening. He is survived by three daughters, a son, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a brother.
John H. Sherman '37, of Pacific Grove, Calif.; Nov. 20. He was a bank examiner for the California State Banking Department, retiring as senior deputy superintendent of banks in 1978. An avid genealogist, he prepared and published a four-volume genealogy of the Sherman family and donated over 200 copies of his work to genealogical libraries. He is survived by a brother and several nieces and nephews.
Jackson H. Skillings '37, of Rumford, R.I.; Feb. 2. He was an officer in the Rhode Island Life Underwriters Association. He represented Equitable AXA as agent and district manager for more than 70 years in both Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. While at Brown he was captain of the hockey and tennis teams, was named to the All-American Team, and set a record for Brown goaltenders. After graduating, he played a year of professional hockey with the Hershey (Penn.) Bears. He continued to play in city and state tennis tournaments, winning the Massachusetts men's singles championship three times and the Fall River men's doubles championship four times. He coached in the Bantam Youth Hockey Program at Meehan Auditorium. He was a member of the Brown Club of R.I., the Brown Hockey Association, and the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Newton Athletic Hall of Fame in Massachusetts for hockey in November 2007. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, three sons, and three granddaughters.
Helen Castle Mowry '38, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 31. She was an elementary school teacher and technical services librarian for the Cranston school system until her retirement in 1986. Before teaching, she served as secretary to the dean of the graduate school at Brown and as administrative assistant and registrar for the summer school of applied mathematics. Phi Beta Kappa. She was secretary of Meshanticut Park Baptist Church in Cranston, treasurer of the Cranston Garden Club, and a volunteer at the central library office of the Cranston School Department. She enjoyed knitting. She is survived by two sons and a grandson.
Aniela S. Zygmuntowicz '38, '67 PhD, of Uxbridge, Mass.; Jan. 2. She was a retired research biochemist. Her career spanned 40 years in research and teaching at colleges, hospitals, and federal institutions, including New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and the Harvard departments of bacteriology and pediatrics. She also worked in a medical lab at a DuPont Co. chemical plant in New Jersey, at VA hospitals in Bedford and Brockton, Mass., at Roger Williams General Hospital in Providence, and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When she received her PhD, she was head of the pharmacology laboratory in the department of medical sciences at Brown. She then left Brown to work for the EPA and returned in 1974 to work as a staff scientist at both Brown and Roger Williams General Hospital before retiring. In 1972, she attended the International Congress of Biochemistry in Stockholm, Sweden. She was a member of the American Chemical Society, the New York Academy of Sciences, and St. Mary's Church in Uxbridge. She is survived by a sister and several nieces and nephews.
Malcolm P. Decker Jr. '39, of Charlestown, R.I.; Feb. 6. He owned Triangle Print Co. Inc. in West Warwick, R.I., and was a certified organic gardener. He is survived by his wife, Mollie, two stepsons, a niece and a nephew.
Homer Tolivaisa '39, of Stamford, Conn.; Feb. 2. He worked as a financial analyst for Trans World Airlines and as a program administrator for the United Aircraft Corp. in Norwalk, Conn., before retiring. He served in the U.S. Navy for 27 years, a period that included service in both World War II and the Korean War. He was an assistant operations officer for the chief of naval operations in Washington, D.C., and retired in 1966 with the rank of commander. He is survived by a son.
1940s
Paul A. Nelson '40, of Williamsburg, Mass.; Jan. 20. He had worked for the former Pro Brush Co. in Florence, Mass., before leaving to devote more time to his family and farm in Williamsburg. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by a daughter, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.
William B. Wood '41, of Gresham, Ore.; Jan. 30. He was a retired librarian and teacher. He served as a librarian at Harvard and the New York Public Library, drove a Bookmobile in Michigan, and was assistant librarian of the St. Louis Public Library and head of the Multnomah County Library in Portland before retiring to a second career in teaching. He taught at San Jose State Univ. School of Librarianship in California, retiring in 1978. An accomplished pianist, he conducted choral groups in St. Louis and accompanied choirs and provided piano music at churches and schools. He is survived by two daughters, a grandson, and two great-grandchildren.
John B. Andrews '42, of Groton, Mass.; Dec. 24. He was a retired district sales manager for Weyerhaeuser Co. in Fitchburg, Mass. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was discharged a captain in 1945. A member of the Groton board of finance, he was an avid Red Sox fan who enjoyed soccer, swimming, tennis, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla, three sons, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a brother.
Martha Easton '42, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 2, of cardiovascular disease. She was employed by Citizens Bank for 38 years. She is survived by a sister, Mary Easton Swift Spence '43 and eleven nieces and nephews, including E. Clinton Swift Jr '67 and Peter E. Swift '69.
Richard H. Gossler '42, of Seal Beach, Calif.; May 22, 2007. He was a dentist. He served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps and was a member of the American Dental Association and the Rhode Island Dental Society. He is survived by his brother, Ralph '49.
Oswald W. Marrin Jr. '42, of Litchfield, Conn.; Dec. 19. He managed Marrin Real Estate Agency, founded by his mother in 1930. He was a Litchfield civic leader, having served on the board of Warden and Burgesses from 1951 to 1976, and as Borough Warden from 1967 to 1976. He was a trustee of the Litchfield Historical Society, a past president of the Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust, a charter member of the Rotary Club, and a member of the Litchfield Country Club. He enjoyed collecting antique cars and playing golf and tennis. He is survived by four daughters, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Katheryn L. O'Connor '42, of Dearborn, Mich.; May 12, 2007. A retired physician. Survived by her son, Michael Chapman '84, '89 MAT.
David Curtis '43, of Narragansett, R.I.; Feb. 19. He was the president and chairman of the board of Kenyon Piece Dyeworks, a textile company, until he retired in 1985. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Chariho School Building Committee, the R.I. Airport Commission, the Dunes Club in Narragansett, the Kingston Congregational Church, and the Chariho Lions Club, of which he was a past president. He is survived by two sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two brothers.
Jay W. Fidler '43, of White Plains, N.Y.; Oct. 31, of complications due to a fall. He was president and CEO of the Hercules Chemical Co., a manufacturer of products for the plumbing and heating trade, until his retirement in 2000. In 1980, the company received the first Golden Eagle Award by the Association of Independent Manufacturers Reps as Manufacturer of the Year, and in 1995 the company earned the Top Brass Award from the American Supply Association as Manufacturer of the Year. He was an extremely active Brown alumnus and a civil rights activist. Having played on the Brown football and baseball teams, he was elected to the Brown Hall of Fame in 1992, served as a Brown Trustee beginning in 1968, was a chief marshal at Commencement in 1993, assisted in recruiting and fund-raising, and helped to develop the Brown-Tougaloo College relationship that continues today. He launched a social action committee in Rye, N.Y.; worked with the Port Chester Carver Center to initiate Operation Going Places, a program for underprivileged children; and worked with the Democratic party to encourage black candidates to run for office in local and Westchester County races. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. He enjoyed the theater, photography, and travel. Contributions in his name may be made to the Petra Foundation, 315 Duke Elington Blvd. #16C, New York City 10025 or to the Jay W. Fidler Scholarship Fund at Brown University, c/o Gift Cashier, PO Box 1877, Providence 02912. He is survived by his wife, Rhoda, of 10 City Pl., #17A, White Plains 10601; a son, Josh '77; daughters Shelley Fidler'68 and Meg Fidler'72; five grandchildren, including Alexandra Fidler Metzl '04 and Aaron Ganz '09; a brother, Roy '50; and a nephew Matthew Fidler '84.
Louise Lucas Strother '43, of San Antonio, Tex.; Jan. 2, 2006, of a stroke. She was a homemaker and member of St. David's Episcopal Church. She enjoyed sailing. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by two sons, including Henry, of 3405 Beverly Dr., Annandale, Va. 22003.
Howard V. Hadfield '44, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Feb. 11. He was an environmental consultant. He was employed as a research chemist by Bird and Son Inc. until the company closed its Rhode Island operations. He was appointed pretreatment coordinator for the City of Warwick wastewater treatment plant and thanks to his leadership the program was awarded the 1992 EPA National Pretreatment Excellence Award. He also worked as a consultant for the Narragansett Bay Commission. He was a member of the American Legion, the American Chemical Society, the R.I. Pretreatment Coordinators Association, the R.I. Pollution Prevention Council, Save the Bay, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, the National Council of Air and Stream Improvement, the Pawtucket Building Authority, the Rotary Club of Pawtucket, and the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. He enjoyed tennis, jogging, and traveling overseas. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, five daughters, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Janet Lindsey Hindmarsh '44, of Punta Gorda, Fla.; Dec. 24. She is survived by her husband, George '44, and five daughters, including Susan Hindmarsh Penny '67.
David B. Temkin '44, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Feb. 6. He was president of the former Temkin Tobacco and Candy Co., and of New Vermont Creamery in Providence. He had a passion for tennis and was ranked amateur in his teens and early twenties. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, two daughters, and four grandchildren.
Jonathan P. Brooks '45, of Mill Creek, Wash.; Dec. 3. He was a retired fire-protection sales-and-service manager for Grinnell Fire Protection Systems Co. in Seattle. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Badger. He was also a master landscaper and devoted his time to helping churches, family, and friends with their yards. He enjoyed model trains, opera, and books. He is survived by his wife, Betty; three daughters; two stepchildren; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Phyllis R. Mayo '45, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 9. She was a retired registered nurse and teacher at Rhode Island Hospital. She was a member of the Providence County Kennel Club and the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Douglas A. Snow '45, of Durango, Colo., formerly of Exeter, N.H.; Jan. 11, of prostate cancer. He managed the Exeter Bookstore at Phillips Exeter Academy while teaching ninth-grade English classes and living with his family in a dormitory as a resident adviser. He retired in 1984. While in graduate school at Brown, he was appointed an assistant editor of the Brown Alumni Monthly.He served the BAM until he was hired to manage the University Store at Brown in 1954. He was instrumental in founding College Stores of New England, a professional trade association, and served as its third president. He was a trustee of the Exeter Public Library for 19 years and helped establish Seacoast Hospice in New Hampshire. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a waist gunner on a B-17 flying bombing missions over Europe (including D-Day). He is survived by his wife, Marta, three sons, five grandchildren, and a sister.
Robert S. Baker '46, of Long Branch, N.J.; Dec. 25. He was the priest associate of St. James Episcopal Church in Long Branch. He was devoted to pastoral care and individual counseling. He was a lecturer in English and American Literature at the Long Island School of Theology from 1955 to 1965. His many positions and memberships included chaplain to the American Legion of Nassau County; honorary member of the Brooklyn Rotary Club; chairman of the YMCA at Long Island Univ., Brooklyn College, and the Pratt Institute; director of the Brooklyn Music School; member and secretary of the Brooklyn Community Board; member of the Advisory Committee of the Council of Community Services of New York; and chaplain of the Marlboro State Hospital in New Jersey.
Robert W. Black '46, of Lincoln, R.I.; Dec. 30. He was a manager at Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. of Providence for 34 years and later worked for AVCO, a division of Textron, in Wilmington, Mass., until retiring. He served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean War. As a member of the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Pawtucket, R.I., he served as Sunday school teacher, chairman of the ushers, and chairman of the budget committee. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, four daughters, three grandchildren, and a sister.
Peter M. Cavas '46, of Annapolis, Md.; Jan. 12, of a brain tumor. He was a career employee of the U.S. Census Bureau, for which he performed key roles in national civil defense assessments and in the computerization of the bureau during the 1970s. He retired from the Office of Management and Budget in 1981. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren.
Robert S. Hallock '46, of Orange, Conn.; Dec. 16. He was employed as an administrator at Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. in New Haven and then at S.N.E.T. in Orange before retiring. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He served as vice chairman of the New Haven Red Cross blood-program committee. He is survived by his wife, Martha, two daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.
Albert H. Hartley '46, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Jan. 18. He was a retired comptroller for East Ohio Gas Co. in Cleveland and past vice president of Lakeshore Natural Gas and Consolidated Natural Gas of Pittsburgh. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the New Hope United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville. He is survived by his wife, Helen, two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Carl G. Paulson '46, of Torrance, Calif.; Feb. 26, 2006. He was a self-employed real estate broker. In 1982 he was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame as the first swimmer in Brown history to win a NCAA title.
John T. Benware '47, of Endwell, N.Y.; Dec. 3. He was an employee of IBM until retiring in 1984. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club and Our Lady of Angels Church in Endwell. He is survived by three daughters, including Donna Benware Goodnough of 376 First Ave., Vestal, N.Y. 13850; two sons; sixteen grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Edward H. Bowen Jr '47, of Media, Pa.; Jan. 31. He practiced internal medicine at several New York hospitals before becoming a staff physician for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co., retiring in 1988. He was a member of the American Philatelic Society, a dog lover, avid reader, and a music lover. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family. He is survived by a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.
Robert L. Hellens '47, '48 ScM, of Boothbay Harbor, Me.; Jan. 28, of Wegener's disease. A retired physicist. He worked as a chief physicist at Combustion Engineering in Windsor Locks, Conn., until he retired in 1985. He earlier worked on the nuclear reactor design of the USS Nautilus (the U.S. Navy's first nuclear-powered vessel) at Westinghouse's Bettis Laboratory in Pittsburgh and on nuclear power plant design at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. He was an adjunct professor of nuclear engineering at Columbia and taught physics at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He published more than 40 articles and lectured extensively. In retirement he served on the visiting committees of the nuclear engineering department of the Univ. of Illinois and of the applied physics department of the Argonne National Laboratory. He was a U.S. delegate to three of the Atoms for Peace Conferences held in Geneva, Switzerland. He received numerous awards of recognition. He was an emeritus fellow of the American Nuclear Society and a member of the first ANS delegation to visit and survey the nuclear power program of the People's Republic of China. He enjoyed listening to music, woodworking, sailing, gardening, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Sally, three daughters, and six granddaughters.
William H. Joslin Jr. '47, of Wellington, Fla. and Little Compton, R.I.; Jan. 25. He was a general agent of the Rhode Island office of the National Life Insurance Co. He was a chartered life underwriter and a certified financial planner. He was consistently elected to the Million Dollar Round Table. He was a member of the Agawam Hunt Club, the Sakonnet Golf Club, the Warren's Point Beach Club—all in Rhode Island—and of the Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club in Wellington. He enjoyed breeding and racing thoroughbreds, golfing, and spending time with family. He is survived by wife, Bobbi, three daughters, three step-children, and nine grandchildren.
Philip P. Mastandrea '47, of Trappe, Md.; Dec. 29. He was an advertising sales executive for the Journal of Commerce. During World War II he served as a pilot in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. He is survived by his wife, Grace, two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren.
Joseph A. Palastak Jr. '47, of Southport, Conn.; Feb. 16, of Alzheimer's. He was an executive director of Transit Advertising Association based in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed swing dancing, baseball, traveling, and rooting for the New York Giants. He is survived by his twin brother, John '51, a niece, and several nephews.
John R. Thorne '47, of Laughlintown, Pa.; Feb. 13. He was a professor of entrepreneurship at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon until his retirement in 2005. He founded several organizations to help fund startup companies in the Pittsburgh area. Additionally, he served on numerous company boards and helped form the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ligonier Valley. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Helen; sons John '75 and Richard '80; daughter Barbara Thorne '76; four grandchildren; and three sisters.
Priscilla Preston Cutler Whipple '47, of Westborough, Mass.; May 20, 2007. She was a retired mental health worker at Boston Univ. Medical Center Hospital. While living in the People's Republic of China for three years, she taught English to university students preparing to study in the United States. She enjoyed reading and cooking. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two stepsons, three step-grandchildren, and two brothers.
Norman Robinson '48, of Providence, R.I.; Dec. 29. He was a chartered life underwriter and held office in several professional associations. During his 59-year career in the life-insurance and estate-planning business, he received several awards and honors. He was active in the Jewish community, serving as board member and president of the Jewish Community Center of Rhode Island. He is survived by his wife, Natalie '68 AM, two daughters, three granddaughters, and sister Dorothy Robinson Golner '44 and nephew Geoffrey Golner '67.
Robert H. Carlson '49, of Wakefield, R.I.; Jan. 6. He was founder and president of CNC Chemical Corp. in Providence until his retirement in 1995. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a member and past board member of Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, a charter member of the Lafayette Lodge F. & A.M., and a member of the American Association of Textile Color and Chemists. He is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Thomas H. Keough '49, of Lansdale, Pa.; Feb. 15. He was the owner of a full-service Mobil station in Lansdale. He was previously employed by the U.S. Rubber Co. in Providence and the Plymouth Golf Ball Co. in Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his companion, Leatrice, two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.
Robert Z. Rothstein '49, of New York City; May 23, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter Laurie Rothstein '79, and a son.
Barrett G. Yager '49, of South Orleans, Mass.; July 12, of liver cancer. He was a retired real estate agent and advertising consultant. He was earlier employed by U.S. News & World Report as an advertising sales executive. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a member of the Cape Cod Men's Club and the Orleans Yacht Club. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Andree, of PO Box 887, So. Orleans 02662; a daughter; and two sons.
1950s
Bernard J. Berstein '50, of Narragansett, R.I.; Dec. 22, of colon cancer. He was a retired North Providence obstetrician/gynecologist. After serving for more than 25 years on the clinical teaching faculty of Brown Medical School, he was appointed to the emeritus staff. During World War II and the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was a member of Congregation Beth David in Narragansett and a former member of Temple Emanu-El in Providence. He was also a member of Touro Fraternal Association and the Rhode Island Shrine. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Kaplan Berstein '49; three sons, including Jason '80, '85 MD; and eight grandchildren.
Sante A. Breda '50, of Nashua, N.H.; Jan. 7, of Alzheimer's. He was a retired administrator for Deaconess Hospital in Boston, now known as Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, until he retired in 1987. He served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Susan, of 14 Hadley Dr., Nashua 03062; a son; three grandchildren; and two sisters.
Frank W. Bueche '50, of Windsor, Calif.; Dec. 27.
Arvid E. Dahlstrom '50, of Harlingen, Tex.; Jan. 2. He had a career in education that began as a high school English teacher and led to three superintendent positions and an appointment as supervisor and bureau chief of the Cooperative Review Service in the New York State Education Department. He retired in 1982 as chief of elementary school education. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force. He enjoyed traveling around the United States. He is survived by his wife, Lassey, a son, five daughters, twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
David M. Gardner '50, of King of Prussia, Pa.; Apr. 29, 2007, of cancer. He worked in research and development as a physical chemist for Reaction Motors in Dover, N.J., and then for Pennwalt Corp. in King of Prussia, until his retirement in 1991. He earlier taught chemistry at both the Univ. of Pennsylvania and Temple Univ. He held several patents on inventions for chemical processes. He was active in his community, serving as a past master of William L. Elkins Lodge 646, secretary of the King of Prussia Lions Club, and director of the Mineralogical Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Joan, three daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, and a sister.
Sears W. Ingraham '50, of Darien, Conn.; Jan. 8. He was the executive vice president and corporate director in charge of international operations for Noxell Corp., retiring in 1990. During World War II he served in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He was a competitive clay bird shooter and a member of the Wee Burn Country Club, the Woodway Rod & Gun Club, the Norwalk Yacht Club, and the Naples (Fla.) Yacht Club. He was treasurer of the Camp Fire Club of America. He is survived by his wife, Laura, a son, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
George Soter '50, of Rocky Hill, Conn.; Feb. 9, after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He had been recently employed by the State of Connecticut's Department of Labor as a data processor as part of the Hire the Handicap campaign. He was a spokesman for the program and a member of both the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans. He retired from state service in 1989. He previously was senior vice president of marketing for the Sperry Rand Corp. and provided marketing consulting services throughout the United States for several companies. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, receiving service stars and medals and retiring with the rank of captain. An active member of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Conn., he taught Sunday school and coached the church basketball team. He enjoyed writing, singing, and dancing. He is survived by his wife, Ann, of 321 Orchard St., Rocky Hill 06067; a daughter; two sons; a granddaughter; and three brothers.
John M. Bello '51, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 30. He was a retired manager of the former American Card Co. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as scoutmaster of Pack 41 in Cranston. He was a member of the Edgewood Yacht Club and the Rhode Island Yacht Club. Knowledgeable in the construction and maintenance of boats, he served on the race committee for the Herreshoff S class races for 19 years. He is survived by a daughter and a sister, Eva Bello Grant '46.
Frederic C. Caswell Jr '51, of Jamestown, R.I.; Jan. 29. He was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy serving aboard the USS Hale from 1951 to 1954 and as a commanding officer aboard the USS Amherst and the USS Lowry. He served at the Naval War College from 1980 to 1983. He worked for the American Institute in Taiwan from 1984 to 1988. From 1989 to 1994 he worked for Litton Industries as their managing director in Taiwan. He was treasurer and choir member at the Central Baptist Church in Jamestown. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, computers, books, and sailboats. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, a son, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
John A. Chernak '51, of Shaker Heights, Ohio; Jan. 22. He was the president of Tomlinson's Industries in Cleveland and vice president of the National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers. He is survived by his wife, Arlene, four daughters, and six grandchildren.
Malcolm L. Daniels '51, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 24. He held several positions in the Cranston community. From 1955 to 1960 he was the city's director of administration, he was a past chairman and vice chairman of the Cranston Planning Commission, a board member of the city of Cranston Hall of Fame, and the founder, editor, and publisher of the Cranston Mirror, a weekly newspaper. He was a member of both the Providence and Cranston Rotary Clubs, the National Boating Safety Commission, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame in 1994 and was the 1996 Outstanding Senior of Cranston. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving on executive and advisory boards and the Silver Beaver selection committee and served as a scoutmaster for Troop 18 in Cranston. He received the Silver Beaver Award, the Bucklin Medal, and the Scouters Key. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army and was severely wounded in the Battle of Wingen in France. He received a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, and Victory Medal. He is survived by his wife, Joan, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, and brother.
George L. Johnston '51, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Jan. 14. He worked in the brokerage business for PaineWebber and several other large firms in Boston before joining Fleet Bank, from which he retired in 1992 as a vice president and trust officer. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Gail.
William C. Nenno '51, of Haverhill, Mass; Jan. 10. He was a career diplomat. From 1956 to 1982 he was a foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department in Germany, Austria, India, Australia, and Washington, D.C. He served as a state department representative for the Mercury Space Project and later helped establish the first U.S. Embassy in East Berlin. After his retirement he continued to work at the Pentagon and the National Archives until 2003. He is survived by daughters Nancy Nenno '78 and Claudia Trombly '88, '92 MD; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Chester Twardzicki '51, of North Attleboro, Mass.; Jan. 11. He was a retired advertising director. During his senior year at Brown, he worked as the advertising director for both the Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and the Franklin (Mass.) Sentinel. In 1964 he joined the advertising staff of WARA radio station in Attleboro. In 1977, while employed full time at WARA, he was asked by the Attleboro-Plainville Chamber of Commerce to become executive director for the United Way of North Attleboro and the North Attleboro Industrial Development Corp., from which he retired in 1982. He was a member of the Masons and North Attleboro Elks Lodge No. 1011. He is survived by his live-in companion, Lois Nelson; two sons; a daughter; three grandsons; one great-grandson; and three adopted grandchildren.
Edward E. Feleppa Jr. '53, of Madison, Conn.; Oct. 31, of cancer. He was a retired municipal court judge in New Jersey and a member of the American Judges Association in Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Army. While at Brown, he was a member of the Jabberwocks and subsequently appeared with the group for more than 50 years. He enjoyed model trains and in retirement worked at the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Balze Feleppa '53, of 22 Strathmore Ln., Madison 06443; three daughters; seven grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.
Patricia Sullivan Stevenson '53, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Nov. 6. She was a retired U.S. Navy nurse. She was a member of the Retired Military Officers Association, the Navy Nurse Corps Association, and St. Barnabas Church, Portsmouth. She is survived by a sister, two nieces, and a nephew.
Melden E. Smith Jr. '53, '64 MAT, of Hyannis, Mass.; Dec. 16. He was a history teacher. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years as a navigator and pilot in the Strategic Air Command, retiring in 1990 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a historian, he authored several articles published in the Journal of Contemporary History. He conducted archival research and extensive interviews in connection with the World War II bombing of Dresden, Germany. He was a member of the American Historical Association, the New England Historical Association, the Oral History Association, and the Air Force Historical Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Mary, a daughter, and three grandchildren.
William E. Spindel '53, of Cincinnati; Mar. 16, 2007, of cancer. He was a retired dentist. He held a practice for more than 48 years, and contributed to a newspaper column called "Ask the Dentist." He served as a pilot in the U.S. Air National Guard. He was a member of the Ohio Society, the Cincinnati Traveler Club, the College Hill Presbyterian Church, the Cincinnati Dental Society, the Ohio Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Association of Endodontists, and the American Association of Endodontists. He enjoyed tennis and swimming. He is survived by his wife, Gwyneth, a daughter, a son, four grandchildren, and two sisters.
August W. Loos Jr '54, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Pomfret, Conn.; Feb. 10, of Parkinson's. He was president of Loos & Co. Inc., a wire cable company in Pomfret, and an entrepreneur. His business endeavors included wire cable, fiberoptics, electronic winches, satellite antennas, a gas station, a vineyard and winery, and the design and construction of a golf course. His hobbies, which complemented his businesses, were golf, wine, antique automobiles, and the rebuilding of a vintage sailboat. He is survived by his wife, Joan, two sons, and six grandchildren.
Leon Sinrich '54, of Salem, Mass.; Feb. 4, of pancreatic cancer. He was the president of Northeastern Furniture Co. in Chelsea, his family-run business, until retiring in the 1980s. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He was a founding member of Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody and served as chairman of the fellowship and a member of the board of directors at the Temple Beth El, now called Cong. Shirat Hayam, in Swampscott. He is survived by his wife Leeta, three sons, and eight grandchildren.
Charles J. Gesen '55, of Penacook, N.H.; Jan. 23. He was a past president of the Manufacturers and Merchants Mutual Insurance Co. in Concord. He was the director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Association of New England, a trustee of the Merrimack County Savings Bank, and served on the boards of the Concord Family YMCA and the Concord SPCA. He served in the U.S. Navy, from which he was discharged with the rank of lieutenant commander. He was a member of the Concord Rotary, the Central New Hampshire Model T Ford Club, and the Comstock Lode Tennis Group. He was also founder and coach of the Concord Centaurs Soccer Club. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, a son, four daughters, fifteen grandchildren, and three sisters.
Donald L. Gross '55, of San Diego; Aug. 19. He was an aerodynamics engineer for General Dynamics. He served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, four sons, sixteen grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.
Michael Medzigian '55 of Binghamton, N.Y.; June 12, 2006.
Edwin F. Lewis Jr. '56, of North Conway, N.H., and Andover, Mass.; Feb. 3, following a long illness. He was a retired sales representative with Shipley Co., now called Rohm and Haas Co., in Marlborough, Mass. He served in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, and being in nature. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, a daughter, a son, two grandchildren, a brother and several nieces and nephews.
Christopher H. Murphy '56, of New Canaan, Conn.; Dec. 26. He was a director of international pricing for Pan American World Airlines and chairman of the Interline Prorate Advisory Committee until his retirement. Prior to working for Pan Am, he served as an airline industry executive with American Airlines and as a fares and rates officer with the International Air Transport Association in Garden City, N.Y. After retiring from Pan Am, he was a consultant to the International Civil Aviation Organization. He served two years with the U.S. Army. He enjoyed classical music, gardening, opera, and reading. He is survived by his wife Marian, a daughter, three brothers, including Jonathan F. Murphy '57, and several nieces and nephews.
Christopher Smiles '56, of Delray Beach, Fla.; Nov. 19. He was a retired banker. He served in the U.S. Army and helped to found TechnoServe, a nonprofit business organization that provides solutions to poverty in third world countries. He enjoyed painting, classical music, and being by the beach. He is survived by his wife, Caroline; a daughter; four sons, including Andrew '90, James '88, and Christopher '81; nine grandchildren; and a sister.
John P. Gould '57, of Huntley, Ill., formerly of Woodstock, Ill.; Feb. 23. He was the owner of Woodstock Glass and Mirror in Woodstock. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the Young Presidents Organization, Rotary International, and the Masons. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, a daughter, two sons, six grandchildren, and a sister.
Janet O'Callaghan Mariani '57, of Watertown, Conn.; Jan. 31, of cancer. She taught French and dance at the Taft School in Watertown. She served as an interpreter for the U.S. State Department and represented the United States at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels. She was an accomplished dancer and choreographer and enjoyed traveling through Europe, Egypt, and South America. She is survived by her husband, Terrence '55, of 64 Walnut St., Watertown 06795; three sons; six grandchildren; and a brother.
1960s
Alexander W. Carnathan '60, of Norwell, Mass.; Jan. 16, after a long illness. He was a mathematics teacher at Silver Lake Regional Middle School, where he was awarded teacher of the year. He was also an assistant football coach at the Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, Mass. He is survived by a sister, a brother, and several nieces and nephews.
Douglas S. Tolderlund '60, of Old Lyme, Conn.; Jan. 24. He was a professor of marine science at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, retiring in 1999 as a professor emeritus. He enjoyed his travels on the USCG icebreaker Polar Sea across the Northwest Passage and the USCG icebreaker Polar Star to the South Pole, where he landed on Shackleton Glacier. He also enjoyed gardening, watching wild birds, and being with his family. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.
Robert P. Thayer '63, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 22. He was a teacher and guidance counselor at East Providence High School until his retirement in 1992. During the Vietnam War he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the East Providence Council of the Knights of Columbus and of St. Patrick Church in Providence. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and his brother, David T. Thayer '71, '76 MD.
William C. MacVicar '67, of Hamburg, N.Y.; Sept. 2, of liver failure. He was the public education director of the Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. He was a founding member and past president of the Arthur W. Buchanan Foundation Inc., which helps addicts avoid relapse. From 1968 to 1985 he lived in Toronto earning his masters degree and working as a feature writer for the Globe and Mail. He also owned an extensive film noir collection and subsequently taught a class on the subject at SUNY Fredonia. Phi Beta Kappa. He was to receive the Exemplary Service to the Field award on November 30, 2007, from the Western New York Chemical Dependency Consortium. He is survived by his sister, Marcia MacVicar Zuhlke, of 1211 Wisconsin Rd., Derby, NY 14047.
Jeffrey B. Rector '68, of Fairport, N.Y., Jan. 16, 2006.
1970s
Craig H. Johns '72, of Pittsburgh; Sept. 7. He is survived by a sister and several cousins.
1980s
Cecily C. Coughlan '86, of Orr's Island, Me.; Dec. 19. She was an English teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy in Andover, Mass., as well as a coach of the junior varsity women's rowing team. She earlier taught English and rowing at the Lakeside School in Seattle while interning with rowing expert Frank Cunningham. She was head coach of Martha's Moms (a women's masters rowing club), and under her guidance, the club won two National Masters championships. She held private tutorials and coached recreational and Olympic scullers. She authored a book of poetry and short stories, as well as books dealing with the art of coaching crew. She enjoyed birdwatching, kayaking, listening to music, and reading. She is survived by her father, Peter Reed Coughlan, a brother, two sisters, and two nephews.
1990s
Jean M. Essner Casey '90, of Brunswick, Me.; Dec. 5, of breast cancer. She worked as a consultant at the Small Business Development Center at the Univ. of Southern Maine and enjoyed being a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Christopher; two daughters; a stepson; a stepdaughter; parents, Roger and Nancy Essner; two brothers; and a sister.
Kelly J. Ferguson '90, of Lutherville, Md.; Dec. 23. She was the founder of Creature Care, an animal care company. She previously interned on the Late Show with David Letterman and worked in production roles in movies and television with Universal Studios. She was an accomplished flutist. She is survived by her parents, Dr. Robert and Diane Ferguson, a brother, a nephew, and several aunts and uncles.
G.S.
Harold J. Leavitt '44 ScM, of Stanford, Calif.; Dec. 8, of pulmonary fibrosis. He was a professor of organizational behavior and psychology at Stanford until he retired in 1987. He authored several books that helped shape the way organizational behavior is taught in business schools and implemented in the workplace. He served as a consultant to many corporations and organizations, including Bell Telephone, the Ford Foundation, and Kaiser Permanante. He is survived by his wife, Jean, a daughter, two sons, three stepchildren, nine grandchildren, and a sister.
Elizabeth C. Small '50 AM, of Southington, Conn.; Oct. 4, from Alzheimer's. She was a retired secondary school English teacher. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Southington and the Hannah Woodruff Chapter of DAR. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by three cousins.
Carl-Fredrik A. Leth '54 PhD, of Sweden; Oct. 27.
Edmund G. Teixeira '66 MAT, of Taunton, Mass.; May 15, 2007. He was a retired history teacher for Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. He is survived by his wife, Ann.
John W. Hansberry '68 ScM, '73 PhD, of Dartmouth, Mass.; Dec. 30. He was a retired professor of mechanical engineering at UMass Dartmouth. After his retirement from teaching, he worked at the university's Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center and also managed quality control and computer-aided analysis at Thermax Inc. An advocate for physical fitness, he participated in numerous marathons, biked, and golfed. He had a passion for cars and racing. He is survived by a sister, a niece, and several friends.
Lindsey A. Robinson '71 MAT; Harrisburg, Pa.; Feb. 4. He was a retired pastor of the Locust Lane Mennonite Chapel. He also served as Bible school teacher, counselor, and mission board conference minister for the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. He enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling, and watching movies. He is survived by his wife, Myra; mother, Billie Jean Robinson; a daughter; a son; two grandsons; and a brother.
Gerald F. Barrow '86 AM, '94 PhD, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Dec. 14. He was a special-education teacher for the Johnston (R.I.) School Department. A talented musician, he was a member of the Schola Cantorum at St. Stephen's in Providence. He is survived by a sister.
Faculty
A.D. Van Nostrand, of Riverside, R.I.; Jan. 3, of cancer. He was a professor of English for 31 years at Brown, specializing in American literature, literary criticism, and functional writing. He served as chairman of the English department from 1973 to 1978. While at Brown, he authored several books and helped raise funds for the Center for Creative Writing. He was instrumental in creating what is known today as the Department of Modern Culture and Media Studies and laying the groundwork for what is now the Nonfiction Writing Program in English. After leaving Brown, he continued as chairman of the English department at Georgia Institute of Technology. He was the recipient of the Peabody Award for educational television and enjoyed sailing and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Joan Pettigrew Van Nostrand '79 PhD; three daughters, including Amy Van Nostrand '75 and Jillian Van Nostrand '76; two sons, including Kipp '81; four grandchildren; and former wife Nancy Van Nostrand. Memorial contributions in his honor may be sent to The Tuftonboro Free Library, PO Box 73, Center Tuftonboro, N.H. 03816 or The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, 703 Main St., Weston, Vt. 05161.
Hugh Townley, of Bethel, Vt.; Feb. 1. He began his teaching career at Brown in 1961, retiring as professor emeritus of art in 1989. He was a sculptor and printmaker best known for his wood sculptures. He was a Fellow at the Yaddo Foundation in 1964 and at the Tamarind Foundation for Lithography in 1969. He was honored by the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1967 and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, in 1980. His work has been shown in numerous one-person exhibitions in major museums and galleries and has been represented in nearly 100 group shows. In 1972 he received the Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts in Rhode Island. He is survived by a son and a companion, Cynthia King.
J. Michael Walker, of Bloomington, Ind.; Jan. 5. In 1983 he became a professor in the department of psychology at Brown. He retired in 2004 as chairman of the department. He then left to become a professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana Univ. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, three daughters, and several nieces and nephews.
