Obituaries

January 8th, 2009

 

1930s

Mary Taylor Clark '30, of Dalton, Mass.; Sept. 22, following a brief illness. She was a retired teacher and part-time executive director of the Dalton Camp Fire Girls. She taught math at the former Salisbury High School in Lakeville, Conn. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Dalton, of Phi Beta Kappa, and of Sigma Xi. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, and two sisters.

Helena Hogan Shea '30, '35 AM, of West Warwick, R.I.; Sept. 19. She was a retired chief clinical psychologist with the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals in the division of alcoholism. After retiring she worked part-time as a grant researcher for Butler Hospital in Providence. She served as a former president of the Pembroke College Alumnae Assoc., a trustee and national chairman of the Pembroke College Fund, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. She was one of the first women to receive a Brown Bear Award. She was also a member of the American Psychological Assoc., the Rhode Island Psychological Assoc., the New England Psychological Assoc., the National Rehabilitation Assoc., and the Dunes Club of Narragansett (R.I.). She is survived by a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth A. Casey '35, of Providence; Sept. 18. She was a teacher and counselor in the Providence public school system until her retirement in 1975. She was a member of the Pembroke Alumnae Assoc. and a volunteer in the chaplain's office at Rhode Island Hospital. She is survived by a cousin.

Zelda Fisher Gourse '36, of Providence; Aug. 29. She was the coordinator of library services at Bristol Community College in Fall River, Mass., until her retirement in 1978. She was past president of Fall River's Pembroke College Club and a member of Brown's first General Development Committee. She and her late husband established the Sydney Jane Gourse Memorial Scholarship in the memory of their daughter. She was a member of the American Assoc. of Univ. Women, the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El in Fall River, the Brandeis Women's Committee, the R.I. Jewish Historical Society, and the board of Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. She is survived by a cousin; nephews Samuel Gourse '40, and his wife, Bernice Markoff Gourse '41; and Richard L. Gourse '71, '73 MAT, '80 PhD, and his wife, Wilma E. Ross '69, '82 PhD; and nieces Judith G. Hoffman '76 and her husband, Andy Hoffman '88 PhD; and Natalie G. Prokesch '44.

Jerome S. Goldsmith '37, of Los Angeles; Oct. 8, of prostate cancer. After starting and later selling a home equipment business, he sold Los Angeles real estate for Jerart Inc. before retiring to spend time with his family. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

 

1940s

Eugene F. Verdery '40, of Marietta, Ga., formerly of Jacksonville, Fla.; Aug. 27. He was a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot. He served in World War II and the KoreanWar. Among his many decorations was the Bronze Star for Valor. In 1969 he retired as the commanding officer of the naval air station in Pensacola, Fla., and moved to Jacksonville, where he began a career with the city and county governments. He retired from this second career in 1997 and moved to Marietta. He was a member of the Brown football and swimming teams. He is survived by a daughter, a son, and four grandchildren.

William A. Jewett '41, of McLean, Va.; May 31. He was a retired college administrator. He held positions as vice president for financial affairs at Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C.; as vice president of management at the Univ. of Miami; and as recorder, placement officer, and director of student activities at Brown. He was a member of Brown's track and swimming teams, as well as past president of the Zeta Psi Assoc. of R.I. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy, from which he was discharged with the rank of lt. commander after assuming the responsibility for recruiting and commanding the Providence division of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

William A. Spicer '42, of Providence; Oct. 17. He was an administrative assistant for the division of engineering at Brown for ten years. Before that he was a technical writer for the St. Regis Paper Co. in Rumford, R.I.; an office manager for Brown and Sharpe Co. in Chicago; and an assistant export manager for B.I.F. Industries in Providence. In retirement he repaired antique clocks. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Agawam Hunt Club (R.I.) and the National Assoc. of Watch and Clock Collectors. He is survived by a niece, a nephew, and three grand-nephews.

James F. Battey '43, of Los Altos, Calif.; Sept. 21, of cancer. He was a businessman and an avid scientist. He served as president and CEO of Dionex Corp. during its early years; as general manager of Clevite Transistor in Waltham, Mass.; and as president of Psi Star in Fremont, Calif. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He is survived by his wife, Janet; a son; two daughters, including Janet Battey Dodson, 13216 Woodcreek Pl., Poway, Calif. 92064; and seven grandchildren.

Mary Grosse Murray '43, of Holden, Mass.; Sept. 2. She was a high school librarian for the Worcester public school system until her retirement in 1987. She served as president of the Pembroke Club of Worcester and as class secretary from 1953 to 1968. She was past president of the Holden Garden Club and a member of the Friends of the Gale Free Library, the White Oaks Conservation Society (both in Holden), and St. George's Church in Worcester, Mass. She enjoyed gardening and reading. She is survived by two sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren.

Claire Fontaine Cayer '44, of Mattapoisett, Mass.; Sept. 14, after a brief illness. She was a homemaker and an active communicant of St. Anthony's Church in Mattapoisett. She received the Marian Medal from the Diocese of Fall River for her years of service to her parish. She served on the board of the New Bedford office of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She is survived by her husband, Norman, two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and a brother.

William R. MacKay '44, of Bellingham, Wash.; Aug. 20. He taught psychology and served in the counseling center at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., from 1949 to 1962. In Bellingham he developed and taught in an interdepartmental graduate program in student personnel administration; he also served as assistant director of the counseling center at Western Washington State College (now Washington Univ.) until his retirement in 1987. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a member of the American Psychological Assoc., the American Personnel Guidance Assoc., the Assoc. of Student Personnel Administrators, the Washington School Counsel Assoc., Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Delta Kappa. He enjoyed reading, traveling, and the outdoors. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; daughter Barbara MacKay Gupta, 845 SW Mies St., Pullman, Wash. 99163; two sons; and six grandchildren, including Sonia Gupta '06.

Henry R. "Bob" Margarita '44, of Stoneham, Mass.; July 28, from complications of pneumonia. He was a retired teacher and coach. He taught history at Stoneham High School from 1964 to 1987 and coached their football team from 1964 to 1973. In retirement he served as equipment manager for Stoneham High School until 2002. From 1944 to 1946 he played football for the Chicago Bears and was named News First Team All-Pro running back in 1945. From 1949 to 1950 he was the youngest head football coach at Georgetown Univ. and took his team to the Sun Bowl. He was later the assistant football coach at Harvard, Yale, and Boston Univ. While at Brown, he set a school football record that stood for more than 50 years when he rushed for 233 yards in a 1942 victory over Columbia. He was inducted into both the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Stoneham Hall of Fame in 2003; he was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Assoc. Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1972 he received the Assoc. of New England Football Officials Award. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He is survived by two daughters, three sons, and seven grandchildren.

Arthur B. Penny '44, of Penney Farms, Fla., formerly of Scotchtown, N.Y.; Oct. 3. He was retired in 1989 as a housing inspector for the USDA Farmers Home Administration. He was a teacher and business manager for the Chester School District of N.Y. from 1967 to 1977 and an engineer for American Express from 1946 to 1966. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was an active member of Harmony Baptist Church (Fla.), where he held positions as deacon, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, and board member of the Harmony Christian School. He enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, a son, three daughters, two grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Helen Shanley Traill '44, of Cape Elizabeth, Me.; Sept. 23. She was a social worker in Rhode Island until 1946, when she became a full-time mother and homemaker. In 1979 she retired to Cape Elizabeth with her husband to manage Olsten Temporary Services. She enjoyed the beach and community activities. She is survived by her husband, Robert Traill Jr. '43; a son; three daughters; and seven grandchildren.

Richmond W. Watson '44, of St. Peters, Pa.; Sept. 14, of heart failure. He owned and managed Watson Bank Equipment in St. Peters. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He also served as pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Birdsboro, Pa., and was an avid Brown football fan, attending games into his early 80s. He is survived by his wife, Roberta; a son; a daughter; and a brother, William J. Watson '57.

Elliott P. Harris '46, of Atlanta; Sept. 10. He was a retired southeastern regional manager for the Foster-Grant Co. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was an avid tennis player, golfer, photographer, and dancer. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Gerald S. Ogan '46, of Swampscott, Mass.; Aug. 29, after a brief illness. He was the president of The Ogan Company, now known as Bake'n Joy Foods, a bakery manufacturing company in North Andover, Mass., founded by his father. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was an active member of numerous baking associations, a president of Kernwood Country Club in Salem, and a president of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore. He was the first recipient of the Anti-Defamation League's Community Leadership Award and was one of the founders and life board members of Cohen Hillel Academy in Marblehead, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Judith, a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren.

Eugene J. Cudworth '47, of Melbourne, Fla.; Aug. 22, after a long illness. He worked in insurance and consulting for more than 30 years with companies such as Travelers, The Hartford, Professional Insurance, and Hospital Underwriters Mutual. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring with the rank of lt. commander. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, four daughters, two stepdaughters, three grandchildren, and three brothers.

Robert D. O'Brien '47, of Astoria, N.Y.; Aug. 8. He was an attorney with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., retiring with the title of chief trademark counsel. In the 1980s he was director of the International Trademark Assoc. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is survived by a daughter, three sons, four grandchildren, and a sister.

Olan A. Rogers '47, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Sept. 27. He was an engineer for Martin Marietta Energy Systems until his retirement in 1991. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of Central Baptist Church. He was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed golfing and gardening. He is survived by a son, Mark A. Rogers '74; three daughters; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother; and a former wife, Eleanor Thomas Rogers.

Roger G. Hill '48, of Racine, Wisc.; Sept. 23, of prostate cancer. He was an entrepreneur and engineer. He was the founder and president of Getty's Manufacturing Co. in Racine, a metal-cutting machine tool business that made the forerunner of today's CNC machines. In the late 1980s he purchased a controlling interest in Hydro Electronic Devices in Hartford, Wisc. In 1978 he was voted the Wisconsin Small Business Man of the Year, and in 1987 was named Arthur Young/Venture Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year. He served on several White House councils and was a leader in many civic and business organizations. He is survived by his wife, Emily, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, and two sisters.

Robert J. Brown '49, of Fairfield, Conn., formerly of Saunderstown, R.I.; Aug. 27, of a stroke. He was a systems analyst for IBM in various locations in the United States and abroad for 25 years. He was awarded five patents and received numerous awards before retiring in 1979. During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was an accomplished artist and one of the founders of the Wickford (R.I.) Art Assoc. He received a best-in-show award for one of his paintings in a national exhibit. He is survived by a daughter, Susan Brown Warner, 48 Spring St. #7, Greenwich, Conn. 06830; a son; and three grandchildren.

Jean Baptiste Levesque '49, of Rehoboth, Del.; Aug. 7, 2007. He began a 25-year career as a civil engineer with the federal government, leaving to work for Gannett Fleming Engineering in Baltimore, and then as a freelance consultant in civil engineering until his retirement in 1991. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of St. Edmond's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Ocean View VFW Mason Dixon Post 7234, the American Legion Post 5, and Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 (all in Rehoboth). He enjoyed golfing and bowling. He is survived by his wife, Lorette, two sons, seven daughters, and 13 grandchildren.

George I. Roebuck Jr. '49, of Bath, Mich.; July 10. He was the retired president of Ingleside Associates and former president of Drake Printing Co. in Detroit. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy in Iwo Jima. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing, woodworking, and traveling the world. He is survived by three sons and four grandchildren.

 

1950s

J. Graham Michael ’50, of West Chester, Pa., formerly of Savannah, Ga., and Wynnewood, Pa.; Sept. 7. He was the owner and president of Brown Wholesale Co., a business he started in his sophomore year with the help of his wife, Janice Peterson Michael ’50 until moving the business to Philadelphia. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977 for his contributions to Brown’s wrestling program. He won the New England Varsity Wrestling Championship as a Brown freshman, captured the New England AAU Championship title in 1949, was captain of his senior wrestling team, and was a three-year letterman in soccer, for which he scored the winning goal in 1949 to end UConn’s two-year undefeated streak. Until the age of 79 he bungee jumped, skied, and climbed mountains. He was a volunteer wrestling coach for various schools and taught a chess program, Life through Chess, to elementary school children in Savannah, and Ticonderoga, N.Y., and at the Northern Lake George Yacht Club in Hague, N.Y. He received many service awards from Northern Lake George Yacht Club, was a Savannah Home Town Hero recipient, and a JC Penny 1996 Golden Rule Award nominee for his Life through Chess program. He was an active member of the Brown Club of Philadelphia and the Ticonderoga Country Club, as well as the Northern Lake George Yacht Club. He is survived by daughters Deborah Lee Graham ’73, Lindell Michael Graham ’75, Susan Graham Michael Rogers ’79; eight grandchildren; nephews David Michael ’76, John Michael ’78, Kirk Michael ’83; niece Elise Michael Flamouropoulos ’79 and her husband, Theodore Flamouropoulos ’81; and sister-in-law, Margaret Conant Michael ’51. 

Carlisle Jones '50, of New York City; Oct. 9. He was an investment adviser with A.W. Jones, J&W Seligman & Co., Brimberg and Co., and Invemed Associates Inc. He was a member of the New York Stock Exchange for more than 30 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; two daughters; two sons; six stepchildren; 26 grandchildren; a brother, Harry H. Jones '53, and a nephew, Robert C. Jones '78.

George D. Jones '50, of Melvin Village, N.H., formerly of Needham, Mass.; Sept. 5. He was the assistant district sales manager for the Northeast region of Bethlehem Steel until his retirement in 1982. He was past president of both the Engineers Club of Boston and the Boston Madison Square Garden Club. He was also a member of the Bald Peak Colony Club in Melvin Village; the Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass.; the American Legion; and the Masons. He is survived by his wife, Florence, two daughters, three grandchildren, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.

Peter Quinn '50, of Edgecomb, Me.; Sept. 9. He was a securities analyst for J & W Seligman & Co. in New York City until his retirement in 1983. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served on several community boards and was a communicant of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Boothbay Harbor, Me. He enjoyed genealogy and history. He is survived by his wife, Sophie, a son, four daughters, and two grandchildren.

James S. Quinn '51, of Charlestown, Mass.; Oct. 15, 2007. He was a medical officer in the U.S. Army until 1958, when he established an internal medicine practice specializing in cardiology in Malden, Mass. He was affiliated with Malden Hospital and helped pioneer teaching children about healthy lifestyle habits through the Malden Public Schools Early Awareness Program. He retired in 2007. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, eight grandchildren, three sisters, and his former wife, Helen.

Charles E. Trowbridge '51, of Boca Grande, Fla., and Little Compton, R.I.; Aug. 30. He worked for more than 37 years for the Industrial National Bank (later known as Fleet Bank) in Providence. He served in the U.S. Army. An avid golfer, he was past president of Sakonnet Golf Club in Little Compton; a board member of the Lemon Bay Golf Club in Englewood, Fla.; and a life member of the Agawam Hunt Club of Providence. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four stepchildren; five grandchildren; a brother, Robinson Trowbridge '52; and three nieces, including Alicia Patterson '77.

Constance Chase Van Deventer '52, of Seattle; Oct. 3. She was a homemaker and volunteer. She helped at preschools in the Seattle area, taught English and literacy skills, was a Camp Fire troop leader, and volunteered at the Seattle Audubon Society. She enjoyed reading, bowling, birding, skiing, golfing, fishing, and traveling. She is survived by a son, a daughter, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Bradford C. White '52, of New London, N.H.; Oct. 19. He was the owner of White and White Realtors in Newport, N.H., a real estate company originally started by his grandfather in Providence in the 1920s. In 1981 Sotheby's chose White and White Realtors as one of four realtors to represent Sotheby Park Bernet International Realty Corp in New Hampshire. In 2007, the National Assoc. of Realtors awarded him the status of Realtor Emeritus. He was a member of the National Assoc. of Realtors, the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors, the New Hampshire Assoc. of Realtors, the New London Lions Club, the New London Rotary, the New London Boys Club, and American Legion Post 40. He was also past president of the New London Outing Club and of Delta Upsilon. He served in the U.S. Army as a medic. He enjoyed gardening. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen; two sons; three daughters; seven grandchildren; and a sister.

William A. Vitiello '53, of Indian Mound, Tenn.; June 24, 2007. He was a project engineer for various companies throughout the United States, including Martin Marietta Co. in Fla. and Cape Canaveral in Fla., where he worked on the early design and development of the space program. Active in his community and church, he served as a deacon in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Clarksville, Tenn. He enjoyed boating and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, a daughter, three sons, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.

William J. Foley '56, of Manchester, N.H., formerly of Londonderry, N.H., and Pawtucket, R.I.; Oct. 17. He was a former linotype machinist for the Pawtucket Times who later built a career as a sales representative of newspaper hardware and software. He settled in New Hampshire and founded Foley, Torregiani & Associates Inc., which sold hardware and software to large newspapers throughout the world. He retired in 1998. For more than 20 years he was active in the Londonderry community and was named Londonderry Citizen of the Year in 1985. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Judith, two daughters, three sons, seven grandchildren, and a brother.

Carol Jordan Hamilton '56, of North Attleboro, Mass.; Sept. 21. She was an editor for Paramount Greeting Cards in Central Falls, R.I., for more than 30 years, until she retired in 1986. She enjoyed the beach and her Westport summer house. She is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.

Jerome J. Rosenblum '56, of Milford, Conn.; Sept. 20. He was a public defender for the State of Connecticut for more than 30 years and a partner with Merchant & Rosenblum in Stamford, Conn. He served on the Adult Probation Commission for the State of Connecticut and in retirement was Magistrate for New Haven County. He enjoyed reading, tennis, bridge, and vacations with his family. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, a son, two daughters, and two grandchildren.

Alan Roth '56, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Sept. 22. He began his career at Lehman Brothers; until 1961, when he left to start his own investment advisory firm, Roth, Gerard & Co., in New York City. He was one of the youngest members of the New York Stock Exchange. He was captain of the Brown soccer team and a member of Pi Lambda Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid, and a son.

Demeter Farfaras Lakatzis '57, of Dayville, Conn.; Sept. 22. She was a retired high school biology teacher and a partner in her family restaurant, George's Galley in Danielson, Conn. She was an active member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Danielson, where she served as president, treasurer, and choir director; she was also instrumental in planning major fund-raisers for the church. In 1989 she was appointed to the Killingly Planning & Zoning commission, becoming chairman in 1994. She also served as president of both the Northeast Connecticut Art Guild and the Westfield Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, George; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

David K. Aiken '58, of Baytown, Tex.; Sept. 3, of cancer. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 23 years. During the Vietnam War he was an aircraft navigator and a member of the U.S. Special Services. After retiring from the military, he taught aeronautical space engineering at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Tex. After moving to Baytown, he taught in the ROTC program at Ross S. Sterling High School and Lee High School from 1978 to 2001. He was a volunteer with Baytown Emergency Management and the Baytown Chapter of the March of Dimes. He enjoyed traveling and woodworking. He is survived by his wife, Paulette; six daughters; and three sons.

Bruce F. Anderson '59, of San Rafael, Calif., formerly of Buffalo, N.Y., and Omaha, Neb.; Sept. 7, of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was an attorney for the IRS and briefly practiced law in Omaha before serving as a trust officer for the Omaha National Bank, vice president for the Bank of New York in Buffalo, and senior vice president and manager of the trust division of the Pacific Bank in California. In New York he also served as president of Planned Parenthood and vice chairman of the American Red Cross in Buffalo. In California he was an active squash player at the University Club of San Francisco. He is survived by two daughters, two stepchildren, six grandchildren, a sister, and his former wife, Pamela B. Anderson.

Ruth Sidel Espo '59, of Wayland, Mass.; Sept. 30, of breast cancer. She worked as a development associate at Cambridge Discovery Chemistry in Cambridge, Mass., and at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, Mass., participating in and planning all fund-raising activities. She was coordinator of resources at the Museum of Science in Boston and director of development for the Committee to End Elder Homelessness Inc. in Boston. She was also the associate director of the capital campaign for the Walker Home and School in Needham, as well as director of the writing consulting program at Weston Middle School and director of the electives program at Brooks Middle School in Lincoln, Mass. She enjoyed skiing, tennis, golf, and bridge. She is survived by her husband, Stephen '52; two sons; a daughter; two grandsons; and a brother, James Sidel '60.

Claire Kasper Urbaniak '59, of Warren, R.I.; Sept. 20. She taught English at Hope High School in Providence and at Trenton High School in New Jersey before working in the classified advertising department of the Wall Street Journal. She was a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church in Barrington, R.I., and a member of the Barrington Garden Club and the Barrington Women's Club. She enjoyed reading, floral arranging, and shell collecting. She is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, and a brother.

 

1960s

Robert J. Connelly Jr. '60, of Oak Bluffs, Mass., formerly of Lincoln, R.I.; Sept. 26. He was an attorney active in the local politics of Central Falls, R.I., and maintained offices in Central Falls, Lincoln, and Pawtucket. He served as clerk of the District Court, assistant city solicitor, and probate judge. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a member of the R.I. National Guard. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, two sons, four grandchildren, and a sister.

George V. Bates III '61, of Amherst, Mass., formerly of Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Aug. 13, of cancer. He was a reporter and information specialist at Consumer Reports magazine for 38 years, retiring in 2008. He was a board member of the Newspaper Guild of New York and the Amawalk Friends Meeting House. He is survived by a daughter, Johanna Bates '97, and a grandson.

Thomas H. Ballard '63, of Jackson, Miss.; Oct. 5, of lung cancer. He was the director of the Jackson-Hinds Library System until 1994. He published more than three dozen articles on librarianship. His book, The Failure of Resource Sharing in Public Libraries and Alternative Strategies for Service, was published in 1986. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Sweet Thursday Meets on Tuesday Book Club for more than 20 years and a board member for the Sheffield Area Homeowners' Assoc. for more than 11 years. He is survived by his wife, Candace, a son, a sister, a brother, and several nieces and nephews.

Michael W. Prior '63, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Aug. 25. He was a retired thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. He was a partner in the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgical Center and on staff at Roger Williams General Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and St. Joseph's Health Service (all in Providence). He was also on the consulting staff of South County Hospital, Westerly Hospital, and Memorial Hospital of Pawtucket, R.I. At Brown he was cocaptain of the men's swimming team. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and the Theta Delta Chi fraternities, as well as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Thoracic Society. He also served as chair of the Quality Assurance Committee at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Edgewood Yacht Club in Cranston, R.I. He is survived by three brothers, including David '66 and his wife, Elaine Desaretti Prior '67, and 15 nieces and nephews.

Gary B. Hachadourian '66, of Farmington, N. Mex., formerly of Springfield, Mass.; Aug. 21, of pancreatic cancer. He was a clinical psychologist for the Farmington community for 18 years. He served in the Episcopal Church of Navajoland and as treasurer of the Navajoland Area Mission. He enjoyed literature, opera, and nature. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; two sons; two sisters; a niece; and three nephews.

Arthur W. Northrop Jr. '66, of Chatham, N.J.; Sept. 22. He was vice president of treasury services at JP Morgan Chase after working for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City since 1967. He enjoyed coaching and spending time with his family. He was a member of Delta Phi. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and a brother, James Northrup '69.

William R. Brenner '67, of Coventry, R.I.; Oct. 1. He was an insurance agent for more than 40 years and owner of Best Insurance Group of North Smithfield, R.I., since 1978. He was a member of the R.I. Independent Insurance Agents Assoc. and past member of the R.I. Free and Accepted Masons. He is survived by a daughter and a former wife, Denise M. Champagne.

James D. Campbell '68, of Clifton Park, N.Y.; Aug. 13, after a brief illness. He was a mortgage investment assistant with the New York State Teachers Retirement System until his own retirement in 2004. He served in the U.S. Army for three years in intelligence. In retirement he enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and archeology. He is survived by his wife, Aileen; a son; his mother, Phyllis Campbell; and several nieces and nephews.

Virginia Doyle Kennedy '69, of Fort Washington, Md.; Sept. 10, of ovarian cancer. She was the parish secretary at St. Ignatius Church in Fort Washington from 2001 to 2008 and associate librarian for Bishop Iverson High School in Alexandria, Va., from 1992 to 2001. She enjoyed needlework, golf, and books. She is survived by her husband, Thomas '72 PhD, 312 Battersea Ln., Fort Washington 20744, as well as a daughter, two sons, and a brother.

 

1970s

Susan Lebach-Rosenbloom '70, of Newton, Mass.; Aug. 17, of breast cancer. She taught French, German, and English as a second language for more than 35 years, 20 of them at Brookline (Mass.) High School, with stints at Boston Univ. and the American College in Paris. In 1996 she was appointed area chair of the Brown Alumni Assoc. Schools Committee (BASC) in Boston. She enjoyed jogging, tennis, skiing, and sailing. She is survived by her husband, Joseph; a son; a daughter, Alexa '05; and a brother, Thomas Lebach '65.

Mary Hiley Shankland Ryder '73, of Boise, Idaho; Aug. 25, in a house fire. She was an English teacher at Boise State Univ., a recipient of the BSU Distinguished Faculty Award and a BSU Outstanding Faculty Award, and a nominee for the BSU Foundation Scholars Award. She published a book and several articles, chapters, and reviews, which she presented at conferences worldwide. She provided in-service education to volunteer guardians in the court-appointed special-advocate program for abused and neglected children. She enjoyed music, travel, and her many cats. She is survived by her husband, Peter, a stepdaughter, a sister, a half-brother, four step-grandchildren, and two step-nephews.

Gary W. Ellson '74, of Columbus, Ohio; Aug. 24, of brain cancer. He worked for more than 26 years at Ohio State in admissions, printing, and copyright acquisition. He was cofounder of Actors' Theatre, the free Shakespeare Company that performed in Columbus's Schiller Park. He acted and played saxophone and French horn while serving as a member of the company's board of trustees. He was a choir member at Trinity United Methodist Church. An avid hockey fan, he coached youth hockey teams in Columbus for more than six years. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; a son; two daughters; his parents, Lois and William Ellson; sisters Laurel Ellson '79 and Judith Ellson Sinche '76 and her husband, Robert M. Sinche '76 AM; and four nieces.

Christopher Canter '79, of Boca Raton, Fla.; May 1, of cancer. He was a calligrapher and professional bookbinder in Bristol, R.I., before relocating to Florida to work. He is survived by his uncle, Gerrit Sanford '49.

 

1980s

Daniel C. Merriman '81, of Needham, Mass.; June 27. He was vice president and national business intelligence strategy leader with The Revere Group, as well as president and founder of the Chapin Consulting Group in Needham. He was a member of Sigma Chi. An avid runner, he completed the Boston marathon. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis, coaching lacrosse, listening to classical music, reading, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Blair; three sons; his parents; a brother; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

Nancy Mao Gevirtz '82, of Allentown, Pa.; Aug. 25, from complications of scleroderma. She was a physician in Emmaus, Pa., and at a summer camp Camp Harlam in Philadelphia. She received the George Feldman Achievement Award for her service to the Jewish community and was president of the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley and a board member of the Jewish Day School and Congregation Keneseth Israel. She is survived by her husband, Jeffrey; a son; a daughter; her mother, Rita Mao Myrick; and three sisters.

 

1990s

Lee H. Christensen '97, of Pittsburgh, Kans.; Aug. 23, of a brain tumor. He was a graduate assistant at the International Student and Scholar Services office at Kansas Univ., where he also served as orientation coordinator and part-time immigration adviser. While at Brown he studied abroad in Copenhagen, where he studied Danish language, literature, and culture, and in Lund, Denmark, where he studied advanced Swedish. From 1998 to 2000, he worked as an English lecturer at Ostrov Gymnazium in Ostrov, Czech Republic. From 2001 to 2002 he was program assistant for the Kansas City Teaching Fellows Initiative, and in 2002 he became manager for the New Teacher Project in Atlanta. He enjoyed literature, tennis, hiking, and travel. An enthusiastic sports fan, he cheered for the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas Jayhawks, the Pittsburg State Gorillas, and the Georgia Bulldogs. He is survived by his parents, Lee and Sandra Greer Christensen; a sister; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 

G.S.

Helena Hogan Shea '35 AM (see '30).

Geraldine A. Coon '37 ScM, of Pawcatuck, Conn., formerly of Baltimore; Aug. 26. She was a mathematics professor at Goucher College in Towson, Md., for more than 16 years, until she retired in 1980. Prior to teaching she was a research mathematician at Taylor Instrument Companies. She is survived by three nieces.

George H. Handelman '46 PhD, of Troy, N.Y.; Sept. 13. He was a retired mathematics professor and administrator for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. He began his career at Brown as a research associate in applied mathematics before moving on to Rensselaer to become a professor of applied mathematics, chairman of the mathematics department, and subsequently dean of the School of Science and Amos Eaton professor. He wrote several articles and scholarly journals and coauthored an advanced college textbook that has gone through several editions. He was a member of numerous professional societies and state and national committees, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Mathematical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi. He has been recognized with various awards, including the William H. Wiley Distinguished Faculty Award and the David M. Darrin Counseling Award from Rensselaer. In addition to his professional appointments, he served on boards and committees for the Troy Library Foundation, the Friends of the Chamber Music, the Albany Medical Center, and Congregation Berith Sholom. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Mendelson Handelman '48 AM; two daughters; and two grandsons.

Herbert C. Getman '50 AM; of Cameron Park, Calif.; Sept. 19, of cancer. He was a practicing physician until a few months before his death. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a medic in the Galapagos Islands. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, a son, three daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Stewart H. Hulse Jr. '55 ScM, '57 PhD, of Bradenton, Fla.; Aug. 31, of pneumonia. He was an experimental psychologist at Johns Hopkins, trained in the field of animal learning. He eventually served as chairman of the psychology department and was named professor emeritus in 1999. His interest in acoustic perception in birds led to a graduate course on the psychology of sound and music. He wrote several books in his field and served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes. He was awarded the National Institute of Mental Health Senior NRSA Fellowship in 1985 and the first Comparative Cognition Society Research Award in 2002. He was a member of numerous professional organizations and was a fellow of the Society of Experimental Psychologists, the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Assoc., and the Psychonomic Society, of which he was chairman. He was an accomplished golfer and a talented musician. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a son; two daughters; and five grandchildren.

Richard H. Reis '57 AM, '62 PhD, of Marion, Mass.; Sept. 5, after a long battle with emphysema. He was a former professor and chairman of the UMass Dartmouth English department. A George MacDonald expert, he wrote George MacDonald's Fiction: A Twentieth-Century Perspective, as well as poetry and book reviews. He served on numerous committees for the Massachusetts Democratic party. He is survived by a daughter; a son; three grandchildren; two sisters; three brothers, including John A. Reis '62; and his stepmother.

 

Mary Hinderlie Ager '65 MAT, of Palo Alto, Calif., formerly of Binghamton, N.Y.; Apr. 23, of cancer. She was a technical editor for Aspect Communications Corp. and Computer Curriculum Corp. A lifelong choral musician, for several years she was a member of the Binghamton Symphony Chorus, and for more than 20 years a member of the Peninsula Women's Chorus in Palo Alto. She formed the JewelTones ensemble to perform barbershop and popular music for numerous audiences in the Palo Alto area. She was active in the Parents Nursery School of Palo Alto for many years. Besides music, she enjoyed reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Tryg; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law, Laura Braunstein '91; a grandson; a sister; two brothers; and several nieces and nephews.

Doris Hitchen Seal '72 AM, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Aug. 19, of cancer. She was a retired software and systems trainer and a technical writer for Cadre Technologies in Providence. She was an active member of the Rhode Island Romance Writers and enjoyed boating and traveling. She is survived by her stepmother, five stepchildren, and a stepsister.

Martha W. Burton '86 AM, '89 PhD, of Timonium, Md.; Aug. 21, of lung cancer. She was an assistant professor in the neurology department at the Univ. of Maryland School of Medicine. After graduation, she worked at Brown as a research associate in the cognitive and linguistic sciences department. She left Brown to teach psycholinguistics and set up a research program at Penn State, moving eventually to the Univ. of Maryland. She published in several professional journals and served on review panels for National Institutes of Health grants. She was an avid football fan. She is survived by two brothers, and four nieces and nephews.

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January/February 2009