Class of 1945

Feb, 2024
Preservation Pioneer
Beverly Moss Spatt ’45 helped save countless NYC landmarks Read More
Apr, 2021

Robert Glenn Walker is living at 18 South Lane, South Dartmouth, Mass. 02748 with his wife of 71-plus years.  

Apr, 2021

Jeanne Spiehler Leinen would like alumni to know that she still resides in Pittsford, N.Y., and has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

May, 2018

George Ulrich writes: “When Sally and I took up housekeeping in an assisted living facility in the South Denver area, it took a while to adapt to our new lifestyle. Not used to living with elevators, wheeled walkers, electric scooters, and oxygen carts, we’re amazed, after nearly three years, at how much we enjoy the urban environment on this 84-acre campus. We’ve renewed acquaintances with several professional colleagues in the area and other U.S. geology surveyor retirees. We also have made friends with a couple of Brunonians; Norm Walters ’45 and Ann Jones Mills ’60. I’m still playing tennis and pedaling on bike/pedestrian trails in the area. Besides working in the wood shop and placing 18 bluebird houses around campus, which so far have attracted only tree swallows, I’ve joined the Learners Committee, supporting 10 to 15 courses of four to eight weekly classes three times each year. I’ve also generated two courses: one on the Grand Canyon and another on Adventures to a Rocky Moon, reminiscing about the Flagstaff days of the last four Apollo missions.”

Apr, 2018

The deadliest nightclub fire in history occurred just over 75 years ago on November 28, 1942, an hour’s drive north of campus at Boston’s popular Cocoanut Grove nightclub. The conflagration killed 492 people—the club was licensed to hold 460—and injured hundreds more. Even in the midst of World War II, it briefly became the biggest story in newspapers around the world and led to a reform of fire and safety codes and an international improvement in the treatment of burn victims. Among the dead was a Brown student, as recalled recently by his friend Richard Silverman ’45:
 

I started Brown in the fall of 1941. By the following year I had made many new friends. Among them were Ernie Savignano and Rod Prendergast. The only thing they had in common was that each had his own car, and any time I needed a ride home to Newton, Massachusetts, I would call one or the other. Ernie came from Newton, and Rod lived in Brookline, the next town.

Ernie was captain of the Brown football team and a great all-around athlete. He came from a family that had little money, and his tuition was being paid by a wealthy alumnus. Rod was not an athlete, came from a monied family, and had always gone to private schools.

Rod imagined himself living in the Roaring Twenties. He drove a finely tuned, newly painted Model T Ford. His hair was cut in the Roaring Twenties style, and he always wore a raccoon skin coat with his ever-present silver pocket whiskey flask.

It was a cool November Saturday morning, and I was in my dorm room hitting the books for a Monday exam. Rod came into the room.

“I’m taking you to Boston for the weekend. I have a date with a girl from Wellesley, and you’re going out with her roommate.”

“Rod, I have an exam on Monday, and I really have to study!”

“I’ll have you back by noon on Sunday. Don’t be an old stick in the mud.”

I was sorely tempted, but I turned him down.

I studied all Saturday, but took an hour off on Sunday morning to go to the Faunce House lounge. All the out-of-town newspapers were there, and a few of us gathered around the big Philco radio to hear the news: “Several hundred people were killed in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub last night. Among the confirmed dead was Roderick Prendergast, a Brookline resident and student at Brown University.”

From the January/September 2017 Issue

Richard Silverman (see Sara Garrity-Gentile ’09).

From the September/October 2016 Issue

Jerrie Byam Cribb writes: “I’m still teaching cello and loving it.”

Margaret Ajootian Layshock writes: “There is an annual meeting in December at the San Francisco home of Barbara Shipley Boyle ’58, the highlight being a white elephant auction with the proceeds going to the women’s center at Brown. There is a loyal group of alumnae that attends. I am the only one from my class.”

Jeanne Spiehler Leinen turned 92 on Mar. 4. She has eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

From the July/August 2016 Issue

Dorothy von Hacht writes: “Sorry to live so close and not attend reunions. Phyllis Baldwin Young and I often talked of going together. I’ve played my last golf, as eighty years of competitive tennis, badminton, bowling, and golf create deteriorated knees and hips—three of which have been replaced. I am a former president of the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association and the Connecticut Badminton Association.”

From the March/April 2015 Issue

Audrey Mishel Cooper (see Adam Leventhal ’01).

From the March/April 2014 Issue

Anne Rossman Krause writes: “On Saturday, Oct. 19, I enjoyed an outstanding day given in honor of scholarship donors and their recipients. I had a lovely visit with Charlotte Kim ’16, the recipient of the Class of 1945 scholarship. I hope I can get together with Charlotte at our spring get-together for local nearby graduates of our class.” 

 

From the July/August 2013 Issue

Leonard Michelman turned his practice over to his son, Jay, and left Longmeadow, Mass., in 2012. Leonard enjoys playing duplicate bridge, nine holes of golf, and helping his son settle insurance claims. He plans to write his memoir. His wife, Sybil, died in 2008. He writes: “I try to stay busy and help other friends who have lost their spouses.”

From the March/April 2013 Issue

Lewis W. Lees and Kathleen Anderson Lees ’46 celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in December. Their five children and spouses, and six of their eight grandchildren joined them for the occasion. Lew is active gardening and playing golf, while Kathleen is busy with church work and community service.

From the September/October 2012 Issue

Pembroke class president Anne Rossman Kraus hosted an informal off-campus lunch on May 26, which Roxanne Karibian Arzoomanian, Janet Cameron Claflin, Ruth Keily Dugas, Florence Asadorian Dulgarian, and Jean Tanner Edwards attended.

 

From the March/April 2011 Issue

Class president Anne Rossman Berkelhammer Krause requests that classmates send in news and information to update fellow alums. Send your news to the BAM, Box 1854, Providence 02912; www.brownalumnimagazine.com.

From the January/February 2011 Issue

Anne Rossman Krause writes: "Those of us who were able to attend our 65th reunion last May had a wonderful time. I still get butterflies when I march through the open gate. The highlight was the cookout at the house of the gracious Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Sharpe Jr."

From the May/June 2010 Issue

Jean Tanner Edwards is looking forward to seeing many Pembroke and Brown classmates at her 65th reunion.

From the March/April 2010 Issue

Janet Cameron Claflin's husband, Robert Claflin, was elected president of the residents association at their retirement home. Janet has been appointed grounds chairman. She writes, "Between us we're having fun sprucing up the 23 acres where we live. Our 65th reunion is approaching, and we hope to get there!"

Dorothy von Hacht writes, "I spent a great day at the Yale Bowl on Nov. 7, two days after my 85th birthday, watching Brown beat Yale 35–21. I enjoyed having good food and meeting alumni, grandparents and parents of players in the alumni tent; the closest to my class was from 1951. I hope to make the game in 2011!"

From the January/February 2010 Issue

Class cochairs Jean Edwards and Dan Fairchild look forward to seeing you at the 65th reunion in May: "Please save May 28–30 on your calendar and plan to be with us on campus. You will find Brown transformed, with new buildings all around, especially for the arts and the medical school. You'll have some lovely meals while chatting with your classmates, and you'll march down College Hill on Sunday morning, behind your giant 1945 class banner."

A. Peter Quinn is a happy, independent resident of a retirement community in Redding, Conn. He is completing his third and last year on its board of directors. He proposed and promoted the development of golf croquet and the construction of an artificial-turf croquet court. "The game has been the most popular outdoor activity in the community," he writes. Peter's daughter Emily lives in Darien, Conn., with her husband and two daughters.

G. Gordon White retired in 1982 and has been married to his wife, Gloria, for 66 years.

In October, Phyllis Baldwin Young met with Margaret Ajootian Layshock in Stonington, Conn. Margaret was visiting from California. Phyllis's son, Andrew '87, is with the Stanford Research Institute. He and his wife and three daughters live in Menlo Park, Calif.

 

Epoch.jpg

From the May/June 2009 Issue

Bill Stone turned 84 in Dec. and still does research on the genetics of complex human diseases at a local hospital and medical school. In addition, he completed a small book of his quotations for family and friends and is working on a second volume. He hopes that his grandson, Matt, will attend Brown in a couple of years.

From the March/April 2009 Issue

Edwin Wattman (see Beatrice Wattman Miller '35).

From the January/February 2009 Issue

Daniel Fairchild writes that he and Sam Beachen '49, Dick Pretat, Tom Woods, and Wes Yando are still in Rhode Island and still do lunch on the second Wednesday of each month, continuing a friendship that dates back to their childhood: "The talk is mostly of memories and new stories, but now and then something serious, such as health issues, creeps into the conversation! Anyone interested in joining us can contact any of us to learn the location of the next monthly gathering."

Lewis W. Lees Jr. retired from his second career as a commercial real estate broker on June 30, 2008. He now helps his wife, Kathleen Anderson Lees '46, with her recovery from knee replacement surgery.

From the May/June 2008 Issue

Vernon Alden (see Elaine Berlinsky Fain '70).

Dorothy H. von Hacht retired in 1986 after teaching elementary school for 37 years. She is the past president of the Connecticut Women's Golf Association and continues to play golf at Race Brook Country Club. She writes: "I play with declining skill but still can break 100!"

From the January / February 2008 Issue

Shirley Gallup writes: “I am disabled from severe spinal stenosis but have a motorized wheelchair. I can’t attend reunions now, but enjoy reading.”

From the September / October 2007 Issue

Class secretary Florence Dulgarian reports that Lois Colinan Counihan passed away in May. She extends her sympathy to Lois's family on behalf of the class.

From the July / August 2007 Issue

Phyllis Baldwin Young writes: “Had a reunion in San Francisco with my Pembroke classmate Margaret Ajootian Layshock. Margaret lives in nearby Walnut Creek, Calif. She and I have kept in touch all these sixty-one years and arrange meetings when my husband and I visit our son Andrew ’87 in California. Andrew and his wife, Noel, have three girls—Emily, Elizabeth, and Erin. He is a research engineer for SRI International, which has sent him on field trips to bases in Alaska and Greenland. He is in close touch with his classmate Michelle Madansky ’87 and her family, who live on his street. My husband, Bill, has retired from teaching at the Columbia Law School, but is busy revising his casebooks on contract and insurance law. In Oct., the Larchmont (N.Y.) Public Library will mount an exhibit of my watercolors.”

From the March / April 2007 Issue

Frank S. Arnold (see Andrew Arnold ’74)

From the May / June 2006 Issue

Jim Tyrrell (see Sarah Sikes Tyrrell ’50).

From the March / April 2005 Issue

The countdown has started for the 60th reunion, May 27–29. It will be a great weekend, but it won’t be the same without you! Join us at such traditional favorites as Campus Dance, the Pops concert, and a delightful class dinner. Registration information will arrive soon, so please make your reservation early. Register online at alumni.brown.edu. Any questions? Call or email reunion headquarters at (401) 863-1947 or reunions@brown.edu.

Peter Quinn reports that after forty-five years in Longmeadow, Mass., he has moved to an attractive life-care retirement community in Redding, Conn. He is within a half-hour drive of his daughter Emily and her family in Darien, Conn.

From the September / October 2004 Issue

A. Peter Quinn Jr. writes that his wife, Sallee Quinn, died on Feb. 11, after fifty-one years of a very happy marriage.

Edwin Wattman (see Hank Vandersip ’56).

From the July / August 2004 Issue

Warren H. Chelline writes: “As we used to sing, ‘I’m a Brown man born, and a Brown man bred.’ Now I’m an octogenarian and retired English professor who is looking forward to our 60th reunion next year. I continue in my priestly ministry, and last May I had the privilege of performing the marriage ceremony of my son, Eric Warren Chelline (a son of Eli), and his lovely bride, Mary, who is a Washington, D.C., attorney with the American Medical Association.”

From the May / June 2004 Issue

Margaret Ajootian Layshock writes: “Even though Phyllis Baldwin Young and I live on opposite sides of the country, we continue to have the good fortune of being able to get together at least once a year, either in northern California where Phyllis’s son Andrew Young ’87 lives with his family, or back in New England. In 2003, we met in April and again in December.”

From the March / April 2004 Issue

Edwin Z. Wattman (see Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth ’59).

From the January / February 2004 Issue

Anne Rossman Krause writes: “I have just made a wonderful move to a retirement community. There are so many activities here, along with a pool and a gym. I am still involved in some community activities. I play golf and bridge.”

From the March / April 2003 Issue

Vernon Alden was recognized on Nov. 26 for his twelve years of service as Thailand’s honorary consul general in Boston. Vernon received the decoration of Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand.

From the September / October 2002 Issue

Class president Jean Tanner Edwards reports: "Dorothy Kay Fishbein is busy working on the tribute to Pembroke.

"Shirley Gallup is at 56 Jeffrey Dr., Sarasota, Fla., from Oct. 15 to April 15 each year. Still does volunteer work to help Hospice and keep her medical license.

"Jeannie Stewart lives in Okeechobee, Fla., near her brother. She was looking forward to a program on March 25 hosted by the Brown Alumni Schools Program of Palm Beach with Phil Estes and Dave Zucconi '55 at the home of Mimi Maddock."

Priscilla Wilson Bernd writes: "My husband and I are enjoying living in Natick, Mass. I entered my decoupage in a May exhibit. It was great to be asked."

Janet Cameron Claflin writes: "On Sept. 13, 2001, Bob and I took Amtrak to Portland, Ore., my first train ride in fifty-five years. We drove to Crater Lake and explored state and national parks for two weeks. We spent Thanksgiving with our daughter, Heather Claflin Clayton '77, and her family in Northborough, Mass. Our oldest son, George Claflin '73, brought his family from Arlington, Va. His wife, Frances Wentworth '74, and her mother, Lillian Hicock Wentworth '35, made the occasion a great Brown reunion. I'm still playing tennis and having a great time."

Lois Colinan Counihan (see Hank Vandersip '56).

Margaret Wooster Freeman writes: "Retirement is a happy mix of summers in my old cottage in Maine and winters in Williamsburg ,Va. Each year I teach a course or two for a lifelong-learning enterprise run under the sponsorship of William and Mary, where I taught for many years. I travel a great deal and always seem to miss reunions, but I certainly wish you all well."

Jane Cooke Harris writes: "My artwork has been shown in New Haven and Essex, Conn. On May 24, I was awarded an Essex Art Association prize of $350 for a collage. On June 8 David and I took a cruise to Bermuda with family and friends to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary."

Gloria "Penny" Fabacher Hector writes: "I have a hard time describing mental illness as a ÔBeautiful Mind.' John, the second of our four sons, graduated from Yale, attended the Guildhall School of Drama in England, married, and took up acting. In 1984, John was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He returned home and took the part of Macbeth in an Atlanta theater, but his paranoia and insecurity around people, in addition to his wavering sense of reality, kept him from continuing. It is only recently that a new medication has given him some relief. He no longer has hallucinations. Mostly he stays in his apartment writing poetry and letters to the editor, commenting about the mentally ill in prisons, plus the lack of services for the homeless. I want to alert people to this devastating illness that is so often ignored and ridiculed. It is a sickness that needs the same medical care we give to such illnesses as cancer and heart disease."

Irma Rosengard Hyman writes: "Life continues to be interesting after four years in Henderson, Nev. Between programs at the university and the proximity to interesting events like the annual Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah, there are plenty of activities. This is no longer a cultural wasteland, much to our delight."

Marcia Loebenstein McBeath writes: "In early June my husband, Chuck, and I will be going to C"te d'Ivoire to start our fifth Peace Corps assignment. This will be somewhat different from the others, since the official language there is French. I was a little rusty, having studied French in junior high school sixty-five years ago, but a couple of courses at the Alliance Franaise have helped."

Martha Gilman Saunders writes: "My husband has been retired from the practice of medicine for ten years. Our three boys live in Annapolis, Md., New York City, and Fairfield, Maine, and we have five grandchildren. We keep busy in spite of the increasing infirmities of advancing years."

Beverly Moss Spatt writes: "I work as special assistant to Bishop Joseph Sullivan, of the Brooklyn, N.Y., diocese, researching and writing on issues related to health and human services. I have a new grandson; another grandson graduated from Cornell in June; and a granddaughter is due to finish college next year. I also interview prospective candidates for Brown and serve on the board of a number of local groups."

Roberta Wheeler writes: "On May 25, the date of the reunion, I was just returning from a trip to England with daughter Patricia Mullin. We were meeting younger daughter Molly Mullin in London. Molly's book on the Southwest art markets was published this past year by Duke University Press."

Phyllis Baldwin Young writes: "We saw Margaret Ajootian Layshock in California in early April, when we visited our son, Andrew Young '87, who lives in Menlo Park with his wife, Noel, and two daughters. I am enjoying my watercolor painting and quilting. My husband, Bill, is retired from Columbia Law School but will teach in the fall term."

From the July / August 2002 Issue

Tom Walker, of Laguna Woods, Calif., writes: "I retired seventeen years ago after spending thirty-eight years with one company. I'm active in Kiwanis, travel frequently, and bike twenty-five miles a week. I enjoy visits from and to my three ԫkids,' six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, who, fortunately, all live in California. I'm still in touch with some fellow WWII armored infantry veterans."

From the September / October 2000 Issue

Louis E. D’Amico, former senior vice president and treasurer of Duro Industries, was awarded an honorary doctor of business administration degree from Johnson & Wales at its graduate-school commencement. D’Amico has an M.B.A. from Harvard. In 1947 he started teaching accounting and small-enterprise management at Johnson & Wales. He is now a member of the school’s corporation and board of trustees.

Ed Wattman (see Hank Vandersip ’56).

From the July / August 2000 Issue

Warren H. Chelline, of Saint Joseph, Mo., writes: "I’m coming up on three years of retirement. After twenty-six years of teaching, preceded by twenty-nine years of ministry, I am a professor emeritus at Missouri Western State University. I keep busy with full-time membership on five boards of regents/directors, and I am reverting back to my full-time ministerial duties, now on an international scope. ‘Here’s to dear old Brown...’ "

Edwin Z. Wattman (see Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth ’59).

From the May / June 2000 Issue

Florence Asadorian Dulgarian writes that the sympathy of the class is extended to Lois Colinan Counihan on the death of her husband. Bud ’35 was head of the criminal division in the attorney general’s office until he retired in 1984 (see Lois Colinan Counihan ’35).

Priscilla Wilson Bernd, of Natick, Mass., writes that she and her husband plan to attend her 55th reunion. She also planned to visit Montreal in April to attend the National Guild of Decoupeurs convention.

Phyllis Baldwin Young, of Larchmont, N.Y., writes: "My first grandchild, Emily May, was born Dec. 14 to my son, Andrew ’87, and his wife, Noel. They live in California. My husband, Bill, is retired from Columbia Law School but still teaches part-time."

From the March / April 2000 Issue

Class presidents Knight and Jean Tanner Edwards report: “Reunion plans are complete. Among the weekend highlights will be the Pembroke class luncheon at the Crystal Room in Alumnae Hall and the Brown class luncheon at Alpha Delta Phi. A pre­ Commencement concert dinner will be Saturday at the Hope Club. On Sunday we’ll enjoy a clambake in North Kingstown, R.I., at the home of Hank Sharpe and his wife, Peggy. Watch your mail for registration information.”

Douglas Snow writes that he has moved to Colorado to be closer to his grandchildren. He and his wife, Marta, moved in November after living in Exeter, N.H., for forty years. Doug, a former BAM assistant editor and former manager of the University store, managed the bookstore at Phillips Exeter Academy for twenty-five years before retiring in 1984. He and Marta have three sons: David, in Littleton, Colo.; Andy, in Durango, Colo.; and Matt, in Exeter. Brown friends are urged to get in touch at 860 E. 5th Ave., Durango 81301.

Jim Tyrrell (see Sally Sikes Tyrrell ’50).

From the January / February 2000 Issue

Jill Rossi, senior assistant director of alumni relations, reports: "Reunion plans are well under way. Among the highlights of the weekend will be the Pembroke class luncheon at the Crystal Room in Alumnae Hall and the Brown luncheon at Alpha Delta Phi. Saturday dinner, to be held before the pops concert, will be at the nearby Hope Club. On Sunday we'll enjoy a clambake in North Kingstown at the Pojac Point home of Hank and Peggy Sharpe. If you have not yet received a reunion mailing, please call reunion headquarters at (401) 863-1947."

Class secretary Florence Asadorian Dulgarian reports: "Janet Cameron Claflin, of Kalamazoo, Mich., writes, 'I am playing in a tennis doubles league with forty-five-year- olds. It is a great challenge and lots of fun. I am in the upper half of the group.'

"Margaret Wooster Freeman lives in Williamsburg, Va., from mid-October to mid-May and in New Harbor, Maine, for the rest of the year. Retired from the faculty of the College of William and Mary, she now teaches one course a year in the Christopher Wren Association, a program for retirees.

"Shirley Gallup writes: 'This year I celebrate my Harvard Medical School 50th reunion. We were the first class to have fe- male students (twelve out of 142). Last year's class was 52 percent women. I spend four to five months each winter in Sarasota, Fla., where I own a mobile home.'

"Jane Cooke Harris has moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where her son and his family live. She writes: 'We will see how we like mountain, instead of ocean, backgrounds.'

"Nancy Noyes visited Australia last year and plans to steamboat on the Ohio River this year. She still does volunteer work in Pittsburgh.

"Martha Gilman Saunders writes: 'Our three sons are scattered among Fairfield, Maine; New York City; and Annapolis, Md.'

"The sympathy of the class is extended to Marjorie Hackett Spencer, whose sister, Doris Hackett Diebold '47, passed away in August 1998.

"Jeannie Stewart writes: 'I see Providence every Friday night on TV. I think it is most interesting, and the views of Providence and the Van Wickle gates are superb. I hope we get to see more of Brown.'

"Leslie Miner Taylor has visited Ireland and Greece, and has made a reservation to see Passion Play in Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps this year. She writes: 'Recently I was elected to a three-year term as commissioner of the Eastman Village water district.'

"Phyllis Baldwin Young writes: 'I was in charge of the Westchester reception for our new president, which we hosted with the Fairfield county group. I've been very successful with my watercolors and have been pleased with their sales. Occasionally I do demonstrations for various groups. Our son, Andrew '87, lives in Menlo Park, Calif., with his wife.' "

Betty Horenstein Pickett '49 Ph.D., of Surry, Maine, writes: "My husband, James Pickett '51 Ph.D., and I attended the Fourteenth International Congress of Phonetics Science, where we were delighted to see three younger Brown graduates of the department of linguistics and cognitive science. They include Pat Keating '80 Ph.D., a professor of linguistics at U.C.L.A.; Chiu-Yu Tseng '81 Ph.D., a research fellow at the Institute of Linguistics at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan; and Aditi Lahiri '82 Ph.D., a professor of linguistics at the University of Konstanz in Germany." James and Betty enjoy life in coastal Maine. James, an emeritus professor of speech science at Gallaudet University, has recently published Acoustics of Speech Communication, a textbook. Betty retired from the National Institutes of Health as director of the division of research resources. "We have just returned from a fascinating visit to Germany," Betty adds, "where we enjoyed wonderful music and marvelous museums in Berlin and Leipzig.

From the July / August 1999 Issue

Fred I. Brown writes: "This is my eighteenth year of happy retirement in Cincinnati. I'm enjoying traveling, singing in the church choir, and, especially, our four daughters and their troops: four husbands, seven grandsons, and one granddaughter. I'll be back to golf as soon as my busted knee heals."

Betty Horenstein Pickett '49 Ph.D. (see James Pickett '51 Ph.D.).

From the May / June 1999 Issue

Ruth Ferguson Mitchell, Raleigh, N.C., writes that after she left retail she started volunteering with Communities in Schools, a nationwide source of tutoring and mentoring for 'at-risk' children. "I met a young girl in sixth grade who was reading and generally performing at third-grade level, with no support from teachers or family," Ruth writes. "I met with her from sixth grade to the tenth grade and we became good friends. It was a great experience. She's still doing well. I am proud to say that for my volunteer work with CIS I received four awards, two of which were from the county commissioners and the governor of North Carolina."

From the January / February 1999 Issue

Irma Rosengard Hyman writes: "After forty years of the good life in Providence, we have pulled up stakes and followed our children west! We have moved to Henderson, Nev., and are enjoying our journey of discovery."

Frances Kotock Silverstein, Randolph, Mass., writes: "My husband, Philip, passed away on Dec. 29, 1997, and my daughter, Ann, had her third child on Jan. 3, 1998. It was quite sad and happy at the same time. On Sept. 1, 1997, my son Steven became a grandfather, making me a great-grandmother."

From the November / December 1998 Issue

Pembroke class secretary Florence A. Dulgarian reports: Priscilla Wilson Bernd has moved to a town house in Natick, Mass., after living thirty-two years in Wellesley. She took a trip to Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming last fall to visit her husband's family.

Janet Cameron Claflin, Kalamazoo, Mich., is on the state board of Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan, is president of the Landscapers Garden Club in Kalamazoo, and is nature chair on the board of the Kalamazoo Garden Club. "I'm also learning to play doubles tennis," she writes. "Lots of exercise, lots of fun."

Shirley Gallup has purchased a mobile home in Sarasota, Fla., where she will spend five months of the year.

Frances Weeden Gibson, Farmington Hills, Mich., is teaching a class in analyzing stocks using the methods of National Association of Investors Corp. She is also compiling a history of the Gibson farm in Wixom, Mich. The Victorian farmhouse - built in 1872 and old by Michigan standards - has been turned over to the city of Wixom for a community center and historic site.

Jane Cooke Harris writes: "In August 1997, David and I took our two adult children, spouse, and granddaughter to Scotland for a clan gathering. They met about twenty-two cousins, many for the first time." Jane adds: "I showed my artwork in a five-person show in New Haven, Conn., last April. Made up mostly of monotypes, the show was called 'Starting with Paper.' I also showed some image transfers in a photography show called 'Images' and actually sold one. In December, we had a two-person show of collaborative work where we sold about twenty-two of our pieces."

Katherine White Hart is a retired funeral director whose husband passed away suddenly in 1974. Her eight children at the time ranged in age from eight to twenty years old. They now reside in Florida, California, and Massachusetts. "They're all doing quite well," Katherine writes. She has eleven grandchildren.

Irene Pretzer Pigman stays busy writing children's books. She will soon be exploring the Caribbean with her family.

Peter Quinn Jr. received the Anderson Distinguished Service Award at the annual meeting of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel in May. This award is for service both to the association and to the life insurance industry. The award was established in 1993, and Peter was the fifth person to receive it.

Jeannie C. Stewart attended an international congress at Keble College, Oxford University, in September 1997 and presented a paper on Robert Adam, the 18th-century architect.

The sympathy of the class is extended to Frances Kotock Silverstein, whose husband, Philip, passed away in December 1997. Frances writes that she became a great grandmother to Tayler of Arizona in September 1997. In January she became a grandmother to Nikki Alaina of Sharon, Mass.

The class extends sympathy also to Dorothy Von Hacht, whose mother passed away last fall at the age of 96. "She played golf until she was 86, bowled to 89, and drove to 90," Dorothy writes. "My family consists of five cats and Hully the dog, named for Mom, whose maiden name was Hull."

Phyllis Baldwin Young sends news of a reunion with Margaret Ajootian Layshock in December 1997 in California. Phyllis also saw Sarah Levitt Winter in Florida in February. Phyllis is still on the Board of the Brown Club of Westchester, N.Y. Husband Bill is now retired from Columbia Law School, but he still teaches some terms. Phyllis writes: "I'm having great pleasure with my watercolor painting and have been very successful in selling. Looking forward to meeting our new president. Bill taught him at Columbia Law School."

From the July / August 1998 Issue

Norma Macbeth Sturges, Littleton, Colo., published The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art (Lark Books). Norma has been braiding rugs for almost fifty years and teaching others to braid for forty years.

Jim Van Epp (see Florica Cicma Van Epp '48).

From the May / June 1998 Issue

Vernon R. Alden has published a memoir, Speaking for Myself (Ohio University Libraries Press). Vernon, a former president of Ohio University, is president of the Japan Society of Boston.

Stanley L. Ehrlich's wife of forty-eight years, Louise, passed away in December. Louise was an artist, teacher, and the mother of Barbara '74, Stephen '77, and Michael. Donations in her memory can be made to the Stanley L. and Louise W. Ehrlich Library Fund, Brown University, Box A, Providence 02912.

Jeannie C. Stewart's first children's book, Three Little Friends and a Castle: Craigievar, was published by the Pentland Press. "I wrote it for my grandnephews and the children of my friends in Scotland," Jeannie says. Illustrations for the book were supplied by the National Trust for Scotland; Craigievar is one of the trust's special properties.

From the May / June 1998 Issue

Vernon R. Alden has published a memoir, Speaking for Myself (Ohio University Libraries Press). Vernon, a former president of Ohio University, is president of the Japan Society of Boston.

Stanley L. Ehrlich's wife of forty-eight years, Louise, passed away in December. Louise was an artist, teacher, and the mother of Barbara '74, Stephen '77, and Michael. Donations in her memory can be made to the Stanley L. and Louise W. Ehrlich Library Fund, Brown University, Box A, Providence 02912.

Jeannie C. Stewart's first children's book, Three Little Friends and a Castle: Craigievar, was published by the Pentland Press. "I wrote it for my grandnephews and the children of my friends in Scotland," Jeannie says. Illustrations for the book were supplied by the National Trust for Scotland; Craigievar is one of the trust's special properties.

 

Obituaries

Nov, 2023

Briggs A. Hoffmann Jr. ’45, of St. Louis, Mo.; Apr. 25. He had a 44-year career in the insurance business and was a retired vice president and treasurer of the Charles L. Crane Agency. A World War II veteran, he was a member of the Annunziata Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society for 18 years. He is survived by a son, two granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren. 

 

Jan, 2023

Henry D. Sharpe Jr. ’45, of Concord, Mass., and Sorrento, Me.; July 1. He joined Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing in 1946 and in 1951, at the age of 27, succeeded his father as president and CEO. He later served as chairman until retiring in 1996. He was fluent in French and was able to speak German and Italian. He developed a passion for writing and authored numerous stories and poems and was known for his “Hankisms.” He and his wife raised their children between homes, adventures, and travels across the U.S. and internationally. He was involved in conservation efforts and created a conservation grant for an easement on Stave Island, Me., to ensure the ecosystem of the larger Frenchman Bay. Having served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he earned two battle stars. He served on several boards, including the United Way, Providence Journal, R.I. Public Radio, and many civic and philanthropic organizations, and he was an emeritus member of Brown’s Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; daughter Sarah A. Sharpe ’86 MAT; sons Henry III ’77 and Douglas ’79; and five grandchildren, including Eleanor T. Sharpe ’13, Henry W. Sharpe ’17, Austen E. Sharpe ’18, and
Lucien W. Sharpe ’24.

Jan, 2023

Robin Abraham ’45, of San Antonio, Tex.; July 10. After graduating from Brown and serving in the U.S. Navy he was admitted to the Juilliard School, where he studied cello, violin, double bass, and piano. Subsequently he earned a position in the Gershwin Orchestra and toured throughout the U.S. and Canada. In New Orleans, he auditioned successfully for a position in the San Antonio Symphony, which he held from 1954 to 1957. He also played with a piano trio at the St. Anthony Hotel and played violin in the Austin Symphony for several years. He played numerous recitals on cello with his wife collaborating as pianist. After moving to San Antonio, he and his wife taught music in the San Antonio Independent School District and privately at the  Highland Park Music Studio. In 1973, they moved to Northside School of Music, where he also sold string-instrument supplies and sheet music and offered instrument repairs. Together they established the Music Foundation of San Antonio, which has provided funds to hundreds of needy students. They both taught well into their 90s and were active members of the San Antonio Music Teachers Association, with Robin serving as president from 1967 to 1969. San Antonio Music Teachers Association and Musical Bridges Around the World honored them for their years of excellence in teaching. Later, Robin founded the R&P Land Company, through which he bought and sold real estate and contracted building construction and maintenance. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and his partner; and several nieces and nephews.

Oct, 2022

William A. Stoops Jr. ’45, of Falmouth, Me., formerly of Needham, Mass. and Freedom, N.H.; Apr. 1. After Brown and service in the U.S. Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant, he attended Harvard Business School. He worked at Sylvania Electric for many years. In 1982, he and his family moved to homes in Maine and New Hampshire and he continued his career in the defense business as a manager at Bath Iron Works. In retirement, finally able to pursue his sailing passion full-time, he and his son purchased a 36-foot Swan sloop and cruised the coastal waters. He participated in several Marion-Bermuda races and stood behind the helm well into his 90s, including a sail from South Bristol, Me., to Falmouth at the age of 95. Equally remarkable was his piloting a Cessna 172 Skyhawk at the age of 97. He served as treasurer of the Freedom local library before moving to Falmouth in 2018. He is survived by his wife, Sally; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including William III ’78; two daughters-in-law; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

Oct, 2022

Irma Rosengard Hyman ’45, of Henderson, Nev., formerly of Providence; Sept. 27, 2021, just two weeks after her 97th birthday. After Brown, she received her master’s from Boston University, married, started a family, and worked as a social worker. Her commitment to social work spanned a long career, beginning in Colorado at Denver’s Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers. Back in Rhode Island, she worked for the Traveler’s Aid Society of R.I. before joining the Meeting Street School team, becoming the director of the early intervention program and serving in that role for 20 years. She retired in 1989. In retirement she volunteered as a docent for RISD and she and her husband enjoyed attending Brown’s Community for Learning in Retirement classes, sailing, and traveling. They moved to Nevada in 1998 and continued to seek out academic and service opportunities. She is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Jun, 2022

Dorothy H. von Hacht ’45, of Milford, Conn.; Jan. 4. She was a research assistant at both Yale and Stanford, then began her 37-year teaching career. She volunteered at the Milford Red Cross for many years and was a member of the Milford Hospital Auxiliary. She was an avid fan of the New York Giants and the UConn football and basketball teams.

 

Jun, 2022

Jeanne Spiehler Leinen ’45, of Pittsford, N.Y.; Nov. 20. She married in 1948, started a family, and settled in Henrietta, N.Y., where she was involved with community activities and cofounded the Friends of Henrietta Library. She also served as PTA chair of the Rush-Henrietta School district. After moving to Pittsford, she served as president of the Rochester General Hospital Association Board and was a member of many clubs. She was an accomplished artist and enjoyed traveling throughout the Caribbean and Europe. She had a second home in Antigua. She is survived by a daughter, a son, three daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Jun, 2022

Stanley Charren ’45, of Northampton, Mass.; Dec. 31, of COVID. He was a mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, inventor, and wind energy pioneer. While a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, he was assigned as an engineer by Fairchild Corp. to a project to build an expandable jet engine for wartime use. In 1958, he cofounded Bytrex Corporation, which merged with Kulite. Kulite-Bytrex became the first company in the world to make a commercially marketed semiconductor strain gauge with an output almost 100 times greater than conventional gauges. Following that experience, he cofounded Pandel-Bradford in Lowell, Mass., which manufactured synthetic leathers and suedes for shoe uppers and an original vinyl-backed carpet tile for use in commercial offices. Facing back issues, he founded SwimEx, a company that produced personal sized spa pools. However, he was best known for his role in commercializing wind power. During the 1970s energy crisis, he partnered with Russell Wolfe and started U.S. Windpower, which became the first major U.S. wind turbine manufacturer and built the world’s first wind farm in 1978 in Crotched Mountain, N.H. After relocating to northern California and changing the name to Kenetech in 1988, the company emerged as the largest wind energy firm in the world. He retired from Kenetech in 1995 before its bankruptcy in 1996. UMass Amherst’s library houses the Charren papers, a collection of materials on the founding and operations of U.S. Windpower and Kenetech. He enjoyed spending time with his daughters, swimming, and playing tennis and chess. He is survived by two daughters and their spouses; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister; and four nieces and a nephew.

Jun, 2022

Guy W. Fiske ’45, of Hobe Sound, Fla.; Nov. 21. He entered Brown and joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, was commissioned as an ensign, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was employed by General Electric in various marketing management positions; then was corporate vice president of ITT Corporation; and then later executive vice president at General Dynamics Corporation. Called to serve again, he was undersecretary of energy during the Reagan administration and was later promoted to deputysecretary of commerce. He then returned to the private sector and began buying, managing, and selling companies after restructuring them. He was an accomplished artist and took lessons until the week before his death. He enjoyed traveling, reading, playing cards, and playing golf. He is survived by three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Apr, 2022

James O. Starkweather ’45, of Riverside, Conn.; Oct. 22, two weeks shy of his 98th birthday. He joined Brown’s Naval ROTC, graduating in two and half years as a Navy ensign with a mechanical engineering degree. Upon the completion of his military service, he earned a master’s degree from MIT. He went on to work in the paper industry, first at Great Northern Paper Company (Me.) as a chief engineer supervising the construction and start-up of their large new paper mill. In 1957 he and his family moved to Greenwich, Conn., and his career evolved from designing mills to focusing on energy conservation. He became active in paper industry association efforts to analyze industry energy usage and reduce dependence on foreign oil. After moving to Riverside, he was recruited as a crew member for several ocean-racing opportunities, including many Newport to Bermuda races, as well as Vineyard, Block Island, and Halifax races. He was an accomplished navigator and was featured on the August 1949 cover of Yachting magazine. He was a member of Riverside Yacht Club, where he served as Commodore in 1975 and was awarded the Club’s highest service award. He also served as treasurer of Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary and deacon of First Congregational Church of Greenwich, was an elected member of Greenwich Representative Town Meeting, and was a longtime volunteer in the AARP tax assistance program. He is survived by his wife, Mary; five daughters, including Martha Altreuter ’79, Julie Halloran ’85, and Mary Bushman ’86; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Apr, 2022

Robert B. Hill ’45, of Minneapolis; Sept. 4. He owned and operated a water treatment company. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Apr, 2022

Walter C. Cotter ’45, of Stuart, Fla.; Oct. 27. He attended Boston University before entering the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following his military service, he resumed his premedical education at Brown, then attended medical school at Tufts University. He returned to Rhode Island to begin a long career as a physician, working on the staff of several Rhode Island hospitals. In the final two decades of his surgical practice, he assumed a leading role in the development and leadership of the neurosurgical center at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence and was named chief of neurosurgery at both St. Joseph’s and Kent County hospitals. He was frequently called upon by local media to provide medical insights, notably on Vinnie “Paz” Pazienza and the death of Robert F. Kennedy. He was named president of both the Rhode Island and New England neurosurgical societies and was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He retired in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Mary; six children and their spouses, including daughter Betsy Wisehart ’81 and son David ’77; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. 

 

Jan, 2022

Otilia Ramos Magee ’45, of Houston; July 28. She taught French and was head of the foreign language department at Clear Lake High School. In addition to teaching, she owned Hodge Podge yarn and gift shop. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels and enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, and caring for several cats. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son, a grandson, and
three great-grandchildren. 

Oct, 2021

Audrey Mishel Cooper ’45, of West Newton, Mass.; May 22. She was the secretary at Underwood School in Newton Corner for 27 years. Service to others was important to her and she and her late husband David were pioneers in the city helping to establish early childcare and afterschool programs at Family Access of Newton. She chaired the board of trustees of the Newton Free Library, cochaired the steering committee to establish the Newton Senior Center, and was a founding member of Temple Shalom of Newton. She was also past chair of the Ward 3 Newton Democratic Committee. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, two granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren.

Aug, 2021

Robert G. Walker ’45, of South Dartmouth, Mass.; Feb. 19. He entered Brown in 1941 and joined the Navy ROTC. In 1944, he was commissioned as an Ensign USNR and deployed. Following World War II, he returned to Brown to complete his engineering degree. Throughout his career he served at sea commanding three ships and onshore working on the staffs of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. He retired in October 1968 with the rank of Captain and returned to South Dartmouth to begin a business career. From 1975 to 2001 he was the owner of Walker Reel Company. He is survived by his wife, Jane; four daughters; two sons-in-law; nine grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.

Aug, 2021

Abraham Ehrenhaus ’45, of Providence; Jan. 22. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and completing his degree at Brown, he joined his father’s business, American Wallpaper Co., which he helped to grow. After retiring, he took on leadership positions with Union Savings Bank, including serving as chair of the board for many years. He volunteered in the community, was chair of the Fall River Red Cross, helped found the Fall River Soup Kitchen, and was involved with the Fall River Historical Society and the Marine Museum. He enjoyed reading and solving the New York Times crossword puzzle, collecting stamps, and playing the flute, which for years he played with the New Bedford Symphony and the Swansea Community Band. He is survived by three daughters, two sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Aug, 2021

George L. Cady ’45, of Tempe, Ariz.; Feb. 11. After Brown, he pursued a career in electrical contracting construction. He was president of MacNutt Electrical Co. in New York City and retired in 1985 as general manager of the Rocky Mountain Division of Dynalectric in Denver. He was the longtime chair of the Architectural Review Committee at Moss Creek. An avid golfer, he achieved four holes-in-one. He is survived by four children and their spouses, 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Apr, 2021

William F. Kahl ’45, of Slingerlands, N.Y.; Dec. 4. While obtaining his master’s degree, he taught at Boston University. After earning his PhD he then moved to Simmons College, where he served as provost for almost a decade. He left Simmons to join Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., and served as president from 1976 until his retirement in 1988. He was a historian and strong advocate for women’s education. At both Simmons and Sage he focused on modernizing the curriculum for women’s education, opening the way for women to have careers beyond the prescribed roles of that era. He was active in the community, serving on multiple boards, including the Hudson River Valley Association, Albany Symphony Orchestra, State Bank of Albany, Tenement Museum in New York City, Albany Institute of History and Art, Wildwood School, and Albany Academy for Girls. He was an avid reader and enjoyed walking in nature and visiting museums and historical sites. He and his wife traveled extensively in Europe, Turkey, and China and spent the summers enjoying the arts by listening to classical music at Tanglewood, watching the ballet at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, or attending an opera at Glimmerglass. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and two children.

Jan, 2021

Roger W. Frost ’45, of Worcester, Mass.; June 16. He worked his way through Brown, interrupting his studies to serve as a Naval officer during World War II. When the war ended, he married, settled in Worcester, and raised seven children. He became the third-generation owner of Frost Stamp Works, renaming it Frost Manufacturing Corp. and growing it from a small rubber stamp shop to a full-service sign and stamp business. He was an avid fisherman. A proud and enthusiastic Rotarian, Roger was a 70-year member of the Worcester Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and past club president and district governor. Following his wife’s passing, he became a member of The Briarwood Community in Worcester, where he was known as “The Mayor of Briarwood.” He was a tireless advocate for the organization and for what he called senior empowerment. He pushed his fellow residents to get involved and stay active, including founding the Briarwood Broadcasting Company, a cable television station operated 12 hours a day, seven days a week by a committee of dedicated residents. He is survived by two daughters, four sons, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Nov, 2020

Vernon Alden ’45, whose life spanned WWII military service and successful careers in both higher education and financial services, as well as a remarkable record of giving, is remembered first for his enthusiasm and warmth. 

 

“Everyone loved meeting my dad because he was so curious about life and so interested in everyone. His face would light up and he’d yell your name because he was so excited to see you,” remembers daughter Anne Alden ’78. 

 

 

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and graduating from both Brown and Harvard business schools, Alden started in the Northwestern University admissions department. In 1960, while associate dean of Harvard Business School, he was asked to be president of Ohio University, serving from 1962 to 1969 and doubling faculty and student enrollment during his tenure. “I came to Ohio University in 1966 because of a diversity initiative he started,” recalls President Emeritus Roderick J. McDavis. “He started the Honors College, the Fellows program…and was responsible for the Black Studies Institute.” 

 

 

“His vision for what could be was motivating and his courage for attempting and achieving big things was inspiring,” remarked President Emeritus Robert Glidden during Alden’s virtual memorial service. “And his joy of life was contagious.” 

 

 

Alden later served as chair of the Boston Company and its major subsidiary, the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company. By the end of the 1970s, he had helped grow a local firm into an international organization and the 15th largest U.S. investment management company.

 

 

Outside of his professional life, Alden became deeply involved in Japanese-American relations through groups including the Japan Society of Boston and the National Organization of Japan-American Societies. He was an advocate for the arts and a life trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Museum of Science, and the Children’s Museum. A devoted philanthropist, he established endowed funds at Brown, Ohio University, Ohio Wesleyan University, MIT, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Northfield Mount Hermon School. A trustee and member of the Brown Corporation Board of Fellows, he was also a staunch supporter of the Brown cross country and track and field programs, endowing the track and field coaching chair, funding the Alden indoor track facility and the Alden Award, sponsoring the annual Alden Invitational, and becoming a founding director of the Brown University Sports Foundation.

 

 

He held honorary degrees from 13 universities, including Brown.

 

 

Alden passed away on June 22 from complications of pneumonia. He is survived by four children, including daughter Anne Alden ’78 and sons James ’81 and David ’87; and eight grandchildren. 

 

Nov, 2020

Banice M. Webber ’45, of New York City, formerly of Providence; May 27, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He graduated from Tufts Medical School and was sent to Korea in 1952 as an Army surgeon. He went on to become a radiation oncologist and founded Radiation Oncology Associates in Providence. He was a fellow in the department of radiation oncology at Tufts New England Medical Center, an attending radiation oncologist at Rhode Island Hospital, and a member of the Brown medical school faculty. He was a clinical associate professor emeritus of radiation medicine at Brown and an associate professor of radiation oncology at Tufts University School of Medicine. His medical career included positions as president of New England Cancer Society and as a trustee of Miriam Hospital and Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island. He published numerous medical papers and articles, retired in 2003, and then tutored 4th- and 5th-grade children at the Paul Cuffee School. A lifelong sailing enthusiast, he also enjoyed photography, music, and traveling. He is survived by two daughters, their spouses, and four grandchildren.

Nov, 2020

Margaret Sullivan Palmer ’45, of Newport, R.I.; Apr. 18. She was an English teacher at Rogers High School for more than 35 years. An avid reader, she was a member of The Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport Historical Society, Newport Art Museum, and Friends of the Waterfront. In retirement she volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, seven grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Aug, 2020

Patricia McKanna Ratigan ’45, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Feb. 12.  She worked as an accountant for Price Waterhouse during the war, later taught English at the University of Idaho, then worked for a newspaper in Denver, before marrying and settling in East Greenwich. After raising a family, she worked at the East Greenwich Pendulum as an editor and at Typesetting Services in Providence, where she specialized in proofreading German and French language articles. She enjoyed reading, knitting, and playing bridge. She is survived by a daughter; four sons, including Daniel ’86; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Aug, 2020

Walter P. Gunn Jr. ’45, of Longmeadow, Mass.; Feb. 28. His college education was interrupted by the war, during which he served in the U.S. Army. He was discharged with the rank of staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He returned to Brown and upon graduation worked in the lumber industry. In 1967, he and his father started the Garelco Sales Company, a lumber wholesaler and wood packaging company located in East Longmeadow. He was a past member of Colony Club of Springfield and the Longmeadow Country Club. He enjoyed fly-fishing, cross-country skiing, sailing, and playing golf. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law and a granddaughter.

Jun, 2020

Richard Silverman ’45, of Newton, Mass.; Dec. 7. He ran Hy-Sil Manufacturing Co., a family owned business. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a longtime member of the Young Presidents Organization and a fundraiser for Newton Wellesley Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston Ballet, and Brown. He was also a self-published author of two memoirs and a master bridge player. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; a daughter and her spouse; a son; a granddaughter; a sister; and several nieces and nephews.
 

 

Jun, 2020

Mary Santee Harris ’45, of Durango, Colo; Dec. 29. She moved west to work on a ranch after graduation. She briefly returned to the East Coast to work with the Girl Scouts of America, but she longed to be back out west and moved to work on several ranches and teach at a one-room schoolhouse. She obtained degrees in animal science from the University of Wyoming and a master’s in journalism from Oklahoma State. She then worked at the University of Wyoming in publications and was appointed director of the university news service. On her own ranch in 2004, she began welcoming Durango Agility Dogs to use her property for meetings, classes, events, and practices with their dogs. She also enjoyed water aerobics. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law.

 

Jun, 2020

Margaret Wooster Freeman ’45, of Brunswick, Me.; Dec. 24. She received master’s degrees in musicology from Smith College and English literature from Middlebury College. She taught English literature at Allegheny College before moving to the College of William and Mary, where she was an associate professor and chair of the music department. She chaired numerous campus-wide committees and was the first woman president of the first Phi Beta Kappa chapter at William and Mary. She retired in 1989. She became a senior fellow at Robinson College and Cambridge University (UK), where she spent biannual spring terms. She enjoyed traveling to unfamiliar places at unseasonable times, including New Zealand, India, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, and Italy. She is survived by a daughter; son, John Freeman ’70; three granddaughters; and five
great-grandchildren.

 

Apr, 2020

Leonard S. Michelman ’45, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Springfield, Mass.; Nov. 10. After graduating from Boston University Law School, he practiced law in Springfield until his retirement in 2011. During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a radio transmitter technician and was awarded a Battle Star. A member of the Hampden County and Massachusetts bar associations, he was also a lifelong member of Congregation Kodimoh and served on its board of trustees. He was a past chairman of the Hartford-Springfield Israel Bond Committee, a board member of the Springfield Jewish Federation, a member of B’nai B’rith, the Jewish War Veterans, and the Jewish Geriatric Services, and served as the commander of the Longmeadow Post of the American Legion. He was a competitive bridge player and obtained the title of American Contract Bridge League Life Master. An avid golfer, he was a member and past secretary of Crestview Country Club and Boca Lago Country Club. He is survived by a daughter; two sons and their spouses, including son Eric ’80; and four grandchildren.

 

Apr, 2020

Leon S. Mass ’45, of Providence; June 4. His entire career was spent at Hasbro, where he retired as senior vice president of operations. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed traveling and playing golf. He is survived by three daughters; a son; son-in-law Bill Fink ’67; six grandchildren; a great-grandson; a sister; and a sister-in-law.

 

Jan, 2020

Frances Kotock Silverstein ’45, of Dedham, Mass.; Aug. 22. In addition to raising her family, she was an accomplished knitter and enjoyed cooking. At her 90th birthday party she became a Bat Mitzvah. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a sister, and nieces and nephews.

 

Jan, 2020

Edward J. McCrystal Jr. ’45, of Concord, Mass.; Aug. 23. He was a business executive and a U.S. Army Air Corps World War II veteran. He enjoyed playing golf and was a past president of the Pawtucket Country Club and a member of the Hyannisport Club. He is survived by two sons, including Neil ’72; a daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
 

 

Jan, 2020

Jean Tanner Edwards ’45, of Providence; Sept. 13. She served in the U.S. Navy Women’s Reserve, married, and obtained a graduate degree at Harvard prior to settling in Rhode Island. In 1970 she earned a library degree from URI while raising her family and working at the Lincoln School in Providence. She retired from Lincoln School in 1989 as head librarian. She served on committees at Central Congregational Church in Providence, was president of the R.I. Conference United Church of Christ, and was chairman of the board of Camp Street Ministries. She enjoyed singing, reading, knitting, and sailing. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by a daughter; two sons, including William Edwards ’76; two daughters-in-law; three grandchildren, including Martha K. Edwards ’18; a great-grandchild; and a sister.

 

Nov, 2019

Martha Gilman Saunders ’45, of Falmouth, Me.; May 20. She worked as a nurse in Denver and Seattle before returning to Providence, where she married and started a family. She eventually moved to Maine and served on the board of the Woodfords School, was active in the Portland chapter of the Women’s Literary Union, and was a docent at Portland’s Victoria Mansion. She was an avid reader, with a particular interest in American history. She is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

 

Nov, 2019

Daniel Fairchild ’45, ’48 ScM, of Barrington, R.I.; June 27. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Brown for his master’s degree. He worked at FRAM for 30 years and retired as a vice president. When he left the company he embarked on a second career teaching engineering at Roger Williams University. He enjoyed spending summers on Hog Island, playing golf, cruising in Europe and Alaska, and sailing in the Caribbean and Maine. He was an Eagle Scout and remained active with Boy Scouts of America. He was also an active member of Central Congregational Church, where he served as deacon. He is survived by five children, eight grandchildren, including Carl F. Olson ’02 and Neil F. Olson ’05; and three great-grandchildren.

 

Nov, 2019

Frank S. Arnold ’45, of White Plains, N.Y., and Scottsdale, Ariz.; Oct. 3, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Barbra; two sons, including Andrew ’74; and three grandchildren.

 

Sep, 2019

Bernard H. Herman ’45, of Clearwater, Fla.; Apr. 11. He practiced law in New Bedford and Fall River, Mass., serving as counsel to the Fall River School Department. He ran mayoral and congressional campaigns, and was an active member of Temple Beth El, and an accomplished photographer. After moving to Cape Cod in 1978, he continued to practice law until he became an assistant district attorney in Bristol County. In that capacity, he spoke to children and seniors about such issues as racial and religious tolerance, protecting themselves from abuse, and wrote plays for children to help illustrate the lessons. He received numerous commendations from the governor, religious leaders, law enforcement, business owners, and public officials. He also attended clown school and conducted seminars for the medical profession on the crucial role of humor in healing. He entertained and empowered people to embrace life with humor well into his 90s. He was a member of both the Massachusetts and Fall River bar associations, the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Assoc., and the New England Law Institute. He is survived by his wife, Pat; two daughters; and a son-in-law.

 

Jul, 2019

 Clinton H. Springer ’45, of New Castle, N.H.; Feb. 5. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he was employed as an engineer at Firemen’s Mutual Insurance Company. He was called back to duty during the Korean War and after discharge returned to work for Firemen’s Mutual Insurance. He retired in 1987 as vice president of sales. He was a New Castle town selectman for nine years and served on other town boards, including the Warner House Museum, for many years. He was a longtime proprietor of the Portsmouth Athenaeum and a member of the Federal Fire Society. He enjoyed all kinds of sports, especially the Boston Red Sox and UNH men’s hockey, and enjoyed sailing with The Corinthians sailing club. He is survived by his wife, Francesca; three children; four grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.

 

Jul, 2019

Dorothy Lowell Schedin ’45, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Jan. 25. She was a homemaker and is survived by four children; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

 

Jul, 2019

Helen Depoian Pashigian ’45, of Bradford, Mass.; Feb. 2. She was a homemaker and for a short time during the late 1960s and ’70s she was a substitute teacher at Haverhill High School. She was an accomplished pianist and knitter and she enjoyed theater and fashion. She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law; a grandson; a sister; and several nieces and nephews.

 

Jul, 2019

Barbara S. Mosbacher ’45, of New York City; Dec. 15. After graduation she worked briefly for  Harper's Bazaar and for photographer Richard Avedon. She later was involved with Planned Parenthood of New York, Sheltering Arms Children’s Service, and Irvington House. In addition, she was a member of several boards and committees, including Brown’s Watson Committee (1971-1974), and chairman of the John Hay Library Committee (1978-1981). The John Carter Brown Library has a fellowship in her name. She also served as a director of the Long Island City Savings and Loan. She was a founder of the New York State Republican Party Family committee, now the Republican Pro-Choice Alliance. In 1995 she accepted Mayor Giuliani’s invitation to become a commissioner on the status of women and served as a delegate to the Republican conventions in 1984 and 1988. She was a life master in bridge and a bench in Central Park is engraved in her honor. She is survived by two sons, including Clinton Smullyan Jr. ’72; five grandchildren, including Nicholas Kinsey ’06; and five great-grandchildren.

 

Jul, 2019

Carl G. Johanson ’45, of Natick, Mass.; Mar. 26. He retired after years as a district service manager for the Ford Motor Company in Natick. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He enjoyed picnics and sailing on Lake Cochituate with family. He is survived by his wife, Leslie; six children; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

 

May, 2019

Norma Macbeth Sturges ’45, of Casper, Wyo.; Nov. 30. At Brown she was captain of the archery team and played on the varsity basketball team and the bowling team. During World War II she worked in a munitions factory. She was regarded as a fiber artist of the unique American craft art of braided rugs and taught her technique for decades. Her book The Braided Rug Book: Creating Your Own American Folk Art was published in 1995, revised in 2000, and rewritten in 2006. She was one of the founders of the Rocky Mountain Rug Braiders Guild in Colorado and was instrumental in getting the Casper Rug Braiders Guild started. Her art was exhibited at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper. In 2012 she received a mentorship grant from the Wyoming Arts Council Folk and Traditional Arts Program to teach advanced braiding techniques. In 2014 she was a recipient of the Wyoming Arts Council Governor’s Arts Award. She is survived by two daughters, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

May, 2019

Joan Costello Devlin ’45, of Coventry, R.I.; Jan. 10. She was a director of social workers for the State of Rhode Island for more than 30 years before retiring. She enjoyed bird watching and tending to her own dog and cats. She is survived by her goddaughter.

Jan, 2019

Robert C. Claflin ’45, of Nashua, N.H., formerly of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Sept. 11. He was a fire protection engineer and consultant for many years. He enjoyed working with Habitat for Humanity and was a founding member and director of the Kalamazoo Scottish Festival. He sang bass in the Congregational Church choir and was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by three children, including son George ’73 and daughter Heather Clayton ’77; daughter-in-law Frances Wentworth ’74; seven grandchildren; and a brother.

 

Sep, 2018

Elaine Laudati Regine ’45, of Cranston, R.I.; May 2. She was a social worker for the State of Rhode Island. After raising a family, she obtained a teacher’s certificate from Rhode Island College and became a substitute teacher in the Providence and Cranston school systems. She enjoyed sports, specifically playing golf, and was a member of Metacomet Country Club, where she scored a hole in one in 1966. She is survived by six children and their spouses, including son Louis J. Regine III ’73.

 

Sep, 2018

Thomas J. Loftus ’45, of Nahant, Mass.; Apr. 22. He was a retired administrator of the Boston Public School system. After retiring from the school system he worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Registry of Deeds for 15 years. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and a founding member of the Walsh Post American Legion in Dorchester. He enjoyed Boston politics and Boston sports. He is survived by a son, a daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.

 

Sep, 2018

David E. Ferguson ’45, of Richmond, N.H., formerly of East Lyme, Conn.; Apr. 29. He was a retired senior engineer at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy and retired from the USNR in 1961 as a lieutenant. He is survived by two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister.

 

Sep, 2018

Rozanne Karibian Arzoomanian ’45, ’62 MAT, of Cranston, R.I.; Apr. 30. She taught science at Hugh B. Bain Middle School in Cranston and was coprincipal of the Mourad Armenian School. She was a longtime member of St. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church and is survived by a daughter, a son, and two siblings.

 

Sep, 2018

Henry E. Altenberg ’45, of Kittery, Me., formerly of West Hartford, Conn.; Apr. 25, of multiple myeloma. He was a retired psychiatrist. He served as a psychiatrist in the U.S. Air Force in Alaska from 1952 to 1954. Moving back to the East Coast, he practiced psychiatry for the next 30 years. In 1984 he moved to Kittery, married, and enjoyed traveling and sailing along the Maine coast. As a member of the American Holistic Medical Assoc., he was trained in advanced Reiki and, with his wife, codirected the Spruce Creek Holistic Center in Kittery, where they ran a support group for people with life-threatening illnesses. He authored Holistic Medicine, A Meeting of East and West. He also contributed to Doctors Look at Macrobiotics. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; three daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; four step-children; four grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.

 

Sep, 2018

Rozanne Karibian Arzoomanian ’62 MAT (see ’45).

 

May, 2018

Norman C. Taylor ’45, of Woodbury, Conn.; Dec. 23. He worked at Chase Brass & Copper in Waterbury, Conn., and later worked in archery manufacturing, opening a branch of Stemmler Archery in Waterbury, Conn., and in 1959 a factory in Middlebury, Conn. He was president of the Archery Trade Assoc. in 1981. He served on various Woodbury town committees and was a deacon, trustee, and church school superintendent at the First Congregational Church. He  served as trustee and president of Waterbury Hospital. A U.S. Navy World War II veteran and Eagle Scout, he earned the Silver Beaver badge for his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed skiing, tobogganing, ice hockey, camping, fishing, golf, and bridge. He is survived by his wife, Adele; a daughter; three sons; a daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; and a sister.

 

May, 2018

Philip R. Siener ’45, of Greene and Providence, R.I.; Dec. 24, after a long illness. He was chairman and CEO of Cooley Group Holdings in Pawtucket, R.I. He was president of Agawam Hunt Club in East Providence and served on the boards of Peoples Savings Bank, the U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute, and the Industrial Fabrics Assoc. International. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He is survived by two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

 

May, 2018

Frank H. Horton ’45, of Saco, Me., formerly of Manchester, Conn.; Jan. 7. He was a pediatrician in Manchester for 35 years. He retired in 1989 and moved to Maine, where he worked as a safety officer for Horton Smoked Seafoods in Waterboro. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Assoc. He enjoyed fly-fishing, beekeeping, gardening, and blacksmithing. He is survived by daughter Jill Horton-Lyons ’71; two sons, including Robert ’72; son-in-law James Lyons ’66; a brother; and a sister-in-law.

 

May, 2018

Germaine Dufault Arsove ’45, of Seattle; May 3, 2017. She worked at the Children’s Home Society of Washington, at Head Start, and as a therapist in private practice. She enjoyed gardening, beekeeping, sewing, rug latch hooking, and the opera. She is survived by four daughters, including Priscilla Arsove ’74, and three grandchildren.

 

Apr, 2018

John C. Burgess ’45, of Lanikai, Hawaii, formerly of Palo Alto, Calif.; May 14. After serving in the U.S. Navy and earning a PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford in 1955, he worked at SRI International and United Technologies in the San Francisco Bay area. In 1966 he moved to Hawaii, where he was a full professor and chairman of the mechanical engineering department at the Univ. of Hawaii, Manoa campus. He was president of the college faculty senate from 1969 to 1971 and retired in 1995. He was an active member of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and received the ASA’s Distinguished Service Citation in 1966 and a Medal of Special Merit from the Acoustical Society of Japan. He enjoyed flying gliders in California, backpacking in Hawaii and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, and nature photography. He is survived by his wife, Frances; a daughter; two sons; and two grandchildren.

Apr, 2018

Samuel B. Formal ’45, of Silver Spring, Md.; Nov. 19. He was chief of the Department of Applied Immunology at the Walter Reed Institute of Research retiring in 1993. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the Society of American Bacteriologists. He is survived by his wife, Rosamond; three sons and their spouses; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Apr, 2018

Frank Merlino ’45, of Warwick, R.I.; Nov. 18. A retired cardiologist, he practiced for more than 35 years at Rhode Island Hospital, where he was president of the medical staff from 1972 to 1973. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a member of the American Medical Assoc., the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Physicians. He enjoyed reading, solving crossword puzzles, watching the Boston Red Sox, and spending time with family. He is survived by six sons, including Matthew ’78, Paul ’86, and John ’83 MD; six daughters-in-law; 12 grandchildren; a sister; and a sister-in-law.

Feb, 2018

Joyce Chadbourne Eschenfelder ’45, of Raleigh, N.C., formerly of Syracuse, N.Y., and Watch Hill, R.I.; Aug. 19. She worked as a chemist in Uniroyal’s Naugatuck, Conn., laboratories before marrying and moving to Syracuse. She graduated from Syracuse Univ. with a master’s in library science and was an elementary school librarian in the Liverpool (N.Y.) school district until retiring to Watch Hill. She volunteered as a librarian at Watch Hill Memorial Library and relocated to Raleigh in 2009. She is survived by four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Feb, 2018

Mary Duncan Jacobson ’45, of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Sept. 3, of heart failure. She was a homemaker who enjoyed participating in many Pembroke activities and clubs. She is survived by daughter Edith Jacobson ’80 and son John R. Jacobson ’73.

Feb, 2018

Robert E. Jacobson ’45, of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Oct. 27, 2016, of heart failure. He was a senior scientist at Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles from 1955 to 1985 and a docent at the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry from 1985 to 2000. He enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by daughter Edith Jacobson ’80 and son John R. Jacobson ’73. 

Feb, 2018

Howard B. Marble Jr. ’45, of Arden, N.C., formerly of Augusta, Ga.; Sept. 1. After obtaining his dental degree from Tufts Univ., he became an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and served 23 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1969 as a captain. He continued his career in Augusta, where he became head of the VA Medical Center dental department and was a professor at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. He retired in 1988. He was a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society and the American Dental Assoc. He enjoyed fishing, skiing, and playing golf. He is survived by five children, 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Send us your news! 
Help us keep your class updated.

 

Send us an obituary
Help us memorialize your departed classmates