Obituaries

Dorothy Y. Liu-Bottary ’17 MD, of Philadelphia; Feb. 22. She was a math teacher for Teach For America before earning her medical degree and completing her residency. She joined the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2023. She is survived by her husband, Ryan; her parents; and her siblings and their families. 

Michael L. Chang ’81 MD, of Sacramento, Calif.; Mar. 19. For more than 30 years he worked as an interventional cardiologist, first in San Francisco and then at Mercy Heart Institute/Dignity Health Hospitals in Sacramento. He served as medical director of the Cardiovascular Service for the Sacramento area and oversaw the introduction of many innovative cardiac procedures. He enjoyed running marathons with his wife, summiting mountains, playing golf, and traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four children; three grandchildren; and two sisters.

Dan C. DeBorde ’77 PhD, of Missoula, Mont.; Jan. 17. After serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, he graduated from Brown and taught at UCLA. After completing his post-doc at the University of Michigan, he moved to Missoula and he began a job teaching and researching microbiology and virology at the University of Montana before cofounding Endo Biologics Inc. He enjoyed making up stories, camping, fly-fishing, reading, and taking nature photos. He is survived by his wife, Kala Conway; two children; three grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.

Paul L. Zimmering ’71 MAT (see ’70).

John D. Riley ’71 MAT, of Cranston, R.I.; Feb. 16. He taught for 34 years at schools that included De La Salle Academy in Newport, North Smithfield High School, and Davies Career and Technical High School. At De La Salle, he served as JV baseball coach and director of the glee club. He was an administrative assistant to Congressman Edward P. Beard for six years and special assistant to Congressman Fernand St. Germain for four years. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and a son.

Jeffrey A. Kelman ’71 MMSc (see ’69).

Keith W. Dupree ’67 AM, of New Milford, Conn.; Mar. 16. He was employed as an Ameriprise financial planner and a math teacher at both Wilton High School and Horace Mann School. He was an avid runner for almost 57 years and a member of the Roxbury Runner’s Club and the Danbury Athlete’s Attic Running Club. He ran daily and participated in marathons until his late 60s. In addition to running, he was also a hiker, bicyclist, and enjoyed playing bridge. As a member of the Lions clubs in Newtown and New Milford, he volunteered at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House. He supported his church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, as a past president and member for more than 50 years. He and his family spent time every summer at the Star Island spiritual retreat at the Isle of Shoals, a tradition carried on with his children and grandchildren. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Marie; a daughter; a son; and five grandchildren.

Raymond L. Randall ’66 AM, of Lincolnshire, Ill., formerly of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 27. He taught for 38 years and was the department chair of foreign language at Pilgrim High School in Warwick. He taught religious education for 15 years and served on numerous committees at Saint Peter Church. He volunteered at Roger Williams Park Zoo and earned the title of life docent. As a black belt, he enjoyed teaching judo, reading, and volunteering with youth. He is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. 

Geraldine Segal Foster ’66 MAT (see ’49).

Gary F. Caron ’66 MAT, of New Hartford, N.Y.; Mar. 21, after a long struggle with corticobasal degeneration. He was a high school math teacher in Red Hook, N.Y., before advancing his education at Brown. Following graduation, he had a long career in software engineering and retired from Lockheed Martin in 1997. He enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three daughters; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; and nieces and nephews. 

Sridhar K. Iya ’65 ScM, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; Mar. 15. In addition to earning a master’s from Brown, he earned a PhD from Penn State and had a 40+ year career as an engineer, starting with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1974, where he spent 13 years. In 1987 he became a U.S. citizen and began a long and distinguished career at Boeing. He worked on U.S. Department of Defense and NASA contracts with Boeing’s defense group, and in the 1990s he provided technical leadership on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. He was later recognized for outstanding performance after developing a highly innovative weapon system level assessment approach for subsystem optimization. During his career he authored numerous technical papers, received several industry awards, and was the holder of several U.S. patents. He contributed to publications that included the International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) aerospace reports and NASA tech briefs. He was the recipient of awards of recognition from NASA, SAE, and various other professional organizations. In the 2000s he worked as a tech leader at Boeing Phantom Works, which was focused on developing advanced military products and technologies, and he became an associate technical fellow. He retired from Boeing in 2013. He enjoyed traveling and visited six continents. He is survived by his wife, Malini, a daughter, and a son. 

John L. Butler ’62 ScM, of Cohasset, Mass.; Mar. 13. After graduating, he worked for various companies that were associated with air and underwater acoustic products, specifically related to the field of SONAR devices that transmitted and received acoustic energy. During this time, he completed a PhD in electrical engineering from Northeastern University. In the early 1970s his hobby was the design, building, and testing of home stereo loudspeaker systems, which grew into a position selling these systems to stereo Hi-Fi stores in the Boston area. In 1974, he opened Image Acoustics, Inc. and became a consultant in acoustics and sonar systems for the U.S. Navy and for companies that he had worked with prior. He coauthored a book titled Transducers and Arrays for Underwater Sound in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two daughters; two sons; a daughter-in-law; two sons-in-law; 10 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. 

Charles A. Peterson ’61 MAT, of Olympia, Wash.; Feb. 1. He was a science teacher for more than 30 years. He enjoyed singing, camping, and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two daughters; and four grandchildren. 

Robert E. Barton ’53 AM, of Westbrook, Me.; Mar. 8. After ROTC, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served two years as a paratrooper. He then served as a reservist for 28 years. He taught Latin at Bowdoin College before earning his master’s degree at Brown and then taught Latin at South Portland High School, Kimball Union Academy, and Lisbon High School. He retired in 1986. 

Jeremy M. Welland ’08, of Baltimore; Mar. 7, of a sudden heart attack. He taught himself to speak Chinese and Spanish, and, during Covid, how to play competitive chess. Originally from Canada, he was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He enjoyed traveling and he is survived by his wife, Kehler Welland; a daughter; a son; his parents; two brothers and sisters-in-law; three nieces and a nephew. 

Sean P. Hopkins ’06, of Ardsley, Pa.; Mar. 9. After wrestling at Brown and graduating with a degree in history, he pursued work in the creative arts doing graphic design, website building, and media work. He enjoyed watching the Eagles and Phillies and was an avid history buff. He is survived by his parents, grandparents, three siblings and their spouses, three nieces, and two nephews. 

Jeffrey S. Brown ’00, of Sherborn, Mass.; Feb. 3. After receiving an MBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, he worked at Putnam Investments, Wellington Management, and John Hancock, now Manulife Investment Management. Most recently, he worked as head of content, private markets at Manulife. He was proud of earning the chartered financial analyst designation. Running was important to him and he ran half marathons regularly. He ran the Long Beach Marathon and the Boston Marathon in 2015. He climbed Mount Washington twice and enjoyed traveling. He enjoyed the opportunity to go to Asia for work earlier this year, as well as a memorable family trip to England in 2019. He was active in the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, where he served on the board of directors and was a worship associate. He is survived by his wife, Amanda; three children; his parents; a brother; a mother-in-law; three sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; a niece and nephews. 

David P. Follman ’97, of Schenectady, N.Y.; Feb. 12, of cancer. He received his master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara and worked for Thorlabs as a material scientist. He was an integral member of the Crooked Necked Giraffes softball team at UC Santa Barbara and maintained lifelong friendships. He enjoyed jazz music and was an avid Yankees fan. He is survived by his wife, Jenifer; three children; his parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law; and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Nicole R. Pope ’96, of Foster, R.I.; Mar. 9, of a brain aneurysm. She was a former director of government affairs for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and a member of the Johnston Planning Board. She is survived by a daughter and two sisters.

Lisa Payne Simon ’88, of Arlington, Mass.; Mar. 13, of cancer. She lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years prior to moving back to Massachusetts. In addition to being a devoted mother she was a public health advocate. She worked on projects in the U.S. and in developing nations that included time with the Coping Project in San Francisco at the height of the AIDS epidemic and coordinating projects to support caregivers and seniors that included the Memory Cafe Project and the Exhale Project of the philanthropic initiative of the Boston Foundation. She is survived by her husband, Dana; a daughter; a son; a sister; her mother-in-law; and cousins. 

Joseph B. “Joby” Bardetti ’88, of North Andover, Mass.; Jan. 24. He moved to Chicago to work as a creative director at the Leo Burnett advertising agency. While working in the marketing world, he also tried standup comedy and went on to become a headliner at some of Chicago’s top comedy clubs, including Zanie’s, and did guest spots in the Boston area when he visited. After many years on stage, he went on to become a cofounder and managing creative director of the Well advertising agency in Chicago. In 2004, he and his family moved back to Andover to help sell the family’s car dealership so his father could retire and they never left. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; three children; his mother; two sisters; two brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. 

Steven L. Herring ’79, of Mobile, Ala.; Mar. 25. He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his master’s in international relations at the Wharton School of Business in 1981. His professional career started in Washington and took him to Saudi Arabia, New York City, and San Francisco before he retired to Mobile. He never stopped learning or traveling worldwide and enjoying museums and libraries. He is survived by his mother, a brother, and a sister-in-law. 

Lawrence E. Berkman ’79, of Norwich, Conn.; Jan. 22. He was a dentist, practicing in Hope Valley, R.I., for 35 years with his hygienist wife, who predeceased him. He was a coin collector and enjoyed writing, planetary geology, astronomy, history, and family genealogy. He is survived by a daughter, a brother and sister-in-law, a niece, and an aunt and uncle. 

Gary W. Royal ’74, of Evans, Ga.; Jan. 21. He met his future wife during their freshman orientation week at Brown and married a week after graduation. After working for the U.S. Postal Service during his college years, he briefly sold life insurance in Ocala, Fla., before he transitioned to a research laboratory technician role in immunology at the University of Florida. They moved to the Baltimore-Washington area in 1978 and he worked in another immunology research lab in Baltimore, trained as an air traffic controller in Northern Virginia, but found his calling in computer science. He joined the National Security Agency as an intern in 1981 and during his career there specialized in various subdisciplines, ending up in finance and budget. In the mid-1990s, he moved his family to Evans, Ga., to work at Fort Gordon. He helped his wife to homeschool their children. After overcoming early skepticism, he made a decision to follow Christ and engaged in regular Bible study. He enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of the believers, teaching scripture, and participating in Bible study and prayer groups. In 2013, he was invited to join Gideons International, where he served as treasurer for the local camp and participated in numerous Bible distributions. He is survived by his wife, Catherine E. Stone Royal ’74; three children; and two brothers.

Marcia Spindell Lentz ’75, of East Providence, R.I.; Feb. 10, of pancreatic cancer. She was a board certified dance movement therapist and cofounder of the Expressive Therapy Center of R.I. In her later career she worked with patients at Eleanor Slater Hospital. She was an active member of Temple Emanu-El and former member of Temple Beth El. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, and music. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, two brothers, nieces, nephews, and her former husband, Jonathan Lentz. 

Mark J. Maguire ’74, of Nashville; Aug. 9, 2023, of heart failure. Upon graduating, he continued to work at Brown as a research assistant in the neuroscience department. In 1991, he transferred to Vanderbilt. In addition to being survived by a sister and brother William ’72, he will be mourned by the family of Mark Stublarec ’74, to whose son he was godfather, and Richard Fortinsky ’77 AM, ’84 PhD, who had a 40-year tradition of spending New Year’s with him. 

Michael “Mick” Anthony DiMartino ’74, of Kissimmee, Fla., formerly of Pacifica, Calif.; Feb. 14, after a battle with leukemia. He held various jobs that included teaching in a high school, tutoring, and working overnight shifts at an asylum, but his love of sports led to a career officiating volleyball, football, and softball, and to his future wife, whom he met while umpiring a game that her team was playing. They married and started a family. He was supportive of the many sporting events, theater productions, and recitals of his children. In 2021, they moved to Florida. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; a daughter; a son; brother Joseph ’70; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard J. Cureton ’73, of Riverton, N.J.; Mar. 7. He was an architect who began working at Continental Bank (Ill.), with Ballinger (Pa.), and finally with Whitesell Co. (N.J.), from which he retired as president. His designs can be seen throughout the infrastructure of South Jersey. He was a gifted public speaker and contributed to numerous charitable organizations, including serving as president emeritus of the YMCA Burlington County’s board of directors, chairman of the board for the South Jersey Food Bank, director of the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks, and guest lecturer at Drexel and Rutgers universities. He was the recipient of the 2005 good citizen award from the Boy Scouts of America. While at Brown he was captain of the men’s basketball team his senior year. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Riverton Country Club, serving as president from 2012 to 2013. He also enjoyed sailing, gardening, and fly-fishing. He is survived by his wife, Lynne; three children; two grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. 

Ernest H. Evans ’72, of Leavenworth, Kans.; Feb. 16. After Brown, he completed his PhD at MIT. His concentration was in terrorism throughout the world, which caused him to travel internationally to do research and interview members of terrorism cells. He was the author of several books, including Calling a Truce to Terror. After an internship with Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and working for the U.S. Armed Services Committee, he spent several years with the Brookings Institute before teaching at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., and then consulting with the War College in Leavenworth. During his later years he taught courses at Kansas City Kansas Community College. He was involved with local Catholic churches and the prison ministry. He always carried a pocketful of Saint Michael’s pendants (the patron saint of police officers), which he would give to local police officers. While in Leavenworth, he formed a special friendship with Sid Brown and the late Byron Maduska. They referred to themselves as the League of Extraordinary Geezers and treated themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken every Saturday at 11 a.m. He and Sid Brown held season tickets to the Kansas City Monarchs and enjoyed attending Nascar Races together in his convertible. He also enjoyed writing a column for The Leavenworth Times educating the community on politics, current events, and daily happenings. He is survived by a sister, a brother and sister-in-law, and nieces and nephews. 

Mary E. Barrie ’72, of La Canada, Calif., formerly of Los Angeles; Jan. 13, from pancreatic cancer. She went on to earn a master’s degree in library science from SUNY Albany and work as a law librarian for several years at Los Angeles law firms. After moving to La Canada, she served as chairman of the city’s Trails Master Plan committee helping to design the La Canada Trails Master Plan and the completion of a 15-mile trail circling the city. She helped spearhead the effort to preserve Cherry Canyon and then build the Ultimate Destination Trail and the Descanso Trail. She was a founding member of Friends of Hahamongna and recipient of the Doo Dah Parade Thorny Rose Award and Les Tupper Community Service Award. She enjoyed horses and was a longtime board member of Rose Bowl Riders. She is survived by her husband, Ted Stork; a daughter; a grandson; a sister; and a brother. 

Gregory P. Sabine ’71, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Massachusetts; Feb. 4. He was a talented football player and earned a quarterback position on the Cobras semi-professional Massachusetts team. After earning his master’s in education, he taught at Thayer Academy for more than 25 years. In addition, he spent time managing a glass business. He moved to Tucson in 2017 and was active in Passion Church and Christ Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Marian Paugh; four children, including Shane ’07; four grandchildren; and three siblings. 

Paul L.  “Zeke” Zimmering ’70, ’71 MAT, of New Orleans; Mar. 4, after a brief illness. He taught high school in Falls Church (Va.) for two years before moving to New Orleans to attend Tulane Law School, where he was a member of the Tulane Law Review. Upon graduating, he clerked for Justice John A. Dixon, Jr. on the Louisiana Supreme Court and then joined the firm of Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C. in 1977. For 28 years he taught courses on energy law and regulation at Tulane Law School on a pro bono basis. An avid sports fan, he followed New York professional sports teams all his life, but after moving to New Orleans, he became a season ticket holder of the Saints, the Pelicans, and Tulane football and baseball. He was known for bringing a scorecard to every Tulane baseball game he attended and recording each play, and he had a collection of bobble-head sports figures. He enjoyed running and ran his first New York City Marathon at 50 years old. He is survived by his wife, Martha; a stepdaughter; and three cousins. 

John P. Reopell ’70, of Warwick, R.I.; Jan. 18. He was a computer programmer and consultant at CAI for 42 years. He enjoyed reading, comics, traveling, hiking, and had a fondness for grizzly bears. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews. 

William Barringer ’70, of Washington, D.C.; Apr. 23, of cancer. After receiving his JD and LLM degrees from Georgetown, he rose to become the head of a group of international trade attorneys dedicated to the cause of free trade. He represented clients across four continents for more than five decades. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Otten; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; and nine nieces and nephews. 

Professor Lea E. Williams, of Providence; Aug. 9, 2023. He was a professor emeritus of history who introduced the subject of Asian history to the University in 1956 and taught the subject for close to three decades before his retirement in the late ’80s. After an injury in basic training in 1943 discharged him from active military service, he joined the U.S. Department of State. His assignment to China changed his life. Assigned to the wartime capital of Chongqing and, after the war, Shanghai, his work as U.S. vice consul included granting visas to European Jewish refugees who had settled in China in the ’30s. Shortly after his arrival in Chongqing, he met his future wife, Daisy Shen. Following his departure from China in September of 1949, he matriculated at Cornell, receiving his BA in the new field of East Asian History. He went on to Harvard for his doctoral work. In the early ’50s, he joined Clifford Geertz’s historic anthropological expedition to Indonesia, where he spent two years, followed by research in Amsterdam at the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, or Royal Tropical Institute. His academic focus centered on overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. He joined the Brown faculty in 1956, where he remained for the duration of his career, rising through the ranks to become a full professor of political science and later, a full professor of history. He founded the East Asian Studies Department, serving as its first chairman. During his tenure, he taught Brown’s introductory course on East Asian history, also giving numerous lectures at the U.S. Department of State, the former Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, the Fletcher School at Tufts, and the School for Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS) in London. He was a visiting professor at the University of Singapore (1961-1963), a Fulbright-Hays Fellow at the University of Malaysia (1966-1967), and was versed in nine languages, several of which he spoke fluently, including Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Dutch, and French. Brown’s Lea E. Williams Global Experiential and Teaching Award (GELT) was established in 2018 in his honor. An avid yachtsman, he spent summers sailing and racing in the waters around New England—when not renovating the 18th-century house he and his wife had bought on the East Side. He was a world traveler and an active member of the Providence Athenaeum for close to 50 years. After retiring in 1988, he served as a faculty lecturer on several Brown Travelers trips, as well as a guest lecturer for Society Expeditions that specialized in cruises to Antarctica and other remote and exotic destinations. He was predeceased by his wife, Daisy, and is survived by daughter Adrienne Covington ’77, ’77 AM (adriennewcovington@gmail.com); son William ’81; daughter-in-law Sally Mac Williams ’76; five grandchildren, including Caleb Williams ’14 and Isabelle Williams ’18; and two great-grandsons. 
 

Gordon M.G. Strauss ’69, of Goshin, Ohio; Feb. 2, due to acute myeloid leukemia. After Brown, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years, including a year in Vietnam, for which he received a Meritorious Bronze Star. Following his military service, he earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati and practiced law for the next 40 years. In the beginning of his career he worked for the General Counsel to the Republican National Committee. He then worked both in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati representing candidates and political organizations. He was general counsel to the Ohio Republican Party that included Newt Gingrich as a client. He later worked in South Africa (a month before Nelson Mandela was elected) teaching political parties about the country’s new constitution and how to teach their members to vote. During this time, he was named parliamentarian for the committee on rules and order of business and served in four Republican national conventions. Afterwards, he worked with Hamilton County (Ohio) as an assistant prosecuting attorney and retired as a magistrate in probate court. In retirement he enjoyed farm life and handyman work. He would be involved in the Episcopal church wherever he was living at the time. He cofounded the Juvenile Detention Center ministry at Indian Hill Church (Cincinnati). During the last two years, while battling his disease, he trained to become a volunteer chaplain at Christ Hospital. He was a member of the Cammarian Club and Delta Upsilon. He is survived by his wife, Julie Burdick; a son; four grandchildren; a sister; brothers Victor ’70 and Geoffrey ’71; and niece Anne Alice Chagnot ’07. 

Jeffrey A. Kelman ’69, ’71 MMSc, of Washington, D.C.; Feb. 8. He was the chief medical officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He had been there since 2005 and helped implement the Part D program. Previously, he served as a senior medical advisor to the Congressional Budget Office. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and was on the staff of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; and a grandson.

Robert H. Dorin ’69, of Northampton, Mass.; Feb. 9. He worked in the software industry as an engineer, project manager, and industry analyst. He enjoyed traveling, the theater, music, and especially watching the New England sports teams. He is survived by his wife, Lesley Peebles; a daughter; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a sister; and a stepson. 

Ronald J. Verri ’67, of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 4. He was an engineer by trade and began working with his father at Gem-Craft Inc., the family jewelry business, in 1973. He worked closely with his father making Gem-Craft what it is today, a creator of beautiful jewelry designs for many well-known fashion companies and fashion designers. He continued working up until his death. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three daughters; two sons-in-law; five grandchildren; two brothers, including Robert ’68; three sisters-in-law; and a brother-in-law.

Peter H. Staley ’67, of Henrico, Va.; Feb. 21. After Brown, he earned an MBA from NYU and had a successful career at IBM for 46 years. He held various executive positions both in the U.S. and Europe and traveled extensively. He was a board member for more than 51 years of the former IBM Credit Union. He excelled at trivia, puzzles, cards, and sports and in 1974 was on the 11th Annual Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. He also enjoyed playing golf at the Dominion Club and once played at Pebble Beach. He is survived by his wife, Roberta; two sons; two stepchildren; two grandchildren; and a brother. 

John F. Norwell ’67, of Walpole, Mass.; Feb. 17. A well-known hockey player in his high school, he continued playing for Brown’s men’s hockey team and in his sophomore year made it to the “Frozen Four.” In his senior year he was part of the team that won the All Ivy championship. After graduating, he continued his hockey career playing in the New England League for the Walpole Sweepers, the Framingham Pics, and the Lowell Chiefs. In 1970, he partnered with a colleague to purchase and operate the Sunoco Gas Station on Route 1A in Walpole Center. In 1973 he changed career paths, taking a sales position with Sentry Insurance. He opened his own insurance agency, partnering with his brother Peter to form Norwell and Norwell Insurance Agency in 1984. He continued skating in men’s leagues and regularly organized tournaments throughout the country. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifelong member at Walpole Country Club, winning the title of club champion in 1980, and in the same year winning the Boston Globe Golf Tournament. He also enjoyed snow skiing. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; two grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews. 

David M. Holbrook ’67, of Cincinnati; Mar. 21. He was a retired real estate broker and small business owner. He enjoyed sailing, fast cars, and old movies. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; and a brother. 

Walter “Bud” Becker ’65, of Flemington, N.J.; Feb. 1, of metastatic melanoma. After graduating from Brown, where he played baseball and basketball, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and became a Morse code instructor. After his military service he entered a selective executive training program at IBM. He later joined Informatics General Corporation, a software services firm, where he had a successful career that led to him starting his own software consulting company, Global Computer Associates, from which he retired in 2010. He took courses at Princeton during his retirement and enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound and Chesapeake Bay. He is survived by his wife, Lynn; two sisters; a brother-in-law; three aunts; a niece; and three nephews. 

John R. “Jack” Marquis ’65, of Holland, Mich.; Feb. 25. He earned his JD from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and was admitted to the Ohio andMichigan bar associations. He later earned a master’s in taxation at Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, where he became adjunct professor of taxation from 1984 to 2000—earning the Accounting Alumni Hall of Fame award in 1990—then adjunct professor of business law at Hope College from 2001 to 2003. He was a partner in the law firm of Ten Cate, Townsend & Cunningham, started his own practice, then joined Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, where he was a partner for more than 25 years. At the time of his death, he was of counsel at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge. For 40 years he practiced health, business, real estate, and tax law and developed a specialty in concierge medicine that helped physicians across the country establish their practices. He was the Holland Hospital attorney for more than 45 years and supported his community through civic service to many organizations. He also served in the Army National Guard. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the 1989 Holland Area Chamber of Commerce distinguished service award. During the 1980s, he spent years with his daughter raising, training, and showing quarter horses and was president of the Holland Western Saddle Club. He also enjoyed tennis, downhill skiing, sailing, boating, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; a daughter and son-in-law; two grandchildren; a sister; a niece; and a nephew. 

Edward H. Zinn III ’64, of Toledo, Ohio; Jan. 25. After Brown he earned an MBA from the Wharton School (U. Penn.). He worked as a market researcher for Armstrong World Industries, in Lancaster (Pa.) from 1966 until 1979, when he was hired by Owens Corning. He retired in 1998 as director of global business research. In retirement, he was active in the nonprofit Sylvania Community Services, where he served as president of the board of trustees. Over the years, he volunteered as a soccer coach for youth recreational leagues in Sylvania and he enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, and playing golf and tennis. He is survived by his companion, Carol Morrison; a daughter and son-in-law; son David ’08 MD; a daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; a brother; and a sister-in-law. 

Joseph A. Nardino ’64, of Arlington, Va.; Apr. 3. He was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Vietnam veteran. Following a distinguished military career, he worked in security consulting. He is survived by his wife, Joann; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; and a granddaughter. 

Ann Snell Mecherle ’64, of Beaufort, S.C.; Feb. 12. She was active in the community, serving with HELP of Beaufort, chairing the board of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, and as a member of the board of Beaufort Academy. She is survived by her husband, Ramond ’63; two sons and daughters-in-law; and eight grandchildren. 

Edward K. Kaplan ’64, of West Newton, Mass.; Feb. 7. He is survived by his wife, Eugenia; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including Jeremy ’93, ’94 MAT, and daughters-in-law; and eight grandchildren. 

G. Stephen Jizmagian ’64, of San Francisco; Dec. 6. After earning his PhD from Stanford University, he was a financial analyst and started his own businesses, SJ Capital and GSJ Associates. In his 30s, he became a professional race car driver, excelling in the Formula Atlantic Series. He was a member of the Olympic Club for more than 50 years and served as club president in 1989. He enjoyed playing golf, squash, and tennis. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; and five grandchildren. 

Donald A. Bailey ’64, of Coconut Creek, Fla., formerly of Galveston, Tex.; Oct. 16. After Brown, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He went on to have a long career consisting of investment banking and entrepreneurship before an oil industry opportunity was introduced to him and he moved to Texas. In 2017 he moved to Coconut Creek. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins. He was proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed visiting Ireland numerous times. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; four sons and daughters-in-law; nine grandchildren; and a stepbrother. 

R. David Drucker ’63, of Dover, N.H.; Dec. 23. Throughout his career he held numerous jobs, including a time on Wall Street doing stock retrieval and receipts. He was a DJ at a classical radio station, investigated the pyramids in Teotihuacan, Mexico, taught college classes at SUNY Geneseo, completed radio carbon dating investigations on countless objects at Geochron Laboratories, and worked as a museum director at the Oneida Indian Museum and the Chenango County Historical Society. He was a longtime member of Rotary, serving in both New York and New Hampshire. As a Rotarian, he enjoyed reading with first and second graders at a local elementary school and distributing dictionaries to students. He enjoyed poetry and challenged himself to write a poem a day for several years. He self-published The Mary Poems about his late wife. He also enjoyed singing in the Community Chorus of South Berwick and sailing. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son, three grandchildren, and a sister. 

Robert B. Colburn ’63, of Old Lyme, Conn.; Dec. 22, after a brief illness. After Brown he taught American literature at the Hackley School in New York before ending up at Sports Illustrated in the mid-’60s. While there he met his future wife Barbara (“BJ”), to whom he was married for more than 50 years before her passing. With Sports Illustrated he traveled the world covering the Olympic Games and the World Series. After marrying BJ in 1973, they moved to Connecticut and ran the Olin Ski Company for many years. His career continued in sports with long stints in the hockey and lacrosse industries with Nike, Bauer, and Combat. He enjoyed making people laugh, traveling, visiting restaurants all over the world, and spending time with family at home. He is survived by three children and three grandchildren.

Barry R. Bainton ’63, of Barrington, R.I., Mar. 11. After graduating from Brown he joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Peru for two years. Upon return to the U.S., he enrolled at the University of Arizona and earned a PhD in anthropology. He also earned a master’s degree in international business from Thunderbird Global Business School of ASU. He lived in Arizona for 20 years and worked with the Tohono O’odham (formerly Papago) and Pima Native American tribes, providing legal services, grant writing, and research. He also continued to work with USAID, including a project in Yemen, through which he learned Arabic. He moved back to Rhode Island in the 1990s and joined the First Baptist Church of Providence, where he met his wife, Jeanne Kolb, who survives him. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, a niece, three nephews, a stepdaughter, two stepsons, and step-grandchildren. 

Peter A. Papadopoulos ’62, of Windsor, Conn.; Jan. 21. After Brown, he had marketing jobs at Procter & Gamble and the Heublein liquor company, where he rose to vice president of marketing, overseeing a portfolio that included Smirnoff vodka. During his five-decade career he also was a marketing consultant for Bacardi Rum and developed a taste for an early evening martini ritual that he carried out until his health deteriorated last year. He enjoyed gambling, particularly horse races held at Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) and Lincoln Downs (R.I.). He documented all the obstacles that arose in his life in his 2012 autobiography Against All Odds, Memoirs of a Longshot. He ran marathons, rolled dolmades, tended to his tomato garden, made hand-crafted Christmas gifts for his kids, enjoyed pickup basketball games, solved crossword puzzles, and played cribbage, bridge, and chess. He is survived by his wife, Claudia; five children; 13 grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law; and his former wife, Josephine Marchetti.

Linda H. Newman ’62, of Madison, Wisc.; Dec. 28, following a stroke. After graduation she moved to Madison to pursue a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. While there, she met and married Kenneth R. Bowling, a fellow graduate student. After earning a master’s degree she began a long career as an academic advisor in the UW history department. She later joined the School of Education academic services office as assistant dean and advisor. In 2000, she was the recipient of the school’s Ann Wallace Academic Staff Distinguished Achievement Award. She was an active participant at the university and served on many committees related to academic staff issues, including a term as the chair of the Academic Staff Executive Committee. After retiring in 2007, she worked part-time with the campus ombuds office and worked toward a graduate degree in religious studies at Edgewood College. She served on the steering committees of both Grace Episcopal and Lake Edge Lutheran churches and was involved with Just Dane (formerly Madison Urban Ministry), where she served as both board member and chair. She is survived by her longtime partner, Barbara Gerloff; a son and daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; a brother; two nieces; and Barbara’s family. 

Samuel G. Friedman Jr. ’62, of Saint Simons Island, Ga.; Jan. 3. He worked for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in New York before joining the New Jersey Air National Guard. After finishing basic training, he moved to Atlanta and worked for Amoco Oil Company. He continued his education, earning an MBA from Georgia State, taught as an adjunct professor and developed a passion for real estate. He worked with Cousins Properties for several years and in 1971 founded a commercial real estate company named AFCO Realty. He served on and eventually chaired the Atlanta Housing Authority Board. He was a founding chairman of the Path Foundation. He served on the board of the Atlanta Kiwanis Club and was awarded the Kiwanis Golden Rule Award. He also chaired the United Service Organizations committee for many years. He was a founding director of the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Ga., and upon his retirement from that service he was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice, which is the highest award the U.S. Army gives to civilians. In his 40s he earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying, running, hiking, biking, fishing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Susan; five children; and eight grandchildren. 

Ronald A. DeLellis ’62, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 10. Emeritus professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Brown and consultant in pathology and laboratory medicine for Lifespan. He joined the Brown faculty in 2001 after serving as vice chairman and director of anatomic pathology at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and professor of pathology at Cornell University Medical College. He received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency training in pathology at Mass General and the National Cancer Institute. His subspecialty was in the area of endocrine pathology. He was an author and collaborator on numerous journal articles and book chapters and served in a senior editorial role for the 2004 World Health Organization classification of endocrine tumors. He lectured and was regularly invited to speak at conferences. He served in leadership roles in various scientific organizations, including the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and was a contributor and board member of the American Registry of Pathology. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Endocrine Pathology Society, which honored him with the society’s lifetime achievement award in 2021. A perpetual learner, he and his wife, Dolores Capobianco DeLellis ’62, participated in online courses through the Lifelong Learning Collaborative. They were generous supporters of the arts and education. He enjoyed cooking with his grandchildren, gardening, and music, especially opera. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children and two grandchildren.

Tristram D. Coffin ’62, of Lakewood, Colo.; Jan. 18, of congestive heart failure. When he wasn’t working as a management consultant, he enjoyed entertaining others. He played the accordion well into his 70s and it was said that he played at parties while at Brown and never had to pay for a beer. He was a member of Sigma Chi and remained friends with several of his fraternity brothers throughout his life. He enjoyed outdoor activities, including downhill skiing, hiking, camping, and canoeing. In his later years, he liked going for drives in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, playing Scrabble, and attending Sunday services at the Mile Hi Church in Lakewood. He remained actively involved with the Colorado Chapter of the Institute of Management Consultants, where he served as a member of the board of directors. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons; two stepsons; and his brother Howard ’61.

Kenneth D. Burrows ’62, of New York City; Dec. 14, after battling Parkinson’s disease and lung complications. He graduated from Fordham Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1971 and to the Connecticut Bar in 1993. He practiced family law in New York City for more than 50 years and was a member of the New York City Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and numerous other committees and associations. He had a love for languages, was fluent in French, and enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Erica Mann Jong; two stepdaughters; four grandchildren; and a brother. 

Patricia “Tish” Pinney Walker ’61, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Feb. 26. She was a homemaker and enjoyed breeding and showing dogs. She was a past president of the German Shepherd Club. She is survived by her husband, Bob; two sons; a daughter-in-law; 

Ann Gail Scacciotti Shahinian ’61, of Carlisle, Mass.; formerly of East Greenwich, R.I.; Mar. 6. She completed graduate studies at Boston College and taught at Sarah Dyer Barnes School in Johnston, R.I. After marrying in 1966, she moved to Italy while her husband completed medical school. Upon returning to the U.S., they settled in East Greenwich and she became involved with Our Lady of Mercy School, eventually becoming principal. After 40 years, they moved to Carlisle to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading and puzzles. She is survived by her husband, Thomas; daughters Bethany A. Richman ’92 and Karen A. Shahinian ’93; son-in-law Michael Richman ’92; four grandchildren; and a sister. 

Peter H. Hurley ’61, of Providence, R.I.; Jan. 24. He was a longtime real estate broker. He was a member of the University Club and the Rhody Oldies Hockey Club. He is survived by three sons, two grandchildren, a sister, and two brothers. 

Peter P. Green ’61, of Coral Springs, Fla.; formerly of Moorestown, N.J.; Feb. 10. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law and was a cofounder and managing partner of the law firm Green, Lundgren & Ryan in Haddonfield, N.J. He practiced law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Supreme Court. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two daughters; a son; and a son-in-law. 

Antone “Gerry” Singsen III ’64, of Lincoln, Mass.; Mar. 1. After graduating from Columbia Law School, he clerked for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, then began service as a staff attorney and Reginald Heber Smith Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. He was a leader in managing and ensuring funding for civil legal services for the poor. He helped to start up the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), where he helped establish a funding policy that guided the expansion of federal civil legal services and served as vice president for finance and management from 1979 to 1982. He was a lecturer at Harvard Law from 1983 to 1994 while remaining a consultant with LSC and other legal aid organizations. He wrote more than 28 articles on all aspects of legal services for the poor and published High Quality Legal Representation: The Fundamental Goal for Legal Services for the Poor. Together with his wife, he formed Singsen and Tyrrell Associates, a professional training organization that helped to improve agencies’ financial and program management performance. He led the state planning effort that informed the creation of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission in 2005 and served as consultant to the commission until he retired in 2016. Under his guidance, the commission increased funding for Massachusetts programs and identified best practices for systemic advocacy, intake, screening, and hotline processes, as well as for fundraising, social service partnerships, court-based service centers, and expanding the civil right to counsel. The commission was often recognized as a national model. In 2012, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association awarded him the Denison Ray Award for dedicating his professional life to equal justice for the poor, and in 2017 he received a lifetime service award from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, as well as a special Access to Justice Award. At the time of his death, he had completed the first draft of Making Legal Services Count, a forthcoming memoir chronicling his lifetime of contributions to equal justice for all. He is survived by his wife, Jayne Tyrrell; two daughters, including Molly Singsen Richter ’93; two grandchildren; six siblings and their spouses; and nine nieces and nephews. 
 

Thomas L. Cracas ’61, of Staunton, Va., formerly of Kent, Conn.; Mar. 4. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he enrolled at Brown and met his future wife, Karen Marie Jarratt, who predeceased him. Upon graduating, he had a long career as a high school Latin teacher and coach. His career began at Brooks School (Mass.), followed by time at Blair Academy (N.J.), culminating at Kent School (Conn.). At Kent, he coached freshman football, junior varsity basketball, and girls varsity basketball. He also coached Little League baseball for the town of Kent. In 1979, he earned his MBA from UConn and subsequently served as land manager for Kent School overseeing two campuses, an equestrian center, hay harvesting operations, and the transplanting of blueberry bushes gifted to Kent School by Henry Kissinger, while continuing to teach. He served in leadership positions for the American Classical League and the Classical Association of Connecticut. He retired to Virginia in 1999 and was active in Trinity Episcopal Church, Friends of the Library, and the Staunton Rotary Club, where he was secretary for 10 years. He is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, and two brothers and sisters-in-law. 

Eugenia Bruno Spencer ’60, of Wakefield, R.I.; Mar. 4, after a short illness. She had been a social worker at the Health Center of South County in Wakefield, where she served the community for more than two decades before retiring in the early 2000s. After graduating from Brown, she married a naval officer and lived in the Panama Canal area and New York City before returning to Rhode Island. During that time, she developed an interest in dance, particularly classical ballet, modern dance, and choreography, which she then studied. For many years she enjoyed annual trips to see the New York City Ballet. As a reverend’s wife, she also shared in the ministry and mission of the church. She enjoyed cooking and gardening and was known for her tomatoes that she made sauce from and shared. During the Christmas season, family and friends enjoyed her cookies and eggnog. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, and a sister. 

Linda Ceperly Smith ’60, of New Providence, N.J.; Feb. 9. While attending Pembroke, she met her future husband, Doug Smith ’60, who survives her. He pursued an MBA at Columbia University while she worked at various clerical positions in New York City. In 1970, they moved to Toledo for Doug’s work and she spent the next 16 years there raising a family, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and pursuing many hobbies. In 1980, she earned her PhD in psychology at the University of Toledo. They moved two additional times before settling in New Jersey. She worked at Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, evaluating and supporting adolescents and adults suffering from head injuries. Once retired, she and Doug traveled the world together. She took up the piano and volunteered as an ESL tutor. She also enjoyed working in her garden. They moved to the Lantern Hill Senior Living Community in December 2019 and she took part in the many classes and reading groups that Lantern Hill provided. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Marci Smith Brand ’84; a son and daughter-in-law; and two granddaughters. 

Linda Buchman Allen ’60, of Wayland, Mass.; Feb. 10, from metastatic breast cancer. After earning a master’s from Lesley University, she married and moved to Duxbury, where she was appointed president of the Duxbury Art Association. She was known for her pastel portraits, teaching portrait classes for adults and high school students, and exhibiting her work locally. She was diagnosed in 1985 with breast cancer that later metastasized and there were additional health challenges throughout her lifetime, but she cherished each day with a positive approach. She took solace in the fact that her two granddaughters were born and were her guardian angels. In 1992, she began swimming daily in Walden Pond and developed a passion for photographing its foliage and wildlife. Walden Pond became her healing place and she exhibited her work at the Tsongas Gallery. She spent several years counseling adolescents in both a clinical and school setting, followed by working as a surgical liaison at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, where she provided counseling and support to patients and their families facing terminal diagnoses and going through the dying process. She was a member of the Deaconess Bioethics Committee and was proud to have been a participant in the film When Breast Cancer Comes Back: Skills for Living. She was a presenter at the American College of Oncology Administrators Second Annual Symposium and instrumental in the development of a course on death and dying at Harvard Medical School. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, and two granddaughters. 

Dennis S. Moore ’60, of Princeton, Mass.; Feb. 25. During his 40-year working career, he was employed at J.B. Lowell, Inc., the Draper Corporation, the Norton Company, Tambrands, Inc., and Sheppard Envelope. He was a competitive tennis player and a member and officer of tennis clubs in Princeton and Worcester. He is survived by his wife, Anne; a daughter; two sons; a daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; and four siblings. 

Reid Higgins ’60, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of Cotuit, Mass.; Mar. 8. He held positions with the Atlantic Richfield Company and the United Gas Improvement Company as an assistant director of personnel, then went on to create and head the personnel department at Wellington Management Company, where he rose to vice president. He was transferred to Wellington’s Boston office in 1975, and he and his family lived in their summer home in Cotuit as year-round residents. He enjoyed wood carving, and, following his retirement from Wellington in 1989, turned his hobby into a second career selling carved birds at shops and craft fairs. He taught an annual seminar on bird carving in Cotuit. In his later years his focus shifted to watercolor paintings, mostly nautical and pastoral scenes and shorebirds. He is survived by his wife, Len; four children and their spouses; 11 grandchildren; and his former wife, Joanie Higgins. 

Ronald P. Formisano ’60, of Lexington, Ky.; Feb. 20, following a period of declining health. After earning his PhD from Wayne State University, his career included professorships at Wayne State University, Clark University, the University of Rochester, the University of Florida, and the University of Kentucky, from which he retired as the William T. Bryan chair. Additionally, he held Fulbright appointments in Rome and at the University of Bologna. He was the author of ten scholarly books and, in retirement, began writing fiction, authoring three detective novels featuring his characters Nathaniel Thorne and Dante Steele. He was a talented chef, a sommelier, and enjoyed playing tennis and sailing, especially at his home on Chebeague Island, Me. He is survived by his wife, Erica; a daughter; and a son. 

Albert E. Easton ’60, of Slingerlands, N.Y.; Feb. 2, from prostate cancer. He began an actuarial career in 1960 and in 1966 became a fellow of the Society of Actuaries. In 1969, he accepted a position as actuary at the Berkshire Life Insurance Company in Pittsfield, Mass., and rose to vice president. He was a deacon and choir member at South Congregational Church, where he also helped lead the youth fellowship groups. He was a 50-year member of the Monday Evening Club and volunteered with the Salvation Army, the Girl Scouts, and Rotary International. He served as president of the United Way of Pittsfield from 1979 to 1981, and was awarded the Robert K. Agar J. Volunteerism Award. He sang tenor in the Berkshire Concert Choir. In 1986, he and his family moved to Chicago and he became the director of examinations for the Society of Actuaries. He later led the Albany office of Milliman & Robertson and settled in Slingerlands. There he was involved in Rotary International, serving a term as president of the Albany chapter. He sang with the Mendelssohn Club, and he joined the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as treasurer, deacon, and choir member until 2022. With the Rotary, he traveled to Honduras and helped build houses and wells. He also coauthored two editions of Actuarial Aspects of Individual Life Insurance and Annuity Contracts and taught a class on the text to actuaries in Romania. He retired in 2002 from Milliman & Robertson. He is survived by two daughters, including Nancy Easton ’86; two sons-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; a grandson; a sister and brother-in-law; brother Nicholas ’72; and a sister-in-law.

Donald R. Combs ’60 of Freeport, N.Y.; Jan. 14. He proudly served 28 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a pilot. During his service, he was an instructor pilot at Moody Air Force Base and served multiple tours in Vietnam. He also worked for more than four years at Lockheed Martin establishing and instructing the air ground operations school in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia. He received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. In retirement, he managed the Seadrift Restaurant in Crestview, Fla. He enjoyed woodworking, especially making furniture for his children and special crafts for his grandchildren. He is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, a great-grandson, a sister, and eight nieces and nephews.

Stuart S. Berman ’60, of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Mar. 20. He graduated from Columbia Law and began working at the Federal Reserve before becoming assistant general counsel at Prime Motor Inns, now Prime Hospitality. He retired as in-house general counsel of Hillsborough Associates. He was an advocate for those affected by Gaucher disease, a condition he personally battled, and he supported the Gaucher Disease Center at NYU. He worked for a short period as a New York City taxi driver and was a veteran of the Navy Reserve JAG. He enjoyed sailing and traveling, attending the Yankees opening day each year and traveling to Florida for their spring training. He also enjoyed solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. He is survived by his wife, Judith; a son and daughter-in-law; a stepdaughter and son-in-law; a granddaughter; and brother Robert ’64.

Linda L. Davis Williams ’59, of Pearsall, Tex.; Feb. 26. While working at American Airlines she met her future husband. They married and settled in San Antonio on a family ranch. After three years they moved to Pearsall and she taught language arts for 27 years. An avid bridge player, she earned the grand life master title and taught weekly bridge lessons and played at the San Antonio Country Club. She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. 

Carole Fishbain Liebson ’59, of Wilmette, Ill.; Dec. 16. After earning a master’s in linguistics at Northeastern Illinois University, she taught ​in elementary school; worked at Holt, Rinehart, and Winston publishers in New York (1965-1968); and taught ESL at Truman College, Chicago. An avid reader and collector of foreign language and American political science books, she also enjoyed gardening and was a patron of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. She is survived by her husband, Philip; two sons; and three grandchildren. 

Deborah Theisen Clough ’59, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Boston.; Feb. 25. She was a legal assistant with the law firm of Foley Hoag in Boston for 30 years before retiring to Florida. She was an avid tennis player and instructor and also enjoyed playing golf. She is survived by two daughters, a son and daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, 11 grandchildren, and two sisters. 

Anne Shrednik Vickery ’58, of Boulder, Colo.; Dec. 16. For many years she worked for the Colorado Mountain Club. She cofounded the Indian Peaks working group and was a founding member of the Colorado Fourteeners initiative. An avid hiker, she climbed all of Colorado’s 14ers (some multiple times). Music and folk dancing were also her passions and she devoted her time to the Boulder Creek Festival to showcase folk dancing and singing. She is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. 

Hugo R. Mainelli Jr. ’58, of Narragansett, R.I.; Jan. 29. He was a retired business owner. He was very proud of his single goal as a member of the Brown hockey team (“One Goal Hughie”), as well as his hole-in-one at Pine Valley Golf Club (while shooting 109). He was an active supporter of the Brown Sports Foundation and a member of the Dunes Club and Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, the University Club and Hope Club in Providence, and the Royal Poinciana Club in Naples, Fla. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, entertaining, and traveling, especially to Italy. He also enjoyed watching any sporting event that involved Brown. He is survived by six children and their spouses, including daughter Kathryn Mainelli Nani ’86; four grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law; and a sister-in-law. 

Paul Johnson ’58, of Guilford, Conn.; Feb. 6. After graduating he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and was married. He then graduated from UConn law school in 1966 and was employed by the First New Haven National Bank until 1971, resigning when he was elected president and CEO of Connecticut Savings Bank. He remained in that office for the next 20 years. In 1991, at the invitation of the Hon. Guido Calabresi, he became assistant to the dean and director of the campaign for Yale Law School. In 1994, he became the president and CEO of the Gaylord Hospital, in Wallingford, Conn., retiring in 2001. He was an active Connecticut resident serving on numerous corporate boards. He also was an emeritus member of Brown’s Corporation. An avid golfer, he played competitively later in life and won senior championships at New Haven Country Club and Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club. Most pleasing to him was winning a father/daughter and member/guest championship with his daughter and son, respectively. He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn; three children, including son Philip ’87; two daughters-in-law, including Stephanie Maggart Johnson ’88; a son-in-law; and seven grandchildren. 

John E. Games ’58, of Granby, Conn.; Dec. 25. He completed a master’s degree in engineering from the Rensselaer Hartford Graduate Center and was employed for many years at Hamilton Standard, where he was awarded multiple patents for jet engine control systems. He had a wood shop in his basement and enjoyed making furniture for friends and family. In addition to enjoying photography and poetry, he discovered songwriting and wrote and sang several songs he posted on YouTube. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

R. Bruce Brougham ’58, of Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Feb. 14. He was a retired managing director of JP Morgan Chase & Co. He enjoyed singing in St. Anne’s Episcopal Church choir and was a member of the Bridgehampton Club. He is survived by his wife, Martha; a son; a sister; a niece; and three nephews. 

Kenneth P. Borden ’58, of North Scituate, R.I.; Dec. 23. He graduated from Columbia Law in 1961 and started practicing at Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney in 1962. He retired at the end of 2005 as senior partner. In 1985, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers Association. He served in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve as a first lieutenant in the JAG. In Scituate, he served as president of the Ponaganset unit of the American Cancer Society and on the board of directors of North West Mental Health, and he was a member of the North Scituate Zoning Board for 28 years. He was also a member of the University Club in Providence and the Providence Rotary Club, where he served as a trustee of the Rotary Charities Foundation and also for a term as club secretary. He enjoyed pistol shooting, amateur radio, photography, and computers. He is survived by his wife, Pamela; a son and daughter-in-law; and two grandchildren. 

Robert Erler ’57, of Windham, N.H., formerly of Haverhill, Mass.; Jan. 29. For 35 years he was employed with Western Electric and for 20 years he was involved with his family balsam fir Christmas tree, wreath, and kissing ball business, which included a roadside flower and vegetable stand. In 1996, he retired as captain of the Ayers Village Volunteer Fire Department. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served both active duty and in the reserves. He and his wife, Carolyn, who survives him, moved to Windham in 1999. He is also survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. 

Stephen T. White ’56, of Brunswick, Me.; Feb. 23. Shortly after earning a master’s degree from UC Berkeley, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving for two years. Upon discharge, he taught for a short time in the Scituate public school system. In 1961, he accepted a position at Bancroft School in Worcester, Mass., teaching English literature to upper school students, and he retired 47 years later at the age of 74, having taught some of his former students’ grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling, hiking in the San Juan Mountains, horseback riding, and spending time at their condo in Colorado and cottage in Maine. He is survived by his wife, Clare Hayden White ’56, and daughter Elizabeth Kelsey ’83. 

John A. Smith Jr. ’56, of Palm Harbor, Fla.; Feb. 7, of congestive heart failure. Having been in the NROTC program at Brown, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy upon graduating. He served for 24 years and rose to the rank of Commander. During his military career he was awarded many medals, including the commendation medal. He and his family lived in many states, as well as in Japan for three years. During his last tour of duty in Philadelphia he bought a home in Cherry Hill, N.J., where they lived for 33 years. After retiring, he had a second career in the aerospace industry for 16 more years. He owned a sailboat and enjoyed sailing in the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay near Cape May, N.J. He was a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May for 30 years and a former member of the Union League of Philadelphia, where he participated in the glee club. He enjoyed singing and had an amazing memory for lyrics. His wife especially enjoyed his love songs that he continued to sing to her right up to his last few days. In 2005, while vacationing in Florida, they bought a condo. A lifestyle of golf, cocktail parties and dances, making friends, and enjoying the sunshine ensued for 19 years.They leased an apartment in N.J. to see their family frequently and be with their friends at the Weston Club, as well as with old friends in and around Cherry Hill and Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children and their spouses; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Philip R. Mehler ’56, of Manalapan, Fla., formerly of Scarsdale, N.Y.; Mar. 11. He had a long career in the commercial real estate industry that began at Cross & Brown and led to him starting his own firm, Philip Mehler Realty, Inc. He was a former member of Brown’s tennis team and remained involved with Brown’s Sports Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Carol; a daughter and son-in-law; son Rick ’93 and his wife; and five grandchildren. 

Sylvia Rosen Baumgarten ’55, of La Jolla, Calif., formerly of New York City; Feb. 1, of lung cancer. She was an author, a raconteuse, “queen bee” of the bridal salon, and “Maw,” says her son. She had a million expressions for every occasion and died wearing her favorite sweatshirt, which read, “I’m not bossy. I just know what you should be doing.” From 1982 to 2015 under the pen names Ena Halliday, Louisa Rawlings, and Sylvia Halliday, she wrote for a variety of publishers, including Pocket Books, Harlequin, Kensington Publishing, and Diversion Books. She authored 15 historical romance novels that were highly praised and translated into multiple languages. In addition, she received several awards for her writing, including 1986 and 1987 Gold Medallion Finalist awards from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), a 1989 Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine, and she was a 1994 RWA RITA Award Finalist. Later on, continuing in the romance sector, she took a job as a wedding gown saleswoman in New York City. She was president of the Romance Writers of America New York City chapter. She played the piano and was a fan of theater, opera, ballet, and classical music. She also enjoyed words and word play and had a Sunday crossword published in the New York Times on July 4, 1971. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of trivia and was a contestant on the game shows Jeopardy! and Who, What, or Where Game. In her 80s, she started a blog titled “Life Lessons from an Old Bitch,” which consisted of a mix of reminiscences, nostalgia, commentary on society, and advice for younger generations. She moved to Atria La Jolla senior independent living in San Diego in 2020 to be close to her daughter and, while there, wrote for and edited the Atria newsletter and participated in play readings. She signed her letters and emails to her children as Maw. She is survived by four children, including sons Fredrick Baumgarten ’79 and Roger Baumgarten ’82; daughter-in-law Barrett Sheridan ’82; sister Deena Rosen Mazer ’62; brothers-in-law Joel Baumgarten ’59 and Samuel Baumgarten ’65; niece Deborah Baumgarten ’85, and former husband Sidney Baumgarten ’54. 

Diane Aspinall Parker ’55, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., formerly of New York City; Feb. 10. She graduated from Brown and RISD, then had a long career in the New York garment district designing women’s clothes for Goldworm and other luxury manufacturers. She lived in Italy and Greece for a time before returning to Westchester County, N.Y., where she met and married her husband and had a daughter, Dana Rogers ’88. Both predeceased her. She was an accomplished skier who enjoyed skiing mountains in Europe, particularly in Switzerland and Italy. In addition, she enjoyed playing golf and painting. She is survived by her sister and nine nieces and nephews. 

John D. O’Brien ’55, of Harwich, Mass., formerly of Chicago; Apr. 2. Entering Brown his freshman year he met Anne Murphy ’55, who would later become his wife. While at Brown, he was a member of Brown’s football team, played tackle from 1951 to 1954, and was part of the All Decade team. Upon graduation, they moved to Chicago and he began a career in sales. He was a successful sales leader and began a long affiliation with ITT Semiconductor. In 1960, he accepted a position with ITT that brought him and his family back to the Northeast. While in Scituate, he served three terms on the board of selectmen, eventually as its chairman. He was a leader in creating the first units of designated affordable housing in Scituate in the early 1970s. In addition, he served as a state delegate supporting former Gov. Michael Dukakis and he served on the Massachusetts State and Andover Town Democratic committees. In 1975, he was transferred by ITT to Atlanta. In 1978, ITT transferred him back to Massachusetts and the family settled in Andover. He went on to be elected to the Massachusetts senate. In 1992 he and Anne moved to Harwich and he became executive director of the Cape Cod Economic Development Commission and oversaw its merger with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. He remained active at Brown, involved with the Brown Football Association and serving as class marshal twice. At the time of his passing he was serving as president of his class. In addition to being survived by his wife, he is also survived by sons John Jr. ’82, Thomas ’85, and William ’92; three daughters-in-law; eight grandchildren, including Matthew T. O’Brien ’15, ’16 MPA; and a sister. 

Russell A. Cook ’54, of Fairfax, Va.; Feb. 28. He had a 22-year naval career and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander as he captained submarines during the early years of the Cold War. After an illness ended his commissions at sea, he was assigned to serve the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. He returned to college, taking night courses to earn a master’s degree in computer systems engineering, and, after being honorably discharged, helped pioneer the development of complex software systems to track detailed, comprehensive expenses for the military. When his children were young, he was actively involved in their scout activities and coached their sports teams. He enjoyed the outdoors and nature, gardening, and camping trips with his family. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, three granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren. 

Donald M. Silver ’53, of Natick, Mass.; Mar. 28. After Brown, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean Conflict. While in the Navy, he married, and upon honorable discharge, he went into business with his father at Donna Louise of Boston. He designed, manufactured and sold women’s blouses for his entire career. He retired in 1984 when the business closed and he enjoyed wintering in Florida and traveling the world with his wife. He was a leader in the fundraising effort for the fight against juvenile diabetes. He had a passion for tennis that began at age 8 and continued until age 91. He also enjoyed sailing, which took him on trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. He was an avid water skier. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children, including son Howard ’79; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Deborah Josselyn Robinson ’53, of Roanoke, Va.; Feb. 2, from complications related to Parkinson’s. She was a homemaker when her children were young but later earned her Realtor’s license and had a successful career as a real estate agent in Roanoke for many years. She enjoyed playing bridge and is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. 

Stephen M. Krogness ’53, of Wayzata, Minn.; Feb. 1. He was known to his friends as Krog, Kroggy, or Steve. He had a long career in real estate, both residential and commercial, and was most proud of the development of the planned community of Jonathan, in Chaska, Minn. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Amateur Chefs, Ducks Unlimited, the Lions, the Minneapolis Club, and Woodhill Country Club. He enjoyed a good joke, spending time with family and friends at his 100-year-old log cabin Paradise Point, mushroom hunting, muskie fishing, duck hunting with his sons and grandson, and gardening, which provided ingredients that he used to prepare ethnic and exotic foods. He lived his life never complaining about adversity and always found a way to overcome challenges with a positive attitude and faith. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including Mark ’80; two daughters-in-law; a grandson; and a brother.

Joan Pesce Bryson ’53, of Needham, formerly of Weston, Mass.; Feb. 4. She was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed skiing with family at Sugarbush (Vt.) and playing on tennis and paddle tennis teams with her friends for many years. She was a member of the Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers, the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Auxiliary, the Wellesley Garden Study Group, and, for 40 years, of Brae Burn Country Club. The last few years of her life she lived at North Hill in Needham, where she was involved in a flower arranging group and sang in the chorus. She is survived by her husband, Francis; a daughter; two sons; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

Rev. Gordon J. Stenning ’52, of Portsmouth, R.I., Mar. 21. He graduated from the Episocopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass. in 1955 and was ordained a deacon and then a priest in 1956. He served as the curate at Saint Paul’s Church in Pawtucket (R.I.) until 1957 and the Rector of Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth (R.I.) until 1988. More recently, he served as the senior vice president for pastoral care of the Church Pension Fund in New York City from 1988-1995. He was elected deputy to the general convention of the Episcopal Church, representing Rhode Island at 10 conventions from 1964 to 1988. His memberships were many, including the board of advice to the president of the house of deputies from 1984 to 1988, the executive committee of the Episcopal Church from 1987 to 1989, and president of the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society of the Episcopal Church from 1993 to 1995, and he was one of six signers of the original resolution to allow women to be ordained Episcopal priests. He enjoyed gardening and was part of the URI Master Gardeners Association Hall of Fame, and he enjoyed being an amateur radio operator for many years. He is survived by daughter Pamela Caudill ’79 and her husband; a son and daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

Donald Stehle ’52, of Fayetteville, N.Y., formerly of Cazenovia, N.Y.; Mar. 15. He enrolled at Brown at 16 years of age and met his future wife, Dorothy “Dot” Brandon ’54, who predeceased him. He enlisted in officers candidate school in Virginia and served overseas during the occupation of Korea. Following his service, he earned an engineering degree from Penn State and moved to New Hartford, N.Y., to work for General Electric. He retired in 1989 as a GE marketing manager. In 2012 he remarried and moved to Fayetteville. He was active in the Otsego Sailing Club, the Snow Ridge Ski Club, the House of Good Shepherd, the Willow Bank Yacht Club, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Charleen; four children and their spouses, including son David ’81; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. 

Barbara M. Hodnett ’52, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 16. After receiving her master’s degree in education from URI, she began a long career as a school teacher in Providence and East Greenwich, R.I. She also taught in American schools in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Germany. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf and was a member of Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews, including Catherine A. Hay ’15, Margaret M. Hay ’81, Robert J. Hay Jr. ’75, and Michael J. Hay ’78.

Glenn N. Bower ’52, of Southern Pines, N.C.; Feb. 21. After Brown, he spent two years in the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War and married Suzanne Griffiths Bower ’53, who predeceased him in 2017. He had a long career in the insurance business, starting in sales in Richmond, Va., then Atlanta, Ga., and moving up to executive vice president at companies in both New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, before retiring in 1995 to North Carolina. He is survived by daughters Pamela Bower-Basso ’77, Elizabeth Bower Hudgins ’79, Emily Bower ’83, Priscilla Bower Smyth ’87; two sons-in-law, including Joseph Basso III ’77; seven grandchildren, including Elizabeth Basso ’18; five great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Andrew S. Griffiths ’62; and nieces Katherine Griffiths ’91 and Nia Callender ’23, ’24 AM.  

Stephen T. Smith ’51, of Moorestown, N.J.; Mar. 15. After Brown, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected for Officer Candidate School. He was married in 1953 and discharged from active duty in 1954. He then earned a master’s degree from Harvard and taught mathematics, computer science, and data processing for more than 30 years at Moorestown Junior High School and later Moorestown High School. He served as Moorestown Education Association president and coached cross country, track and field, and swimming teams during his tenure. He also remained active in the Army Reserves, retiring as lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service. In 1985, he and his wife, Betsy, opened the House on the Hill ice cream parlor and restaurant, which they operated until 1990. He was active in numerous roles in community organizations, including the local Boy Scouts and the Moorestown Rotary Club. He was bookkeeper for Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development and was subsequently named Moorestown’s citizen of the year in 2006. He and Betsy were avid cloggers and square dancers and enjoyed traveling before her passing in 2012. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Barbara Maxwell DeLaittre ’51, of Somerset, Wisc.; Feb. 7. She earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota and was later the regional development director of the Nature Conservancy. During her career she served on several boards, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Stevens Square Nursing Home, and the Minnesota Orchestra; she was president of the Young People’s Symphony Concert Association and the Women’s Association of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and a docent at Minneapolis Institute of Arts. She is survived by two daughters, a son, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

Barry Cohen ’51, of Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Aug. 28, 2023. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Navy. Following military service, he earned an engineering master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked in the semiconductor field at Bell Labs for a decade. He was a Fulbright fellow (1967-68) at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, followed by a position at Solitron Devices before forming his own company, Research Devices, which designed, manufactured, and marketed infrared microscopes. An avid ham radio operator since he was a teenager, he made friends all over the world and met many in-person during his many travels with his wife. He is survived by his wife, Norma; four children and their spouses; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Harold N. Godlin ’50, of Middletown, Conn.; Jan. 10. He graduated from Harvard Law School and then served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon discharge, he practiced law in Stamford (Conn.) for 41 years, primarily focused on civil litigation. He was a lifelong learner and participated in classes through Florida Atlantic University into his senior years. In addition to remaining active in Brown alumni affairs, he was involved in numerous civic organizations that included the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, the Serendipity Chorale of Norwalk (Conn.), and the United Jewish Federation. He was a teacher at Temple Judea (Fla.). He enjoyed performing magic tricks, acting, and singing. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by two children, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and brother Theodore ’51 and his life partner. 

Robert W. Carangelo ’50, of West Hartford, Conn.; Feb. 16. He received his juris doctor from Georgetown University Law School and, following his graduation, worked for Allstate Insurance Company as a casualty adjuster and claims examiner and for the offices of John C. Flanagan as an associate prior to opening his own private practice in 1958. He was voted into the position of probate judge for Orange, Conn. He was a member of several committees and organizations, including the New Haven County Bar Association, State Bar Association, American Bar Association, the Amity Club of New Haven, Unitas Club of Hamden, and the Hamden Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of many political organizations. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, watching sports, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four children and their spouses, including son Robert ’84, and nine grandchildren. 

Rev. Marjorie Logan Hiles ’49, of North Scituate, R.I.; Jan. 22. She was a graduate of Boston University School of Theology and ordained a United Methodist minister and active member at Shepherd of the Valley UMC in Hope, R.I. Following her ordination, she was pastor of several United Methodist churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut until her retirement. She worked with the Girl Scouts of America for 20 years in many councils, including the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island. She was president of her Pembroke class and past president of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County. She was a member of the Brown Learning Community in Retirement and volunteered at the food emergency program, Project Outreach, at the Open Table of Christ UMC in Providence for many years. She is survived by two cousins.

Geraldine Segal Foster ’49, ’66 MAT, of Somerset, Mass.; Feb. 12. She was a teacher and chair of the English department of Nathan Bishop Middle School. She researched and wrote extensively about the history of the Jewish people of Rhode Island, including being a coeditor of Jews of Rhode Island, 1658-1958. She served as president of the women’s division of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island, the Devorah Dayan Chapter of Na’Amat and the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. She was a lifelong member of Temple Beth-El. She is survived by four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Virginia E. Baker ’49, of West Hartford, Conn., formerly of Westfield, Mass.; Jan. 22. She was employed with Travelers Insurance Co. in Hartford, and after many years with the company retired as an underwriter. She was a member of the Unitarian Church of  West Hartford and the Second Congregational Church of Westfield, where she sang in the choir. She is survived by a niece, a nephew, and cousins. 

David A. Wente ’47, of Reston, Va.; Dec. 14, of a heart attack. He had a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1973. He flew helicopters in Korea and was later assigned to posts in California. He commanded a 120-helicopter squadron during the Vietnam War and was responsible for 52 sea rescues. In 1968, he transferred to the Pentagon and worked on operations planning. During his last two years with the Navy, he was assigned to the Naval Air Systems command in charge of helicopter procurement. He received many decorations, including the Navy Commendation Medal. After retiring from military service, he operated the family business, the Suntan Shop. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters; two sons; and five grandchildren. 

Joanne Elliott ’47, of Princeton, N.J.; Mar. 5. She was professor of mathematics at Rutgers University from 1965 until her retirement in 1991. During her tenure, she supervised five PhD theses. Previously, she taught at Mount Holyoke College, where she wrote the 1956 paper “Stochastic Processes Connected with Harmonic Functions.” She also taught at Barnard College and Columbia University. She supported the arts and enjoyed birdwatching. After retiring from Rutgers, she volunteered for many years interpreting mathematical texts at Reading for the Blind (now Learning Ally). She is survived by a niece and a cousin. 

Catherine Schatz Brant ’40, of Washington, D.C.; Jan. 7, 104 years of age. While attending Brown, she met her lab partner, Earl Brant ’42, who would eventually become her husband of 60 years. After graduating, she worked as an order clerk at a machinery company in Boston supplying pumps and motors to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Manhattan Project. She married Earl in 1943 and they moved to Philadelphia for him to attend medical school. While he was serving in Korea, she returned to Boston and resumed her previous job. After his military service, they moved to Ohio and then New York. She worked at Mamaroneck High School as a reading specialist and enjoyed helping teenagers read. In 1992, they moved to Washington, D.C., to be closer to their daughter. She became a volunteer at Heurich House Library and with the library committee of the National Presbyterian Church, where she was a member. She was honored four times by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living. Her daughter, who survives her, says, “She was sharp even in her advanced age and still proud to be a Brown graduate.” 

Georges Peter, of Brookline, Mass.; Jan. 11. He joined the Brown faculty in 1972 and retired after 34 years with the title of emeritus professor. During his career at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, he established the board-certified division of pediatric diseases. He authored or coauthored more than 150 publications. His focus was committed to the prevention of pediatric infectious diseases through immunizations. He was an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), serving on the Committee on Infectious Diseases for 13 years. He edited five editions of the AAP’s Red Book (Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases). He served on three federal committees: the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He was a member of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and he was a president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. An elected member of the Society of Pediatric Research, the American Pediatric Society, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, he was also a member of the board of directors of the American Committee for the American Memorial Hospital in Reims, France. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Physician Award of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the AAP Award for Lifetime Contribution to Infectious Diseases Education, and a special recognition award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Devoted to Harvard athletics, he managed the Harvard Stadium scoreboard for 29 years. In 2022 he received the President’s Special Award from the Harvard Club of Boston. He was a lifetime fan of the Boston Red Sox and he enjoyed sailing in the Lightning Class, in which he competed for more than 60 years, winning numerous regattas and sailing in national and international championships. He was a member of the Annisquam Yacht Club, Boston Harvard Club, Rhode Island Harvard Club, University Club, Niantic Bay Yacht Club, and Longwood Cricket Club. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn McClintock Peter ’76 MAT; a daughter; a son; and two grandchildren.

Richard D. Frary, of Barrington, R.I.; Oct.16. He matriculated at Amherst College and Boston University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Boston City Hospital before joining the U.S. Navy and being assigned to the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, N.Y. Upon discharge he opened an internal medicine and cardiology office in Rhode Island. He retired in 1994. He was a member of the American Medical Association and served several years on the Council of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He was a past president of the Bristol County Medical Society and a past president of the RI Chapter of the American Society of Internal Medicine. He also served on the boards of the RI Lung Association and the RI Chapter of the American Heart Association. He was an early faculty member of Brown’s medical school. In addition, he was a long term member of the Barrington Yacht Club and served several years on the Barrington Harbor Commission. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and three sons.

Timothy M. Empkie, of Providence, R.I.; Dec. 30. He had a distinguished career in medicine. He spent two years in the National Health Service Corps and spent a decade coordinating health programs in Central Europe and the Balkans. He joined the Department of Family Medicine in 1984 and later was director of predoctoral education and coordinated medical student exchanges between Brown and German universities in Rostock and Tübingen until 1993. He then was an assistant dean in the Warren Alpert Medical School and from 2002 to 2016 was an advisor to PLME students. In addition to teaching, he was a community activist who led efforts to stopconstruction of a stadium on park land in Providence and supported LGBTQ+ rights. Always a basketball fan, he served as faculty liaison for the men’s basketball program from 2017 until the time of his passing. He is survived by a sister and nieces and nephews. 

Louise S. Kiessling Fair ’76 MD, of Wakefield, R.I.; Oct. 12, of congestive heart failure. She was a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. She served from 1984 to 2000, and 2001 to 2003, as pediatrician-in-chief at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, R.I., where she was also founder and director of the hospital’s Neurodevelopmental Center. She earned a master’s degree from Cornell University in psychology and counseling and worked as a psychologist and social worker in New York state’s public school system before attending and graduating from Brown’s medical school. She retired in 2003 but continued to serve in multiple leadership roles with the Washington County Coalition for Children, helping to provide continuing education and training to local pediatricians and mental health providers in Rhode Island’s South County community. She enjoyed reading, music, gardening, and travel. She is survived by two stepdaughters. 

Gabriel G. Hudson ’00 MFA, of Burlington, Iowa; Nov. 23. 

Lois McPherson Beach ’95 AM, of Westerly, R.I.; Dec. 31. She began teaching in 1965 in Stonington, Conn., before starting a family. While raising her family, she taught nursery school and was a camp director for the Camp Fire Girls. She was a skilled seamstress and opened the Pin Cushion fabric store in Westerly. Later, after selling the store, she worked at Mystic Planetarium as a tour guide but, in 1988, returned to teaching in the Westerly school system as an English as a Second Language teacher. She joined a teacher outreach program and traveled to China, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and England. She retired in 2011 and continued to knit, quilt, and travel. She is survived by four children, six grandchildren, and six siblings. 

Edward G. Gray ’90 AM, ’96 PhD, of Tallahassee, Fla.; Dec. 22, of a heart attack while mountain biking. He spent his career teaching at Florida State University, rising to the rank of full professor and department chair. He published four books of American history and was coeditor of the Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. At the time of his death he had begun writing two more books. He enjoyed sports, attended Pilates classes, and taught himself the banjo. He is survived by his wife, Stacey Rutledge ’92 MAT; a daughter; a son; his parents; two brothers; his mother and father-in-law; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and 10 nieces and nephews. 

Silvia J. Dasilva ’86 AM, of Bristol, R.I.; Nov. 14. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in secondary education with a major in Portuguese. She continued her post graduate studies at Brown, obtaining her master’s degree in Brazilian Studies, and taught Portuguese at Rhode Island College. She was involved in several Portuguese organizations and was a member of the American Association of Speakers of Spanish and Portuguese. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.

Thomas E. Leary ’85 PhD, of Youngstown, Ohio; Oct. 29. While obtaining his doctorate at Brown, he was curator of Slater Mill in Pawtucket. Upon graduation, he settled in Buffalo, N.Y., and was director of interpretation for the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. While there, he coordinated a survey of Buffalo industry, along with the National Park Service’s Historical American Engineering Record, and he and his wife wrote a history of Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna plant. They also organized exhibits documenting the area’s industries titled “Made in Buffalo.” In 1988, the couple formed Industrial Research Associates, a consulting firm doing mitigation and other research for government and private agencies, including the Youngstown Museum of Industry and Labor. In 1999 he was hired by Youngstown State University as a history professor. He taught American architectural and industrial history and trained students in the art of public history documentation and museum practices. He retired from teaching in 2021 but continued to work at the museum until his death. He is survived by his wife,
Elizabeth Sholes.

Gordon J. Fine ’77 AM, of San Francisco; Nov. 3, of cancer. He graduated from George Washington University Law School and had a 30-year legal career. He was active in the American Decorative Arts Forum and enjoyed collecting antiques. He is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law, and seven nieces and nephews. 

Paul B. Jenison ’76 AM, of Redding, Conn.; Dec. 10. He went on to earn his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and had a career as a financial consultant. He was executive director of UBS Investment Banking and senior managing director of Jenison Financial LLC. He is survived by three children. 

Christine J. Lees Jonientz ’75 AM, of Hamden, Conn.; Nov. 7. She worked as a consumer banker and was a master gardener. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, a brother, and her former husband, Frank Jonientz.

Neal A. Sondergaard ’73 ScM, ’77 PhD, of Severna Park, Md.; Jan 12. He worked as a scientist for the Naval Research Lab, earning accolades for his research. Upon retirement he worked as a consultant for Syntek Technologies. He was a member of Sigma Xi, the American Society of Naval Engineers, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He loved traveling, watching the Baltimore Ravens, and tinkering in his workshop. He is survived by his wife, Sally Olver Sondergaard ’76; two children; two grandchildren; and a sister. 

Menasche M. Nass ’73 ScM, ’75 PhD, of Santa Monica, Calif.; Oct. 28. After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1982, he worked as a tax attorney at DeCastro West, where he eventually became a partner. He was still practicing law at the time of his death. He enjoyed following current events, spending time with his family, swimming, traveling, and playing golf. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. 

Madeleine I. Boucher ’73 PhD, of Melrose, Mass., formerly of Stamford, Conn.; Dec. 17. She was an assistant professor at St. Anselm College (N.H.) until 1974, when she joined the faculty at Fordham University as assistant professor. She retired from Fordham as full professor in 1998. She was a Women’s Studies in Religion Associate at the Harvard Divinity School from 1983 to 1984. She published The Mysterious Parable: A Literary Study in 1977 and The Parables in 1981. She was also an accomplished artist, painter, and sculptor. She studied at the Yale School of Art and Parsons School of Design. She enjoyed traveling, especially to England, France, Italy, and Israel. She is survived by two sisters and nine nieces and nephews. 

John E. Rowe ’71 PhD, of Cary, N.C.; Dec. 8. Prior to matriculating at Brown, he taught at Clark Atlanta College and then worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. After graduating, he began working at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey and became department head in 1980. In 1983 he joined the physics department at the University of Florida, coleading a newly formed program in microelectronics and material physics. After two years he returned to Bell Labs, where he worked until 1996. He then accepted a position at the Army Research Office (ARO) in North Carolina and became an adjunct professor of physics at NC State. In 2004 he left ARO and became founding deputy director of the Institute for Advanced Materials at UNC-Chapel Hill. After three and a half years at UNC he returned to the physics department at NC State as a research professor. He was the recipient of several awards and distinctions, including being selected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Vacuum Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2011 he received the Albert Nerken Award from the American Vacuum Society for his research on synchrotrons, a type of circular particle accelerator. He was an active member of Apex United Methodist Church and enjoyed fishing, watching football, and Jeopardy!. He is survived by his wife, Susie; three children; and five grandchildren.

George A. Kent ’71 PhD, of Cambridge, Mass.; Nov. 16, from complications of dementia. He had a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy, beginning with submarines, then transitioned to research and development of submarine systems. He retired to Cambridge in 1995. He worked at Towers Perrin in Boston and became a pension actuary. He tutored math and science at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and was an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He played tuba in the Cambridge Community Band and enjoyed singing in church choirs. He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. 

Deborah Kapstein Bronitsky ’69 MAT, of Little Compton, R.I., formerly of Newton, Mass.; Nov. 17. Upon graduating, she began teaching fifth grade in the Barrington (R.I.) school system and later taught English and social studies at Meadowbrook Junior High School in Newton. She retired from teaching in 2006 after serving as a permanent substitute teacher at Newton North High School. She worked to improve public education through the parent-teacher associations at her children’s schools. She was devoted to her family and boasted an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz music and sports. She is survived by her husband, Leonard; a daughter; a son; two brothers; and two nephews. 

Joseph F. Baugher ’69 PhD, of Chicago; Nov. 12, of kidney failure and cancer. While at Brown working towards his PhD, he met his future wife, Judith Robinson, the physics department secretary. He graduated and did a one-year fellowship to Sheffield, England, sending for her. Upon returning to the U.S., they married and he began teaching physics at the University of Chicago. He went on to work at Lucent Technology and the Illinois Institute of Art. A fan of science fiction and astronomy, he published On Civilized Stars: The Search for Intelligent Life in Outer Space and The Space Age Solar System. He also enjoyed walking and biking along Lake Michigan. He is survived by his wife, Judith; a daughter; grandson; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews. 

Kenneth R. Alvar ’68 ScM, ’71 PhD, of Middleton, Wisc., formerly of Los Alamos, N. Mex.; Dec. 26. He met his future wife while still a physics graduate student at Brown. They were married while each continued their graduate educations. He held various postdoctoral positions that brought the couple to San Diego, Minneapolis, and finally to Los Alamos. They retired to Middleton, where they enjoyed exploring the national and state parks. He enjoyed canoeing, fishing, and taking photographs of wildflowers and the flowers in the garden his wife grew before her passing. He is survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law. 

Jack R. Leibowitz ’62 PhD, of Santa Fe, N. Mex.; Nov. 4. After college and before receiving his PhD from Brown, he worked for six years in government and industrial laboratories. He later became a physics professor at the University of Maryland, published widely on experimental and theoretical condensed matter physics research, and was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He was also elected a Fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences. In retirement, he painted and authored Hidden Harmony: The Connected Worlds of Physics and Art. He was an early member of the Santa Fe Alliance for Science, made up primarily of retired scientists dedicated to introducing young students to scientific exploration. He is survived by his wife, Ariel; a daughter; a son; two grandchildren; a brother; and six nieces and nephews.

Donald B. Gibson ’62 PhD, of Princeton, N.J.; Nov. 18. He was an assistant professor at Wayne State University before joining the faculty at UConn as an associate professor of African American literature. He retired from teaching at Rutgers in 2001. During the late 1960s and early 1970s he published several articles, including Twentieth-Century Interpretations of Modern Black Poets in 1972. In 1970, he was awarded a study grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a research grant by the American Council of Learned Societies. He also accepted an appointment to the editorial board of the Langston Hughes Society, and in 1974 he was on the editorial board of the Black American Literature Forum. He edited two books: Five Black Writers: Essays on Wright, Ellison, Baldwin, Hughes and LeRoi Jones and Black and White: Stories of American Life, which was a collection of short stories for which he wrote the introduction. Other writings included Is there a Black Literary Tradition? (1971), Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin (1971), and The Good Black Poet and the Good Gray Poet (1971). He enjoyed singing, cooking, wood carving, and playing tennis, which he did into his 80s. In retirement, he traveled to Senegal and South Africa and lectured at local universities. His final years were spent in both Princeton, New Jersey, and Isle La Motte, Vermont, with his partner, Linda Fitch, who survives him. He is also survived by two sons, three grandchildren, and his former wife, JoAnne Gibson. 

Robert W. Simpson ’56 ScM, of Hillsborough, N.J.; Dec. 25. He completed his PhD in microbiology and virology at Rutgers University and worked as a research virologist at Public Health Research Institute in New York City. In 1968, he returned to Rutgers as professor and director of virology at Waksman Institute of Microbiology. He was a member of the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research and served as a scientific reviewer for various NIH Study sections. He was an active volunteer in the community, serving with the Hillsborough Rescue Squad as a member and crew chief, the American Red Cross as a first aid/CPR instructor and board member, a member and chairman of the Hillsborough Environmental Commission, and first president of Friends of Hillsborough. He was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed attending concerts. He completed home improvement projects, acquiring new skills and creating a beautiful landscape that surrounded the swimming pool he personally built for his family. He is survived by four children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and a brother. 

E. Lowell Swarts ’54 PhD, of Verona, Pa.; Feb. 19.  He was employed with Alfred University, General Electric Co., and PPG Industries, from which he retired in 1994 after 35 years in their glass technology laboratories. He was a member of the American Ceramic Society, the American Chemical Society, the International Commission on Glass, the Pittsburgh Oratorio, and the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Pennsylvania. He enjoyed traveling, photography, and the fine arts of Pittsburgh. He is survived by his wife, Rachel; a daughter; two sons; a daughter-in-law; five grandchildren; a sister; and three nephews. 

Herbert E. Francis Jr. ’50 AM, of Huntsville, Ala.; Feb. 2, at 100 years of age. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Brown and taught at Penn State, the University of Tennessee, and Northern Illinois State. From 1958 to 1966, he taught English literature at Emory University. He then helped to establish the humanities program at the University of Alabama. He retired after 20 years to focus on his writing but during his tenure he was the recipient of three Fulbright fellowships; one to Oxford University and two to teach at the Universidad National de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina. While teaching in Mendoza, he made a point of buying a newspaper each day from one particular street kid named Carlos Roberto Francis and a powerful bond developed, leading to the adoption of Carlos as his son. He purchased an apartment in Madrid, Spain, and spent many summers there writing. He volunteered translating works of Argentinean authors living in exile in Spain and won several awards for his own writings. He was a member of the Huntsville Literary Association and is survived by his son, Carlos, Carlos’s children and grandchildren in Argentina, a brother, and nieces and nephews. 

Trevor L. Labuda ’22, of Falls Church, Va.; Nov. 3. He and his twin brother, Evan, were known in the diving community as the Stanford Twins before Trevor matriculated at Brown. Trevor became a member of the Brown diving team, setting school records and winning athlete of the week titles. Always willing to help others, he served as an EMT and volunteered with Camp Kesem for four years as a counselor, unit leader, and recruitment coordinator. After moving to Falls Church for his first job as a human resources associate at Capital One, he joined the local volunteer fire department. He always sought out opportunities to volunteer and help others. He is survived by his parents, four siblings, and his grandparents. 

Michael A. Vargas ’09, of San Benito, Tex.; Jan. 4. After Brown he continued to the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. His commitment to community and public service was evident during his tenure as a Congressional intern under the mentorship of former Congressman Solomon Ortiz of South Texas. In addition, he furthered his experience by interning with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C. His federal career reached its culmination as he assumed the role of Congressional Affairs Assistant for the Presidential Classroom Program. In this capacity, he was instrumental in organizing and facilitating student visits to federal agencies and Capitol Hill and shared his knowledge about domestic and foreign policy with the students, family, and friends who visited. He went on to be selected by Teach for America, becoming an educational ambassador committed to uplifting impoverished communities such as St. Louis, where he taught in the Hazelwood School District. Returning to San Benito, he embarked on a distinguished career in public service, serving as an elected trustee on the San Benito CISD School Board. At the time, he was their youngest board president at the age of 31. As president, he implemented groundbreaking policies, including the creation of the district’s Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. STEAM Academy and Early College Academy. He played key roles in various campaigns and was a member of the Texas Association of School Boards’ Legislative Committee, working toward positive changes in state education policies. Additionally, he served as the executive secretary of the Mexican American School Board Association, which awarded him the Héroes de MASBA award for the district’s five consecutive years of MASBA membership. He later became the assistant director of public affairs with the City of Pharr and cofounded School Board Leaders for Safe Schools. He is survived by his partner, Mario Cortez; his mother; two brothers; and nieces and nephews.

Alicia Brooke Gomez ’97, of New York City; Nov. 22. In 2001, she began working with her mother, Mariette Himes Gomez, helping to expand the clientele at her mother’s interior design firm. Eventually she established her own firm, Brooke Gomez Design, and over the course of her career collaborated with high-profile celebrities, including Michael J. Fox, Sigourney Weaver, and Bethenny Frankel. She frequently appeared on Bravo’s reality show Bethenny Ever After. Her style and talent promoted her to be a sought after professional in the industry. She was a marathon runner and enjoyed kickboxing. She is survived by her mother and brother.

Wallace G. Earle ’97, of Somerset, Mass.; Dec. 14, of cancer. He graduated from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2003 and worked for several years as a counselor serving youth in need at Life Resources. This experience led him to represent the underserved community in juvenile and family court. While working full-time, attending college, and raising his own family, he devoted his time to coaching softball, basketball, and baseball for his children and grandchildren in leagues in Fall River and Somerset. He was an avid Boston sports teams fan and enjoyed listening to music and reading, especially Shakespeare; he also had an intense interest in politics. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two sisters, and a brother. 

Hannah K. Edgerly ’96, of Providence, R.I., formerly of Massachusetts; Nov. 8, after a long illness. She worked at Rites and Reason Theatre and at Louis Restaurant and was active in the local spoken word poetry gatherings. In the 2000s she moved to the Berkshires and acted at the Lavender Door in Stockbridge, Mass., as well as with local poetry groups. She tutored students at Berkshire Community College and worked in a local bookstore. She returned to Providence in 2015 and continued her writing, which led to her becoming a 2018 finalist in an online writing competition sponsored by the Ireland Writing Retreat. She traveled to Ireland to participate in their workshops. She enjoyed playing Dungeons & Dragons remotely with groups of friends in the Berkshires. She is survived by her parents, Elizabeth and David Edgerly ’64, and a sister.

Zachary Wald ’95, of Piedmont, Calif.; Dec. 13, of cancer. He earned a master’s degree from Berkeley in city and regional planning and spent the majority of his career working for the City Council of Oakland. He was the original author of the Oakland Pedestrian Master Plan. He is survived by his wife, Eliza Sorensen ’96; three children, including Spencer ’28; and extended family. 

Helene Pliner Myers ’92, of Sarasota, Fla.; Jan 10. She was the president of T.W. Rounds travel and former president of the League of Women Voters. She was passionate about the arts and served as a board member of the Asolo Theater and a treasurer of the Sarasota Fine Arts Society. She was a member of Temple Beth El, Providence, as well as Temple Emanu El, Sarasota. She is survived by her husband, C. William; two sons, including Dr. Thomas R. Myers ’81; a daughter-in-law; and two granddaughters.

Christina Monson ’92, of Nashua N.H.; Nov. 19, of metastatic breast cancer. She spent her junior year abroad in Nepal, which began a lifelong passion for the country and Tibetan Buddhism. After working in Chicago for Equity Office Properties for several years, she returned to Nepal to work for World Learning as the assistant director of its Experiment in International Learning program. She was eventually promoted to associate dean for East Asian Academic Studies for World Learning. She became proficient in spoken and written Tibetan and Nepali, and was a translator for Buddhist teachers who traveled throughout Europe and the United States. In 2017, she was certified as a business coach by the Ivey Business School in Hong Kong. She later founded Monson Coaching and Translations LLC. Her lifelong passion for the lineage and teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist Sera Khandro (1892-1940) led her to translating and writing A Dakini’s Counsel, a book of translations of Sera Khandro’s teachings. She was active with the Asia Foundation and was an avid skier, formerly competing as a member of Brown’s ski team. 

Suzanne M. Lynch ’90, of New York City; Jul. 14, of cancer. She lived in Paris for 10 years after graduating from Brown and worked in journalism and in public relations. After returning to the U.S., she worked as an interpreter for the United Nations and the New York family court system. She was a Francophile at heart and enjoyed traveling and exploring new places with her daughter; the outdoors, where she completed a 17k elevation trail; and literature and writing. She is survived by her daughter; her mother; two sisters, including Michele Matzinger ’92; a brother-in-law; a niece; and two nephews.

Eve Harrison ’88, of Woodbridge, Conn.; Dec. 19, from breast cancer. She earned a master’s in social work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1992 and worked for more than 20 years in Milford, Conn. She is survived by her husband, Marc; two sons; her father and stepmother; three siblings, including sister Julie Harrison ’85; and nieces and nephews. 

Royce T. Johnson ’87, of Oakland, Calif.; Dec. 30. He was a procurement and sourcing manager for VeriSign, Inc. In addition to enjoying his position at VeriSign, he also liked to travel around the world and spend time with family and friends. He is survived by his husband, Marcus James Dawson; his mother; a sister; and nieces and nephews. 

Maureen Mulligan ’84, of Watertown, Mass; Dec. 25, after six months battling pancreatic cancer. While at Brown, she exceled at field hockey and majored in women’s studies. She was a passionate advocate for equality, justice, and the rule of law throughout her life and career. After Brown, she attended Boston College Law School and subsequently practiced law in both Boston and San Francisco prior to becoming a trial lawyer and an equity partner in private practice at Peabody & Arnold in Boston. She was later appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. At the time of her death, she was an associate justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. From 2019 to 2023, she served as chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession and also on the advisory committee of the American Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Center. She was the founding chair of the Boston Bar Association Women’s Advancement Forum and served a four-year term on the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers. She enjoyed international travels with her husband Carlos Fernandez ’82, who survives her. She is also survived by her son, her parents, a sister and brother-in-law, a brother and sister-in-law, and many extended family members. 

James F. Mihaley ’84, of Venice, Calif.; Feb. 1. He was a writer, speaker, and environmental activist. He is survived by his parents, a sister, a brother, a niece, and two nephews.

Col. Derek “Moondog” Donovan ’80, of Alexandria, Va.; Feb. 11, of esophageal cancer.  He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981 and following his commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant, he attended the Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico and subsequently attended flight school at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, earning his wings as a naval aviator in 1983. Designated a Huey helicopter pilot, his initial squadron was the North Carolina based Gunrunners, where he received his call sign Moondog. His career included deployments and affiliations with the Gunrunners, Golden Eagles, Blue Knights, Warriors, Ugly Angels, and Black Knights. He flew more than 3,500 flight hours, visited more than 70 countries, lived aboard U.S. naval vessels for more than four years of his life, and was qualified in eight different military occupational specialties. His assignments included being selected as aide-de-camp to the Secretary of the Navy and the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Air Facility at Marine Corp Air Facility Quantico, Virginia. His last assignment before retiring was with the Presidential Commission for the Care of America’s Returning Wounded Warriors.  Donovan also had a stint working in the nonprofit world for Fisher House Foundation. As a volunteer, he worked as an elected official, interviewed prospective students for Brown, and gave driving lessons to local youth. He was a member of the Order of the Kentucky Colonels, an ordained nondenominational minister (via the internet), and a life member of several veterans service organizations. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; a daughter; a son; four grandchildren; his mother; a sister; and two brothers. 

Diane S. Panizza ’77, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Jan 9. She spent 42 years in laboratory healthcare with Women and Infants Hospital. She enjoyed going to the beach, being on a boat, and camping with her family. She loved animals and traveling with her sister, and visited zoos at each of her destinations. She is survived by a sister and a brother. 

Weldon D. Rogers ’75, of Atlanta; Jan. 29. He had a passion for tennis during the 1960s, a time when it was primarily a whites-only sport. He was instrumental in the integration of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association as a youth, playing in tennis tournaments up and down the East Coast. He was active in the struggle for civil rights. He played tennis at Brown and after graduating became a tennis coach in Atlanta. He continued playing competitively on national circuits, and in 1977, he and his partner won the men’s doubles title at the 60th National Championship tournament held by the American Tennis Association. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; a sister; a brother; and many nieces and nephews. 

Steven Michael Lewis ’75, of Lyme, Conn.; Jan. 9, of cancer. He loved literature and wrote for the Brown Daily Herald while in college. He worked in senior level stock broker positions for more than two decades at both Morgan Stanley and E.F. Hutton. He was active in Democratic Party politics, serving on the Lyme Democratic Town Party Committee, as well as being offered a position in the Koch mayoral administration. He is survived by his wife, Denise; two brothers; and his nieces and nephews.

Cornelius E. Kiely IV ’74, of Barrington, R.I.; Feb. 3. He was a former ranger for the Cape Cod National Seashore and more recently was director of institutional advancement at St. Luke’s School. He served on the Bristol 4th of July Committee and was a Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s in Bristol. In addition, he helped lead a local suicide survivors support group and was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 26 years, where he offered mentorship and support for those suffering addiction in their lives. While at Brown, he was president of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a member of the men’s football team. He is survived by his wife, Laurie; two sons, including Stuart ’00; two daughters-in-law; and two sisters.

Judith Finkelstein Kashtan ’74, of Minneapolis; Nov. 28, as the result of a sudden brain hemorrhage. She was a psychiatrist and advocate for women as leaders in the profession. She served as past president of the Minnesota Psychiatric Society and was a member of the board of trustees of the American Psychiatric Association. She is survived by her husband, Clifford; three children, including Aaron ’05; her father; three siblings and their spouses; and many nieces and nephews. 

Mark J. Candon ’74, of Rutland, Vt.; Nov. 28. He worked as a freelance reporter at the Rutland Herald, a substitute teacher at Rutland High School, and a two-term state legislator in Montpelier. He was named Legislator of the Year in 1983. With a great interest in local politics, he was a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for Vermont in 1998. For the last 28 years, he worked as an investment executive at Moors & Cabot in Rutland. He was a lifelong member of Proctor-Pittsford Country Club. He enjoyed skiing, hunting, and playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; two daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; three grandchildren; four siblings; and many nieces and nephews. 

Daniel J. Cooper ’73, of Chappaqua, N.Y.; Dec. 21. After Brown he graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School. He had a distinguished legal career including clerking for Judge Jack Weinstein prior to private practice and finally as a jury consultant. He is survived by his wife, Wendy; two daughters and sons-in-law; four grandchildren; two brothers; and two sisters-in-law. 

Leonard W. Erickson ’73, of Providence, R.I.; Jan 10. For more than 40 years, he was a senior mail clerk in Brown’s biomedical stockroom. He retired in 2021. During his time at Brown, he was a team organizer and member of the Brown “Bio Hazards” intramural softball team. 

Margot Blum Schevill ’72, ’81 AM, of Berkeley, Calif.; Jan. 17. She was an opera singer in San Francisco during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1980s, she transitioned to anthropology focused on curating exhibitions. She is survived by children and grandchildren.

John L. Delany ’72, of Inverness, Ill.; Dec. 22, of cancer. He earned a PhD from Yale and remained an avid learner throughout his life. He began his career as a professor at the University of Minnesota before holding positions at Fallon McElligott (Minn.), Bank of New York (Del.), and Sears and Arthur Andersen (Ill.). In 2003, he formed his own strategic consulting firm, Giraffe LLC, but considered his most fulfilling work leading strategic development at the nonprofit organization Marklund, where he spent his last 12 years helping make everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities. He is survived by his wife, Terry; a daughter; a son; and three sisters.

Henry H. Whitehouse III ’71, of Victoria, Tex.; Nov. 4, from cardiac complications due to amyloidosis. He was an ob-gyn at Victoria Women’s Clinic for 33 years. He served in several leadership positions in the Victoria medical community and represented the Victoria Goliad Jackson County Medical Society as a regional delegate to the Texas Medical Association for many years. After diagnosis and treatment of an ocular melanoma, he began a second career and became credentialed as a hospice and palliative care physician. He worked with Hospice of South Texas and was instrumental in the development of Dornberg Center hospice facility in Victoria. He enjoyed biking and in 2018 biked across the country. He is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter; a son; two sisters and brothers-in-law; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

Jill Cranna Preotle ’71, of Boston; Nov. 1, of pancreatic cancer. She obtained a law degree from New York University but turned down a job at a New York City law firm to raise her family. Later, she was a partner at Preotle & Smith. In 1997, she relocated to Boston and taught English as a Second Language at the Boston Public Library. She passed the universal bar exam so that she could perform pro-bono legal services for the underserved in Boston. She spent time investing in early-stage start-ups, with a particular passion for mentoring women entrepreneurs. She was an investor, active advisor, and often a board member with numerous start-ups. She is survived by her husband, John; three children; six grandchildren; her mother; and three siblings.

Anthony J. Evangelista ’71, of Concord Township, Ohio; Nov. 2, of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He graduated from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and established a veterinary practice, Lake Animal Hospital, in Painesville, Ohio, that he operated for more than 40 years. He dedicated his spare time to fundraising and improving the athletic facilities at Riverside High School. He was an award-winning home brewer and certified beer judge. He enjoyed growing dahlias and creating new varieties through hybridization. He was also an avid birdwatcher, fly-fisherman, and fan of Cleveland sports teams and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a member of the Painesville YMCA. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; two granddaughters; two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

Barbara R. Marzetta ’70, of Chevy Chase, Md.; Dec. 1, of metastatic breast cancer. She was a policy administrator and deputy director of the Office of Science and Technology at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. She is survived by her mother, two sisters, a brother, and nieces and nephews. 

Martha Schroeder Lewis ’70, of Pittsboro, N.C.; Dec. 26, of metastatic colon cancer. She earned a master’s in library science at UNC Chapel Hill and a master’s and PhD in psychology at Northwestern. Each of her careers spanned more than 20 years. She worked at the University of South Carolina Law Library and was a clinical psychologist in community mental health centers, at veterans hospitals, and in private practice. She volunteered at animal rescue centers and rescued several cats. She is survived by her husband, Charles; a brother; two sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews. 

Helena “Bubbe” Formal Lehrer ’70, of Ventnor City, N.J., formerly of Philadelphia; Dec. 2, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She spent her professional career educating Jewish children at Akiba Hebrew Academy, now Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. During her 30-year tenure at JBHA, she filled many roles. She was a substitute teacher, then taught chemistry and biology before becoming an administrator, with positions that included department head, vice principal, and principal. Her passion was connecting with each of the students, their parents, and the extended JBHA community. She is survived by sons Joshua ’91 and Michael ’93 and their spouses; three grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Susan A. Doucette ’70, of Danvers, Mass.; Jan. 19. She is survived by three sisters, a brother-in-law, and three nephews.