Obituaries

Rosemary Prisco ’74 AM, of East Providence, R.I.; May 3. She had been a professor at Community College of Rhode Island for 57 years. Her favorite subject to teach was Introduction to Literature and Composition I. In addition to being a faculty member, her service to CCRI included serving as the 2008 grand marshal and as faculty marshal in 2007. CCRI recognized her expertise and dedication with the NISOD Award in 2007. She and another colleague were recognized with a fellowship for teaching with technology for cocreating the website Rhode Island Women in the Arts. She presented at numerous conferences. A published author, she was the editor and contributor to Rhode Island Women Speak, an anthology of Rhode Island women and authors and artists, produced by the Rhode Island Committee and for the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She was instrumental in establishing the Rhode Island State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and served 10 years as president of the state branch. She also shared her time and energy with other notable organizations as a past president, vice president, and an executive board member.  

Arthur Frazzano, of Providence, R.I.; Jun. 2. After two decades practicing family medicine in Portsmouth, R.I., he taught at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School and served as associate dean of the clinical faculty. He also served as president of both the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians and the Rhode Island Medical Society. He earned numerous accolades and was the recipient of the Charles Hill Award. 

Sydney G. Zink ’23 ScM, of Roswell, Ga.; Apr. 4, from complications of Type 1 diabetes. She was proficient in many languages and was working full-time for a U.S. government contractor in the national defense and security industry. At the time of her death, she was within weeks of completing a two-year postbaccalaureate preprofessional program at Thomas Jefferson University in preparation for entrance to medical school, where she hoped to combine her skills with an MD/MPH degree to work in public health. 

Michael Dema ’04 AM, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Jun. 13. After graduating from Brown, he moved to St. Petersburg and began his environmental career at Janicki Environmental. After a few years, he studied environmental law at Stetson University College of Law and passed the Florida Bar exam in 2011. He was employed by the City of St. Petersburg and, at the time of his death, he was the managing assistant city attorney for land use and environmental matters.

Stephen A. Donatelli ’88 AM, ’98 PhD, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Jun. 13. He taught writing at Harvard University, the University of Singapore, and Princeton University. In addition, he developed courses in the humanities that examined topics such as comedy and color and held seminars on dissertation writing for doctoral students. 

Martha Atwood Williams ’87 AM, of South Dennis, Mass.; May 20. She was a professor of history at Bristol Community College from 1987 until her retirement in 2020. In addition to her academic  accomplishments, she was an excellent gardener and had culinary skills that brought people together.

Marcia Rubinstein Lieberman ’85 AM, of Providence, R.I.; Apr. 21. She taught English at UConn for several years before moving to Providence in 1978. She wrote several travel books, including Walking Switzerland the Swiss Way, and published travel and hiking experience articles in the New York Times. Her books and articles featured photographs taken by her husband. For many years she was the coordinator of Amnesty International’s Providence group and devoted many volunteer hours to improving educational opportunities for women and girls in Nepal. 

David A. Crombie ’81 AM, of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Jun. 22. He was a reporter for the Evening News of Newark, N.J. from 1969 to 1971 and for 22 years at the Providence Journal. In 1993 he moved to New Haven, Conn. and switched careers, becoming an English as a Second Language teacher. He taught in the West Haven School District for 15 years. He settled in Lake Oswego in 2022.  

William W. Kingkade ’78 AM, ’83 PhD, of Alexandria, Va.; May 13. He began his career at the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California. In 1984, he went on to work for the U.S. Census Bureau as a statistician in its Center for International Research, from which he retired. He was an expert in demography and an accomplished independent researcher. He published and contributed to numerous research papers and articles. And he was fluent in five languages.

Ellen Goodman ’76 PhD, of Newton, Mass.; Mar. 4, after a long illness. She taught high school before moving to secondary education as part-time faculty at Northeastern University. She joined the faculty of the English and Western Civilization department at Providence College, where she became a tenured professor and developed a popular course on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. She retired from teaching in 2004. 

Kenneth L. Krause ’73 MAT, of Portland, Ore.; May 27. He began his teaching career in Providence at Perry Middle School while working part-time at Pinkerton as a security guard. In 1974, he and his family moved to Oregon and he taught in the Portland public schools before becoming a founding faculty member at Harriet Tubman, from which he retired. 

Everett H. Hoagland III ’73 AM, of New Bedford, Mass.; Jul. 5. After Brown, he taught English and African American studies at UMass Dartmouth for more than 30 years. He established himself in New Bedford as the city’s first poet laureate from 1994 to 1998. His work contributed significantly to the Black Arts Movement, and he received numerous awards, including the Gwendolyn Brooks Award, the 2023 American Book Award, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the American Literature Association’s Society for African American Literature and Culture. 

Rama Varma Ramachandran ’72 AM, ’75 PhD, of Plano, Tex.; Apr. 30. He was an assistant professor of economics at Southern Methodist University and held the position of chairman of the Economics Department for four years. In 1985 he joined New York University as associate director of the Center for Japan-U.S. Business and Economic Studies. He moved to Texas in 2005 and assisted his wife, who was an author and food historian. 

Allan J. Kleinman ’69 ScM, of Seal Harbor, Me.; Apr. 23, from complications resulting from septic shock and pancreatic cancer. He was an electrical systems engineer at Dynamics Research Corp. in Andover, Mass. Previously he worked with Mitre Corp. (Mass.). In retirement he developed a strong interest in biology and taught courses in lifelong learning programs at Brandeis University. He was also a docent at Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, and Wild Gardens of Acadia. Survivors include his wife, Joan Becker Kleinman ’67; son Benjamin ’94; and daughter Rachel Kleinman ’98.

David Schwartzman ’66 ScM, ’71 PhD, of Washington, D.C.; Jul. 1, of cancer. He taught at Howard University. After 39 years as a professor, including time as department head, he retired in 2012 as professor emeritus. He published two books, Life, Temperature, and the Earth and The Earth is Not for Sale (coauthored with his son), and was working on his book Solar Communism at the time of his passing. He was an invited speaker/presenter at numerous international conferences and was elected to several prestigious professional affiliations. He ran for citywide office of the D.C. Statehood Green Party three times and was a tireless activist for racial and economic justice. 

Robert C. Gorges ’65 MAT, of Sheboygan, Wisc.; Feb. 15, 2025. In 1970, he took part in the high school teacher training program in India and was later a teacher at Sheboygan North High School for 35 years. He served on the student council advisory board for 28 years, as well as many other boards and councils over the years. 

Joel Berlatsky ’65 MAT, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of Kingston, Pa.; Jul. 10. For two years he taught history and coached basketball and track at Lake Forest High School. After earning his PhD at Northwestern University, he taught history at Wilkes University for 37 years and served a term as departmental chair. For 18 years he was also a faculty athletic representative. He authored several journal articles and contributed to three collections of articles and coedited a document for the Royal Historical Society, Camden Society Series.  

Charles R. Quillin ’63 ScM, ’66 PhD, of Pittsburgh; May 4. He was an instructor, assistant professor and associate dean of students at Colby College (Me.) until 1972, when he became dean of students and administrative assistant to the vice president of student affairs at Marshall University (W. Va.). In 1975, he joined Park Point University as dean of students and retired in 2002 as vice president of student development. In addition to his many memberships, he volunteered at the Neighborhood Academy in Pittsburgh tutoring and conducting seminars for seniors. 

Dar-Veig Ho ’62 PhD, of Peachtree Corners, Ga.; Jun. 4. After graduating from the National Taiwan University and earning his master’s in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee, he worked for a civil engineering consulting firm in Kansas City. In 1956, he moved to Providence and attended Brown, graduating with a PhD in applied mathematics. A position teaching mathematics at Georgia Tech followed until his retirement in 2000 as the associate chair of the mathematics department. 

Eileen Ryan Monopoli ’59 AM, of Hadley, Mass.; Jun. 30. She was an English and history teacher for many years. 

Raymond G. Bayer ’59 ScM, of Johnson City, N.Y.; May 4. He had a 34-year career at IBM and he was a recipient of numerous awards during his tenure. He retired from IBM in 1991 and became a consulting tribologist. He published several books and coauthored more than 100 publications from his extensive knowledge and research on the subject. He also spent 25 years of service to the standard writing efforts of American Society for Testing and Materials. In addition, he actively participated and volunteered in numerous organizations throughout his life and served as an advisor for many doctorate and associate degree candidates. Survivors include his son Matthew ’82, ’82 ScM. 

Anthony A. Finocchiaro ’16, of Chicago, formerly of Canastota, N.Y.; Jun. 10. A former All-Ivy wrestler at Brown, he was a software developer with StoneX Group, a global financial institution in Chicago. 

Jeffrey R. Gruhler ’05, of Bangor, Me.; Apr. 2. After completing his residency at New York Medical College, where he was chief resident, he practiced psychiatry in various locations. He tutored and mentored students with their prospective college applications at MAC testing.

Senthil “Sen” Sundaram ’00, of Livingston, N.J.; Nov. 22, 2023, of cancer. He was a recognized leader in the biopharmaceuticals space throughout his career, with his last position as CEO at Terns Pharmaceuticals. 

 Patrick T. Sautin ’96, of Paris, France; Jun. 28, of a pulmonary embolism. After earning an MBA from the ESSEC business school in Paris, he went on to hold several senior managerial positions and worked as a consultant with various companies in France.   

Atul J. Butte ’91, ’95 MMSc, ’95 MD, of Menlo Park, Calif.; Jun. 14, from cancer. He was director of the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and was the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor at UC San Francisco. He was a pioneer in the fields of bioinformatics, health informatics, and precision medicine. As chief data scientist for the University of California Health System, he oversaw the integration of electronic health records and facilitated research initiatives to improve patient care. In addition, he cofounded several biotech companies that made significant contributions to genomic medicine and drug discovery. He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and recognition by the Obama Administration as a White House Champion of Change for his commitment to open science. Survivors include his brother Manish ’93, ’96 MD. 

Roberta Wallace Coffey ’81, of Ipswich, Mass.; May 24. She was a placement director for Katharine Gibbs School in Providence, R.I. She then moved to Beacon Hill in Boston and worked as public relations director for the Parker House Hotel, hosting events in support of major arts organizations and celebrities. She was also a professional writer and journalist, having earned her MFA in writing from Vermont College. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers, including the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and the Chicago Tribune. At the time of her passing, she had just finished her 350-page memoir. She was active in community theater and also appeared as an extra in the The Great Gatsby, filmed at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, and The Perfect Storm, filmed in Gloucester, Mass. During the 1960s, she performed regionally as a professional folk singer, guitarist and jazz pianist. 

Zdenka Seiner Griswold ’78, of Portland, Me.; Apr. 27, of endometrial cancer. Upon earning her JD from Fordham, where she was editor-in-chief of the International Law Journal, she became a derivatives lawyer at the New York law firm of Hughes Hubbard and Reed, and later at Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers. In 2007, she and her husband quit their jobs and moved to Portland. From 2009 to 2016 they sailed around the world on their 42-foot Valiant sailboat and explored more than 40 countries. She was an active member of both the Cruising Club of America and the Ocean Cruising Club and was editor of Voyages, the CCA club magazine from 2017 to 2021. She was awarded the Vilas Literary Prize, the Circumnavigation Award, and the Commodore’s Award.

Jack Cera ’78, of Bellaire, Ohio; Jul. 13, following a battle with cancer. He was a former state representative who served in the House from 1983 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2020. He served on a variety of committees, including several that were focused on coal and energy. He was minority whip for the Democratic Caucus in 2016. 

Sally Knebelman Noble ’77, of Orlando, Fla.; Jun. 7, from a severe brain injury caused by an accident after many years struggling with illness. Prior to Brown, she danced ballet professionally. After earning degrees from Brown and Columbia Journalism School, she lived and worked in Philadelphia, Manhattan, Boston, Honolulu, Santa Barbara, Portland and Biddeford, Me., and Maitland, Fla. She traveled the world as a writer and publicist and her work appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Bon Appétit, Down East magazine, Travel & Leisure, and Maine’s The Working Waterfront newspaper. Survivors include her brother Jim Knebelman ’86.

Kurt D. Luedke ’76, of Oconomowoc, Wisc.; Apr. 25, from complications of dementia. After spending seven summers working at a camp for kids with special needs, he finished his academics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught social studies for 33 years at Slinger High School and coached the academic decathlon team. He was honored with the State of Wisconsin Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award. 

John Hutton ’75, of Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Carthage, Mo.; May 20, 2024. After graduating, he pursued a career as a rose grower and earned respect within his field. 

Robert L. Martin Jr. ’73, of Dallas; May 13. After Brown, he pursued medicine at the University of Tennessee, followed by time in the U.S. Army as a senior assistant surgeon. Upon discharge, he operated a private practice out of Medical City Dallas Hospital until 2022. He received numerous accolades and awards.  

Charles Knapp ’71, of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Pittsburgh; Apr. 25. After backpacking through Europe, he began working with Westinghouse and was assigned to their power plant in Rio de Janeiro as a purchasing manager. He eventually left Westinghouse to join the family business back in Pittsburgh. The family business was providing raw materials to iron foundries, in the form of silicon carbide block, which led him to found his first company, Magnum Carbide. His companies would develop new foundry products and broaden the industry scope through import/export trade. He was a successful entrepreneur for more than 30 years and became a lifelong contributor in the iron and steel business. 

Ruth McBride ’70, of Olga, Wash.; Jan. 26, 2025, of lung cancer. She joined the research team at the University of Washington, and her work contributed to an improved understanding of many cardiovascular health issues and the development of lifesaving new protocols. Her work at UW turned into a career with Axio Research, where she was a respected leader. She retired in 2018.  

Roger LaFauci ’70, of North Andover, Mass.; Jul. 10. He had a long successful career with the Gillette Company, and he gave generously of his time, working with the Special Olympics and Toys for Tots. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. 

 Richard Funk ’70, of Newport, R.I.; May 18. He was a musician. He sang, played, and composed music. He was involved with the choral programs at his local churches, including St. John the Evangelist in Newport.  

Lisa K. Friedman ’69, of Washington, D.C.; Aug. 5. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School and, after working for the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue, she joined the staff of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she remained for the next 27 years. For more than 12 years she served as the associate general counsel for OGC’s solid waste and emergency response division. She was the first woman to become an associate general counsel. During her tenure, she was selected to head a new office within OGC and also served for a time as acting principal deputy general counsel. Later in her EPA career, she served as the associate general counsel for air and radiation. In recognition of her many contributions to EPA, she was awarded the presidential meritorious and distinguished rank awards. She also applied her legal skills in the community, serving on the editorial board of the Environmental Law Reporter, chairing an American Bar Association committee, and teaching environmental law at George Washington University Law School. She was a volunteer with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) and the Washington Metro Oasis, where she taught seniors how to connect to the internet and communicate through email. 

Glenn L. Tonnesen ’69, of Gilmanton, N.H., formerly of Virginia; Jun. 1. After graduating from University of Utah School of Medicine, he served as a Navy doctor. After the Navy, he  joined Radiation Oncology Associates at Fairfax Hospital, where he practiced for 32 years, 14 of which he served as chairman. During his lifetime he was a collector of many things, an inventor, and had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. 

Richard J. Driscoll Jr. ’68, of Bowie, Md.; Mar. 28. He was a lead propulsion engineer at NASA from 2008 to 2022. Previously he held positions at Bell Aerospace, Atlantic Research Corporation, Aerojet, and AMPAC. He rose to the rank of captain in the U.S. Air Force. He was the recipient of many accolades, including the 2011 Robert H Goddard Exceptional Achievement Engineering Team Award, the 2015 GSFC Thomas J. Budney Award for Engineering Integrity, and the 2022 NASA Exceptional Service Medal. 

W.S. Carson ’68, of Denver; Jun. 7. He graduated from George Washington University Law School and was a patent examiner in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. before moving to Denver, where he spent 50 years as a patent attorney. He retired in 2021.

Lawrence “Larry” G. Buc ’68, of Chevy Chase, Md.; May 16. After earning a master’s degree from George Washington University, he taught mathematics in the District of Columbia Public Schools for five years, where he also founded a chess club. Following his teaching career, he embarked on jobs with the U.S. Postal Service and then the Postal Rate Commission, followed by work on hazardous and solid waste at the Environmental Protection Agency. Moving to the private sector, he worked as a consultant in both postal and environmental matters. He worked at Sobotka & Company, Buc & Associates, ICF Incorporated, and Project Performance Company, after which he founded SLS Consulting. He also volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank and was a financial supporter. Survivors include his sister, Nancy L. Buc ’65.

Patrick F. Lynch ’67, of Sharon, Conn.; Apr. 21. After Brown, he served in the National Guard and then pursued a graduate degree at the Yale School of Drama. He went on to work in market research at Elizabeth Arden. 

John A. Meier ’66, of Deer Park, Ill.; Mar. 16. He earned an MBA from Stanford University and was a partner with Accenture for many years. He ran their Manila, Philippines office from 1989 to 1993, allowing him and his family to live abroad for four years. He also taught Bible studies and mentored youth in the Chicago area. 

Richard M. Alter ’66, of Miami; Jul. 17, of cardio-renal failure. He was president and CEO of Manekin, a real estate investment, management, and operating company. While at Brown, he excelled as a lacrosse goalie and was named All-American, All-Ivy, and All-New England and was named the outstanding lacrosse player of the year in 1966 by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Assoc. He served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from Maryland School of Law. Survivors include daughter Jamie Alter Deutsch ’91. 

Colette A. Coolbaugh, Esq. ’65, of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Feb. 18. After Brown she earned her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law and was employed as a staff attorney by the New Jersey Superior Courts. She was a tireless advocate for women’s equality and rights and was active in many local civic causes and was a member of several organizations. 

Pauline Althausen Wood ’64, of Mystic, Conn.; Feb. 18, of Alzheimer’s. She taught German and European history at Cranston East High School (R.I.) before moving to New York where she was the secretary for the Schenectady County Historical Society. She lived and volunteered in West Virginia and Glastonbury (Conn.) prior to settling in Mystic. She was also a trained classical pianist, and music remained a constant in her life. 

Joan Barry Wood ’63, of West Hartford, Conn.; Mar. 19. She worked at Connecticut General before working for professors at UConn’s law school. She was active in several clubs in West Hartford and the Junior League.

William Cruikshank Jr. ’63, of Poultney, Vt.; Apr. 24. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam from 1965-1966. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Killington, Vt. and worked at various jobs. He eventually settled in Burlington and owned rental properties in West Pawlet, Poultney, Stratton, and Whitehall, N.Y. Having taught himself to build houses, including plumbing, electric, and all other aspects of construction, he upgraded, remodeled, and eventually sold his properties. He was also involved with local theater groups. Unfortunately, he suffered 22 years with Agent Orange–induced lymphoma.  

Margery Goddard Whiteman ’62, of Albany, N.Y.; May 28, of cancer. She served as director of development of the Emma Willard School from 1979 to 1991 and director of advancement services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1991 to 2001. Throughout her career she worked as a consultant to progressive schools and arts organizations. For many years she was a member and president of the board of directors of Albany Pro Musica, subsequently earning her the honor of the Karen R. Hitchcock Award recipient. She was a founding board member of Capital Region Classical. She volunteered at a soup kitchen and recorded audio for people with vision impairment. Survivors include daughter Eliza Kinsey ’07 and son Stephen ’97.

William J. Tingue ’62, of Vero Beach, Fla.; May 8. After Brown, he was employed with his family’s business, Tingue, Brown & Co., a supplier to the industrial laundry industry. He was president in 1985 and became CEO in 1992. After retiring in 2007, he remained active on the company’s board of directors until 2021. He was recognized by several chapters of the National Association of Institutional Linen Management as Allied Tradesman of the Year. He also served on the board of directors for Textile Rental Services Association, receiving its lifetime achievement award in 2003, and was a founding board member of the American Reusable Textile Association. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  

Charles T. Newberry III ’62, of Harwich Port, Mass.; Jun. 8, after a brief illness. He was a pastor who served parishes across Cape Cod for four decades. After Brown, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1966. He served as minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Watsontown, Pa. from 1969 to 1973. He and his family moved to the Cape, where he served at First Congregational Church in Harwich and as  chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital. He was very involved in his community and worked actively to define the church as Open and Affirming. He was instrumental in the founding and leadership of Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless that included the Children’s Center, which his daughter continues to direct. 

Michael Naidoff ’62, of Philadelphia; Jun. 9. After completing his degree at Pennsylvania Medical School, a residency at Johns Hopkins University, and a cornea fellowship at UC San Francisco, he served in the Army. Upon discharge, he returned to Philadelphia and joined the staff at Jefferson and Wills Eye Hospital. He was an ophthalmologist for more than 35 years. 

Joel Cassel ’62, of Los Angeles; May 5. He earned his Juris Doctorate from NYU Law School, and a job that took him around the world followed. Survivors include daughter Jessica Bowen ’02.

James M. Bowen ’62, of New Braunfels, Tex., formerly of Ossining, N.Y.; Mar. 9, from complications of Parkinson’s. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and earned a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University following his military service. He practiced corporate and real estate law at MONY, TIAA-CREF, and Title Associates. He retired in 2013. 

Walter Asp ’62, of Dublin, Ohio, formerly of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Jun. 12. He had a decades-long career with General Electric that allowed him to live in New York, Tennessee, and Indiana before settling in Ohio. 

John E. “Cook” Andes ’62, of Willow, Pa., formerly of Largo, Fla.; Jun. 3, of cancer. After graduating, he went to New York and began a successful career in advertising and marketing communications. He worked with numerous agencies in various cities before settling in Florida, where he started his own agency with his former wife. He had a passion for writing and authored 17 books. He coached Little League football, a commitment he began in New York and continued in Florida until retiring in 2019. He also contributed his time to SCORE, mentoring small business owners. He returned to Pennsylvania in 2022. 

Richard R. Wandmacher ’61, of Shelby Township, Mich.; Mar. 28. He had a long successful career at General Motors Technical Center and retired as a chairman from ISO 9000, which is a series of international standards for quality management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

Robert I. Finkel ’61, of Ottawa Hills, Ohio; May 26. He completed his internship/residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center and a fellowship in arthritis and connective tissue disease at Northwestern University Medical Center. He was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve Medical Corps and served as a medical officer at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., before joining Toledo Clinic Rheumatology in 1973. During his tenure, he served a term as president of the Toledo Clinic and remained there until his retirement in 2005. As a fellow of the Lucas County Academy of Medicine and board member of the Toledo Society of Rheumatology, he also served as a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Internal Medicine in Rheumatology. Additionally, he taught at the Medical College of Ohio and was a clinical assistant professor of medicine. In 1974, he was awarded the Golden Apple by the students of the medical college as outstanding clinician teacher of the year. He wrote scientific papers and presented nationally on the subjects of rheumatology and immunology. He was active in his community and served as historian for American Legion Post 335 in Toledo. 

Nancy Mitchell Cassel ’61, of Orford, N.H.; Jun. 2. Once her family began, she was a stay-at-home mother and volunteered at her children’s schools, with the military because of her husband’s military career, and at embassy libraries. Later she worked as a technical librarian at the Sugar Assoc. and as an indexer/abstractor/editor at the American Psychological Assoc., both in Washington, D.C. The Cassels retired to Orford in 2000 and she volunteered and worked part-time at the Orford Social Library. Survivors include her husband Carl ’61. 

Carl P. Swenson ’60, of Raleigh, N.C.; Jun. 11. 

Robert E. Stetson ’60, of Littleton, Mass.; Mar. 31. After attending Andover Newton Theological Seminary, he was ordained an American Baptist minister. In addition to the many communities he served, he was active with the Council on Aging. 

William Rouslin ’60, of North Saanich, B.C.; May 22 in a manner of his choosing after suffering from a form of leukemia. After Brown, he went on to earn a PhD from UConn and completed his NIH postdoctoral studies at Cornell University. He taught at Rutgers before being recruited to Rice University and later joined the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. He retired to Canada and became a Canadian citizen in 2009. 

Everett C. Mayo III ’60, of Yucaipa, Calif.; Apr. 16. After Brown, he went on to earn a master’s in theology from Union Theological Seminary, followed by a PhD from the University of Chicago. For 37 years he taught English at California State University, San Bernardino. He published essays and articles on a wide range of American writers and his book, The Gospel from Outer Space (or Yes, We Have No Nirvanas), blended literary insight with spiritual wit. He was also a nationally recognized chess player. 

William Brisk ’60, of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; May 13. After earning a JD from NYU Law School and a master’s and PhD in Latin American politics from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, he and his wife traveled and taught in Puerto Rico, across Latin America, in New Mexico, and in Washington, D.C. before moving to Massachusetts. He went on to serve as a litigator in two Boston firms, then opened his own practice in Newton, Mass. As a member of the Massachusetts Law Review, he edited an article on Medicaid planning, which led to his coauthoring Massachusetts Elder Law. He published numerous articles on elder law and became a lecturer on elder law at Boston College and was an adjunct professor at Suffolk Law School, where he created a course on end-of-life care. 

Donald Anderle ’60, of Long Beach, Calif.; Mar. 16. After Brown, he went on to serve in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of his military service, he became a stockbroker and eventually  gave in to his entrepreneurial spirit and became involved with real estate and franchising, including investments in office buildings and Culligan water franchises. He was a self-taught sailor who raced competitively, including in the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii and in the Ensenada Regatta to Mexico. 

Lester S. Hyman ’52, of Washington, D.C.; May 9. As a reporter for the BDH, Hyman traveled to Washington, D.C., to cover a ceremony in the Oval Office in which President Harry Truman signed a proclamation declaring the North Atlantic Treaty in effect, according to Hyman’s obituary. After earning his law degree from Columbia University School of Law and honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Hyman began his legal career as an attorney in the Corporate Finance Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He then moved to Massachusetts, where he was active in Democratic politics. He served as chief assistant to Governor Endicott Peabody, secretary of commerce and development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in the late 1960s. When his term as chairman was completed in 1969, he relocated to Washington, D.C., joining the law firm Leva, Hawes, Symington, Martin and Oppenheimer. He later cofounded the law firm Swidler Berlin. He helped launch the non-partisan Center for National Policy, monitoring elections in Haiti. He served on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Commission and vetted candidates for key cabinet posts in the Clinton administration. He had a deep affinity for the British Virgin Islands and built a home on Tortola in 1987. For more than three decades, he championed the territory’s interests in Washington, D.C. He was a committed board member of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the National Parks Trust in the BVI.  

Carol Canner Gjelsvik ’59, of Providence, R.I.; Sept. 25, 2024, of a stroke. After graduating and marrying, she and her husband spent several years living in Norway before returning to the United States, eventually settling in Wickford, R.I. She then obtained her master’s degree in social work and dedicated her career to advocating for children and immigrant families. Her work with Head Start of Rockland County, N.Y. led to the development of multiple programs that enriched the lives of families. In retirement she was a supporter of environmental conservation. Ever committed to education and the environment, she donated her body to Brown’s medical school. Survivors include her daughter, an associate professor at Brown, Annie Gjelsvik ’93, ’03 PhD, and a son-in-law, Karlo Berger ’86.

William W. Murck ’58, of Gaithersburg, Md.; May 11. He was an attorney who specialized in export trading and general business law and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. 

Edward R. Eastman Jr. ’58, of Marshfield, Mass.; Apr. 11. An entrepreneur, he founded and built a company supplying doors and hardware for commercial construction projects. He eventually sold the company and enjoyed retirement by the sea. 

Alfred M. Chapman ’58, of Harleysville, Pa.; Jun. 14. After a stellar swimming career at Brown that included being captain, breaking several school records, becoming an All-American and being inducted into the Brown Sports Hall of Fame, he taught Latin and Greek at the Lawrenceville School, where he also served as a faculty advisor and coach. He later was chairman of the classical languages department at the Maumee Country Day School (Ohio). He played semi-professional soccer, wrote several published articles, and was the recipient of an honorary Master of Arts in classical studies from the University of Michigan.  

William F. Barry ’58, of San Diego; Jun. 26. Upon graduation from Brown, where he played tennis and was president of Delta Tau Delta and class secretary, he joined the Navy, which brought him to naval intelligence school at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. Following a life-altering spinal injury while stationed in Oahu, he retired as a full lieutenant and returned to San Diego, accepting a position with the Department of Defense as a computer programmer. He played the banjo and sang with the San Diego Banjo Band.

K. Richard Kaufman ’57, of Fullerton, Calif.; Apr. 15. He had a 50-year career with Credit Managers Association of Southern California and was instrumental in uniting the company with its Northern California counterpart to form CMA of California. He retired in 2013 but continued to consult for CMA and other associations. 

David M. Kaplan ’57, of Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Boston; May 27. He began his career at the family business, Kaplan Furniture, and later cofounded Kaplan & Fox in Boston, extending the family tradition in the furniture industry. He served on numerous furniture industry boards and the Boston Children’s Hospital board. 

Phillips V. Dean Jr. ’57, of Stuart, Fla.; May 4. In 1969, with his former wife, Nancy Riester ’59, ’63 MAT, he purchased a sailboat and sailed the Caribbean while working as a contributing editor and technical editor for Motor Boating & Sailing magazine. He also covered the 1974 America’s Cup Race. Later, he worked at Alcoa in Pittsburgh and then with Brown and Sharpe in Providence before moving to Stuart and working in real estate, primarily with ReMax. Survivors include his brother Britten ’57. 

Sarah E. Williams ’56, ’74 PhD, of Oak Bluffs, Mass.; May 9. She taught history in Brookline before retiring to Oak Bluffs.

William B. San Soucie ’56, of Lynchburg, Va.; Jun. 12. He retired from Scott Insurance after a long and successful career. 

Kelam S. Derderian ’56, of Belmont, Mass.; May 7. After earning his Juris Doctorate at Suffolk University in 1968, he worked as an attorney at Boston City Hospital before moving to Boston City Hall, working for the City of Boston for 31 years. He retired in 1996. He served in the U.S. Air Force and then became a reservist, finally retiring in 1980 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Nancy Chase Cowles ’55, of Bethel, Conn.; Feb. 13, of pericarditis. Her passion for music earned her a place in the Juilliard School’s pre-college division. Though she set aside her formal piano studies upon entering Pembroke College, music would forever remain central to her identity. For many years she taught elementary students in Bethany, Conn., and worked with at-risk teenagers from underserved communities. She remained involved with the Danbury Concert Society.

Myles Striar ’54, of Boston; Apr. 16. He taught English in the Boston public school system from 1963 to 1988 and concluded his career teaching English-teachers-to-be at the BU School of Education until 2000. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a strong advocate for peace, fairness, and equality. Survivors include daughters Johanna Striar ’89 and Maria Striar ’91. 

Robert H. Hawley ’54, of Swansea, Mass.; Jun. 9. He was president of Robert H. Hawley Engineering Corp. and a senior research engineer at Brown until his retirement. He was a former water commissioner and volunteer fireman, and had served on several town boards and committees. 

Warren B. Galkin ’51, of Greenville, R.I.; May 2. The Pan Am logo bag was a hot trend in the ’60s—especially after the Beatles were pictured holding the bags in 1964. Thanks to Warren Galkin, Rhode Island manufacturing was in on it. Galkin, tapping his Brown physics degree, designed and built a machine that combined the cutting and screen-printing of the Pan Am logo into one automated process. “Two machine operators, who replaced 12 skilled staff members, produced the goods at four times the previous speed,” according to Notes, a publication of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Society. This and other innovations allowed Natco, the company Galkin’s dad founded in 1917, to compete with companies in other states and countries, despite Rhode Island’s higher labor costs. Prior to Natco, Galkin earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and spent three years in the Navy as an engineering officer, followed by 19 years in the Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant commander. After the service, he joined Natco and operated it with his brother Bob ’49, who predeceased him, for more than 70 years. Warren was a benefactor of the Boys and Girls Club of Warwick and was the first inductee in its Hall of Fame. He established physics and brain science fellowships at Brown, including the Galkin Foundation Fellowship. He funded a scholarship in the Spanish department at Community Preparatory School, was a major supporter of the John F. Kennedy Museum, and received the Common Cause Distinguished Service Award. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, was the recipient of the Middendorf Pillar of Freedom Award from the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the New England Institute of Technology.   

George M. Gregory ’54, of Topsham, Me.; formerly of Barrington, R.I.; Apr. 27. He served in the Army from 1954 to 1956, then began his career at his family business, Goodwin & Gregory silversmiths. He later worked for Reed & Barton silversmiths for 30 years as a sales executive, traveling the world until he retired at the age of 58. Later, he bought a fishing camp called Trout Run on Kennebago Lake in Maine and served as president of the Kennebago Lake Association.

Charles S. Genovese ’54, of Marietta, Ga., formerly of Kent, Conn.; Apr. 28. He was a member of the English faculty at Millbrook School (N.Y.) from 1958 to 1961 before accepting a teaching position at Kent School. In addition to teaching at Kent, he served in various sports roles and was a faculty advisor. He was active with the Marietta YMCA, where he worked out every weekday morning, serving as a founding member and head librarian for the YMCA’s book lending group. Survivors include his son David ’86. 

Edward J. Gauthier ’54, of North Providence, R.I.; Jun. 16, after suffering a stroke in 2018. After Brown he graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and operated a private medicine practice from 1971 to 2005. He was later involved with a primary nursing home practice until 2018. Phi Beta Kappa. Survivors include his son Edward ’81 and sister Amy Mullervy ’67. 

Charles E. Knox ’53, of Oceanside, Calif.; May 11. He was a chemical engineer specializing in chemical composites, for which he held a few patents, and a college professor. He participated in a local community college’s old-time radio show class as a performer and foley artist. 

Charles Gnassi ’53, of Loch Arbour, N.J.; May 20. He was a graduate of The Hun School in Princeton and the University of Vermont Medical School and completed his residency at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He practiced psychiatry for the State of New Jersey and had private practices first in Brooklyn and then in East Brunswick. Survivors include son John ’84.

Mary Miller Shenfield Marik ’52, of Seattle; Sept. 19, 2024. She worked in advertising in New York City before settling in Seattle to raise a family. She was active in the Seattle community and was a contract bridge league Silver Life Master. 

Barry Robbins ’50, of Needham, Mass., and Providence, R.I.; Jun. 16. He was the founder and CEO of Robbins Manufacturing Co. in Fall River, Mass., and served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Southcoast Health System, which included Charlton Health System. 

Lenny Loparto ’50, of South Orleans, Mass.; Mar. 6. In addition to operating a commercial fishing business on Cape Cod, he commuted to Boston and worked as a state archaeologist. 

John “Jack” B. Leeming ’50, of Sarasota, Fla.; May 3. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he had a career at Time Life that took him to various places before settling in Sarasota. He was a varsity swimmer while at Brown and continued his athletic pursuits playing hockey into his 70s and learning to ski at age 50, while regularly visiting the gym into his early 90s. Survivors include sons John III ’81 and Charles ’86, and grandchild Hunter Leeming ’15.

Joseph Champ ’50, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Jun. 16, after a brief illness. He worked for Eaton Corporation in Cleveland before starting his own electrical distribution company, Champ & Associates. He also served on the board of International Management Group’s sponsored professional golf events that included Greg Norman’s Shark Shootout and the TransAmerica Senior Golf Championship and was an active member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. He had a strong interest in issues impacting the United States military.

Richard B. Edgar ’47, of Redmond, Wash.; Jan. 11, 2024. He had served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 39 years and retired from an aerospace career after 30 years. Survivors include his son Tom ’87.

Lucile Burton Foster ’46, of Warwick, R.I.; May 11, at the age of 100. She taught earth science at the Lincoln School and later at Cranston West High School. For more than 50 years she guided the Meshanticut Junior Garden Club. As a 20-year member of the Ikebana/Sogetsu Society of Boston, she taught the Japanese art of decorating with flowers and shells for various organizations. 

Alison Field, of Newton Center, Mass.; Oct. 10, 2024, from brain cancer. She was an internationally recognized epidemiologist specializing in childhood eating disorders. In 1996, while completing her post-doctoral fellowship at the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she launched the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS), a long-term study of eating disorders and obesity prevention and treatment. She joined Harvard Medical School’s faculty in 1997 as a professor of epidemiology and pediatrics and had appointments at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2015, she joined the Brown faculty, where she served as chair of the epidemiology department, director of the Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health, and associate dean for faculty affairs at the Brown University School of Public Health. In 2024, the Obesity Society honored her many professional accomplishments by naming an award in her name: the Alison Field Early-Career Award for Excellence in Research in Pediatric Obesity and she was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders. Her initial cancer diagnosis in her early 30s propelled her into marathon training and she ultimately completed 10 races in five states over 15 years, including five Boston marathons, raising funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

Robert P. Davis, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 14, 2024, of renal failure brought on by pneumonia. In 1952, while chief resident in internal medicine at Brigham Hospital, he was elected to the Society of Fellows at Harvard and conducted pioneering research. He later taught medicine at the University of North Carolina and at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N.Y.). He took a sabbatical from 1965 to 1966 to be a visiting scientist at the Institute for Biological Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and in 1967, he joined the faculty at Brown as both professor and physician-in-chief of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, a post he held until 1974. During his tenure, he was instrumental in building the Miriam’s profile as a research institution and its connection to the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown. He was a driving force behind the construction of a building dedicated entirely to laboratory research and led the team that performed the first kidney transplant conducted in the state of Rhode Island. He continued to teach at Brown and helped establish a program in biomedical ethics. From 1974 to 1979, he served as director of renal and metabolic diseases at Miriam, during which time he worked to integrate regional and state organ banks and further promote organ transplantation in Rhode Island. He spent the last three decades of his life pursuing interests he had maintained since childhood, which included founding a rare bookstore, Gadshill, devoted to 19th- and 20th-century British and American literature, culture, and science. He later exhibited his collection and lectured on Dickens at the Grolier Club in New York and the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston. For more than 20 years he attended the annual Dickens conference at UC Santa Cruz. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. Survivors include his daughter Elizabeth A. Davis ’90 and son John R. Davis ’79. 

Leonard W. Loparto ’85 AM, of South Orleans, Mass.; Mar. 6. He operated a commercial fishing business while also working as a state archeologist.  

Marcia Rubinstein Lieberman ’85 AM, of Providence, R.I.; Apr. 21, following a brief illness. She taught English for many years at the University of Connecticut before moving to Providence. She traveled extensively with her husband and subsequently published several articles and travel books based on her experiences, some appearing in the New York Times. Her books and articles featured photographs taken by her husband. For many years she was a coordinator of Amnesty International’s Providence group and devoted many volunteer hours to improving educational opportunities for women and girls in Nepal. 

Rhoda Leven Flaxman ’82 PhD, of Charlotte, N.C.; Mar. 10. She taught English literature at Wheaton College and Brown. While at Brown, she ran the Writing Fellows Program. A talented soprano singer, she sang for more than 40 years with the Providence Singers. She served as chair of the board of trustees at the Wheeler School for seven years. She also served on the boards of Trinity Repertory Theater and Second Story Theater. Survivors include her husband, Dr. B. Allen Flaxman ’58, and grandson Benjamin M. Martel ’19.

David L. Green ’77 AM, ’82 PhD, of Fairfield, Conn.; Feb. 10, of cancer. After managing the New York office for the British American Arts Association in 1984, he worked with the New York Foundation for the Arts, eventually becoming director of communications. He also published the monthly British Arts Calendar, a guide to British arts and cultural events in the New York area, from 1985 to 1992. In 1996, he was appointed founding executive director of the National Initiative for a Networked Cultural Heritage. From 2003 to 2013, he ran consultancy Knowledge Culture and served on the board of directors of the Visual Resources Association Foundation. He authored several books related to the arts and in May 2023, he was awarded the Hero Award from the Norwalk Arts Space, presented to him as a “tireless supporter of the arts.” 

Richard D. Piper ’76 AM, of New York City; Mar. 3. During the course of his career, he held several different positions that included administrator for the American Scandinavian Foundation and office manager and assistant to the president of Anne Taylor. 

John R. Johnson ’73 PhD, of Calverton, N.Y.; Feb. 22. He worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory for 42 years conducting research in materials science, nickel and metal hydride, and lithium-ion batteries. He contributed to many scientific patents. 

Thomas A. Kennedy ’72 PhD, of Ft. Washington, Md.; Feb. 6. He worked as a research physicist for the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for 34 years. He published numerous articles in major physics journals and coauthored articles in Science and Nature.

John H. Stasik ’69 MAT, of Framingham, Mass.; Mar. 11. He was a science teacher at Weston Middle and High schools from 1969 to 2004. He was active in local politics and community organizations.

Jill R. Grickis ’69 MAT, of Woodbury, Conn.; Mar. 5, after a brief illness. She taught French for a short time in Warwick, R.I., before moving to Connecticut to work in customer service, retiring in 1998. 

Bernard V. O’Neill Jr. ’65 PhD, of Overland Park, Kans.; Mar. 19, of cancer. He taught mathematics at New York and Duke universities before pursuing a law degree at the University of Kansas. He worked as an attorney at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City from 1976 until retirement, after which he volunteered his time teaching classes at Conception Abbey. Survivors include daughter Marie S. O’Neill ’90.

Ronald J. Sommer ’63 AM, of Dunedin, Fla.; Feb. 7. He taught English literature at Valparaiso University until his retirement in 1994. He was involved in theater productions with Gorilla, Stageworks, and USF Theatre II. 

Harry T. Groat ’62 PhD, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Feb. 22. Upon graduation from Bowling Green State University, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Once discharged, he returned to BGSU and earned his master’s degree followed by a PhD from Brown. He returned to BGSU as a faculty member in the sociology department, from which he retired in 1984. He coauthored a textbook on world population and he received the BGSU’s faculty research award and president’s special achievement award. 

Ting-wei Tang ’61 ScM, ’64 PhD, of Gainesville, Va.; Apr. 5. He was professor emeritus of electrical engineering at UMass Amherst. Previously, he was an assistant professor at UConn for four years. He published more than 120 articles. In the 1980s he served as director of the minority engineering program and was the recipient of the outstanding senior faculty award in 1989 and the outstanding teaching award from the College of Engineering in 1991. In 2000, UMass Amherst awarded him the chancellor’s medal. He and his wife, Shirley, who predeceased him, endowed the Shirley and Ting-wei Tang endowment lecture series at UMass Amherst. Survivors include daughter Patricia J. Tang ’93 and son Steven J. Tang ’89.

William L. Patterson Jr. ’61 PhD, of Williamstown, Mass.; Feb. 15. After receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and serving in the military, he worked doing chemical research at American Cyanamid in Stamford, Conn. He then earned his PhD at Brown, moved to Williamstown and worked in research at Sprague Electric until 1971. From 1971 to 1977 he owned and operated Chimney Mirror Motel. He then became a process engineer at Analog Devices, living in Andover. He retired to Williamstown. 

Carole L. Gray ’65 MAT, of Punta Gorda, Fla., formerly of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 14. She taught math at Warwick Veterans High School (R.I.) for 35 years. She also earned a law degree from Suffolk University and was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1981.

Myron G. Anderson ’59 PhD, of St. Cloud, Minn., formerly of Hartford, Conn.; Feb. 10. He was a professor of philosophy at Trinity College before moving and accepting a position in the philosophy department at St. Cloud State University. He retired after 60 years at SCSU.  

Roger L. Emerson ’58 AM, of London, Ontario; Feb. 28. He taught social science and humanities for a year at the University of Minnesota and for two years taught in the humanities program at MIT before joining the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, where he remained in the history department for the rest of his teaching career, becoming professor in 1983. He was the author of more than 60 articles and seven books. He sat on the editorial board of Hume Studies from 1984 to 1994 and was a longtime member of the Eighteenth-Century Scottish Studies Society, becoming its second president in 1984. He was the 2008 recipient of the ECSSS lifetime achievement award. 

 Federico J. Barrera ’28, of Madison, Conn.; Mar. 8. At the time of his passing he was studying math and engineering. In 2023, he was recognized for his academic excellence and dedication to learning, earning the Seal of Biliteracy in both Spanish and French. He also received the Madison Board of Education Senior Scholar Recognition Award, the English Reading Award for Journalism, the Scholastic Writing Award, and distinctions in mathematics, physics, and world languages. He participated in chess, debate and math team, and fencing, and played instruments including the quena, piano, cello, and guitar.

Toyin A. Mustapha ’13, of Hanover Park, Ill.; Jan. 30. She is survived by her mother, two sisters, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Tracey M. Wilson ’93 PhD, of West Hartford, Conn.; Feb. 24, from melanoma. She taught history for 36 years at Conard High School in West Hartford. She created a local history and African American history class that is still offered today. During her tenure, she initiated both the middle school Gay Straight Alliance and an LGBTQ+ Teacher Alliance and she led human rights exchange trips to South Africa. In addition to her work in the school, she collaborated with students outside the classroom creating Empty Bowls, a program to address hunger, and she spent summers at St. Johnsbury Academy teaching AP history teachers. In 2004, she was named West Hartford’s town historian and wrote a monthly column on local history for 15 years for West Hartford Life. Her columns were compiled into a book, Life in West Hartford, that was published in 2018. After retiring, she turned to researching and teaching about the legacy of slavery in West Hartford. Her research and work led to significant changes in the West Hartford landscape that included adding the name of an enslaved man, Prut, to the West Hartford Veterans War Memorial, renaming Dinah Road in honor of a mother and daughter, both named Dinah, who were enslaved in West Hartford in the 1700s, establishing the Blue Back Civil Rights Mural, and placing witness stones for more than 60 enslaved residents in the Town Center cemetery. She was instrumental in working with the West Hartford African American Social & Cultural Organization in naming Bristow Middle School for Bristow, an enslaved resident who bought his freedom from enslaver Thomas Hooker. In 2023, she was the recipient of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Noah Webster Award. She was also active at the Universalist Church of West Hartford, serving as a member of its governing board and as moderator. She and her wife, Beth Bye, who survives her, are proud to be known as the first gay couple to have been married in West Hartford.  

John I. Rector ’71, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Mar. 6. He was co-owner of Leo’s restaurant, a favorite haunt of many Brunonians. After working at the Grad Center Bar and eventually becoming its manager, it was only natural that John, along with a friend, would start his own place in downtown Providence. Leo’s opened in 1974, serving as a peaceful place for a diverse community. John welcomed eccentrics. He and his partner salvaged and restored an old mahogany bar from McGovern’s on Smith Hill, and commissioned artists to make tiles for the tables. Dan Gosch’s giant mural “What’ll It Be,” which depicted a bar-load of people, from elderly twin sisters eating hotdogs to the founder of Textron, came to represent the melting pot that was Leo’s. In the two decades it operated, it was closed only two days a year—Christmas Day and Labor Day.  In addition to being a restaurateur, John also served as vice president of development for Save the Bay, raising over a million dollars in donations. A birthday celebration of his life, with live music and an AV show, was held at the Met in Providence on May 17.  

Esmond V. Harmsworth ’90, of London, England, formerly of Boston and Newport, R.I.; Apr. 13. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he was a founding partner of the former Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency, which merged with Kuhn Projects in 2016 to form Aevitas Creative, of which he was president. Each year he sponsored the Esmond Harmsworth lecture at Oxford University’s Rothermere American Institute. He was an active philanthropist and supported numerous causes pertaining to literary arts, free expression, fine arts, and LGBTQ rights. He was a benefactor of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Equity Without Borders, and GrubStreet to “ensure writers of all backgrounds have what they need to develop their voices and share their stories.” 

Jonathan M. Strain ’84, of New York City; Feb. 11, after being struck by a car. He had an extensive career in commercial real estate for more than 40 years. He worked with Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, became a partner at Juniper Capital, and, most recently, at Sail Harbor Capital. While at Brown, he was a member of the lacrosse team and continued to coach boys’ lacrosse in Montclair, N.J. He enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, and skiing.

Leonard Boudreau ’83, of Clearwater, Fla., formerly of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 5, of lung cancer. He had a career at Suncoast Hospice working in the health information department. An accomplished musician, he was a longtime member of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra.

 Brenda J. Balon ’83, of South Burlington, Vt., formerly of Needham, Mass.; Mar. 5. After earning an MBA from Simmons College, she worked for many years as a program manager for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She was active in the South Burlington community and is survived by her husband Douglas Smith ’86.

Laura Mann LeBlond ’78, of Princeton, N.J.; Mar. 11. After graduation she worked as a project engineer for Westinghouse in Bloomington, Ind. During the 1980s she worked in Singapore. She later earned an MBA from the University of Indiana and went on to develop and write books for the PC market with her former husband that included PC Magazine Guide to Using Quattro Pro.  

David C. Schmittlein ’77, of Waban, Mass.; Mar. 13, of cancer. He was the longest serving dean of MIT’s Sloan School of Management at the time of his passing. Previously, he was a professor of marketing and deputy dean at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for 27 years. During his tenure at MIT, he was instrumental in expanding the school’s international reach, with initiatives that included opening an MIT Sloan Latin America office in Santiago, Chile, in 2013, and partnering with the Asia School of Business in Malaysia in 2015.

Meredith Miller Post ’75, of Norwalk, Conn.; Sept. 17, 2024. She had a 20-year career writing for daytime television as a writer for As the World Turns and Days of Our Lives. She additionally produced plays. She was a member of the Dramatist Guild, Writers Guild of America, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and a recipient of  the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Writers Guild of America Annual Award.

Philip E. McMorrow ’75, of Calabasas, Calif., formerly of Westwood, Mass.; Apr. 5, 2024. While at Brown, he was featured in Sports Illustrated as a junior helping lead the Bears to the Ivy League Rugby Championship. After receiving his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, he joined Morgan Stanley and was a successful broker and investment manager. He also was a model and television and movie actor.

Richard Halpern ’75, of Franklin, Mass.; Mar. 9, of a traumatic brain injury after a fall. He had a nearly 45-year career in marketing, communications, and business research for a range of technology and science firms. He was a member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network and the Association of Independent Information Professionals. He is survived by his brother Samuel “Skip” ’72.  

James  Zisson ’74, of Palm Beach, Fla.; Feb. 15. Survivors include sons Ethan ’13 and Alec ’16.

Donald W. McLane ’73, of Twisp, Wash.; Feb. 16. While at Brown, he played hockey and lacrosse. His professional life consisted of varied positions—including being a teacher, a logger, and a contractor—before he followed his passion into theater as a fixture in the Methow Valley (Wash.) theater scene. He was an actor, director, and maker of documentaries. He worked on Everybody’s All-American. In 1993 he was awarded the Artist Trust Fellowship in Media for his documentary work with the Colville Indian Reservation. He volunteered at the Paschal Sherman Indian School and served on the Methow Valley Community Accountability Board.

Carole St. Pierre-Engels ’72, ’76 MD, of Presque Isle, Me.; Feb. 17. Following her internship, she went on active duty in the commissioned officer corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, assigned to be the physician for the Washburn Maine Medical Center. After completing her service, she worked at the Cary Memorial Hospital emergency room, where she advanced to become the medical director of the emergency department. In addition to her medical practice, she was named the medical director of Region 5 Aroostook County of the State of Maine Emergency Medical Services. She served as both president and secretary of the Aroostook County Medical Society. She also served for several years as president of the Aroostook Emergency Medical Services Council.

Dominic “Paul” DiMaggio ’72, of Atkinson, N.H.; Feb. 15. After earning an MBA from Boston University, he joined his father’s company, Delaware Valley Corp., and successfully led it as CEO until his passing. He was an active member of his community and had planned to retire to Maine. 

Walter H. Kunnen ’71, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Warren, Pa.; Nov. 6, of pancreatic cancer. After Brown he attended Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed a surgical residency at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by an orthopedic residency at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester. In 1979, he completed a radiology residency and fellowship. Settling in Warren in 1981, he practiced radiology at Warren Radiology for 34 years. He retired to Florida in 2018.

 Stephen D. Bither ’70, of Portland, Me.; Mar. 25, after a brief illness. He graduated from the University of Maine Law School and operated the law office of Stephen D. Bither. He volunteered with numerous organizations and for more than 50 years was pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and business manager of the Wicked Good Band, which appeared on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, and PBS. 

Jay A. Fluck III ’65, of Warren, R.I.; Mar. 30. Fluck was named to the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame for his rugby leadership and success as coach. He played, coached, or managed Brown rugby until 2022. In 1968 he founded the Ivy League Rugby Tournament and in 1969 he cofounded the Providence Rugby Club. During his 29-year coaching career, he won eight Ivy League tournament titles and qualified for nationals in 1996. In 2009, he became director of Brown’s rugby program, overseeing fundraising and administration, a position he held until his death. In 2015 the Linton A. “Jay” Fluck Head Coaching Chair for Men’s Rugby was created and endowed with support from anonymous donors. He was a commercial real estate broker and an executive vice president and partner with CBRE in Providence. He was awarded the 1994 Lear Award by the Greater Providence Board of Realtors and in 2001 was recognized as Realtor of the Year. An all around athlete, during winters he volunteered with the ski patrol at Mt. Snow in Vermont. Jay suffered a stroke in 2022 and also had Parkinson’s.  

John Peck ’64, of Providence, R.I.; Mar. 15,  of a sudden illness. Many Brunonians know him for his iconic Providence poster: “Providence, Rhode Island, where it rains two days out of three except during the rainy season when it snows like a bitch.” At Brown, he was a well-known disc jockey by the name of “Dr. Oldie” on WBRU. Shortly thereafter, he cohosted “The Giant Jukebox” radio show until it ended in 1983. After graduating he went underground, forming a publishing collective known as Mad Peck Studios, whose cartoons, rock posters, humorous advertisements, and reviews were anthologized in 1987 by Doubleday & Company. His comic-strip music critiques appeared in Fusion, Creem, Rolling Stone and other music publications, and in The Village Voice. He had designed a T-shirt for the J. Geils Band that became the group’s logo. He made concert posters for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and, most notably, for the final concert in the U.S. by the British group Cream, in Providence in November 1968. During  the 1970s he had a weekly comic strip syndicated to underground newspapers and in 1971 he illustrated Comix: A History of Comic Books in America. 

Robert Hopkins Jr. ’69, of Scranton, Pa.; Mar. 16, from Alzheimer’s disease. He was a vice president of CB Richard Ellis in Boston. He retired in 2017. Survivors include daughters Rebecca Hopkins Smith ’98 and Emily Hopkins ’07; brother Mark ’73; and his former wife, Linda Bacon Hopkins ’69.  

Kathryn A. Shibley ’67, of Springfield, Va.; Jan. 4, of an infection. After earning a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, she had a career as a psychiatric social worker for Arlington County. She enjoyed singing as a member of the Paul Hill Chorale. She volunteered and enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and reading the New Yorker. Survivors include son Stephen Francis ’02.   

Richard J. Meiners ’67, of Cape Coral, Fla., formerly of Portland, Me.; Mar. 19. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years following graduation. He then married and moved to Portland, where he started Pinetree Garden Seeds as a one-page mail order catalog (it’s now 132 pages). He ran the business for more than 30 years and it is now being operated by his stepdaughter.

Robert W. Luken ’67, of Highland, Ill.; Mar. 29. After earning a master’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago, he worked for his father before starting his own company in 1970, Luken Investments. He retired in 2023. He enjoyed traveling and collected artifacts from the South Pacific, of which he donated a significant number to Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Survivors include his brother Ralph ’62.

Colette A. Coolbaugh ’65, of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Feb. 18. She earned her JD from Rutgers School of Law and was employed as staff attorney for the New Jersey superior courts. She was an advocate for women’s rights and engaged in local civic causes. She was a member of several township societies and clubs. 

Price Chenault ’65, of Aberdeen, Wash.; Nov. 3, 2024. He attended Albany Medical School, did a residency in orthopedic surgery at Vanderbilt, and was an attending physician on submarines for the U.S. Navy. Following his service, he practiced orthopedic surgery briefly in Fall River and Cape Cod before joining a private practice group in Aberdeen, where he was a well respected practitioner for 30 years. He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. Survivors include brother David ’70. 

Ronald B. Strasberg ’64, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Elmhurst, N.Y.; Feb. 2, after suffering 13 years with Alzheimer’s. He had a successful career as a pilot with Eastern Airlines and ended his career with U.S. Air. He enjoyed playing tennis and won multiple tennis championships during the 1970s and 1980s, becoming a top-five tennis player on the East Coast.

Thomas P. Johnson ’64, of Framingham, Mass.; Feb. 5. He worked in computer technology. 

Gail B. Steinberg Hasson ’63, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Dec. 29. She was a computer programmer and software engineer for General Instruments and Grumman. She was an officer of East Cooper Women’s Club. 

William “Bill” Feinberg ’63, ’66 AM, ’73 PhD, of Cincinnati; Mar. 9, of leukemia. He was a professor in the department of sociology at the University of Cincinnati from 1967 to 2001. After retiring from the university, he devoted himself to sculpting. He worked with wood, metal, clay, and stone. Survivors include his wife, Karen Lauter Feinberg ’61, ’66 AM.

Helen Schmidt Haunstrup ’62, of Provincetown, Mass.; Jan. 29, after suffering 10 years with Alzheimer’s. After graduating, she spent time in Europe and upon return to the U.S., she married and began teaching in New York City. She and her husband bought a boat and sailed through the Caribbean searching for treasures that they brought back to sell in an antique shop they opened. When the shop failed, they turned it into a restaurant. After her husband’s passing in 2019, she continued to work in the restaurant until Covid. 

John H. Auld ’62, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., formerly of Vermont; Mar. 14. He worked in commercial real estate both in Vermont and Florida. Before working in real estate, he was an English professor, a drug and alcohol program administrator, and worked for Congressman James M. Jeffords. Always an athlete, he played on Brown’s soccer and lacrosse teams and continued later as a coach and then referee. He was a member of  the National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association, the United States Soccer Federation, St. Lucie Association of Realtors, and the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, and he earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. Survivors include his wife, Susan Daniels Auld ’62.    

Carolyn Malkowski Rusiackas ’61, of Darien, Conn.; Feb. 10. She taught in the Winchester elementary schools before moving to Darien, where she was a real estate agent and volunteer at the local library. In 1991, she changed career paths and joined the campus ministry at Fairfield University. For more than 20 years she served in this role, guiding Eucharistic ministers and lectors in their service at campus masses. She retired from full-time ministry in the mid-2010s.

James A. Moreland ’61, of Winter Park, Fla.; Feb. 10. After earning his JD from University of Chicago Law School and his LLM from Boston University, he moved to Florida and began practicing law in Orlando and Winter Park before joining the State of Florida DOT and the Orange County Attorney’s Office, where he served as a municipal judge. He coached hurdlers at Lake Highland Prep School and volunteered with Junior Achievement, Seniors Against Crime, and the State Attorney’s Office. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Vose Moreland ’61.