1920s
Helen B. McQueston ’25, of Hadley, Mass.; Jan. 3. A senior member of the American Association of Hospital Accountants, she worked in the business office at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass., for forty-four years before retiring in 1969. She was also a certified subprofessional librarian at Goodwin Memorial Library in Hadley. She was a longtime member of First Congregational Church in Hadley and was its clerk for several years. She enjoyed reading and flower gardening. She is survived by a brother, Theodore, 26 West St., Hadley 01035; and two nephews.
Merrill W. Chase ’27, ’31 PhD, of New York City; Jan. 5. A pioneering immunologist at Rockefeller Univ., he discovered in the early 1940s that white blood cells, and not antibodies alone, shield the body against infection. His work uncovered a new type of disease response, now called cell-mediated immunity, and led scientists to pinpoint B cells, T cells, and other white blood cells as the agents that protect the body. The discovery helped in the fight against tuberculosis. He joined the faculty at Rockefeller in 1932 and became professor emeritus in 1976. He continued to run his research laboratory there. He collected nearly 300 scientific instruments during his career, and in 1997 the university established the Merrill W. Chase Historic Scientific Instrument Collection. He published at least 150 scientific papers. Brown awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1977. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by twin children, John ’55, 7018 Green Vista Cir., West Hills, Calif. 91307, and Nancy Chase Cowles ’55, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Sadiean Gladding Gaucher ’27, of Leominster, Mass.; June 13, 2003. Phi Beta Kappa. Survivors include a son, Adrian.
Estelle Pollock Kritz ’28, of Providence; Dec. 26. She was a retired substitute teacher in the towns of Cumberland and Lincoln, R.I. She was previously a children’s-clothing buyer for department stores in Boston and Hartford. She was a member of Temple Beth-El, Hadassah, and the Ledgemont Country Club. She is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.
Walter A. Gaw ’29, of St. Helena Island, S.C.; July 8, 2001.
1930s
Irving M. Disraelly ’30, of Margate, Fla.; Jan. 9. He was councilman and vice mayor of the City of Tamarac, Fla., for six years, and also served on the city’s planning board. He previously managed the Boston Store in Utica, N.Y., retiring in 1974. He had also been merchandise manager of McLean’s Department Store in Binghamton, N.Y. A past master of the Masonic Lodge of Binghamton, he was a a charter member of the Brown Club of Broome County, N.Y., and was active in Hillel. He was a U.S. Navy lieutenant during World War II. At Brown he played freshman football in the year of the “Iron Men.” He is survived by a son, Hillel, 3 Nash Pl., Stamford, Conn. 06906; and two grandchildren.
Gladys Carroll ’31, of East Providence; Dec. 26. She was a teacher in East Providence for thirty-three years. She leaves no immediate survivors.
Elisabeth Considine Walker Dowd ’31, of Cape Charles, Va.; Dec. 31, after an illness. She taught math at E.O. Smith High School in Connecticut from 1958 until she retired in 1970. She was previously a technician in the animal-disease laboratory of the Univ. of Connecticut and the head of nature studies at Luther Gulick Camps in Maine. An expert at identifying flora and fauna, she was particularly knowledgeable about birds. Early in her career she ran her own camp, Top of the World, in New Hampshire. A member of Storrs (Conn.) Congregational Church, she founded an outreach ministry that included a food pantry and clothing bank. She was president of her Pembroke class for many years and chaired her 55th reunion hospitality committee. She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Walker Walsh ’65; a son; and four grandchildren, including Ryan Walsh ’93.
Grace Hood Hiscox ’31, of Seattle; Dec. 31. Before she was married she was an administrative assistant to the psychiatrist-in-chief at the Institute of Living in Hartford. She was a member of Seattle’s First Presbyterian Church, a fifty-five-year member of the PEO Sisterhood, and a retired member of the Women’s University Club in Seattle. She enjoyed traveling on the great passenger liners of the 1920s and 1930s to visit her relatives in Scotland and England. She leaves no immediate survivors.
Bernard W. Slater ’32, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Dec. 20. After retiring from the business world in 1974, he was a small-claims magistrate for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., for twelve years. He also served as an arbitrator. He enjoyed reading, boating, horseback riding, and making silver-and-turquoise jewelry. He is survived by a son, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two sisters.
Hebert H. Pickard ’33, of Marion, S.C.; Jan. 7, of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He worked at Draper Corp. in Hopedale, Mass., for forty-three years. After retiring, he was executive vice president of the Marion (S.C.) Chamber of Commerce for seven years. He served in Italy with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and received five battle stars. He was active in the Brown Alumni Association, participating in alumni events, following Brown athletics, and interviewing prospective students. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, 1102 Cherokee Ave., Marion 29571; two daughters; two grandchildren; and two sisters.
Dorothy R. Gagen ’33, of Auburndale, Mass.; Feb. 24, 2001.
Elizabeth Brennan McCaffrey ’34, of South Kingstown, R.I.; Jan. 11. She was a nationally accredited master flower-show judge. She was a former board member of the Blackstone Valley Red Cross, the United Fund, and the Visiting Nurses Association. She was past president of the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Auxiliary, the Pawtucket Garden Club, and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs. She is survived by three stepdaughters.
George R. Merriam Jr. ’34, of Tenafly, N.J.; Jan. 13. An ophthalmologist, he pioneered studies of the medical uses and the hazardous effects of radiation on the eye. His work helped show that the lens in the human eye is the most radiosensitive tissue in the body, with the possible exception of germ cells. He was professor emeritus at the Eye Institute of Columbia University Medical Center. He joined the institute in 1949 and headed its radiotherapy clinic. He developed early radiation treatment programs there, studying how much radiation and in what pattern the eye could tolerate without developing cataracts as a side effect. He was a consultant to NASA and to the Space Sciences Board of the National Academy of Sciences when the launch of the manned space program led to concerns over exposure to radiation in space. A U.S. Army captain during World War II, he served as a doctor in England until D-Day, and then moved with the advancing front into France and Germany. He joined the American Ophthalmological Society and the American Radiological Society. A member of the New York Yacht Club, he studied celestial navigation and received the navigator rank of the U.S. Power Squadron. He was a standout lacrosse player at Brown. He is survived by his wife, Martha, two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
Frances Albert Abramowitz ’35, of Baltimore; Dec. 7. She retired after many years as a Latin teacher at preparatory schools in Waterbury, Conn. She sang with several volunteer groups in Baltimore. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by two daughters, including Naomi Kochen, 5550 Windy Sun Ct., Columbia, Md. 21045; and two granddaughters.
Edna Goldstein Salant ’35, of Washington, D.C.; Dec. 24, of pneumonia. A registered art therapist, she worked with children and families in private practice for fifteen years, until the late 1980s. She combined her interests in art and child development sixty years ago in Washington, D.C., when she developed a program encouraging children undergoing tonsillectomies to express their anxieties by drawing pictures. In the 1960s the National Child Research Center invited her to design an art therapy program. She chaired its education and research committee and in 1966 was elected chairman of its board. A painter and sculptor, she displayed her work at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where she served on the board, and at the Smithsonian. She was a special consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health and directed an experimental program to train eighth-grade girls as nursery-school aides. In 1957 she cofounded Art Rental Gallery, which leased works of art. She is survived by two sons, three grandchildren, and her twin sister, Ruth Goldstein Fineshriber ’35.
Elizabeth Shaw Williams ’35, of Winchester, Mass.; Jan. 3, after a long illness. She was the Massachusetts representative of the U.S. committee for UNICEF for more than twenty-five years, overseeing fund-raising, lecturing in schools, and visiting UNICEF programs in Guatemala, Peru, Nepal, and India. She was a member of her local Unitarian church and served as a religious educator there for many years. She wrote a guide for a Sunday School curriculum that was the American Unitarian Association’s most-reprinted pamphlet. She is survived by a son, Robert, 110 King Rd., Chichester, N.H. 03258; a daughter; five grandchildren; and a sister.
Freeman D. Love ’37, of Danbury, Conn.; Dec. 26. A physician, he was medical director of the Morgan Guarantee Trust Co. before he retired in 1982. He previously practiced internal medicine in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., until the late 1960s. He was associated with the Samaritan, Brooklyn, and Long Island College hospitals. He had also been a clinical professor of internal medicine at Kings County Hospital and was a member of several professional organizations. A U.S. Army Medical Corps veteran of World War II, he was part of a unit that spearheaded the liberation of P.O.W. and concentration camps in Germany and Austria. He attained the rank of major and received a Bronze Star. He was a trustee emeritus of Poly Prep Country Day School and a founding board member of St. Anne’s School in Brooklyn Heights. He is survived by his wife, Andree Walton, two sons, two daughters, and five grandchildren. He was the guardian of his nephew and three nieces, who also survive him.
Samuel G. Hall ’38, of Plymouth, N.H.; Dec. 27. He conceived, designed, and constructed the Tenney Mountain ski area and operated it for more than twenty years. After retiring he established Sam Hall Poles/Piling in Thornton, N.H., in 1978. A past president of Ski 93, he was a member of the New Hampshire Ski Area Operators Association and the National Ski Area Association. He also helped establish the Cardigan Ski Club. Ski New Hampshire awarded him its H.H. “Bill” Whitney Award. He was previously resident manager at the Beebe River Plant and head forester and surveyor at Draper Corp. He was past president of the Plymouth Rotary, the New Hampshire Woodcrafters Association, and the Lakes Region Industrial Management Club. He had been a special deputy New Hampshire forest fire warden. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with the 10th Mountain Division. He was a varsity wrestler at Brown and is survived by his wife, Berenice, P.O. Box 216, Plymouth 03264; three sons; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister.
Howard C. Olsen ’38, of Warwick, R.I.; Jan. 27. An Episcopal priest, he was rector emeritus of St. Barnabas Church in Warwick, which he joined in 1953. After retiring in 1988 he served as chaplain of St. Mark’s Church and at West Bay Manor. Earlier in his career he was priest of St. Martin’s Church in Providence and chaplain of the former St. Dunstan’s School in Providence. He was ecumenical officer of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island for seventeen years. He was also chaplain of the Warwick police and fire departments and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. He previously taught history and English, chaired the history department, and directed school plays and assemblies at East Providence High School, his alma mater. While teaching, he was lay chaplain at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston and lay reader at Calvary Church in Pascoag, R.I. He was a founding charter board member of Big Brothers of Rhode Island, a former chairman of the Warwick Housing Authority, a board member of the Apponaug Improvement Association, and a member of the Warwick Zoning Board of Review. The Rotary Club of Warwick named him a Paul Harris Fellow. He walked down College Hill every year in the Commencement march. He is survived by a son.
Lawrence A. Atwell ’39, of Fairfax, Va.; Jan. 5, of cancer. He worked in congressional affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy for about a decade until he retired in the mid-1980s. He was previously a congressional liaison for NASA. He retired in 1961 as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked in meteorology. His final active-duty assignment was at the Pentagon. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe as a meteorologist and helped in the planning for the D-Day invasion. Off duty, he coached and refereed military championship football and hockey teams. Early in his career he taught at Williston, a preparatory school in Massachusetts, and was an assistant football coach at Princeton. A professional wrestler as a young man, he was a captain of the Brown football team. In recent years he co-owned several thoroughbred horses. He was a member of Psi Upsilon, the Knights of Columbus, and St. Ambrose Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, a son, four grandsons, a brother, and a sister.
Betty Louison Greenberg ’39, of Newport, R.I.; Sept. 25, of a heart-related illness. She and her late husband maintained a law practice in Newport. She was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, a life member and past president of Hadassah, and a past president of the ladies’ auxiliary of Touro Synagogue. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by a son, a daughter, a sister, and three grandchildren.
David Landman ’39, of Chicago; Jan. 20, of pneumonia, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was the first director of public information at the Univ. of Illinois. He was previously a freelance writer for such publications as the New Republic and Nation’s Business, and a coeditor of books, including the 1961 America Faces the Nuclear Age. He also consulted to Lesley College and the Levinson Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and taught writing at Boston Univ. A U.S. Army major during World War II, he served in the Pacific islands and earned a Bronze Star. In 1955 he studied the political development of the new Indonesian state on a Ford Foundation grant; he also reported from the Bandung Conference there. He was editor of the Brown Daily Herald before working as a reporter at the Springfield (Mass.) Union and as associate editor of the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. He was past president of the Midwest Writers’ Association and the Univ. of Illinois chapter of the State University Annuitants’ Association. He was on the board of the Hamilton-Madison Settlement House in New York City until 1969 and was active in the American Society of Journalists and Authors. The Brown Club in Chicago awarded him a life membership. He was named to Brown’s Henry Wriston Society. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Hedy, 40 E. Cedar St., Chicago 60611; a daughter; a son; a grandson; a brother, Amos ’35; and niece Margot ’78.
A. Claire Harrington Mullen ’39, of Fall River, Mass.; Jan. 4, of complications from pneumonia. She was a teacher-librarian at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, Vt., until she retired in 1982. She previously headed the English department at Winooski High School in Vermont and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma service sorority and a charter member of the Stockettes in Burlington. She was a communicant of Holy Name Church in Fall River. She received a fellowship to the Shakespeare Institute at the Univ. of Vermont. She is survived by a son, Charles ’75, three daughters, thirteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Betty Hussey Randall ’39, of Beverly, Mass.; Dec. 18. She was a geriatric social worker for many years. She enjoyed interior decorating and drawing. She is survived by two daughters, including Elizabeth Ann Coutu, 150 River Farm Rd., East Greenwich, R.I. 02818; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Hussey Longenecker ’33.
Thomas C. Roberts ’39, of Warwick, R.I.; Jan. 11. He was a manager at the former Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. in Providence and North Kingstown, R.I., until he retired in 1980. He served as a company chairman for the United Fund. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a captain in the field artillery. He was a member of the Warwick Country Club, the former Warwick Lions Club, and the Rhode Island Yacht Club. He is survived by his wife, Christine Whitney Roberts ’39, 82 Apple Tree Ln., Warwick 02888; four daughters; two brothers, Stuart ’44 and James ’50; and six grandchildren.
Phyllis Sampson Wallis ’39, of Los Alamos, N.Mex.; Jan. 24, of Alzheimer''s disease. She retired as a computer programmer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She was active in the Los Alamos Little Theater, the United Church, and the local ski, hiking, and investment clubs. She volunteered at Bandelier National Monument for many years. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
1940s
George D. Krause II ’40, of Mount Joy, Pa.; Jan. 18, of a cerebral hemorrhage. He was a fund-raising specialist at the American Heart Association in Atlanta until he retired in 1981. He was president of George Krause Hardware in Lebanon, Pa., from 1945 to 1964, and a fund-raising specialist at United Cerebral Palsy. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, attaining the rank of captain. He enjoyed fishing and gardening. At Brown he was on the track team. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Alyce, 302 Farmview Ln., Mount Joy 17552; five daughters; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Henry H. Smith ’40, of Bar Harbor, Maine; Dec. 28, of cancer. He retired in 1981 as chief of the information office at the U.S. Bureau of the Census in Washington, D.C., where he had worked for seventeen years. He was previously an information specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1945 he became a writer and make-up artist for the Sunday magazine at the Providence Journal. He received many honors during his twelve years there, including an award from the New England Associated Press Executives Association for a story about a storekeeper who organized a baseball team and found jobs for neighborhood boys. He began his career at the Waterbury, Conn., Republican-American, before joining the Associated Press as a photo editor and caption writer in New York City. He then served as a public-relations writer at General Motors. He was active in the Footloose Friends, a group of hikers that explores Mount Desert Island. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Phillips Smith ’40; a son; two daughters; two grandsons; and a brother, Robert ’45, 4003 Buckingham Way, Apex, N.C. 27502.
Arthur A. Helgerson ’41, of Lexington Park, Md.; Jan. 21. He was a physician who served thirty-two years of active duty in the U.S. Navy at hospitals around the country, retiring as a captain in the medical corps in 1978. He was active in the Patuxent Presbyterian Church and enjoyed traveling, sailing, and gardening. He was a member of the Southern Maryland Genealogical Society and was published in the Swedish American Genealogist Magazine. He is survived by his wife, Elna, 23575 Town Creek Dr., Lexington Park 20653; two sons, including Philip ’67; two daughters; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Carl ’56.
Charles Norman ’41, of Decatur, Ala.; July 13, of pneumonia and the effects of Parkinson’s disease. He retired in 1982 as owner and operator of Automatic Screw Machine Products. He joined the local investment and Rotary clubs and served on the finance committee and vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Decatur. He was on the boards of Bryson Construction, Central Bank, Kappler Inc., Madison Mobile Storage, First Federal Savings and Loan, and Decatur Parks and Recreation. He enjoyed golfing and was a mentor for Junior Achievement. A U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, he is survived by his wife, Nancy; two daughters, including Barbara Howell, 2413 13th St. S.E., Decatur 35601; two sons; and seven grandchildren.
Jack Padden ’41, of Naples, Fla.; Dec. 11. He owned a hospital-supply business. A former resident of Garden City, Long Island, he played basketball at Brown from 1939 to 1941. The 1940 team was one of four selected to play in the first NCAA basketball tournament. He was cocaptain of that team and a leading scorer. A member of the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame, he belonged to the Key Club. Over the years he advised many student-athletes interested in attending Brown. He was also a member of the Brown Sports Foundation and a fan of all the University’s teams. Phi Gamma Delta. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, 848 Regency Reserve Ct., #202, Naples 34119; five children, including Andy ’66, Sally ’71 MAT, and Lovey ’76; and nine grandchildren, including Christina ’95.
Barbara Ham Raymond ’41, of Detroit; Oct. 16.
Edna Wilbur Richmond ’41, of Louisville, Ky.; Feb. 8, of complications from congestive heart failure. She was a teacher in Michigan and California during the 1950s. A singer in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps during World War II, she rose to the rank of first lieutenant. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bakersfield, Calif., and the Sierra Club. She self-published two collections of her poetry. She is survived by three sons, including Robert ’79, 499 Laine St., Monterey, Calif. 93940, and Stephen ’89 MD; and two daughters.
Helen Reilly Hoyt ’42, of Ridgefield, Conn.; Oct. 19. She is survived by two sons and two granddaughters.
Virginia Thomas Kezerian ’42, of Guilford, Conn.; Dec. 19, of pulmonary collapse following a long period of complications from orthopedic surgery. She was an administrative assistant to the dean of the Yale medical school from 1951 to 1956. She was previously on the administrative staff at the installment-credit loans department of Bank of America. Earlier in her career she was a social worker for the welfare department in Madison County, N.Y. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, she was a midshipman in the WAVES. She was a member of Northford Congregational Church and the Church of Christ at Yale. She is survived by her husband, Stephen, The Gables, 201 Granite Rd., #126, Guilford 06437; two daughters; and four grandchildren.
Arthur B. Rice ’42, of Henderson, N.Y.; Jan. 14. He retired in 1977 as an art and mechanical-drawing teacher at South Jefferson Central School. He previously taught in Watertown, N.Y., and at Hounsfield Central School. He also taught adult education in Watertown and had earned a certificate of accreditation in architectural history from the American Study Center at the Univ. of Florence in Italy. A member of the North Country Artists Guild, he made abstract paintings and pen-and-ink sketches. He was superintendent of the art show at the Jefferson County Fair in Watertown in the 1970s. A former board president of the Henderson Free Library, he was also treasurer of the Henderson Historical Society, a Henderson town assessor, and a member of the Henderson ambulance squad. A staff sergeant during World War II, he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army Air Forces in Africa and Italy. He was a member of the New Bedford (Mass.) Whaling Museum, the New York State Retired Teachers Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed gardening and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Faye, 12440 County Route 72, P.O. Box 64, Henderson 13650; a daughter; twin sons; and four grandchildren.
Frank B. Correia ’43, of Bristol, R.I.; Dec. 29. He retired from the math department at Rhode Island College in 1982, and was named a professor emeritus. A retired U.S. Navy commander, he had been head of the math department at the U.S. Naval Academy. He served aboard the USS Kingfish during World War II, earning the American Defense Medal and the Asiatic Pacific medal. He also served aboard the USS Spikefish. He worked on the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project in Albuquerque, N.Mex., served on the USS Power as executive officer and the USS Van Divier as commanding officer, and was executive officer of the U.S. Navy Base in Greenland. He retired from the navy in 1963. A sergeant in the Rhode Island National Guard, he was a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. He served on the Bristol School Committee. He is survived by his wife, Alice, two sons, and six grandchildren.
Catharine Butler Gilbert ’43, of Fall River, Mass.; Jan. 6. She was an administrative executive for many years to the mayor of Fall River. She was previously an administrative executive for the city treasurer. In her youth she was a reporter for the Fall River Herald. A parishioner of Holy Name Church, she is survived by a nephew and three nieces.
William V. Price ’43, of Southmont, Pa.; Dec. 16. He retired as vice president of Cambria Equipment Co., an appliance distributor. He served as president of the Westmont-Hilltop School Board for thirteen years and was former president of the Greater Johnstown (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce. He was a former board member of Windber Hospital and the West Penn Golf Association. A U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, he enjoyed golfing and was a life member of the Sunnehanna Country Club, where he served on the board and chaired the amateur golf tournament. He is survived by a daughter, a son, two grandchildren, and a brother.
William P. Walsh ’44, of New Bedford, Mass.; Dec. 25, unexpectedly. He was a physician in private practice in New Bedford for many years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Massachusetts Medical Society, and was a former board member of the New Bedford Boys & Girls Club. A communicant of St. Lawrence Church, he is survived by two sons, six grandchildren, and two brothers.
James E. Benjamin ’45, of Canton, Mass.; Jan. 1, of complications from a fall. He wrote and directed documentaries at ABC News for twelve years. He was an executive producer of the Children’s Television Workshop from 1977 to 1981. He helped launch WNET, a PBS station in the New York City area, in 1962 with a program hosted by legendary reporter Edward R. Murrow. He also worked for United Press International, Look, and Curtis Publishing Co. He was a volunteer ombudsman on health-care issues in Westchester County, N.Y., nursing homes, and was active with the men’s club at the Jewish Community Center on the Hudson in Tarrytown, N.Y. A code analyst with the U.S. Army during World War II, he is survived by his wife, Marilyn, two sons, and a grandson.
Robert G. Furlong ’45, of Montclair, N.J.; Nov. 23, after a long illness. In the 1980s he founded Mil-Comm Products Co., which makes high-performance lubricants, and served as its CEO until he died. He was previously a sales and marketing executive at various consumer-products manufacturers. He served for three years as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Chandler during World War II, earning a Navy Commendation Ribbon in 1945 during the invasion of the Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. He also was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was active with the Republican Party and was a member of the Montclair Golf Club and the Indian Creek and Bal Harbour clubs in Florida. He is survived by his wife, Frances; four daughters, including Mary-Lucinda ’76 and Frances Furlong Riesenman ’82; two sons; and eight grandchildren.
Elizabeth Jackson Phillips ’45, of Detroit; Sept. 17, 2001. She was a professor emerita at the Wayne State Univ. School of Social Work and a member of the Brown Corporation.
Elsie Anderson Lewis Drew ’46, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Dec. 17, after an illness. She taught nursing at the Community College of Rhode Island for several years and was a clinical instructor in nursing arts at the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing before the school closed in 1973. She was president of the Rhode Island Hospital Nurses Alumni Association for three years and chaired its historical committee. She was a founder of the Nursing Heritage Preservation Committee. A member of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, she was also a member of the Delta Upsilon chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. She was a founder of the Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island, which gives scholarships to nursing students, and was former president of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County. She was active in Trinity Church Pawtuxet; Church of the Transfiguration; and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She is survived by her husband, Arthur ’43, 100 Ives Rd., East Greenwich 02818; a son; a daughter, Nancy Lewis Nichols ’77; two stepdaughters; two stepsons; two grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Doris Anderson Landau ’49.
Cole A. Lewis ’47, of Caldwell, N.J.; April 28, 2003. He was treasurer of the Education Law Center until a month before his death. He previously worked at Prudential for thirty-seven years, retiring in 1986 as vice president of community affairs, and then served as comptroller of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for nine years. He was founding director of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, chairman of the New Jersey Committee for the Humanities, and an active officer and board member of Planned Parenthood, the Integrity House, and the Catholic Youth Organization. During World War II he enrolled in the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program at Brown, then served in postwar Japan. He is survived by his wife, Nat Brush Lewis ’47, 51 Overlook Rd., Caldwell 07006; two daughters; and three grandchildren.
Scott Ripley ’47 of Naples, Fla.; Dec. 30, after a long illness. He was an executive at the Hartford Insurance Group for thirty-six years until he retired in 1987. He had earlier been vice president of the Pacific Insurance Co. in Hawaii and president of the Hawaii Claims Management Council. He was active in Junior Achievement, taught courses in property and underwriting, and served on regional and national committees of the American Insurance Association. A World War II veteran, he retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1975 as a lieutenant commander. He was a member of Moorings Presbyterian Church in Naples. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, four daughters, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
John P. Ringler ’47, of Federal Way, Wash.; Nov. 16. He was a retired engineer at Boeing. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he is survived by his wife, Annis, two sons, two daughters, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a brother, and a sister.
Theadora Pilblad Mattson ’47, of Seekonk, Mass.; Dec. 3. She retired after many years as a bookkeeper at the former J&H Electric Co. in Providence. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Rumford, R.I., and the Palmer River Camping Association. An avid bird-watcher, she is survived by her companion, John Lever.
Norman M. McGuffog ’47, of Atlanta; Jan. 13. He was an administrative judge for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Atlanta until he retired in 1992. He was a former board member of the Warren Boys’ Club and an avid runner. He volunteered with the Justice Center, Meals on Wheels, and Egleston Children’s Hospital. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he is survived by his wife, Bridget, a son, a daughter, two brothers, and five grandchildren.
William Park ’47, of Stafford Springs, Conn.; Nov. 10. He was an etcher at Tyco before retiring. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. A Red Sox baseball and Univ. of Connecticut basketball fan, he enjoyed fishing and was a longtime bookkeeper for his local American Legion post.. He is survived by a daughter, Barbara Brown, 3 Rolling Meadow Dr., Tolland, Conn. 06084.
Charles W. Bryant ’48, of Riverside, R.I.; Jan. 15. He was a mechanical engineer at the former Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Co. and for the U.S. Navy in Newport and North Kingstown, R.I., before he retired in 1975. He served thirty-one years of active and reserve duty before retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1973. During World War II he flew thirty-five combat missions with the 8th Air Force in Europe, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He was a navigation officer during the Korean War. He was a member of Roger Williams Baptist Church in Providence. An Eagle Scout, he was an adviser and scoutmaster, a tennis player, and a member of the Kendbrin Swim and Tennis Club. He played hockey at Brown. He is survived by two daughters, including Sarah Bryant Capobianco ’74; five grandchildren, including Peter Capobianco ’07; a great-grandson; and a brother.
Joseph C. Calitri ’48, of Windham, N.H.; Jan. 8. He was director of public relations at American Cyanamid in Wayne, N.J., until he retired in 1989. He then taught international public relations at Boston Univ. Early in his career he was a reporter at the Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Mass., and for United Press International in Albany, Boston, and New York City. He joined American Cyanamid in 1952 as a feature writer. Trained in meteorology at MIT, he was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, serving as a weather forecaster in the Pacific. He served on the local school board in New City, N.Y., for many years, and was a member of the Citizens’ Council for Better Schools there. He is survived by his wife, Drusilla; three daughters, including Dana ’80; seven grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.
Gerald D. Olin ’48, of North Hills, N.Y., and Longboat Key, Fla.; Jan. 10, of cancer. He was an executive in the men’s clothing industry until he retired five years ago. A trustee of the North Shore Health System for many years, he was a founder of the Long Island Head Injury Association and a former trustee of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He enjoyed traveling and played tennis, golf, and bridge. A World War II veteran, he is survived by his wife, Susanne Cohen Olin ’51, 105 Firestone Cir., North Hills 11576; a son; a daughter; and four grandchildren.
Joseph Weisman ’48, of Northbrook, Ill., Dec. 12. He was a grocery manager at the former Food Basket in Providence for forty years, retiring twenty years ago. He was then a bank teller at Bank One in Northbrook. He was a life member of the Touro Fraternal Association in Cranston, R.I.; a member of Temple Jeremiah in Northfield; a member of the former Temple Beth Israel in Providence;, and a former member of Temple Beth-El in Providence. A U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, he was a first lieutenant in Europe and lead navigator of thirty daylight bombing runs over Germany. He is survived by his wife, Trudy, two sons, a daughter, two stepdaughters, and six grandchildren.
Stan H. Fuehrer ’49, of Riverside, Calif.; April 24, 2003. He was director of security at Anaheim Savings Bank and taught history and political science at Riverside Community College. He’d previously retired after twenty-seven years with the FBI, during which time he’d caught more than 200 federal fugitives and helped win numerous convictions. Named a special agent in 1950, he served in Baltimore and New York City, and in 1953 joined the staff of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in Washington, D.C. He was awarded three citations for superior achievement. In 1956 he was transferred to the Riverside Resident Agency, where he was involved in major kidnap, murder, and robbery cases. In 1976 he single-handedly apprehended an armed thief in the act of robbing a bank. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a charter member of an extension group at UC Riverside. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.
William F. Long Jr. ’49, of Fall River. Mass.; Dec. 1. He was an administrative judge on the Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board from 1994 until he retired in 2001. He practiced law in Massachusetts for forty years, concentrating on personal-injury, negligence, workers’ compensation, Social Security, immigration, and criminal litigation. He was special assistant attorney general of Massachusetts from 1970 to 1974 and was an assistant attorney general from 1958 to 1963. He also served as general counsel to the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Transit Authority; special counsel to the city of Fall River and the Fall River Industrial Development Corp.; town counsel for Westport, Mass.; and chairman of the Fall River Licensing Board. He served on the Bristol County Board of County Commissioners from 1971 to 1974. He chaired the board of the Southeastern Massachusetts Univ. Foundation. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps corporal during World War II. A member of Holy Name Church, he is survived by his wife, Catherine, 1658 Highland Ave., Fall River 02720; two sons, including William Jeffrey Long ’82 MD; a brother; and five grandchildren.
John W. Pollard ’49, of Taunton, Mass.; Jan. 23. He was a self-employed management and quality-control consultant. He previously worked at Reed and Barton, Texas Instruments, and Rath and Strong. He served on the vestry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, was a mason, and was active in the Awanan council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was also on the corporation of Morton Hospital and on the board of PRIDE: Friends of Taunton State Hospital. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he is survived by his wife, Audrey, 158 Highland St., Taunton 02780; three daughters; three sons; thirteen grandchildren; and a brother, Robert ’46.
John A. Riveglia ’49, of York, Maine; March 17, 2003. Survivors include his wife, Sally.
Thomas A. Turner ’49, of Brentwood, Tenn.; Nov. 2, 2002. Survivors include his wife, Frances.
1950s
Bernard Cohen ’50, of Central Square, N.Y.; Nov. 27. He was a retired salesman at Masters Inc. in Passaic, N.J. He is survived by a stepdaughter, a stepson, and five step-grandchildren.
Alvin J. Brody ’51, of New Bedford, Mass.; Nov. 16. He was a lawyer in private practice for twenty-eight years and worked in the Bristol County government before he retired. He then became a substitute teacher at Keith Junior High School for six years. He was a member of the New Bedford Law Association and was president and past board member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. He coached youth basketball in New Bedford and was a fan of New Bedford High sports teams. He survived by his wife, Michelle, 77 Carroll St., New Bedford 02740; a son; three daughters; and a grandson.
Henry R. Chace III ’51, of Wilmington, N.C., Jan. 5. He was an industrial engineer. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing chess, and drawing. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Grace, two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Benjamin D. Berkman ’52, of Marietta, Ga.; Feb. 13, of coronary arrest. He was vice president of research and development at M.A. Hannah Corp. for twelve years until he retired. A 32nd-degree mason, he enjoyed backpacking, whitewater rafting, and camping. He is survived by his wife, Ina, a daughter, two sons, four stepchildren, eleven grandchildren, a great-grandson, and his former wife.
Stanton C. Goldman ’52, of Laurelton, N.J.; Sept. 22, of lung cancer. A physician, he chaired the dermatology department at West Jersey Hospital in Camden, N.J., until he retired in 2000. He followed his father, the late Sam ’21, who chaired the obstetrics department at the same hospital. He is survived by his wife, Gabriella; a son; and a brother, Harold ’50.
William Keen Jr. ’52, of Richmond, Va.; Dec. 15. He retired as a construction foreman at Centry Construction in Richmond. A U.S. Army veteran, he is survived by two sons.
Robert E. Warren ’52, of Hilton Head, S.C.; Feb. 14. He was the retired owner of Electronic Sales of New England, which he’d founded in 1967 to sell electronic and oceanographic equipment. It became the largest firm in New England serving the oceanographic community. He continued to consult and work for the company after selling it to his oldest son in 1982. He previously worked at Sikorsky Aircraft in Connecticut and for George Gregory Associates in Massachusetts. He served on many committees in Rehoboth, Mass., and joined the Brothers of the Brush to mark the town’s 325th anniversary in 1968. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years. He enjoyed golfing and is survived by three children, his former wife, a brother, and sister.
John E. Seth ’53, of Miami; March 2, 2003.
Robert W. Kenny Jr. ’55, of Providence; Jan. 2. He was a dispatcher at the Providence Steamboat Co. after a long career in industrial sales and in the U.S. Army. He served in the army of occupation in Austria, was a member of the 103rd Field Artillery of the Rhode Island National Guard, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. He received the Order of St. Barbara. He did extensive volunteer work in military research at the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at Brown, which awarded him its William Williams Award. He was the author of Uniforms of Imperial and Soviet Russia in Color and coauthor of Uniforms of the British and Indian Armies 1840–1858. He was a member of the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, the 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association, and the Military Order of Foreign Wars. He is survived by his wife, Carole, 67 Taber Ave., Providence 02906; a son; a daughter; a grandchild; and a sister.
James S. Coukos ’55, of Bonita Springs, Fla.; Nov. 22. He was general manager of the Indianapolis agency of Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York from 1968 until he retired in 1993. He joined the company in 1959 as a field underwriter in Boston, and in 1963 was promoted to sales manager of the White Plains, N.Y., agency. After graduating from Brown, he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force for four years and then served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, rising to the rank of captain. At Brown he played varsity football and baseball. An active alumnus, he was president of the Indiana Brown Club for ten years and president of the Southwest Florida Brown Club from 1996 until shortly before he died. He also served on the board and as treasurer of the Bonita Bay Sanctuary Homeowners Association. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, 4328 Sanctuary Way, Bonita Springs 34134; a son, Stephen ’92; a daughter, Pamela ’90; a grandson; two sisters; and two brothers.
Dudley R. Atherton III ’56, of Atlanta; Jan. 20, of lung cancer. He was an accounting consultant. He previously worked as controller for several organizations in Atlanta and in Knoxville and Sevierville, Tenn. He also worked at Specialty Records. Active in civil rights causes in Atlanta during the 1960s, he was a founding member of the Atlanta-area chapter of the Secular Organization for Sobriety. He served in the military in Korea. He is survived by his wife, Anne, two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren, two brothers, and two sisters.
Charles Nutt ’57, of West Hartford; Jan. 9, of complications after heart surgery. He was a systems analyst at Aetna for twenty-eight years, retiring in 1990. He was past president of the Barclay Court Condominium Association Board. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, and traveling. He sang in the choir at First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford and was confirmation and senior-high pilgrim-fellowship leader. He was active in the local Boys Football League and the PTA at Morley Elementary School. A specialist in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps, he is survived by his wife, Shelby, two sons, two daughters, and nine grandchildren.
Charles J. Mosler ’58, of Washington, N.J.; Jan. 1. He was a poet who wrote in the imagist tradition and often performed his poetry with jazz and blues musicians. His poems reflected the details of daily life. He was well known in New Jersey poetry circles for his dedication to audience development and the importance of accuracy. He served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his wife, Rona White Mosler ’58.
Jane Hall Tisi ’58, of Katonah, N.Y.; Dec. 27, after a long struggle with cancer. She worked for an ophthalmology practice after college. A member of the Bedford (N.Y.) Golf and Tennis Club, she was involved in numerous tennis activities and enjoyed gardening. She was an early member of the Golden Outreach Program, which provides animals to comfort the sick and elderly. She is survived by her husband, Charles, and a sister.
1960s
Susan Baligian Wright ’64, of Delmar, N.Y.; Nov. 29, after a long struggle with cancer. She retired in 1999 as director of health promotions and communications at the New York State Department of Health, where she produced award-winning health education media campaigns, including the “AIDS Does Not Discriminate” and the “Healthy Child, Healthy Baby” campaigns. She began her career in state government in 1969 after working at Legal Aid and the Albany Home for Children. She traveled extensively in Africa and Europe. She is survived by her husband, James; her father, Armen; four stepsons; seven step-grandchildren; and a sister.
John C. Campbell ’66, of Providence; Dec. 3. He was a financial adviser in Providence and Boston for thirty-five years before retiring in 1992. He was a member of the New York Stock Exchange. He was former owner of the Harbor House Guest House of Watch Hill in Westerly, R.I. A writer and artist, he enjoyed swimming and playing football and golf. An original member of the Providence Rugby Club, he played the position of loose head prop. A member of the Providence YMCA and Jewish Community Center, he was a former member of the Wannamoisett Country Club. He is survived by his companion, Nancy Harriet, two daughters, two brothers, two sisters, and a granddaughter.
Beverly Diggs Buxton ’67, of Oklahoma City; Nov. 23. She was a registered nurse, working in hospice care in Oklahoma, Vermont, and New Hampshire. She was previously a teacher at Casady School for more than two decades, first in special education and later in the high school science department, which she chaired. She was counselor for the yearbook committee and faculty liaison to the board. She was a member of the Oklahoma City Junior League and helped establish the city’s Meals on Wheels program. She was also active in Oklahoma Hunter Jumper Association events. She enjoyed playing tennis and volunteering. She is survived by a son; a daughter; two sisters, Elizabeth ’61 and Lucy ’63; and two brothers.
Paul A. Williams II ’68, of Centennial, Colo.; Dec. 14, of a heart attack. He was a partner in the Denver office of Tatum CFO Partners. He was previously a high-level executive at several firms, serving as vice president and CFO of the software company BMS Corp. and of North American Power Group Ltd. He was also vice president and treasurer of Pacific Enterprises and vice president and treasurer of Arizona Public Service Co. He was on the board of the Colorado chapter of Financial Executives International and was a member of Denver Telecom Professionals and the Association for Corporate Growth. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and playing bridge. He is survived by his wife, Anne, a daughter, and a son.
Randolph R. McClure ’69, of Rocklin, Calif.; Nov. 26, suddenly, while suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis and awaiting a liver transplant. He worked in home energy conservation at Pacific Gas and Electric. He had been a substitute teacher for ten years. In the early 1970s he ran for mayor of San Jose and was involved in the Campus Community Association. He began coaching youth baseball at the age of sixteen and continued for thirty-six seasons. He designed and tended fields for the Eastridge Little League and helped run league affairs. He wrote more than 800 songs, many works of fiction, and more than 500 letters to the editor. He was active in a liver transplant support group and in the Humanist Society of Sacramento. He served for two years in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his parents, Leverne and Robert, a son, a stepdaughter, two brothers, a sister, and his former wife.
1970s
Penny Bienenfeld Purwin ’72, of Portland, Ore.; Nov. 4, after a long struggle with multiple sclerosis. She worked at IBM until illness forced her to retire. She continued to use her talents in theater and music at IBM recognition events. She is survived by her longtime partner, Jo Randall, 4103 S.E. Cora, Portland 97202; and a sister.
Dennis T. Tang ’73, of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Oct. 11. He is survived by his wife, Paula Leicht; his mother, Yushang; and a brother.
Peter D. Bensley ’77, of Newburyport, Mass.; Jan. 18, in an automobile accident. He was founder and president of Bensley Construction, which renovates homes in historic New England neighborhoods. He previously cofounded PBK Development Co. in Boston and restored homes in the Baltimore area. He enjoyed hiking, skiing, and playing squash and tennis. He was also a local coach. A standout lacrosse player at Brown, he is survived by his wife, Lianne; a son; a daughter; his parents, Audrey and Gordon; his grandmothers; two brothers; and two sisters.
John F. McCoy ’78, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Dec. 10, unexpectedly. He was a driver for the DeBlois Oil Co. for seventeen years, and had also worked for the McCoy Oil Co. A communicant of St. Mary Church and an avid golfer, he is survived by his wife, Lynda Piti McCoy ’84, 20 Dorset Rd., Pawtucket 02860; his parents, William ’43 and Ruth; a son; a sister; and two brothers.
2000s
Francisco Metha Vranek ’04, of Tenerife, Canary Islands; Jan. 25, in a car accident. He was a triple concentrator in economics, international relations, and public and private sector organizations. Also an international peer mentor, he was pursuing a career in investment banking and had a job lined up at Deutsche Bank. He was a movie buff. He is survived by his father, Johannes; his mother, Anara Bumrungrugsa; his fiancé, Devi Nathan; and a brother, Johannes.
Masha Dexter ’06, of Millburn, N.J.; Feb. 24, of complications from Hodgkin’s disease. She was an economics concentrator with a strong interest in gender studies. Active in the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center, she was also a Meiklejohn adviser, a writing fellow, and a leader in the Queer Alliance. Survivors include her mother, Natasha, and her father, Boris Kalendar.
Correction: The obituary of Michael Archer ’02 (see July/August) misstated the number of siblings who survive him. He had three sisters, not two. The BAM regrets the error.
GS
Merrill W. Chase ’31 PhD (see ’27).
Willis A. Adcock ’48 PhD, of Austin, Tex.; Dec. 16. He joined the electrical and engineering department at the Univ. of Texas at Austin in 1986 and was named the Cockrell Family Regents Chair. He became chair professor emeritus in 1993. He previously retired as vice president and principal fellow at Texas Instruments, which he joined in 1953, serving as manager of the development and integrated-circuits departments. He received several patents and wrote many professional articles. He was past president of the Texas Instruments Austin Retirees Club and the Austin English Speaking Union. A fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, he was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, the Visitor’s Council of the McDonald Observatory, Sigma Xi, the National Academy of Engineering, and Rotary International. He joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and served at Oak Ridge, Tenn. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Sara; three sons, including William ’66; a daughter; two stepsons; a stepdaughter; and grandchildren including John ’89, ’01 PhD.
George J. Fournier ’52 ScM, of Fort Myers, Fla.; Dec. 7. He was a district manager at Pfizer Laboratories for eighteen years, leaving to become a self-employed commercial real estate broker covering the entire Northeast. A longtime resident of Bedford, N.H., he was a trustee of the Bedford Public Library for more than ten years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. He is survived by his longtime companion, Marjorie Lieby, a daughter, two granddaughters, and a brother.
Thomas J. Keneshea ’52 ScM, of Coventry, R.I.; Dec. 7. He was a physicist for more than thirty years at the U.S. Air Force geophysics laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, and later worked at Visidine Corp. until he retired in 1998. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war. He was a fifty-year member of the Peloquin Chorale at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. He enjoyed classical music and is survived by his caregivers, George and Rosalie Park, and a sister-in-law.
Norman R. Birch ’69 MAT, of Epsom, N.H.; Jan. 13, after a short illness. He retired in 1993 after teaching science for twenty-six years at Rundlett Junior High in Concord, N.H., where he chaired the science department for several years. He was previously a statistician for the state of New Hampshire and a chemistry and physics teacher at Pembroke Academy. He served on the Epsom park commission, budget committee, and planning board. He worked with the Boy Scouts for twenty years and was a member of the New Hampshire Retired Teachers Association. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years in Japan, attaining the rank of petty officer, third class. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, astronomy, geology, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Donna Mae, two sons, three daughters, six grandchildren, a brother, and five sisters.
Henry J. Hund ’71 AM, of Portsmouth, Va.; Jan. 3. He was the emeritus pastor of First Lutheran Church in Portsmouth, where he served from 1971 to 1990. He had also been a pastor in Taiwan. After retiring he taught history and Chinese at Tidewater Community College, traveled, and volunteered. He joined the U.S. Air Force after high school and served in the Berlin Airlift. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, a son, and a daughter.
Staff
John J. McConnell, of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 9. He retired in 1996 as manager of events support after thirty years at Brown. He was previously director of housing. Beloved among undergraduates, he served as negotiator in 1975 when students took over University Hall in protest of a perceived slipping of the University’s commitment to minority concerns. His work was key in bringing the occupation to a peaceful end. Brown awarded him an honorary master’s in 1975, but he took even greater pride, according to one of his sons, when the African American protesters made him an “honorary black brother.” As events-support manager, he oversaw sixteen Commencements. He was a former member of the Warwick Democratic City Committee. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, he was commanding officer of Marine Air Support Squadron Six, retiring with the rank of colonel. He was a member of the Korean War Veterans. A communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church, he served as a Eucharistic minister and on the parish council. Flags on campus flew at half-staff on the day of his funeral. He is survived by his wife, Jane, 166 Imperial Dr., Warwick 02886; six sons, including Thomas ’77, Robert ’79, John Jr. ’80, Paul ’84, and Joseph ’86; a brother; and fifteen grandchildren.
