1930s
Florence Wilinsky Gross ’36, of Key Biscayne, Fla.; May 26, 2015.
Elizabeth Sherman Hayward ’36, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Naugatuck, Conn.; Dec. 28, 2014. She was a retired librarian at the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck. She was active in community organizations, including the Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of America.
1940s
Robert E. Gosselin ’41, of New London, N.H.; Feb. 7. He had taught at Dartmouth Medical School, where he was the founding chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. During his career he worked with teams at the U.S. Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, Md., on atropine, the first antidote for nerve gas. He wrote several scientific papers and was a coauthor of Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products and Physiology of Man in the Desert. He was involved in the poison control center movement. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He played trombone and was a member of the Upper Valley Community Band. A member of Sigma Xi and Phi Beta Kappa, he enjoyed painting, skiing, swimming, and scuba diving. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; a daughter; son Peter ’76; a son-in-law; four grandchildren, including Nora Gosselin ’19; and one great-grandchild.
Clifton S. Gustafson ’41, of Chatham, Mass., and Naples, Fla.; Jan. 3. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, he worked at Herreshoff Manufacturing in Bristol, R.I., as a ship’s carpenter. He then worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance in Boston and the Fram Corp. in East Providence, R.I., and was the owner of Clifton S. Gustafson Risk Management in Providence. He was involved in many Brown activities, including the Brown Club of Boston, and was president of the Brown Club in Naples, chairman of his 25th class reunion, and a member of the board of directors of the Brown Club on Cape Cod. He also served as commodore of the Monomoy Yacht Club in Chatham. After retiring, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, and after her death he traveled with his daughters to Scandinavia. He enjoyed sports, including weekly squash games with his twin brother, golf, sailing, and ice skating. He is survived by two daughters, two sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bernard E. Bell ’42, of Providence; Dec. 20, after a brief illness. He was the former president of Milhender Distributing Co. He was devoted to philanthropy and worked for several causes locally, nationally, and internationally. He received the 1990 Person of the Year award from the National Hospice Organization, and for more than 20 years he had been president of American Friends of the Hospice of the Upper Galilee (R.I.). He was president of Children’s Friend and Service Inc. of Rhode Island, president of the Touro National Heritage Trust, vice president of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, vice president of the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the 1980 state crusade chairman of the American Cancer Society, chairman of the United Way Providence, and a board member of the W.F. Albright Institute for Archaeological Research. He had a lifelong devotion to Israel and Jewish causes. In 1991 he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. For more than 70 years he was dedicated to Brown and Brown alumni, serving 11 years as president of his class, nine years as treasurer, and two turns as chair of his class reunion gift committee. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He marched down College Hill every year during the Commencement procession, including this past year at age 94, and was honored as Class Marshal in 1972, 1982, 1997, and 2007. He received the Leadership Award in 2001, the Alumni Service Award in 2002, and the Nan Tracy ’46 Award in 2007. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Brown Bear Award. He enjoyed playing tennis regularly until the age of 92. He will be remembered by many as the dapper man wearing an ascot and a flower in his lapel. He is survived by daughter Deborah Bell ’71 and son Jonathan ’78.
Stephen H. Dolley ’42, of Carmel, Calif.; Nov. 29, of congestive heart failure. He spent most of his career in mortgage banking in southern California before retiring to Carmel in 1980. He joined the Winter Mortgage Company of Los Angeles after serving in the U.S. Navy. In 1961 he joined Colwell Company as vice president of commercial loans and later was president of the Colwell Mortgage Trust and then chairman of the CMT Mortgage Trust. He was also managing director of the real estate investment firm John Hayden Company of Pasadena. He was president of the Southern California Mortgage Bankers Assoc., a director of the California Mortgage Bankers Assoc., and director of the National Assoc. of Real Estate Mortgage Trusts. For more than 25 years, he owned Circle Four Ranch in southern Monterey County. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to their flat in London and their home in southwest France. He wrote a column, “The Outdoors,” in the Sunday Monterey Herald and published a cookbook, Uncommon Foods for the Uncommon Chef, in 2001. In addition to cooking, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Martha.
Stanley M. Taylor ’42, of Bloomfield, Conn.; Jan. 2. He worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for 35 years as a flight test engineer and installation engineer. He spent five years in Seattle as the company’s engineering representative at Boeing and in 1953 moved to West Hartford, where he became vice president of international marketing and later vice president of marketing for the United States and Canada. He retired in 1977. He sang in the Hartford Symphony Chorale, served on the Curriculum Committee at the Hartt School of Music, and was a Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, and choir singer at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Hartford Club, the Hartford Symphony Board of Directors, the Wings Club of New York, and Sigma Xi. He had also been an Eagle Scout. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; four children, including Terri Walton ’84 and Brent ’77; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Constance Taylor Howard ’48; and a brother, Norman ’45.
Julianne Hirshland Hill ’43, of Los Angeles; Jul. 16, of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. She worked for the Atomic Energy Commission after World War II and then studied at UCLA’s Department of Linguistics. She married and began working on leukemia research. She worked for 45 years as a licensed laboratory technologist at such places as Tripler Army Medical Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, and Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. She was a member of the Planetary Society and is survived by three nephews, including David Hirshland ’75, and 10 grandnieces and nephews.
Timothy Joyner ’43, of Dupont, Wash.; Dec. 31. A government researcher at the federal Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, he served as first director of an aquacultural experiment station in Manchester, Wash. He published several scientific papers in Marine Fisheries Review. He enjoyed history and published Magellan and the Great Voyage in 1992. During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is survived by a daughter, a son, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Mary McEnneny Risko ’43, of Falmouth, Mass.; Dec. 31. She was a retired social worker. She is survived by 10 children, 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Ruth Webb Thayer ’43, of Warwick, R.I.; Jan. 29. She was a retired elementary school teacher. In 1979 she was named Warwick Teacher of the Year and Warwick Teachers Union Building Representative at John Brown Francis School. She became a Lifetime Honorary member of the Shores Assoc. in 1978, where she directed children’s summer activities. She was a charter member and officer of the Warwick Junior Women’s Club and the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society and was past president of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County (R.I.). She was involved in numerous organizations, including Volunteers of Warwick Schools, Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Friends of Warwick Public Library, and the West Bay Tennis Club. She volunteered at Kent Regency Nursing Home. She is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a brother.
James Metcalfe ’44, of Portland, Ore.; Jan. 8. After completing his residency, he was recruited to Harvard Medical School as an instructor. He became an assistant professor of medicine, an associate in medicine at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, and chief of medicine at the Women’s Lying-in Hospital. In 1961 he became a professor of cardiovascular research and established the Heart Research Laboratory at the Univ. of Oregon Medical School, now known as Oregon Health & Science Univ. He wrote numerous articles for medical journals and was the coauthor of Heart Disease and Pregnancy. After retiring from OHSU in 1986, he became chief of staff in the extended care division of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Vancouver, Wash., until 1993. He was the recipient of many awards, including the 1972 Distinguished Scientist Award, the 1976 Alexander von Humboldt Award, and the 1982 Outstanding Service Award. In 2010 the cardiovascular division at OHSU established a named lectureship in his honor, and in 2014 the lectureship became an endowed chair. He became professor emeritus of medicine at OHSU in 2011. In retirement he and his wife started Honeyhill Farms Nursery. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of Multnomah Friends Meeting, Sigma Xi, and Delta Upsilon. He is survived by his wife, Audrey; a daughter; two sons; three daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Henry G. Brownell ’45, of Cleveland; Jan. 25. He was the president and CEO of Repair Services Management in Cleveland. He previously was president, general manager, and director of Higbee Co., a Cleveland-based department store chain, for 30 years. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He is survived by his wife, Patricia.
John W. Gibson ’45, of Staunton, Va., formerly of Madison, Conn.; Jan. 18, of kidney failure. For 22 years he directed manufacturing facilities both in the United States and in Europe. He was president of Guilford Finishing Co. for seven years, general manager of the Bruning division of Addressograph-Multigraph for 10 years, and managing director of the Belgian subsidiary of Addressograph-Multigraph for five years. He later joined the Sprague Meter division of Textron in Bridgeport, Conn., and retired as international marketing director. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a longtime member of Grace Episcopal Church in Old Saybrook, Conn., where he served on the vestry. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; a daughter; sons John ’69 and David ’70; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Walter E. Palmer Jr. ’45, of Greenville, S.C., formerly of Pawtucket, R.I.; Apr. 24, 2014. He was an engineer with Hollingsworth and a deacon at Second Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Alma; three daughters; three sons; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Robert K. Saunders ’45, of Sherborn, Mass.; Jan. 19. He was a former vice president and executive art director at Culver Advertising and Ingalls Advertising, both in Boston. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy and continued to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He enjoyed fine art, traveling, and playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Franca; three daughters; two sons-in-law; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.
Wesley W. Yando ’45, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Dec. 10. He was the owner of the former Braided Rug and Specialties Co. in Pawtucket. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of Central Congregational Church for more than 50 years, serving as a deacon and a member of several committees. He sang with Brown’s Glee Club and later with the Jamestown Men’s Chorus. He enjoyed traveling and working with antique clocks. He is survived by his companion, Lorri Spooner; a daughter; two sons; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Janice Ward Allen ’46, of Jamestown, R.I.; Jan. 6. She worked in New York City, performing in several off-Broadway productions. She also participated in summer stock theater in Newport, R.I., and Atlantic City, N.J., and was active with both the Providence Players in Rhode Island and the Seekonk Stage in Massachusetts. Following her time on stage, she worked as a social caseworker in the Rhode Island Child Protective Services at the Department for Children and Families. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, and the Congregational Church in Edgewood, R.I. She is survived by two stepchildren, five step-grandchildren, a sister, a brother, and nieces and nephews.
John W. Bach ’46, of Chicago; Jan. 18, of cancer. A professional basketball player and coach, he played college basketball at Fordham Univ. and Brown, in addition to serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1948 he was drafted by the Boston Celtics and played one year with the team before moving on to play with the Hartford Hurricanes from 1949 to 1950. He became one of the nation’s youngest head coaches, at age 25, when he became coach at Fordham in 1950, where he remained for 18 years. He spent the next 10 years (1968–1978) coaching at Penn State. During that time he helped coach the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team, which lost to the Soviets in a controversial game. He coached the Golden State Warriors as an interim coach in 1980 and then as the full-time coach from 1983 to 1986. He joined the Chicago Bulls in 1986 as an assistant coach. After eight seasons with the Bulls, contributing to their three consecutive NBA championships, he became a coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Shortly after moving to North Carolina he suffered a heart attack and took time off from basketball, taking up painting and reading. He returned to coaching as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards before rebounding to the Bulls in 2003. He retired in 2006 after more than a half-century as a coach and was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. He is the all-time winningest coach in Fordham basketball history, and the Johnny Bach Award is presented annually at the Fordham Tip-Off Dinner to the individual who has had a substantial and lasting impact on basketball and who best emulates his passion for excellence. In 2007 several of his watercolor paintings were displayed at the Sevan Gallery in Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and five children.
George B. Melrose ’46, of Getzville, N.Y.; Jan. 27. He worked for a year as an experimental test engineer for Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Conn., before joining Bell Aerosystems, where he became director of business development, advanced systems, and technology. He retired in 1988. He was chairman of the Erie County Environment Management Council and founder and chairman of the town of Tonawanda’s Commission for Conservation of the Environment in 1970. He was a member of the Town Planning Board for 35 years and served as chairman from 1985 to 2006. He represented Erie County on the governor’s Erie Canal Commission and served on the executive board of the Horizons Waterfront Commission. He was the recipient of the town of Tonawanda’s Outstanding Citizen Award in 1991. He was a member of the Buffalo Athletic Club, the Brookfield Country Club, and the Buffalo Yacht Club, which honored him as Member of the Year in 2000. He enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, and traveling with his wife, with whom he visited five continents. He is survived by a daughter, a son, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Joseph L. Pannone ’46, of Los Angeles; Dec. 27. He worked for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian purchase methods analyst for more than 32 years and at Hughes Aircraft in contract management for five years. He retired in 1985. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed singing in his church choir and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Armida: two sons; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister.
Rita Reilly Price ’46, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Jan. 17. She was a retired teacher and reading specialist for the Middletown (R.I.) School District. She is survived by a daughter.
Robert E. Silverman ’46, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Westbury, N.Y.; Jan. 3. He taught psychology at New York Univ. and served as assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the psychology department chair. He retired in 1983. He wrote many scientific articles as well as the 1971 textbook Psychology. After retiring to Naples, he enjoyed traveling, fishing, writing, and going to horse races. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Assoc., the American Assoc. of University Professors, Sigma Xi, and Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by daughters Pamela Silverman ’76 and Jill Silverman ’75, son-in-law Mark Whalen ’76, a brother, and four grandchildren, including Kate Whalen ’07.
Jane Campbell Smith ’46, of Newburyport, Mass.; Feb. 7. She helped people with special needs become contributing members of society. She was one of the founding parents of what is now called The Arc of South Norfolk, where she worked for more than 30 years. She retired in 1997 as associate executive director, having received numerous citations for her work. Her peers honored her by dedicating the Jane Campbell Smith Community Room at the building she helped fund and build. She was a member of the Dedham (Mass.) Country and Polo Club, the Fox Hill Garden Club, the Chilton Club, the Dunes Club in Narragansett (R.I.), the South County Garden Club, and the First Parish of Westwood (Mass.) Church, where she sang in the choir and was active on numerous boards. She enjoyed gardening, swimming, and playing tennis. She is survived by three daughters, including Martha McManamy ’79; two sons, including Christopher ’84; a daughter-in-law; three sons-in-law; nine grandchildren, including Evan McManamy ’15; a brother; a sister-in-law; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Stephen Prager ’47 of St. Paul, Minn.; Jan. 2. He was a professor of chemistry at the Univ. of Minnesota. He founded the Theoretical Chemistry Group and pioneered teaching techniques combining both classical and statistical thermodynamics. He was an active member of the American Chemical Society, including serving as associate editor of the Journal of Physical Chemistry for many years, and was a fellow of the American Physical Society. He is survived by his wife, Julianne Heller Prager ’46; a sister-in-law; and a cousin.
Melvin C. Wittekind ’47, of Cullowhee, N.C.; Jan. 27. He had a career in the construction business that included building, architectural design, and vocational instruction. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the American Concrete Institute and Phi Kappa Psi. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; four daughters; two sons; four daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a sister.
Harmony Frey Breeden ’48, of Salem, Ore., formerly of New York City and Monterey, Calif.; Dec. 7. She was the director of public relations for Duell, Sloan & Pearce, a New York book publisher, before marrying and relocating to Oregon. For many years she volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital and was on the board of directors of the Oregon Easter Seal Society. She was a member of several women’s committees at the Portland Golf Club and the University Club of Portland. She lived in Monterey, Calif., in 1982 for a short period before returning to Oregon. She was a member of Oregon’s McNary Golf Club for 14 years. She is survived by her husband, William; a daughter; a son; three granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.
Frederick J. Cofer ’48, of Mount Pleasant, N.C., formerly of Westfield, N.J.; Aug. 31, 2014. He worked for Western Electric in New York City for many years. He retired in 1985 from AT&T, which had taken over Western Electric. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in both World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the Westfield Tennis Club and enjoyed spending time jogging at Tamaques Park and reading about history. He is survived by his wife, Faith; a son; a stepson; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Solomon Elmasian ’49, of Braintree, Mass.; Jan. 6. He was a retired land and property developer for Turnpike Associates in Braintree. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of the American Legion Post 86 and the Braintree Men’s Club. He is survived by his wife, Diane; two daughters; a son; and two grandsons.
Constance Blodgett Johnson ’49, of Fiskdale, Mass., formerly of Darien, Conn., and Old Lyme, Conn.; Jan. 5, from complications after a fall. A homemaker, she raised eight children while living in Darien for 30 years. She volunteered in the Darien schools library, joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. In 1986 she moved to Old Lyme to care for her elderly mother. She volunteered with the prison ministry and at Christ the King Church, was involved in local book clubs, and enjoyed solving New York Times crossword puzzles. She was proud to have visited all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and the European countries of her ancestors. She eventually moved to Worcester, Mass., where she enjoyed watching UConn women’s basketball and the Boston Red Sox. She is survived by eight children, 18 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
David S. Maimin Jr. ’49, of New York City; Jan. 14. He was a mechanical engineer and retired in 1994 as president of H. Maimin Co. Inc., manufacturers of electric cutting machines. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. After retiring, he took courses in Columbia Univ.’s Lifelong Learners program and was a volunteer for 22 years with New York City’s Executive Volunteer Corps counseling aspiring entrepreneurs. He received several awards and commendations from the city for his service. He enjoyed sailing and woodworking. He is survived by his wife, Sybil; sons Daniel ’92 and Michael ’96; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and twin grandsons.
Horatio R. Rogers ’49, of Middletown, R.I., formerly of Demarest, N.J.; Dec. 18. He spent 40 years working for the Colgate-Palmolive Co. in New York City. He was a longtime member of the Norman Bird Sanctuary and a volunteer for 24 years at the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. He received the President’s Volunteer Service Award and several accolades from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He was involved with several community organizations, including the Middletown Historical Society and the Sons of the Revolution. He was a member of the Newport Athletic Club and St. Columba’s Chapel in Middletown. During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He enjoyed woodworking and playing the bagpipes and piano. He is survived by his wife, Lois; two daughters; two sons; two daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; and eight grandchildren.
Sally deVeer Whipple ’49, of Glastonbury, Conn.; Jan. 7, after a short illness. She was a homemaker and volunteer in various community groups. She was an active member of the Brown Club, the Evergreen Garden Club of Glastonbury, and the women’s fellowship of the First Church of Christ. She is survived by a daughter; two sons, including Richard ’77; a daughter in law; seven grandchildren, including Matthew Crimmin ’03; and one great-grandchild.
1950s
Gordon E. Allen ’50, of Osterville, Mass., formerly of Westfield, N.J.; Jan. 22. After graduation he was hired by Cluett, Peabody & Co. as a sales trainee in its largest subsidiary, Arrow Co. He held several positions throughout the company and retired in 1985 as president and COO. During those years he also was chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturing Assoc. He was interim CEO and chairman of the board for Crystal Brands in the early 1990s. He moved to Osterville in retirement and served terms as treasurer of the Osterville Village Library and was a member of the board of governors of Oyster Harbors Club and treasurer of the Beach Club of Centerville. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a radio operator. He is survived by his wife, Sally; three daughters, including Judith Allen ’79 and Betsy Allen Sinnigen ’81; and eight grandchildren.
John N. Flick ’50, of Youngstown, Ohio; Feb. 6. He served 23 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He was a combat veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War. After retiring, he taught for 20 years at the Frank Ohl Middle School in Austintown, Ohio. He was a member of the Brown football team. He is survived by his wife, Ida; three children; three grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Thomas A. Galib ’50, of Somerset, Mass.; Dec. 8. He was a mathematician and head of computer information services at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in Newport, R.I., for 30 years before retiring in 1981. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was an active member of St. Anthony of the Desert Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed reading history, economics, and poetry. He is survived by his wife, Rosalie; two daughters; two sons; two daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; eight grandchildren; and a sister.
Edgar J. Lownes III ’50, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Dalton, N.H.; Jan. 11. He worked at American Silk Spinning Co., the family business, until the mid-1970s. His career in the textile industry also included sales work with Astro Dyeworks and Tillinghast Stiles. After moving to New Hampshire, he was a selectman for the town of Lyme and later a New Hampshire state senator. In 2000 he moved to Gulf Harbour Golf and Yacht Club in Florida, where he enjoyed outdoor activities, gardening, cooking, and music. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and member of Phi Gamma Delta. He is survived by his wife, Penny; a brother; and several nieces and nephews.
Kenneth W. Smith ’50, of Sidney, Ohio, formerly of Endwell, N.Y.; Sept. 4, 2014. He was a mechanical engineer for IBM in Owego, N.Y. He retired in 1984. He was an after-school volunteer at the Alpha Center, reading to children and taking part in their activities. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Sidney Noon Kiwanis Club and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. He is survived by two daughters, six grandchildren, and five great-granddaughters.
Harlan A. Bartlett ’51, of The Villages, Fla., formerly of East Greenwich, R.I.; Dec. 25. He had a successful career in the water industry, spending several years as a field sales manager with B.I.F., a manufacturer of water and wastewater equipment in Providence, and establishing several successful sales businesses. He retired in 2011 from Bartlett & Brillon LLC of Walpole, Mass. He was a life member of the New England Water Works Assoc. and recipient of the NEWWA 1992 Dexter Brackett Award for a paper published in the Journal of NEWWA, and the NEWWA 2012 K.O. Hodgson Distinguished Service Award. He was an accomplished oarsman. In 1949 at Brown he helped revive the informal sport of crew, which had been inactive since 1875. A year later it achieved official status as the Brown Rowing Association. He was a driving force in the BRA, coached at Brown in 1954 for a year, and served as president of the Association. He was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1971 he became involved with the Narragansett Boat Club and continued rowing well into his forties. He grew up hunting and hiking in the Adirondacks and had been a long-time member of the Hollywood Club in Colton, N.Y., and was a past member of the Hope Club and the Providence Art Club. He enjoyed music and was an accomplished pianist and singer. He also enjoyed gardening, skiing, and playing tennis. He is survived by his wife, Lydia; three daughters, including Ellen Bartlett ’78; a son; a daughter-in-law; three sons-in-law; five grandchildren; three stepchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
Kenneth B. Church Jr. ’51, of West Chester, Pa.; Jan. 25. He succeeded his father at the Kenneth B. Church Co. In 1967 he sold the business to Indian Head Inc., where he was an executive for two subsidiary divisions in Wilmington, Del. In 1975 he founded Dynamic Printers Inc. and ran the company until he retired in 2001. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the Rotary Club, the Radley Run Country Club, and the First Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed playing tennis, squash, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Willis Church ’52 ; two daughters, including Cynthia Church-Reed ’78; a son; two sons-in-law; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Larned L. Kent ’51, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Hackettstown, N.J.; Feb. 13. He worked for The Travelers Insurance Co. for 38 years before retiring. He is survived by his wife, Audrey; two daughters; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Donald P. Snyder ’51, of Hyannis, Mass.; Jan. 4. After graduating with an optometry PhD, he served in the U.S. Army at the West Point Army Hospital. He later opened a private optometric practice in Hyannis, where he saw patients for more than 40 years. He was a member of the Hyannis Yacht Club, the American Optometric Assoc., the Massachusetts Society of Optometry, and the Cape Cod District of Optometrists. He enjoyed sailing and traveling. He is survived by two sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and his former wife, Elizabeth Grayson.
Katherine Cauchon Thurber ’51, of Providence; Jan. 4. She was an accountant at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island. After retiring, she continued to work on the board of the Laurelmead Cooperative. She was a supporter of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, president of the Junior League, and a member of the Pottery & Porcelain Club, the Art Club, and the Hope Club. She is survived by a daughter; two sons, including Frederick Thurber ’83; two daughters-in-law; and two grandsons.
Kathleen Urch Gleason ’52, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jan. 1. She was an accomplished artist and enjoyed volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale. She is survived by three children and three grandsons.
Neil R. Schroeder ’52, of Portland, Me., formerly of Worcester, Mass.; Jan. 5. He was an associate professor of theatre in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Clark Univ. for 40 years. He founded the Clark Univ. Players Society. In addition to teaching, he performed in many stage productions, including Krapp’s Last Tape, for which he received favorable reviews. His last performance was in Krakow, Poland. He retired in 2000 to Portland. He was a member of the American National Theater and Academy, the American Education Theater Assoc., the American Society for Theater Research, and Phi Beta Kappa. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, and traveling. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, a son-in-law, two grandsons, and his former wife, Sylvia.
Richard M. Stockwell ’52, of Farmington, Conn.; Jan. 28. He was a physician and associate professor of medicine at the UConn Health Center. He practiced medicine from 1962 to 1975 in Farmington. In 1975 he was hired as an assistant professor of internal medicine and was promoted to associate professor in 1981. He retired in 1997. From 1996 to 1997 he was director of continuing medical education and founded the Recent Advances in Internal Medicine Lecture Series. He was also codirector of the continuing education course “What’s New in Internal Medicine” from 1986 to 1996. In retirement he taught “Physical Diagnosis” to first-year medical students and tutored. He received a UConn School of Medicine CME Teaching Award. He served the town of Farmington as health director, member of the Health Advisory Board, and vice chair of the Farmington Water Pollution Control Authority. For 54 years he was a member of First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Farmington, where he served on various committees and founded the Village Lecture Series that continues today. He was a member of the Exchange Club of Farmington and the Squires of West Hartford. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; four sons, including Richard ’79 and Philip ’89; four daughters-in-law, including Susan Cosentino ’90; and 10 grandchildren.
Leslie E. Watts Jr. ’52, of Brockton, Mass.; Dec. 21, after a period of failing health. He worked as a general supervisor for Peabody Construction Co. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening and was an avid New England Patriots fan. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.
Eugene R. Gray ’53, of Plymouth, Ind.; Feb. 7. He worked as a chemist in pharmaceuticals for Olin Corp., DuPont, and lastly for Houba Inc. in Culver, Ind., from which he retired. He was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry and was an usher. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge 3149 in Plymouth and the Scottish Rite in South Bend. He served on the board of directors for the Plymouth American Red Cross and the Community Resource Center in Plymouth, and was chairman of the Marshall County Local Emergency Planning committee for many years. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; a daughter; a son-in-law; and a brother.
Robert S. Manley ’53, of Southbury, Conn.; Nov. 25. He began a career as a minister, serving community churches in Cleveland. In 1963 he joined the General Motors Institute, where he was involved in training and development. In 1974 he went to Nigeria with the UN for a year as a consultant in organizational development. Upon his return, he joined the training and development department of Exxon in New York City. Three years later he became consultant and East Coast manager of Rensis Likert Associates. He retired in 1997, traveling with his wife and living in several communities while working in a variety of service-oriented positions, eventually settling into counseling and case management work with New Hampshire mental health and social service organizations. In 2012 he moved to Southbury. He enjoyed skiing and was a member of the ski patrol. He also enjoyed running and playing basketball, tennis, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; a daughter; two sons; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; and four grandchildren.
Robert W. Quinn ’53, of West Hartford, Conn.; Jan. 23. He retired from the Connecticut Bank and Trust Co. after 40 years as a senior vice president in the trust division and head of the estate settlement department. He played baseball in the Hartford Twilight League in the early 1950s and was a former member of the Hartford Club, the Golf Club of Avon, and the Rockledge Country Club. He enjoyed traveling in Europe. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and two grandchildren.
Donald E. Cottey ’54, of Bradenton, Fla.; Dec. 28. He had a private dental practice until he retired in 1997. He was an active Brown alum, holding positions as class secretary, vice president of the Florida West Coast Brown Club, and former chairman of the Brown University Fund four-state region of Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. He was a member of the varsity football team and recipient of the Class of 1910 Trophy for football and scholastic distinction. He was also active in Ducks Unlimited, the Boys Club of Bradenton, the Bradenton Country Club, and Trinity United Methodist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fly-fishing, hiking, and playing tennis and golf. He is survived by a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.
James F. Borst ’55, of Weldon Spring, Mo., formerly of Milford, N.H.; July 27, 2014. He was a retired sales manager for CEL Instruments in Milford. He did volunteer work at several zoos and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; four daughters; three sons-in-law; seven grandchildren; and two brothers.
Morton Gilstein ’55, of Providence; Jan. 26. He worked for many years as a sales manager in the payroll processing industry and worked at Mt. Sinai and Sugarman-Sinai chapels for more than 40 years. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He was a Brown class officer and reunion chair. He was a member of the Brown Sports Foundation, Temple Emanu-El, the Hebrew Free Loan Assoc., the Knights of Pythias, and the Toastmasters. He is survived by four daughters and eight grandchildren.
Donald E. Leonard ’55, of Providence; Jan. 9. He was a teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator in Rhode Island for more than 35 years. He was involved in adult education programs in Providence and at the Adult Correction Institute in Cranston, R.I. He also taught at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, for a short time. He helped develop the tennis program for the Providence Recreation Department and received the 1987 Outstanding Service to Adult Education Award given by the Rhode Island Assoc. for Adult and Continuing Education. He was a member of the New England Assoc. of Teachers of English and was on the editorial board of the Barnard Club library committee. He is survived by three daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Nancy L. Noyes ’55, of Peterborough, N.H.; Oct. 4. She was a retired occupational therapist. She is survived by her brother Frederick C. Noyes Jr. ’59.
William Renzulli ’55, of Wakefield, R.I.; Jan. 23. He was an attorney with the firm Abedon, Michaelson, Stanzler & Beiner. He later was appointed administrative assistant to the late Mayor Joseph A. Doorley, Jr. As a director in the Neighborhood Youth Corps since its inception in 1965, he was instrumental in implementing many programs for inner city youth. He was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Assoc., the American Bar Assoc., the Young Italian Imperial Club, the Italo American Club, and the Roosevelt Club. A Korean War veteran. He was a music enthusiast and enjoyed jazz. He is survived by three daughters; three sons-in-law; five grandchildren; and his companion, Marguerite D’Ambra.
Alan T. Bernstein ’56, of Sarasota, Fla.; Jul. 11, of a stroke. He was a sales executive for Sears Roebuck & Co. from 1963 to 1988. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he volunteered at the Sarasota Food Bank and was a mentor for the Sarasota Public Schools. He was a member of the Romeo Club and the Ivy League Club. He enjoyed reading, shopping, listening to classical music, and following the stock market. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 1508 Pelican Cove Rd., Sarasota 34231; two daughters; a son-in-law; and three grandsons.
James W. Mears ’56, of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 1. He was a product engineer with Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc. in Attleboro, Mass., and later a senior research engineer with the Grinnell Corp. in Cranston, R.I. He retired in 1999. He was an avid reader and enjoyed solving puzzles, especially Sudoku. He is survived by his wife, Wanda; two daughters; a son-in-law; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Dianne Cromwell Buttermore ’57, of Apache Junction, Ariz., formerly of East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Sept. 4. She was a cardiovascular technologist at Pocono Hospital in East Stroudsburg.
Virginia Weisman Saunders ’57, of Boston, formerly of Jerusalem; Dec. 14. She was a former chairman of UNICEF-Boston and was instrumental in the establishment of the Brown Club of Jerusalem. She enjoyed cooking and was an avid Red Sox fan. She is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Arthur R. Taylor ’57,’60 AM, of Allentown, Pa.; Dec. 3. He was the former president of CBS Inc. and Muhlenberg College. While earning a master’s degree, he worked at Brown as an admissions officer from 1957 to 1961. In January 1961 he joined the First Boston Corp. in its New York City office as a trainee and rose to become director of the corporation in 1969. He joined International Paper Co. in 1970 and became executive vice president the following year. Not yet 40 years of age and with no prior experience in broadcasting, he was hired as president of the Columbia Broadcasting System, where he was responsible for the operations of the entire company. After five years with CBS, he cofounded the investment firm Sarabam Corp., which focused on the Middle East. After the deaths of his colleagues, he established his own private investment company, Arthur Taylor & Co. He served as president of the New York City Partnership and was a member of the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1985 Fordham Univ. named him dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration and dean of the Faculty of Business. He spent seven years at Fordham, transforming the graduate school into a nationally recognized center for training future business leaders. Fordham subsequently awarded him an honorary doctorate. He then went on to serve as president of Muhlenberg College for 10 years. In 1999 he was one of 50 college and university presidents recognized for outstanding leadership in the field of student character development in The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character Development. He was a Brown trustee and served on the boards of numerous global corporations, including Toshiba, Pitney Bowes, Eastern Airlines, Travelers, the First Boston Corp., the Princeton Review, and Swiss Reinsurance Co. He also held government advisory positions on foreign policy under Presidents Nixon and Carter and was a member of the boards of New York Hospital, the Joffrey Ballet, Hahnemann Univ., Bucknell Univ., the American Assembly at Columbia Univ., and the Center for Inter-American Relations. He was the recipient of many awards and honorary degrees. Phi Beta Kappa. Throughout his career and after retiring from Muhlenberg, he continued mentoring young people. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; three daughters, including Anne Taylor Madden ’86 and Sarah McFarland Taylor ’90; three sons-in-law, including John Rountree ’90; four grandchildren; a sister; his former wife, Sandy McFarland Taylor '58 and 15 nieces and nephews.
Robert A. Nuttall ’58, of Alloy, W.Va.; Jan. 14, of multiple myeloma. He was a retired mechanical engineer for Elkem Metals, formerly Union Carbide, where he had worked for 28 years. He was active in his community, where he served as a scoutmaster. He was a member of the Charlton Heights and River View United Methodist Church, Gauley Bridge Lions Club, and Hawks Nest Country Club. A member of Brown’s varsity men’s basketball team, he continued to enjoy sports throughout his children’s years at school and beyond. He also enjoyed playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a daughter; three sons; nine grandchildren; a sister; and five brothers.
Frances Stein Picker ’58, of Fremont, Calif.; Dec. 14. She was a test physicist at the Stanford Research Institute and later worked as a secondary school math teacher. She enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, Amos Picker ’60 ScM. In addition to Amos, she is survived by two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, six grandchildren, and a brother.
Charles A. Stewart III ’58, of Yarmouth, Me.; Dec. 10. He worked for the family blueberry business at Al Stewart and Sons in Cherryfield, Me. In retirement he volunteered with the Portland Boys and Girls Club and the Yarmouth YMCA. In October 2014 the Stewart Adult Day Center in Portland was opened and named in his honor. He was a member of the AMC Four Thousand Footer Club and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Yarmouth. He enjoyed skiing and playing tennis. He is survived by his wife, Howsie; three children; seven grandchildren; a sister; brother Robert ’62; and several nieces and nephews.
Robert W. Watson ’58, of Marston Mills, Mass.; Dec. 31. He worked briefly for John Bowen Construction Co. before becoming a mortgage banker in Boston at Shawmut Bank, First National Bank of Boston, and State Street Bank & Trust. He was president of the Massachusetts Mortgage Banking Assoc. for several years. He was a camp counselor and staff member at Camp O-AT-KA on Sebago Lake, Maine, and later a member of the board of directors. After retiring to Cape Cod, he became active in several model railroad hobby clubs and the Beach Club of Centerville. He was the Beach Club president from 2006 to 2008. He enjoyed photography, woodworking, model railroading, hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; two daughters; a son; a grandson; a brother, and several nieces and nephews.
1960s
David A. Belden ’60, of Woodstock, Conn.; Jan. 7. He held various marketing and sales positions at the Rogers Corp. in Rogers, Conn., and retired in 1999 as an eastern regional sales manager. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He belonged to several automotive clubs and was a 50+ member in the Sports Car Club of America, where he spent many years both racing and officiating. Recently he was active racing his early Lotus MK IX with the Vintage Sports Car Club of America. He is survived by his wife, Alice; a stepson; a sister; two brothers; and nieces and nephews.
Edgar Humann ’60, of Hamilton, Bermuda; Mar. 29, 2015. He had a successful career in New York City at the Empire Trust Co., the brokerage and investment firm Tucker Anthony, and later at Bessemer Trust Co. In 1993 he moved to Bermuda and in 1997 was appointed the French Consul of Bermuda, retiring ten years later. He was also chairman of his family’s foundation, the Christian Humann Foundation, which assisted individuals and organizations in the arts, education, and science. In 2007, in recognition of his continuous dedication and generosity, the French government awarded him the Insignia of Chevalier in the Order of the Legion of Honor. In 2013 the Bermuda National Gallery named its mezzanine the Humann Gallery. He is survived by his wife, Faith.
Arthur G. Holstein III ’61, of Lake Bluff, Ill.; June 17, 2014. He was co-owner of Pfanstiehl Laboratories in Waukegan, Ill. He was active in the Lake Bluff community and a proud Eagle Scout. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; two sons; a daughter-in-law; and two grandchildren.
Dilys B. Winn ’61, of Asheville, N.C., formerly of New York City; Feb. 5. She owned Murder Ink, the first New York City bookstore devoted solely to the mystery genre, which was written up in New York Magazine, Publishers Weekly, and the New York Daily News. She also appeared on the former game show To Tell the Truth, where panelists guessed she was “the lady with the mystery bookstore.” She started her professional career as an advertising copywriter and in 1977 published her first book, Murder Ink, which won the Edgar Allan Poe Award. She wrote several other mysteries, including Murderess Ink: The Better Half of the Mystery. The television movie Murder Ink, about the owner of a mystery bookstore, was produced in 1980. The Independent Mystery Booksellers Assoc. created an annual Dilys Award given to the book the members most enjoyed selling that year. The award was last conferred in 2014. In the 1990s she moved to Key West and opened another mystery bookstore, Miss Marple’s Parlor, where she also created one-night mystery shows. She also reviewed mysteries for Kirkus Reviews. She moved to Asheville in 2001 and taught writing courses until her death. She is survived by three cousins.
Nathan E. Clark ’62, of San Diego; Dec. 24. In the summer of 1968, while body surfing, he broke his neck and nearly drowned. After three months of intense physical therapy he learned to walk again. As he aged, the neural connections began to deteriorate, leaving him wheelchair bound for the last two years. During that time he suffered the onset of dementia and finally pneumonia. He had been on the staff of Scripps Institute of Oceanography UC San Diego, where he worked in the ocean research division, specializing in air-sea interaction climate diagnostics. In 1984 he switched to writing grant proposals for nonprofit organizations. He was associated with the San Diego AIDS Project, the ACLU, Lutheran Social Services, and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego. At Brown he was a member of the marching and concert bands. He enjoyed reading, biking, and Facebook. He is survived by his wife, Caroline; two stepchildren; two granddaughters; a sister, Nancy Van Ness ’64; a brother-in-law, John Van Ness ’64 PhD; a niece, Karen Van Ness ’93; and a nephew.
Christopher G. Graham ’62, of Bradenton, Fla.; Sept. 1, 2014.
E. Jane Pomroy Powers ’62, of Westfield, N.Y.; July 17, 2014. A real estate agent for Holt Real Estate in Mayville, N.Y., for many years, she was also an accomplished pianist and organist and enjoyed singing. She was a participant in the Westfield Community Chorus. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, and a brother.
Kendall F. Foley ’63, of West Grove, Pa.; Jan. 27. He was a 30-year employee of Hercules Inc. in Wilmington, Del. He visited more than 80 countries as director of international sales for the company’s resins division and was instrumental in developing trade with China and other Far East countries. At Brown he was a member of the marching and concert bands. He was past president of Ovations at Elk View Homeowners Assoc. and a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Assoc. For the Advancement of Science. He enjoyed sailing and judging the annual science fair for Chester County schools. He is survived by his wife, Ann; a daughter; two stepchildren; five step-grandchildren; and a sister.
John P. Beil ’64, of Lebanon, Ohio; Jan. 26. He became a private and commercial pilot after years in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. For more than 30 years he worked in sales and marketing in academic publishing. An avid tennis player, he played at the Indoor Tennis Club, the Montgomery Tennis Club, and the Cincinnati Tennis Club. He also enjoyed playing golf, bird-watching, landscaping, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; three daughters; three sons-in-law; three grandsons; a brother; and a sister-in-law.
Madeline E. Ehrman ’64, ’65 AM, of Arlington, Va.; Oct. 24. She was the former director of research, evaluation and development in the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute. She published Understanding Second Language Learning Difficulties in 1996.
Michael H. Diamond ’64, of Los Angeles; Jan. 10. He founded the consulting and expert-witness firm, MHD Group, after retiring from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in 2007. Previously he spent 23 years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he opened and expanded the firm’s Los Angeles office. After leaving Skadden, he became executive vice president and general counsel of New World Communications. Following that time he joined Kenneth Ostrow to form the firm Diamond & Ostrow LLP. During his career he advised numerous corporations and their officers, directors, and shareholders on complex high-profile disputes. This included the merger of Brandeis-Bardin Institute with the Univ. of Judaism, which formed the American Jewish Univ. He was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top “50 Under 50” lawyers in the country, and Los Angeles Magazine named him one of the 10 best lawyers in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; four children, including Seth ’85 and Cory ’92; 10 grandchildren; and his brother Steve ’59.
Richard A. Stone ’64, of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Jan. 4. He served on the faculty of the UC San Diego School of Medicine before more than 30 years of private practice in nephrology and hypertension at the Eisenhower Medical Center. He was a fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and the American Society of Hypertension. At Brown he was captain of the track and field team. He enjoyed playing tennis, reading espionage and crime novels, watching movies, and rooting for the Boston Red Sox. He is survived by his wife, Tanya; four children; and three grandchildren.
Douglas E. Brown ’65, of East Lyme, Conn.; Jan. 11, 2015. A mechanical engineer, he worked at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in New London, Conn., and Mystic, Conn. He traveled to the Arctic several times to perform research. He was an avid sailor and skier. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Gnome Intelligent C Editors, the Rhode Island Yacht Club, Theta Delta Chi, and Pi Tau Sigma. He is survived by his wife, Darthea; a son; a daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and his mother.
Joseph H. Hasenbush ’66, of Brookline, Mass.; Aug. 8. He is survived by his wife, Abbe; his mother; a brother; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews.
1970s
Carl R. Dahm ’70, of Cranston, R.I.; Dec. 27. He was an accomplished illustrator whose editorial drawings appeared regularly in major publications worldwide and won numerous awards. For the last 12 years he was a professor of design at the American Univ. of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Claudia; two children; a grandchild; three brothers; and nieces and nephews.
Judith Skorupski Dimitri ’71, of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 7. She was a teacher in the Cranston School Department for 28 years, retiring as head of the math department at Cranston East High School. She volunteered at the Scalabrini Villa Health Care Center and St. Brigid’s Church in Johnston, R.I. She is survived by her husband, Francis; and two brothers.
Ralph E. Hoffman ’71, of New Haven, Conn.; Feb. 1 after struggling with glioblastoma. He was a professor of psychiatry and the medical director of the YPH Adult Intensive Outpatient Program at Yale New Haven Hospital. As a researcher he gained international recognition for his pioneering work on the pathophysiology and treatment of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. His work was widely published and led to a feature story, “Auditory Hallucinations,” on ABC’s 20/20 and an interview for Science Friday on NPR. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 1992 Stephen Fleck Award from the Yale Department of Psychiatry. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughter Lily Hoffman ’17; a son; a brother; a sister-in-law; and a nephew.
Alfred C. Snider ’72, of Burlington, Vt.; Dec. 11, from complications of pneumonia. He was known as “Tuna” to all, including the students he taught at the Univ. of Vermont, where he was a professor of forensics, a longtime director of the debating team, and a faculty adviser to the radio station, WRUV. He was known worldwide as a convener, coach, and judge of debating competitions and workshops. He taught students to argue in such courses as Persuasion, Presidential Campaign Rhetoric, and the Rhetoric of Reggae Music. In 2011 the Vermont team was ranked No. 7 in the world by the International Debate Education Assoc. According to UVM, he has traveled to 45 countries on nearly every continent to spread the word about debating. He was instrumental in founding the World Debate Institute in 1982 and served as its director. He wrote books on debating, including Voices in the Sky: Radio Debates, The Code of the Debater: Introduction to Policy Debating, and Sparking the Debate: How to Create a Debate Program. He previously was on the faculty of Wayne State Univ. in Michigan as a debate coach and lecturer. He is survived by his wife, Bojana; a daughter; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Richard E. Hall ’76, of Paradise, Calif.; Nov. 29, of cancer. He was a builder for more than 30 years. At Brown he excelled on the football team until a knee injury ended his playing. He was a Boy Scout leader, a Little League coach, and a member of the Paradise Irrigation District Board for many years. He moved to Nicaragua, married in 2008, and became a farmer. He is survived by his wife, Josefa; four children; two stepchildren; his mother; two sisters; and five brothers.
Anthony L. DiBiasio ’77, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Dec. 11. He was well-known at several radio stations as the “Spy in the Sky,” reporting on weather and traffic from his Cessna, which he called Ms. Piggy. He was a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps. and the U.S. Air Force, where he received meteorology training. He supplied aerial media photographs, ran a charter service, and gave flying lessons in Ms. Piggy under his corporate name Aeronautica. Occasionally, he filled in on radio talk shows or television weather reports. He worked in the insurance business for a time, earning Chartered Life Underwriter status. He taught English at the Community College of Rhode Island and often reviewed books or served as a restaurant critic for local newspapers. He was active with the Big Brothers of Rhode Island and was a member of the National Broadcast Pilots Assoc., the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assoc., the Providence Art Club, and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. He enjoyed playing softball, tennis, and golf and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a son; a daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; five siblings; and 21 nieces and nephews.
1980s
Ronnie G. Gaines ’81, of Arlington, Va.; Oct. 24, of pancreatic cancer. He was a risk analyst for Freddie Mac in Washington, D.C., and an avid bicyclist. He enjoyed reading, history, traveling, and spending time outdoors. He is survived by a daughter, a son, his mother, five sisters, two brothers-in-law, and eight nieces and nephews.
1990s
John C. Melfi ’94, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Nov. 2, from complications of a head injury. He is survived by his wife, Joanna; his parents; a sister; and a brother.
2000s
G.S.
Nancy Gorham Blubaugh ’32 AM, of Lee, Mass., formerly of Pittsfield, Mass., and Metuchen, N.J.; Dec. 10. She was 108 years old. She enjoyed sewing, reading, quilting, baking, and solving crossword puzzles. She is survived by two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law; two sons-in-law; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sanford S. Shorr ’42 AM, of Meriden, Conn.; Feb. 1. After working at the Woonsocket, R.I., Chamber of Commerce as executive secretary, he moved to Meriden, where he spent 29 years as executive vice president of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce and received numerous citations and awards. He was president of the New England Assoc. of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Connecticut Assoc. of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and the American Retail Assoc. of Executives. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a 65-year member of the Kiwanis Club, serving as president of the Kiwanis Club of Woonsocket and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Meriden. After he retired, the Chamber created the Sanford S. Shorr Education Awards to encourage local students to continue their education after high school. He is survived by his wife, Flora; two daughters; a son; two sons-in-law; and five grandchildren.
Gerald Freilich ’47 AM, ’49 PhD, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Dec. 27. An emeritus professor of mathematics at Queens College, he taught at City College of New York, advancing to full professor and chairman of the mathematics department in 1966. He helped establish the SUNY doctoral program and the graduate mathematics library. He wrote several research articles and reviews. He was a former governor of the Mathematical Assoc. of America and a member of the American Mathematical Society. He joined the Queens College faculty in 1971 and taught there until his retirement in 1995. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy, followed by time in the U.S. Naval Reserves doing research for the Naval Ordnance Laboratory. He is survived by his wife, Marion; a daughter; a son; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother; and several nieces and nephews.
Edward J. Pfeifer ’48 AM, ’57 PhD, of Marshfield, Vt.; Jan. 27. He was a member of the St. Michael’s College English department and served as the academic dean from 1965 to 1970. He retired in 1986. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy and received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He is survived by his wife, Joan; four children; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
James M. Gillies ’49 AM, of Toronto, Canada: Dec. 13. After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, he finished his education and in 1951 joined the faculty of UCLA’s Graduate School of Management, where he eventually became dean of the business school. In 1965 he returned to Canada and was instrumental in founding Toronto’s York Univ. Faculty of Administrative Studies, today called the Schulich School of Business, where he served as the initial dean. He left the school from 1972 to 1979 to work for the Progressive Conservatives in key political roles, including senior policy adviser for Prime Minister Joe Clark. He returned to York in 1980 to teach and write. He produced several works, including Where Business Fails, and continued his administrative work at the Schulich School, helping to develop such programs as the Russia-Canada Corporate Governance Program. In 2009 he became professor emeritus, but continued in his office five days a week. He is survived by his wife, Beth; four children; and several grandchildren.
Robert W. Martel ’54 PhD, of Tustin, Calif.; Dec. 25. He worked as a chemist for New Jersey Zinc. He later worked at Xerox in Rochester, N.Y., where he obtained five patents. In 1972 he opened his own company, Fastway Printing, in Orange, Calif. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers, the American Assoc. for Contamination Control, and Holy Family Church. He was listed in American Men of Science in 1967. He is survived by his wife, Marguerite; three daughters; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Lois Schmitt Shield ’60 ScM, of Shelton, Wash., formerly of Urbana, Ill.; Sept. 12, of pancreatic cancer. She was a research chemist, who later became coordinator of research programs at the Univ. of Illinois. She retired in 1991. She enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, swimming, sculling, sailing, and traveling. She is survived by her husband, Richard; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; two grandsons; and two sisters.
Eric J. Softley ’60 ScM, ’64 PhD, of Palm City, Fla., formerly of Wayne, Pa., and Key Biscayne, Fla.; Jan. 22. He worked at General Electric before moving to Beckman Coulter as an algorithmic specialist writing software for laser analysis. After retiring, he set up an electronic design and fabrication shop in his house, where he worked on wireless home automation and designed a motor-driven fishing kayak for people with limited mobility. He sailed his Morgan 30 and raced his C&C 35 on Chesapeake Bay in addition to sailing to Newport, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas. He earned a private pilot license, and enjoyed flying his Cessna 172RG to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. He also played tennis and bridge. He was a member of the Key Biscayne Yacht Club and the Katib Bridge Center. He is survived by a daughter, a son, five grandchildren, and two sisters.
Arthur R. Taylor ’60 AM (see ’57).
Grace Robbin ’64 ScM, of San Mateo, Calif.; Dec. 1, of cancer. She was a psychologist who worked for the County Child Development Service and was involved with the Community Mental Health Center, and the Peninsula Medical Center, in Burlingame, Calif. She also assisted at the Children’s Health Home, where she supported its preschool program for multiple physically disabled children aged six months to two years. In 1977 she entered private practice, assisting children under age 13 and their families. During her final months of cancer treatment she continued to tutor her students. She enjoyed the arts, especially the San Francisco Symphony and Opera, and her local book clubs. She is survived by her husband, Vern, and many family members.
William L. Brackett ’65 MAT, of Walpole, N.H., formerly of Bristol, Conn.; Jan. 19. He was a math teacher at Lewis Mills Regional High School in Burlington, Conn., and at the Wamago Regional High School in Litchfield, Conn. He was active in the Franklin Mason Lodge, becoming Master in 1975. He was a member of Chippanee Country Club and St. John’s Episcopal Church. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; three sons; three daughters-in-law; six grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Madeline E. Ehrman ’65 AM (see ’64).
Thomas C. Snell ’65 ScM, of Aptos, Calif., formerly of Bar Harbor, Me.; Dec. 12. He taught biology for eight years at the Meeting School in Rindge, N.H., before moving to Bar Harbor to work as a scientific software engineer. As a member of the Jackson Laboratory team, he helped to develop the encyclopedia of the mouse genome. This point-and-click software won a second-place Computerworld Smithsonian award for innovative scientific software. In 1993 he moved to Aptos. He is survived by two daughters, a son, a grandson, and a brother
James S. Drier ’73 PhD, of Brunswick, Me.; Dec. 10. He taught religious studies at Wagner College on Staten Island for many years. He moved to Brunswick in 1980. He is survived by a son; several grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Eva Friedlander ’78 PhD, of New York City; Dec. 24, of ovarian cancer. She is survived by a nephew and cousins.
Gary L. Sanford ’78 PhD, of College Park, Ga.; Jan. 10, after a brief illness. He was a professor and researcher in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He was a member of the Friendship Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Birdie; a son; a granddaughter; and a brother.
Andrew R.L. Cayton ’77 AM, ’81 PhD, of Columbus, Ohio; Dec. 17, of cancer. He taught at Harvard; Wellesley College; Ball State Univ.; Miami Univ. in Oxford, Ohio; Leiden Univ.; and Ohio State. At Miami Univ., where he worked for 25 years, he held the title of University Distinguished Professor. In 2015 he moved to Ohio State to occupy the Warner Woodring Chair in History. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters; two sons-in-law; a grandson; four sisters; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Faculty
Richard A. Ellis of Prague, Czech Republic, formerly of Provincetown, Mass., and Sarasota, Fla.; Dec. 31, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a retired professor who taught at Brown for 38 years, both in the undergraduate program and in the medical school. Prior to joining the Brown faculty, he served two years in the U.S. Army and worked at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He taught a variety of courses, including introductory biology, histology, cell biology, and microscopic techniques. He was a mentor and advisor to many students. He published articles in Science and Nature. He enjoyed gardening and was interested in ornithology. He endowed a scholarship in his name for undergraduate students. In retirement he divided his time between homes in Provincetown and Sarasota. He became a painter and exhibited his work at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. In 2002 he began spending half of each year in Prague, where he enjoyed the cultural life and attending the opera, visiting museums, and learning the Czech language. He is survived by his partner, Dr. Pavel Farkas.
Richard K. Mead, of Barrington, R.I.; Jan. 11. After service in the U.S. Navy, he became a primary care physician and cardiologist. He retired in 2000. He was an instructor in clinical medicine, becoming an associate professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School. He received numerous awards, including the 1986 Teaching Award from Rhode Island Hospital, the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians in 1995, and the Distinguished Teachers Award from Brown in 2000. He was a member of the Providence Child Guidance Clinic and the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, and was a former chairman of the Rhode Island branch of the Episcopal Church Foundation, the Harwich Guild of Artists, and the Barrington Yacht Club. He played piano and sang with various groups, including the Haverford Glee Club, the University Glee Club, the Central Congregational Church Choir in Providence, and the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Barrington. He also enjoyed reading and collecting books. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; a daughter; a son; four grandchildren; a brother; and many nieces and nephews.
S. Frederick Slafsky, of Providence; Jan. 8. He joined the Miriam Hospital in 1965 and was director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. He served on many hospital committees and on the board of directors of the R.I. State Review Organization. He participated in the development of Lifespan and held clinical appointments at the Roger Williams Medical Center, the Women & Infants Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. He was a clinical associate professor of surgery at Brown’s medical school from 1986 to 2002. He retired in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Joan; two sons; two daughters-in-law; and four grandchildren.
