1930s
Margaret Thurlow Todd ’37, of Pleasantville, N.Y.; Dec. 28. She worked for 10 years as a secretary/copy editor for the New Yorker magazine, was an assistant editor for Craft Horizons bimonthly magazine, and was a homemaker. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Margaret Allenson Whitehead ’38, of Del Mar, Calif.; Aug. 30. She did extensive volunteer work throughout her lifetime, including being president-elect of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Council of Hospital Volunteers. She enjoyed cruise vacations.
Barbara G. Kimball ’39, of Bedford, Mass.; Mar. 31. She worked as a service representative for New England Telephone for 36 years. She enjoyed playing bridge. She is survived by a niece and nephew.
1940s
Jacques Cousin ’40, ’42 AM, of Newport, R.I., formerly of Detroit; Mar. 31. Hospital administration positions took him to Rochester, N.Y., and then to Detroit, where he was the first administrator of Oakwood Hospital. He later accepted positions at the Greater Detroit Area Hospital Council, the United Foundation, and finally the Detroit Medical Center, from which he retired as president in 1979. After returning to Newport, he served on the boards of Hospice of Rhode Island, the Historic Hill Assoc., and the Tree Society. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed horseback riding; sailing his boat, Belle Poule; and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Edythe; two sons; a daughter-in-law; and a granddaughter.
John A. Heidt ’42, of Woodstock, Vt.; Feb. 22. He was ordained in 1946 at the Second Congregational Church of Winchester, Mass., where he became the associate pastor. He was later associate pastor at the First Church in Cambridge, Mass., and pastor of the Pleasant Street Congregational Church in Arlington, Mass. After moving to Woodstock in 1977, he became the owner of The Prince and Pauper Restaurant. He was proud of his Celtic heritage and enjoyed Scottish music and step dancing. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a daughter; son Jeffrey ’67; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Thomas D. Burns ’43, of Boston; Feb. 27. He was a trial lawyer and cofounder of the Boston firm Burns & Levinson LLP. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II he joined the Friedman, Atherton, King & Turner law firm and left to found Burns & Levinson in 1960. During his more than 60-year career, he tried cases across New England and argued more than 100 appeals. He was appointed to the Judicial Council of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and named vice chairman of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission. He also served as Special Counsel to the Boston City Council and as chairman of the Judicial Selection Committee of the Boston and Massachusetts bar associations. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and twice turned down a seat on the Massachusetts Superior Court. The Thomas D. Burns Scholarship Fund was created in his honor by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in 2011. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; three children; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Violet B. Halpert ’44, of East Providence; Apr. 10. She was a former professor of communications at Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. in New Jersey. She later taught at Suffolk Univ.in Boston, and eventually became a faculty member at Providence College in the English and Western Civilization departments. She was a member of the Modern Language Assoc. of America, the American Assoc. of University Professors, and the American Society for Engineering Education.
Louis V. Jackvony Jr. ’44, of Providence: Feb. 12. He was president of Jackvony & Jackvony Inc. in Lincoln, R.I. He previously headed the Department of Business Regulation for the State of Rhode Island and served on the Board of Bar Examiners and the President’s Council of Providence College. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Assoc., the American Bar Assoc., the Brown Club of Rhode Island, the Boston University Club of Rhode Island, the Nooseneck Hill Rod and Gun Club, the Alpine Country Club, and the Aurora Civic Assoc., and was active in Republican politics. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two daughters; two sons-in-law; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Ruth Cunningham Lyons ’44, of Ludlow, Vt., formerly of Glastonbury, Conn.; Mar. 12. She was a retired chemical engineer for Pratt & Whitney. She enjoyed the outdoors, spending time hiking, gardening, skiing, and camping. She is survived by three daughters, two sons-in-law, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and sister Barbara Cunningham Perkins ’46.
W.S. Maxwell Montgomery ’44, of Lenox, Mass.; Feb. 11. He worked as a teacher and athletic coach at Pittsfield (Mass.) High School before moving to New Jersey, where he worked as a plant engineer for the Campbell Soup Co. He later moved to Westwood, Mass., and joined the faculty at Wellesley (Mass.) High School, where he taught and coached for 25 years. He also worked as a computer programmer for the Wellesley Public Schools and was a longtime member of the faculty at Babson College, where he taught in the graduate program. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of the Assoc. of Teachers of Mathematics in New England and Delta Upsilon. He is survived by his wife, Connie; three daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; three sons-in-law; and 12 grandchildren.
Barbara Orkin Rogers ’44, of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., formerly of Belvedere, Calif.; Westport, Conn.; and Newton Center, Mass.; Oct. 26, of lymphoma. A retired librarian. She worked as an art librarian at the Boston Public Library, a librarian in the Westport public schools, and a librarian for the city of Mill Valley, Calif. She enjoyed traveling to several European countries with her husband and attending the theater and opera. She also enjoyed hiking. She is survived by daughters Jane Rogers Black ’69 and Elisa Rogers Legg ’75; a son; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Charles S. Howard ’45, of Wakefield, Mass., and Drakes Island, Me.; Mar. 12. He was chief of the department of anesthesia at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. He was a member of the River Club, Cape Arundel Golf Club, and South Congregational Church, all in Kennebunkport, Me. He is survived by his wife, Irma; a daughter; a son; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
William B. Mason ’45, of Westerly, R.I.; Mar. 18. He worked for United Fruit Co. for 25 years in several of the company’s tropical divisions, including Costa Rica. He was later assigned to the Boston headquarters, where he served as assistant to the vice president for finance and later as controller. In 1974 he founded First Financial Advisory Services in Westerly. For 35 years he also served as a financial officer for three local churches. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was a recipient of the Purple Heart, the distinguished flying cross, and three air medals. He is survived by his wife, Lois; a son-in-law; and a granddaughter.
Rose Boyajian Van Dyke ’45, of San Jose, Calif.; Oct. 25. She worked for a year after graduation at Pratt & Whitney before marrying and becoming a homemaker. Later she and her husband invested in a commercial building that housed a market and restaurant in Little River, Calif. She ran the business until the onset of dementia in her 80s. She enjoyed music and gardening at her two homes in Orinda and Little River. She was a member of Orinda Community Church and the Montelindo Garden Club. She is survived by a daughter, three sons, seven grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Alan M. Skurnik ’46, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Newton, Mass.; Mar. 21. He was drafted by the Boston Braves baseball team after college and prior to being drafted by the U.S. Army. After serving in World War II he entered the fashion industry as a partner of Boston Maid Inc. He enjoyed playing golf and was a club champion many times. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; a daughter; two sons; and three grandchildren.
David A. Tuckerman ’46, of Arlington, Va., formerly of New Haven, Conn.; Sept. 4. He was a retired engineer of Universal Wire Products Inc. in North Haven, Conn. He was active at Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington and a member of the Culpepper Garden senior living community. He enjoyed reading and playing golf. He is survived by four children and 13 grandchildren.
George C. Lewis III ’47, of Palos Verdes, Calif.; Nov. 29, 2014. He was a retired western field sales manager for Bayuk Cigars in Philadelphia.
Priscilla Hubon McCarty ’47, of Cumberland, Me.; Feb. 21. She worked for a short time as a secretary at Little, Brown & Co. in Boston and later as a legal secretary for Franklin G. Hinckley Esq. After raising a family she earned her master’s in library sciences from the Univ. of Maine in 1972. She worked as a library assistant at the Greely Junior High School in Cumberland and later as a music catalog librarian at Bowdoin College. She retired in 1993. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, sailing, bird watching, knitting, cooking, and reading. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a son-in-law, and a grandson.
Robert C. Oliver ’47, of Elmira, N.Y.; Mar. 23. He had a career with General Electric. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife before her death. He is survived by two daughters, two sons, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.
Charles F. Bassett ’48, of Rochester, N.Y.; Mar. 23. He was a retired engineering supervisor of Eastman Kodak Co. During World War II and the Korean War he served in the U.S. Navy. He was active in the Instrument Society of America, where he was an international vice president. He was a charter member of Westside Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Rita; five sons; five daughters-in-law; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and four siblings.
Pauline Chartier Bergevin ’48, of Manchester, N.H.; Mar. 25. She was active in the Manchester community. She volunteered at the Manchester Library and the Currier Gallery of Art. She was a pianist and sang soprano in the Pembroke choir and her church choir. She enjoyed French literature and playing bridge and tennis. She is survived by three sons, including Paul ’78; two daughters-in-law; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Daly Connelly ’48, of Wellesley, Mass.; Mar. 4, after a brief illness. She taught English at East Providence High School prior to marrying. She returned to teaching in the late 1960s and retired from the Holliston (Mass.) High School English department in 1991. In retirement she audited several art history courses at Wellesley College. She enjoyed playing golf and traveling. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, and a sister.
Bettie Lou Carpenter Conyngham ’48, of Dallas, Pa., formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Feb. 8. She was a homemaker and active in several community organizations. Her board affiliations included the Junior League of Wilkes-Barre, Heritage House, Planned Parenthood, and the Sordoni Art Gallery. She is survived by three daughters, including Sarah Conyngham ’85; a son; three sons-in-law; and eight grandchildren.
Roswell S. Cummings ’48, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., formerly of West Acton, Mass.; Nov. 22. He was a retired Baptist minister. He served pastorates in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Florida over a period of 40 years. He also served as a director of the Board of National Ministries and as a representative to the General Board for the American Baptist Churches, USA. In retirement he was active in Habitat for Humanity and served as the first president for the Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity project. He taught an adult Sunday school class at Coronado Community United Methodist Church. He enjoyed skiing, camping, woodworking, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Alice Hambleton Cummings ’50; three daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Lotte Van Geldern Povar ’48, ’62 MAT, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Seekonk, Mass.; Mar. 30. She was a retired travel agent. She volunteered with several organizations, including a fundraising group for Brown. She was president of both the local chapter of Hadassah and the Miriam Hospital Women’s Assoc. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and pets. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren, including Justin Bachorik ’06 and Alexandra Bachorik ’10.
Abraham M. Aronson ’49, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Jan. 27, of cancer. He was a CPA working for the family-run business, Max Aronson and Company. He managed the practice until his retirement in the late 1980s. He served on the boards of the Progressive Synagogue and the West Midwood Assoc. He enjoyed reading and collecting books and solving crossword puzzles. He is survived by three sons, three daughters-in-law, and two grandsons.
George A. Lauro ’49, of Mansfield, Mass., formerly of Attleboro and Plainville, Mass.; Apr. 6. He was a pathologist at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. Following his retirement, he worked for the State of Rhode Island medical examiner’s office until the age of 81. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the American College of Pathology and the American Medical Assoc. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church Mansfield. He enjoyed gardening. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia; three sons, including George ’80 and Gregory ’82; two daughters-in-law; and four grandchildren.
Merrill Percelay ’49, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Mar. 12. He was co-owner of Troy Yarn and Textiles in Pawtucket, R.I. and subsequently of Craft Yarns of Rhode Island. He enjoyed woodworking, sailing, and attending Brown/Cornell hockey games. During World War II he served in the U.S. Merchant Marines. He is survived by his wife, Sheela; three sons, including David ’74; and two sisters.
Barbara Wolfe Saroian ’49, of Cranston, R.I.; Feb. 22. She was a retired business manager for AT&T. She enjoyed watching football, especially cheering on the New England Patriots. She is survived by a daughter, a son-in-law, a granddaughter, and a great-granddaughter.
1950s
Norman W. Hay ’50, of North Kingstown, R.I.; Apr. 5. He was a mechanical engineer for Brown & Sharpe and later for Hallmark Findings before retiring. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He was a Mason and an avid reader. He is survived by a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and six grandchildren.
Suzanne Turgeon Kinkead ’50, of South Dennis, Mass.; Dec. 27. She was a member of Our Lady of the Cape in Brewster, Mass., and a volunteer with the Parish Consignment Shop for more than 25 years. She is survived by her husband, Robert: 10 children; 13 grandchildren; and a sister.
Donald A. Marshall ’50, of Sarasota, Fla.; Mar. 16. After serving in the military during the Korean War, he worked at El Al Airlines in ground support, sales, and marketing, which also afforded him the opportunity to travel the world. In 1981 he settled in Sarasota and worked for 10 years as manager of the Sarasota City Food Bank. In retirement he volunteered with several organizations, including being a guide at Mote Marine Aquarium and patrolling Turtle Beach during nesting season. He was also an usher at the Asolo Repertory Theatre and a volunteer teacher for Computers for Seniors. He was an active member of the Manasota Track Club, first as a runner, than as the webmaster and photographer, receiving the Track Club’s Petz-Tingle Award for outstanding service. He received awards from the JCC and was a longtime member of the Jewish War Veterans and Congregation for Humanistic Judaism. He is survived by his partner, Cheryl Cohen; a sister-in-law; and two nieces.
Frederic T. Robertson ’50, of Providence; Mar. 20. He was an art professor at the Community College of Rhode Island for 35 years. He retired in 2002. He was a member of the Masons. He is survived by a daughter and a son-in-law.
Claudia Nicoll Scheffer ’50, of Franconia, N.H.; Feb. 16. She was a homemaker. She is known for writing the Tilton School of New Hampshire fight song that is still in use today. She enjoyed sewing, making crafts, and maintaining her farmhouse and gardens. She is survived by her husband, Rod ’50; three sons; three daughters-in-law; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Robert B. Aikens ’51, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Mar. 2. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and served as a legal assistant to the Judge Advocate General in the Pentagon. He followed that as senior partner in the law firm Wunsch, Aikens & Lundershausen. In 1973 he founded Robert B. Aikens & Associates LLC. Since that time his company has developed, owned, and managed numerous properties, including L’Arbre Croche Beach Club in Northern Michigan, the Village of Rochester Hills, and the Robert B. Aikens Commons at the Univ. of Michigan Law School. He was a member of the American, the Michigan, and the Detroit Bar Associations. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, swimming, sailboat racing, squash, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Ann; two daughters; two sons; a daughter-in-law; two sons-in-law; 11 grandchildren; and a brother.
Marcia Thompson Davis ’51, of Herkimer, N.Y., formerly of Millbrook, N.Y.; Jun. 6, 2015. She was a retired secretary at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook.
Charles T. Koechling ’51, of Cambridge, Mass.; Feb. 17, 2015. He was a quality analyst for NCR in Cambridge. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and three sisters.
Charles G. Mouradjian ’51, of Narragansett, R.I.; Nov. 15, 2013.
Martin G. Schwartz ’51, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Sept. 16, 2014.
Gennaro A. Zeoli ’51, of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Johnston, R.I.; Apr. 12, 2015. He was the director of athletics at Moses Brown School from 1962 to 1993. He coached at Moses Brown for various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling. During World War II he served in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, eight grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a sister.
Nancy O’Neill Cole ’53, of Venice, Fla., formerly of North Syracuse, N.Y.; Feb. 23. In addition to owning Pip Printing in North Syracuse with her husband, she had a long career as an English teacher in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and retired from teaching after many years at Cuba Central School in Cuba, N.Y. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, 11 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Lincoln Ekstrom ’53, of Princeton, N.J.; Apr. 7. He worked at RCA Laboratories in Princeton for many years and later as a staff scientist for the environmental consulting firm Aguilar Associates. He was the recipient of the David Sarnoff Outstanding Achievement Award for developing high temperature thermoelectric materials. Active in Brown alumni activities, he served as president of the Brown Club of Central New Jersey during the 1960s and chaired the Brown Alumni Admissions committee in the Princeton area for many years. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and Sigma XI. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Burt Ekstrom ’53.
Ronald A. Stark ’54, of South Harwich, Mass., formerly of Hubbardston, Mass.; Feb. 15. He worked in the ceramics division of the Norton Co. in Worcester, Mass., for 23 years. After retiring, he was a refractories consultant to the metallurgical industry for 27 years. He served in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of lieutenant, and was one of the scuba divers for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Active in Hubbardston town politics, he was a tax assessor and selectman and served on the Board of Health. In 1995 he moved to Harwich and enjoyed boating, fishing, cooking, and reading about U.S. and European history. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; two children; a daughter-in-law; two grandsons; and a brother.
Donald F. Robbins Jr. ’54, of Rockland, Mass.; Mar. 13. He was the former owner of Robbins Heating and Oil Co. of Rockland for many years. More recently he was the owner of Robbins Cab of Rockland. He was a musician and part of the group The Folk Baroque during the ’60s that toured the South Shore singing folk songs. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army. He was a past member of the Rockland School Committee, served on the board of directors of the Rockland Savings Bank, and was treasurer of the Rotary Club of Rockland, past president of the Rockland Glee Club, vice president of the South Shore Fuel Oil Dealers Assoc., and a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Better Home Heat Council. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis. He is survived by a son, four grandchildren, a great-grandson, and two brothers, including William ’57.
Marjorie Jones Stenberg ’54, of Singer Island, Fla., formerly of Providence; Nov. 23. She was an infection control practitioner with the VA hospital in two states. She was adjunct faculty for both Rhode Island College and URI and an instructor for Brown’s medical school. She was the author of numerous publications relative to infection control, medical ethics, and AIDS and provided presentations on the subjects. She was active in the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Women’s Political Caucus. She was instrumental in the creation of Rhode Island Project AIDS, serving as president and assisting with their fund walks and Quilt Project. She was recognized by the Project with citations and honors. She is survived by sons Christopher ’81 and Kurt ’83; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Ronald W. Urquhart ’54, of Liverpool, N.Y.; Apr. 2. He worked as a regional sales manager with Boise Cascade Corp. He was the recipient of numerous sales awards and was promoted to National Sales Manager, Wood Products Division, for Boise Cascade. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and sailing. He continued to play ice hockey with an “over 50” league in Cicero, N.Y., and won silver medals in the National Senior Olympics, playing for the Gray Wolves. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; a son; a daughter-in-law; and two grandchildren.
Peter J. Hamre ’55, of Chicago, formerly of Falmouth, Mass.; Feb. 15, after a long illness. A retired urologist. He established a urology practice on Cape Cod and was on the surgical staff of Falmouth Hospital. In 1971 he joined the partnership of the Urology Clinic Inc. He was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force and in 1976 transferred to the U.S. Air National Guard and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. After graduating from flight surgeons school at Brooks AFB in Texas, he opened Aviation Medicine in Falmouth and continued performing pilots’ physicals for the FAA through 2011. He retired in 1985 and served as the shipboard physician at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He was a member of the Woods Hole Golf Club, St. Thomas Yacht Club, and the Freemasons. He enjoyed sailing his boat, The Midnight Sun, quahogging, playing racquetball, gardening, cooking, and cheering for his New England sports teams. He is survived by a daughter, three sons, three daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, 10 grandchildren, and a sister.
Jessie Paquette Mayer ’55, of Oneida, N.Y.; Feb. 12. She worked as a commercial artist for a few years and was a homemaker. In 1990 she became editor of the Oneida Community Journal and held that position for 19 years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed bird watching, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family. She is survived by her husband, Robert; six daughters, two sons; five sons-in-law; eight grandchildren; two sisters; and two nephews.
Garwood P. Wilson ’55, of Wallingford, Conn.; Mar. 3. He worked at Travelers Insurance Co. in Hartford, Conn., and retired as chief underwriter for small group accounts in 1990. After retiring, he worked for the family business, Letter Concepts Inc., and retired for a second time in 2000. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He enjoyed listening to the opera, reading the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and vacationing on Cape Cod. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; a daughter; two sons; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; and six grandchildren.
Robert A. Mosher ‘56, of Weston, Mass.; Mar. 1, of myocardial infarction. He was employed with the Polaroid Corp. for 35 years. He retired in 1995 as a principal engineer. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Weston and its president from 1979 to 1980. In retirement he was active with the Weston Senior Citizens Club, volunteered for the Weston Council on Aging, and was a driver and caller for Friends In Service Helping. He was a former member of the Brown Glee Club and a member of the Golden Tones chorus and First Baptist Church of Weston. He enjoyed gardening and playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; a daughter; three sons; three daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; and 10 grandchildren.
Valerie Kolb Garrett ’57, of Tucson, Ariz.; Mar. 1, of esophageal cancer. She was a homemaker and a member of Omni National Tucson Country Club and Prescott Lakes Golf Club. She enjoyed reading, sewing, playing golf, and traveling. She is survived by her husband, Scott ’57, of 8501 N. Nob Hill Dr., Tucson 85742; two daughters; two sons; and three grandchildren.
Donna Hanley Corcoran ’58, of Lancaster, Pa.; Apr. 8. After raising a family she worked as the assistant manager at the Boyd Wilson Co. in Lancaster for 15 years. She was an active member of Bent Creek Country Club and enjoyed playing bridge, golf and tennis most of her life. She is survived by a daughter, four sons, three daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, 10 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
Paul Ginalski ’58, of Somerset, Mass.; Dec. 12. He was a retired data processor with Puritan Life Insurance Co. He was vice president of the Providence chapter of Data Processing Management Assoc. He was a loyal fan of the New England sports teams. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; four children; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Judith Wallace Nelson ’58, of Madison, Conn.; Feb. 28, after a long series of illnesses. She worked for the New Haven Orthopedic Group for 25 years in medical administration. She also assisted in creating set designs for Nutmeg Players’ productions performed at the Goodspeed Opera House. She was an active volunteer with the Madison Garden Club, where she served a term as president, and was a volunteer at the Madison Library. She was an avid reader and enjoyed remodeling and decorating her home. She is survived by her husband, Richard ’59; three sons, including Peter ’81; two daughters-in-law; six grandsons; and two brothers, including Robert Wallace ’63.
Marilyn Nahabit Peltier ’58, of Coventry, R.I.; Feb. 26. She was a retired elementary teacher. She taught in the Coventry, Westerly, and Providence school systems. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Carol Briggs TenBroeck ’59, of Williamsburg, Va.; Feb. 26, following a brief illness. She worked in the communications department at the College of William and Mary. She was also a realtor for more than 30 years. She volunteered with numerous organizations and was a member of Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. She was a Master Gardener and enjoyed traveling. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, a brother, and nieces and nephews.
1960s
Michael J. Burns ’60, of Southbury, Conn.; Dec. 1, of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was a former director of tournaments for USTA and executive secretary and director of the U.S. Open for many years. He retired in 1996. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed playing paddle ball and golf. He is survived by his wife, Marian, of 77B Heritage Village, Southbury 06488; a daughter; and two stepchildren.
Barbara Carlson Perkins ’60, of Old Lyme, Conn.; Feb. 17, of cancer. She was a homemaker and had been active in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. She was a member of Old Lyme Beach Club, Old Lyme Country Club, and Hamburg Cove Yacht Club. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and sailing. She is survived by her husband, Ned ’59; three daughters; two sons-in-law; six grandchildren; and a sister.
William M. Pitt ’60, of Kill Devil Hills, N.C.; Mar. 2. He retired after 30 years in the U.S. Navy as a captain. He was a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and U.S. Commendation Medal. He is survived by his wife, Glenda.
Clement A. DeLucia Jr. ’63, of Wakefield, R.I.; Mar. 24. He worked as a research technologist in the psychology department at Brown for 45 years. He retired in 2000. He served on the Planning Board in Jamestown for many years, and for a period of time as president. He enjoyed sailing. He is survived by his wife, Lenore Donofrio DeLucia ’58, ’63 PhD; a daughter; a son-in-law; two grandchildren; and a brother.
Donald R. Smith ’64, of Greer, S.C.; Feb. 19. He taught social studies at Chatham High School (Mass.) and later American History at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont. He retired after 20 years as the head librarian and media specialist at Neptune High School in New Jersey. He was a teacher, consultant, presenter, and evaluator for Middle States Assoc. He was acknowledged by Apple Inc. in 1994 as an Apple Distinguished Educator for his role as a leader in educational technology. During his retirement he enjoyed exploring the family genealogy, reading, gardening, birding, and watching the Boston Red Sox. He is survived by his wife, Natalie; a son; two sisters; a brother-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
Stephen R. Derbenwick ’65, of Bethlehem, Pa.; Mar. 11, of mantle cell lymphoma. He taught in the physics department at Moravian College while also working summers at Air Products & Chemicals. He left teaching to accept a permanent position at Air Products and remained there for more than 30 years. He had been active with his children’s sports teams, followed by becoming a devoted fan of his grandsons’ athletics. He swam and played tennis and bridge. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, Pa., and Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca; two daughters; a son; two grandsons; and three brothers.
Susan Neiman Offner ’65, of Sudbury, Mass.; Feb. 13, of multiple myeloma. She taught high school biology in the Plymouth, Milton, and Lexington public schools. She published dozens of articles in The American Biology Teacher, helped to redesign the national Advanced Placement Biology exam, and produced A Plain English Map of the Human Chromosome that became widely used in U.S. classrooms. She earned teaching recognitions from the Siemens Foundation and the Massachusetts Assoc. of Science Teachers. She was a member of Congregation Beth El and the Sudbury Democratic Town committee and remained politically active throughout her life. She enjoyed attending Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts. She is survived by her husband, Carl; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; two granddaughters; and a brother.
Stuart J. Aaronson ’66, of North Providence; Feb. 22. He was a former account executive with WHIM and WHJY radio and also vice president and director of the Rhode Island School of Broadcasting. Most recently he was the owner of Stuart Manufacturing LLC. He was a lifelong member of Temple Beth El, where he served as president of its Brotherhood and later as president of the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. He is survived by a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandson.
Peter N. Brush ’66, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Brookeville, Md.; Dec. 30, 2014. He was a retired principal deputy asst. secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Energy. During his five years in Vienna, Austria, he served as president of the school board of the American International School of Vienna. He is survived by his wife, Joanne.
Nicholas F. Giuliani ’67, of Portsmouth, R.I.; Dec. 30. He worked for the state of Rhode Island for 30 years in the department of transportation. He retired in 1989. He is survived by a son, two brothers, and nine nieces and nephews.
Theodore J. Przystas ’67, of Pasadena, Calif.; Feb. 12. He was an accomplished post-doctoral fellow and researcher at UCLA. He retired from Price Waterhouse Technologies in Santa Monica. He enjoyed playing golf. He is survived by cousins.
Robert A. Weston III ’67, of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Feb. 25. He taught special education for many years at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Conn., and spent the last 26 years of his career as a school psychologist in the Lakeland (N.Y.) Central School District. He retired from Lakeland in 2001 and moved to North Carolina. He was active in the Community Church of Chapel Hill-UU and served on the church board. He cooked for various church groups and for the Inter-Faith Council’s community kitchen. He also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and assisting elderly to medical appointments. He enjoyed going to the cinema, traveling, and good conversations with friends. He is survived by his life partner, Carolyn; a daughter; a son; a son-in-law; two granddaughters; and three sisters.
Esther Ferster Lardent ’68, of Washington, D.C.; Apr. 4, 2016. Known as the “Queen of Pro Bono,” she founded the Washington-based Pro Bono Institute in 1996 and served as its president and CEO for two decades. She began her legal career in a low-income clinic in Boston and later headed the Boston Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, where she created a model that incorporated quality controls and a new screening system. She moved to Washington, D.C., where she was appointed chief consultant on the ABA’s Post-conviction Death Penalty Representation Project. She wrote numerous articles, professional papers, and reports, and spoke at several conferences, seminars, and hearings. She received numerous honors and awards, including the 1995 William Reece Smith Jr. Pro Bono Service Award from the National Assoc. of Pro Bono Coordinators, the 1991 Public Service Award from the National Assoc. of Public Interest Law, and the 1993 Founder’s Award from the Philadelphia Bar Assoc. She also earned the Western Center on Law & Poverty’s Earl Johnson Equal Justice Award and The American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Phi Beta Kappa.
Robert D. Woodcock III ’68, of Rocky Hill, Conn.; Mar. 5, of a lung condition. He worked briefly as a physicist for the U.S. Navy, then became a minister. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1972 and served as pastor of the East Berlin and former Hartford South Park Methodist churches in Connecticut. In 1979 he received a master of nursing degree from Yale, was director of a community health program for Center City churches from 1979 to 1982, and subsequently worked as a staff nurse at the Newington Veterans Hospital. In 1984 he joined the staff at Western Connecticut Univ., where he remained until he retired in 2006. In retirement he taught part-time until 2011 and assisted in continuing education events at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital. He was active in numerous organizations, including the Connecticut Council of Parish Nurse Coordinators and the Hartford Foundation. He also served on the board of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing. He enjoyed cooking, trips to the Maine coast, and Caribbean cruises. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; three children; and three grandchildren.
1970s
Donna Starrak Kirshen ’72, of Rowley, Mass.; Feb. 27, following a long illness. She was a manager and buyer for a contemporary home furnishings store prior to opening Asher Benjamin and Company with her husband. Together they enjoyed designing and creating furniture in their woodworking and furniture shop. She also designed and created bags and purses. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, a grandson, four siblings, and nieces and nephews.
Robert W. Stewart ’74, of Westerly, R.I.; Dec. 12, of a heart attack. He was a former reporter for the Providence Journal and later a staff writer and Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times covering Congress, NASA, and the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign. At the time of his death he was senior vice president of public affairs at the Financial Accounting Foundation. He had also worked for Caesars Entertainment, Teligent, MCI, and Pacific Telesis Group. He enjoyed sailing his boat to Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; two sons; his mother; a sister; and several nieces and nephews.
Cynthia A. Duarte-Evans ’78, of Pittsburgh; May 26, 2015. She was a physician. She is survived by her husband, Steven; a daughter; and two sons.
Charles J. Riedel ’79, of McLean, Va.; Feb. 15, of pancreatic cancer. He was a NIH researcher at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. From 1991 to 1997 he was on the faculty at George Washington Univ. Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and on the faculty at Columbia Univ. Medical Center in New York City from 1997 to 2001. For the next 15 years he practiced with Virginia Neurosurgeons PC at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, where he helped to develop a state-of-the-art neurosurgical program. At Brown he was a member of the Varsity 8 crew team that won the 1978 Head of the Charles Regatta and the 1979 IRA National Championship. He is survived by his wife, Meredith; two sons; his mother; a sister; two nieces; and a nephew.
1980s
Linda S. Folley ’81, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Mar. 19. She lived with early-onset Alzheimer’s for four years before deciding to courageously end her life with dignity, surrounded by family and friends. She worked as a computer programmer and independent contractor for Spider Graphics. She volunteered at several nonprofits using her computer skills to assist the work of the organizations she supported. She was a pilot and an active member of the East Hill Flying Club for many years. At Brown she was a conductor of the Brown Marching Band. She enjoyed singing and flying her friends on trips around the northeast. She is survived by her wife, Camila Faraday; two stepchildren; two step-grandchildren; two sisters; and nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth A. Molho ’84, of Providence; Mar. 14, of cancer. She was a teacher with assignments in Providence and Baltimore, teaching French, Spanish, and Italian. In 1990 she was appointed as a bilingual elementary teacher in the Providence school system and taught first and second grades until her death. She was an accomplished pianist and taught her students to play. She enjoyed time spent walking on the Rhode Island beaches with her dogs. She is survived by her parents, a sister, and a niece.
John S. Hoar ’85, of San Francisco; Feb. 16. He was an attorney at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen before becoming a staff attorney for the Superior Court of San Francisco. He is survived by his mother and two sisters.
H. Bradford Glassman ’88, of Alexandria, Va.; Jul. 15, 2015, of colon cancer. He spent five years with the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as counsel to the deputy attorney general, special assistant to the general counsel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and a litigating attorney with the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation. In 1999 he left the Department of Justice and joined the law firm of Baach Robinson & Lewis, where he became a partner and practiced complex commercial litigation. He enjoyed playing ball with his sons, kayaking, skiing, traveling, and discussing politics and philosophy with friends. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; two sons; his mother; a brother; and a sister-in-law.
Evan H. Kimble ’89, of Seattle; Jan. 29, from complications of pneumonia. He was a therapist and musician. In addition to working as a therapist to his patients, he also led several Seattle-based bands, including Prime Wierdz, Dr. Spanky’s Weatherbed, and ultimately Grasshopper, which released four CDs. He is survived by his wife, Lael; two children; his parents; a sister; a brother; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and three nieces.
2000s
Marcia Duval ’03, of Danielson, Conn.; Jan. 5. After raising a family, she earned a master’s degree in education and child and family studies at Wheelock College. She enjoyed singing and dancing. She is survived by three daughters, a son-in-law, and a grandson.
Kareen Riviere ’03, of Newark, N.J.; Sept. 20, of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in the Montreal Marathon. She was a pharmacologist working with the Food and Drug Administration. She enjoyed helping people and founded the Empower Foundation, a charity to help empower others and make a difference in the world. She also liked music and dancing. She is survived by her mother and three siblings.
GS
Jacques Cousin ’42 AM (see ’40).
Clarence M. Ablow ’51 PhD, of Tustin, Calif.; Feb. 9. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy and was a meteorologist aboard an aircraft carrier. Following his service, he taught at Melbourne Univ. in Australia. He later was a mathematician at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park. His jobs allowed him to travel the world with his wife.
John C. Moore ’52 PhD, of Rochester, N.Y.; Jan. 1. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow from 1953 to 1955 and chair of the U.S. National Assoc. on Mathematics Instruction from 1960 to 1962. He proceeded to join the faculty at Princeton Univ., where he was a professor of mathematics and cochair of the Department of Mathematics. He specialized in algebraic topology and had many concepts named after him, including the Borel-Moore homology published in 1960, and the Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence published in 1962. After leaving Princeton, he joined the mathematics department at the Univ. of Rochester. He retired in 1989. He was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Assoc. of America, the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, and the American Assoc. of University Professors. He is survived by a niece and nephew.
Dayton D. Eden ’57 ScM, ’60 PhD, of Dallas; Mar. 30. He was hired as a research physicist by Texas Instruments in Dallas and retired in 1993 from Lockheed Martin. In retirement he developed a millimeter wave sensing and imaging camera and wrote and published a book on its application. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; five children; 11 grandchildren; and a sister.
J. Douglas Caston ’62 PhD, of Cleveland; Feb. 5. He was a tenured professor, researcher, and medical educator at Case Western Reserve Univ. medical school from 1962 to 1999. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; two daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and a grandchild.
Marie L. Ahearn ’65 PhD, of Boston; Mar. 6. She was a professor emeritus at UMass Dartmouth. She is survived by nieces and nephews.
Michael M. Carroll ’65 PhD, of Missouri City, Tex.; Jan. 17. From 1965 to 1988 he was a professor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, where he also served as associate dean of engineering for two years and held the Shell Distinguished Chair from 1983 to 1988. Following his time at Berkeley, he became dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice Univ. for 10 years and then resumed teaching and research as the Burton J. & Ann M. McMurtry professor of engineering until his retirement in 2015. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an honorary member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He composed music, wrote poetry, and had two original plays produced, one at Rice and one by the Stages West Repertory Company in Fort Worth. He also enjoyed many sports, especially golf. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Gahagan Carroll ’64; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; three grandchildren; five sisters; and several nieces and nephews.
Frank T. Kratko Jr. ’67 MAT, of Masury, Ohio; Mar. 31. He taught for 43 years in the South Akron, Ohio; Gary, Indiana; and Youngstown, Ohio, school systems. He is survived by two sisters and a brother.
Nancy Russell Versaci ’71 AM, of Princeton, N.J., formerly of Barrington, R.I., and Vinalhaven, Me.; Dec. 15. Following graduation from Brown she was hired as the director of the Bell Gallery. From 1971 to 1989 she organized exhibitions of work of many renowned artists and wrote numerous essays for her exhibition catalogs. She enjoyed collecting artwork of local artists. After buying a summer house in Vinalhaven, she got involved in the local art scene there and became director of several shows of local artists at the Fogg Gallery. She left Brown in 1989 and focused her attention on Cuban and Latin American art, making several trips to Cuba. During that time she researched and wrote an extensive manuscript about the Dominican artist Jaime Colson. In 2003 she moved to Princeton, where she audited classes at Princeton and resumed her own painting. She is survived by four children and nine grandchildren.
Linda H. Peterson ’78 PhD, of New Haven, Conn.; Jun. 25, 2015, of cancer. She was a professor and former chair in the department of English at Yale Univ. After having to take a medical leave from teaching, she continued to serve on committees and to edit a collection of scholarly essays, The Cambridge Companion to Victorian Women’s Writing. She was on staff for 38 years. Her other books include Victorian Autobiography, Traditions of Victorian Women’s Autobiography, and Becoming a Woman of Letters. For 24 years she was codirector of the Bass Writing Program at Yale and was general editor for five editions of The Norton Reader. She helped to create English 120, Reading and Writing the Modern Essay, a popular course at Yale. She was past president of the National Council of Writing Program Administrators. She is survived by her husband, Fred Strebeigh; her mother; three sisters; and many colleagues and students.
Ann Warner Donegan ’84 AM, of Brockton, Mass., and Providence; Feb. 20. She was an elementary school teacher in Dighton, Mass., for 27 years. While in Brockton she was active in the community, singing and dancing in numerous local theater productions. She also co-owned the antique store Etcetera and eventually taught in the English department at Brockton High School for several years. She moved to Providence to attend Brown and earn a master’s degree and teach. In 1989 she published a book of her original poems entitled The Forked Rivers. She enjoyed the Rhode Island coast before moving to New Britain in 2011. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, a sister, a brother-in-law, and nieces and nephews.
Faculty
Robert W. Hopkins, of Milton, Mass.; Feb. 22. He was professor emeritus of medical science at Brown and former surgeon and acting chief of surgery at Miriam Hospital in Providence. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He began his medical career at Pennsylvania Hospital as assistant surgeon and instructor in surgery at the Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical School. From 1959 to 1970, he served as an associate surgeon at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, where he was director of graduate education for the department of surgery and chief of trauma and emergency services. He was recruited to Brown in 1970 to help develop its new medical program. He became surgeon-in-chief at Miriam Hospital as well as a professor of medical science at Brown. In 1980 he became the medical director of Miriam’s Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory, renamed the Robert W. Hopkins Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory upon his retirement in 1996. He wrote for numerous professional publications. He was an active member of several medical societies and served in many leadership positions, including president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Cancer Society, president of the New England Society for Vascular Surgery, president of the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces, vice president of the New England Surgical Society, and member of the American Surgical Assoc., the American Assoc. for the Surgery of Trauma, the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Assoc., the American Medical Assoc., and the American Trauma Society. He is survived by his wife, Ann; two daughters; a son-in-law; two granddaughters; a sister; a brother; and two sisters-in-law.
