Obituaries

Jan, 2025
FAC

James H. Wyche, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Jul. 1, following an illness and after dealing with years of glioblastoma and kidney cancer. His career as a cell and molecular biologist and cancer researcher spanned five decades. At the time of his death he was emeritus professor in the department of chemistry at Howard University. He began his career as an assistant professor of biology at the University of Missouri–Columbia, then became associate professor of biology at Hunter College (CUNY), where he also was chair of the minority biomedical research program. This provided him opportunities to develop programming aimed at increasing the representation of underrepresented minority students in science. He held appointments as associate provost and professor of medical science at Brown from 1987 to 2001. In 1988, he was appointed associate dean for minority affairs with the charge of overseeing minority faculty hiring and graduate program development as well as overseeing minority affairs. Under his direction the Summer Research Early-Identification Program (SRE-IP) was established along with the Minority Faculty Fellowship Program in 1989. He was instrumental in the creation of the Leadership Alliance and served as its executive director. From 2001 to 2002 he served as interim president of Tougaloo College. After that, he became vice provost, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of biology and molecular pharmacology at the University of Miami (2002-2005); vice provost for academic affairs and the Edith Kimmey Gaylord Presidential Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2005-2007); and division director of human resource development in the education and human resources directorate at the National Science Foundation (2008-2010). He then returned to Howard as provost and chief academic officer (2010-2012) and professor of chemistry. Dealing with his illness, he left administration and taught in undergraduate chemistry laboratories from his wheelchair before retiring in 2019. He held two U.S. patents and was an investigator on many grants and projects. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Karen Fraser Wyche; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a grandson; a sister; and nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
FAC

Newell M. Stultz, of Newport, formerly of Barrington, R.I.; Jan. 12, 2024. Professor emeritus of political science. After graduating from Dartmouth, he spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Olckers Stultz, who predeceased him. After three years serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned a doctorate in political science and African studies at Boston University. A year on the faculty of Northwestern University followed before he joined the Brown faculty in 1965. He retired from Brown after 38 years, having chaired the political science department from 1973 to 1977 and subsequently having served twice as its acting or interim chair. He was a member of the committee that produced the Maeder Report, which gave birth to the Open Curriculum. He was the author or coauthor of four books and numerous articles. Most of his research focused on Africa, specifically South Africa, and was supported by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and the Heinz Endowments. He held visiting appointments at Yale and the University of South Africa. He served as president of the New England Political Science Association. He is survived by a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, and a brother. 

Jan, 2025
MD 89

 William L. Lasswell ’89 MD, of Vero Beach, Fla.; May 4. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Florida State University, he obtained a PhD in natural products chemistry at the University of Mississippi. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health at the University of Kentucky in 1978 and became an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy from 1978 to 1984. He applied for an Army scholarship and entered Brown as a captain. Upon graduating, he trained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 1989 to 1994 and was promoted to major. He continued to serve in the Army until 1998. He then practiced in the Treasure Coast Community as an endocrinologist until his retirement in 2023. In addition to home improvement projects, he enjoyed reading, watching tv, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Anita; two daughters; and a sister. 

 

Jan, 2025
GS 17

Adam K. Epstein ’17 AM, of Burbank, Calif.; Aug. 13, of brain cancer. An award-winning Broadway producer and former political pundit on Fox News, he was raised in Miami and starred in several of his high school’s musical productions before matriculating at NYU. While in college, he worked as an intern for former Congressman Peter Deutsch and later for former U.S. Senator Bob Graham. It wasn’t until he finished college that he began a career on Broadway. He started as an intern, then was a casting assistant, before working as a production associate in 1997 on The Life. A year later he was producing A View From the Bridge. At age 28, he coproduced with Margo Lion the Broadway hit Hairspray, which received 13 Tony nominations and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Some of his other credits include The Wedding Singer, Cry-Baby, Amadeus, and The Crucible, starring Laura Linney ’86. During his Broadway producer career, his productions received 46 Tony nominations and won 12 Tony Awards. From 2014 to 2016 he lived in London and wrote a column titled “Expat Enquiry” discussing politics and culture. Upon return to the U.S., he attended Brown and earned a master’s degree in American Studies, which led to a television career as a political pundit on Fox News. He was a guest lecturer at both Harvard and Columbia, in addition to having numerous essays published on culture and politics. He hosted “The Dispatch” on his YouTube channel in 2020 and in 2021 launched his podcast “Dirty Moderate,” sharing his political opinions and interviews with politicians and pundits. He is survived by his parents, a sister, a brother, three nieces, and a nephew. 

Jan, 2025
GS 02

Susan Erno ’02 AM, of Cranston, R.I.; Aug. 16, of cancer. She taught English at Shea High School in Pawtucket (R.I.) for many years and then worked as a reading specialist. She went on to teach adult education classes in Cranston. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and especially entertaining in her festively decorated house. She is survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, and 11 nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
GS 98

Stephen J. O’Brien ’98 AM, of Wakefield, Mass.; Jun. 9. He was a senior portfolio manager for BNY Mellon in Boston and a chartered financial analyst charter holder. He enjoyed trips to Aruba and was a dedicated Red Sox and Celtics fan. He is survived by his wife, Julie; his partners; a stepmother; a sister and brother-in-law; two nieces; his mother-in-law; and a brother-in-law.

Jan, 2025
GS 86

John T. Anderson ’86 PhD, of Worcester, Mass.; Jul. 13. He was professor emeritus of the department of mathematics and computer science at the College of the Holy Cross, where he taught from 1986 to 2023. Curious about history, literature, and philosophy, he had an extensive book collection. He was an avid runner and cyclist and enjoyed hiking, fishing, and gardening. He is survived by three sons and their spouses, five grandchildren, two sisters, and his former wife, Laurie. 

Jan, 2025
GS 78

Salvador H. Talisa ’78 ScM, ’82 PhD, of Ellicott City, Md.; May 15. After graduating, he joined Westinghouse Research & Development Center in Pittsburgh, beginning a long and distinguished career developing advanced microwave devices, materials, and techniques to improve the performance of military radar systems. In 1997, he transferred to Northrop Grumman Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector near Baltimore and became a program and business development manager for radar receiver and exciter technology. He joined Johns Hopkins’s applied physics laboratory in 2001 as a member of the sensor technologies group in the air and missile defense sector. He was promoted to the highest technical staff level in 2005 and was appointed group chief scientist in 2018. During this time he became an internationally recognized leader in advanced radar technology. He was the principal author of a seminal and widely cited technical paper on the benefits of digital phased array radars and his research on the effects and mitigation of phase noise was essential in the development of multiple advanced radar systems, including the AN/SPY-6 radar installed on the U.S. Navy’s newest destroyers. He authored and/or coauthored more than 60 technical papers and was granted eight patents. He is survived by his wife, Monica; two sons; three grandchildren; and three siblings.

Jan, 2025
GS 77

Kingston W. Heath ’77 AM, ’85 PhD, of Eugene, Ore.; Jun. 29. He was a professor of architectural history and made contributions to the field of architectural preservation. In the 1980s he was associate professor in the School of Architecture at Montana State University. He accepted a position as associate professor in the college of architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1987 and taught upper level architectural history. He was promoted to full professor in 2001. In 2003 he served as the state architectural historian for the Montana State Historic Preservation Office before accepting a position as professor and director of the graduate program in historic preservation at the University of Oregon, from which he retired in 2019. He published The Patina Of Place: The Cultural Weathering of a New England Industrial Landscape, which was recognized in 2002 with the Abbott Lowell Cummings Award and the award of merit from the American Association of State and Local History. He is survived by a son, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter. 

Jan, 2025
GS 76

Thomas D. Mead ’76 AM, of Lochmere, N.H., formerly of Orinda, Calif.; Jul. 28 in a boating accident on Lake Winnisquam. He worked for Allendale Insurance (R.I.) and Cambridge Associates (Mass.), and was an investment manager and research director in Orinda before retiring from Axa-Rosenberg in 2010. He moved to New Hampshire in 2012. He enjoyed coding and his hobby morphed into developing an app, Solarlunar Data, to determine the direction and length of shadows cast at any point on Earth at any time. He enjoyed sculling and reading and was a U.S. Army veteran. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Lenore; a daughter; two sons and daughters-in-law; four grandchildren; two brothers; and a sister-in-law.

Jan, 2025
GS 75

Wilson J. Moses ’75 PhD, of State College, Pa.; Jun. 13. He taught literature and history and published 11 books. He was fluent in German and continued his studies in French into his 60s. He enjoyed classical music and played the violin. He is survived by his wife, Maureen; two sons; four granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter.

Jan, 2025
GS 74

Janice Wilson Plante ’74 MAT, of Bluffton, S.C., formerly of Newton, Pa.; May 22. She was a teacher before accepting a position at the Law School Admission Council in 1979. She remained there for seven years before accepting a position at Educational Testing Service, where she held leadership roles in test center management and new product development. She retired in 2011. She became a master gardener and enjoyed traveling all over the world with her husband, Roger, who survives her. She is also survived by a daughter, a son, four grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Jan, 2025
GS 74

Bernice Forrest Guillaume ’74 AM, of Las Vegas; Jul. 10. She had a long career teaching at Xavier University, Saint Louis University, Benedict College, and more recently at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She published The Collected Works of Olivia Ward Bush-Banks. She retired in 2021 to Las Vegas. In 2022, the BAM published a profile of her titled “Roots, Reconnected,” available on our wesbite. She is survived by two sons and their spouses, two granddaughters, and a brother. 

Jan, 2025
GS 74

Everett E. Crisman ’74 ScM, ’84 PhD, of Woonsocket, R.I.; Jun. 2, of liver cancer. He worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh for eight years before becoming a visiting scientist at the research laboratory on Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts. A position as a research professor at URI from 1998 to 2012 followed, when he achieved emeritus status and continued as a research affiliate until 2020. He was an eighth degree black belt and a sensei at R.I. Uechi Karate School and practiced tai chi daily for decades. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1979 and continued flying for almost four decades. He was an avid reader, researcher, and biker. He was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the North American Uechi Karate Association. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; a sister; and several nieces and nephews.

Jan, 2025
GS 70

William A. Orth ’70 PhD, of Hummelstown, Pa.; Jun. 24. He had a long distinguished military career that culminated with numerous titles, honors, and awards before retiring from active service in 1983. From 1983 to 1985 he was president at Trident Technology College (S.C.) then relocated and became president of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Okla.) from 1985 to 1987. From 1987 to 1993 he served as president at Atlantic Community College (N.J.). He is survived by his wife, Doris, and two daughters. 

Jan, 2025
GS 70

Raymond L. Dudley ’70 MAT, of Guilford, Conn.; Jul. 13, from Lewy Body dementia. He taught English at Daniel Hand High School in Madison (Conn.), retiring in 2008. A descendant of one of Guilford’s founding families, he was part of Guilford’s farming community that included his family’s gardens on Clapboard Hill, his cousin’s dairy farm, and volunteering at the Dudley Farm Museum in North Guilford. He helped to found Guilford Recycling, a volunteer group associated with the Guilford Land Trust. He delivered Meals on Wheels, served for 20 years on the conservation commission, was a board member of Alder Brook Cemetery, and was a member of the Preservation Alliance, the Guilford Keeping Society, the Dorothy Whitfield Historical Society, the Guilford Foundation, the Guilford Agricultural Association, and the Draft Horse Association. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, five grandchildren, a brother and sister-in-law, and his former wife, Carol Brown. 

Jan, 2025
GS 69

Davis A. Young ’69 PhD, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Aug. 20. He taught for 36 years at NYU, UNC-Wilmington, and Calvin College. He published numerous papers exploring the history of geology and its intersection with Christianity. Outside of academia, he enjoyed birding and classical music. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three children and their spouses; and six grandchildren.

Jan, 2025
GS 69

Egidio V. Lunardi ’69 AM, ’76 PhD, of Painesville, Ohio; Jun. 27. After graduation, he moved to Painesville and began his career as an Italian professor at Lake Erie College. After 30 years, he was awarded the distinction of emeritus professor. He enjoyed traveling to Italy with his children and grandchildren and playing cards. He is survived by four children, two grandsons, two sisters, and a cousin.

Jan, 2025
GS 69

Patricia Fern Allen ’69 MAT, of Cranston, R.I.; Jul. 16, after a brief illness. She was an accomplished award-winning painter and longtime member of the Providence Art Club and the South County and Wickford art associations. She is survived by her daughter and three grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
GS 68

Krishna S. Vanguri ’68 ScM, ’71 PhD, of Frederick, Md., formerly of North Brunswick, N.J.; Jul. 30. He immigrated to the United States in 1966 to pursue his PhD at Brown and he became a naturalized citizen in 1978. He had a long career as an engineer for both the David Sarnoff Research Center-RCA in Princeton (N.J.) and Bell Laboratories-AT&T (N.J.). He was a founding member, trustee, and past vice chairman of the Sri Venkateswara Temple of Bridgewater (N.J.). He retired to Frederick to be closer to his grandchildren and enjoyed playing bridge at the senior center and volunteering as an AARP tax advisor. He is survived by two sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, a sister, and three brothers. 

Jan, 2025
GS 65

Nalin Jayantilal Unakar ’65 PhD, of Rochester Hills, Mich.; Jul. 17, after a brief illness. After completing his master’s degree in India, he journeyed to America and graduated from Brown with a doctorate in biological sciences. He went on to work briefly in Canada before joining the faculty at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., where he advanced from professor to chairman of their biological sciences department. He was instrumental in helping the University expand its biological sciences department and securing funding for its first electron microscope. He retired in 2000 and spent time traveling the world with his wife, Nita, who preceded him in death. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
GS 64

Richard M. August ’64 AM, of Providence, R.I.; Jul. 13, after a brief illness. He was a numismatist, runner, track coach, and math teacher who guided countless people. He also enjoyed gardening. He is survived by a sister and seven nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
GS 60

Deborah Hacker Oakley ’60 AM, of Chelsea, Mich.; Aug. 21. She was a faculty member at the University of Michigan, where she also served as a member of federal National Institutes of Health and state review and advisory panels. Her research focused on women’s health and included groundbreaking tracking of contraceptive behaviors and institutional effects on women’s health in the U.S. and China, evaluation of delivery care by certified midwives, documentation of nurse-managed centers in the U.S. and China, and women’s health behaviors in Iran. She collaborated with colleagues from multiple universities and, together with the late Meiyu Yu, established an educational and research partnership with Peking Medical University School of Nursing. She served on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood and was a member of the American Public Health Association. She helped found the American Public Health Association’s Women’s Caucus. In her retirement she continued as a peer reviewer for international journals and enjoyed work as an ESL tutor. She also liked gardening. She is survived by her husband, Bruce ’60 ScM, ’62 PhD; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
GS 56

Robert P. Erickson ’56 ScM, ’58 PhD, of Bethesda; Jul. 10. He was professor emeritus of psychology at Duke University. He joined the Duke faculty in 1961 and retired in 2000. He was a member of the American Physiological Society, Psychonomic Society, and Sigma Xi. He is survived by three sons, including Lars ’79; five grandchildren, including granddaughter Phoebe Erickson ’17; and former wife, Marilyn Tarasiewicz Erickson ’57, ’59 AM.

Jan, 2025
GS 54

Robert L. Miller ’54 PhD, of Farmington Hills, Mich.; Jun. 15. His career centered around the study of the structure and behavior of crystalline polymers while working at Monsanto Co. and later at the Michigan Molecular Institute. He published 69 papers and articles. He was a longtime member of the American Chemical Society and the American Physical Society. In addition to his science career, he bred Shetland sheepdogs and was active with the American Shetland Sheepdogs Association and the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Greater Detroit. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
GS 52

Paul N. Schatz ’52 PhD, of North Branford, Conn., formerly of Charlottesville, Va.; Jul. 7. While at Brown, he married Virginia Margaret Bogert ’55 PhD, who predeceased him. He had a long career teaching physical chemistry and molecular spectroscopy. After a postdoctoral fellowship with Linus Pauling and time served in the U.S. Army, he joined the chemistry faculty at the University of Virginia in 1956. He was promoted to full professor in 1965 and served as department chair from 1971 to 1974. He authored more than 100 scientific publications and enjoyed sabbatical years spent at Oxford University in England, the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and the Australian National University. He retired in 1997 and moved to Connecticut in 2007. In retirement, he taught himself computer programming. He also taught several science-related continuing education classes. He enjoyed playing squash and tennis and walking. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, including son Peter ’82, ’82 ScM; six grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
20

 Juan Marcos Rodriquez ’20, of El Paso, Tex.; Jul. 2. After Brown, he pursued his masters in ecology and environmental sciences at the University of Maine. He continued there as a teaching assistant and mentor. He enjoyed hiking. He is survived by his parents, five siblings, two grandmothers, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

Jan, 2025
99

Carmen Hawkins DeCecco ’99, of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Jul. 19. She had a career in marketing, advertising, and communications. After 10 years in Providence, she returned home to Hilton Head Island and wrote a regular column in The Island Packet. She had a passion for creative writing and wrote short films and screen plays as well. For the last 10 years she was in charge of communications and marketing of the Italian American Club of Hilton Head Island. She enjoyed walking on the beach and spending time with her beagle Sammie. She is survived by her husband John and a stepson. 

Jan, 2025
98

Mary-Bestor Bankhead Grant ’98, of Homewood, Ala.; Jul. 22. After Brown she traveled extensively before returning home to Alabama. She spent many years working in nonprofits in Birmingham that included the YWCA, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and the Cawaco River Project. She had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed scuba diving, zip lining, skydiving, hiking mountain summits, hot air ballooning, and going on safari in Zambia. She hiked Mount Kilimanjaro and walked the Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain. She enjoyed meeting people of all kinds. She is survived by her parents, a sister and brother-in-law, a brother, a niece, and two nephews.

Jan, 2025
97

Christopher T. Anderson ’97, of Huntington, W. Va.; Aug. 9, of cancer. He chose to move to Germany and learn the language during his senior year at Brown, after which he started an internship at ZF Friedrichshafen. He then moved to Spartanburg, S.C., and later enrolled in law school at Indiana University in Bloomington. After graduating and passing the Pennsylvania Bar, he worked at Pepper Hamilton and was married. In 2008, he and his wife moved back home to Huntington and started a family. He worked in a variety of roles that included public works director and administrator of Marshall Pediatrics. He and his wife homeschooled their children. He enjoyed playing basketball, reading, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth; his mother; a daughter; a son; two aunts; and an uncle. 

Jan, 2025
92

Susan K. Henderson ’92, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Santa Monica, Calif.; Jul. 7. After Brown, she earned a master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University and settled in Santa Monica. She eventually moved to Pittsburgh to be close to family. A lover of animals, she repeatedly adopted rescue dogs. She was a lifelong Steelers fan and a collector of vintage jewelry. She is survived by a son; her mother; brother Paul T. Henderson ’90; and three nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
92

 Alaine Owsley Davis ’92, of Kenmore, Wash.; Jun. 16, 2023, of complications from neuroendocrine tumors. Following Brown, she received a master’s in secondary education and teaching from the University of Washington and dedicated her career to STEM education. She taught for 25 years, the majority of which was at Woodinville Montessori School in Bothell, Wash., where she cofounded the middle school and served as lead curriculum developer and a faculty mentor and advocate. She also thrived as a certified college counselor. A pillar of the Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church for two decades, she guided the community as board president and led the nonfiction book club and annual women’s retreat, among many roles. She enjoyed solving the New York Times crossword puzzle and was a voracious reader, talented chef, and brilliant artist who often gifted her creations to her family, friends, students, and community. She enjoyed playing games, attending plays, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking. She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Lane Owsley ’91; two sons; a sister; a mother-in-law and father-in-law; sister-in-law; brothers-in-law; nephew; and two nieces.

Jan, 2025
86

David H. Barkhuff ’86, of Setauket, N.Y.; Jun. 20. After earning a PhD from the University of Virginia and completing postdoctoral fellowships at MIT, he worked at Renaissance Technologies for 25 years. He was an avid cyclist, guitarist, reader, and art collector. He is survived by two brothers. 

Jan, 2025
83

Keonaona D. Peterson ’83, of Riverside, Calif.; Aug. 10. She worked at Harper & Row (now HarperCollins) publishing company, where she rose to be managing editor. She left publishing to do IT management work but was disappointed in the work and became a freelance editor specializing in art books. She is survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, a brother and sister-in-law, seven nieces and nephews, and her Brown roommate and friend Patricia Steen ’83. 

Jan, 2025
81

Mary Louise Borg ’81, of East Sandwich, Mass., formerly of Burlington, Vt.; Jul. 24, of endometrial cancer. She graduated from Boston Law School in 1985 and worked for several years at a large Boston firm before transferring to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Boston office. After marrying, she moved to Burlington, started a family, and had a long career at Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, where she served as deputy director of the Watershed Management Division. Following her diagnosis in 2020, the family moved to Massachusetts for her treatment. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, canoeing, biking, and cross-country skiing. She also enjoyed time spent with family at the family home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Three Mile Island Camp in New Hampshire. She is survived by her husband, William Dorrow; two daughters; a son-in-law; and a brother. 

Jan, 2025
80

 Lee Warshavsky ’80, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Aug. 26, from complications of ALS. He was an attorney for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and more recently was associate director and general counsel at the Settlement Housing fund. He is survived by his wife, Susan; a son; his mother; his mother-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and two nieces. 

Jan, 2025
79

Kevin A. McCarl ’79, of Pittsburgh; Aug. 8, of cancer. He continued his father’s legacy by working at the family business, McCarl’s Services. He spent many years involved with McGuire Memorial, serving as chairman of the McGuire Memorial Foundation, and was active in his community serving on numerous boards. In 2010, he was honored by the Mental Health Association of Beaver County for his lifelong work to support those with physical and intellectual disabilities. He is survived by his wife, Tammy; six children and their spouses; and nine grandchildren. 

 

Jan, 2025
79

Seth A. Chernick ’79, of Weston, Mass., formerly of Providence, R.I.; Jul. 21, from metastatic gastric cancer. Following Brown, he graduated from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business and had a long career at Fortune 500 companies in roles that included consulting, sales operations, strategy and project management. His most recent position was with CVS Caremark. A former Eagle Scout, he was an assistant scoutmaster in Weston, where his son also earned the rank of Eagle Scout as the third generation of Chernick men to do so. Ever true to Brown, he remained involved in a variety of alumni leadership roles, including being class marshal at his 45th reunion. He is survived by his wife, Randee L. Cassel ’79; daughter Rebecca Chernick ’18, ’19 AM; a son; a brother; two aunts; nephew Eric J. von Wettberg ’07 PhD and his wife Kristin Bishop ’07 PhD. 

Jan, 2025
77

Michael A. McCullough ’77, of Beverly, Mass.; Jul. 7, following a brief illness. After receiving a master’s degree from University College, Dublin, he worked in New York City writing copy for various professional publications and marketing/advertising firms. He later worked as a senior editor at Coopers & Lybrand writing speeches for the firm’s top executives and producing the monthly newsletter. He left Coopers to found McCullough Communications LLC, where he wrote promotional and website copy as well as personal memoirs for more than 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Josephine; two sisters, including Kate McCullough ’83; and five nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
76

William E. Warren III ’76, of North Richland Hills, Tex.; Aug. 19. He was a self-taught computer programmer and worked at IBM, Electronic Data Systems, and BNSF, from which he retired as a senior systems developer. In 1988, he was ordained a minister in the AME Zion Church and served as the pastor of Redeeming Covenant Church in Dallas. He suffered a life-altering stroke in 2004 but his resilience never waned. He enjoyed singing and was an active member of the Brown Black Chorus and the Gates of Praise Choir. He also enjoyed playing chess, fishing, bowling, and playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Joy Wycliff Warren ’77; eight children; seven grandchildren; and extended family. 

Jan, 2025
75

Richard G. Van Etten ’75, of Warner, N.H.; Aug. 20. He joined the Peace Corps and traveled to Nepal, Antarctica, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. He later worked at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, where he met his future wife, Sarah, who survives him. He is also survived by two sons and six siblings. 

Jan, 2025
75

Steven F. Karlin ’75, of Warwick, R.I.; Jul. 26. After Brown he went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and devoted his career in psychiatry to caring for the severely mentally ill in centers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He helped struggling physicians through the Physician Health Committee of the Rhode Island Medical Society, of which he was a member. He was a talented abstract artist and an accomplished wood sculptor. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Heiss; a daughter; son Sam ’16; a brother and sister-in-law; and three nephews. 

Jan, 2025
73

Gabrielle Michael Graham ’73, of Seal Cove, Me., formerly of Philadelphia and Seattle; Jul. 19. After graduating from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, she became an interventional radiologist at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia. She moved to Seattle in 1978 and was the director of the Swedish Radia Imaging Center for many years. She retired to Seal Cove in 2000 and founded the Mount Desert Island Footloose Friends hiking group, and she was involved with the Downeast Humanists and Freethinkers Society. She enjoyed doing arts and craft projects and enrolled in courses at the Acadia Senior College. She is survived by her husband, Bill Allen; two sisters; five stepchildren; and many step-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
70

James A. Fellows,’70, of Columbus, Ohio; Aug. 13. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and went on to have a successful business career. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where he served as treasurer, vestry member, and senior warden. He is survived by his wife, Rae Roberts Fellows ’70; two sons and daughters-in-law; four grandsons; and a sister. 

Jan, 2025
69

James A. Northrop ’69, of Onchiota, N.Y.; Aug. 7, of lung and brain cancer. After earning his MBA from Columbia University in 1972, he worked in marketing at Quaker Oats and later became president and COO at Monet. He went on to hold CEO positions at companies that included the Trifari/Marvella Jewelry unit of Hallmark, the Popular Club Plan business of J. Crew, and Crystal Brands Jewelry. In 1989 Fortune Magazine “crowned” him the “King of Costume Jewelry.” In 1994, he acquired Princess House from Colgate-Palmolive and was its CEO for 12 years. He brought the direct selling business model to subsequent roles with the Canadian public company Immunotec and eventually his own Winfield Consulting, founded in retirement. With his colleagues at Winfield, he served more than 60 companies in the direct selling business ranging from start-ups to multibillion-dollar enterprises. He also served on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Direct Selling Association and the Direct Selling Education Foundation. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Jan, 2025
69

Jeff Carter ’69, of Los Angeles; Mar. 4, 2024. He went on to graduate from Columbia Law School and began his law practice at Whitman & Ransom in New York City. He later moved to INCO ElectroEnergy & Exide Corps. in Philadelphia as a legal officer and assistant secretary. While in New York he tutored students in Harlem and served on the board of the Timothy School for disabled children. He also served as a deacon at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian and as a counselor in their men’s homeless shelter. After moving to California he continued his litigation practice, but he also spent many years as a mediator in the L.A. County Superior Court Mediation Panels, where he also served as a judge in the Judge Pro Tempore Program throughout Los Angeles County. He served his community tirelessly and was elected multiple times to the Studio City Neighborhood Council. He continued to read and study history and enjoyed golf, tennis, and summer reunions with his cousins. He remained close to many of the friends he made at Brown, particularly those he met in his Sigma Nu fraternity. He is survived by his wife, Rosalind Moore, and a son. 

Jan, 2025
67

Hugh G. Bingham ’67, of Greenwood Village, Colo.; Jul. 26. He was a trial lawyer for 20 years before leaving to form a business with his wife helping those who needed a secure financial settlement plan for their futures. After retiring, he worked as a docent for 10 years at the Denver Art Museum. He is survived by his wife, Gina; three children and their spouses; and four grandchildren.

Jan, 2025
67

Peter W. Billings ’67, of Salt Lake City; Jun. 29, from metastatic prostate cancer. After Brown, he received a Samuel T. Arnold Fellowship to King’s College in Cambridge. While there he played tennis and rowed. After Cambridge, he graduated from Harvard Law and moved to Washington, D.C., to practice law. In 1974, he moved to Salt Lake City to manage Wayne Owens’s U.S. Senate campaign and joined Fabian & Clendenin, where he practiced law for more than 45 years, 25 of them as president of the firm. Throughout his career he served in various leadership positions that included Brown University trustee, chairman of the Utah Liquor Commission, chairman of the Utah Democratic Party, and president of Salt Lake Country Club. His children taught him how to ski and appreciate the outdoors, which included hiking, snowshoeing, and biking through the mountains and deserts. He in turn taught his grandchildren how to drive (a golf cart) and play pickleball. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Marney”; a daughter and son-in-law; son David ’02; a daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; and brothers John ’69, Thomas ’73, and Stuart ’77. 

Jan, 2025
66

Peter C. Smith ’66, of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; Jul. 22. After Brown, where he played on the rugby team and was a senior captain, he worked at Avco in Wilmington, Mass. He decided to change his career path and returned to school and graduated from a joint MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute program in 1973. In 1975 he accepted a position as research scientist in coastal oceanography at Bedford Institute of Oceanography. He remained there directing numerous programs until his retirement in 2012. His knowledge of currents helped assist rescuers when looking for the remains of the Swissair disaster. He enjoyed spending time with his sons, whether coaching their sports teams or helping with science projects. He is survived by his wife, Julia Berry Smith ’67; two sons; two grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. 

Jan, 2025
66

H. Stanley Rebert ’66, of York, Pa.; Jul. 28. He earned his JD from Boston University and was a public defender. In 1986, he accepted the position of County of York district attorney, from which he retired in 2010. He was a member of numerous organizations, including the York County Bar Association, York County Fraternal Order of Police, and Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, and was a former member of the Victory Athletic Association. He is survived by his wife, Susan; two daughters and sons-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; and three grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
66

Alexander “Figg” Newton ’66, of Madison, Ga.; Jan. 15, 2024. He earned his JD from Duke University School of Law and headed to New York City to practice law. After a while his adventurous spirit emerged and he left the law practice and spent two years in Guatemala serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. That led to a career with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He spent two years in Mali, five years in the Ivory Coast, and four years in Quito, Ecuador, traveling regularly for work throughout the region, which led to him meeting his future wife, Betsy Wagenhauser, at the South American Explorers’ Club, where she was working. A five year tour in Bangladesh followed with frequent work visits to Nepal. They started a family and then spent four years in Kazakhstan, where he served as democracy office chief. He was promoted to USAID deputy mission director of Haiti in 2000 and returned to West Africa in 2002, first to Ghana, then four years in Mali as mission director. He retired in 2012 but began a series of short-term assignments for USAID that took him back to Africa, Indonesia, Egypt, and Ukraine. In between assignments, he and Betsy built a home in Madison. He continued to enjoy high adventure hobbies such as hang-gliding, scuba diving, bungee jumping, and surfing. He is survived by his wife; a daughter; and a son. 

Jan, 2025
66

Lawrence M. Lapine ’66, of Ridgefield, Conn.; Aug. 22, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He graduated from UConn’s law school and had a successful career as a trial attorney that spanned more than 40 years. He volunteered at his synagogue. He enjoyed lunchtime pickup basketball games, skiing, tennis, golf, reading, and watching sports. He is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; and five grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
66

Stephen R. Krone ’66, of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Jul. 23. He had been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 1984 and overcame until he was recently diagnosed with myelofibrosis. He graduated from Penn State Dickinson Law in 1969 and joined PA Legal Services, where he remained for 43 years. In retirement he continued to mentor legal services attorneys and on Aug. 29, 1992, the Mayor declared it Steve Krone Day in honor of his years of public service. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and a son. 

Jan, 2025
66

Eugene K. Achter ’66, of Lexington, Mass.; Jul. 8, from complications of ALS. While at Brown, he met his future wife, Kathy Relson ’67. After graduation they moved to Chicago while he earned his PhD from the University of Chicago. He was a scientist and engineer by trade and had a career involved with the NIH, medical instrumentation, and bomb detection. In retirement he enjoyed volunteering in the MIT Venture mentoring service. He enjoyed hiking, snorkeling, music, and singing, along with telling stories and making puns. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, including Jeff ’92; two daughters-in-law; four grandchildren; a sister; and brother-in-law Peter Relson ’77. 

Jan, 2025
65

John C. Parry ’65, of Plymouth, Mass.; Aug. 4. As a student he was a star athlete on Brown’s football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. After receiving an MBA from the Wharton School at UPenn, he spent years in Philadelphia working for IBM and Instant Data Corp. In 1975 he returned to Brown, where he had been inducted into the University Hall of Fame for football, to begin a career as an athletic director. For the next 40 years he was an athletic director at Brown, Butler, and Cleveland State. He served on the local host organizing committee for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Final Fours, was a member of the NCAA Management Council, and served as president of the East Coast Athletic Conference. In addition to playing, officiating, and coaching lacrosse, he started programs at Butler and Cleveland State and served as chair of the NCAA Lacrosse Committee. He was one of the founding members of the Indiana Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse. He enjoyed reading, watching sports, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Candi; four children and their spouses, including daughter Alyson Drew ’91 and her husband Parker ’91; six grandchildren; a sister; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
64

Howard B. Hile ’64, of Sun Peaks, B.C., formerly of Philadelphia; Jul. 16. He was part of the ROTC program at Brown and upon graduation was sworn into the U.S. Navy. He completed his active service with the rank of lieutenant and remained in the reserves for more than 25 years. He began working at Union Carbide (NYC) before enrolling at the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia to obtain his MBA. He then worked at National Bulk Carriers and got married. In Philadelphia, he worked in marine transport with Sonat Marine and Maritrans. He specialized in oil spill response and eventually was a consultant with Gallagher Marine Systems. He became a liaison to federal, state, and local agencies in the area of spill response and worked with companies all over the world in their preparation of U.S. waters oil spill response plans and training. He retired to Sun Peaks and enjoyed bird watching and skiing. He is survived by his stepdaughter and her spouse, a brother and sister-in-law, and a cousin. 

Jan, 2025
63

Freda Wallace Macleod ’63, of East Providence, R.I.; Aug. 4. After earning a master’s degree in library science, she worked in the Boston area before working in an administrator role in Brown’s graphic services department. Due to health issues, she retired early and assisted her husband who was a professor at Stonehill College. She participated in book groups and Alliance Française de Newport, where she was president for several years. She enjoyed the theater and classical music. She is survived by son Gregory Wallace ’89 AM, ’96 PhD; a daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; and three stepchildren. 

Jan, 2025
63

Christine MacGillis ’63, of West Hartford, Conn.; Jun. 23. After graduation from Brown, she spent time traveling throughout Europe before starting a career at Connecticut General Corp. (now Cigna), where she rose to be an officer of the company. She enjoyed scouting for books at tag sales and libraries and took a class on mystery writing. She wrote several manuscripts. She is survived by two sisters, four sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
63

John C. Davis II ’63, of Port Townsend, Wash.; Aug. 31, from prostate cancer. After Brown, he joined the Navy, where he had a 21-year career. After retiring from the Navy, he worked for Hughes/Raytheon as a computer engineer while also flying Learjets for Flight International. In 2007 he retired for a second time to Port Townsend. He was a member of Delta Phi. He is survived by his wife, Claudia; two daughters and sons-in-law; four grandchildren; a sister; and seven nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
62

Barbara Bromer van Achterberg ’62, of Hebron, formerly Easton, Conn.; Jul. 14. She got married in 1965, settled in Easton, began a family, and started an organic farm. At age 50, she returned to school and earned a master’s degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State University and worked as a reference librarian at the Bethel Public Library for 20 years. She was an avid reader and participated in several book groups. She also enjoyed gardening and was an active member of the North American Rock Garden Society. She ran the soup kitchen as a member of the Easton Congregational Church. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, 13 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two brothers, a sister-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
62

Elaine Remley Perachio ’62, of Issaquah, Wash.; May 28. She was a grant manager for the Moody Foundation and executive director of the Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund. She is survived by her husband, Adrian ’61; two daughters; and a son. 

Jan, 2025
62

Susanna Opper ’62, of Alford, Mass.; Jul. 16, of ovarian cancer. She had been one of the early woman reporters at the Brown Daily Herald. After graduation, a career in magazine writing followed at Time Life prior to transitioning to corporate communications at Federated Department Stores, Exxon, and BankBoston. She cowrote Technology for Teams: Enhancing Productivity in Networked Organizations. After she met her future husband at a Brown reunion, they married and together founded Southern Berkshires Toastmasters Club in 1997. Susanna also cofounded Berkshire Entrepreneurs Network, helping the growth of small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. In 2003 she created Shawenon Communication. She volunteered with Hospice Care of the Berkshires. For four years she worked at Villages of the Berkshires as chair of the Sage Committee, enabling people to age in their own homes. She enjoyed interviewing Brown applicants and being in the outdoors. She hiked and skied until just two years ago. She is survived by her husband, Will Ryan ’62; two stepsons; a step-daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; and two great-
granddaughters.

Jan, 2025
62

Joyce Klaber Gore ’62, of Australia; May 26. She was a retired drama teacher and stage manager. She is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. 

Jan, 2025
62

Paul J. Forrest ’62, of Essex, Conn.; Jun. 25. He attended Brown through the Navy ROTC program and served as an aviator in the Mediterranean and at Guantanamo Bay. He was reactivated in the reserves in Pennsylvania and pursued an MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, he began working with TWA, offering him the opportunity to travel the world. He went on to work at Morgan Stanley, then was CFO for Josephson International, and later was a partner and CFO for Heating Oil Partners in Connecticut. He retired to Essex, where he was a member of the Essex Yacht Club and served on the regatta committee. He volunteered with HomeFront, helping others who couldn’t afford to make their homes safe environments. He is survived by his wife, Adrienne; five children; seven grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Jan, 2025
61

Avery W. Bates ’61, of Tucson; Aug. 20. He was a vice president at Seatrain, managed a wild blueberry farm in Massachusetts, and worked in the retail food business along with his entire family. Later he was involved in real estate. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn “Dee” Bates ’62; four children; eight grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. 

Jan, 2025
60

William J. O’Neill ’60, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., formerly of Red Hook, N.Y.; Jul. 5, of cancer. Following Brown, he graduated from Duke Law School and was appointed a special agent with the FBI in 1963, serving for eight years in North Carolina during the height of the civil rights era. After his divorce from his first wife, he relocated to Red Hook, where they remained friends and coparents. Upon his return to New York, he was hired as an assistant district attorney in Dutchess County and remarried. He retired from the district attorney’s office on December 30, 2002, concluding 31 years as a trial lawyer, as well as being instrumental in the training and development of many young attorneys. He then joined his longtime friend’s law firm part-time and retired a second time in 2012. In retirement he served as the appointed chief deputy of the town and was instrumental in the preservation of farmland and public spaces. He was elected four times to the Town Board through 2021. He is survived by his wife, Jean; four children and their spouses, including son Alec ’03; three stepchildren; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
60

George S. Champlin ’60, of Barrington, R.I.; Aug. 22. After Brown he earned his MBA from Pace University and was a member of the National Business Honorary Society. He worked for a variety of companies, including CBS Inc., Ard Appraisal Company, and the Vanguard Group. He was a member of the Appraisal Institute, having completed an MAI Designation as a successful real estate appraiser. In retirement he was a member of several social clubs and organizations. He was a coordinator for courses at Providence’s Lifelong Learning Collaborative. He served on the board of directors as the treasurer and secretary of the Bristol County Water Authority. He was a member of the Barrington Garden Club and served as an elder at Barrington Presbyterian Church. While at Brown he was a member of the sailing team. He is survived by his wife, Betsy; son John A. Champlin ’09, two stepchildren, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren; and two siblings. 

Jan, 2025
59

David E. Birenbaum ’59, of Washington, D.C.; Jun. 18. He was a renowned lawyer known for his groundbreaking work in international law and his influential role as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform.  His career began with a federal clerkship in Hartford before moving to Washington, D.C. In 1968, he joined the landmark Kerner Commission established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to study the causes of racial riots. As assistant general counsel, he played a role in organizing hearings and contributing to the report’s sections on education and urban policy. During his career he lectured at the University of Pennsylvania Law School on international trade law and served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform during the Clinton Administration, working on proposals to reform the institution while building relationships with ambassadors from various nations. Upon leaving the U.N. in 1996, he created and chaired the Emergency Coalition for U.S. Financial Support of the United Nations. He had been a longtime partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, specializing in international trade and investment law, and retired from the partnership in 2000. Throughout his career, he took multiple leaves of absence to work on Democratic campaigns and political assignments. He authored several publications in reference to the United Nations and served in various positions on numerous boards. He was an avid traveler and Nationals fan. He enjoyed the opera, reading, and dancing with his wife, the Hon. Vanessa Ruiz. He is survived by Ruiz; a daughter; son Matthew ’87; a daughter-in-law; stepdaughter Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz ’01; four grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Jan, 2025
60

Robert A. Brown ’60, of Mattapoisett, Mass.; Aug. 19, after a short illness. He worked for many years as an engineer for different companies, including Sippican Company and the Acushnet Company, which makes Titleist products. He holds many patents for his unique inventions. His passion for the beach led to countless hours restoring Cannonville Beach. He enjoyed biking, sailing, and playing tennis, which he did into his 80s. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son, and two grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
60

E. Lang D’Atri ’60, of Canton, Ohio; Aug. 2. After Brown he continued his education at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and then pursued a master of laws at Northwestern University. He was admitted to the Bar in 1963. He practiced law in Canton his entire career and was a trustee or member of numerous boards. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and reading. He is survived by three children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and a great-grandson. 

Jan, 2025
59

Daniel S. Wolk ’59, of New York City; Aug. 19. He graduated from Hebrew Union College and the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia before becoming a rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester for 43 years. He also taught a course on ethics and Holy Scriptures at School of the Holy Child in Rye, N.Y., for 50 years. He published three books and numerous articles. He is survived by his wife, Ann; four stepsons and their spouses, including Scott Siege ’89; and 10 grandchildren. 

 

Jan, 2025
59

Harry W. Townes ’59, of Glendive, Mont.; Jul. 6. After earning his doctorate from Caltech, he accepted a position as professor at Montana State University and taught there for 25 years. He was a lifelong learner and taught himself computer coding in retirement that he used to reconstruct auto accidents for his profession as an expert witness. He was an avid hunter and he enjoyed hiking in the mountains and floating in the rivers. He remained physically active, walking two miles a day until the year before he died. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two grandsons, three siblings, and several nieces and nephews.

Jan, 2025
59

Alan L. Stuart ’59, of Greenwich, Conn. and Brooksville, Me.; Aug. 1. He was a founding partner of Stuart Brothers/New York Hanseatic, a corporate and government bond dealer, and member of the NYSE. He later founded several investment and investment advisory firms. A proud alum, he supported Brown through the Stuart Family Fund in support of the performing arts. He was a member of several boards, including board member and treasurer of the nonprofit Careers Through Culinary Arts Program. Sailing was his passion and he enjoyed cruising with family and friends and recruiting friends and extended family to crew and race, including four Newport to Bermuda races. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughters Victoria Stuart Guiliano ’87, Carolyn Stuart ’90, and Elizabeth Stuart ’92; two sons-in–law; four grandchildren; and 12 nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
59

Jean Thomas Runnells ’59, of Gloucester, Mass.; Sept. 3, of cancer. She pursued her love of art by continuing her education at RISD. Once married, she and her family moved to the Netherlands, where her love of landscapes and nature grew. Upon returning to Massachusetts, she began to exhibit her work. She visited New Mexico yearly, and there she became an oblate at the Benedictine Abbey. Her paintings exhibited her deep belief that the divine is present in every detail of our lives. She was a spiritual director and a facilitator of creative play workshops. As a member of Animas Valley Institute, she searched for ways to heal our planet. She is survived by her husband, Ernie; three children and their spouses; four grandchildren; and three nieces. 

Jan, 2025
58

Lenore A. Donofrio DeLucia ’58, ’61 AM, ’63 PhD, of Wakefield, R.I.; Aug. 5, of cancer. She worked at Rhode Island College for 10 years as a faculty member prior to becoming the associate dean of the School of Education. She spent two years as the acting dean of the School of Education and then helped to establish RIC’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning. During the last 14 years of her 42-year tenure, she was the vice president for administration and finance. During that time, she launched a capital campaign to renovate many older buildings on the campus. In 1969, she was elected to the Jamestown School Committee and served for seven years, during which time the Melrose School was constructed. Lee also served for several years as the chair of the Democratic Town Committee in Jamestown. She and her husband retired to Wakefield, and she served on the board of their homeowner’s association for more than six years and was president for many years. She discovered Mahjong and enjoyed Thursday night games, playing up to the week before she died. She was recognized for her hard work and accomplishments by being named to the Distinguished Young Women of Rhode Island in 1970 and Outstanding Educator of America in 1971. In 1977, she was named Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Jamestown Business and Professional Women’s Association. Her husband, Clement “Ken” DeLucia ’63, preceded her in death. She is survived by daughter Karen E. Pinch ’88 and her husband, and two grandchildren. 

Related classes:
Class of 1958, GS Class of 1961
Jan, 2025
58

Thomas J. Cogswell ’58, of Macon, Ga.; Jul. 1, of cancer. Music played a major role in his life. At age seven he began playing the piano and later mastered the trumpet. He went on to play the trumpet in the Culver Military Marching Band. After college, he spent six years in the Illinois Air National Guard, where he played in the marching band as well. In 1974, he and his family moved to Coral Gables, Fla., where he became president of Dade Rigging Company. In 1985, he moved to Kiawah Island, S.C., and started a new business, Laser Imaging Products. There he learned the game of golf. He married Jane Thomas in 1996 and moved to Seabrook Island. He retired in 2006 to Callawassie Island, where he continued to play golf, served on the Callawassie Marketing Committee, and joined the choir at The Parish Church of St. Helena. The couple enjoyed traveling the world together, including visits to Alaska, South America, and Europe. At the end of 2022, they moved to Carlyle Place in Macon, and he joined the Choristers. He is survived by his wife, Jane; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; two stepchildren and their spouses; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Jan, 2025
57

Marilyn Mapes Yeutter ’57, of West Caldwell, N.J., formerly of Montclair, N.J.; Aug. 22. While attending Brown, she met her future husband, Bruce D. Yeutter ’57, and upon graduation they were married and started a family in Montclair. She was a member of Union Congregational Church, the Montclair Garden Club, Bradford Bath & Tennis Club, and the Montclair Golf Club. She had a lifelong passion for sports that included traveling to attend Brown football and soccer games but, more importantly, watching her daughter compete on the Brown swim team. She also attended her grandchildren’s sporting events. For more than 40 years the family gathered at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she enjoyed collecting sea shells and walking the beach with her children and grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, including Diane Rothberg ’83 and Stacey Ross ’94; three sons-in-law; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. 

Jan, 2025
57

Priscilla “Shelley” Everett Richardson ’57, of Manitowoc, Wisc., formerly of Portsmouth and Dover, N.H.; Jul. 1. She retired as director of medical records at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth. She enjoyed tutoring elementary school students, baking, sewing, knitting, and traveling, especially to Switzerland. She is survived by two daughters, two sons-in-law, five grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews.

Jan, 2025
57

Cynthia Galazzi Lewis ’57, of Bristol, R.I., formerly of New York; Aug. 11. She was a biology lab technician and held office manager positions at multiple companies during her career. She enjoyed sailing, gardening, visiting museums, and traveling. She is survived by two children. 

Jan, 2025
56

Jules A. Titelbaum ’56, of South Orange, N.J.; Jul. 28. He received his medical degree from Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston and did a residency at Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as chief pediatric resident and completed a fellowship in infectious disease. He also completed a fellowship in developmental biology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Army as captain of the Medical Corps from 1962 to 1963. Since 1972, he had been an associate professor of pediatrics and associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors and a member of the board of trustees of the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, was past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of New Jersey. He was chairman of the Medical Center’s Infection Control Committee and served on the Infectious Disease Review Board for many years. He is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; five grandchildren; a sister; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
56

Robert A. Schneider ’56, of Billerica, Mass.; Aug. 7. He had a career that included being a business manager, Christian school administrator, small business owner, and school bus driver. He enjoyed woodworking, painting, gardening, and vacationing with his family. He is survived by four children and their spouses, 20 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
56

Edward Koczak ’56, of La Jolla, Calif.; Jun. 21, 2023. He is survived by a sister. 

Jan, 2025
56

Joan Peterson Klimann ’56, of Jupiter, Fla.; Aug. 19. She continued her education at RISD and worked in the art field for many years before opening her own gallery in Boston. She closed her gallery in 1981 and moved to Florida in 2000. She enjoyed playing golf and traveling. 

Jan, 2025
55

Donald M. Seifert ’55, of Summit, N.J.; Aug. 28. During his time at Brown, he was a national collegiate champion and All-American in the hammer throw. He went on to Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Upon completion of specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery, he established Summit Oral Surgery. He was an attending surgeon at Overlook Hospital and helped develop their dental residency program, serving as chief and director of dental education at Overlook for more than 10 years. He was also an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University. A member of several boards, he was the recipient of an outstanding citizen award. He enjoyed sailing with his daughters and teaching them how to build a boat. He was an avid skier, bird watcher, and gardener. He enjoyed music and at age 70 learned to play the flute. He also enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, Lynn Betts Seifert ’56, who survives him, along with his two daughters and their spouses; two grandchildren; a sister; and his mother-in-law. 

Jan, 2025
55

Robert A. Murchelano ’55, of Falmouth, Mass., formerly of Easton, Md.; Aug. 24. After Brown he went on to earn a master’s degree in microbiology from URI. He then served in the U.S. Medical Service Corps before earning a PhD in oceanography from URI. He began doing research for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Milford, Conn., and in 1970 accepted a position in Maryland to continue his research for NOAA. His career eventually brought him back to Massachusetts, where he worked for NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency at Woods Hole Laboratory. He authored and published several research papers. In retirement he enjoyed boating, fishing, woodworking, cooking, and classical music. He is survived by his wife, Josephine; two daughters and their spouses; four grandchildren;
two great-grandchildren; and a sister and brother-in-law. 

Jan, 2025
55

Stephen K. Halpert ’55, of Portland, Me.; Jul. 13, from complications of pancreatic cancer. He served in the U.S. Air Force and, upon discharge, lived in Italy with his wife and children, working on his writing. After moving back to his hometown of Portland, he taught at Deering High School for several years and was a reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He also taught full-time at Westbrook Junior College-University of New England as chair of the English Department for more than 50 years, at Portland School of Art for many years, and at the University of Maine. While at Westbrook (UNE), he began exhibiting photographs featuring local artists, and in 2016 the Stephen K. Halpert Photography Collection was formed in the UNE Art Gallery. He curated three exhibitions in the past year at age 90. He had a passion for cinema that began at Brown and culminated in the purchase of The Movies on Exchange in 1979, where he and his wife showed art and repertory films until 2009. In addition, he owned and operated the Custom Shop, a custom drapery business founded in 1935. He was active in many organizations, including as president of the NAACP and the Baxter Society. He was a trustee of the Tidebrook Preserve in Freeport and coached Little League. He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann Venner; four children; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister; and many nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
55

Herbert Ablow ’55, of Lake Worth, Fla., formerly of Swampscott, Mass. ; Jul. 25. He worked at Salem Paper Company, a wholesale paper and packaging distributor founded in 1922 in Salem by his father and uncle. He was vice president and general manager and spent his entire career growing the business. In 1984 he became president and CEO of the company, and in 1992 he sold the business to Eastern Bag and Paper but stayed on to support the relationship until he officially retired in 1994. He was president of the New England Paper Merchants, president of the Salem Lions Club, and trustee of Salem Hospital. He enjoyed playing golf and had memberships at Kernwood Country Club (Mass.), Broken Sound Old Course (Fla.), and Wycliffe Country Club (Fla.), but he was especially proud of his three holes in one. He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters Linda Ablow Youngentob ’83 and Lauren Ablow Fryefield ’86; two sons-in-law, including Andy Fryefield ’81; six grandchildren; and a sister. 

Jan, 2025
54

Melvin L. Robinson ’54, of New York City; Aug. 20. After graduating from Brown and Columbia Business School, he joined the family business, B. Robinson Optical, and brought it to new levels of success. He was a supporter of UJA Optical Industry and Brown and he enjoyed playing tennis. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; a daughter; son Cliff ’92; a daughter-in-law; and four grandchildren, including Jacob ’28. 

Jan, 2025
54

Peter P. DePaola ’54, ’56 AM, of Fall River, Mass.; Aug. 9. He was a foreign language teacher at Classical High School in Providence for more than 40 years and head of the language department. He was fluent in eight languages. In addition to teaching, he would work alongside his brother at Viking Pharmacy in Fall River. He enjoyed music and was a talented pianist. He was continuously active in charitable causes. He is survived by a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. 

Related classes:
Class of 1954, GS Class of 1956
Jan, 2025
53

Barbara Kemalian Stone ’53, of Warwick, R.I.; Jul. 30, from kidney failure. After receiving her MAT from Harvard, she taught on American Air Forces bases in Germany and Libya for several years, which allowed her the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East. Stateside she taught English and was a drama coach at Warwick Veterans High School. She eventually became a mother of twins and triplets, two years apart. She enjoyed book clubs and playing bridge as a member of Warwick Country Club. She was an avid New England sports fan and also an active member and former president of her Brown class and served as class marshal at her 65th reunion. She is survived by her significant other, E. Allen Reed; daughter Laura Stone ’89; four sons, including Thomas ’89; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; and eight grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
53

George F. Smith ’53, of South Hadley, Mass.; Jul. 31. He had a long career as an educator, retiring as head of the science department at South Hadley High School. Previously, he had served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a founding member of All Saints Church and active in its many committees. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
53

Ann J. Kingsbury Resch ’53, of Bennington, Vt.; Jul. 16, from complications of a stroke. After Brown and while in London for three years, she earned a licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She followed with a career in theater and for four years was the assistant to Joseph Papp, founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival. She was also an assistant stage manager and business manager of Group 20 Players in Wellesley, Mass., and worked at other regional theaters, including the Antioch Shakespeare Festival and the Brattle Theater. For 10 years she lived in Manhattan, where besides her association with Joseph Papp, she worked as a play reader for Lynn Austin and Roger Stevens. In 1966 she got married, started a family, and left Manhattan. She eventually taught voice at the Emma Willard School in Troy (N.Y.), and at Bennington College, where she later served as coordinator of the dance-drama division. She helped to organize the Vermont Symphony’s youth concerts in Bennington and was active with the Beyond War movement of the 1980s. Many of her reviews of regional drama productions were published locally. She enjoyed swimming and had a fondness for cats. She is survived by her husband, Tyler; two daughters; a son-in-law; a sister; and several nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
53

Jane Treynor Luff ’53, of Haverhill, formerly of Amherst, Mass.; Jan. 4, from vascular dementia. She was a nurse practitioner employed at Sickle Cell Disease Center at Boston Medical Center and worked at Baystate Medical Center in the oncology research department. She enjoyed reading, photography, improv comedy, and traveling. She is survived by three daughters, a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
53

Norman A. James ’53, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Jun. 26. He went on to receive his MBA from Babson before beginning a long career at DuPont. During his time at Brown he was a cheerleader and after graduating he served as the Class of ’53 president for more than 35 years. A dedicated Brunonian, he regularly attended football games and Campus Dances and looked forward to marching down College Hill at Commencement. He was known as “Jesse” by his classmates and “Papa Joe” by his grandchildren. He was proud to be one of the first participants in a clinical trial for a medication for Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; two daughters and sons-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister and brother-in-law. 

Jan, 2025
53

Ann McGeeney Harty ’53, of Verona, Pa., formerly of Pittsburgh and Kanazawa, Japan; Jul. 21. She was a homemaker until her children were school age and then she returned to the workforce at Chatham College, where she helped start and run Job Advisory Service (JAS), a service to assist women in reentering the workforce. After moving to Pittsburgh, she was exposed to broader adventures that included traveling and hosting exchange students. She interviewed prospective students in the Pittsburgh area for Brown. Her husband’s job brought them to Japan and she remained active in the culture. After her husband’s passing she stayed active with friends and family. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; four sons, including Christopher ’81; two daughters-in-law; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother; and nieces and nephews. 

Jan, 2025
53

Ellen Leete Bell ’53, of Westerly, R.I.; Jul. 16. She was a volunteer tax preparer for many years and served on the board of the Westerly Library. She helped to establish Meals on Wheels for Westerly and was an active member of Christ Church in Westerly. She is survived by a daughter, a son and daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
52

Bertram Wolfson ’52, of Bryn Mawr, Pa.; Jun. 24, from renal failure. While at Brown, he met his wife, Lorle Patzau ’55, who predeceased him. After Brown, he graduated from Harvard Law School, was married and joined the Army stationed in Germany. Upon discharge, he and his wife settled in Pennsylvania and he began working at the law firm of Raspin Espenshade Hines and Erskine. He later left the firm with Robert Erskine and the two opened Erskine & Wolfson, which later became Erskine, Wolfson & Gibbon. He practiced law until age 90, saying “No one wants the advice of a 90-year-old.” He had been active in the Main Line Unitarian Church and served on nonprofit boards. He was a founding president of Resources for Human Development in 1970 and served in that position for three decades. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, and five granddaughters. 

Jan, 2025
52

Barbara Shortle Hopkins ’52, of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., formerly of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Aug. 19. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to start a career in advertising at J. Walter Thompson, where she met her future husband, followed by a short stint at Time Inc. Following time spent raising a family, she returned to the workforce, first as sales clerk at Good Yarns, the local bookstore in Hastings, and then as director of development at Graham Windham Home for Children in Yonkers, N.Y. She is survived by three daughters, a son-in-law, seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and a niece. 

Jan, 2025
52

Daniel W. Grisly Jr. ’52, of Webster, N.Y.; Jul. 31. He spent his career as a chemist, most recently at Eastman Kodak Company. He enjoyed hiking, gardening, and reading. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; three children; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. 

 

Jan, 2025
52

Richard E. Bayles ’52, of Old Orchard Beach, Me.; Jul. 14. After earning a master’s degree from Harvard and spending time in the U.S. Army, he worked as an actuary. He retired from Savings Bank Life Insurance in 1966. He was a member of Old Orchard Beach Animal Watch and Good Shepherd Parish, where he enjoyed singing in the choir. He also enjoyed playing Scrabble and solving Sudoku puzzles, and was a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; two daughters; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and four grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
50

Roland D. Spiotta ’50, of Maplewood, N.J., and Osterville, Mass.; Aug. 4. He was a broker who founded Spiotta Brothers Company with his brother Robert. He was active at St. George’s Church, where he taught Sunday school, served on the vestry, and was instrumental in the creation of the first St. George’s Youth Group. He enjoyed summers spent in his home on the Cape. He is survived by four children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
50

Mary Going Crawford ’50, of Longmont, Colo., formerly of Rockville, Md., and Providence, R.I.; Aug. 31. She was a social worker for the State of Rhode Island, working in Providence, and later became a probation officer in Newport, R.I. After receiving her master’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College, she became a reading specialist and school psychologist responsible for testing and referrals in the Newport school system. She married a naval officer and they were stationed in Italy for a short time. Once back in the U.S., they lived in Rockville for 21 years. They retired to Longmont in 1996. She is survived by her husband, Bill; three children and their spouses; and 12 grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
50

Nancy McKenna Moore ’50, of Newport, R.I.; Jul. 10. She taught elementary school in Providence and Cranston during her 20-year career. She was active with the Pembroke Club, the Rhode Island Hospital Guild, and the University Pops Concert Committee, where she also served as cochair for a year. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, traveling, and spending summers in Nantucket. She is survived by five children and their spouses and 14 grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
50

Eugene F. Ahearn ’50, of Timonium, Md.; Jul. 28. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he graduated from Brown and began a long career at Scott Paper Company. In 1952 he began as a sales rep for Boston and was promoted to district manager in 1955, serving in Rochester (N.Y.) and then in Providence, Buffalo (N.Y.) and St. Louis. He became assistant manager of product development in Philadelphia in 1964, then was divisional manager in St. Louis from 1966 to 1967. He became director of marketing from 1967 to 1972 and later New York City Metropolitan regional director for sales and marketing and customer development manager before retiring in 1986. He traveled to six of the seven continents. He is survived by three sons, two grandchildren, and a sister. 

Jan, 2025
47

Glenn N. Stacy ’47, of Danielson, Conn.; Aug. 9, at 100 years of age. After serving in the Navy during the end of World War II, he graduated from Brown and moved to Danielson, where he worked as a plant manager for Rogers Corporation. He began running and what started as a way to relieve stress turned into a lifestyle. He ran the Boston Marathon six times, completing his last marathon at age 72. He organized the Springtime Festival Road Race in Danielson for 20 years, while also running the race. Active in St. Albans Church for 30 years, he was a lay reader and warden. He is survived by four children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
47

Beryl-Jane Carney Nye ’47, of Coventry, R.I.; Jul. 9. After earning a master’s degree from Boston University, she was a special education teacher in Coventry for more than 30 years. She enjoyed training poodles and was a member of the Rocky Hill Grange. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
46

Carmela Bruno Ragosta ’46, of Providence, R.I.; Jul. 22. She was a social worker in Providence until she retired to be a full-time mother and homemaker. She was an active member of Veridames of Providence College, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and the Aurora Civic Association. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed baking and cooking. She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
46

Ruth Warren Cohen ’46, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of New York City and Charlotte, N.C.; Jun. 20. While at Brown she met her husband Leslie Cohen ’44, who predeceased her. In addition to being a homemaker, she was a needlepoint shop owner for a while and,  later, a real estate broker. She retired to Boca Raton in 2004. She enjoyed playing tennis and went on to win many club tournaments, as well as the amateur women’s golf championship of North Carolina. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and four grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
45

Alfred F. Ferullo ’45, of Canton, formerly of Milton, Mass.; Jul. 11, at the age of 100. He was a member of Brown’s ROTC program before attending officer candidate school at Columbia University. After military service, he married and began a family. He worked as a chemist analyzing water for Metcalf & Eddy for 20 years. In 1966, he became head of the division of water pollution control in the Department of Natural Resources. He continued to work for the state of Massachusetts until his retirement in 1988. He was known as Mr. Charles River as he directed the cleanup of the river. He looked forward to retirement in order to pursue his many interests and hobbies that included fishing, boating, gardening, and playing the guitar, which he taught himself. He is survived by four children and their spouses, 10 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
44

Burton “Bud” Morris ’44, of East Northport, formerly Port Washington, N.Y.; Jun. 20, at the age of 101. He attended Brown for two years before joining the U.S. Army. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Brown and then worked for Allied Chemical. He married, bought a home in Port Washington, and raised four children there. He eventually worked as a stockbroker in Great Neck (N.Y.), from which he retired at age 75. He followed his career in the securities business with a 21-year run as a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital. He enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and spending time with grandchildren. He is survived by four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. 

Jan, 2025
91
Racial Justice Scientist
Dr. Lundy Braun researched racial bias in medicine and its effect on patient care.
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B+W image of Dr. Lundy Braun sitting at her desk
Nov, 2024
GS 94
Stories Well Spun
Shay Youngblood ’94 MFA read people as skillfully as she read books, holding their stories with care
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Shay Youngblood ’94 MFA
Nov, 2024
54
Book Maverick
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Tom McCormack ’54
Nov, 2024
FAC

Herbert M. Fried, of Cranston, R.I.; Nov. 18, 2023. He was professor emeritus of physics. He graduated from Brooklyn College and was attending UConn when his studies were interrupted by the Korean War. Following two years in the U.S. Army, he completed his physics studies at Stanford University. He spent a postdoctoral year at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, three years teaching physics at UCLA, a year as a visiting member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and two years as visiting physicist at the Courant Institute at NYU. In 1964 he joined the physics faculty at Brown. Despite retiring in 1997, he continued to teach, advise graduate students, and perform research for years afterwards. A specialist in functional methods developed by Julian Schwinger and others, he authored four books and more than 140 scientific papers. He personally knew many physics luminaries, including Robert Oppenheimer and Freeman Dyson. He lectured and performed research in university departments and institutes throughout the world and for many years was director of the workshops on non-perturbative quantum chromodynamics at the American University of Paris and La Citadelle of Villefranche-sur-Mer. He continued active research throughout his life, completing his fourth book in 2014 at age 84, and publishing scientific papers well into his 90s. He spent sabbatical years living in Paris, Nice, and Villefranche-sur-Mer with his family. He was active in Brown’s study abroad program at the American University of Paris and was a tireless advocate of foreign language study as a means of expanding horizons. Among his closest collaborators were French physicists Yves Gabellini and Thierry Grandou. He was a self-taught painter of numerous portraits and landscapes. A sunrise he painted in Kyoto was displayed at the Kyoto Institute of Theoretical Physics. He was also an avid reader of mysteries and spy novels. He could recite from memory poems by Robert Service and Lewis Carroll, and was always more than willing to give an audience an entertaining performance, especially his comedy routine impersonating the fictional Josiah S. Carberry. For more than 30 years, he and his wife Nancy, who survives him, were active members of the First Unitarian Church in Providence and regular attendees of the Institute for Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) on Star Island. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter; sons Jonathan ’81 and William ’01; a daughter-in-law; two granddaughters; and a sister. 

Nov, 2024
GS 99

Joseph H. Shieber ’99 AM, ’03 PhD, of Wallingford, Pa.; Apr. 7. He taught philosophy at Lafayette College. At the time of his passing, he was the James Renwick Hogg Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy and was working on his book Knowledge for Zombies: A Naturalistic Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. He published scholarly articles, wrote a column for the online journal 3 Quarks Daily, and published Testimony: A Philosophical Introduction. He is survived by his wife, Lesa; a daughter; a son; his parents; and two brothers.

Nov, 2024
GS 79

Yusuf B. Gursey ’79 ScM, ’86 PhD, of New Haven, Conn.; Apr. 28. A car struck him while walking home after a march for Palestine in New Haven. He had lived in New Haven for almost 40 years and had studied both engineering and linguistics. He spent his life at various times as a researcher, a professor, and a freelance medical and court translator. He spoke multiple languages, including Turkish and Arabic. He served on the Greater New Haven Peace Council and the city’s Peace Commission. He was a fixture at social justice demonstrations, always striving for peace. He enjoyed walking trails, science fiction novels, and movies. 

Nov, 2024
GS 76

William C. Watterson ’76 PhD, of Brunswick, Me.; May 1. He joined the English department of Bowdoin as an assistant professor in 1976. He was promoted to associate professor in 1983, full professor in 1992, and in 1999 was named the Edward Little Professor of English Language and Literature. He was the author of two books of poetry, numerous reviews, and articles in journals that included the Milton Quarterly, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and the Bowdoin Alumni Magazine. His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The Kenyon Review, The Sewanee Review, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. For several years he was a judge for the Longfellow Prize for poetry in Maine and he was a trustee of the New York School of Interior Design from 1983 to 1990. He is survived by a brother and several nieces and nephews.

Nov, 2024
GS 74

Leo Carroll ’74 PhD, of Lynn, Mass.; Apr. 15. He was emeritus professor and former chair of sociology and anthropology at URI. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, he taught sociology and criminology at URI for 45 years. He also served as chair of the department of sociology and anthropology for 12 of those years. He retired in 2018. He was the 1975 recipient of URI’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was internationally known as a criminologist and author of numerous articles, including two books on criminal justice. He was a visiting research fellow in the Center for Criminal Justice at Harvard Law School and a fellow at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin. He served on several boards, including the ACLU of Rhode Island and the South County YMCA. He also served as senior warden at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Narragansett. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; two daughters; two stepchildren; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Nov, 2024
GS 72

William N. Bayless ’72 PhD, of Cleveland; May 8. He was a professor at Rutgers University before transitioning to government work. He worked at the Cleveland branch of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for 44 years. He was a member of the Cheshire Cheese Club. He is survived by his wife, Elna; two daughters; a son-in-law; brothers; and nieces and nephews.  

Nov, 2024
GS 71

Jennifer M. Smith ’71 MAT, of Eugene, Ore.; May 1, from skin cancer and Alzheimer’s disease complications. After graduating from Brown, she spent a year in Monterey, Mexico, teaching English at Berlitz School and living with a Mexican family. She returned to teach high school Spanish in Lodi, Calif., for three years, which was also when she changed her first name to Jennifer (she was born Miriam Bernice Smith). In 1976, she earned a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon and went on to teach junior high school Spanish in Eugene. In 1978, she received her third and final graduate degree, this one in library science, and went on to work as a librarian at the Eugene Public Library from 1980 until her retirement in 2003. In addition to having an interest in genealogy, she was an accomplished musician and sang in the choir at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and in the Women’s Choral Group. She also played violin in the Eugene Community Orchestra and the flute in her later years. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by a sister, a brother, and six nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
GS 67

Jones B. Shannon Jr. ’67 MAT, of Warrington, Pa.; May 2. He had a career in human resources, working for several prestigious companies before retiring from Highland Beef Farms in Reston, Va. In his 70s he became a licensed glider pilot and vice president of the Philadelphia Glider Council in Perkasie, Pa. He was a volunteer usher at the Sellersville Theater and enjoyed sailing the East Coast. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two granddaughters, a sister, a brother and sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
GS 65

Stephen G. Bishop ’65 PhD, of Northbrook, Ill.; May 28, after a prolonged illness. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Gettysburg College and later served on the college’s board of trustees for 14 years. Upon receiving his PhD from Brown, he became a researcher and later leader at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C., with year-long sabbaticals at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Germany and the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in England. In 1989, he accepted a position as professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the microelectronics lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Later in his career, he served UIUC as a faculty fellow and associate vice president in the office for technology and economic development. He and his wife of more than 60 years, Helene, retired to the Chicago suburbs in 2011. In addition to Helene, he is survived by two sons, including Lars Bishop ’94; daughter-in-law Jennifer Acker Bishop ’94; and four grandchildren, including granddaughter Nadia Bishop ’26.

Nov, 2024
GS 64

Milton R. Buyce ’64 ScM, of Erie, Pa.; Mar. 26. He earned his PhD at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and then worked at numerous jobs before becoming a geology professor at Mercyhurst University, retiring in 2019. He enjoyed downhill skiing, golfing, playing guitar, and photography, but especially spending time with his family in the Adirondacks. He is survived by his wife, Judy; two daughters; five grandchildren; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Nov, 2024
GS 52

Sheldon L. “Shelly” Levy ’52 PhD, of Lenexa, Kans.; May 12. In 1954, he was a director of mathematics and physics at Midwest Research Institute (now MRI Global) in Kansas City, Mo. He left MRI in 1968 to form his own firm, TransTech, which provided software and computing and consulting services to the food service industry. After selling his interest in TransTech, he joined the engineering firm of Black & Veatch as a professional engineer. He retired from Black & Veatch in 1990. Retirement afforded him time to participate in building homes with Habitat for Humanity and pursue his interest in model railroading. He was the recipient of the National Model Railroad Association’s 2019 Master Model Railroader. He is survived by two daughters, three sons, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a sister, a brother, and a sister-in-law. 

Nov, 2024
GS 51

George Haley ’51 AM, ’56 PhD, of Chicago; Jun. 6, after a brief illness. He was a professor of romance languages and literature at the University of Chicago and served as department chairman for three years. He wrote numerous articles and published several books throughout his career. He enjoyed collecting notable works of art and was an accomplished classical music pianist. He is survived by a sister, a brother, and many nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
13

Nathan M. Elder ’13, ’14 MAT, of Sarasota, Fla.; Apr. 27. After graduation, he taught high school in Kuwait and traveled to Shanghai, China, to help students apply to American universities. While in San Francisco, he helped American students apply to colleges and universities and while in Missouri, he was a student recruiter throughout Illinois and the St. Louis area. In Quincy, Ill., he managed a Dollar General franchise before moving to Sarasota, where he sold health insurance and later fine art. He is survived by his grandparents, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, four nieces and nephews, and two aunts and uncles. 

 

Related classes:
Class of 2013, GS Class of 2014
Nov, 2024
94

Matthew A. Carvalho ’94, of Seattle; May 1. After Brown, he earned his law degree from Columbia Law School. He spent the first two years of his legal career in Washington, D.C., as a law associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. In 1999, he moved back to Seattle and following his U.S. District Court clerkship, was an attorney at Heller Ehrman, Yarmuth LLP, Calfo Eakes, and Morgan Lewis, during which time he was repeatedly recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Washington Law & Politics magazine. He started his own firm in 2023. He was passionate about the arts, serving on the board of  trustees for the Henry Art Gallery, and was a past board member of Richard Hugo House. He is survived by his parents, two brothers and sisters-in-law, a niece, and three nephews. 

Nov, 2024
92

Brian S. Chang ’92, of Chicago; May 10. Following graduation from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and medical residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, he joined Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where he served as a pathologist for nearly two decades. During his tenure he became managing partner of the practice and served as medical director of pathology. He is survived by his wife, Kelly; a daughter; a son; two siblings; his mother and father-in-law; and four nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
86

Thomasenia P. “Tommie” Duncan ’86, of Washington, D.C.; Apr. 23, after a brief illness. She earned her JD at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was a member of the Penn Law Review. She completed her third year of law studies as a visiting student at Yale Law School and became a successful litigator at Covington & Burling, LLP.  She served as general counsel to the Federal Election Commission, America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. She also served as senior legal advisor to the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, acting deputy solicitor and special assistant to the solicitor of the U.S. Department of Labor in the Clinton administration, and panel executive for the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. During her career, she taught at Georgetown University Law Center and at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. She was a founder of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation and was an elected member of the American Law Institute. She also served as president of the DC Rape Crisis Center Board and vice-chair of the board of the Academy of Hope Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. She served on the Edmund Burke School board of trustees and chaired its Equity and Inclusion Committee, and she had a membership in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. A woman of deep faith, she was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, where she participated in a variety of ministry classes. She is survived by her partner, Ray Johnson; a son; and many extended family members.

Nov, 2024
83

Stephen K. Blake ’83, of Baltimore; Feb. 28, of prostate cancer. He worked in Baltimore’s Department of Public Works for more than 25 years. He had been active with the Baltimore area Boys Scouts and was a member of St. Mary’s and St. Pius X parishes and Phi Beta Sigma. He enjoyed sports, especially watching his sons’ sports activities and cheering for the Baltimore Orioles. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two sons.

Nov, 2024
75

Stephen W. Kotler ’75, of San Francisco; May 11, of ALS. He was an ophthalmologist at Kaiser-Permanente in Oakland, Calif. He retired in 2013. A runner, he was a longtime member of the San Francisco Frontrunners and enjoyed stamp and coin collecting. He was a lifelong board game player and game show enthusiast, having appeared on Shoot for the Stars and Wheel of Fortune. He is survived by his partner, Andrew Rombakis; two sisters and brothers-in-law; and four nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
74

David B. Mazza ’74, of Miami; May 6, after many years suffering from COPD. After earning his MBA from Harvard, he began his career working for Russell Reynolds Associates in senior level recruitment. He later cofounded his own executive search firm, Mazza & Riley. In 1998, he cofounded Grove Street Advisors, managing customized venture capital, private equity, and buyout portfolios for clients worldwide. In retirement he worked as a consultant helping companies build management teams and boards of directors, identify potential investors, and refine company strategies. He enjoyed all sports, especially playing golf and skiing. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; a son; and a sister. 

Nov, 2024
73

Donald R. Hunt ’73, of Rutland, Vt.; May 3, after a long illness with primary progressive aphasia. He had a long career in human resources and executive recruitment with more than 15 years at Wakefield Talabisco. In retirement he enjoyed being a volunteer driver for Bridges and Beyond and One to One. He sang in the Grace Congregational Choir for many years and was fiercely competitive at skiing, tennis, ping-pong, and Scrabble. He also enjoyed solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. He is survived by his wife, Donna; a son; a sister; two brothers, including his twin and William ’70; and several nieces and nephews, including Heather Hunt Salerno ’96 and Hayley Hunt Skinner ’00.

Nov, 2024
71

Michael Hahn ’71, of The Villages, Fla.; Aug. 14, 2022, of multiple myeloma. He joined the U.S. Information Agency in 1981 after working as a political researcher and documentary screenwriter in Washington, D.C. He retired from the Foreign Service in 2008 and was most recently employed as an associate editor at State Magazine. He was a member of Lambda Sigma Nu. He was an accomplished pianist and also enjoyed skiing, opera, and cooking. He is survived by two sons and grandchildren.  

Nov, 2024
70

Stephen Walach ’70, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Apr. 1, of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare cancer. He had a teaching career that spanned 40 years. He began teaching in Miami and later at Friends Academy in North Dartmouth. He enjoyed gardening and, after returning to his hometown of Pawtucket, started a backyard community garden. He is survived by his wife, Helen; three sisters and brothers-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

Nov, 2024
70

Gerald E. Smith ’70, of Providence, R.I., formerly of Golden, Colo.; Apr. 15. Upon graduation from Brown, he worked in a research position with Brown’s Population Studies and Training Center. He then accepted an executive position with Breck’s of Boston, where he rose to the position of vice president of marketing research. He followed Breck’s of Boston with positions at Interstate Acceptance and Parker Associates prior to becoming president of Justin H. Smith Company. After he was married, he held positions as a commercial demographic interviewer in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York. This was followed by work in consultant positions for organizations that centered around troubled teens and developmentally disabled adults who also had severe socio-psychological dysfunctions. He later was president of Human Dimensions Research. He is survived by a daughter, a son, two grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. 

Nov, 2024
70

Nancy Douglass Martin ’70, of Longmont, Colo.; Feb. 26. After earning her master’s degree in comparative literature from the University of Colorado, she remained at the university and worked for 33 years as a systems analyst. She was an active volunteer in her community with First Congregational Church, Boulder County Parks & Open Space, and OUR Center. She enjoyed the outdoors and cooking. She is survived by her husband, Frank; a daughter; two sisters; two brothers; four nieces; and two nephews.  

Nov, 2024
69

Alexander Perec ’69, of Rochester, N.Y.; Mar. 19. At age 15 he became a citizen of the United States. Upon graduating from Brown, he served in the U.S. Navy, married, started a family, and worked at the University of Rochester for more than 30 years. During that time he was a clinical technician at Strong Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, troubleshooting and repairing various cancer diagnostic and therapeutic delivery systems. He enjoyed ballroom dancing, cruising, card games, and pastoral ministry. He is survived by his wife, Christine; three children and their spouses; two stepchildren and their spouses; two brothers; a sister-in-law; and grandchildren and step-grandchildren. 

Nov, 2024
69

David W. Griffiths ’69, of Boston; Jun. 18, of cancer. He was a clinical psychologist for many years and a former instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. At the time of his death, he was in semi-retirement and spent much of the year at his home in Provincetown, where he had been active in the community. He served on the vestry of St. Mary of the Harbor Episcopal Church and enjoyed photography and animals. He is survived by a sister, a nephew, and nieces.

Nov, 2024
69

Joe B. Buttrill ’69, of Port Washington, N.Y.; Aug. 6, 2023. He worked for New York Life Insurance Company before joining Dravo Engineering. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; three children; and five grandchildren.

Nov, 2024
68

Eugene A. Sevi ’68, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., formerly of Roxbury, Vt.; Apr. 26. After completing a master’s degree at the University of Colorado, he entered the Navy. He combined his love of learning and his military background to become a 38-year educator in civil and environmental engineering at Norwich University, a small military college. He served four terms as a selectman and commissioner of Roxbury and transferred to the Vermont Air National Guard. He organized and led humanitarian and peacekeeping missions around the world. He retired in 2004 as a brigadier general. He was a driver of carriage horses and became a trained farrier so he could shoe his own horses. He enjoyed the outdoors, bicycling, and playing tennis. He is survived by his wife, Jane; three children; six grandchildren; a sister; and two brothers. 

Nov, 2024
68

Russell E. Baumann ’68, of North Attleboro, Mass.; Apr. 28. He was an attorney for Texas Instruments and Sensata Technologies. He was a member of Foxboro Country Club and the YMCA. He is survived by his wife, Betty; a brother; and two sisters-in-law. 

Nov, 2024
67

Shawn K. Smith ’67, of Horseshoe Bay, Tex., formerly of Massachusetts; May 19. After graduating from Brown, where he excelled on the basketball court and baseball field, he began a business career at Kidder Peabody in Boston, followed by 37 years of employment at Merrill Lynch. He later was involved with nonprofit work as chair of the board at Huggins Hospital (N.H.) and was instrumental in the construction and expansion of a critical access hospital to serve the community. He served on the board of Brewster Academy and Bald Peak Colony Club before moving to Horseshoe Bay in 2011. There, he served as chancellor with the Knights of Columbus and was president of the Men’s Golf Association. He is survived by his wife, Carol; four daughters; three sons-in-law; a son, Shawn II ’05 and daughter-in-law; and 10 grandchildren.  

Nov, 2024
67

Nelson D. Martins ’67, of Greenville, R.I.; Apr. 18. He received his PhD in psychology from UConn and for many years worked as a school psychologist for the City of Providence. He also maintained a private practice and owned Oaklawn Psychiatric Associates. For the past ten years, he maintained his clinical practice at Butler Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Bernice; two sisters, including Mary Brennan ’79 AM; and 15 nieces and nephews, including Tara B. Primis ’92.

Nov, 2024
67

Carl “Kit” Casper ’67, of Rangeley, Me.; Apr. 19. He taught English for two years at Moses Brown School, then served the Menominee Indians in Wisconsin for two years as a VISTA volunteer. In 1971 he moved to Rangeley and managed the properties at Haines Landing. He worked seasonally at Saddleback starting as a lift attendant, then director of the cross-country center, followed by a position as full-time alpine instructor. In 1975, he became director of the ski school, a position he held until 1998. During the last five years of directorship, he and his wife Linda owned the Ski Learning Center and operated it as a concession. After giving the ski school back to the mountain, he continued teaching until retirement. Additionally, he and Linda and her son, Mike, owned and operated First Farm on Gull Pond Road in the Dallas Plantation area for 28 years. There they grew organic food and flowers and raised livestock. He had a passion for writing and for many years was a columnist for the Rangeley Highlander. He served on the board of directors of the Rangeley Region Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Budget Committee, and was moderator for Dallas Plantation. He also served on various boards and committees for Rangeley Congregational Church. He is survived by his wife, Linda; her son and daughter-in-law; a granddaughter; and a sister and brother-in-law.  

Nov, 2024
66

Michael T. Young ’66, of Providence and Matunuck, R.I.; May 4, of cancer. Upon graduating, he enrolled at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he studied to become a commissioned officer. He served in Vietnam in 1967 and upon return was stationed in Florida, where he met his wife of 53 years. After leaving the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, he relocated to Philadelphia and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He then relocated to Rhode Island and began a career at Industrial National Bank (which became Fleet Bank). During his 20-year career at Fleet he rose to vice president, leading the London office twice before settling permanently in Rhode Island. He left in 1990 and became president and co-owner of Coleman Realtors, helping establish it as a top firm in the state. He also served as the president of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors in 2005, a position that earned him the Lear Award for leadership and community involvement from the Greater Providence Board of Realtors. In 2016, they sold Coleman to Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International. He was a trustee at Trinity Repertory Company and served on the Board of Governors at the Dunes Club. He was a keen reader and enjoyed history, world events, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Bonnye; two children and their spouses, including son Scott ’00; four grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.

Nov, 2024
66

Jon C. Keates ’66, of Altadena, Calif.; Apr. 19. He was the chief philanthropic advisor to the president and director of advancement at La Salle College Preparatory High School from 2012 until his passing. His prior positions included being senior associate dean and vice president of advancement at USC, vice president of institutional advancement at Occidental College, and vice president of development and external relations at Claremont McKenna College. During his tenure at each institution, his leadership ignited extraordinary growth in overall giving, elevating annual contributions. Among his many achievements was the establishment of the Dr. Richard Gray Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, which generated more than $1.2 million to support San Miguel students. His contributions laid the foundation for many of La Salle’s present-day facilities and educational spaces. He played a pivotal role in restoring Occidental to solid financial footing at a critical juncture in its history. He was well read, an athlete, and competitive. He is survived by his life partner, Thanh Hoang; two daughters; a son-in-law; two sisters; a brother; and a brother-in-law.

Nov, 2024
66

David W. Alfano ’66, of Cape Coral, Fla., formerly of Cranston, R.I.; May 8. He was a school psychologist for 22 years in the Cranston school system before becoming a professor of psychology at CCRI, where he taught for 17 years. He is survived by his wife, Milly; a daughter; a son; two brothers and sisters-in-law; two uncles; and many nieces and nephews.  

Nov, 2024
65

Janet House Shannon ’65, of Glastonbury, Conn.; Jun. 20. She worked as a computer programmer for the Town of West Hartford and United HealthCare. She was a talented artist and photographer and worked in interior design at Marlborough Country Barn for many years. For more than 40 years she was a member of the First Church of Christ and sang in their choir. She enjoyed boating and spending time in Old Saybrook and Mystic, Conn., and on Cape Cod. She is survived by a daughter, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and a sister.   

Nov, 2024
63

Edward Weissberger ’63, of Yarmouth Port, Mass.; Apr. 4, after a brief illness. He taught chemistry at Wesleyan University and was a research scientist at Eastman Kodak, where he worked on the development of digital photography. After retiring and moving to Yarmouth, he was active in many community activities, including serving on the finance and capital budget committees for the Town of Yarmouth, the board of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, and the Yarmouth Port Library. He was a keen reader and accomplished woodworker. He enjoyed being a part of a book club with friends. He and his wife loved hiking and traveling, especially exploring the United States in his small private plane that he piloted. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. He participated in many activities at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Barnstable. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; two stepchildren; a stepbrother; and four sisters.

Nov, 2024
63

Charles S. Sokoloff ’63, of Providence, R.I.; Mar. 11. After earning his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his LLM. in taxation from Boston University, he returned to Providence and practiced at Tillinghast Collins & Graham, followed by work at Tobin & Silverstein, Hinckley Allen before opening his own practice. He was a Shriner and a member of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Order of Jesters. He is survived by three children, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, cousins, and two former wives. 

Nov, 2024
63

Thomas R. Sahagian ’63, of Holliston, Mass., formerly of Cumberland, R.I.; May 23. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years and then continued his education at Bryant University with a focus on accounting. He was employed at several companies before opening his own business, Sahagian Associates, in 1983, which he successfully operated for 30 years. He was active in the business community and served in officer positions in various organizations, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Cumberland Business Association. He received many awards and accolades for his service. He was an entrepreneur and enjoyed consulting and mentoring. He was a brother of the Rising Sun Lodge Masons for almost 59 years and a faithful parishioner of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church. He enjoyed completing crossword puzzles, gardening, reading, golfing, boating, dancing, and playing cards. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two sons, five grandchildren, two brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.  

Nov, 2024
63

Charles H. Mandell ’63, of Boca Raton, Fla.; Jun. 17. He was a radiologist for more than 50 years. He worked at Rhode Island Hospital, then Charlton Memorial Hospital (Mass.), followed by a position as an adjunct professor at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School. He was also an entrepreneur, forming and building businesses in a variety of fields. Over the past 15 years he helped build the telemedicine company American Radiologists and the medical software firm Umedex. Beyond work, he enjoyed traveling to more than 50 countries, reading, and spending time with friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Jane; two sons and daughters-in-law; two grandsons; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  

Nov, 2024
63

Sandra Kinder Bertsch ’63, of Boca Grande, Fla.; May 31, of cancer. She owned Sandra K. Bertsch Fine Arts Gallery. She was a volunteer and served as executive vice president of historic Hyde Hall in New York, and was president of the Junior League of the North Shore (N.Y.). She is survived by her husband, Bill ’61; daughter Hilary Bertsch ’88; two sons; a daughter-in-law; and seven grandchildren. 

Nov, 2024
62

Gerald J. Pouliot ’62, of Hanover and Falmouth, Mass.; Mar. 23. After earning his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completing his residency at Boston City Hospital, he served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Upon his honorable discharge, he worked as an ob-gyn in Hanover in private practice from 1972 to 2019. He was a member of the medical staff at South Shore Hospital for 47 years and was a certified menopause practitioner from 2008 to 2019. He was a member of the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association. He is survived by his wife, Marjory; three daughters; and four grandchildren.

Nov, 2024
62

Roger L. Krouse ’62, of Tinton Falls, N.J.; Apr. 30, after battling myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukemia. He retired from a career in the Rumson School District. He volunteered with meals for the needy and tutoring in after school programs. He enjoyed jazz and classical music, hiking all of the National Parks, and visiting family. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, five grandchildren, a sister, a brother, a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law, and eight nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
62

Horace “Kris” Graves ’62, of Evanston, Ill.; Jun. 25. He worked with the U.S. Treasury Department before joining the IBM office products sales force, where he worked for the next 30 years. After retiring from IBM, he worked with technology companies, ending his professional career at Cook County’s workmans’ compensation division. He was a lifelong member of Ebenezer AME Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, trustee, and treasurer until 2004. He was active with the soup kitchen ministry, cooking, cleaning, and running errands as needed. He became licensed to preach in 2012. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as a scout leader and district commissioner of the Northeast Illinois Council. He was dedicated to his neighborhood and organized block parties and participated in On the Block Patrol. He is survived by his wife, Elida; four children; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
62

Gerald H. Efinger ’62, of Manitou Springs, Colo.; Apr. 20. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard before matriculating at Brown. In the early ’70s, he moved to San Diego and worked for Scripps Oceanographic Institute. He taught himself photography and became a master craftsman. In 2000, he married Lynn Mayer, who survives him, and they moved to Colorado, where he perfected his ski turns, photographed landscapes and architecture, and hunted elk. In addition to Lynn, he is survived by four sons and 13 grandchildren.

Nov, 2024
62

James J. Corbett ’62, of Wilmette, Ill.; Apr. 2. He was a professor of neurology and professor of ophthalmology at University of Mississippi Medical Center and was inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2023. From a family of physicians, he earned his medical degree at Chicago Medical School in 1966 and completed residencies in internal medicine and neurology at Rhode Island Hospital and Case Western Reserve University before his fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at UC San Francisco. Prior to joining UMMC in 1991, he practiced medicine at Jefferson Medical School (Pa.) and at the University of Iowa. He authored more than 200 manuscripts and books and trained numerous neurology and ophthalmology residents and fellows. He was an honorary member of the American Neurological Association and received the Distinguished Service Award from the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society, its highest honor. During his career, he also delivered many lectures around the world. He enjoyed fly-fishing, birding, literature, music, and art. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughter Jennifer Gorman ’93; two sons, including John ’86; two daughters-in-law; a son-in-law; two granddaughters; a sister; and a brother. 

Nov, 2024
61

S. James O’Hare ’61, of Petaluma, Calif.; May 3. After a long career in the U.S. Navy that included time as an instructor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and having received numerous awards and honors, he retired from the Navy and became the director of information systems for the the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. He retired in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; four sons and their spouses; and six grandchildren. 

Nov, 2024
61

Mary B. Marschner Doherty ’61, of Durham, N.H., formerly of Connecticut; Apr. 21. After graduating, she worked as a copywriter for an advertising agency in New York City. She taught English to middle school students in the Wilton and Farmington (both Conn.) public school systems, and wrote newsletters and informational pamphlets for hospitals in Vermont and New Hampshire. She retired from writing and editing grants. She is survived by a sister; brother Timothy Marschner ’68; and seven nieces and nephews. 

Nov, 2024
61

Sidney C. Cole ’61, of Boca Raton, Fla.; May 13. After earning his medical degree and serving in the U.S. Army, he moved to Boca Raton to establish his orthopedic practice. He was elected chief of surgery at Cypress Community Hospital in Pompano Beach; was president of the American Jewish Community Palm Beach County office; and was a member of their national board of governors. He was also president of the local Brown University Club and interviewed Brown applicants for many years. He was assistant clinical professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine for several years. After retiring, he volunteered at the Caridad Center, a free medical clinic for the uninsured and underserved in South Florida. He enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, reading, traveling, and playing golf. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; son Robert ’95; a daughter-in-law; and four grandchildren.   

Nov, 2024
61

David L. Babson ’61, of Ossipee, N.H.; May 3. While at Brown, he excelled at both hockey and lacrosse, served as president of DKE fraternity, and (though names were not identified at the time) was a Brown Bear mascot. After Brown he served in the Naval Reserves, then had a career as a sales representative for Edgecomb Steel. He eventually started his own company, MNI, as an independent manufacturers’ representative for regional steel fabricators before moving to Ossipee in 1975 and becoming a New England farmer. As a farmer, he raised livestock and trained horses that he showcased in county fairs, community hayrides, and local parades. He served as a New Hampshire State Representative, was chairman of New Hampshire’s Agriculture Committee, and was an active member of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau, where he served in various roles, including president. He is survived by four children, including son David III ’87; two daughters-in-law; seven grandchildren; and a sister.

Nov, 2024
60

Ralph J. Haglund ’60, of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; Apr. 11. After receiving a master’s degree from Wharton School of Business, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy stationed in the Philippines. After his military service, he had a successful career as a stockbroker in New York City. An avid runner, he completed three marathons, two of which he ran with his wife, Tina, who survives him. He is also survived by a son.

 

Nov, 2024
52

Margaret M. Jacoby ’52, ’61 MAT, of Cumberland, R.I.; Apr. 21. She was an astronomer and founder of the Community College of Rhode Island’s physics department, where she taught for 31 years. At a young age she was fascinated by what was up in the sky. “For a woman to major in astronomy was not very practical,” she says, “because women were not allowed to use the facilities at most major laboratories.” Her determination secured funding for the construction of the observatory completed in 1978 on CCRI’s Knight Campus. Her dedication to science and teaching was acknowledged on November 15, 1995, when the observatory was rechristened the Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory. In a 2017 CCRI interview, she stated that the observatory was always called “Professor Jacoby’s Baby” because she obtained the money for it, selected the equipment for it, designed the interior, and watched it grow. She traveled the world to view eclipses, comets, and other events. Subsequently, one of the high points of her career was a trip on the QE2, where she was a guest lecturer and astronomer for the voyage. Her obituary read: “She is now at rest amongst the stars, comets, and planets she so loved.”  

Related classes:
Class of 1952, GS Class of 1961

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