GS Class of 1972

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

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

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.  

Aslan Baghdadi ’72 PhD, of Rockville, Md.; June 12. He was a physicist for a time and briefly worked at Motorola in Arizona before joining the National Bureau of Standards, where he worked for 11 years. He later attended law school at night at George Washington University and began a second career as a patent attorney. As a lawyer, he was recognized for both his legal skills and his scientific expertise. He enjoyed reading, especially American history and biographies of the presidents. He is survived by his wife, Mania Kleinburd Baghdadi ’72 AM, ’75 PhD; three children, including son David ’99; and two brothers and their families. 

Robert S. Sparks ’72 MAT, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Cranston, R.I.; Jan. 12. He taught history in the Cranston school district before moving to St. Louis, where he joined Lumberyard Supply Co, the family business, for nearly 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Zelda; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and two brothers.

Karen Schroeder Nicholas ’72 PhD, of Oswego, N.Y.; Dec. 2, of complications related to a diverticular abscess. After Brown, she married and moved to Lincoln, Neb., to start a family, completing her PhD in 1972 and working as a substitute teacher before becoming an instructional designer at the University of Mid-America.When her marriage ended in 1982, she accepted positions at the University of Iowa and Central Michigan University, eventually accepting an associate professorship of history at the State University of New York at Oswego, where she taught for more than 30 years. She was a singer and instrumentalist and once a member of the Schola Cantorum of Syracuse. She was an avid reader fond of travelogs, historical romance, and science fiction. She enjoyed knitting and swimming. In retirement she focused on charity work. She is survived by a daughter, a son, two grandchildren, and two brothers.

Joseph Golouski ’62, ’72 ScM, of Smithfield, R.I.; July 20. He was employed by General Electric and later Brown & Sharpe. He enjoyed country dancing, playing golf, and traveling. He is survived by lifelong friends. 

Stuart E. Rosenbaum ’72 PhD, of Hewitt, Tex.; Dec. 14. He taught American philosophy for 40 years at Baylor University and  for many years  was director of Baylor’s graduate program in philosophy, where  he was the key figure in designing its PhD program. He served multiple terms on the Faculty Senate and twice earned Baylor’s Outstanding Faculty Member Award. He led Baylor’s summer program at Oxford for a few years. He retired from the department of philosophy in 2019. He wrote Pragmatism and the Reflective Life (2009); Recovering Integrity: Moral Thought in AmericanPragmatism (2015); and  Race, Justine, and American Intellectual  Traditions (2018). He is survived by two daughters, two sons, a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Frank L. Mott ’72 PhD, of Bexley, Ohio; Dec. 31. His work in demography led him to Lagos, Nigeria, where he helped develop the Population Center at the University of Lagos. In 1975 he joined the Ohio State University faculty and its Center for Human Resource Research. There he helped manage national longitudinal surveys. He was an internationally respected researcher in demography and recipient of many honors. He is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother.

Lester J. Libby ’72 PhD, of Quincy, Mass., formerly of Virginia; Dec. 30. He taught at UNC then worked for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and the Department of Social Services. He later worked as a research analyst for the federal government in Washington, D.C. He enjoyed reading and drawing and is survived by his wife, Joyce.

John L. Keedy ’72 MAT (see ’66).

James C. Hogan ’72 PhD, of North Haven, Conn.; Jan. 22. He taught elementary and high school science in Sparta, Georgia, until 1966. After obtaining his advanced degrees, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the biology department at Yale and a research associate in pathology at Yale School of Medicine, then took a position at Howard University School of Medicine in 1976. In 1978 he joined the UConn faculty and developed and implemented the Health Science Cluster Program, a summer enrichment program for state high school students. He was also an assistant professor at the UConn School of Allied Health, and became director of minority student affairs. More recently, he was responsible for running the lab for Connecticut’s Department of Public Health. He retired in 2009. He presented at conferences internationally and published in major scientific journals. Notably, he authored an award-winning article entitled  “Lead Poison Prevention in Young Children: A National Tragedy.”  He was the recipient of multiple awards and is included in the second edition of 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century. He was a founder and past president of the Black Healthcare Professionals Network (Hartford), the Connecticut Chapter of the National Technical Association, and the North Haven Association of Black Citizens. He founded the Immanuel Baptist Church Academy of Math and Science and was the first African American to be elected to the Board of Education in North Haven, Connecticut. He was a member of the band The Carvettes, playing saxophone and clarinet, and Omega Psi Phi. He is survived by his wife, Izola; a daughter; two sons; six granddaughters; a sister; three brothers; and many nieces and nephews.

John L. Keedy ’66, ’72 MAT, of Louisville, Ky.; Dec. 25, of complications related to COVID and Parkinson’s. After graduation, he took a position at the Punahou School in Hawaii as a Latin teacher, taught Latin at private schools in the States, traveled to Europe, Mexico, and North Africa, and then started his own roofing and painting business. In his 30s he returned to graduate school and then taught history at public schools in Massachusetts. He later worked as a school administrator, then as an associate professor of education at West Georgia College. He later became an associate professor at North Carolina State University and retired as a full professor at the University of Louisville. He researched, published, taught, and directed many doctoral dissertations throughout his career. He enjoyed playing tennis and sailing. He is survived by his companion Karen Gordon; a daughter; a sister; a brother; and his former wife, Cathy Meine.

Stephen M. Roberts ’72 MAT, of Grand Island, N.Y.; Sept. 21, of prostate cancer. He taught high school English until 1977, when he became assistant to the director of University Libraries at the University of Buffalo. He became associate director of University Libraries in 1986, and spearheaded initiatives automating the libraries, promoting resource-sharing among SUNY libraries, and envisioning the role of the libraries in the 21st century. He secured grants to develop resource sharing among SUNY university centers and built an off-campus storage library facility. He developed a road map for moving the libraries into the emerging digital environment and established UBdigit, the platform for digital collections. His efforts were recognized with the Joseph F. Schubert Moving Towards Excellence Award and the NYLINK Achievement Award. He retired in 2010 after serving as associate vice president for university libraries for five years. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; two daughters and their spouses; two stepsons; a sister and brother-in-law; and two brothers and sisters-in-law.

Thomas E. Rosenbaum ’72 AM (see ’71).

Thomas E. Rosenbaum ’71, ’72 AM, of Mamaroneck, N.Y.; Sept. 16, of cancer. He worked for more than 40 years at the Rockefeller Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. He also worked on behalf of the Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation of White Plains, N.Y., the United Way of Westchester, and several other organizations. He was the recipient of many awards for his service and dedication. He is survived by a sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew.

Carl DeSimone ’72 AM, of Providence; June 13, after a brief illness. He taught for a short time in Switzerland. After returning to Providence with his family in the late 1970s, Carl worked in the family business, New England Egg Service, until he resumed teaching in the Providence School System. He taught history and English at Classical High School until his retirement. Carl was also an actor and singer and performed with numerous local theatre and music groups, including the Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra. His favorite role was Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. In recent years he was a soloist at Saint Mary’s Church in Cranston. He was active in his community and with many organizations, including World Wildlife Fund, Narcotics Anonymous and LGBTQ equality. He also continued to teach at Hamilton House, an adult learning exchange in Providence, and several senior centers. He is survived by two daughters and a brother.

Gerald A. Greenberger ’72 AM, ’73 PhD, of Short Hills, N.J.; Apr. 3, from COVID-19. He taught French history at The College of William & Mary for several years before earning his JD from Yale Law School. He then had a 36-year career practicing law. He is survived by his wife, Debby; a daughter; a son; two brothers; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; two nieces; and a nephew.

George F. Aubin ’72 PhD, of Worcester, Mass.; Apr. 23. After graduating from Brown, he continued his post-doctoral studies at MIT, Bowdoin College, and Middlebury College. He retired in 2006 from Assumption College, where he taught French, Linguistics, and American Indian Studies for more than 43 years. He attended many Algonquian conferences in the U.S. and Canada, researched Native American languages, and published several articles and dictionaries throughout his career. While at Assumption, he was chair of the French department and served on many committees. Music was another great passion and he played piano in several local bands and at campus events with his son. He is survived by eight children and their spouses; eight grandchildren; nine siblings; and several nieces and nephews.

Robert T. Glassey ’72 PhD, of Bloomington, Ind.; Feb. 15, of pancreatic cancer. He joined the math department at Indiana University in 1972 and remained for the next 37 years, a mainstay of the group in partial differential equations (PDE), rising to full professor.  He enjoyed music and could be found playing in chamber ensembles with his children. He also liked to read and bike. He is survived by his wife, Betsy, a daughter and a son.  

Anthony F. Ross ’72 PhD, of Arundel, Me.; Nov. 23. He worked in the field of medicine both as a health care provider and in the laboratory in the field of biochemistry. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, was a member of the Lions Club in Kennebunk, and enjoyed fishing and karaoke. He is survived by five children and their spouses, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

David M. Goodblatt ’72 PhD, of La Jolla, Calif.; Sept. 25, in a pedestrian accident. He taught at the University of Haifa in Israel and the University of Maryland before moving to an endowed chair in Judaic Studies at UC San Diego, where he spent the remainder of his career. He retired in 2017.  His books include Rabbinic Instruction in Sasanian Babylonia, The Monarchic Principle: Studies in Jewish Self-Government in Antiquity, and Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism. He also made important contributions to the Cambridge History of Judaism and wrote numerous articles. He was an elected member of the American Academy for Jewish Research. He is survived by his wife, Sasona; three children; a granddaughter; and a brother.

Richard Schuler ’72 AM, ’72 PhD, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Feb. 13. He began his career as a professional engineer for the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company in Allentown. He was also an energy economist with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. He later taught at Cornell and was director of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs and director of the Waste Management Institute, as well as an associate director of the Center for the Environment. He served on the board of trustees of Cornell and was a member of the faculty senate for 20 years. In addition to his Cornell appointments, he was on the executive committee of the National Science Foundation and was deputy chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission. He was a consultant to numerous government agencies and industries on pricing, management, and environmental issues, and to the World Bank on energy and infrastructure investment programs. From its inception in 1999 until April 2012, he was a founding board member of the New York Independent System Operator, responsible for operating the electric transmission grid in New York. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters; a son; and seven grandchildren.
 

Robert J. McBride ’72 ScM, of Edmonds, Wash.; Apr. 30. After graduating from Brown, he taught for one year at the Fenn School in Concord, Mass., then attended the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport. He served as a special weapons officer living in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California, before settling in Washington. He remained with the Naval Reserves until 1980, when he retired with the rank of lieutenant commander. He taught math for 30 years in Seattle public schools and upon his retirement from teaching in 1993, immersed himself in genealogy research. He was a supporter of the Cascade Symphony and in 2000 became the manager of the box office, a job he executed for more than a decade. He enjoyed gardening and solving puzzles. He is survived by his wife, Roberta; three children and their spouses; and a grandson.

Richard W. Nopper Jr. ’72 ScM, of Wilmington, Del.; Apr. 11. After his first job at the U.S. Air Force geophysical lab, he went on to become an officer in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army Reserves, a senior research scientist in exploration research and development at Conoco, a senior research associate in engineering and central research and development at DuPont, and he retired from The Chemours Company. He was a musician and enjoyed playing in several jazz bands. He also sang in his church choir and was a member of the Madrigal Singers. He enjoyed reading, photography, traveling, and languages. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; two daughters and their spouses; a son and daughter-in-law; five grandchildren; his mother; and three sisters.

Shamai Kanter ’72 PhD, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Dec. 27. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, was a U.S. Air Force chaplain, and served as Rabbi at congregations in Toronto, Canada; Sharon, Mass.; and Rochester, N.Y., from which he retired. He published his doctoral research Rabban Gamaliel II: The Legal Traditions in 1981. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Jeannette; three children; nine grandchildren; and a brother.

Vivian Kogan ’66 AM, ’72 PhD, of Union Village, Vt.; July 17, of breast cancer. She taught French literature and language at Dartmouth College until retiring in 2012. She published and became known for her work on the experimental literature of the author and poet, Raymond Queneau and in 2006 she published The I of History: Self Fashioning and National Consciousness in Jules Michelet, introducing a novel perspective on the historian. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, the arts, and politics. She is survived by her husband, Bernie; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and a sister.