Obituaries

“THE COOKING SCIENCE GUY” Professor, writer, and editor Guy A. Crosby ’69 PhD, of Weston, Mass.,died on Feb. 3, from multiple myeloma. He was a widely recognized authority in the fields of organic chemistry, food science and technology, and nutrition.  After postdoctoral research in the department of organic chemistry at Stanford University, he became an assistant professor there. He spent 30 years with companies engaged in research and development in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals that included Alza Corp., Dynapol Corp., FMC Corp. and Opta Food Ingredients, before retiring and embarking on a second career. For more than a decade, he was food science editor for PBS’s America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated magazine. He later became food science editor for Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street magazine and PBS’s Milk Street cooking show. He also appeared as a food science expert on America’s Test Kitchen, PBS’s NOVA scienceNOW, and StarTalk. In 2019, he published Cook, Taste, Learn: How the Evolution of Science Transformed the Art of Cooking. He also co-authored The Science of Good Cooking (2012). He was the author of more than 60 scientific papers and held 17 patents in the fields of organic chemistry, pharmaceutical, polymer and agricultural chemistry, food science, and food technology. The Institute of Food Technologists recognized him among its first group of Certified Food Scientists in 2013. He served on the Food Task Force for the Boston Museum of Science and was an advisor for the Culinary Institute of America. He was a member of the Institute of Food Technologists, the American Society for Nutrition, The Culinary Guild of New England, and the American Chemical Society. He is survived by wife Christine Demarkis, daughter Kristin Crosby ’91, a son, a son-in-law, a granddaughter, and two sisters. 

Marianna Rafal Steriadis ’74 AM, of Largo, Fla.; Jan. 4. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son, two grandchildren, two siblings, and the father of her children, George Steriadis. 

Richard G. Fayter Jr. ’73 PhD, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Feb. 1. A distinguished organic chemist, he was senior research director at Emery Henkel and later president of the American Chemical Society. He was the inventor of 27 chemical patents. In addition to his professional achievements, he was a proud Army veteran. He is survived by wife Phyllis Fayter, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, and a sister. 

Alan Balboni ’73 PhD, of Las Vegas, formerly of Massachusetts; Mar. 25, of cancer. For more than 30 years he taught political science and immigration history at Boston State College and later at the College of Southern Nevada, where he also served as dean of the political science department. He published multiple articles through the University of Nevada Press and the Nevada Historical Society quarterly, including Beyond the Mafia: Italian Americans and the Development of Las Vegas. He is survived by wife Donna Balboni, two daughters, and a sister.

John S. Wishnok ’65 MAT, ’68 PhD, of Newburyport, Mass. Mar. 14. He began a three-year career teaching chemistry and physics and coaching wrestling at the high school level in Clarkston, Wash. before matriculating at Brown. In 1970, he joined the chemistry faculty at Boston University, and in 1972, he joined MIT’s department of nutrition and food science and stayed with the Tannenbaum Lab as the department evolved. He retired in 2017 as a senior research scientist. He was instrumental in developing the Bioengineering and Toxicology Seminar (BATS) program, which he led for more than 30 years. The department established the Wishnok Prize in 2015 in his honor. He is survived by his partner Judith Chaffee, two daughters, a son-in-law, and a sister. 

Charles A. Anderson ’65 PhD, of Santa Fe., N.Mex.; Jan. 26. The majority of his career was spent at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He took a sabbatical in the 1970s to teach at the University of Swansea. He was a mentor and sponsor of women in STEM, having served as a thesis advisor and instrumental in the establishment of a Penn State scholarship for women in engineering. He is survived by a daughter, a son, and two siblings.  

Thomazia Dube Roy ’64 MAT, of Braintree, Mass., formerly of Fall River, Mass.; Apr. 2. She was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist for 35 years in Braintree. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, three grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. 

Sarah Christian O’Dowd ’64 MAT, ’76 PhD, of Newport, R.I.; Apr. 20. She earned a second master’s degree in speech pathology in 1982 from URI and began her lifelong career in education beginning at St. Michael’s School in Newport. She retired as a full professor from the Community College of Rhode Island after several decades. In addition to teaching, she was an accomplished author and historian. She published A Rhode Island Original, a biography about 19th-century abolitionist Frances Harriet Whipple Green McDougall. In 2004, she was honored to accept the induction of Frances McDougall into the R.I. Heritage Hall of Fame. In the early 2000s, she was a memoirist for the Providence Journal Lifestyles section. A talented musician, she played piano for Newport Player’s Guild, Channing Church in Newport, and at Pembroke Club at Brown annual holiday performances. She is survived by three children, four grandchildren, including Luke Adams ’15, and three great-grandchildren. 

Samuel T. Cowling III ’64 AM, of Painesville, Ohio; Sept. 14, 2025. He was a professor of English at Lake Erie College. He retired in 2002 with the title of professor emeritus. He is survived by wife Susan Vanderwal Cowling, two children, a stepson, and five grandchildren. 

Calvin Goldscheider ’63 AM, ’64 PhD, of Bethesda, Md.; Jan. 13, from pancreatic cancer. He was a Fulbright research scholar at the RAND Corporation in Los Angeles, where he worked together with his wife, Brown Professor Emerita of Sociology Frances Goldscheider. He held faculty positions at the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley before moving to Israel with his family in 1971, where he became professor of sociology and demography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and chairman of the department of demography. He returned to the U.S. and was a visiting professor at Brown in 1976 and 1978, 1980–1982 and a full tenured professor from 1984 to 2005. In the 1980s, he was also a visiting professor at Brandeis University. He was a senior Fulbright research scholar and visiting professor at the Center for Women’s Studies at Stockholm University in the late 1990s. After retiring, he was a Scholar in Residence in Israeli and Jewish Studies at American University. He was awarded the Marshall Sklare Award of the Association of Jewish Studies for distinguished contributions to social scientific study of Jewry in 2001. During his tenure he published more than 30 books and co-authored The Transformation of the Jews with Dr. Alan Zuckerman. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, a sister, and a brother. 

Cynthia J. Hausmann ’52 AM, of Baltimore; Dec. 22, 2025. Fluent in 13 languages, she had a distinguished 30-year career in the foreign service as a research analyst before retiring in 1980. In retirement she became an author, translating and publishing letters and other material handed down to her through her family. She is survived by a stepdaughter. 

HIGHER ED INNOVATOR  After a long distinguished career in publication education, Joan Phillips Leitzel ’61 AM, of Columbus, Ohio, died on Mar. 5. Prior to her tenure at Ohio State University, she spent one year as an instructor of mathematics at Oberlin College in Ohio. She then joined the mathematics faculty at Ohio State University in 1965. She later moved into administration, serving as the associate provost for curriculum and instruction. In 1990, she left Ohio State to serve as division director in the Directorate of Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation. Two years later, she was appointed provost at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she served as provost and interim chancellor before becoming the president of the University of New Hampshire in 1996. After retiring from UNH in 2002, she returned to Ohio and remained actively involved with higher education issues and institutions. She served in an advisory role at Ohio State one more year to lead the restructuring of their arts and sciences program. She also remained an active supporter of UNH and, in addition to serving on the UNH Foundation board, she helped to create the Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education, which facilitates programs and partnerships with local K-12 schools and community organizations. She received numerous honors and awards, including the Hanover College Distinguished Alumni Award, the Ohio State Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Ohio State Distinguished Service Award, and in 2001, she received the Charles Holmes Pettee Medal from UNH in recognition of outstanding accomplishment or distinguished service. In recognition of her lasting contributions, the Mathematical Association of America honored her with the Gung and Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, four granddaughters, a great-granddaughter, a sister, and a brother.

Elizabeth Lent Cohen ’46 ScM, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Mar. 27. She taught high school and prepared scholastic achievement test math questions early in her career. After raising children, she transitioned to business management of the family business, PCP Inc. She is survived by three children, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a brother. 

 Kathy A. Quick ’10, of Cambridge, Mass.; Mar. 29. She taught art history for more than three decades at universities that included Brown, Clark, Quinnipiac, RISD, and URI, where she was on the full-time faculty for the last 15 years. She was a woman of strong convictions and often spoke and marched for issues that she believed would improve society. She is survived by her life partner, Rafi Mohammed, her parents, a son, a sister, and a brother. 

Alan V. Vaskas ’67, of Stonington, Conn.; Mar. 12, after complications from a fall. He joined the New Hampshire National Guard and was deployed to Vietnam, where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor. He spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center adjacent to Tom Coakley ’68, whom he had not known prior. Their chance meeting and time spent in Vietnam and at Walter Reed became a feature story written by Robert Reichley in the January 1970 BAM, titled “Ward 35.” Vaskas later graduated from Fordham Law School and practiced law in Philadelphia and West Chester, Pa., where he was a former president of the Quaker City Farmers and helped to establish the Quaker City Farmers Scholarship Fund. In 2018, he and his wife moved to Stonington, and he remained an active member of several organizations. He is survived by wife Janet McClendon ’68, two sons, four grandchildren, brother Albin Vaskas ’64, and two sisters. 

Julie Beth Spector-Sprague ’09, of San Francisco; Mar. 5, after a brief illness. She earned a master’s degree from Stanford University, followed by a master’s degree in mathematics from Waterloo University. Prior to teaching at the Bay School of San Francisco, she taught and was science department chair at the Bentley School. She is survived by husband Willim Sprague, her parents, and a sister. 

Stephan A.P. Ottley ’03, of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Oct. 26, 2025. He had been a standout swimmer for Trinidad and Tobago and a member of Brown’s swim team. He worked as an administrator for hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago and was pursuing an optometry degree at the time of his passing. He is survived by a sister and brother. 

Robert J. Sullivan Jr. ’84, of Lansing, N.Y.; Feb. 15, from complications of ALS. He was the principal research scientist at the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science. He was the recipient of many NASA achievement awards and he authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He is survived by wife Sue Sullivan, two daughters, his mother, a sister, and brother Peter Sullivan ’85.

Johanna M. Hamel ’84, of Arcata, Calif.; Mar. 20, from pancreatic cancer. For 35 years she was a radio DJ and hosted “JoMama’s Blues.” She was conscious of her surroundings and worked hard at solar energy to build her house off-grid using sustainable building materials. She was a skilled landscaper and contributed constantly to her community in various capacities. She is survived by her life partner Katy Stern, a daughter and son-in-law, son Connor Ashenbruker ’10 and his wife, two grandchildren, and two sisters. 

Suzanne Brendze ’84, of Rochester, N.Y.; Sept. 21, 2025, of cancer. After medical school at the Univ. of Pittsburgh and residency at the Univ. of Rochester, she began her career in private practice as a family physician in Hilton, N.Y., before joining Rochester’s Huther Doyle, helping establish its program of primary care for patients of its addiction treatment center. At the same time, she began more than a decade in urgent care, working through the Covid years, her diagnosis, and most of her treatment. From 2015 to 2025 she also served as a clinical instructor in family medicine for the Univ. of Rochester. Throughout her own battle she participated in multiple clinical trials, contributed bodily to research, and was an organ donor. She is survived by husband Craig Brownlie, a son, her mother, and sister Liz Brendze ’86.

Emily Uhry ’83, of Ridgefield, Conn.; Mar. 21. She was a writer and homemaker, having lived in San Francisco before moving back to Connecticut to live her last 30 years. A voracious reader, she consumed a new book every few days. She is survived by three children, her father Alfred Uhry ’58, and three sisters. 

Bruce Francis ’83, of San Francisco; Dec. 1, 2025. A financial and tech journalist, he was chief communications officer at Salesforce and a member and advisor to The Arc San Francisco. 

Steven P. Baer ’82, of Ludlow, Ky.; Dec. 25, 2025. He was a real estate investor, business consultant, political activist, and humanitarian. One of his many projects was focused on reducing the spread of malaria in Africa. He is survived by wife Donna Conaton Baer ’82, 10 children, 19 grandchildren, his mother, and two brothers.  

Gerard F. Pignato ’81, of Norman, Okla.; Feb. 24, after an extended illness. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma Law School, he began a 40-year career in law. In 2002, he founded Pignator & Cooper, which was recognized as a Fortune 500 law firm. He received numerous accolades for his work during his tenure and was listed as a “Super Lawyer.” He was a former member of Brown’s men’s baseball team. He is survived by wife Brenda Pignato, three children, and a sister. 

Mal A. Salvadore ’79, of Narragansett, R.I.; Apr. 5. He earned an MBA and JD from Boston College. For more than 35 years he served as general counsel to the Providence Public Buildings Authority and was an AV-rated attorney for more than 10 years. He is survived by partner Paula Cofone, two children, his mother, two grandchildren, and six siblings.

Anthony B. Walker ’78, of Ashland, Va.; Jan. 11. He is survived by wife Belinda Walker, a daughter, his mother, and a brother. 

Charles “Chuck” B. MacFarland ’78, of Pawtucket, R.I.; Jan. 12, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He had a career in computer programming, working for 25 years with L.R. McCoy, a lumber distribution company in Worcester, Mass. He retired in 2022 from Cathedral Corporation in Lincoln, R.I. He is survived by wife Jane MacFarland, two children, and two grandsons. 

John H. Ferring IV ’75, of Saint Louis, Mo.; Mar. 2, of cardiac arrest. His career began in banking at First National Bank of Boston, but eventually he led his family’s company, Plaze, a contract packaging business. He operated the business for more than 45 years and was involved in many nonprofit organizations. He is survived by wife Alison Nichols Ferring ’77, three sons and daughters-in-law, and a brother and sister-in-law, Anne Nichols ’81.  

Julie Wirka Bauer ’75, of Rehoboth, Mass.; Mar. 16. Before retiring, she was employed with the U.S. Census Bureau for many years. She is survived by companion Terry Crockett, four children, 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. 

ZEN TEACHER  On Jan. 19, at the moment that a lengthy chant of metta toward all beings ended, Ava Louise Stanton ’72, of Saint Paul, Minn., passed away. Toward the end of her time at Brown, she began her Zen practice in the Korean Zen tradition as a student of Zen Master Seung Sahn and was a founding member of the Providence Zen Center, where she studied and practiced for 10 years. She served as the Zen Center’s director, wrote its practice manual, and co-authored the introductions to two of Seung Sahn’s books prior to moving to Los Angeles. In 1991, she earned a master’s of social welfare from UCLA and became a licensed clinical social worker. She maintained a psychotherapy practice in Los Angeles for more than 20 years and during that time co-authored The Breast Cancer Notebook: the Healing Power of Reflection. In 2009, she founded Just Show Up, her own meditation group in Santa Monica. She was certified to teach mindful self-compassion by the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness in 2018 and taught various classes and led retreats on mindfulness and self compassion at Insight LA. In 2024, she moved to Saint Paul to be with her life partner, Robert Zeglovitch, who survives her. She is also survived by a son and two brothers. 

Arnold “Arnie” Berman ’72, of Newtonville, Mass., formerly of Florida; Mar. 7. He earned an MBA from NYU and a law degree from the Univ. of Miami School of Law. He practiced law in Florida, ultimately becoming an attorney at Shutts and Bowen in West Palm Beach, where he was a partner and leader in the firm’s litigation group. He was honored with the induction into the Brown University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978, having been a member of the men’s basketball team. He is survived by wife Sondra Berman, a daughter and son-in-law, and a granddaughter. 

TEST PILOT EXTRAODINAIRE A test pilot and instrumental part of the Apollo program, John T. Gwynne ’62 passed away on Mar. 24 in Houston. After graduating, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to Vietnam, where he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 11 Air Medals. Upon leaving the Air Force, he joined Grumman Aerospace Corporation on Long Island as a consulting pilot during the development of the lunar module, and was among those chosen to help to develop the rescue plan for the Apollo 13 astronauts. In 1972, at the conclusion of the Apollo program, he joined Northrop Grumman Flight Test, where he was a test pilot for 17 years flying renowned aircraft. During that time, he spent six months as an instructor pilot in prerevolutionary Iran. An amateur photographer, his Iran photos contributed to textbooks on cultural and applied anthropology written by his wife, Margaret Anderson Gwynne ’62, a professor of anthropology at SUNY Stony Brook. He stepped away from flying in 1989 and was appointed director of flight operation for Grumman’s St. Augustine, Fla. facility until his retirement in 1997. He then became a senior planning manager, and later vice president, at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Nassau County, overseeing its construction, as well as the curation and display of 75 historic air- and spacecraft. He retired for a second time in 2010 and relocated to Houston. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and a sister.  

Marjorie Lord Westphal ’62, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Aug. 28, 2024, from bladder cancer. She was a retired attorney and patron of the arts. She is survived by husband Lester Westphal and three children. 

Bruce A. Rogers ’62, of Hope Valley, R.I., and Castine, Me.; Jan. 25. After Brown, he interned at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and earned his PhD from URI. He worked on marine biology and fishery programs. He is survived by wife Debbie Rogers, two sons and daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Andrew Berg ’74, of New York City; Feb. 12, of prostate cancer. A tax lawyer who spent more than three decades at Debevoise and Plimpton and was a former chair of the New York State Bar Association tax section. He joined Debevoise and Plimpton in 1979 and became a partner in 1987, building a practice that earned him recognition across the legal community. He was a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. In addition to his practice, he was a longtime adjunct professor at NYU School of Law, where he taught Advanced Partnership Taxation. He is survived by wife Gail Berg, three daughters, and son Jordan Berg ’09, ’11 ScM. 

Joseph W. Scott ’71, of South Windsor, Conn; Jan. 6. He worked at the Homer Babbidge Library and the Music and Dramatic Arts Library at UConn. An accomplished singer, he performed with several Connecticut choral groups, including Concora and the Vernon Chorale, as well as several barbershop ensembles and church choirs. He was most proud of singing in concerts at Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood. He is survived by a daughter and two siblings. 

Harold C. Paull Jr. ’71, of Palm Beach, Fla.; Jun. 25, 2024. He is survived by wife Joanne Paull and a daughter and son-in-law. 

Stephen E. McLane ’71, of Beverly, Mass.; Mar. 28, from pancreatic cancer. He graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking after Brown and began a career in banking. He went on to found his own financial consulting company and operated it for 25 years. He served on several civic committees and, with his interest in genealogy, was involved with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. He is survived by wife Nancy Clarner McLane, two daughters, a son-in-law, two granddaughters, and a brother. 

Christopher B. Baker ’71, of Madison, N.J.; Dec. 28, after a short illness. His business career was spent in the telecommunications industry, starting at Bell Labs as an engineer working on the pioneering electronic switching system—the computer technology that eventually replaced the old electromechanical technology of the Bell system. He went on to hold management positions at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He is survived by three siblings and their families, including brother Wallace Baker ’69. 

Charles J. Hindley Jr. ’68, of Barrington, R.I.; Apr. 3. He was president of Hindley Manufacturing Company for many years, continuing a long-standing family history in Rhode Island since 1897. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and was a communicant of St. John’s Episcopal Church. He is survived by wife Susan Girvan Hindley; six children and their spouses, including daughter Annie Hindley Miller ’00; 13 grandchildren; and two sisters.

Pamela Dewey ’68, of Albuquerque; Oct. 8, 2025. She had a long and successful career as a programmer at IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. During her 51 years with IBM, she rose to the rank of senior technical staff member and received numerous awards and accolades, including seven outstanding technical achievement awards and one corporate award. She is survived by her longtime friend and partner, David E. Stucki, and a sister.

Pamela Sargent Ryley ’67, of Mystic, Conn.; Jan. 30. She worked for Mystic Aquarium and the Connecticut Girl Scouts and was director of Volunteer Services for United Community and Family Services before beginning a teaching career in the Groton Public School System, from which she retired in 2016. She and her husband were founding members of the Mystic River Chorale and toured Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She was instrumental in the creation of the concert series for the Con Brio Choral Society and the North Stonington Historical Society Parlor Concert Series. She is survived by husband Roger Ryley, two sons and daughters-in-law, a stepdaughter, and numerous grandchildren. 

Ira W. Cotton ’67, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Omaha, Neb.; Mar. 6, from pancreatic cancer. He earned his master’s degree from UPenn and a doctorate in business administration from George Washington University. He worked at the National Bureau of Standards and later was a technology consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and the Martin Marietta Corporation. He then held leadership roles at First Data Resources and IBM. He is survived by wife Marcy, two daughters, a sister, and a brother. 

Robert C. Maddox ’66, of Reno, Nev.; Oct. 11, 2024. He practiced law for 54 years, beginning in San Francisco, then in Lake Tahoe, and eventually in Reno, Nev. He was the recipient of the Nevada Justice Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year award. He is survived by wife Iryna Maddox, a daughter, a son, a grandson, and two sisters. 

John A. Murray ’65, of Cotuit, Mass.; Jan. 8. He had a 30-year career in business, finance, administration, and strategic planning at international public accounting firms and corporations that included PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Dexter Corporation, and Moore Medical Corporation. Later he was a church administrator at Valley Community Church. He served three years active duty in the Coast Guard, with a tour in Vietnam. He is survived by wife Ann McMurray Murray ’66 and two sisters. 

Elinor Bachrach ’65, of Washington, D.C.; Mar. 3. She had a long career in public policy that included six years on the Senate Banking Committee, 10 years as deputy comptroller for New York City, and 15 years as a senior advisor (primarily for USAID) in Ukraine and Moldova, Indonesia, Serbia and Montenegro, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where she focused on strengthening fiscal institutions, reforming regulatory systems, and supporting local governance. She is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law. 

John “Jack” R. Nixon ’64, of Rumford, R.I.; Jan. 31. He continued his education at ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers and later earned his MBA from URI. He spent his professional career with Fleet Bank, retiring as executive vice president of branch banking for Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. He served in the U.S. Navy, was active in Vietnam, and continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for 25 years. He is survived by wife Sharon Nixon, three children and their spouses, six grandchildren, and a brother. 

Nancy L. Morgan ’64, of Ipswich, Mass.; Mar. 22. While at Pembroke College at Brown, she took up horseback riding, which began a lifelong passion for riding and the care of horses and led her to become a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She started her own riding program in Ipswich for riders with disabilities and also worked as a riding instructor for the disabled at Ironstone Farm in Andover, Mass. She is survived by a sister. 

Maj. Thomas E. MacDermant ’64, of Beaufort, S.C.; Jan. 2. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 27 years, retiring in 1984. He was a Vietnam veteran. He is survived by wife Marie-Claude Baronnie, two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. 

Michael C. Deppler ’64, of Arlington, Va.; Mar. 23, from complications of an illness. After spending time in the Peace Corps, he devoted nearly his entire professional life to the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Beginning as a junior economist contributing to the World Economic Outlook, he rose through the ranks to become director of the European department, retiring in 2008. After being diagnosed with leukemia he participated in an experimental treatment trial contributing to research that led to a successful new therapy. He is survived by daughter Michele Deppler Moore ’91 and her spouse, a son, two grandchildren, a sister, and a brother-in-law.

Joseph E. Bacci ’64, of Woodstock, N.Y.; Jan. 20. He worked for IBM and as a private computer contractor. He is survived by a son and his former wife. 

Victor Zeller ’63, of Westport, Mass.; Oct. 20, 2025. He taught high school science in Turkey for two years, followed by a year of teaching in the Netherlands. He returned to Massachusetts and joined the faculty at Bristol Community College as a professor of physics and astronomy, a position he held for 40 years. He was a Porsche enthusiast and owned, worked on, and sold 50 of them during his lifetime. He is survived by Margery Connable Zeller, a daughter and son-in-law, a son, and a grandson. 

Bruce J. Boydell ’63, of Ephrata, Pa.; Jan. 15. He served in the U.S. Navy after Brown, then earned a master’s degree from UPenn and an MBA from the Univ. of Delaware. His career focused on education and engineering. He worked with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia before entering full-time ministry. He later taught at Sullivan County High School and then joined the staff of DuPont in 1987, from which he retired in 2006. He is survived by wife Joan Kramer Boydell, two children and their spouses, and three granddaughters. 

Janet Melei Cuca ’61, of Wayne, Pa.; Jan. 20. She worked at Harvard University for one year and then moved to California to work at Stanford. She published her first journal article in 1965. She married, started a family, and lived in Colombia before moving to New Jersey and working at Educational Testing Service. The family moved back to Colombia before settling in the Washington, D.C., area in 1971. She held roles at the American Psychological Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and finally the National Institutes of Health. In 1987, she earned her master’s degree and in 1989 her PhD, both from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She continued to publish on a range of topics related to graduate medical education, psychology, and the NIH grant application process throughout her career. She retired from NIH in 2000. She is survived by husband Roberto Cuca, daughter Yvette Cuca ’92 and her husband, a son and daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, and a sister. 

Philip W. Askenase ’61, of New Haven, Conn.; Mar. 12. He graduated from Yale School of Medicine in 1965 and continued his training at several institutions before joining the Yale faculty in 1971. He spent 55 years at Yale contributing to the understanding of how the immune system functions and during that time published 229 scientific papers. In 1985, he founded Yale’s adult AIDS and HIV clinic; that same year he became chief of clinical immunology at Yale School of Medicine, a position he held until 2011. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in 2018. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law and four grandchildren. 

James E. Tavares ’60, of Olney, Md.; Jan. 28. After receiving a PhD in botany from Yale and doing postdoctoral work at Michigan State Univ., he was a biology professor at SUNY Buffalo. He later moved to Maryland and worked with the National Academy of Sciences involved with genetics. He is survived by a sister. 

Stanley J. Gembala ’60, of Manchester, Conn.; Feb. 8, following a brief illness. He owned and operated S.J. Gembala Custom Brokers. He is survived by wife Jeannette Gembala, four children, three grandchildren, and three siblings. 

Susanne Hilker Eicholz ’60, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Louisville, Colo.; Mar. 16. She worked in computer modeling and simulation with a focus on space system applications and space policy. During her career, she had been employed with Hughes Aircraft Company and Analytic Services. She is survived by two daughters, three grandsons, and two great-granddaughters. 

Suzanne Werber Dworsky ’60, of Cambridge, Mass.; Aug. 22, 2025. She began her career in finance as a broker at Merrill Lynch after graduating. She later joined Putnam Management Company, where she met her husband, Alan Dworsky, performing manual statistical analyses of the bond market years before such work was computerized. Together they went on to open their own management firm, Mount Auburn, achieving notable success in the field. In addition to their work together, they shared a life marked by travel, art, music, family, philanthropy, and a deep appreciation of nature. She was a devoted member of a close group of classmates from Pembroke College at Brown, who met regularly for Zoom meetings and vacations together. She also practiced tai chi for many years. She is survived by two stepchildren, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a sister. 

Joel Brest ’60, ’65 PhD, of Stamford, Conn.; Jan. 21. After graduating, he joined the research staff at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In 1967, he moved his career to IBM and traveled the globe lecturing on worldwide economic conditions. He retired from IBM as chief economist in 1993. In retirement he published a roundup of New England economic conditions for a weekly article in the Wall Street Journal and advised business clients on statistical methods and economic forecasting. He was active with several local organizations and supported his wife’s artistic career. He is survived by wife Wendy Friedman Brest ’61; three children, including daughter Diana Brest Toomey-Wilson ’88 and son Richard Brest ’94; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; two grandchildren; and a sister.

Richard M. Shohet ’59, of Carlisle, Mass.; Jan. 29, after a period of failing health. He taught at Concord Middle School from 1964 to 1967, and then seven years at Concord Academy before returning to public school education in 1974. For 20 years, before retiring in 1999, he taught in the Lexington school district. In 1983, he acquired the former grazing lands of Bates Farm and began raising cattle. Years later he donated the organic beef to the Open Table food pantry in Maynard, Mass. He also served as a prison volunteer, leading literature discussion groups. He is survived by wife Carolyn Shohet; three daughters and sons-in-law, including Lauren Shohet ’90 AM, ’95 PhD, and Sarah Shohet ’91; and six grandchildren. 

Harris Savin ’59, of Kennett Square, Pa.; Apr. 12. He is survived by wife Ellen Rose; two daughters, including Emily Savin ’09; and a brother. 

David N. Page ’59, of Vero Beach, Fla., and Sunapee, N.H.; Feb. 15. He completed his education at the Yale School of Architecture and had an architectural career that spanned 40 years, most of it in southern New Hampshire. After beginning at a small firm, he eventually opened his own practice in 1979, PMR. Under his leadership, PMR grew to to specialize in large-scale government projects, commercial buildings, and residential homes. A philanthropist and dedicated Rotarian for more than 30 years, he supported countless programs. He is survived by wife Lee Porter Page, two sons, a daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and brother John F. Page ’65. 

Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth ’59, of Providence, R.I.; Dec. 7, of lung cancer. She received a master’s degree in education from Boston University. She was the director of the Resource Center at the Children’s Museum in Jamaica Plain (Mass.), and was instrumental in developing the resource center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She coordinated the Rochambeau Library book sale for many years. She remained active with Brown, serving as class secretary until her passing and marching down College Hill during Commencement weekend each year through 2024. She is survived by husband Dexter Nieforth, two children, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a brother. 

Ann Morse ’59, of Bristol, R.I., formerly of Amherst, N.H.; Mar. 25. She was a homemaker who enjoyed learning and being involved with book clubs that sparked vibrant discussions. She was a committed advocate for social causes and a patron of the arts. She is survived by three children, including daughter Carolyn Morse James ’81; two daughters-in-law; and four grandchildren. 

Peter G. Doyle ’59, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Fairfield, Conn.; Jan. 11. In addition to being a serial entrepreneur, he owned and operated The Doyle Agency, an insurance agency in Fairfield. He is survived by wife Catherine “Kay” Doyle, two sons and daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. 

Willard Bartlett III ’59, of St. Louis, Mo.; Feb. 2, following a brief illness. Returning to St. Louis after Brown and service in the U.S. Coast Guard, he worked with D’Arcy Advertising for several years until being accepted into the Peace Corps. For four years he taught English in East Africa and worked with a game conservation department. He returned to St. Louis and worked at the St. Louis Zoo. After conquering an alcohol addiction, he became a counselor for the Edgewood Program at Mercy Hospital, from which he retired after 20 years. He is survived by two brothers and their families.

Jerome Thier ’58, of Dalton, Pa.; Jan. 20. While at Brown, he joined the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and served as president of the Faunce House Student Union Board of Governors. After graduating he moved to Pennsylvania and became an executive at the International Salt Company, but he transitioned to a life of entrepreneurship, building and operating several businesses across the food and medical products industries. He went on to found the mergers and acquisitions firm PMJ Mergers and Acquisitions, representing sellers of successful businesses throughout northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 32 years. An avid skier, he was a professional ski instructor at Elk Mountain for 15 years and a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America for four decades. He is survived by wife Deborah Thier; three children, including son J. Alexander Thier ’92; five grandchildren; and a brother. 

Edward C. Sullivan ’58, of Bridgewater, N.J.; Jan. 30, from a heart infection. At Brown he excelled as a distance runner in track and field and cross-country, earning induction into the Brown University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. He then spent nearly a decade teaching higher-level mathematics to military personnel at bases in Spain, Italy, and Germany. He later embarked on a distinguished career in software engineering, spending much of his professional life working with IBM and major telecommunications companies that included Bell Labs and Telecordia, contributing to innovative advancements in his field. An avid bird-watcher since the age of 12, in retirement he dedicated decades to volunteering with the New Jersey Audubon Society. 

Gilbert Lugossy ’58, of Hamilton, N.J.; Mar. 14. After Brown, he completed specialized training at the National Sheriffs’ Institute at the Univ. of Southern California and at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He led a life of public service and community leadership in Mercer County. In 1962, he was elected to the Hamilton Township Board of Education and served until 1968. He later served on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1971 to 1976. And in 1977, he was elected sheriff of Mercer County, a position he held with distinction until 1990. Following his time as sheriff, he served on the New Jersey State Parole Board from 1990 to 1997. Additionally, he was fire commissioner of District No. 3 in Hamilton Township from 1962 to 2016. For more than 70 years he was a member and former secretary of the Rusling Hose Volunteer Fire Company, and a life member and trustee of the Mercer County Firemen’s Association and the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association. He was the recipient of numerous honors and awards in recognition of his service and leadership.

Arthur M. Bylin ’58, of Skillman, N.J.; Feb. 16, from gallbladder cancer. He worked at Hamilton Beach before joining Club Aluminum in 1968 as vice president. In 1979, he was recruited to be president and COO of The Lenox Group in New Jersey. Later in his career he was president and CEO of Prince Sports Group, Fitz and Floyd, and Royal Doulton North America, from which he retired in 2009. He served on numerous boards and remained active with Brown as a member of the Brown Sports Foundation and as class president. He is survived by wife Zoe Bylin; children Eric Bylin ’89, Jonathan Bylin ’91, and Elizabeth Bylin Cook ’95 and their spouses; and eight grandchildren. 

Judith Katz Block ’58, of Highland Park, Ill.; Mar. 16. She is survived by two sons. 

Barrett Barnard ’58, of Barrington, R.I.; Mar. 27. He initially began a career in banking in New York City, but later returned to Barrington to teach economics and history at Barrington High School. He also coached their tennis team. He is survived by wife Mary Beth Barnard, a stepson and daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters. 

Alesandra “Sandy” Schmidt Woodhouse ’57, of Tiverton, R.I., formerly of Suffield, Conn.; Mar. 5. She was a retired research librarian of Trinity College (Conn.) and a lifelong academic passionate about the classics. She is survived by two stepchildren and their spouses.

John “Jack” Siddall Jr. ’57, of Attleboro, Mass.; Dec. 21, 2025. After Brown, he worked in the family appliance business, eventually becoming a member of its board. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, and upon discharge began a career in banking. He was a teller, branch manager, and vice president before attending the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University in 1969. In 1971 he became president of First National Bank and served for 14 years, including through its merger with First Bristol County National Bank. In addition, he and his wife purchased and operated Early American Furniture and Gifts in Attleboro. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren, and two great-grandsons. 

William C. Roesel ’57, of Greenville, S.C., formerly of Mocksville, N.C.; Jan. 10. He worked as a transmission systems engineer for Bell Laboratories for most of his career and retired in 1996 from AT&T. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Marvin L. Wilenzik ’56, of Doylestown, Pa.; Mar. 21. He graduated from the Univ. of Michigan Law School and returned to Cambria County, Pa., where he served first as an assistant district attorney and later as a public defender. In 1971, he moved to Doylestown and joined the firm of Gerber, Maerz, and Wilenzik. He later practiced independently at The Law Office of Marvin L. Wilenzik, and spent several years at the Clark, Ladner, Fortenbaugh, and Young firm, before joining Elliott Greenleaf, where he practiced for the rest of his career. His career as an attorney spanned six decades and included being a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association for more than 50 years. Among his many achievements and awards, he served as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee and was awarded the 2013 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Montgomery County Bar Association. He was also the recipient of the Brown Football Association’s Andrew J. Joslin ’65 Award, but his most significant recognition was the Marvin Wilenzik ’56 Head Coaching Chair for Brown Wrestling, endowed by an alumnus in honor of Marvin’s seven decades of service to the University. He is survived by children Eric Wilenzik ’89 and his wife, Rosyln “Suzy” Wilenzik Vore ’91 and her husband, and Jodi Wilenzki ’96, and seven grandchildren. 

Andrew B. Martin ’56, of Milwaukee; Feb. 2, from pneumonia. He had a career in personal financial planning with positons at Merrill Lynch and M&I Bank. He and his wife were involved with Global Volunteers in China and Russia. He was a lifelong learner and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is survived by wife Janet Martin and three children. 

Jane Hamlett Malme ’56, of Hingham, Mass.; Apr. 15. She was a champion of gender equality in politics, active in the League of Women Voters and the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston. After a successful career at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, she served as a fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. She authored numerous journal articles and presided over conferences and seminars in the United States and around the world. She is survived by two children. 

Chandler Fulton ’56, of Weston, Mass.; Feb. 21. He joined the Brandeis biology faculty in 1960 and remained there for more than 60 years, teaching and maintaining a laboratory. In addition to publishing numerous papers, he co-authored the textbook Explorations in Developmental Biology, which was published in 1976. He is survived by wife Elaine Fulton, three children, five grandchildren, and brother William Fulton ’61.

Cherry Collins Provost ’55, of Glen Ridge, N.J.; Jan. 24. She had worked in New York’s Garment District and was involved in several civic, educational, and arts organizations in the Glen Ridge area. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren, including granddaughter Amanda Provost ’12.

Raymond Jenness ’55, of Rockport, Mass.; Mar. 12, from prostate cancer. He earned a master’s degree in theater arts from UConn and was a high school English and theater teacher for 40 years. He helped found the Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe (CAST) and founded the Vermont Theatre Company, where he served as inaugural artistic director. Along with acting and directing for those companies, he was in community and regional productions well into his eighties, including roles with the Green Mountain Guild, the Parish Players, Actors Theater, the Gloucester Stage Company, and Marlboro College. He finished his theater career as technical director at the Gloucester Stage Company. He was also an enthusiastic mountain hiker, completing most of the Appalachian Trail and many summits in the Adirondack, Green Mountain, and White Mountain ranges. He is survived by three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Joan S. Lefkowitz Feinbloom ’55, of Rochester, N.Y.; Mar. 4. As a philanthropist, she presided over a family foundation focused on arts education and services for families. She was also a docent at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law and three grandchildren. 

Audrie Brown Cudahy ’55, of Boise, Idaho; Oct. 1, 2025. She was an active member of her community and a devoted patron of the arts. She is survived by a daughter, a son, two grandchildren, brother F. Abbott Brown Jr. ’57, and nephew Christopher A. Brown ’94.

George G. Conn ’55, of Köping, Sweden; Jan. 6. He is survived by wife Ingegerd Conn. 

Dwight B. Bishop ’55, of Walnut Creek, Calif.; Feb. 19. Upon discharge from the Army, he earned an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business and a JD from the Univ. of San Francisco School of Law. He passed the State Bar exam in 1966 and a 50-plus-year career in law followed. He was a founding partner in the firms of Capps and Bishop and Bishop andFrick. He taught trial advocacy at the JFK School of Law at National University and served as an arbitrator for the Contra Costa Superior Court (Calif.). He is survived by wife Patricia Bishop, two sons and daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, two stepchildren, and six stepgrandchildren. 

Roberta “Birdie” Trauger Blackmer ’54, of Scotia, N.Y.; Feb. 18. She was an elementary school teacher prior to starting a family. Once her children were grown, she returned to teaching in the Scotia-Glenville School District, where she taught ESL and was an assistant in the reading and math labs. She is survived by three children and their spouses and six grandchildren. 

Everett B. Vreeland Jr. ’53, of Montville, N.J.; Mar. 21. He owned and operated The Vreeland Agency, a real estate, travel, and insurance company. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was an instructor with the Signal School in Fort Monmouth, N.J. An avid hobbyist, he built and flew radio-controlled model airplanes and was a member of several local model clubs. He is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and two sisters. 

Janet Heller Gourley ’53, of Kittery, Me.; Nov. 8, 2025. After earning a master’s degree from Simmons College and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she worked at multiple libraries during her career, including Providence and Boston public libraries, Albert Church Brown Memorial Library (Me.), and the Welles-Turner Memorial Library (Conn.). She was the head of the children’s services at Welles-Turner Memorial Library for 19 years and earned an outstanding service award upon her retirement. She was an active member of several Kittery organizations and was a co-founder of the Kittery Cemetery Committee. 

Yvonne “Pooch” Davies Tropp Epstein ’53, of Mamaroneck, N.Y.; Jan. 25. While raising a family she was a stage manager for The Play Group Theatre (N.Y./Westchester Children’s Players), an activities coordinator for the former Association of Retarded Citizens, and a leader for Camp Fire Girls. She later earned an MBA from NYU and became a chartered financial analyst. She went on to have a successful career in financial services marketing and became a vice president at Bank of New York. In retirement she was active with court appointed special advocates (CASA) and was a board member for Greater Mental Health of New York. She is survived by four daughters and six grandsons. 

Elizabeth Kissane Shequine ’52, of Millbrook, N.Y.; Mar. 25, after a hip injury complicated by COPD. She practiced law in Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) after earning her JD from Albany Law School. She was also a town justice for the past 40 years and a member of the Training Program Planning Committee for Town and Village Justice Certification of the Office of Court Administration for the State of New York. She was a director of the Mid-Hudson Divorce and Family Mediation Center and has been an active family mediator since September 1990. She was a practitioner member of the American Academy of Family Mediators and held advanced practitioner status in the Academy of Family Mediators since 1991. She served on numerous boards and on the vestry of St. Peter’s Church. She is survived by a son. 

Patricia MacBride Hendrickson ’52, of Topsham, Me.; Jun. 3, 2025. She was a microbial geneticist at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. After marrying, she taught biology and ecology courses at Staples High School in Westport, Conn. She was regional director of the Brown University National Alumni Schools program; president of the Democratic Women of Westport; a founder of the Campaign School at Yale; and a co-founder and president of the Rosie Fund, which supports women’s right to choose. A staunch supporter in women’s personal liberty, she initiated an all-volunteer security escort service for the Summit Women’s Center in Bridgeport, Conn., coordinating the effort for a decade. She was the recipient of numerous awards. She is survived by three children, including son Andrew Hendrickson ’80 and daughter Laura Hendrickson ’88 AM, ’08 PhD; a son-in-law; and a granddaughter. 

Joseph H. Bosse ’52, of Pensacola, Fla.; Apr. 7. He served in the U.S. Navy prior to attending Brown and rose to the rank of commander. After graduating, he taught religion and French at Pensacola Catholic High School and later Spanish and French at Gulf Breeze High School. For decades he was active at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church and performed mission work in Peru. He is survived by wife Jean, eight children and their spouses, 45 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and three siblings. 

Susanne Cohen Olin ’51, of Longboat Key, Fla.; Feb. 1, 2025. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and grandchildren. 

Paul F. Giguere ’51 of Coventry, Conn., formerly of Manchester, Conn.; Jan. 11. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. Upon retiring, he worked in the insurance industry for 15 years and earned a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Following his second retirement, he ran the CPR program in Manchester for 30 years. He is survived by wife Jane DeRoehn, two daughters and sons-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, and six grandchildren.

Thomas L. Philbrick ’50, of Nantucket, Mass.; Apr. 27. He taught American literature at the Univ. of Vermont, in Burlington; Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y.; the Sorbonne University in Paris; and the Univ. of Pittsburgh, where he spent most of his career. He published two books and many articles. He retired from teaching but continued to publish works of American literature and history. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean
War. He is survived by two sons, including Nathaniel Philbrick ’78; two daughters-in-law, including Melissa Douthart Philbrick ’79; four grandchildren, including grandson Ethan Philbrick ’08; and three great-grandchildren. 

Dolores Pastore DiPrete ’49, of Narragansett, R.I.; Apr. 10. She was a founding member of the Meshanticut Garden Club and actively involved with family, friends, church, and Brown. She was proud to have served as the class marshal for her 75th Brown reunion. She is survived by four children, seven grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.

Morton J. Marks ’48, of Providence, R.I.; Mar. 10. He graduated from Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1951 and then to the District of Columbia Bar in 1954. As an attorney, he presented cases in many federal appellate courts throughout the United States. After retiring from the federal government, he continued to practice in the Rhode Island Superior Court. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a Japanese language instructor. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Department of Labor’s Career Distinguished Service Award. He is survived by his life partner, Zelda Goldman; a daughter and son-in-law; a daughter-in-law; and 10 grandchildren. 

Lawrence Sirovich, of New York City; Sept. 16. As a first-generation college student, he found his place at Johns Hopkins University, ultimately receiving a PhD in aeronautical engineering in a joint Hopkins/NYU program. After completing a Fulbright and National Science Foundation fellowship in Brussels, he settled in Providence and joined the Brown faculty in 1963 as an assistant professor in applied mathematics. He was named an associate professor in 1965 and a full professor in 1967. While making his career at Brown, he also joined the faculty of Rockefeller University as an adjunct professor, and a Guggenheim fellowship followed. He retired from Brown in 1996 with the title of professor emeritus. He was the recipient of several professional honors. He authored five scholarly books and more than 250 peer-reviewed publications. He is survived by wife Carole Sirovich, a daughter, son Matthew Sirovich ’87, and two grandchildren. 

Dietrich Rueschemeyer, of Providence, R.I.; Sept. 27. Professor emeritus of sociology. He earned a degree in economics and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Cologne, and a Rockefeller Fellowship brought him to Columbia University. After teaching at Dartmouth and the University of Toronto, he settled in Providence in 1967 and joined the Brown faculty. He was one of the founders of Brown’s Center for the Comparative Study of Development, which became the Watson Institute. His influential works include Capitalist Development and Democracy, Bringing the State Back In, and Usable Theory: Analytic Tools for Social and Political Research. Additionally, he published Westrup: A Private Novel. He is survived by wife Marilyn Rueschemeyer, two daughters and sons-in-law, including daughter Julia Rueschemeyer ’87 and son-in-law Benjamin H. Bailey ’87, five grandchildren, including Talia Rueschemeyer-Bailey ’18, Solomon N. Rueschemeyer-Bailey ’20 and AJ Braverman ’21, and two siblings.

Dr. Allan Pearson, of Mansfield, Mass.; Oct. 17. Professor emeritus of engineering. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota before completing his PhD in mechanical engineering at Columbia University. He joined the Brown faculty in September of 1963 and was promoted to associate professor in 1966 and full professor in 1970. His work was highly mathematical in nature, applied to practical problems in control, and used computational methods to prove the concepts. His research involved collaboration and interaction with the NASA/Electronics research center, the U.S. Army Natick Labs, and the Air Force Aerospace Research Laboratory, and resulted in the publication of more than 100 papers and over 90 invited talks. He was a member of numerous professional organizations and served on several University-related committees. Aside from research, he taught several courses at Brown, including two of the foundational courses in engineering for first-year students. In addition, he supervised 19 master’s and 15 doctoral theses. He is survived by two sons, including Dan Pearson ’91.

Giovanna Gobbi Alves Araujo, of Providence, R.I.; Oct. 23. At the time of her passing, she was working to earn her PhD in Hispanic studies. She had earned degrees in languages and literature from the Universidade de São Paulo, was a Fulbright scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018–2019, and was a scholar in residence at Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin between 2019 and 2022. She is survived by husband Jony. 

Michael K. Nation ’81 MD, of Saint Paul, Minn.; Oct. 4. Following graduation, he moved to Minnesota to complete his pediatric residency at the University Minnesota and practiced pediatrics for more than three decades. His career was spent at Central Pediatrics, and he was on staff at Children’s Minnesota hospital, where he served three terms as chief of staff. He volunteered at Children’s Home Society providing medical care to babies awaiting adoption and served on the Park Nicollet Medical Center Community Oncology Institutional Review Board. He retired in 2015 but continued to volunteer with numerous humanitarian and environmental organizations. He is survived by wife Janet Nation, two daughters and their spouses, three grandchildren, and five siblings. 

Dr. Stephen M. Doris Jr. ’10 PhD, of Hingham, Mass.; Nov. 23. After Brown, he served as a postdoctoral fellow in genetics and genomics at Harvard Medical School. He dedicated his career to science and discovery, and at the time of his passing, served as the associate director of RNA biology at Arrakis Therapeutics. Along with his husband, Andrew “Andy” Long, who survives him, they launched the 52 Orcas project to bring awareness to orcas held in captivity. In addition to Andy, he is survived by his parents, a sister, and a brother-in-law. 

Dr. A. Christine Skelley ’85 PhD, of Maitland, Fla.; Jun. 2, 2025. She was a professor of economics at Rollins College for 27 years.

Bernard M. Hitzig ’77 PhD, of Campton, N.H.; Jul. 17, 2022. During his career he was a senior research scientist, senior lecturer, consultant in biophysics, and professor of physiology. He held appointments at Boston University, Harvard Medical School, Mass General Hospital, Georgetown University Medical School, and Howard University. He was a member of several science societies, the recipient of numerous awards and honor, and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is survived by wife Harlyn Behrmann Hitzig and two daughters. 

Johannes “Joop” Nagtegaal ’73 PhD, of Westport, Mass.; Nov. 30. He is survived by his wife, Ria; two sons and daughters-in-law; and seven grandchildren.

Rev. Henry C. Maxson ’73 AM, ’74 PhD, of West Warwick, R.I.; Jun. 29, 2025. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as an assistant to the company chaplain. Upon honorable discharge, he graduated from Gordon College (Boston), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Pa.), and the University of Vermont. After graduating from Brown, he began service at Calvary Baptist Church in Union City, N.J. He continued to serve as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Barre, Vt., and in 1979 was called to full-time ministry as pastor of Quidnick Baptist Church in Coventry, R.I. He retired in 2000. He is survived by wife Vickie, two daughters, three stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. 

Linda Blackburn Gross ’73 MAT, of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Jan. 6, from kidney failure and dementia. She worked as a reference librarian at Georgetown University’s Dahlgren Memorial Library, the library director of The American College of Cardiology, and a reference librarian at Plymouth District Library in Michigan. She wrote poetry and was working on a novel at the time of her passing. She is survived by husband Richard Gross, a son and a daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. 

Richard W. Alsfeld ’70 PhD, of Pomfret, Conn.; Nov. 13, after a brief illness. He was a professor of political science for 40 years at Providence College. He retired in 1997. He is survived by wife Sigrid Nordlund, three children, two grandchildren, and former wife Elaine Alsfeld.

Myron Myers ’69 PhD, of Rockville, Md.; Oct. 24, of thyroid cancer. He taught economics at Rutgers University from 1968 to 1973. He then served as a staff economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank. He spent most of his career consulting at Logistics Management Institute, where he was the director of the acquisition research program, leading studies of government contractors that resulted in major revisions to federal business practices. He retired in  2005. He is survived by wife Susan Kransberg Myers, two daughters, and four grandchildren. 

Jerome L. Sternstein ’68 PhD, of Hawley, Mass.; Nov. 19. He taught American history at the University of Iowa while completing his doctoral research. His dissertation received the Allen Nevins Prize of the Society of American Historians for the best dissertation that year. This honor led to a one-year fellowship at Harvard University’s Charles Warren Center and an appointment to the faculty of Columbia University, where he taught until 1974, when he became a professor at CUNY’s Brooklyn College. During his tenure at Brooklyn College, he coedited the Encyclopedia of American Biography and authored numerous articles about the Gilded Age. He is survived by wife Trina, two daughters, and four grandchildren. 

John K. Steffen ’68 AM, of Minneapolis; Nov. 4. After the Peace Corps, he became a tax attorney and partner at Faegre and Benson. He is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren, and a brother.

John J. Julian ’68 AM, of Cambridge, Mass.; Oct. 20. He taught at private schools in Connecticut and Vermont before teaching at Tufts and Boston universities. He is survived by three siblings.

Linda K. Vietoris Hodges ’68 MAT, of Garden Grove, Calif.; Sept. 30. A biology teacher for over 60 years, primarily at Rosary High School, and a dedicated docent at Christ Cathedral, she is survived by two daughters.

Erle K. Anderson ’65 MAT, of Cambridge, Minn.; Dec. 5. He was a high school mathematics teacher and member of the Christian Service Brigade. He is survived by his wife, Marge, and three children.

Theodore P. Fraser ’62 AM, ’67 PhD, of Kennebunk, Me.; Oct. 13. He had a distinguished career as a professor at the College of the Holy Cross and authored seven books. He is survived by a sister.

Dr. George K. Shortess ’60 AM, ’62 PhD, of Bethlehem, Pa.; Dec. 3. He served in the U.S. Army before attending Brown and developed an interest in visual arts. While completing his degrees at Brown, he enrolled at the Boston Museum School, concentrating on drawing and painting, and continued as a practicing artist. From 1963 to 1969 he taught experimental psychology and chaired the psychology department at Lycoming College. From 1969 to 1994 he taught at Lehigh University, from which he retired as a professor emeritus. While at Lehigh, he merged psychology and art to develop a course titled Perception and the Visual Arts. In retirement he became a certified teaching artist and worked with public school students to create installations that extended their standard curriculum. He published several articles and exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally. He is survived by wife MaryLou Shortess, four children, four grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Kenneth G. Ainsworth ’57 PhD, of Athens, Ga., and Cape Cod, Mass.; Nov. 12, at 102 years of age. He taught economics at Bowdoin College for several years before joining the Allegheny College faculty, where he remained for more than 30 years. During his tenure at Allegheny, he spent two years as an economist with the U.S. Congressional Committee on Judiciary analyzing tax law. He consulted for Alaska, New York, and the U.S. Advisory Commission on intergovernmental relations. He retired to Cape Cod and upon the death of his wife, split his time between homes in Athens and Cape Cod. He is survived by three children and their spouses, including son Thomas Ainsworth ’76 and his wife Paula Davidson ’77; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. 

 Dr. Bennett Gurian ’56 ScM, of Brookline, Mass.; Oct. 24. He was a senior researcher in neurochemistry at Massachusetts General Hospital and was appointed director of geriatrics and founder/director of Positive Aging Services. He was an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, past president of the Massachusetts  Gerontology Association, chairman of the Clinical Medicine Section of the Gerontological Society of America, national vice president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice. He  was widely published, received numerous awards and honors, and served on many boards. He is survived by wife Tanya, five children, and 11 grandchildren.

Amanda Lucek ’11, of Dekalb, Ill.; Dec. 23. An artist and a mathematician, she combined equations and fractals with fiber arts and electronics. She was a member of the Kishwaukee Valley Art League and a creator of original board games. She is survived by her parents and a sister.

Dr. Claudine N. DuPont ’96, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Apr. 21, 2025. After Brown, she went to graduate, Samuel Merritt University College of Podiatric Medicine in 2001 and completed the Yale/VACT podiatric medicine and surgery residency program at Yale New Haven Medical Center in 2004. After a successful career in podiatry and following the birth of her son, she pursued a career in financial services. She was driven by a love for animals and was active in associations dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty, and she was an avid runner. She is survived by a son and her mother. 

 John “Riley” McLaughlin ’91, of San Bruno, Calif; Dec. 19. He was a volunteer teacher and mental health coach. He is survived by his mother and two sisters. 

Amanda Nelligan ’87, of Studio City, Calif.; Nov. 22. After Brown she pursued a career in film and entertainment working as a creative executive at Disney/Touchstone and as a vice president of development for Mark Johnson and Barry Levinson. After leaving the film industry to earn a master’s in clinical psychology, she returned to the film world and started her own business,
Scriptgal.com, doing screenplay consultation and analysis, which led to her becoming a story analyst at both MGM and Netflix. She is survived by two sisters and her former husband, John Tomko.

George P. McCann II ’84, of Half Moon Bay, Calif.; Feb. 27, 2025. After graduation he explored the world and engaged in numerous opportunities before settling in Half Moon Bay, where he established Brown Dog Builders. He is survived by partner Natalie Hanson, three daughters, his mother, three sisters, and his former wife.

Sue Magidson ’84, of Berkeley, Calif.; Jan. 2. After Brown, she fell in love with teaching middle school math and spent many years working to improve teaching techniques, resulting in a PhD in education at UC Berkeley. After a series of life crises in the mid to late 90s, her vocational direction shifted. She received a master’s of divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry, became an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, and served for 11 years as a hospital chaplain in a safety-net hospital. 

Dr. Suzanne Brendze ’84, of Rochester, N.Y.; Sept. 21, of cancer. After Brown, she attended Wellesley and Harvard. She completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh and a residency at the University of Rochester. She began her career in private practice as a family physician in Hilton, N.Y., before joining Rochester’s Huther Doyle to help establish its program of primary care for patients of its addiction treatment center. At the same time she began more than a decade in urgent care. From 2015 to 2025, she also served as a clinical instructor in family medicine for the University of Rochester. Through her own battle, she participated in multiple clinical trials, contributed bodily to research, and was an organ donor. She is survived by husband Craig Brownlie, a son, her mother, and sister Liz Brendze ’86. 

Vera Stipek ’82, of San Francisco; Oct. 23. She is survived by husband David Hung Nguyen, two children, her mother, and a brother.  

Reid Kneeland ’82, of Encino, Calif.; Jan. 20. A senior software engineer, he is survived by three children and former spouse W.Ellen Fleischmann Silvers ’82.

David Douglas ’82, of Cortlandt, N.Y.; Nov. 16. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he embarked on a career as a commercial litigator. During his career, he practiced at a large Wall Street firm and was a partner at three New York City firms, including Gallet, Dreyer and Berkey, LLP. He was active in his community and served for decades on multiple town boards and committees. He was recognized by the town for his years of service as a distinguished citizen planner. He is survived by wife Lisa Bogdan, three children, and brother Bruce Douglas ’86 and his wife.

Rachel Korn Bousquet ’82, of Cranston, R.I.; Aug. 20. For many years she taught ESL classes in the Cranston School District. She also taught sewing in an after-school program at Bain Middle School, which became her personal passion project and led to her sending hundreds of handmade garments to children in need across Latin America and Africa. She is survived by two children and their spouses, including daughter Candice Bousquet Chapin ’11; a grandson; and brother Roland Korn ’87. 

Sharon L. Rasch ’81, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Jul. 7, 2025. After earning an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she worked as a business executive at Sara Lee/Hanes Corporation and then served as the vice president of marketing at Alba-Waldensian. She later worked as the director of operations for a local Dippin’ Dots franchise before being recruited to a UT graduate program to prepare local business professionals to teach mathematics in Title I schools. She went on to teach math at Fulton High School in Knoxville. She is survived by a son, a sister, and a brother. 

Dr. Ed Chu ’80, ’83 MMSc, ’83 MD, of New Rochelle, N.Y.; Nov. 13, of glioblastoma. He dedicated his life to advancing cancer medicine and mentoring medical professionals. His expertise in pharmacology and his dedication to improving therapies for colorectal cancer led to the identification of new treatments and significant scientific advances in the field. During his career he held tenured positions and leadership roles at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he was chief of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the Hillman Cancer Center. In 2020, he was appointed director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, vice president of cancer medicine, and the Carol and Roger Einiger Professor of Cancer Medicine. He transformed the cancer center into an integrated enterprise, resulting in their first comprehensive status designation from the National Cancer Institute. He is survived by wife Dr. Laurie Harrold and two children.

Robert G. Huckins ’79, ’81 AM, of San Diego; Oct. 23. He is survived by his wife, Victoria, and a son.

Catherine “Catie” Marshall ’78, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Oct. 26. She was a communications leader for New York City and State housing agencies and served for 20 years on the board of the Vera Institute of Justice. She is survived by her husband, Nelson Bakerman, and two children.

Dr. Kristin Rohr ’77, of Sydney, B.C.; Oct. 22. She was a scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada, specializing in the study of oceanic plates and tectonic evolution. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Jackman, and a sister.

Michelle A. Proulx ’76, of Narragansett, R.I.; Nov. 22, of lymphoma. After earning an MBA from NYU, she held senior strategy roles in London and the U.S. A dedicated alumna, she cofounded the Brown Club in the UK and served as class treasurer. She is survived by her husband, Charles Connell ’75; daughter Gerianne Connell ’15, ’20 MD; and siblings Carolyn Proulx ’82 and Lawrence Proulx ’76.

Tina Stark Weisenfeld ’75, of New York City; Dec. 21. A graduate of NYU Law School and partner at Chadbourne and Parke, she later joined the Emory Law School faculty as the founding director of the Center for Transactional Law and Practice. She authored the textbook Drafting Contracts and was the first chair of the AALS Section on Transactional Law and Skills. She received numerous accolades, and Emory created the Tina L. Stark Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Transactional Law and Skills in her honor.She also taught at Fordham and Boston University. She is survived by husband David J. Weisenfeld, a son, and two grandchildren.

Betsy Goldenberg ’75, of Pepperell, Mass.; Jul. 28, 2025, of esophageal cancer. She earned a master’s in psychology from UMass Lowell and served on their adjunct faculty for many years. She is survived by two sons, including Benjamin Gould ’02; four grandchildren; and her brother, Robin Goldenberg ’70.

Rita Szanto Englund ’74, of New Canaan, Conn.; Nov. 5. Her career included teaching at the Brearley School, photography, and leading writing classes at the Lapham Community Center. She is survived by husband Sven R. Englund ’75, daughter Kristen Englund ’11 MPH, and a son.

Peter Champion ’74, of Silverton, Ore.; Oct. 6. After a career in the restaurant industry as a chef and manager, he was ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1989. He served churches in New York, California, Hawaii, and Oregon, and remained active in recovery communities and political activism. He is survived by his wife, Susan Manley Champion ’74; two daughters; and four grandchildren.

Jane Littell Meyer ’72, of Omaha, Neb.; Oct. 8, after a battle with dementia. She was a longtime attorney at Mutual of Omaha, retiring as vice president and assistant general counsel in 2002. She was a leader in community organizations and served on numerous boards. She is survived by her husband, Philip Meyer ’71; two daughters and sons-in-law; six grandchildren; and a brother.

James S. Hunter ’72, of Oakland, Calif.; Sept. 9.

James R. Duffy ’72, of Arlington, Va.; Dec. 13. He spent the majority of his career working for the Internal Revenue Service. He is survived by two siblings and their spouses.

Bryan Brown ’71, of Duluth, Minn.; Nov. 10. A graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law, he served as a city attorney in Duluth until his retirement in 2008. In retirement, he practiced with a Minneapolis firm, served as an arbitrator in Minnesota and Arizona, and was a board member for an environmental company. He is survived by his wife, Cathleen Brown.

Denis Colacicco ’69, of New Canaan, Conn; Apr. 24, 2025, of hemorrhagic aneurysms. A former Brown soccer player, he taught for a year before joining A.L. Buschman Lighting, a family business. He became a partner in Dzine Elements in 2017 and later owned and operated Contract Marketing/Marble International. He is survived by his wife, Eva Inoue Colacicco ’69, ’69 AM; two children; and three granddaughters.

Gerard E. Giannattasio ’68, of Massapequa Park, N.Y.; Jun. 11, of cancer. A JD and PhD holder, he served as a law librarian and Massapequa Park Village Justice for 24 years. He is survived by three brothers.

Ann Ghering Flynn ’68, of Newport Beach, Calif.; Dec. 24. She held a master’s in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and was active in the Pasadena Christ Child Society. She is survived by her husband, John Flynn; son Tim Flynn ’94 and daughter-in-law Clare Davidson Flynn ’94; a daughter; a son-in-law; and four grandchildren.

Robert C. Bernius ’68, of Potomac, Md.; Aug. 6. He was a Rhodes Scholar candidate and the goalkeeper for two of Brown’s best soccer teams. During his time he never lost a regular season game, and he was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979. A Yale Law School graduate, he spent three years as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn and joined Nixon, Hargrave, Devans and Doyle in 1984 in Rochester, N.Y. He spent 10 years in Rochester before moving to Potomac to open their office in Washington, D.C. The firm subsequently merged to become Nixon Peabody. As a litigator for 40 years, he represented a variety of clients in First Amendment cases across the country. He also served as board chair of the D.C. Board of Professional Responsibility and as Nixon Peabody’s general counsel before retiring in 2015. He is survived by wife Elissa; daughters Morgen Bernius ’96, Ashley Bernius ’06, Shay Bernius Squeglia ’06 MAT; and six grandchildren.

Tom Bernabei ’68, of Canton, Ohio; Dec. 11, following a brief illness. After Brown, he served four years in the U.S. Army as a captain, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. He graduated at the top of his class from Ohio State University’s law school in 1975. He began his long and distinguished career in public service as an assistant prosecutor in Massillon Municipal Court. He later served as an assistant law director in Canton and was elected Canton law director in 1989. After retiring in 2000, he was elected to the Canton City Council and served one term as councilman-at-large. He subsequently worked as the director of public service in Canton from 2008 to 2009 and as Stark Area Regional Transit Authority’s interim executive director in 2009. He was elected Stark county Commissioner and served from 2010 to 2015. He served as the mayor of Canton for two terms (2016 –2023) and led Canton through several landmark projects that included the development of Centennial Plaza. He is survived by wife Bebe Bernabei, three children and their spouses, five grandchildren, and a sister. 

Michael A. Barros ’68, of Helena, Mont.; Sept. 17. A U.S. Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, he was active in housing policy and twice ran for mayor of Minneapolis. He is survived by his wife Susan, five children, and nine grandchildren.

James A. Moore Jr. ’67, of Johnston, R.I.; Oct. 23. He is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.

Elaine M. Decker ’67, of Cromwell, Conn.; Oct. 3, of lung cancer. She began working at Arthur Andersen as a programmer. After two years, she joined Colgate, where she spent 17 years, rising to become a marketing director. She went on to create Business Theatre Unlimited (BTU). She was devoted to fundraising and held various positions at Wheaton College, Brown, and the Fund for Community Progress. In 2014, she relocated to Cromwell. Throughout her life she was a passionate writer, crafting social satire. Her work appeared in her regular blog, Retirement Sparks, in numerous periodicals, and in five books—three on retirement, one on coping with cancer, and one on the sense of humor (all available on Amazon). She is survived by husband Jagdish Sachdev, a sister, and a brother.  

David M. Warner ’66, of Altamont, N.Y.; Nov. 20. He worked for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and the West Yellowstone News, and he wrote for Ranger Rick magazine. He is survived by a son, a stepdaughter, three grandchildren, and a brother.

Jane Ronsheim Ring ’66, of Evanston, Ill.; Dec. 24. A Francophile with a master’s from Columbia University, she devoted her life to teaching French. She was also a longtime employee of Evanston Township High School. She is survived by her husband, Eugene M. Ring ’72 PhD; two children and their spouses; four grandchildren; and a sister.

Randolph Richardson ’66, of New Providence, N.J.; Nov. 16, of neurodegeneration. A pilot for TWA, he once flew the Pope. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Mays ’66, whom he married after they reconnected at their 25th Brown reunion, and their combined four children and eight grandchildren.

Geoffrey C. Goodale ’66, ’68 MAT, of Braintree, Mass.; Oct. 3. He taught at various colleges before returning to Thayer Academy, where he served for more than 30 years as head of the English department, advisor, and coach. A classroom at Thayer was dedicated in his name in 1995. He is survived by his wife Prudence Goodale, three sons, and four grandchildren.

Sally Van Doren Dohm ’66, of Seaside Park, N.J., and Darien, Conn.; Oct. 25. She taught kindergarten before launching Darien Cooking and Gifts and operating The Rainbow Shoppe. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Dohm White ’90; a son-in-law; and four grandchildren.

Virginia A. Chappell ’66, of Milwaukee; Jul. 12, 2025. She is survived by two sisters.

James M. Barrett ’65, of Essex Fells, N.J.; Dec. 5. A U.S. Navy veteran and captain of a Swift Boat in Vietnam, he founded the golf course irrigation firm James Barrett Associates in 1985. He authored sections of three irrigation textbooks and designed systems for more than 300 golf courses worldwide. At Brown, he played varsity ice hockey. He is survived by his wife Clarissa Barrett, two children, and four grandchildren.

Julien G. Colvin Jr. ’64, of Baltimore; Jan. 5, from complications of dementia. He received a divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and taught in Ghana, Senegal, and Swaziland. He later became a leader in affordable housing, serving as director, of Neighborhood Rental Services and working with the National Equity Fund. In retirement, he volunteered with The Resource Exchange. He is survived by his wife JoAnn Copes, four sons, and six grandchildren.

Rhoda Nagin Cahan ’64, of Delray, Fla.; Nov. 9, of pancreatic cancer. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed advanced studies in computational mathematics at NYU. Her dedication to Brown spanned six decades; she served as an alumni interviewer, reunion activities committee chair, and class marshal. She is survived by her husband, Samuel Rudick; three children, including Adam Cahan ’93; three grandchildren; and a brother.

Albert E. Booth II ’64, of Rye Brook, N.Y.; Nov. 9. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he attended Harvard Business School and pursued a career in commercial real estate before becoming a financial advisor. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, two daughters, and two grandchildren.

Lt. Cmdr. William B. Smithson ’63, of Wilmington, N.C.; Apr. 28, 2025, from complications of Alzheimer’s. He served in the U.S. Air Force before working in the truck leasing and sales industry.

William C. Schnell ’63, of Daytona Beach, Fla.; Dec. 1, 2024. He earned an engineering master’s degree from NYU and helped design the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet at Grumman Aerospace Corporation. He later helped grow a home health-care agency and pursued various philanthropic endeavors. He is survived by a daughter and a son. 

Sylvia “Silky” Berger ’63, of Roxbury, Conn.; May 6, 2025. She worked as a computer programmer with IBM and at Rice University. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Berger ’94, and a son.

Margery Goddard Whiteman ’62, of Albany, N.Y.; May 28, 2025, of cancer. She served as the director of development at Emma Willard School and the director of advancement services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Later, she was the director of development for Riverside Church in New York City. She was a Francophile and sang in the Albany Pro Musica choral ensemble. She is survived by her husband, Michael; three children and their spouses, including Eliza D. Whiteman Kinsey ’07 and Stephen H. Whiteman ’97; and six grandchildren.

Cynthia A. Green Bowen ’61, of Coventry, R.I.; Dec. 4. She owned and operated Seven Gables Farm and hosted the radio show The Equestrian Corner on the Horse Radio Network. An accomplished author, she wrote for numerous magazines, including the Equine Journal, and taught writing and poetry at the Coventry Senior Center.

David W. Manson ’60, of Yarmouth, Me.; Nov. 18. After earning a master’s degree from Boston University, he taught and counseled at Worcester Academy and North Yarmouth Academy. In 1973, he and his wife founded Cuddledown, manufacturing high-quality down comforters from their home. The business grew into a national catalog and online retailer. He is survived by his wife Ellen, two children, and two grandchildren.

A transformative figure in children’s respiratory medicine whose research and clinical efforts helped shape modern neonatal and pediatric pulmonary care, Dr. Arnold C.G. Platzker ’58 died Nov. 27 in Los Angeles. He was known for pioneering the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in critically ill infants and children, advancing care and improving the outcomes for the sickest patients with respiratory failure. His research interests included childhood asthma, inflammatory markers, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, and lung development in newborns. He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Boston City Hospital followed by senior and chief residencies at Stanford University’s department of pediatrics. He was commissioned as a lieutenant commander and assigned to the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, where he spent two years of military service during the Vietnam War as the chief of neonatology. Following his term in the Navy, he undertook a fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). He joined the University of Southern California in 1974 as an associate professor of pediatrics prior to his position as a professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine from 1985 to 2012. He authored or coauthored more than 70 peer-reviewed papers. He was a member of numerous national and international professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the European Respiratory Society. He was also the director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  He earned a Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Southern California and was a Gold Lifetime Member of the Retired Faculty Association. He is survived by wife Marjorie, two children and their spouses, two granddaughters, and a sister. 

Barbara A. Fontaine ’58, of North Kingstown, R.I.; Oct. 6. Upon graduating, she worked at Brown as a science librarian before beginning her career as an educator. She taught at Lincoln School in Providence, followed by teaching positions at public schools in Massachusetts and New York. She later earned a master’s degree from Wesleyan and volunteered with the Peace Corps. After decades of teaching, she earned a law degree from Pace University and began a second career as an attorney. After service under the Rhode Island attorney general, she spent several years in private practice in Rhode Island. She is survived by three brothers.

Robert F. Blakeley ’58, ’59 MAT, of Bridgewater, Mass. and Cape Coral, Fla.; Jan. 1. He had a 38-year career in public education beginning in 1959 as a high school teacher in Mechanicville, N.Y. He returned to Massachusetts in 1964 to teach history at Brockton High School, and in 1972 he joined the Bridgewater public school system, where he served as an assistant principal and principal at Williams Middle School before becoming the last superintendent for the Bridgewater Public Schools. After Bridgewater and Rayn-ham public schools regionalized, he was appointed the assistant superintendent for the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District. He held that position until he retired in 1997. A former member of Brown’s men’s soccer team, he was a founding member of the Bridgewater Youth Soccer Program and was past director of the Bridgewater Biddy League Basketball Program. He coached Little League baseball for more than 20 years and coached the Brockton High School soccer team while teaching at Brockton High. He is survived by four sons, including David Blakeley ’84, Peter Blakeley ’85, and Mark Blakeley ’86, and three daughters-in-law; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Author of books and articles on a wide range of topics and personalities, Roger Vaughn ’59, of Easton, Md., died Aug. 25, 2025. After Brown, he served in the U.S. Army before spending 10 years at the Saturday Evening Post and Life magazine, covering Bob Dylan’s European tour, the Beatles, and Woodstock. During his extensive career, he published 22 books, beginning with Ted Turner ’60’s failed America’s Cup effort in 1974, The Grand Gesture. Turner, who Vaughn sailed alongside while at Brown, came back and won the America’s Cup in 1977, and Roger wrote a sequel detailing his victory. Roger crewed on several Bermuda races, and in 1979 he was a member of the crew of Kialoa in the infamous Fastnet Race that claimed 15 lives and is considered “the roughest ocean race on record.” He wrote about the harrowing account in Fastnet: One Man’s Voyage. In 1990, at the age of 52, he joined the crew of the Russian Fazisi in the Whitbread Round the World Race. In addition to books and magazine features, he cowrote the 1992 sailing film Wind, bringing the thrill of the America’s Cup to the big screen, and he was the founding editor of The Yacht magazine. He was known for his mantra: “If it is boring to write, it will be boring to read.” He is survived by wife Kippy Requardt, a son, a stepdaughter, two granddaughters, and a step-granddaughter. 

Alfred J. Walker ’59, of Natchez, Miss.; Nov. 26. He worked for Northeast Airlines and C.G. Hokanson Company before entering the financial brokerage business in Boston. He later founded the greeting card company Townhouse Press and opened Alfred J. Walker Fine Art in 1979. In 2006, he cofounded Walker-Cunningham Fine Art. He is survived by his companion, Carlos Condinho; two sons and daughters-in-law; a grandson; and a sister.

Alan P. Miller ’59, of Evanston, Ill.; Nov. 28. A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he practiced law for more than 60 years, primarily at Kiesler and Berman in Chicago. He is survived by his wife Barbara M. Chipman, six children, seven grandchildren, and a sister.

Dr. Donald L. Kinley ’59, of Brattleboro, Vt.; Dec. 30, of cancer. He received his MD from McGill University in 1964 and completed residencies in orthopedic surgery at SUNY Upstate and the Cleveland Clinic. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Tokyo, attaining the rank of major. In 1973, he cofounded Orthopedic Associates of Brattleboro. He is survived by five children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two siblings.

Dr. Stephen A. Diamond ’59, of New York City; Nov. 10. He earned a PhD in aerospace engineering from Cornell and served in the U.S. Navy, contributing to groundbreaking work with NASA. He is survived by his wife Eunice Diamond, two children and their spouses, and three grandchildren.

Bailey W. Blethen ’59, of Minneapolis; Nov. 13. While earning his JD from the University of Minnesota Law School, he served as the case editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Following graduation, he worked at the firm his grandfather started, Blethen, Gage and Krause. He served as an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University and was a member of numerous boards. A dedicated athlete, he coached basketball at Mankato West High School and New Ulm Cathedral and was an assistant coach for the Minnesota State University men’s basketball team. In 1997, he was inducted into the Minnesota State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also an award-winning singer with the Mankato Riverblenders. He is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Composer Robert Waldman ’57, of New York City; Jan. 12. While at Brown, he began writing music for theater, writing the ’55, ’56, and ’57 Brownbrokers shows, the last two with Alfred Uhry ’58. Upon graduation, he moved to New York to study composition at Juilliard and to pursue writing for the theater. He maintained lifelong friendships with numerous Brown grads, including Uhry, with whom he collaborated on four musicals, including the Tony award–winning production of The Last Night of Ballyhoo, with the most well-known being The Robber Bridegroom, nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Over the years he has composed, arranged, and orchestrated music for the Broadway stagings of numerous dramatic plays as well, including Driving Miss Daisy, for which he won Chicago’s Jefferson Award for Best Music in a Dramatic Work. In addition, he wrote three collections of piano music, a ballet, television shows, commercial music, and numerous special-occasion pieces. He is survived by wife Judith Waldman, daughter Hawley Waldman ’87, a son, and four grandchildren.

William “Bill” Wadsworth ’57, of Marshfield, Me. Oct. 28. After receiving his masters and PhD from Northwestern University, he became a specialist in quantitative petrology and structural geology, later joining Whittier College, where he cocreated their first field geology course. He retired from Whittier in 1996 as an associate professor and chair of the geology department. He had also been an associate professor at the University of South Dakota and Idaho State University. He was a member of nine professional organizations. At Brown, he was a member of the men’s basketball team, president of Phi Delta Theta, and class marshal. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. In 1975, he was recognized as an Outstanding Educator of America. He is survived by his partner, Joyce Richardson; two sons; Joyce’s three children; three grandchildren; and Martha Nakao Wadsworth.

Virginia Zimmerman Chase ’56, of Providence, R.I.; Aug. 22, of ovarian cancer. She was a homemaker and is survived by three children, including son Michael Chase ’80; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Zane Anderson ’56, of Bristol, R.I.; Oct. 17. He founded his own architecture firm, designing and remodeling commercial and private structures with an expertise in historic restoration. He also taught at RISD and Roger Williams University, from which he retired. During his tenure at RWU, he assisted in establishing their Cummings School of Architecture. He is survived by three children, two stepchildren, and seven grandchildren.

Duncan Olding ’55, of Groton, Conn.; Dec. 24. He earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UConn in 1964. He was employed by Fairchild Engine Division in Deer Park, N.Y., for several years before joining General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, from which he retired in 1995 as a principal engineer. While at Brown, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was elected to the Tau Beta Pi honor society. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Barnum Olding ’79 MAT; two daughters, including Linda Olding ’79; two sons-in-law; and two grandchildren.

Anne Murphy O’Brien ’55, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Mass.; Dec. 21. She met her husband, John O’Brien ’55, while at Brown; he predeceased her. After Brown, she worked in the airline industry while John completed his training with ITT. They settled in Scituate, Mass., in 1960, then moved to Atlanta for three years. After returning to Massachusetts, she earned a master’s degree in library science and became the director of circulation at Andover Public Library. She would later be the director of the Pollard Memorial Library and Snowe Library. In 1988, she was named president of the Massachusetts Library Association, and in 2006, she was inducted into the Massachusetts Library Hall of Fame. Throughout her life, she was a dedicated Brown alumna, earning a Brown Alumni Service Award in 2012. She is survived by sons John D. O’Brien Jr. ’82, Thomas N. O’Brien ’85, and William J. O’Brien ’92 and three daughters-in-law; eight grandchildren, including grandson Matthew T. O’Brien ’15, ’16 MPA; a great-grandchild; and two brothers.

Robert E. Borah ’55, of Seekonk, Mass.; Oct. 10. A former agent for New England Life Insurance Company, he saw the need for pension consulting and, in 1965, he established Robert E. Borah and Associates, an employee-benefit consulting firm in Providence. He expanded into real estate development as a general partner in Charles-Orms Associates in Providence from 1978 until 2018, when he retired. Hockey had been an important part of his life. At Brown, he was cocaptain, selected for the All–New England, All-Ivy, and All-East teams, and was invited to try out for the 1956 Olympics and the 1957 National Team. In 1983, he was inducted into the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Ann Borah; six children and their spouses, including sons John Borah ’88 and David Borah ’92 and his wife, Kara Kee Borah ’92; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Formerly of Massachusetts, Dr. Donald B. Giddon ’52 died Nov. 15 in Sarasota, Fla. He was a transformative leader in medical and dental education. He earned a master’s in psychology from Boston University, a DMD from Harvard, and a PhD in psychology from Brandeis University. His research included the analysis of pseudocholinesterase activity in saliva, demonstrating biochemical differences between psychiatric and nonpsychiatric populations. As both a medical and dental trained psychologist, he explored physical and psychological responses to pain, including the effects of stress on the periodontal tissues. He was also a key figure in pain science and dental anesthesiology, advocating for the designation of “oral physician.” During his career, he held faculty appointments at Harvard, Tufts, NYU, Brown, McGill, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He served as a consultant to federal and state governments, was an advisor to the NIH and international organizations, was a participant in global health initiatives, and was a leader in minority oral-health research programs. He authored three books and more than 250 publications. He received numerous awards and honors, including fellowships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine, and the Royal Society of Medicine. He was an NYU Distinguished Educator and Dean Award recipient and designated as a Knowles Scholar at Harvard. The annual Professor Donald B. Giddon Memorial Lecture in Behavioral Medicine and Dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine continues to advance this interdisciplinary vision. He is survived by wife Phoebe Giddon; four children and their spouses, including son Ken Giddon ’81; and seven grandchildren, including grandson Kyle Giddon ’15.

Salley Macartney Osborn ’52, of Atkinson, N.H., and Englewood, Fla.; Oct. 27. She taught elementary school before founding the Osborn Day School for children with learning difficulties. During her retirement, additionally as a member of the Sun Coast Writers Guild in Englewood, she wrote and published two children’s books. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, five grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

Jean Holland Foxman ’52, of Nashville; Oct. 25. After earning a master’s degree in library science from Western Reserve University, she worked for the graduate library program there. During her career, she also worked at Pratt and Whitney Jet Research Laboratory (Conn.) and Bailey Meter (Ohio), finally becoming a coeditor of the Index to Jewish Periodicals for 25 years. She believed in the importance of education and volunteer work. She is survived by two children and their spouses, and five grandchildren.

Patricia Barr DeMatteo ’52, of Niantic, Conn.; Oct. 28. She was a kindergarten teacher in East Lyme, Conn., until retiring in 1989. She was also a docent at Lyman Allen Art Museum and enjoyed leading groups of schoolchildren throughout the museum and answering their many questions. Her husband, Bill DeMatteo ’52, predeceased her. She is survived by a son, a daughter and son-in-law, a grandson, and two great-grandchildren.

Frank Bartolomeo Jr. ’52, of Lake Jackson, Tex.; Nov. 15. He had a 43-year career at Dow Chemical Company in various positions and locations. He was instrumental in the collaboration of Dow Chemical, the Coastal Conservation Association, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for the construction of the Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson. In retirement, he volunteered with Southern Brazos Habitat for Humanity, overseeing, planning, and building new houses in the Brazosport area. He is survived by four children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a sister.

Daniel Krivit ’54, of Great Falls, Va.; Dec. 20. He received a JD from Boston University School of Law and completed postgraduate legal studies in labor law and labor relations at Cornell University Law School. He served as chief counsel to three subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was involved in the development of more than 25 major federal education and labor laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973. He worked on legislation for the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act and the Handicapped Children’s Early Education Assistance Act. Up until his passing, he worked at Krivit and Krivit, P.C., the law firm he founded in 1976. During his practice, he secured federal and state competitive grant funding awards for projects spanning education, vocational and employment training, public health, transportation, and the environment. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Krivit; daughter Diane Krivit Katzman ’82 and her husband, David Katzman ’86; and granddaughter Caroline Katzman ’13.

Susan Klee Joseph ’54, of Farmington, Conn., formerly of New York City; Jan. 12. She enjoyed being a homemaker, but as her daughters grew older she turned her lifelong passion for art into a career. She was the director of the SUNY Purchase summer art program and then was an interior decorator. She was an avid volunteer with numerous organizations. She is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a sister.

John “Jack” A. Hopkins ’54, of Hebron, Conn.; Nov. 29. He owned and operated Eastford Building Supply for 45 years and was proud to be involved with the development of Paul Newman’s The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn. In 1990, he was the recipient of the Lumber Person of the Year award given by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association. He is survived by wife Judy, a daughter, four stepchildren, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Sheba Fishbain Skirball ’53, of Shoresh, Israel; Oct. 18. She is survived by her husband, Henry Skirball, and a daughter.

Herbert C. Wood ’51, of Westwood, Mass., formerly of Belchertown, Mass.; Dec. 6. He worked for Monsanto as a chemical engineer in the plastics division and went on to become the manager of the company’s IBM computer programming team. He later served as the manager of information systems for the graphics division of Scott Paper Company, then was the COO at Stone Marketing. He also worked as an insurance agent with Farm Family Insurance. Beginning in 1952, he spent six decades with the Belchertown Fire Department, serving as a firefighter, teaching firefighting, and developing a computer program that provided directions prior to GPS. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, including Beth Wood Karlson ’84 and Steve Karlson ’82; six grandchildren, including Christopher Karlson ’18 and Rebecca Karlson ’22; and twin great-grandsons.

Allan J. Dougherty ’50, of Hilo, Hawaii; Apr. 5, 2025, at 101 years of age. He was a retired banker at Bank of America and a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by wife Watana Dougherty, three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

Elizabeth “Betty” Brownell Beizer ’50, of Naples, Fla., and Little Compton, R.I.; Oct. 11. She worked as a secretary in Boston before marrying and starting a family. She was an active volunteer all of her life and was the founder of a water exercise class she operated for 10 years. She is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Lester R. Allen Jr. ’50, of Yarmouth Port, Mass.; Jan. 12, at 102 years of age. Before beginning his career in journalism, he served in the U.S. Army in Italy and later in North Korea. He joined General Electric’s news bureau and worked for eight years before moving to Mitre Corp. (Mass.) for 12 years, followed by a move to Connecticut to head communications and administrative services for Associated Spring Barnes Group. At age 60, he joined an advertising agency as head of the public relations unit, from which he retired seven years later. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. 

 Eugene Ahearn ’50, of Timonium, Md.; Jul. 28, 2024, of pneumonia. He joined Scott Paper Company in 1952, quickly establishing himself as a formidable force in sales and marketing. His career saw him move through various roles and locations, from sales representative in Boston to district manager in multiple cities, eventually rising to director of marketing. He retired in 1986 as the New York City metropolitan regional director for sales and marketing and customer development manager. A World War II decorated U.S. Navy veteran, he is survived by three sons.

Sally Briggs Wold ’49, of Seattle; Nov. 21. Following Brown, she moved to New York City to work at the Rockefeller Institute researching vaccines for tuberculosis. Later, in response to an offer from the University of Washington School of Medicine, she relocated to Seattle and worked on rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis research. She is survived by three children, 10 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.