Obituaries

Alfred L. Hurst Jr. ’49, of Harwich Port, Mass.; Feb. 10. After receiving a medical degree from Tufts and completing a residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Upon discharge, he was an otolaryngologist in private practice in Milton, Mass., and served on the staffs of Milton Hospital, the Carney Hospital, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He is survived by wife Jean Thornton Hurst ’53, two sons, six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Tom Dinell ’49, of Honolulu; Dec. 9. He earned a master’s from Harvard and served in the U.S. Army. In 1964, he became the first director for the Hawaii State Legislative Reference Bureau. He founded the Pacific Urban Studies and Planning Program at the University of Hawaiʻi (now the Department of Urban and Regional Planning) and served as department chair for more than 20 years. He became professor emeritus and taught his final class at 90. He helped establish a conflict resolution program as well as the distinguished Chair of Affordable Housing within the College of Social Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He became a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2002. From 1988 to 1996, he served as director of Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, and at age 88 he helped establish Trees for Honolulu’s Future, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Oʻahu’s urban tree canopy. He is survived by his wife, Kristi; eight children and their spouses; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jane Reynolds Prétat ’48, of Providence and Portsmouth, R.I.; Jan. 16. She worked at Meeting Street School and was later interim director of Hamilton House Adult Learning Exchange in Providence. She returned to school in her sixties, earning a master’s degree in psychology from URI and studying at the C.G. Jung Institute of New England to become a Jungian analyst. While at Brown she was vice president of the Brown University Flying Club, having learned to fly as a freshman at Stephens College in Missouri before transferring to Pembroke. She wrote and published Coming to Age: The Croning Years and Late-Life Transformation. She is survived by daughter Judith Prétat Seaman ’75 AM, a son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

John J. Manyak ’48, of Vero Beach, Fla. and Douglas, Mass.; Dec. 13 at 102 years of age. After serving in the U.S. Army and graduating from Brown, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He had executive positions at major New York City companies before forming his own electronics manufacturing company in New Jersey in 1972. He eventually sold his company and retired to Massachusetts while also acquiring a winter home in Florida. He is survived by his wife, Janet Harvey Manyak ’48; four children, including David Manyak ’75 and Nancy Manyak Bass ’80; eight grandchildren, including Janette “Becky” Bass ’13; great-grandchildren; and brother Anthony Manyak ’50.

Barbara Salomon Spitz ’47, of Costa Mesa, Calif.; Dec. 15. She was an accomplished artist. Her work in intaglio etching, oil painting, and photography was part of private art collections and galleries in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as the permanent collections in the Chicago Art Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and De Cordova Museum (Mass.). She and her husband, Lawrence, who predeceased her, traveled the world, visiting all seven continents. She is survived by three children and three grandchildren.

Elsie Rodrigues Fraga ’47, of New Bedford, Mass.; Nov. 13. She taught French and Spanish at Bridgewater High School before joining the New Bedford school system. She also tutored for the Peace Corps. After marrying, she managed her husband’s dental office.

Beatrice “Betsey” Leonard Lewis ’46, of Morristown, N.J.; Jan. 27. She was an active member of the community and engaged in arts and politics. She is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Seth K. Gifford II ’43, of Saunderstown, R.I.; Nov. 8, three weeks shy of his 104th birthday. He earned a JD from Boston College Law School and practiced law in Providence and Wakefield, R.I. He was an active member of the ACLU and served as president of the Rhode Island Bar Association. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Rachel H. Jendrzejewski ’11 MFA, of Minneapolis; Jul. 14. She was a writer/playwright. During her college years she traveled around the world with Carpenter’s Tools International, a music performance-based outreach program, and was the recipient of many honors, grants, and residencies. She collaborated on work across the U.S. and internationally and had served on staff at Cornerstone Theater Company (Los Angeles), The Grotowski Institute (Poland), and Upstream Arts (Minneapolis). She was a core writer at the Playwrights’ Center and co-artistic director at Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis. She is survived by her parents and a sister.  

Ilona C. Peterson ’74 AM, of Manassas, Va.; Aug. 13, of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma cancer. She moved to Manassas in 1978 and started working as a foreign intelligence analyst with the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, where she supported the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (now the National Center for Medical Intelligence) with foreign medical capabilities research. She later became a European acquisition specialist with the Library of Congress. She headed a major project utilizing computer network technology to exploit foreign language periodical access with the Library of the University of Regensburg, Germany. She retired from the Library of Congress in 2012 after 34 years of public service. She is survived by husband Arthur Peterson. 

Sheila Troob ’69 MAT, of Providence, R.I.; Mar. 19, 2025, from complications of gallstones. She was a music teacher in the Providence school system for 30 years. She also taught private piano lessons and did the bookkeeping for jewelry and metal stamping businesses. She was an active member of Temple Beth El, where she conducted the choir. She is survived by two children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.    

Renee L. Kahn ’69 MAT, of Charleston, S.C.; Sept. 14, from pancreatic cancer. Before moving to Charleston in 2000, she lived in Providence, where she exhibited and taught art and art history. During the past 25 years, her paintings have been shown locally, nationally, and internationally, including in Canada, Israel, and China. For many years, she participated in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Juried Contemporary Art Exhibition and exhibited in numerous Charleston galleries. She was a Nautilus member of the International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) and a signature member of both the South Carolina Watermedia Society and the Acrylic Painters of America. She also founded the Charleston Professional Artists Association, a group that met regularly for critiques, discussions, and artistic development. In addition to her life as an artist, beginning in 2016, she served as a TEDx coach for nine years. She is survived by husband Sewell Kahn, two children, and two grandchildren.

Craig R. Humphrey ’67 AM, ’71 PhD, of East Hampton, N.Y.; Jul. 31, of cancer. He taught sociology courses about urban growth, world population, and environmental sociology at the College of William and Mary in Virginia and at Penn State University. He spent several semesters as a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He wrote many papers and books, most notably Environment, Energy, and Society, published in 1982. He was active in professional associations throughout his career, including the American Sociological Association, which recognized him with its Distinguished Service Award in 2003. He is survived by wife Catherine Clark Humphrey ’67, two daughters and sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. 

Frederick Asals ’67 PhD, of Toronto, Canada; Sept. 10. He had a long career as a professor at New College, University of Toronto. His work included significant contributions to research and writing on Flannery O’Connor and Malcolm Lowry. He authored A Good Man is Hard to Find: The Imagination of Extremity and The Making of Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano. In the 1980s, he formed a discussion group, at first with colleagues from the English department and eventually with all who wanted to attend called The Olde Peculiers that meets weekly. He was a passionate cinephile and a devoted patron of theatre and opera in both Toronto and New York City.  He is survived by three children and five grandchildren.

Larrimore Crockett ’66 PhD, of Dummerston, Vt.; Sept. 10, from Parkinson’s. He was chaplain at Brown, RISD, and Bryant College before becoming an associate professor of religion at Keuka College (N.Y.). In 1969, he was a visiting professor of religion at Lawrence University and later was dean at Windham College and an associate faculty member of Southern Vermont College. In 1980, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities by the College of St. Joseph (Rutland, Vt.) in recognition of his contributions to higher education in Vermont, and in 1991, he received the Sears Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching at Southern Vermont College. He retired as pastor-in-residence of Chicago Theological Seminary (Ill.). He is survived by wife Ellen Crockett, son John Crockett ’83, and a granddaughter.

Diane Winston Crocker ’48 ScM, of Bethesda, Md., formerly of Chicago; Jul. 22. She graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 1952 as one of only four women in her class. She was a senior surgical pathologist at Brigham & Women’s and a professor at Harvard Medical School for a decade before moving on to leadership positions at Temple University, University of Southern California, and the University of Tennessee at Memphis, where she was chairman of pathology, the first female department chair. She completed her career at Cook County Hospital in Chicago as chairman of anatomic pathology. During her career she authored more than 200 medical publications, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from BU School of Medicine, and was on the editorial board of the American Journal of Surgical Pathology for many years. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, including daughter Anne Crocker Hefter ’88, and five grandchildren.

Elizabeth Schneck Palter ’65 AM, of Providence and East Greenwich, R.I.; Sept. 2. She taught political science at Bryant College in the early 1970s. In 1977, she began working as a federal grants programs director at the RI Department of Education, which led to a long career in grant and development work. She worked as a development director at CCRI, Penn State University and Roger Williams College before joining the Lexington Organizational Group as a senior consultant for several years. In 1992, she joined Bunker Hill Community College, rising to dean of the Office of Grants and Contracts, and in 1999, she joined Bristol Community College, from which she retired in 2005. She continued to learn, support causes, and serve on numerous boards and committees. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren, and a sister.

Kathryn Bevans Mullervy ’62 MAT, of Annapolis; Jul. 22. She began her career teaching English in Bristol (R.I.) and later worked as a writing tutor and adjunct faculty member at Anne Arundel and Howard Community colleges. In retirement, she served as a docent at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and volunteered at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. She is survived by a daughter, two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Bernie “Jay” R. Chavez ’90, of Palmetto, Fla.; Aug. 30. He was an investment banker for 35 years before retiring. He was generous and donated to various charities throughout his lifetime. He is survived by husband Thomas Sunshine, a stepdaughter, and a sister. 

George P. McCann II ’84, of Half Moon Bay, Calif.; Feb. 27. 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.

Jeff W. Lombardo ’84, of Lake Forest, Ill.; Aug. 12, after living with ALS for more than a decade. After graduating, he began a career in sales at Pepsi, where he remained for 21 years. After Pepsi, he continued working in the food service industry until being diagnosed. A sports enthusiast, he played all four years on the Brown men’s soccer team and served as team captain in his senior year.  He inspired, mentored, and was a leader among colleagues. He is survived by wife Elizabeth Lombardo, two daughters, and brothers John Lombardo ’76 and Michael Lombardo ’79.

Wanda “Carole” Cain ’84, of Spokane, Wash.; Sept. 18. She earned her PhD in anthropology from UNC Chapel Hill in 1995. She was an accomplished academic researcher in anthropology and conducted ethnographic work with Appalachian people. From 1989 to 1991, she studied societal norms around the mentally ill in Costa Rica and El Salvador and undertook an immersive assignment with an isolated island tribe in Panama where she worked without a shared language. She authored Wandering the Streets Without Direction and contributed to papers published in major medical and anthropological journals. From 1989 to 1992, she courageously battled cancer while conducting her fieldwork in Central America during her cancer treatment. She is survived by her father, Mack Cain. 

Peter Ruhlin ’83, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., formerly of Darien, Conn.; Jul. 27, of cancer. After graduating from Boston College Law School, he joined Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York City. In 1995, he became a partner at Linklaters & Paines and moved to Hong Kong to establish the Global U.S. Practice. He and his family returned to Darien in 1999 and he became chief legal officer and head of strategic initiatives at Steward Partners in New York City before moving to Hilton Head in 2013. He served on several boards and was a former member of Brown’s lacrosse and football teams. He is survived by wife Holly Ruhlin, four children including daughter Whitney Ruhlin Muldowney ’15, and a granddaughter. 

Joan Mary Auclair ’82, of Harwinton, Conn.; Jun. 28, after an extended illness. Her passion for art led her to a career in illustration and graphic design. She first moved to New York City, then settled back in her home state of Connecticut. She produced countless newsletters, brochures, posters, and signs—all with grammatical precision and clarity. Her business card asked, “Need help spelling hors d’oeuvres?” She always made little cartoon sketches of the people and cats around her, especially in the margins of important documents. An additional passion for cooking and baking, which she practiced on with her Brown roommates, inspired her to begin baking sourdough bread and open Orchard Hill Baking in Riverton, Conn. in April of 2020. She is survived by husband Richard Goulet, two children, her father, five grandchildren and two siblings.

Dr. Mari L. Alschuler ’80, of Boardman, Ohio; Sept. 20. She was a professor of social work at Youngstown State University and a clinician in private practice. She specialized in trans- and gender-affirming care, mindfulness-based therapies, poetry therapy, expressive arts, and journaling. She formerly served as director of the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Region 4. She is survived by her beloved Rosalynda, three daughters, her father and stepmother, and two brothers. 

Michael Olson ’78, ’82 AM, of Berkeley, Calif; Apr. 18, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Following graduation, he worked in marketing and product development for Liz Claiborne, which afforded him the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and Asia. In 1998, he returned to Rhode Island and attended Johnson & Wales. He moved to New Mexico in 2000 and was the manager of Prairie Star restaurant. In 2003, he moved to Deadwood, S.D. and became manager of the Deadwood Welcome Center until his passing.

Mark S. Filipowski ’78, of San Clemente, Calif.; Sept. 8, after a brief illness. He earned an MBA at Pepperdine University and spent more than 30 years working through the corporate ranks, retiring as CFO of Shank/Balfour Beatty. He is survived by companion Catherine Marshall, a sister, and four brothers. 

Jodie Appell ’78, of Hercules, Calif.; May 8, of colon cancer. After moving to California, she worked as a singer/songwriter and later as a poet. Her poetry won awards and she drew inspiration from a twice-a-month poetry circle. She recorded and performed frequently with guitarist Joe Belmont. She practiced Buddhism and treasured an autograph from Mickey Mantle that he sent her in response to her fan letter she had sent him at age 12. She is survived by a sister and two brothers.

Derricott M. Morrison ’74, of Lewistown, Pa.; Sept. 11, one day before his 73rd birthday. He spent many years working at Dayton Parts before joining the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund, where he served as a computer analyst until his retirement. He is survived by wife Stephanie Morrison, a son, and three grandchildren.      

Mark K. Metzger ’73, of Waltham, Mass.; Aug. 30. He worked as a news reporter covering central New Jersey for the Easton Express before moving to Chicago to work in business journalism for Crain’s Chicago Business, then was editor of The Collector. He briefly worked for Inc. magazine. In 1984, he moved to Boston and began corporate public relations work for Miller Communications. Through Follen Church, of which he was a member, he was involved with Saturday’s/Sunday’s Bread, a program for feeding the needy in Boston. He also performed in community theater and was an advocate for social-justice causes. For more than 25 years, he hosted a small-stakes poker game. He is survived by life partner Jane Spitz, daughter Margaret Metzger ’07 and her husband, a son and daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren.  

Leigh R. Abts ’73, ’82 PhD, of Phoenix, Md.; Jul. 26, of cancer. He was an entrepreneur and an academic. In addition to starting companies, he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he became a leader in STEM education reform. He is survived by wife Lois Abts, two sons, a daughter-in-law, a grandson, and a brother. 

Spencer W. Davis ’70, of Exeter, N.H.; Jul. 26. He had a long career as an IT professional in the healthcare and insurance industries. He was the recipient of multiple organs donated by two families to enable him to live. He is survived by wife Jacki Rockel, a daughter, and a brother and sister-in-law.

Wesley P. Kozinn ’69, of Allentown, Pa.; Jul. 26. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completing a residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City and then a fellowship at Montefiore Hospital, he began his 40-year career in 1978 as the first infectious disease specialist at Easton Hospital. He is survived by wife Beth Kozinn, three children and their spouses, seven grandsons, and two siblings.

Glenn A. Rice ’68, ’74 PhD, of Fitzwilliam, N.H., formerly of Dudley, Mass.; Sept. 16. He spent his entire career as a professor of psychology at Nichols College in Dudley. He is survived by three children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. 

Roy G. Pedersen ’68, of Lambertville, N.J., formerly of New Hope, Pa.; Jul. 13. He received his master’s degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and went on to own and operate Berus Gallery and Pedersen Gallery in Lambertville for 35 years. The gallery specialized in New Hope impressionists and New Jersey Shore artists. He also authored Jersey Shore Impressionists:The Fascination of Sun and Sea 1880-1940. He is survived by wife Jennifer Pedersen, a son and daughter-in-law, and a sister.

Richard G. Verney ’68, of Bennington, N.H.; Sept. 10. He was chairman and CEO of Monadnock Paper Mills and Monadnock Non-Wovens LLC of Pennsylvania, having devoted more than five decades to the company and shaping it into a leader in specialty and sustainable papermaking while remaining deeply committed to his employees, community, and the environment. In 1969 he began as a management trainee and succeeded his father as CEO in 1978. He led the company’s expansion into emerging markets and product lines while championing environmental responsibility, technical excellence, and long-term reinvestment. In 1998 he established Monadnock Non-Wovens in Mt. Pocono, Pa., to meet the growing demands in the healthcare, filtration, and consumer sectors. During his tenure, Monadnock earned numerous industry certifications and honors, including a Platinum EcoVadis Rating in 2024. Both companies remain privately held and family-owned. He gave generously of his time, leadership and resources to organizations that reflected his values serving on numerous boards. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to service and leadership, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2009 by the University of New Hampshire. He is survived by wife Dorothy, four children, including daughter Virginia Verney Lucarelli ’91, eight grandchildren, and two siblings.

David G. Santry ’67, of New York City; Jul. 18, of heart disease. Following graduation from Wharton School and two years in the U.S. Army, he began a career in finance as a journalist, becoming a Wall Street columnist for Businessweek. He left journalism to work as a research analyst and became director of research at The Boston Company. He later was a managing director of Oppenheimer Capital. Sports was instrumental in his life and he competed in 18 marathons in New York and Boston. He was involved with conservation of wildlife both in the U.S. and U.K. and served as a trustee of Game Conservancy USA. He was also a trustee of the Brown University Sports Foundation. He is survived by wife Suzanne Santry. 

Robert O’Day ’67, of Hingham, Mass.; Sept. 17. He was the assistant principal of Hingham High School, then principal of Plymouth South High School prior to retirement. He is survived by wife Susan, a son, stepdaughter, stepson and three grandchildren.

Robert Maddox ’66, of Reno, Nev.; Oct. 11. He graduated from Harvard Law School and practiced law for 54 years, starting in San Francisco, then he opened his practice in Lake Tahoe, and later in Reno and Las Vegas. He won the Nevada Justice Association for Trial Lawyer of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is survived by wife, Iryna, a daughter, a son, a grandson, and two sisters. 

Samuel O. Lane ’66, of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Aug. 15. Sam served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, and South Korea. During his 27-year career in the USAF he was also stationed in Texas, Michigan, Delaware, California, Illinois, and Virginia. After retiring as a Colonel from the Pentagon, he lived in Arlington, Va., embarking on a second career in management consulting with EDS and MITRE Corp., traveling even further to assist companies with technology systems. He was a member of ROMEOs. (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and he and his buddies owned an airplane that they loved to jump in and go for what they called $100 hamburgers. He is survived by wife Leah Ward-Lee, a son, a stepson, two siblings and their spouse.

Bill Sproul ’65, ’68 ScM, ’77 PhD, of  Carlsbad, Calif.; Dec. 19, 2024, after an 8-year battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia. After receiving his master’s, he served four years in the Navy, completing four deployments, one of which was to Vietnam, and then returned to Brown to pursue his doctorate. His area of study was Reactive Sputter Deposition, and during his career he concentrated on research and ways to transfer that science to industrial applications. He became an expert in his field, teaching courses, being an adjunct professor at two universities, authoring/coauthoring more than 185 technical papers, and receiving 11 patents. He held many leadership positions in U.S. and international technical societies and was the recipient of many top awards in these organizations. To honor his accomplishments, in 2020, the Advance Surface Engineering Division of the American Vacuum Society named an award in his honor. He is survived by wife Peggy Clark Sproul ’67, a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, and five grandchildren.  

Ronald Johnson ’65, of Fairbanks, Alaska; Apr. 20. After earning his PhD from Cornell University, he began working at Avco on projects including missile defense and desalination of sea water. He was offered a faculty position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition to teaching and research in air quality, water resources, and energy, he walked, skied or bicycled to work every day for 21 years. He chaired the mechanical engineering department, directed the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and retired after 33 years. He served in advisory roles for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Aging at Home, and the Retired Public Employees Association and also participated in a weekly energy discussion group. While bicycling in 1997, he suffered a spinal cord injury, surviving it to become a role model and activist for sustainability and accessibility. He is survived by wife Carol Johnson, two daughters and sons-in-law, a grandson, and brother Larry Johnson ’69.

Rev. Anthony “Tony” J. Beck ’65, of Fishkill, N.Y.; Sept. 18. For most of his career he was a corporate finance executive before attending Wesley Theological Seminary to become a pastor at Christ Church United Methodist in Beacon, N.Y. He is survived by wife Susan, two sons, and three grandsons. 

Dr. Phyllis S. Romanoff Strauss ’64, of Newton, Mass.; Sept. 19. She was a professor of biochemistry at Northeastern University from 1973 to 2019, retiring with the title of Matthews Distinguished Professor. She was active in the administration and served on dozens of departmental and university-wide committees, as well as on the Faculty Senate. She is survived by husband Walter Strauss, two sons including Charles Strauss ’96, four grandchildren, a sister, and a brother. 

Prescott W. May ’64, of Southbury, Conn.; Sept. 1. He earned his JD from the UConn School of Law and began his career as a patent attorney for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He returned to Connecticut to practice as a civil litigation attorney, serving the community for more than 50 years. He was a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for red sports cars. Combining his love of history, engineering and cars, he spent years in his garage after work completely restoring a 1961 Corvette to original factory specifications. He is survived by three children and four grandchildren. 

Elizabeth Campbell Magnuson ’63, of Portland, Me., formerly of Maplewood, N.J.; Aug. 10. She served as a director of religious education at three Episcopal churches in New Jersey and served in leadership roles in both her local and state chapters of the League of Women Voters in New Jersey. She was involved in local community and public affairs, including playing an organizing role in the Essex County charter change and serving on local and state government boards. She was instrumental in founding the North New Jersey chapter of Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and advocating for safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ students. She is survived by two daughters including Katherine Magnuson ’95 and two granddaughters.

Michael Cardozo ’63, of White Plains, N.Y.; Jul. 23, after a short illness. He earned a JD from Columbia Law School in 1966, went on to clerk for Judge Edward C. McLean of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan and then joined Proskauer in 1967, where he became a partner in 1974. In 1984, he began representing the NBA and later Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League before becoming a public servant for the City of New York under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He was the NYC Bar Association president from 1996 to 1998. In 2001, Mayor-elect Bloomberg selected him as his Corporation Counsel, the lead attorney for the City of NY. He ultimately served for all 12 years of Bloomberg’s tenure, becoming the longest serving Corporation Counsel in NYC history. He retired from Proskauer in 2022 when NY Gov. Hochul appointed him to the New York State Ethics Commission. One of his proudest pro bono accomplishments involved helping Judith Clark, driver for the botched Brink’s truck heist in 1981, receive parole. He is survived by wife Nancy Cardozo, two daughters including Sheryl Cardozo ’92, and three grandchildren.

Dr. David F. Wood ’62, of Little Compton, R.I., formerly of Keene, N.H. and Cambridge, Mass.; Sept. 1. After completing Cornell Medical School in 1966, he served as a Peace Corps physician in South America from 1967 to 1969. In 1973, he joined the Keene Clinic and practiced medicine for 27 years. A highlight of his career was contributing to the creation of The Kingsbury Cancer Center (now The Dartmouth Cancer Center at Kingsbury Pavilion). He moved to Cambridge in 2012 and was active with the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement. Combining his passion for cycling and charitable nature, he fundraised for the American Lung Association through a cross-country cycling trip from Seattle to Washington, D.C. in 2000. He is survived by wife Carolyn Wood, three children including son John D. Wood ’99, and four grandchildren.

Margery Goddard Whiteman ’62, of Albany, N.Y.; May 28, from cancer. She was director of development at Emma Willard School until 1991, director of advancement services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute until 2001, and from 2011 to 2015 she commuted to New York City to work as director of development of Riverside Church. Throughout the years, she worked as a consultant to progressive schools and arts organizations. She sang with Albany Pro Musica and was honored with the Karen R. Hitchcock Award as an individual impacting and advancing the choral arts in upstate New York. She is survived by husband Michael Whiteman, son Stephen Whiteman ’97, two daughters including Eliza Whiteman Kinsey ’07, six grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Allen L. Thomas ’62, of Frederick, Md.; Aug. 7. He worked at the National Security Council in Washington, D.C. before dedicating most of his career to banking. He is survived by wife Jane Wehr, three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a sister. 

Sally Robbins Bilder ’62, of Madison, Wisc.; Aug. 13. She worked in the Department of the Treasury and with the Head Start Program. She obtained her master’s in public policy and administration and held the role of associate director of UW PROFS. She volunteered with Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Educational Communication Board. She earned an additional master’s degree in arts education and her paintings were displayed in shows and published in local calendars. She is survived by four children and 10 grandchildren. 

Susan C. Tollefson Wilson ’61, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Warwick, R.I.; Aug. 27, from complications of dementia. In addition to being a homemaker, she became a certified gemologist through the GIA program in New York City. She is survived by husband David Wilson ’58, daughter Nancy Wilson Naslas ’86 and her husband, a son and daughter-in-law, and five grandchildren. 

James C. Vary ’61, of Wheaton, Ill.; Aug. 12, of lung cancer. He earned a master’s and PhD in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin. A position as an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago followed. He remained at the University of Illinois throughout his career, becoming a full professor conducting basic science research on the biochemistry of spore formation in bacteria and teaching biochemistry. He was the recipient of several Professor of the Year and Distinguished Teacher of the Year awards. In retirement he volunteered at Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital and was head of the workshop at Wyndemere, where he worked with the DuPage Woodworkers to make wooden toy race cars for under-resourced/ill children in the area. He is survived by wife Pat Vary, eight children and their spouses, 18 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Grace C. Smith ’61, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; Jun. 8. She worked on Wall Street before  pivoting her career to computing, which afforded her a long career in technology with Chubb Insurance, Pershing LLC, Midlantic Bank, and Metropolitan Life. She is survived by her grandchildren.

N. Stirling Johnson ’61, of Rockport, Mass.; Mar. 27, 2025. After Brown, where he played hockey and was a member of Sigma Nu, he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years as a ship’s navigator. Following his service, he began a career in sales with Owens Corning Fiberglass and helped develop the Middle Eastern market. He later worked as a marketing manager in the global division of Federal Mogul in Southfield, Mich., and retired from Lexalite in 1993. He is survived by four children and four grandchildren.  

John P. Turtle ’60, of Auburndale, Mass.; Jul. 18. In 1962, he spent a year working in the Antarctic for the Arctic Institute of North America studying the Aurora Australis. Following that, he worked with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for 43 years continuing his research on upper atmospheric physics. In collaboration with the Air Force and innovators, he managed the development of antenna systems. He is survived by wife Anne Turtle, two daughters and sons-in-law, two stepsons and daughters-in-law, nine grandchildren, and a sister and brother.

Rev. Donald W. Poole Jr. ’60, of Rye, N.Y.; Aug. 30, one day after his 87th birthday. He pursued theological training at Union Theological Seminary (N.Y.) and studied at the Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. Much of his professional life was spent at Rye Presbyterian Church, where he served as associate pastor and interim pastor. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.   

Francis “Frank” Flanagan ’60, of Tehachapi, Calif.; Jul. 2, from Parkinson’s. After Brown, he attended the naval officer candidate school (R.I.) and served in the reserves until 1966, at which time he earned an MBA from Boston University. He joined ARCO and achieved a 30-year career with the company, living in several states before settling in California. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and two brothers. 

Bowen H. Tucker ’59, of Arlington Heights, Ill.; Aug. 16. He earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1962 and began his legal career at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP in Providence, R.I. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1963 to 1965. In 1966, he joined Caterpillar in Peoria, Ill. In 1972, he and his family moved to Arlington Heights, where he worked at FMC Corporation in Chicago as associate general counsel for litigation until his retirement in 2000. He served as chairman of the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc. from 1981 until 2000, shaping best practices and providing guidance for industry professionals nationwide. He is survived by wife Jan Tucker, son Stefan Tucker ’85, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, six grandchildren, and a brother and sister-in-law, Betty Boole ’59.

Wayne A. Stork ’59, of Tallahassee, Fla.; Aug. 2. He began his career in finance as a security analyst in 1962 and worked to become chairman and CEO of Delaware Management Holdings Inc. and chief investment officer of Delaware Investment Advisers. He is survived by his spouse Andrew A. Hartnagle.

Hays H. Rockwell ’58, of West Kingston, R.I., formerly of St. Louis, Mo. and New York City; Aug. 2. He was the former Episcopal Bishop of Missouri and rector of St. James Church in New York City. He graduated from Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge and was ordained a deacon in 1961 and a priest in 1962. He then was chaplain at St. George’s School (R.I.) prior to a position as chaplain at the University of Rochester. In 1971, he was appointed dean at Bexley Hall Theological Seminary, where he served until 1976. Afterwards, he was named rector of St. James Church, where he worked with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri in 1992, where he served for a decade before retiring. He supported the inclusion of women and gay people in the Episcopal clergy. He is survived by wife Linda Rockwell, four children and their spouses, including daughter Martha Rockwell Swindler ’92, eight grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a brother. 

Joel D. Katz ’58, of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; Aug. 14. Along with his brother-in-law, he ran the Sidney Goldstein Corp., a plumbing and heating manufacturers’ representative firm, which later became J-L Sales Company. He is survived by his longtime companion Joyce Shufro and six children. 

Wallace Crowell ’58, of Standish, Me.; Sept. 2. He worked at Union Mutual life insurance company until his retirement in 1995. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and he was accepted into the American MENSA Society in 1979. He is survived by wife Lissa Crowell, four children, eight grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.     

Barbara Burgess ’58, of Johns Island, S.C., formerly of Boston; Jul. 20, of pulmonary fibrosis. After Brown, she moved to Boston to join John Hancock Insurance, where she remained for 16 years in the human resources department, the government relations department, and as a Hancock lobbyist in the Massachusetts legislature. Later, she attended Suffolk Law School and rose to the position of vice president and director of the Washington Representative Office, splitting her time between the Boston and Washington, D.C. offices. She retired in 2001. She was active in the Charleston arts scene and served on several boards, and she taught advocacy law at the University of South Carolina Law School.  She wrote for Seabrooker magazine, as well as Tidelines, the Seabrook Island blog, and she volunteered for the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic. But she was most proud of being a cofounder of Seabrook Island Village, a nonprofit providing services to help aging community members live independently. She is survived by two stepchildren, two step-grandchildren, and a niece.

Sr. Adele Adams ’58, ’62 AM, of Duxbury, Mass.; Jan. 30, 2025. She entered the Society of St. Margaret in 1978, making her vows in 1982. Over the years as a Sister of St. Margaret, she served in many capacities in locations that included Boston, New Hartford, N.Y., Philadelphia, Montreal, New York, and finally Duxbury. She had been a schoolteacher before entering the community and continued her work with children, but additionally she participated in mission work, running retreat centers, maintaining relationships with Associates of SSM, and was an organist, among other responsibilities. She is survived by her St. Margaret sisters.  

Richard C. Barker ’57, of San Francisco; May 4. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and was commissioned as a flight navigator. In 1961, having moved to reserve military service, he began a career in finance. He held early roles at Hartford National Bank, Putnam, Coffin & Burr, and Connecticut General. After a year with Creative Capital Corporation in California, he joined S&P InterCapital in New York. In 1971, he returned to California, where he spent the remainder of his career at the Capital Group Companies, retiring in 2005 as vice chairman and director of Capital Group International, Inc., as well as chairman of Capital International Ltd. and the Guardian Trust Company. He served multiple terms on Brown University’s Corporation Board of Trustees (1994–1999, 2000–2006, and 2009–2011), having also contributed to several key committees, and later served on the Emeriti Executive Committee. He was also involved in the Sports Foundation and financial aid. In recognition of his commitment to the University, he received the Elwood “Woody” Leonard Jr. ’51 Distinguished Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to fundraising at Brown and was additionally  awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Brown in 2009. In addition to his many contributions to Brown, he also served in various leadership roles with the San Francisco Ballet Board of Trustees, the California Film Institute, and the Naval War College Foundation. He is survived by three daughters, including Jessica Barker ’03 and Rebecca Barker Bridges ’05; and three grandchildren. 

George W. Cowles ’57, of Foster City, Calif.; Aug. 12, one week short of his 91st birthday. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1959 and began his career as a pension administrator with Banker’s Trust in Manhattan in 1960. During his 37-year career, he held titles that included managing director of the Legal, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Division of the Retirement Services Group. He also served professional associations in various capacities, including the Association of Private Pension and Welfare Plans, the Profit Sharing Council of America, the U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Council, and the Pension Research Council of the Wharton School. He is survived by three daughters including Elizabeth “Libby” Cowles ’90, a son-in-law, four grandsons, a great-granddaughter, and a sister. 

Bonnie Eckenbeck Cobb ’56, of Dallas; Aug. 4. She is survived by three children and their spouses and eight grandchildren.

Leonard Whistler II ’55, of Potomac, Md.; Jul. 21. He earned a master’s degree in international relations from Syracuse University and fulfilled his ROTC requirement in the U.S. Navy, where his international service career began. He started his lifelong career as an intelligence officer with the U.S. government and for more than 40 years his work took him all over the world on assignments. He also served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. He is survived by three children and two grandchildren. 

Barbara Schoen Silverman ’55, of Syracuse, N.Y.; Mar. 11, 2025. After earning her master’s degree in education from Syracuse University, she taught English at Cazenovia Junior High School for 20 years. She is survived by a daughter.

George “Don” Newman ’55, of Charlestown, Mass.; Jul 15. After Brown, he began working at Zurbach Steel and continued to have a career in the steel industry. At the time of his passing, he was selling steel as a manufacturer’s representative for TPC Metals Inc. and Lyons Slitting. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law. 

Fred Geer ’55, of Hancock, N.H.; Jul. 17. After Brown, he was commissioned a Navy ensign and attended flight school, earning his naval aviator wings in 1957. In 1959, he moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in commercial real estate and continued flying in the Navy Reserves, rising to the rank of commander. He began flying commercially with Eastern Airlines in 1967, while continuing to work in real estate. After retiring from Eastern Airlines, he and his family settled in Hancock in 1989, and he worked as a residential real estate broker with The Petersons. He taught skiing at Pat’s Peak in his 60s and 70s before retiring in 2020. He is survived by wife Donna Kahl Geer ’71, and four sons.

Diana “Dede” Kane Cohen ’55, of East Greenwich, R.I.; May 28.  She was a homemaker, gardener, and world traveler. She is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and three stepchildren.

Fred “Ted” H. Barrows III ’55, of Southern Pines, N.C., formerly of Bristol, R.I.; Sept. 1. As an ROTC student, he served in the U.S. Navy stationed in the Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis. After his military service, he managed Wells Inc., an American jewelry manufacturer based in Attleboro, Mass. He is survived by wife Jacqueline Barrows, four children including son Fred H. Barrows IV ’80, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.  

Jane O’Hara Page ’54, of Needham, Mass.; Oct. 1. She was a third grade teacher for a few years before marrying and raising a family. She was a volunteer reader at Boston Children’s Hospital, a Life Master contract bridge player, and world traveler, having visited all seven continents. She is survived by husband Richard Page, three daughters, two sons-in-law, a son, daughter-in-law Maura Murphy ’82, and four grandchildren. 

Robert McCue ’54,of Oconomowoc, Wisc.; Jul. 28. He had been a gifted athlete, playing basketball, football for Brown, and baseball that led to  scouting by the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he started his own business, Wallboard Inc., and remained an entrepreneur. He is survived by wife Janet McCue, five children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. 

Francis B. Sargent Jr. ’52, of Providence, R.I. and Hatepe, New Zealand; Jun. 17. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he started a business as a financial advisor. His passion for fishing brought him to several places, including Maine, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and ultimately New Zealand, where he purchased a cabin.   

Esta Strong Kornstein ’52, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Woonsocket, R.I.; Oct. 5. She worked as a regional manager for Aflac for many years. She was a talented artist and patron of the performing arts. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, including daughter Susan G. Kornstein ’80, ’83 MD and son Howard S. Kornstein ’89, ’93 MD, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.   

Arnold A. Galpern ’52, of Highland Park, N.J.; Sept. 24. He worked for Revlon, Inc. for more than 30 years. He is survived by wife Lois Galpern, two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. 

William J. Tomalonis Jr. ’51, of Plano, Tex.; Aug. 17. Shortly after graduating, he entered the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War, obtaining the rank of lieutenant junior grade. Upon discharge, he worked at Brown & Root, where he rose to the position of vice president. In 1988, he was honored by the Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry for his outstanding leadership. In later years, he founded the ROMEOs (Real Old Men Eating Out) fellowship of friends enjoying shared meals, laughter, and good company. He is survived by three sons and two granddaughters. 

Kenneth E. Liffmann ’51, of Cranston, R.I.; Aug. 17. After completion of studies at Tufts Medical School, he began his medical practice serving as a captain in the U.S. Air Force in Maine. After his military service, he returned to Rhode Island and practiced surgery at Rhode Island Hospital for 40 years. He was a former member of the board of directors of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. He is survived by wife Deena Brodsky Liffmann ’56, three children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

William “Bill” Emerson ’51, of West Lebanon, N.H.; Aug. 19. As an ROTC student, he was assigned to North Korea and was an assistant navigator in the U.S. Navy. Upon honorable discharge, he worked at Union Carbide for 37 years before retiring. For more than 35 years he played piano at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He is survived by wife Connie Emerson and five children and their spouses.

John W. Aitken ’51, of Warwick, R.I.; Aug. 16, from complications of Alzheimer’s. His career began as an investment advisor with GH Walker & Co. and later consisted of positions at Prudential Securities, Lehman Brothers, Janney Montgomery Scott, and Nutmeg Securities, retiring from Barrett & Company in 2014. He was a Korean War Army veteran. Involved in many civic and charitable organizations, he also served as president on several boards. He remained physically active and was roller blading into his eighties. He is survived by two daughters including Jeri Larson ’81, three grandsons, and six great-grandchildren.

Donald B. McLellan ’50, of Mystic, Conn.; Aug. 13. He earned an MBA from New York University in 1951 and continued on to become a chartered financial analyst, working in Los Angeles and New York before retiring. He was involved in various organizations and additionally earned his 200 peaks from the Sierra Club. After moving to New Jersey in 1975, he continued hiking and received several recognitions for trail maintenance at Jockey Hollow National Park in Morristown, N.J. When he moved to Mystic a few years ago, he continued with shorter walks of one to two miles around the neighborhood. He is survived by daughter Patricia McLellan Schaefer ’74 and her husband Tod Schaefer ’73; two sons and daughters-in-law; eight grandsons, including Robert M. Schaefer ’06 and his wife Sara Maguire Schaefer ’07; five great-grandchildren; and a sister. 

William L. Mayer ’50, of Bristol, R.I.; Sept. 26. His varied business career included time in structural steel fabricating as president of Tower Iron Works, in manufacturing industrial fasteners at Gripnail, building a cable television system in Puerto Rico, consulting to several machine tool companies, and lastly importing continuous casting equipment used in the copper and brass industries. He remained active throughout his life and was elected commodore of the Bristol Yacht Club in 1971. He is survived by wife Nancy Rosenstein Mayer ’73 MAT, a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, two stepdaughters, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.    

Robert J.R. Follett ’50, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., formerly of Illinois; Sept. 3. After serving in the Korean War, he joined the family business, Follett Publishing Company, and in 1968 was named president. In 1977, he was named chairman of Follett Corp., leading the company to become an important player in college bookstores. His company published Nobody Listens to Andrew, one of the first beginning-to-read books. He was active in his community and founded the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and served on several local, state, and national committees in the publishing and bookselling industry. He retired to Colorado and was the founder and president of the Keystone Citizens League and served on various boards and commissions in Summit County. He also worked as a ski guide. He is survived by daughter Jean A. Follett-Thomson ’77 and her husband Douglas Thompson ’76.

Alma Jackvony Fontana ’48, of East Greenwich, R.I.; Sept. 19. She taught fifth grade at Harold F. Scott elementary school in Warwick (R.I.) for 23 years. Active at Barker Playhouse in both acting and directing, she also held the title of past president. She was an artist from an early age and sold many of her paintings at the Providence Art Club, where she had been a member. She also showed at the Wickford Art Association and East Greenwich Art Club. Occasionally, she appeared as the weather girl on channel WJAR-10. She is survived by two sons including Alan Fontana ’71. 

Richard B. Edgar ’47, of Redmond, Wash.; Jan. 11, 2024. He earned an advanced engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon and retired from the aerospace industry after 30 years and from the Naval Reserves after serving his country for 39 years. He is survived by two sons including Tom Edgar ’87, five grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Rosemary Prisco ’74 AM, of East Providence, R.I.; May 3. She had been a professor at Community College of Rhode Island for 57 years. Her favorite subject to teach was Introduction to Literature and Composition I. In addition to being a faculty member, her service to CCRI included serving as the 2008 grand marshal and as faculty marshal in 2007. CCRI recognized her expertise and dedication with the NISOD Award in 2007. She and another colleague were recognized with a fellowship for teaching with technology for cocreating the website Rhode Island Women in the Arts. She presented at numerous conferences. A published author, she was the editor and contributor to Rhode Island Women Speak, an anthology of Rhode Island women and authors and artists, produced by the Rhode Island Committee and for the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She was instrumental in establishing the Rhode Island State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and served 10 years as president of the state branch. She also shared her time and energy with other notable organizations as a past president, vice president, and an executive board member.  

Arthur Frazzano, of Providence, R.I.; Jun. 2. After two decades practicing family medicine in Portsmouth, R.I., he taught at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School and served as associate dean of the clinical faculty. He also served as president of both the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians and the Rhode Island Medical Society. He earned numerous accolades and was the recipient of the Charles Hill Award. 

Sydney G. Zink ’23 ScM, of Roswell, Ga.; Apr. 4, from complications of Type 1 diabetes. She was proficient in many languages and was working full-time for a U.S. government contractor in the national defense and security industry. At the time of her death, she was within weeks of completing a two-year postbaccalaureate preprofessional program at Thomas Jefferson University in preparation for entrance to medical school, where she hoped to combine her skills with an MD/MPH degree to work in public health. 

Michael Dema ’04 AM, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Jun. 13. After graduating from Brown, he moved to St. Petersburg and began his environmental career at Janicki Environmental. After a few years, he studied environmental law at Stetson University College of Law and passed the Florida Bar exam in 2011. He was employed by the City of St. Petersburg and, at the time of his death, he was the managing assistant city attorney for land use and environmental matters.

Stephen A. Donatelli ’88 AM, ’98 PhD, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Jun. 13. He taught writing at Harvard University, the University of Singapore, and Princeton University. In addition, he developed courses in the humanities that examined topics such as comedy and color and held seminars on dissertation writing for doctoral students. 

Martha Atwood Williams ’87 AM, of South Dennis, Mass.; May 20. She was a professor of history at Bristol Community College from 1987 until her retirement in 2020. In addition to her academic  accomplishments, she was an excellent gardener and had culinary skills that brought people together.

Marcia Rubinstein Lieberman ’85 AM, of Providence, R.I.; Apr. 21. She taught English at UConn for several years before moving to Providence in 1978. She wrote several travel books, including Walking Switzerland the Swiss Way, and published travel and hiking experience articles in the New York Times. Her books and articles featured photographs taken by her husband. For many years she was the coordinator of Amnesty International’s Providence group and devoted many volunteer hours to improving educational opportunities for women and girls in Nepal. 

David A. Crombie ’81 AM, of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Jun. 22. He was a reporter for the Evening News of Newark, N.J. from 1969 to 1971 and for 22 years at the Providence Journal. In 1993 he moved to New Haven, Conn. and switched careers, becoming an English as a Second Language teacher. He taught in the West Haven School District for 15 years. He settled in Lake Oswego in 2022.  

William W. Kingkade ’78 AM, ’83 PhD, of Alexandria, Va.; May 13. He began his career at the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California. In 1984, he went on to work for the U.S. Census Bureau as a statistician in its Center for International Research, from which he retired. He was an expert in demography and an accomplished independent researcher. He published and contributed to numerous research papers and articles. And he was fluent in five languages.

Ellen Goodman ’76 PhD, of Newton, Mass.; Mar. 4, after a long illness. She taught high school before moving to secondary education as part-time faculty at Northeastern University. She joined the faculty of the English and Western Civilization department at Providence College, where she became a tenured professor and developed a popular course on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. She retired from teaching in 2004. 

Kenneth L. Krause ’73 MAT, of Portland, Ore.; May 27. He began his teaching career in Providence at Perry Middle School while working part-time at Pinkerton as a security guard. In 1974, he and his family moved to Oregon and he taught in the Portland public schools before becoming a founding faculty member at Harriet Tubman, from which he retired. 

Everett H. Hoagland III ’73 AM, of New Bedford, Mass.; Jul. 5. After Brown, he taught English and African American studies at UMass Dartmouth for more than 30 years. He established himself in New Bedford as the city’s first poet laureate from 1994 to 1998. His work contributed significantly to the Black Arts Movement, and he received numerous awards, including the Gwendolyn Brooks Award, the 2023 American Book Award, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the American Literature Association’s Society for African American Literature and Culture. 

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

Allan J. Kleinman ’69 ScM, of Seal Harbor, Me.; Apr. 23, from complications resulting from septic shock and pancreatic cancer. He was an electrical systems engineer at Dynamics Research Corp. in Andover, Mass. Previously he worked with Mitre Corp. (Mass.). In retirement he developed a strong interest in biology and taught courses in lifelong learning programs at Brandeis University. He was also a docent at Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, and Wild Gardens of Acadia. Survivors include his wife, Joan Becker Kleinman ’67; son Benjamin ’94; and daughter Rachel Kleinman ’98.

David Schwartzman ’66 ScM, ’71 PhD, of Washington, D.C.; Jul. 1, of cancer. He taught at Howard University. After 39 years as a professor, including time as department head, he retired in 2012 as professor emeritus. He published two books, Life, Temperature, and the Earth and The Earth is Not for Sale (coauthored with his son), and was working on his book Solar Communism at the time of his passing. He was an invited speaker/presenter at numerous international conferences and was elected to several prestigious professional affiliations. He ran for citywide office of the D.C. Statehood Green Party three times and was a tireless activist for racial and economic justice. 

Robert C. Gorges ’65 MAT, of Sheboygan, Wisc.; Feb. 15, 2025. In 1970, he took part in the high school teacher training program in India and was later a teacher at Sheboygan North High School for 35 years. He served on the student council advisory board for 28 years, as well as many other boards and councils over the years. 

Joel Berlatsky ’65 MAT, of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of Kingston, Pa.; Jul. 10. For two years he taught history and coached basketball and track at Lake Forest High School. After earning his PhD at Northwestern University, he taught history at Wilkes University for 37 years and served a term as departmental chair. For 18 years he was also a faculty athletic representative. He authored several journal articles and contributed to three collections of articles and coedited a document for the Royal Historical Society, Camden Society Series.  

Charles R. Quillin ’63 ScM, ’66 PhD, of Pittsburgh; May 4. He was an instructor, assistant professor and associate dean of students at Colby College (Me.) until 1972, when he became dean of students and administrative assistant to the vice president of student affairs at Marshall University (W. Va.). In 1975, he joined Park Point University as dean of students and retired in 2002 as vice president of student development. In addition to his many memberships, he volunteered at the Neighborhood Academy in Pittsburgh tutoring and conducting seminars for seniors. 

Dar-Veig Ho ’62 PhD, of Peachtree Corners, Ga.; Jun. 4. After graduating from the National Taiwan University and earning his master’s in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee, he worked for a civil engineering consulting firm in Kansas City. In 1956, he moved to Providence and attended Brown, graduating with a PhD in applied mathematics. A position teaching mathematics at Georgia Tech followed until his retirement in 2000 as the associate chair of the mathematics department. 

Eileen Ryan Monopoli ’59 AM, of Hadley, Mass.; Jun. 30. She was an English and history teacher for many years. 

Raymond G. Bayer ’59 ScM, of Johnson City, N.Y.; May 4. He had a 34-year career at IBM and he was a recipient of numerous awards during his tenure. He retired from IBM in 1991 and became a consulting tribologist. He published several books and coauthored more than 100 publications from his extensive knowledge and research on the subject. He also spent 25 years of service to the standard writing efforts of American Society for Testing and Materials. In addition, he actively participated and volunteered in numerous organizations throughout his life and served as an advisor for many doctorate and associate degree candidates. Survivors include his son Matthew ’82, ’82 ScM. 

Anthony A. Finocchiaro ’16, of Chicago, formerly of Canastota, N.Y.; Jun. 10. A former All-Ivy wrestler at Brown, he was a software developer with StoneX Group, a global financial institution in Chicago. 

Jeffrey R. Gruhler ’05, of Bangor, Me.; Apr. 2. After completing his residency at New York Medical College, where he was chief resident, he practiced psychiatry in various locations. He tutored and mentored students with their prospective college applications at MAC testing.

Senthil “Sen” Sundaram ’00, of Livingston, N.J.; Nov. 22, 2023, of cancer. He was a recognized leader in the biopharmaceuticals space throughout his career, with his last position as CEO at Terns Pharmaceuticals. 

 Patrick T. Sautin ’96, of Paris, France; Jun. 28, of a pulmonary embolism. After earning an MBA from the ESSEC business school in Paris, he went on to hold several senior managerial positions and worked as a consultant with various companies in France.   

Atul J. Butte ’91, ’95 MMSc, ’95 MD, of Menlo Park, Calif.; Jun. 14, from cancer. He was director of the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and was the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor at UC San Francisco. He was a pioneer in the fields of bioinformatics, health informatics, and precision medicine. As chief data scientist for the University of California Health System, he oversaw the integration of electronic health records and facilitated research initiatives to improve patient care. In addition, he cofounded several biotech companies that made significant contributions to genomic medicine and drug discovery. He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and recognition by the Obama Administration as a White House Champion of Change for his commitment to open science. Survivors include his brother Manish ’93, ’96 MD. 

Roberta Wallace Coffey ’81, of Ipswich, Mass.; May 24. She was a placement director for Katharine Gibbs School in Providence, R.I. She then moved to Beacon Hill in Boston and worked as public relations director for the Parker House Hotel, hosting events in support of major arts organizations and celebrities. She was also a professional writer and journalist, having earned her MFA in writing from Vermont College. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers, including the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and the Chicago Tribune. At the time of her passing, she had just finished her 350-page memoir. She was active in community theater and also appeared as an extra in the The Great Gatsby, filmed at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, and The Perfect Storm, filmed in Gloucester, Mass. During the 1960s, she performed regionally as a professional folk singer, guitarist and jazz pianist. 

Zdenka Seiner Griswold ’78, of Portland, Me.; Apr. 27, of endometrial cancer. Upon earning her JD from Fordham, where she was editor-in-chief of the International Law Journal, she became a derivatives lawyer at the New York law firm of Hughes Hubbard and Reed, and later at Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers. In 2007, she and her husband quit their jobs and moved to Portland. From 2009 to 2016 they sailed around the world on their 42-foot Valiant sailboat and explored more than 40 countries. She was an active member of both the Cruising Club of America and the Ocean Cruising Club and was editor of Voyages, the CCA club magazine from 2017 to 2021. She was awarded the Vilas Literary Prize, the Circumnavigation Award, and the Commodore’s Award.

Jack Cera ’78, of Bellaire, Ohio; Jul. 13, following a battle with cancer. He was a former state representative who served in the House from 1983 to 1996 and again from 2011 to 2020. He served on a variety of committees, including several that were focused on coal and energy. He was minority whip for the Democratic Caucus in 2016. 

Sally Knebelman Noble ’77, of Orlando, Fla.; Jun. 7, from a severe brain injury caused by an accident after many years struggling with illness. Prior to Brown, she danced ballet professionally. After earning degrees from Brown and Columbia Journalism School, she lived and worked in Philadelphia, Manhattan, Boston, Honolulu, Santa Barbara, Portland and Biddeford, Me., and Maitland, Fla. She traveled the world as a writer and publicist and her work appeared in the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Bon Appétit, Down East magazine, Travel & Leisure, and Maine’s The Working Waterfront newspaper. Survivors include her brother Jim Knebelman ’86.

Kurt D. Luedke ’76, of Oconomowoc, Wisc.; Apr. 25, from complications of dementia. After spending seven summers working at a camp for kids with special needs, he finished his academics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and taught social studies for 33 years at Slinger High School and coached the academic decathlon team. He was honored with the State of Wisconsin Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Award. 

John Hutton ’75, of Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Carthage, Mo.; May 20, 2024. After graduating, he pursued a career as a rose grower and earned respect within his field. 

Robert L. Martin Jr. ’73, of Dallas; May 13. After Brown, he pursued medicine at the University of Tennessee, followed by time in the U.S. Army as a senior assistant surgeon. Upon discharge, he operated a private practice out of Medical City Dallas Hospital until 2022. He received numerous accolades and awards.  

Charles Knapp ’71, of Delray Beach, Fla., formerly of Pittsburgh; Apr. 25. After backpacking through Europe, he began working with Westinghouse and was assigned to their power plant in Rio de Janeiro as a purchasing manager. He eventually left Westinghouse to join the family business back in Pittsburgh. The family business was providing raw materials to iron foundries, in the form of silicon carbide block, which led him to found his first company, Magnum Carbide. His companies would develop new foundry products and broaden the industry scope through import/export trade. He was a successful entrepreneur for more than 30 years and became a lifelong contributor in the iron and steel business. 

Ruth McBride ’70, of Olga, Wash.; Jan. 26, 2025, of lung cancer. She joined the research team at the University of Washington, and her work contributed to an improved understanding of many cardiovascular health issues and the development of lifesaving new protocols. Her work at UW turned into a career with Axio Research, where she was a respected leader. She retired in 2018.  

Roger LaFauci ’70, of North Andover, Mass.; Jul. 10. He had a long successful career with the Gillette Company, and he gave generously of his time, working with the Special Olympics and Toys for Tots. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. 

 Richard Funk ’70, of Newport, R.I.; May 18. He was a musician. He sang, played, and composed music. He was involved with the choral programs at his local churches, including St. John the Evangelist in Newport.  

Lisa K. Friedman ’69, of Washington, D.C.; Aug. 5. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School and, after working for the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue, she joined the staff of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she remained for the next 27 years. For more than 12 years she served as the associate general counsel for OGC’s solid waste and emergency response division. She was the first woman to become an associate general counsel. During her tenure, she was selected to head a new office within OGC and also served for a time as acting principal deputy general counsel. Later in her EPA career, she served as the associate general counsel for air and radiation. In recognition of her many contributions to EPA, she was awarded the presidential meritorious and distinguished rank awards. She also applied her legal skills in the community, serving on the editorial board of the Environmental Law Reporter, chairing an American Bar Association committee, and teaching environmental law at George Washington University Law School. She was a volunteer with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) and the Washington Metro Oasis, where she taught seniors how to connect to the internet and communicate through email. 

Glenn L. Tonnesen ’69, of Gilmanton, N.H., formerly of Virginia; Jun. 1. After graduating from University of Utah School of Medicine, he served as a Navy doctor. After the Navy, he  joined Radiation Oncology Associates at Fairfax Hospital, where he practiced for 32 years, 14 of which he served as chairman. During his lifetime he was a collector of many things, an inventor, and had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. 

Richard J. Driscoll Jr. ’68, of Bowie, Md.; Mar. 28. He was a lead propulsion engineer at NASA from 2008 to 2022. Previously he held positions at Bell Aerospace, Atlantic Research Corporation, Aerojet, and AMPAC. He rose to the rank of captain in the U.S. Air Force. He was the recipient of many accolades, including the 2011 Robert H Goddard Exceptional Achievement Engineering Team Award, the 2015 GSFC Thomas J. Budney Award for Engineering Integrity, and the 2022 NASA Exceptional Service Medal. 

W.S. Carson ’68, of Denver; Jun. 7. He graduated from George Washington University Law School and was a patent examiner in the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. before moving to Denver, where he spent 50 years as a patent attorney. He retired in 2021.

Lawrence “Larry” G. Buc ’68, of Chevy Chase, Md.; May 16. After earning a master’s degree from George Washington University, he taught mathematics in the District of Columbia Public Schools for five years, where he also founded a chess club. Following his teaching career, he embarked on jobs with the U.S. Postal Service and then the Postal Rate Commission, followed by work on hazardous and solid waste at the Environmental Protection Agency. Moving to the private sector, he worked as a consultant in both postal and environmental matters. He worked at Sobotka & Company, Buc & Associates, ICF Incorporated, and Project Performance Company, after which he founded SLS Consulting. He also volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank and was a financial supporter. Survivors include his sister, Nancy L. Buc ’65.

Patrick F. Lynch ’67, of Sharon, Conn.; Apr. 21. After Brown, he served in the National Guard and then pursued a graduate degree at the Yale School of Drama. He went on to work in market research at Elizabeth Arden. 

John A. Meier ’66, of Deer Park, Ill.; Mar. 16. He earned an MBA from Stanford University and was a partner with Accenture for many years. He ran their Manila, Philippines office from 1989 to 1993, allowing him and his family to live abroad for four years. He also taught Bible studies and mentored youth in the Chicago area. 

Richard M. Alter ’66, of Miami; Jul. 17, of cardio-renal failure. He was president and CEO of Manekin, a real estate investment, management, and operating company. While at Brown, he excelled as a lacrosse goalie and was named All-American, All-Ivy, and All-New England and was named the outstanding lacrosse player of the year in 1966 by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Assoc. He served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from Maryland School of Law. Survivors include daughter Jamie Alter Deutsch ’91. 

Colette A. Coolbaugh, Esq. ’65, of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Feb. 18. After Brown she earned her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law and was employed as a staff attorney by the New Jersey Superior Courts. She was a tireless advocate for women’s equality and rights and was active in many local civic causes and was a member of several organizations. 

Pauline Althausen Wood ’64, of Mystic, Conn.; Feb. 18, of Alzheimer’s. She taught German and European history at Cranston East High School (R.I.) before moving to New York where she was the secretary for the Schenectady County Historical Society. She lived and volunteered in West Virginia and Glastonbury (Conn.) prior to settling in Mystic. She was also a trained classical pianist, and music remained a constant in her life. 

Joan Barry Wood ’63, of West Hartford, Conn.; Mar. 19. She worked at Connecticut General before working for professors at UConn’s law school. She was active in several clubs in West Hartford and the Junior League.

William Cruikshank Jr. ’63, of Poultney, Vt.; Apr. 24. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam from 1965-1966. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Killington, Vt. and worked at various jobs. He eventually settled in Burlington and owned rental properties in West Pawlet, Poultney, Stratton, and Whitehall, N.Y. Having taught himself to build houses, including plumbing, electric, and all other aspects of construction, he upgraded, remodeled, and eventually sold his properties. He was also involved with local theater groups. Unfortunately, he suffered 22 years with Agent Orange–induced lymphoma.  

Margery Goddard Whiteman ’62, of Albany, N.Y.; May 28, of cancer. She served as director of development of the Emma Willard School from 1979 to 1991 and director of advancement services at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1991 to 2001. Throughout her career she worked as a consultant to progressive schools and arts organizations. For many years she was a member and president of the board of directors of Albany Pro Musica, subsequently earning her the honor of the Karen R. Hitchcock Award recipient. She was a founding board member of Capital Region Classical. She volunteered at a soup kitchen and recorded audio for people with vision impairment. Survivors include daughter Eliza Kinsey ’07 and son Stephen ’97.

William J. Tingue ’62, of Vero Beach, Fla.; May 8. After Brown, he was employed with his family’s business, Tingue, Brown & Co., a supplier to the industrial laundry industry. He was president in 1985 and became CEO in 1992. After retiring in 2007, he remained active on the company’s board of directors until 2021. He was recognized by several chapters of the National Association of Institutional Linen Management as Allied Tradesman of the Year. He also served on the board of directors for Textile Rental Services Association, receiving its lifetime achievement award in 2003, and was a founding board member of the American Reusable Textile Association. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  

Charles T. Newberry III ’62, of Harwich Port, Mass.; Jun. 8, after a brief illness. He was a pastor who served parishes across Cape Cod for four decades. After Brown, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1966. He served as minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Watsontown, Pa. from 1969 to 1973. He and his family moved to the Cape, where he served at First Congregational Church in Harwich and as  chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital. He was very involved in his community and worked actively to define the church as Open and Affirming. He was instrumental in the founding and leadership of Harwich Ecumenical Council for the Homeless that included the Children’s Center, which his daughter continues to direct. 

Michael Naidoff ’62, of Philadelphia; Jun. 9. After completing his degree at Pennsylvania Medical School, a residency at Johns Hopkins University, and a cornea fellowship at UC San Francisco, he served in the Army. Upon discharge, he returned to Philadelphia and joined the staff at Jefferson and Wills Eye Hospital. He was an ophthalmologist for more than 35 years. 

Joel Cassel ’62, of Los Angeles; May 5. He earned his Juris Doctorate from NYU Law School, and a job that took him around the world followed. Survivors include daughter Jessica Bowen ’02.

James M. Bowen ’62, of New Braunfels, Tex., formerly of Ossining, N.Y.; Mar. 9, from complications of Parkinson’s. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and earned a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University following his military service. He practiced corporate and real estate law at MONY, TIAA-CREF, and Title Associates. He retired in 2013. 

Walter Asp ’62, of Dublin, Ohio, formerly of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Jun. 12. He had a decades-long career with General Electric that allowed him to live in New York, Tennessee, and Indiana before settling in Ohio. 

John E. “Cook” Andes ’62, of Willow, Pa., formerly of Largo, Fla.; Jun. 3, of cancer. After graduating, he went to New York and began a successful career in advertising and marketing communications. He worked with numerous agencies in various cities before settling in Florida, where he started his own agency with his former wife. He had a passion for writing and authored 17 books. He coached Little League football, a commitment he began in New York and continued in Florida until retiring in 2019. He also contributed his time to SCORE, mentoring small business owners. He returned to Pennsylvania in 2022. 

Richard R. Wandmacher ’61, of Shelby Township, Mich.; Mar. 28. He had a long successful career at General Motors Technical Center and retired as a chairman from ISO 9000, which is a series of international standards for quality management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

Robert I. Finkel ’61, of Ottawa Hills, Ohio; May 26. He completed his internship/residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center and a fellowship in arthritis and connective tissue disease at Northwestern University Medical Center. He was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve Medical Corps and served as a medical officer at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., before joining Toledo Clinic Rheumatology in 1973. During his tenure, he served a term as president of the Toledo Clinic and remained there until his retirement in 2005. As a fellow of the Lucas County Academy of Medicine and board member of the Toledo Society of Rheumatology, he also served as a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Internal Medicine in Rheumatology. Additionally, he taught at the Medical College of Ohio and was a clinical assistant professor of medicine. In 1974, he was awarded the Golden Apple by the students of the medical college as outstanding clinician teacher of the year. He wrote scientific papers and presented nationally on the subjects of rheumatology and immunology. He was active in his community and served as historian for American Legion Post 335 in Toledo. 

Nancy Mitchell Cassel ’61, of Orford, N.H.; Jun. 2. Once her family began, she was a stay-at-home mother and volunteered at her children’s schools, with the military because of her husband’s military career, and at embassy libraries. Later she worked as a technical librarian at the Sugar Assoc. and as an indexer/abstractor/editor at the American Psychological Assoc., both in Washington, D.C. The Cassels retired to Orford in 2000 and she volunteered and worked part-time at the Orford Social Library. Survivors include her husband Carl ’61. 

Carl P. Swenson ’60, of Raleigh, N.C.; Jun. 11. 

Robert E. Stetson ’60, of Littleton, Mass.; Mar. 31. After attending Andover Newton Theological Seminary, he was ordained an American Baptist minister. In addition to the many communities he served, he was active with the Council on Aging. 

William Rouslin ’60, of North Saanich, B.C.; May 22 in a manner of his choosing after suffering from a form of leukemia. After Brown, he went on to earn a PhD from UConn and completed his NIH postdoctoral studies at Cornell University. He taught at Rutgers before being recruited to Rice University and later joined the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. He retired to Canada and became a Canadian citizen in 2009. 

Everett C. Mayo III ’60, of Yucaipa, Calif.; Apr. 16. After Brown, he went on to earn a master’s in theology from Union Theological Seminary, followed by a PhD from the University of Chicago. For 37 years he taught English at California State University, San Bernardino. He published essays and articles on a wide range of American writers and his book, The Gospel from Outer Space (or Yes, We Have No Nirvanas), blended literary insight with spiritual wit. He was also a nationally recognized chess player. 

William Brisk ’60, of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; May 13. After earning a JD from NYU Law School and a master’s and PhD in Latin American politics from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, he and his wife traveled and taught in Puerto Rico, across Latin America, in New Mexico, and in Washington, D.C. before moving to Massachusetts. He went on to serve as a litigator in two Boston firms, then opened his own practice in Newton, Mass. As a member of the Massachusetts Law Review, he edited an article on Medicaid planning, which led to his coauthoring Massachusetts Elder Law. He published numerous articles on elder law and became a lecturer on elder law at Boston College and was an adjunct professor at Suffolk Law School, where he created a course on end-of-life care. 

Donald Anderle ’60, of Long Beach, Calif.; Mar. 16. After Brown, he went on to serve in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of his military service, he became a stockbroker and eventually  gave in to his entrepreneurial spirit and became involved with real estate and franchising, including investments in office buildings and Culligan water franchises. He was a self-taught sailor who raced competitively, including in the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii and in the Ensenada Regatta to Mexico. 

Lester S. Hyman ’52, of Washington, D.C.; May 9. As a reporter for the BDH, Hyman traveled to Washington, D.C., to cover a ceremony in the Oval Office in which President Harry Truman signed a proclamation declaring the North Atlantic Treaty in effect, according to Hyman’s obituary. After earning his law degree from Columbia University School of Law and honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Hyman began his legal career as an attorney in the Corporate Finance Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He then moved to Massachusetts, where he was active in Democratic politics. He served as chief assistant to Governor Endicott Peabody, secretary of commerce and development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in the late 1960s. When his term as chairman was completed in 1969, he relocated to Washington, D.C., joining the law firm Leva, Hawes, Symington, Martin and Oppenheimer. He later cofounded the law firm Swidler Berlin. He helped launch the non-partisan Center for National Policy, monitoring elections in Haiti. He served on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Commission and vetted candidates for key cabinet posts in the Clinton administration. He had a deep affinity for the British Virgin Islands and built a home on Tortola in 1987. For more than three decades, he championed the territory’s interests in Washington, D.C. He was a committed board member of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the National Parks Trust in the BVI.  

Mary Miller Shenfield Marik ’52, of Seattle; Sept. 19, 2024. She worked in advertising in New York City before settling in Seattle to raise a family. She was active in the Seattle community and was a contract bridge league Silver Life Master. 

Carol Canner Gjelsvik ’59, of Providence, R.I.; Sept. 25, 2024, of a stroke. After graduating and marrying, she and her husband spent several years living in Norway before returning to the United States, eventually settling in Wickford, R.I. She then obtained her master’s degree in social work and dedicated her career to advocating for children and immigrant families. Her work with Head Start of Rockland County, N.Y. led to the development of multiple programs that enriched the lives of families. In retirement she was a supporter of environmental conservation. Ever committed to education and the environment, she donated her body to Brown’s medical school. Survivors include her daughter, an associate professor at Brown, Annie Gjelsvik ’93, ’03 PhD, and a son-in-law, Karlo Berger ’86.

William W. Murck ’58, of Gaithersburg, Md.; May 11. He was an attorney who specialized in export trading and general business law and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army. 

Edward R. Eastman Jr. ’58, of Marshfield, Mass.; Apr. 11. An entrepreneur, he founded and built a company supplying doors and hardware for commercial construction projects. He eventually sold the company and enjoyed retirement by the sea. 

Alfred M. Chapman ’58, of Harleysville, Pa.; Jun. 14. After a stellar swimming career at Brown that included being captain, breaking several school records, becoming an All-American and being inducted into the Brown Sports Hall of Fame, he taught Latin and Greek at the Lawrenceville School, where he also served as a faculty advisor and coach. He later was chairman of the classical languages department at the Maumee Country Day School (Ohio). He played semi-professional soccer, wrote several published articles, and was the recipient of an honorary Master of Arts in classical studies from the University of Michigan.  

William F. Barry ’58, of San Diego; Jun. 26. Upon graduation from Brown, where he played tennis and was president of Delta Tau Delta and class secretary, he joined the Navy, which brought him to naval intelligence school at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. Following a life-altering spinal injury while stationed in Oahu, he retired as a full lieutenant and returned to San Diego, accepting a position with the Department of Defense as a computer programmer. He played the banjo and sang with the San Diego Banjo Band.

K. Richard Kaufman ’57, of Fullerton, Calif.; Apr. 15. He had a 50-year career with Credit Managers Association of Southern California and was instrumental in uniting the company with its Northern California counterpart to form CMA of California. He retired in 2013 but continued to consult for CMA and other associations. 

David M. Kaplan ’57, of Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Boston; May 27. He began his career at the family business, Kaplan Furniture, and later cofounded Kaplan & Fox in Boston, extending the family tradition in the furniture industry. He served on numerous furniture industry boards and the Boston Children’s Hospital board. 

Phillips V. Dean Jr. ’57, of Stuart, Fla.; May 4. In 1969, with his former wife, Nancy Riester ’59, ’63 MAT, he purchased a sailboat and sailed the Caribbean while working as a contributing editor and technical editor for Motor Boating & Sailing magazine. He also covered the 1974 America’s Cup Race. Later, he worked at Alcoa in Pittsburgh and then with Brown and Sharpe in Providence before moving to Stuart and working in real estate, primarily with ReMax. Survivors include his brother Britten ’57. 

Sarah E. Williams ’56, ’74 PhD, of Oak Bluffs, Mass.; May 9. She taught history in Brookline before retiring to Oak Bluffs.

William B. San Soucie ’56, of Lynchburg, Va.; Jun. 12. He retired from Scott Insurance after a long and successful career. 

Kelam S. Derderian ’56, of Belmont, Mass.; May 7. After earning his Juris Doctorate at Suffolk University in 1968, he worked as an attorney at Boston City Hospital before moving to Boston City Hall, working for the City of Boston for 31 years. He retired in 1996. He served in the U.S. Air Force and then became a reservist, finally retiring in 1980 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Nancy Chase Cowles ’55, of Bethel, Conn.; Feb. 13, of pericarditis. Her passion for music earned her a place in the Juilliard School’s pre-college division. Though she set aside her formal piano studies upon entering Pembroke College, music would forever remain central to her identity. For many years she taught elementary students in Bethany, Conn., and worked with at-risk teenagers from underserved communities. She remained involved with the Danbury Concert Society.

Myles Striar ’54, of Boston; Apr. 16. He taught English in the Boston public school system from 1963 to 1988 and concluded his career teaching English-teachers-to-be at the BU School of Education until 2000. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a strong advocate for peace, fairness, and equality. Survivors include daughters Johanna Striar ’89 and Maria Striar ’91. 

Robert H. Hawley ’54, of Swansea, Mass.; Jun. 9. He was president of Robert H. Hawley Engineering Corp. and a senior research engineer at Brown until his retirement. He was a former water commissioner and volunteer fireman, and had served on several town boards and committees. 

George M. Gregory ’54, of Topsham, Me.; formerly of Barrington, R.I.; Apr. 27. He served in the Army from 1954 to 1956, then began his career at his family business, Goodwin & Gregory silversmiths. He later worked for Reed & Barton silversmiths for 30 years as a sales executive, traveling the world until he retired at the age of 58. Later, he bought a fishing camp called Trout Run on Kennebago Lake in Maine and served as president of the Kennebago Lake Association.

Charles S. Genovese ’54, of Marietta, Ga., formerly of Kent, Conn.; Apr. 28. He was a member of the English faculty at Millbrook School (N.Y.) from 1958 to 1961 before accepting a teaching position at Kent School. In addition to teaching at Kent, he served in various sports roles and was a faculty advisor. He was active with the Marietta YMCA, where he worked out every weekday morning, serving as a founding member and head librarian for the YMCA’s book lending group. Survivors include his son David ’86. 

Edward J. Gauthier ’54, of North Providence, R.I.; Jun. 16, after suffering a stroke in 2018. After Brown he graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and operated a private medicine practice from 1971 to 2005. He was later involved with a primary nursing home practice until 2018. Phi Beta Kappa. Survivors include his son Edward ’81 and sister Amy Mullervy ’67. 

Warren B. Galkin ’51, of Greenville, R.I.; May 2. The Pan Am logo bag was a hot trend in the ’60s—especially after the Beatles were pictured holding the bags in 1964. Thanks to Warren Galkin, Rhode Island manufacturing was in on it. Galkin, tapping his Brown physics degree, designed and built a machine that combined the cutting and screen-printing of the Pan Am logo into one automated process. “Two machine operators, who replaced 12 skilled staff members, produced the goods at four times the previous speed,” according to Notes, a publication of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Society. This and other innovations allowed Natco, the company Galkin’s dad founded in 1917, to compete with companies in other states and countries, despite Rhode Island’s higher labor costs. Prior to Natco, Galkin earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and spent three years in the Navy as an engineering officer, followed by 19 years in the Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant commander. After the service, he joined Natco and operated it with his brother Bob ’49, who predeceased him, for more than 70 years. Warren was a benefactor of the Boys and Girls Club of Warwick and was the first inductee in its Hall of Fame. He established physics and brain science fellowships at Brown, including the Galkin Foundation Fellowship. He funded a scholarship in the Spanish department at Community Preparatory School, was a major supporter of the John F. Kennedy Museum, and received the Common Cause Distinguished Service Award. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, was the recipient of the Middendorf Pillar of Freedom Award from the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the New England Institute of Technology.   

Charles E. Knox ’53, of Oceanside, Calif.; May 11. He was a chemical engineer specializing in chemical composites, for which he held a few patents, and a college professor. He participated in a local community college’s old-time radio show class as a performer and foley artist. 

Charles Gnassi ’53, of Loch Arbour, N.J.; May 20. He was a graduate of The Hun School in Princeton and the University of Vermont Medical School and completed his residency at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. He practiced psychiatry for the State of New Jersey and had private practices first in Brooklyn and then in East Brunswick. Survivors include son John ’84.

Barry Robbins ’50, of Needham, Mass., and Providence, R.I.; Jun. 16. He was the founder and CEO of Robbins Manufacturing Co. in Fall River, Mass., and served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Southcoast Health System, which included Charlton Health System. 

Lenny Loparto ’50, of South Orleans, Mass.; Mar. 6. In addition to operating a commercial fishing business on Cape Cod, he commuted to Boston and worked as a state archaeologist. 

John “Jack” B. Leeming ’50, of Sarasota, Fla.; May 3. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he had a career at Time Life that took him to various places before settling in Sarasota. He was a varsity swimmer while at Brown and continued his athletic pursuits playing hockey into his 70s and learning to ski at age 50, while regularly visiting the gym into his early 90s. Survivors include sons John III ’81 and Charles ’86, and grandchild Hunter Leeming ’15.

Joseph Champ ’50, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Jun. 16, after a brief illness. He worked for Eaton Corporation in Cleveland before starting his own electrical distribution company, Champ & Associates. He also served on the board of International Management Group’s sponsored professional golf events that included Greg Norman’s Shark Shootout and the TransAmerica Senior Golf Championship and was an active member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. He had a strong interest in issues impacting the United States military.

Richard B. Edgar ’47, of Redmond, Wash.; Jan. 11, 2024. He had served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for 39 years and retired from an aerospace career after 30 years. Survivors include his son Tom ’87.

Lucile Burton Foster ’46, of Warwick, R.I.; May 11, at the age of 100. She taught earth science at the Lincoln School and later at Cranston West High School. For more than 50 years she guided the Meshanticut Junior Garden Club. As a 20-year member of the Ikebana/Sogetsu Society of Boston, she taught the Japanese art of decorating with flowers and shells for various organizations. 

Alison Field, of Newton Center, Mass.; Oct. 10, 2024, from brain cancer. She was an internationally recognized epidemiologist specializing in childhood eating disorders. In 1996, while completing her post-doctoral fellowship at the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she launched the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS), a long-term study of eating disorders and obesity prevention and treatment. She joined Harvard Medical School’s faculty in 1997 as a professor of epidemiology and pediatrics and had appointments at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2015, she joined the Brown faculty, where she served as chair of the epidemiology department, director of the Center for Epidemiology and Environmental Health, and associate dean for faculty affairs at the Brown University School of Public Health. In 2024, the Obesity Society honored her many professional accomplishments by naming an award in her name: the Alison Field Early-Career Award for Excellence in Research in Pediatric Obesity and she was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders. Her initial cancer diagnosis in her early 30s propelled her into marathon training and she ultimately completed 10 races in five states over 15 years, including five Boston marathons, raising funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

Robert P. Davis, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 14, 2024, of renal failure brought on by pneumonia. In 1952, while chief resident in internal medicine at Brigham Hospital, he was elected to the Society of Fellows at Harvard and conducted pioneering research. He later taught medicine at the University of North Carolina and at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (N.Y.). He took a sabbatical from 1965 to 1966 to be a visiting scientist at the Institute for Biological Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and in 1967, he joined the faculty at Brown as both professor and physician-in-chief of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, a post he held until 1974. During his tenure, he was instrumental in building the Miriam’s profile as a research institution and its connection to the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown. He was a driving force behind the construction of a building dedicated entirely to laboratory research and led the team that performed the first kidney transplant conducted in the state of Rhode Island. He continued to teach at Brown and helped establish a program in biomedical ethics. From 1974 to 1979, he served as director of renal and metabolic diseases at Miriam, during which time he worked to integrate regional and state organ banks and further promote organ transplantation in Rhode Island. He spent the last three decades of his life pursuing interests he had maintained since childhood, which included founding a rare bookstore, Gadshill, devoted to 19th- and 20th-century British and American literature, culture, and science. He later exhibited his collection and lectured on Dickens at the Grolier Club in New York and the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston. For more than 20 years he attended the annual Dickens conference at UC Santa Cruz. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. Survivors include his daughter Elizabeth A. Davis ’90 and son John R. Davis ’79. 

Leonard W. Loparto ’85 AM, of South Orleans, Mass.; Mar. 6. He operated a commercial fishing business while also working as a state archeologist.  

Marcia Rubinstein Lieberman ’85 AM, of Providence, R.I.; Apr. 21, following a brief illness. She taught English for many years at the University of Connecticut before moving to Providence. She traveled extensively with her husband and subsequently published several articles and travel books based on her experiences, some appearing in the New York Times. Her books and articles featured photographs taken by her husband. For many years she was a coordinator of Amnesty International’s Providence group and devoted many volunteer hours to improving educational opportunities for women and girls in Nepal. 

Rhoda Leven Flaxman ’82 PhD, of Charlotte, N.C.; Mar. 10. She taught English literature at Wheaton College and Brown. While at Brown, she ran the Writing Fellows Program. A talented soprano singer, she sang for more than 40 years with the Providence Singers. She served as chair of the board of trustees at the Wheeler School for seven years. She also served on the boards of Trinity Repertory Theater and Second Story Theater. Survivors include her husband, Dr. B. Allen Flaxman ’58, and grandson Benjamin M. Martel ’19.

David L. Green ’77 AM, ’82 PhD, of Fairfield, Conn.; Feb. 10, of cancer. After managing the New York office for the British American Arts Association in 1984, he worked with the New York Foundation for the Arts, eventually becoming director of communications. He also published the monthly British Arts Calendar, a guide to British arts and cultural events in the New York area, from 1985 to 1992. In 1996, he was appointed founding executive director of the National Initiative for a Networked Cultural Heritage. From 2003 to 2013, he ran consultancy Knowledge Culture and served on the board of directors of the Visual Resources Association Foundation. He authored several books related to the arts and in May 2023, he was awarded the Hero Award from the Norwalk Arts Space, presented to him as a “tireless supporter of the arts.” 

Richard D. Piper ’76 AM, of New York City; Mar. 3. During the course of his career, he held several different positions that included administrator for the American Scandinavian Foundation and office manager and assistant to the president of Anne Taylor. 

John R. Johnson ’73 PhD, of Calverton, N.Y.; Feb. 22. He worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory for 42 years conducting research in materials science, nickel and metal hydride, and lithium-ion batteries. He contributed to many scientific patents. 

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

John H. Stasik ’69 MAT, of Framingham, Mass.; Mar. 11. He was a science teacher at Weston Middle and High schools from 1969 to 2004. He was active in local politics and community organizations.

Jill R. Grickis ’69 MAT, of Woodbury, Conn.; Mar. 5, after a brief illness. She taught French for a short time in Warwick, R.I., before moving to Connecticut to work in customer service, retiring in 1998. 

Bernard V. O’Neill Jr. ’65 PhD, of Overland Park, Kans.; Mar. 19, of cancer. He taught mathematics at New York and Duke universities before pursuing a law degree at the University of Kansas. He worked as an attorney at Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City from 1976 until retirement, after which he volunteered his time teaching classes at Conception Abbey. Survivors include daughter Marie S. O’Neill ’90.

Ronald J. Sommer ’63 AM, of Dunedin, Fla.; Feb. 7. He taught English literature at Valparaiso University until his retirement in 1994. He was involved in theater productions with Gorilla, Stageworks, and USF Theatre II. 

Harry T. Groat ’62 PhD, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Feb. 22. Upon graduation from Bowling Green State University, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Once discharged, he returned to BGSU and earned his master’s degree followed by a PhD from Brown. He returned to BGSU as a faculty member in the sociology department, from which he retired in 1984. He coauthored a textbook on world population and he received the BGSU’s faculty research award and president’s special achievement award. 

Ting-wei Tang ’61 ScM, ’64 PhD, of Gainesville, Va.; Apr. 5. He was professor emeritus of electrical engineering at UMass Amherst. Previously, he was an assistant professor at UConn for four years. He published more than 120 articles. In the 1980s he served as director of the minority engineering program and was the recipient of the outstanding senior faculty award in 1989 and the outstanding teaching award from the College of Engineering in 1991. In 2000, UMass Amherst awarded him the chancellor’s medal. He and his wife, Shirley, who predeceased him, endowed the Shirley and Ting-wei Tang endowment lecture series at UMass Amherst. Survivors include daughter Patricia J. Tang ’93 and son Steven J. Tang ’89.

William L. Patterson Jr. ’61 PhD, of Williamstown, Mass.; Feb. 15. After receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and serving in the military, he worked doing chemical research at American Cyanamid in Stamford, Conn. He then earned his PhD at Brown, moved to Williamstown and worked in research at Sprague Electric until 1971. From 1971 to 1977 he owned and operated Chimney Mirror Motel. He then became a process engineer at Analog Devices, living in Andover. He retired to Williamstown.