Obituaries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

George B. Millard ’52, of Saint Paul, Minn.; May 7. After earning a PhD in business management from the University of Minnesota, he served as director in the Peace Corps in Peru and Uruguay from 1969 to 1972. Upon returning to Minnesota, he started an import business bringing in artisan goods from South America. His store was named Llama Line. He also taught business administration at the University of St. Thomas and consulted on small business development programs for the United Nations in countries around the world. He is survived by three children, five grandchildren, a sister, and many nieces and nephews. 

Stanley M. Grossman ’52, of Galloway, N.J.; Apr. 10. After attending Harvard Business School, he began working as an executive at Food Fair, only to return home to lead the family business, Kensington Furniture, for 60 years.  He was involved in his community, having served as president of the Jewish Federation, chairman of the Beth Judah building committee, chairman of the board of AtlantiCare, and chairman of the Miss America Judges Committee. He is survived by four children and their spouses, including son Jimmy ’80; and 10 grandchildren.

Robert E. Duffy ’52, of Jupiter, Fla., formerly of Winchester, Mass.; Apr. 20. He spent his entire career growing his father’s building and flooring contracting business in the Boston area—a business that is nearly 100 years old and is now run by his nephew. While at Brown, he was a member of the men’s hockey team. He enjoyed sailing, playing golf, and weekly breakfasts with his friends. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law; four grandchildren, including grandson Wylie D. Van Ness ’02; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

George B. Watts Jr. ’59, of Scituate, Mass., formerly of Guilford, Conn.; May 14. He served in the U.S. Army Security Agency during the Cold War as a Russian linguist interpreting intelligence communications. Later, he had a long career as a wealth manager with five New England banks and retired from what is now Bank of America. He had a passion for the sea and sailing and was a competitive sailor out of Duck Island Yacht Club (Conn.), Sachem’s Head Yacht Club (Conn.), and Cohasset Yacht Club (Mass.). He was president of the Boston Port and Seamen’s Aid Society and a trustee of St. Stephen’s Church in Cohasset. He is survived by his wife, Claire; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; two brothers, including Peter ’61; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews.    

Beatrice Marx Prosnitz ’59, of Chapel Hill, N.C., formerly of New Haven, Conn., and Tuba City, Ariz.; Apr. 6, from complications of Parkinson’s. After graduating and marrying, she moved to New York and worked at New York Life Insurance Company as her husband began medical school. Due to his military/medical career, they moved frequently and she took advantage of each place they lived. While in New Hampshire, she became a proficient downhill skier and a mother for the first time. In Tuba City, Arizona, she was afforded the opportunity to explore the Southwest before moving to New Haven, where they remained for 18 years. She had two more children, became a stay-at-home mother, and enjoyed biking and playing tennis and duplicate bridge. She eventually returned to work as a research assistant in the department of psychiatry at Yale. She had two sabbatical leaves: to Jerusalem in 1980 and Taipei in 1992. She enjoyed visiting many Asian countries during that time. They moved to Chapel Hill in 1983 and she resumed work at Duke’s department of psychiatry and learned to whitewater kayak. She paddled the Grand Canyon in 1998 as a proud achievement. She is survived by her husband, Len; three children; and six grandchildren.

Arthur L. Levin ’59, ’62 AM, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., and Paris, France; Apr. 22. He had a long career in computer technology at IBM and was elected to public office, published a newspaper, served on numerous boards, and became a sommelier following IBM. He taught wine appreciation classes and wrote columns on wine in regional newspapers. He also published a book of poetry. He is survived by his wife, Marcella; a son; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.    

Kathryn Kissane Whistler ’58, of Potomac, Md.; Mar. 24. While attending Brown, she met her future husband, Leonard ’55, a Navy officer, and together they traveled the world during his tours of duty and started a family before settling in Potomac in 1973. She worked as a computer programmer for the CIA for two decades. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling together. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children, two grandchildren, and a sister, Elizabeth Kissane Shequine ’52. 

Starr P. Todd ’58, of Hampton, N.H.; Mar. 29. After serving in the U.S. Army and working at various jobs throughout his career, he retired and managed Todd Farm Antiques Flea Market. He is survived by his wife, Dottee; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; two granddaughters; a brother; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Ann Thorndike ’58, of Providence; May 6, following a fall. She worked as a financial manager for Brown’s physics department and was involved with the Audubon Society, the Providence Junior League, and the Pembroke Club of Providence. 

Elizabeth Coe Strizzi ’58, of New Castle, Pa.; Apr. 25. She worked as a journalist for several newspapers, including as correspondent for the town of Marshfield (Mass.) for The Patriot Ledger. She enjoyed getting together with friends, gardening, reading, traveling, and her cats. She is survived by three children, four stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and her sister Judy Coe Homeyer ’62. 

John L. Selig ’58, of Bridgeport, Conn., formerly of Harrison, N.Y.; Apr. 11. He traveled extensively and served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to joining his family’s furniture business in the Bronx, Pisers, followed by working 40 years in the real estate industry. He was interested in the environment and enjoyed fly-fishing. He was a member of Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and Riverkeeper, both nonprofits to promote the protection of rivers and streams. He was an active volunteer with the United Way of Westchester County and a member of the Wine & Food Society of New York. He is survived by Virginia Rowen; a daughter; son John J. M. Selig ’90; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and five grandchildren. 

Richard J. “Dick” DeVenuto ’58, of Little Neck, N.Y.; Apr. 30. After Brown, he graduated from NYU Law School. He was in private practice for many years before being appointed to the New York Workers Compensation Board as a judge. In this capacity, he traveled all over the state of New York presiding over worker’s compensation cases until he retired. He built a home in 2000 in Palm Coast (Fla.), where he could enjoy the warmth and traveled back and forth to New York for holidays. He enjoyed the beach, building model trains, and attending train and car shows. He is survived by his wife, Rosalie; two daughters; a son-in-law; grandchildren; and his sister

David W. Clough ’58, of Falmouth, Me.; Mar. 22. He worked in sales and marketing at DuPont in Wilmington, Del., before transitioning to the hospitality industry. He was marketing director for Holiday Inn resorts in the Caribbean and later was an international sales manager for Holiday Inn in New York City. At the age of 40, he took up watercolor painting as a hobby and an opportunity arose to move to Maine. For 10 years, he worked in management of the Prince of Fundy ferry line, concentrating on sales and advertising, before beginning a career as an artist. His  work has been viewed in galleries, sold privately, and featured in art shows and festivals. He was a Korean War veteran. In June 2023, he celebrated 50 years of sobriety. He is survived by his wife, Janet; four children and their spouses; four stepchildren and their spouses; and many grandchildren. 

Constance Loring ’57, of Portland, Me.; Apr. 16. She was a co-owner of the family printing business, C. Parker Loring Bank Stationers, with her brother Bill, who predeceased her. She was a longtime member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, where she had many friends. She is survived by four children, two grandchildren, and a cousin.  

John F. Just ’57, of Elm Grove, Wisc.; Mar. 28. For more than 48 years he was a thoracic surgeon and served the Milwaukee community. He was an emeritus clinical professor of surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a recipient of several clinical faculty department of surgery teaching awards. He was an avid reader and enjoyed classical music and traveling to more than 50 countries. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; five children and their spouses; and 14 grandchildren. 

Paula Anne Koffler Granoff ’57, of Palm Beach, Fla., Old Westbury, N.Y., and Providence, R.I.; May 28, after battling a long illness. She had an eye for art and was able to cultivate a collection that she donated to RISD’s museum/school. In recognition of her support, she was appointed to the RISD Board and was the recipient of the Athena Award in 2006 and an honorary doctorate in fine arts in 2010. She was a strong supporter of RISD and other organizations. She and her husband were responsible for the contemporary art wing at RISD and also gave generously to the Providence Public Library, donating the technology wing at the Rochambeau Avenue branch. She began playing golf in 1956 and eventually became a member of Ledgemont Country Club (Mass.), Alpine Country Club (R.I.), Glen Oaks Club (N.Y.), and High Ridge Country Club (Fla.). She won more than 60 championships, including three senior state championships in Rhode Island, and had 14 holes in one. She is survived by her husband, Leonard; two sons and daughters-in-law; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sisters Sandra Koffler Bornstein ’63 and Phyllis Koffler Braddock ’67.  

Paul P. Brown ’57, of Eastham, Mass.; Apr. 8. He was employed at United Technologies Research Center as an aeronautical engineer specializing in wind tunnel and jet fuel research for 37 years. He was a hockey enthusiast, having played in high school and at Brown, and was a referee for 35 years. Additionally, he was involved with Meals on Wheels, delivering for more than 20 years as well as preparing tax returns in AARP’s tax assistance program. He was an active member of the Wapping Community Church of South Windsor (Conn.), and then the Eastham United Methodist Church of Cape Cod. He served as a deacon and member of the board of finance, and sang in the choir. A boater and fisherman, he enjoyed membership in the Cape Cod Power Squadron. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, two grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a sister.

Robert F. Zimmerman Jr.’56, of Hackettstown, N.J.; Mar.16. He is survived by his wife Patricia, son Robert ’86, and Robert’s wife. 

Donald P. Uhl ’56, of Las Vegas, formerly of Monument, Colo.; May 17. He served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1977 as Lt. Colonel and the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal and Bronze Star. He then settled in Monument, where he was an entrepreneur as well as mayor from 1978 to 1982. He was a cofounder and president of Woodmoor Country Club until it was sold to the members in 1985; cofounder of Western Energy Development; formed Capital Funding Advisors; and was cofounder of In Store Media Systems Inc. He was also chairman of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and a member of Sertoma. He enjoyed model airplanes and playing golf, scoring his seventh hole in one at age 86. He is survived by two daughters, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, a niece, a nephew, and his former spouse, Priscilla Brewster Gill ’57.       

Peter von Stein ’56, of Wolfeboro, N.H.; May 7. After graduating from Brown, he was a reporter for the Associated Press in Indianapolis. He went on to work as Assistant Secretary of State of Indiana. Later in his career he worked in leadership roles in the clinical diagnostics field, first with Boehringer Mannheim in Indianapolis, then with Syva Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto, Calif., until 1984. He retired in 2001 as head of the U.S. Diagnostics Division of Elan Pharmaceuticals. In retirement he maintained a long-term consulting assignment focused on building a national laboratory system in Ghana, West Africa. He served for 20 years on the board of YMCA Camp Belknap and was instrumental in brokering Belknap’s land acquisition and placing it in conservation for perpetuity. While at Brown, he served as the executive editor of the Brown Daily Herald and as president of Delta Upsilon. He is survived by his wife, Jeri; two daughters, including Stephanie von Stein ’88; son Eric ’00; and four grandchildren, including granddaughter Ingrid Hirt ’21. 

Ross E. Cowey ’56, of Bethesda, Md.; Apr. 15, of complications from pneumonia. He received a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania and served four years in the U.S. Navy following his graduation from Brown. In 1963, he began a career as a military intelligence analyst with the CIA and was involved with intelligence reports on Soviet military activity in Cuba in the wake of the missile crisis. He later was an analyst in the CIA’s Office of National Estimates, was branch chief in the CIA’s Office of Strategic Research, and was director of the Office of Strategic Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He was an advisor with negotiations pertaining to the banning of the deployment of weapons of mass destruction. He also served in a liaison capacity with British military intelligence in London from 1972 to 1974. He retired in 1990 as executive assistant to the executive director of the CIA and received the agency’s career intelligence medal. In retirement he accompanied his wife, who was an official of the U.S. Agency for International Development, on her assignments to Senegal and the Dominican Republic. He enjoyed sailing, hiking, and walking along the Potomac River. He is survived by his wife, Colette; four children; three stepchildren; 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; two sisters; and nieces and nephews.

James T. Berrier ’56, of Lebanon, N.H., and Ryegate, Vt.; May 2. He was a medical officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, then practiced dentistry in the Back Bay area of Boston from 1968 to 2004. A classical music aficionado, he was a 40-year member of the Harvard Musical Association. He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter Amy Berrier ’85; a son; and two grandsons.  

Lois McClarin Revi ’55, of Hanover, Pa.; Apr. 27, following a brief illness. After college she worked as a censor for ABC in New York City for three years—she was one of three people who approved the programming that was broadcast on the station. She spent many years teaching and counseling at York Country Day, the former Eichelberger High School, and at Lower Merion Senior High School and York College. Later, she was involved in real estate with ERA Properties. For much of her life she was an equestrian, having competed throughout her school years. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed following current events and participating in book clubs. She also traveled extensively. 

Richard Amill ’54, of Norwalk, Conn.; Apr. 19. He had a long career in educational textbook publishing and held leadership positions at Time Inc., Silver Burdett, Cowles Media Company, Macmillan, Random House, and McGraw Hill. He later founded Learning Supplements, a pioneer in K-12 digital learning. He taught reading skills in-person to students in Bridgeport, Conn., and served as a mentor to elementary, middle, and high school students in Norwalk into his late 80s. He was a volunteer at Norwalk Hospital, the Whittingham Cancer Center, the Connecticut Food Bank, Read Aloud Program, Norwalk Reads, Homes With Hope, Gillespie Center, and OpenDoors Shelter. He was both member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Weston, Conn., and loved to read, especially anything related to World War II or John Grisham. A lifelong New York Yankees fan, having attended hundreds of Yankees games, he never left a game early in case of a game-winning rally. He is survived by a daughter, two sons and daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.

Thomas P. Lovett ’53, of Dalzell, S.C.; May 13. He worked for Exxon as a field geologist for nine years and later at Tulane University as director of financial aid. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of St. James Lutheran Church, where he served on a few of its ministries. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially running, hiking, biking, sailing, and skiing. He is survived by his partner Karen Bailey; a daughter; a son; and three grandchildren.    

John W. Hill ’53, of Duxbury, Mass.; Dec. 15. After graduating and military service, he worked for GMAC for four years and then changed career direction and began teaching high school history and English in Keene, N.H. During the summer of 1960, he was picked to go to Berlin, Germany, for an international living program. He lived with a college professor for eight weeks just before the Berlin Wall was constructed. Upon his return to the U.S., he attended Harvard and earned a master’s degree in history. He taught at Weymouth High School and coached their wrestling team. He eventually became a member of the school committee and was elected chairman of the board. He earned his PhD from Boston University and became principal of Duxbury High School. He retired in 1993. An avid reader, in retirement he started a book club based on the Chicago Great Books list that still meets today at the Duxbury Library. He served as a library trustee from 1994 to 2009. A continuous learner, he enrolled in senior classes at UMass Boston and woodworking classes at the Cambridge Centre for Adult Education, creating several pieces of furniture. He was also an active facilitator in the Duxbury Senior Centre Continuing Education program. In 1994 he was elected the Duxbury Parade Marshal. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter; a son and his partner; three cousins; and nieces and nephews.

William C. Greenlaw ’53, of Severna Park, Md.; Apr. 4. While at Brown, he joined the NROTC and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated with distinction and commissioned as an ensign. Upon discharge, he worked for the Department of Defense, Gould, Lockheed Martin, and then joined his wife selling real estate. He was an avid Navy supporter and longtime football season ticket holder, attending almost every home game since 1965. Later in life, he made it a point to attend as many grandsons’ sports games as he could, always filming from the sidelines. He also enjoyed playing bridge, reading historical books, and wood carving. He is survived by two daughters, a son, a son-in-law, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. 

Marilyn “Mitzi” Rice Bray ’53, of Walnut Creek, Calif.; Jun. 19. While at Brown, she met George Bray ’53 but would go on to attend nursing school at Yale and marry William McClanahan. She lived in France for two years and started a family with William. Upon returning to the U.S. and settling in California, she divorced, earned two graduate degrees, and became head of the Los Angeles High Blood Pressure Council. She attended her 25th Brown reunion and reconnected with George Bray, and they were married in 1982. In 1989, they moved to Baton Rouge for work at Pennington Biomedical Research Center of LSU and she played a major role in community activities that included organizing the Pennington docents. After 10 years they returned to California to be closer to family. She is survived by her husband, George; five children; and 13 grandchildren.  

Jane Fulton Street ’51, of Hingham, Mass.; Mar. 29. She had a long career teaching at schools in Massachusetts and was a basketball coach before retiring from Braintree High School. She was a charter member of the South Shore branch of the American Association of University Women for more than 55 years and an active member of Old Ship Church. She was a dedicated tennis and bridge player and enjoyed spending many summers on Martha’s Vineyard, her second home. She is survived by three children, six granddaughters, six great-grandchildren, a sister, and many nieces and nephews.  

Anthony H. Mariano ’51, of Saugus, Mass.; Mar. 26. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to matriculating at Brown. He had a long teaching career and retired from the Stoneham (Mass.) school system. He enjoyed gardening, playing cards and pool, and traveling. He is survived by his companion, Maggie Allen; three children; and a sister. 

Benjamin P. Eisenberg ’51, of Sarasota, Fla.; Apr. 6. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army stateside and in Korea and was an active reservist until 1964. He married in 1954 and joined his family’s retail business, Rathbun Outlet, until its closing in 1991. Afterward he co-owned Tikva Traditions in Providence with his daughter until he retired in 1996. He was a keen reader, a sports and music enthusiast, and a man of abiding faith. He volunteered throughout his life, most recently at Anchin Assisted Living and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, nine grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.

Joan Prince Cohen ’51, of Newton, Mass., and Scottsdale, Ariz.; Apr. 23. She was a founding member of the Wightman Tennis Center in Weston, Mass., and an avid doubles tennis player. She also was a supporter of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and was a member of Temple Israel, Boston, for many years. Before her husband died, she enjoyed traveling with him, especially throughout Europe. She is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. 

Zita Grant Brier ’51, of various cities in R.I.; Jun. 29. She worked as a research assistant to Dr. J. Walter Wilson at Brown and later as a travel agent at Fine Travel before cofounding Personnel People, a temporary placement company in Providence. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; two sons; a daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  

Maxine “Micki” Israel Balaban ’51, of West Haven, Conn.; May 4. She was involved in several Sock & Buskin theater productions and during her senior year she met her future husband (who predeceased her), Leonard “Red” Balaban ’51. After graduating, she accepted an English teaching position at Pembroke while Red took agricultural extension courses. They married and moved to Bonifay, Fla., to raise black Angus cattle for the next 15 years. In 1967 they moved to West Haven and she attended UConn, graduating with a degree in rehabilitation counseling, which led to work as a guidance counselor at Naugatuck High School for the next 17 years. She was a licensed Reiki practitioner and Gestalt therapist, led writing workshops for incarcerated men and women suffering from addiction, volunteered at an AIDS hospice, and founded a theater company, Theatre West. She is survived by three children, including daughter Rachel Balaban ’80; son Mike ’74; a daughter-in-law; son-in-law John Burnham ’78; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Joshua W. Weeks ’50, of Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of New York; Apr. 29. Following his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he matriculated at Brown and then worked in New York City as an investment banker for Blythe & Co. After 10 years he moved on to become vice president of finance for Howard Johnson Co. He retired in 1976 as a partner of Alex Brown & Sons. In 1977 he opened Weeks & Co. as a financial consultant advising such clients as General Foods and Nabisco. He enjoyed sailing and was a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club, the New York Yacht Club, the Pequot Yacht Club, the Sailfish Club of Florida, and Crocodile Men’s Lunch Club. He also enjoyed skiing and hockey. He is survived by his wife, Robin; two daughters; two sons; two daughters-in-law; nine grandchildren, including grandson Christopher L. Weeks ’99, ’03 ScM; and nine great-grandchildren.

Fletcher W. Ward ’50, of Highland Park, Tex.; May 19. He had a career in sales at Bethlehem Steel before working at Red Ball Motor Freight, eventually becoming president and owning his own company, Sweat, Inc. He volunteered with Junior Achievement and was a member of the Young Presidents Organization. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He enjoyed spending time in the mountains and family gatherings at his ranch and at the beaches in Rhode Island. He is survived by four children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and three stepsons and daughters-in-law. 

Charles F. McKeon ’49, of Northridge, Calif.; Apr. 20. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and then began his lifelong career as an aerospace engineer at Rocketdyne, now known as Boeing. While there, he met his future wife, Ruth, who predeceased him. He was a propulsion expert on the Atlas and Delta engines, which led to subsequent moon launches. He then applied his skills to new applications for propulsion hardware. He retired in 1990 but continued as a mentor and consultant at Boeing for many years. He was known for his humor and wit, and especially for the poems he would write to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or retirements. He enjoyed music and dancing. He is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

Richard L. Keats ’49, of Sands Point, N.Y.; Apr. 7, after a short illness. He had a career in the toy industry as the owner of Buddy L. He was a Navy veteran and he is survived by two daughters. 

Harry K. Sleicher ’48, of Wakefield, R.I.; Apr. 9. His business career was spent in the foundry industry and he was a past president of the New England Foundry Association. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was an active member of many service organizations and served as past senior warden of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, past president and zone chairman of the Johnston Lions Club, past commodore of the Wickford Yacht Club, and a former member of the East Greenwich Yacht Club. He enjoyed sailing the New England coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the islands of the Caribbean. He also spent time on Cranberry Lake (N.Y.), where he enjoyed hiking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. He is survived by daughters Cathy Williams ’75, Robin Seaberg ’77, and Wendy Bier ’90; two grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and niece Gretchen Sleicher ’79.

Lois Cole Creighton ’48, of Guilford, Conn.; May 10. She was a homemaker and later earned a master’s of education. She taught second grade at Calvin Leete Elementary School for 25 years. She was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Guilford, president of the Leete’s Island Garden Club, and a member of the Friends of the Guilford Library. She enjoyed swimming, entertaining, and activities at the Guilford Community Center. She is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Dean R. Staats ’46, ’48 AM, of Media, Pa.; Apr. 14. He was a retired actuary and a U.S. Navy World War II veteran. He enjoyed traveling, the arts, bowling, and tennis. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; a daughter-in-law; a grandson; and nieces and nephews.

Lorraine Adler Rosen ’45, of New York City; May 17. She worked at Filene’s and later volunteered at Charlton Memorial Hospital and managed her husband’s medical office. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a granddaughter, and a great-grandson.    

Henryk J. Bukowski ’40, of Falls Church, Va.; Apr. 18, just shy of his 104th birthday. A first generation American and true patriot, after graduating he entered the Army and was sent to to fight in the European theater during World War II. He was fluent in French, Polish, and English and was a helpful interpreter. He spent time in Siberia, Poland, France, and Germany training and learning. He served as an officer during the Korean War as well, and as a civil servant during the Vietnam War. As a veteran of three wars, he was appointed to the inaugural Senior Executive Services during the Carter administration. He retired from civil service and continued a daily regimen of running, push-ups, and sit-ups into his 90s. He also ran marathons and played tennis. He is survived by seven children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren.

Professor Lea E. Williams, of Providence; Aug. 9, 2023. He was a professor emeritus of history who introduced the subject of Asian history to the University in 1956 and taught the subject for close to three decades before his retirement in the late ’80s. After an injury in basic training in 1943 discharged him from active military service, he joined the U.S. Department of State. His assignment to China changed his life. Assigned to the wartime capital of Chongqing and, after the war, Shanghai, his work as U.S. vice consul included granting visas to European Jewish refugees who had settled in China in the ’30s. Shortly after his arrival in Chongqing, he met his future wife, Daisy Shen. Following his departure from China in September of 1949, he matriculated at Cornell, receiving his BA in the new field of East Asian History. He went on to Harvard for his doctoral work. In the early ’50s, he joined Clifford Geertz’s historic anthropological expedition to Indonesia, where he spent two years, followed by research in Amsterdam at the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, or Royal Tropical Institute. His academic focus centered on overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. He joined the Brown faculty in 1956, where he remained for the duration of his career, rising through the ranks to become a full professor of political science and later, a full professor of history. He founded the East Asian Studies Department, serving as its first chairman. During his tenure, he taught Brown’s introductory course on East Asian history, also giving numerous lectures at the U.S. Department of State, the former Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, the Fletcher School at Tufts, and the School for Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS) in London. He was a visiting professor at the University of Singapore (1961-1963), a Fulbright-Hays Fellow at the University of Malaysia (1966-1967), and was versed in nine languages, several of which he spoke fluently, including Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Dutch, and French. Brown’s Lea E. Williams Global Experiential and Teaching Award (GELT) was established in 2018 in his honor. An avid yachtsman, he spent summers sailing and racing in the waters around New England—when not renovating the 18th-century house he and his wife had bought on the East Side. He was a world traveler and an active member of the Providence Athenaeum for close to 50 years. After retiring in 1988, he served as a faculty lecturer on several Brown Travelers trips, as well as a guest lecturer for Society Expeditions that specialized in cruises to Antarctica and other remote and exotic destinations. He was predeceased by his wife, Daisy, and is survived by daughter Adrienne Covington ’77, ’77 AM ([email protected]); son William ’81; daughter-in-law Sally Mac Williams ’76; five grandchildren, including Caleb Williams ’14 and Isabelle Williams ’18; and two great-grandsons. 
 

Dorothy Y. Liu-Bottary ’17 MD, of Philadelphia; Feb. 22. She was a math teacher for Teach For America before earning her medical degree and completing her residency. She joined the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2023. She is survived by her husband, Ryan; her parents; and her siblings and their families. 

Michael L. Chang ’81 MD, of Sacramento, Calif.; Mar. 19. For more than 30 years he worked as an interventional cardiologist, first in San Francisco and then at Mercy Heart Institute/Dignity Health Hospitals in Sacramento. He served as medical director of the Cardiovascular Service for the Sacramento area and oversaw the introduction of many innovative cardiac procedures. He enjoyed running marathons with his wife, summiting mountains, playing golf, and traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four children; three grandchildren; and two sisters.

Dan C. DeBorde ’77 PhD, of Missoula, Mont.; Jan. 17. After serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, he graduated from Brown and taught at UCLA. After completing his post-doc at the University of Michigan, he moved to Missoula and he began a job teaching and researching microbiology and virology at the University of Montana before cofounding Endo Biologics Inc. He enjoyed making up stories, camping, fly-fishing, reading, and taking nature photos. He is survived by his wife, Kala Conway; two children; three grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.

Paul L. Zimmering ’71 MAT (see ’70).

John D. Riley ’71 MAT, of Cranston, R.I.; Feb. 16. He taught for 34 years at schools that included De La Salle Academy in Newport, North Smithfield High School, and Davies Career and Technical High School. At De La Salle, he served as JV baseball coach and director of the glee club. He was an administrative assistant to Congressman Edward P. Beard for six years and special assistant to Congressman Fernand St. Germain for four years. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and a son.

Jeffrey A. Kelman ’71 MMSc (see ’69).

Keith W. Dupree ’67 AM, of New Milford, Conn.; Mar. 16. He was employed as an Ameriprise financial planner and a math teacher at both Wilton High School and Horace Mann School. He was an avid runner for almost 57 years and a member of the Roxbury Runner’s Club and the Danbury Athlete’s Attic Running Club. He ran daily and participated in marathons until his late 60s. In addition to running, he was also a hiker, bicyclist, and enjoyed playing bridge. As a member of the Lions clubs in Newtown and New Milford, he volunteered at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House. He supported his church, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, as a past president and member for more than 50 years. He and his family spent time every summer at the Star Island spiritual retreat at the Isle of Shoals, a tradition carried on with his children and grandchildren. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Marie; a daughter; a son; and five grandchildren.

Raymond L. Randall ’66 AM, of Lincolnshire, Ill., formerly of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 27. He taught for 38 years and was the department chair of foreign language at Pilgrim High School in Warwick. He taught religious education for 15 years and served on numerous committees at Saint Peter Church. He volunteered at Roger Williams Park Zoo and earned the title of life docent. As a black belt, he enjoyed teaching judo, reading, and volunteering with youth. He is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. 

Geraldine Segal Foster ’66 MAT (see ’49).

Gary F. Caron ’66 MAT, of New Hartford, N.Y.; Mar. 21, after a long struggle with corticobasal degeneration. He was a high school math teacher in Red Hook, N.Y., before advancing his education at Brown. Following graduation, he had a long career in software engineering and retired from Lockheed Martin in 1997. He enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three daughters; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; and nieces and nephews. 

Sridhar K. Iya ’65 ScM, of Gig Harbor, Wash.; Mar. 15. In addition to earning a master’s from Brown, he earned a PhD from Penn State and had a 40+ year career as an engineer, starting with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1974, where he spent 13 years. In 1987 he became a U.S. citizen and began a long and distinguished career at Boeing. He worked on U.S. Department of Defense and NASA contracts with Boeing’s defense group, and in the 1990s he provided technical leadership on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. He was later recognized for outstanding performance after developing a highly innovative weapon system level assessment approach for subsystem optimization. During his career he authored numerous technical papers, received several industry awards, and was the holder of several U.S. patents. He contributed to publications that included the International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) aerospace reports and NASA tech briefs. He was the recipient of awards of recognition from NASA, SAE, and various other professional organizations. In the 2000s he worked as a tech leader at Boeing Phantom Works, which was focused on developing advanced military products and technologies, and he became an associate technical fellow. He retired from Boeing in 2013. He enjoyed traveling and visited six continents. He is survived by his wife, Malini, a daughter, and a son. 

John L. Butler ’62 ScM, of Cohasset, Mass.; Mar. 13. After graduating, he worked for various companies that were associated with air and underwater acoustic products, specifically related to the field of SONAR devices that transmitted and received acoustic energy. During this time, he completed a PhD in electrical engineering from Northeastern University. In the early 1970s his hobby was the design, building, and testing of home stereo loudspeaker systems, which grew into a position selling these systems to stereo Hi-Fi stores in the Boston area. In 1974, he opened Image Acoustics, Inc. and became a consultant in acoustics and sonar systems for the U.S. Navy and for companies that he had worked with prior. He coauthored a book titled Transducers and Arrays for Underwater Sound in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two daughters; two sons; a daughter-in-law; two sons-in-law; 10 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. 

Charles A. Peterson ’61 MAT, of Olympia, Wash.; Feb. 1. He was a science teacher for more than 30 years. He enjoyed singing, camping, and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two daughters; and four grandchildren. 

Robert E. Barton ’53 AM, of Westbrook, Me.; Mar. 8. After ROTC, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served two years as a paratrooper. He then served as a reservist for 28 years. He taught Latin at Bowdoin College before earning his master’s degree at Brown and then taught Latin at South Portland High School, Kimball Union Academy, and Lisbon High School. He retired in 1986. 

Jeremy M. Welland ’08, of Baltimore; Mar. 7, of a sudden heart attack. He taught himself to speak Chinese and Spanish, and, during Covid, how to play competitive chess. Originally from Canada, he was a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He enjoyed traveling and he is survived by his wife, Kehler Welland; a daughter; a son; his parents; two brothers and sisters-in-law; three nieces and a nephew. 

Sean P. Hopkins ’06, of Ardsley, Pa.; Mar. 9. After wrestling at Brown and graduating with a degree in history, he pursued work in the creative arts doing graphic design, website building, and media work. He enjoyed watching the Eagles and Phillies and was an avid history buff. He is survived by his parents, grandparents, three siblings and their spouses, three nieces, and two nephews. 

Jeffrey S. Brown ’00, of Sherborn, Mass.; Feb. 3. After receiving an MBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, he worked at Putnam Investments, Wellington Management, and John Hancock, now Manulife Investment Management. Most recently, he worked as head of content, private markets at Manulife. He was proud of earning the chartered financial analyst designation. Running was important to him and he ran half marathons regularly. He ran the Long Beach Marathon and the Boston Marathon in 2015. He climbed Mount Washington twice and enjoyed traveling. He enjoyed the opportunity to go to Asia for work earlier this year, as well as a memorable family trip to England in 2019. He was active in the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, where he served on the board of directors and was a worship associate. He is survived by his wife, Amanda; three children; his parents; a brother; a mother-in-law; three sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; a niece and nephews. 

David P. Follman ’97, of Schenectady, N.Y.; Feb. 12, of cancer. He received his master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara and worked for Thorlabs as a material scientist. He was an integral member of the Crooked Necked Giraffes softball team at UC Santa Barbara and maintained lifelong friendships. He enjoyed jazz music and was an avid Yankees fan. He is survived by his wife, Jenifer; three children; his parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law; and a brother and sister-in-law. 

Nicole R. Pope ’96, of Foster, R.I.; Mar. 9, of a brain aneurysm. She was a former director of government affairs for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and a member of the Johnston Planning Board. She is survived by a daughter and two sisters.

Lisa Payne Simon ’88, of Arlington, Mass.; Mar. 13, of cancer. She lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years prior to moving back to Massachusetts. In addition to being a devoted mother she was a public health advocate. She worked on projects in the U.S. and in developing nations that included time with the Coping Project in San Francisco at the height of the AIDS epidemic and coordinating projects to support caregivers and seniors that included the Memory Cafe Project and the Exhale Project of the philanthropic initiative of the Boston Foundation. She is survived by her husband, Dana; a daughter; a son; a sister; her mother-in-law; and cousins. 

Joseph B. “Joby” Bardetti ’88, of North Andover, Mass.; Jan. 24. He moved to Chicago to work as a creative director at the Leo Burnett advertising agency. While working in the marketing world, he also tried standup comedy and went on to become a headliner at some of Chicago’s top comedy clubs, including Zanie’s, and did guest spots in the Boston area when he visited. After many years on stage, he went on to become a cofounder and managing creative director of the Well advertising agency in Chicago. In 2004, he and his family moved back to Andover to help sell the family’s car dealership so his father could retire and they never left. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; three children; his mother; two sisters; two brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. 

Steven L. Herring ’79, of Mobile, Ala.; Mar. 25. He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his master’s in international relations at the Wharton School of Business in 1981. His professional career started in Washington and took him to Saudi Arabia, New York City, and San Francisco before he retired to Mobile. He never stopped learning or traveling worldwide and enjoying museums and libraries. He is survived by his mother, a brother, and a sister-in-law. 

Lawrence E. Berkman ’79, of Norwich, Conn.; Jan. 22. He was a dentist, practicing in Hope Valley, R.I., for 35 years with his hygienist wife, who predeceased him. He was a coin collector and enjoyed writing, planetary geology, astronomy, history, and family genealogy. He is survived by a daughter, a brother and sister-in-law, a niece, and an aunt and uncle. 

Gary W. Royal ’74, of Evans, Ga.; Jan. 21. He met his future wife during their freshman orientation week at Brown and married a week after graduation. After working for the U.S. Postal Service during his college years, he briefly sold life insurance in Ocala, Fla., before he transitioned to a research laboratory technician role in immunology at the University of Florida. They moved to the Baltimore-Washington area in 1978 and he worked in another immunology research lab in Baltimore, trained as an air traffic controller in Northern Virginia, but found his calling in computer science. He joined the National Security Agency as an intern in 1981 and during his career there specialized in various subdisciplines, ending up in finance and budget. In the mid-1990s, he moved his family to Evans, Ga., to work at Fort Gordon. He helped his wife to homeschool their children. After overcoming early skepticism, he made a decision to follow Christ and engaged in regular Bible study. He enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of the believers, teaching scripture, and participating in Bible study and prayer groups. In 2013, he was invited to join Gideons International, where he served as treasurer for the local camp and participated in numerous Bible distributions. He is survived by his wife, Catherine E. Stone Royal ’74; three children; and two brothers.

Mark J. Maguire ’74, of Nashville; Aug. 9, 2023, of heart failure. Upon graduating, he continued to work at Brown as a research assistant in the neuroscience department. In 1991, he transferred to Vanderbilt. In addition to being survived by a sister and brother William ’72, he will be mourned by the family of Mark Stublarec ’74, to whose son he was godfather, and Richard Fortinsky ’77 AM, ’84 PhD, who had a 40-year tradition of spending New Year’s with him. 

Michael “Mick” Anthony DiMartino ’74, of Kissimmee, Fla., formerly of Pacifica, Calif.; Feb. 14, after a battle with leukemia. He held various jobs that included teaching in a high school, tutoring, and working overnight shifts at an asylum, but his love of sports led to a career officiating volleyball, football, and softball, and to his future wife, whom he met while umpiring a game that her team was playing. They married and started a family. He was supportive of the many sporting events, theater productions, and recitals of his children. In 2021, they moved to Florida. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; a daughter; a son; brother Joseph ’70; and many nieces and nephews.

Marcia Spindell Lentz ’75, of East Providence, R.I.; Feb. 10, of pancreatic cancer. She was a board certified dance movement therapist and cofounder of the Expressive Therapy Center of R.I. In her later career she worked with patients at Eleanor Slater Hospital. She was an active member of Temple Emanu-El and former member of Temple Beth El. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, and music. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, two brothers, nieces, nephews, and her former husband, Jonathan Lentz. 

Richard J. Cureton ’73, of Riverton, N.J.; Mar. 7. He was an architect who began working at Continental Bank (Ill.), with Ballinger (Pa.), and finally with Whitesell Co. (N.J.), from which he retired as president. His designs can be seen throughout the infrastructure of South Jersey. He was a gifted public speaker and contributed to numerous charitable organizations, including serving as president emeritus of the YMCA Burlington County’s board of directors, chairman of the board for the South Jersey Food Bank, director of the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks, and guest lecturer at Drexel and Rutgers universities. He was the recipient of the 2005 good citizen award from the Boy Scouts of America. While at Brown he was captain of the men’s basketball team his senior year. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Riverton Country Club, serving as president from 2012 to 2013. He also enjoyed sailing, gardening, and fly-fishing. He is survived by his wife, Lynne; three children; two grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. 

Ernest H. Evans ’72, of Leavenworth, Kans.; Feb. 16. After Brown, he completed his PhD at MIT. His concentration was in terrorism throughout the world, which caused him to travel internationally to do research and interview members of terrorism cells. He was the author of several books, including Calling a Truce to Terror. After an internship with Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and working for the U.S. Armed Services Committee, he spent several years with the Brookings Institute before teaching at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., and then consulting with the War College in Leavenworth. During his later years he taught courses at Kansas City Kansas Community College. He was involved with local Catholic churches and the prison ministry. He always carried a pocketful of Saint Michael’s pendants (the patron saint of police officers), which he would give to local police officers. While in Leavenworth, he formed a special friendship with Sid Brown and the late Byron Maduska. They referred to themselves as the League of Extraordinary Geezers and treated themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken every Saturday at 11 a.m. He and Sid Brown held season tickets to the Kansas City Monarchs and enjoyed attending Nascar Races together in his convertible. He also enjoyed writing a column for The Leavenworth Times educating the community on politics, current events, and daily happenings. He is survived by a sister, a brother and sister-in-law, and nieces and nephews. 

Mary E. Barrie ’72, of La Canada, Calif., formerly of Los Angeles; Jan. 13, from pancreatic cancer. She went on to earn a master’s degree in library science from SUNY Albany and work as a law librarian for several years at Los Angeles law firms. After moving to La Canada, she served as chairman of the city’s Trails Master Plan committee helping to design the La Canada Trails Master Plan and the completion of a 15-mile trail circling the city. She helped spearhead the effort to preserve Cherry Canyon and then build the Ultimate Destination Trail and the Descanso Trail. She was a founding member of Friends of Hahamongna and recipient of the Doo Dah Parade Thorny Rose Award and Les Tupper Community Service Award. She enjoyed horses and was a longtime board member of Rose Bowl Riders. She is survived by her husband, Ted Stork; a daughter; a grandson; a sister; and a brother. 

Gregory P. Sabine ’71, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Massachusetts; Feb. 4. He was a talented football player and earned a quarterback position on the Cobras semi-professional Massachusetts team. After earning his master’s in education, he taught at Thayer Academy for more than 25 years. In addition, he spent time managing a glass business. He moved to Tucson in 2017 and was active in Passion Church and Christ Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Marian Paugh; four children, including Shane ’07; four grandchildren; and three siblings. 

Paul L.  “Zeke” Zimmering ’70, ’71 MAT, of New Orleans; Mar. 4, after a brief illness. He taught high school in Falls Church (Va.) for two years before moving to New Orleans to attend Tulane Law School, where he was a member of the Tulane Law Review. Upon graduating, he clerked for Justice John A. Dixon, Jr. on the Louisiana Supreme Court and then joined the firm of Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C. in 1977. For 28 years he taught courses on energy law and regulation at Tulane Law School on a pro bono basis. An avid sports fan, he followed New York professional sports teams all his life, but after moving to New Orleans, he became a season ticket holder of the Saints, the Pelicans, and Tulane football and baseball. He was known for bringing a scorecard to every Tulane baseball game he attended and recording each play, and he had a collection of bobble-head sports figures. He enjoyed running and ran his first New York City Marathon at 50 years old. He is survived by his wife, Martha; a stepdaughter; and three cousins. 

John P. Reopell ’70, of Warwick, R.I.; Jan. 18. He was a computer programmer and consultant at CAI for 42 years. He enjoyed reading, comics, traveling, hiking, and had a fondness for grizzly bears. He is survived by his wife, Melinda; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews. 

William Barringer ’70, of Washington, D.C.; Apr. 23, of cancer. After receiving his JD and LLM degrees from Georgetown, he rose to become the head of a group of international trade attorneys dedicated to the cause of free trade. He represented clients across four continents for more than five decades. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Otten; a daughter; a son; a daughter-in-law; and nine nieces and nephews. 

Gordon M.G. Strauss ’69, of Goshin, Ohio; Feb. 2, due to acute myeloid leukemia. After Brown, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years, including a year in Vietnam, for which he received a Meritorious Bronze Star. Following his military service, he earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati and practiced law for the next 40 years. In the beginning of his career he worked for the General Counsel to the Republican National Committee. He then worked both in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati representing candidates and political organizations. He was general counsel to the Ohio Republican Party that included Newt Gingrich as a client. He later worked in South Africa (a month before Nelson Mandela was elected) teaching political parties about the country’s new constitution and how to teach their members to vote. During this time, he was named parliamentarian for the committee on rules and order of business and served in four Republican national conventions. Afterwards, he worked with Hamilton County (Ohio) as an assistant prosecuting attorney and retired as a magistrate in probate court. In retirement he enjoyed farm life and handyman work. He would be involved in the Episcopal church wherever he was living at the time. He cofounded the Juvenile Detention Center ministry at Indian Hill Church (Cincinnati). During the last two years, while battling his disease, he trained to become a volunteer chaplain at Christ Hospital. He was a member of the Cammarian Club and Delta Upsilon. He is survived by his wife, Julie Burdick; a son; four grandchildren; a sister; brothers Victor ’70 and Geoffrey ’71; and niece Anne Alice Chagnot ’07. 

Jeffrey A. Kelman ’69, ’71 MMSc, of Washington, D.C.; Feb. 8. He was the chief medical officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He had been there since 2005 and helped implement the Part D program. Previously, he served as a senior medical advisor to the Congressional Budget Office. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and was on the staff of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; a daughter; a son and daughter-in-law; and a grandson.

Robert H. Dorin ’69, of Northampton, Mass.; Feb. 9. He worked in the software industry as an engineer, project manager, and industry analyst. He enjoyed traveling, the theater, music, and especially watching the New England sports teams. He is survived by his wife, Lesley Peebles; a daughter; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a sister; and a stepson. 

Ronald J. Verri ’67, of Warwick, R.I.; Feb. 4. He was an engineer by trade and began working with his father at Gem-Craft Inc., the family jewelry business, in 1973. He worked closely with his father making Gem-Craft what it is today, a creator of beautiful jewelry designs for many well-known fashion companies and fashion designers. He continued working up until his death. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three daughters; two sons-in-law; five grandchildren; two brothers, including Robert ’68; three sisters-in-law; and a brother-in-law.

Peter H. Staley ’67, of Henrico, Va.; Feb. 21. After Brown, he earned an MBA from NYU and had a successful career at IBM for 46 years. He held various executive positions both in the U.S. and Europe and traveled extensively. He was a board member for more than 51 years of the former IBM Credit Union. He excelled at trivia, puzzles, cards, and sports and in 1974 was on the 11th Annual Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. He also enjoyed playing golf at the Dominion Club and once played at Pebble Beach. He is survived by his wife, Roberta; two sons; two stepchildren; two grandchildren; and a brother. 

John F. Norwell ’67, of Walpole, Mass.; Feb. 17. A well-known hockey player in his high school, he continued playing for Brown’s men’s hockey team and in his sophomore year made it to the “Frozen Four.” In his senior year he was part of the team that won the All Ivy championship. After graduating, he continued his hockey career playing in the New England League for the Walpole Sweepers, the Framingham Pics, and the Lowell Chiefs. In 1970, he partnered with a colleague to purchase and operate the Sunoco Gas Station on Route 1A in Walpole Center. In 1973 he changed career paths, taking a sales position with Sentry Insurance. He opened his own insurance agency, partnering with his brother Peter to form Norwell and Norwell Insurance Agency in 1984. He continued skating in men’s leagues and regularly organized tournaments throughout the country. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifelong member at Walpole Country Club, winning the title of club champion in 1980, and in the same year winning the Boston Globe Golf Tournament. He also enjoyed snow skiing. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; two grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews. 

David M. Holbrook ’67, of Cincinnati; Mar. 21. He was a retired real estate broker and small business owner. He enjoyed sailing, fast cars, and old movies. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; and a brother. 

Walter “Bud” Becker ’65, of Flemington, N.J.; Feb. 1, of metastatic melanoma. After graduating from Brown, where he played baseball and basketball, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and became a Morse code instructor. After his military service he entered a selective executive training program at IBM. He later joined Informatics General Corporation, a software services firm, where he had a successful career that led to him starting his own software consulting company, Global Computer Associates, from which he retired in 2010. He took courses at Princeton during his retirement and enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound and Chesapeake Bay. He is survived by his wife, Lynn; two sisters; a brother-in-law; three aunts; a niece; and three nephews. 

John R. “Jack” Marquis ’65, of Holland, Mich.; Feb. 25. He earned his JD from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and was admitted to the Ohio andMichigan bar associations. He later earned a master’s in taxation at Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, where he became adjunct professor of taxation from 1984 to 2000—earning the Accounting Alumni Hall of Fame award in 1990—then adjunct professor of business law at Hope College from 2001 to 2003. He was a partner in the law firm of Ten Cate, Townsend & Cunningham, started his own practice, then joined Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, where he was a partner for more than 25 years. At the time of his death, he was of counsel at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge. For 40 years he practiced health, business, real estate, and tax law and developed a specialty in concierge medicine that helped physicians across the country establish their practices. He was the Holland Hospital attorney for more than 45 years and supported his community through civic service to many organizations. He also served in the Army National Guard. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the 1989 Holland Area Chamber of Commerce distinguished service award. During the 1980s, he spent years with his daughter raising, training, and showing quarter horses and was president of the Holland Western Saddle Club. He also enjoyed tennis, downhill skiing, sailing, boating, and golf. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; a daughter and son-in-law; two grandchildren; a sister; a niece; and a nephew. 

Edward H. Zinn III ’64, of Toledo, Ohio; Jan. 25. After Brown he earned an MBA from the Wharton School (U. Penn.). He worked as a market researcher for Armstrong World Industries, in Lancaster (Pa.) from 1966 until 1979, when he was hired by Owens Corning. He retired in 1998 as director of global business research. In retirement, he was active in the nonprofit Sylvania Community Services, where he served as president of the board of trustees. Over the years, he volunteered as a soccer coach for youth recreational leagues in Sylvania and he enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading, and playing golf and tennis. He is survived by his companion, Carol Morrison; a daughter and son-in-law; son David ’08 MD; a daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; a brother; and a sister-in-law. 

Joseph A. Nardino ’64, of Arlington, Va.; Apr. 3. He was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Vietnam veteran. Following a distinguished military career, he worked in security consulting. He is survived by his wife, Joann; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; and a granddaughter. 

Ann Snell Mecherle ’64, of Beaufort, S.C.; Feb. 12. She was active in the community, serving with HELP of Beaufort, chairing the board of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, and as a member of the board of Beaufort Academy. She is survived by her husband, Ramond ’63; two sons and daughters-in-law; and eight grandchildren. 

Edward K. Kaplan ’64, of West Newton, Mass.; Feb. 7. He is survived by his wife, Eugenia; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including Jeremy ’93, ’94 MAT, and daughters-in-law; and eight grandchildren. 

G. Stephen Jizmagian ’64, of San Francisco; Dec. 6. After earning his PhD from Stanford University, he was a financial analyst and started his own businesses, SJ Capital and GSJ Associates. In his 30s, he became a professional race car driver, excelling in the Formula Atlantic Series. He was a member of the Olympic Club for more than 50 years and served as club president in 1989. He enjoyed playing golf, squash, and tennis. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a daughter and son-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; and five grandchildren. 

Donald A. Bailey ’64, of Coconut Creek, Fla., formerly of Galveston, Tex.; Oct. 16. After Brown, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He went on to have a long career consisting of investment banking and entrepreneurship before an oil industry opportunity was introduced to him and he moved to Texas. In 2017 he moved to Coconut Creek. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins. He was proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed visiting Ireland numerous times. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; four sons and daughters-in-law; nine grandchildren; and a stepbrother. 

Antone “Gerry” Singsen III ’64, of Lincoln, Mass.; Mar. 1. After graduating from Columbia Law School, he clerked for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, then began service as a staff attorney and Reginald Heber Smith Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. He was a leader in managing and ensuring funding for civil legal services for the poor. He helped to start up the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), where he helped establish a funding policy that guided the expansion of federal civil legal services and served as vice president for finance and management from 1979 to 1982. He was a lecturer at Harvard Law from 1983 to 1994 while remaining a consultant with LSC and other legal aid organizations. He wrote more than 28 articles on all aspects of legal services for the poor and published High Quality Legal Representation: The Fundamental Goal for Legal Services for the Poor. Together with his wife, he formed Singsen and Tyrrell Associates, a professional training organization that helped to improve agencies’ financial and program management performance. He led the state planning effort that informed the creation of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission in 2005 and served as consultant to the commission until he retired in 2016. Under his guidance, the commission increased funding for Massachusetts programs and identified best practices for systemic advocacy, intake, screening, and hotline processes, as well as for fundraising, social service partnerships, court-based service centers, and expanding the civil right to counsel. The commission was often recognized as a national model. In 2012, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association awarded him the Denison Ray Award for dedicating his professional life to equal justice for the poor, and in 2017 he received a lifetime service award from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, as well as a special Access to Justice Award. At the time of his death, he had completed the first draft of Making Legal Services Count, a forthcoming memoir chronicling his lifetime of contributions to equal justice for all. He is survived by his wife, Jayne Tyrrell; two daughters, including Molly Singsen Richter ’93; two grandchildren; six siblings and their spouses; and nine nieces and nephews. 
 

R. David Drucker ’63, of Dover, N.H.; Dec. 23. Throughout his career he held numerous jobs, including a time on Wall Street doing stock retrieval and receipts. He was a DJ at a classical radio station, investigated the pyramids in Teotihuacan, Mexico, taught college classes at SUNY Geneseo, completed radio carbon dating investigations on countless objects at Geochron Laboratories, and worked as a museum director at the Oneida Indian Museum and the Chenango County Historical Society. He was a longtime member of Rotary, serving in both New York and New Hampshire. As a Rotarian, he enjoyed reading with first and second graders at a local elementary school and distributing dictionaries to students. He enjoyed poetry and challenged himself to write a poem a day for several years. He self-published The Mary Poems about his late wife. He also enjoyed singing in the Community Chorus of South Berwick and sailing. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son, three grandchildren, and a sister. 

Robert B. Colburn ’63, of Old Lyme, Conn.; Dec. 22, after a brief illness. After Brown he taught American literature at the Hackley School in New York before ending up at Sports Illustrated in the mid-’60s. While there he met his future wife Barbara (“BJ”), to whom he was married for more than 50 years before her passing. With Sports Illustrated he traveled the world covering the Olympic Games and the World Series. After marrying BJ in 1973, they moved to Connecticut and ran the Olin Ski Company for many years. His career continued in sports with long stints in the hockey and lacrosse industries with Nike, Bauer, and Combat. He enjoyed making people laugh, traveling, visiting restaurants all over the world, and spending time with family at home. He is survived by three children and three grandchildren.

Barry R. Bainton ’63, of Barrington, R.I., Mar. 11. After graduating from Brown he joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Peru for two years. Upon return to the U.S., he enrolled at the University of Arizona and earned a PhD in anthropology. He also earned a master’s degree in international business from Thunderbird Global Business School of ASU. He lived in Arizona for 20 years and worked with the Tohono O’odham (formerly Papago) and Pima Native American tribes, providing legal services, grant writing, and research. He also continued to work with USAID, including a project in Yemen, through which he learned Arabic. He moved back to Rhode Island in the 1990s and joined the First Baptist Church of Providence, where he met his wife, Jeanne Kolb, who survives him. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, a niece, three nephews, a stepdaughter, two stepsons, and step-grandchildren. 

Peter A. Papadopoulos ’62, of Windsor, Conn.; Jan. 21. After Brown, he had marketing jobs at Procter & Gamble and the Heublein liquor company, where he rose to vice president of marketing, overseeing a portfolio that included Smirnoff vodka. During his five-decade career he also was a marketing consultant for Bacardi Rum and developed a taste for an early evening martini ritual that he carried out until his health deteriorated last year. He enjoyed gambling, particularly horse races held at Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) and Lincoln Downs (R.I.). He documented all the obstacles that arose in his life in his 2012 autobiography Against All Odds, Memoirs of a Longshot. He ran marathons, rolled dolmades, tended to his tomato garden, made hand-crafted Christmas gifts for his kids, enjoyed pickup basketball games, solved crossword puzzles, and played cribbage, bridge, and chess. He is survived by his wife, Claudia; five children; 13 grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law; and his former wife, Josephine Marchetti.

Linda H. Newman ’62, of Madison, Wisc.; Dec. 28, following a stroke. After graduation she moved to Madison to pursue a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. While there, she met and married Kenneth R. Bowling, a fellow graduate student. After earning a master’s degree she began a long career as an academic advisor in the UW history department. She later joined the School of Education academic services office as assistant dean and advisor. In 2000, she was the recipient of the school’s Ann Wallace Academic Staff Distinguished Achievement Award. She was an active participant at the university and served on many committees related to academic staff issues, including a term as the chair of the Academic Staff Executive Committee. After retiring in 2007, she worked part-time with the campus ombuds office and worked toward a graduate degree in religious studies at Edgewood College. She served on the steering committees of both Grace Episcopal and Lake Edge Lutheran churches and was involved with Just Dane (formerly Madison Urban Ministry), where she served as both board member and chair. She is survived by her longtime partner, Barbara Gerloff; a son and daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; a brother; two nieces; and Barbara’s family. 

Samuel G. Friedman Jr. ’62, of Saint Simons Island, Ga.; Jan. 3. He worked for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in New York before joining the New Jersey Air National Guard. After finishing basic training, he moved to Atlanta and worked for Amoco Oil Company. He continued his education, earning an MBA from Georgia State, taught as an adjunct professor and developed a passion for real estate. He worked with Cousins Properties for several years and in 1971 founded a commercial real estate company named AFCO Realty. He served on and eventually chaired the Atlanta Housing Authority Board. He was a founding chairman of the Path Foundation. He served on the board of the Atlanta Kiwanis Club and was awarded the Kiwanis Golden Rule Award. He also chaired the United Service Organizations committee for many years. He was a founding director of the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Ga., and upon his retirement from that service he was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice, which is the highest award the U.S. Army gives to civilians. In his 40s he earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying, running, hiking, biking, fishing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Susan; five children; and eight grandchildren. 

Ronald A. DeLellis ’62, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 10. Emeritus professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Brown and consultant in pathology and laboratory medicine for Lifespan. He joined the Brown faculty in 2001 after serving as vice chairman and director of anatomic pathology at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and professor of pathology at Cornell University Medical College. He received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency training in pathology at Mass General and the National Cancer Institute. His subspecialty was in the area of endocrine pathology. He was an author and collaborator on numerous journal articles and book chapters and served in a senior editorial role for the 2004 World Health Organization classification of endocrine tumors. He lectured and was regularly invited to speak at conferences. He served in leadership roles in various scientific organizations, including the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and was a contributor and board member of the American Registry of Pathology. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Endocrine Pathology Society, which honored him with the society’s lifetime achievement award in 2021. A perpetual learner, he and his wife, Dolores Capobianco DeLellis ’62, participated in online courses through the Lifelong Learning Collaborative. They were generous supporters of the arts and education. He enjoyed cooking with his grandchildren, gardening, and music, especially opera. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children and two grandchildren.

Tristram D. Coffin ’62, of Lakewood, Colo.; Jan. 18, of congestive heart failure. When he wasn’t working as a management consultant, he enjoyed entertaining others. He played the accordion well into his 70s and it was said that he played at parties while at Brown and never had to pay for a beer. He was a member of Sigma Chi and remained friends with several of his fraternity brothers throughout his life. He enjoyed outdoor activities, including downhill skiing, hiking, camping, and canoeing. In his later years, he liked going for drives in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, playing Scrabble, and attending Sunday services at the Mile Hi Church in Lakewood. He remained actively involved with the Colorado Chapter of the Institute of Management Consultants, where he served as a member of the board of directors. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons; two stepsons; and his brother Howard ’61.

Kenneth D. Burrows ’62, of New York City; Dec. 14, after battling Parkinson’s disease and lung complications. He graduated from Fordham Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1971 and to the Connecticut Bar in 1993. He practiced family law in New York City for more than 50 years and was a member of the New York City Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and numerous other committees and associations. He had a love for languages, was fluent in French, and enjoyed traveling the world. He is survived by his wife, Erica Mann Jong; two stepdaughters; four grandchildren; and a brother. 

Patricia “Tish” Pinney Walker ’61, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Feb. 26. She was a homemaker and enjoyed breeding and showing dogs. She was a past president of the German Shepherd Club. She is survived by her husband, Bob; two sons; a daughter-in-law; 

Ann Gail Scacciotti Shahinian ’61, of Carlisle, Mass.; formerly of East Greenwich, R.I.; Mar. 6. She completed graduate studies at Boston College and taught at Sarah Dyer Barnes School in Johnston, R.I. After marrying in 1966, she moved to Italy while her husband completed medical school. Upon returning to the U.S., they settled in East Greenwich and she became involved with Our Lady of Mercy School, eventually becoming principal. After 40 years, they moved to Carlisle to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading and puzzles. She is survived by her husband, Thomas; daughters Bethany A. Richman ’92 and Karen A. Shahinian ’93; son-in-law Michael Richman ’92; four grandchildren; and a sister. 

Peter H. Hurley ’61, of Providence, R.I.; Jan. 24. He was a longtime real estate broker. He was a member of the University Club and the Rhody Oldies Hockey Club. He is survived by three sons, two grandchildren, a sister, and two brothers. 

Peter P. Green ’61, of Coral Springs, Fla.; formerly of Moorestown, N.J.; Feb. 10. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law and was a cofounder and managing partner of the law firm Green, Lundgren & Ryan in Haddonfield, N.J. He practiced law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Supreme Court. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two daughters; a son; and a son-in-law. 

Thomas L. Cracas ’61, of Staunton, Va., formerly of Kent, Conn.; Mar. 4. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he enrolled at Brown and met his future wife, Karen Marie Jarratt, who predeceased him. Upon graduating, he had a long career as a high school Latin teacher and coach. His career began at Brooks School (Mass.), followed by time at Blair Academy (N.J.), culminating at Kent School (Conn.). At Kent, he coached freshman football, junior varsity basketball, and girls varsity basketball. He also coached Little League baseball for the town of Kent. In 1979, he earned his MBA from UConn and subsequently served as land manager for Kent School overseeing two campuses, an equestrian center, hay harvesting operations, and the transplanting of blueberry bushes gifted to Kent School by Henry Kissinger, while continuing to teach. He served in leadership positions for the American Classical League and the Classical Association of Connecticut. He retired to Virginia in 1999 and was active in Trinity Episcopal Church, Friends of the Library, and the Staunton Rotary Club, where he was secretary for 10 years. He is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, and two brothers and sisters-in-law. 

Eugenia Bruno Spencer ’60, of Wakefield, R.I.; Mar. 4, after a short illness. She had been a social worker at the Health Center of South County in Wakefield, where she served the community for more than two decades before retiring in the early 2000s. After graduating from Brown, she married a naval officer and lived in the Panama Canal area and New York City before returning to Rhode Island. During that time, she developed an interest in dance, particularly classical ballet, modern dance, and choreography, which she then studied. For many years she enjoyed annual trips to see the New York City Ballet. As a reverend’s wife, she also shared in the ministry and mission of the church. She enjoyed cooking and gardening and was known for her tomatoes that she made sauce from and shared. During the Christmas season, family and friends enjoyed her cookies and eggnog. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, and a sister. 

Linda Ceperly Smith ’60, of New Providence, N.J.; Feb. 9. While attending Pembroke, she met her future husband, Doug Smith ’60, who survives her. He pursued an MBA at Columbia University while she worked at various clerical positions in New York City. In 1970, they moved to Toledo for Doug’s work and she spent the next 16 years there raising a family, volunteering with Meals on Wheels, and pursuing many hobbies. In 1980, she earned her PhD in psychology at the University of Toledo. They moved two additional times before settling in New Jersey. She worked at Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, evaluating and supporting adolescents and adults suffering from head injuries. Once retired, she and Doug traveled the world together. She took up the piano and volunteered as an ESL tutor. She also enjoyed working in her garden. They moved to the Lantern Hill Senior Living Community in December 2019 and she took part in the many classes and reading groups that Lantern Hill provided. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Marci Smith Brand ’84; a son and daughter-in-law; and two granddaughters. 

Linda Buchman Allen ’60, of Wayland, Mass.; Feb. 10, from metastatic breast cancer. After earning a master’s from Lesley University, she married and moved to Duxbury, where she was appointed president of the Duxbury Art Association. She was known for her pastel portraits, teaching portrait classes for adults and high school students, and exhibiting her work locally. She was diagnosed in 1985 with breast cancer that later metastasized and there were additional health challenges throughout her lifetime, but she cherished each day with a positive approach. She took solace in the fact that her two granddaughters were born and were her guardian angels. In 1992, she began swimming daily in Walden Pond and developed a passion for photographing its foliage and wildlife. Walden Pond became her healing place and she exhibited her work at the Tsongas Gallery. She spent several years counseling adolescents in both a clinical and school setting, followed by working as a surgical liaison at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, where she provided counseling and support to patients and their families facing terminal diagnoses and going through the dying process. She was a member of the Deaconess Bioethics Committee and was proud to have been a participant in the film When Breast Cancer Comes Back: Skills for Living. She was a presenter at the American College of Oncology Administrators Second Annual Symposium and instrumental in the development of a course on death and dying at Harvard Medical School. Phi Beta Kappa. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, and two granddaughters. 

Dennis S. Moore ’60, of Princeton, Mass.; Feb. 25. During his 40-year working career, he was employed at J.B. Lowell, Inc., the Draper Corporation, the Norton Company, Tambrands, Inc., and Sheppard Envelope. He was a competitive tennis player and a member and officer of tennis clubs in Princeton and Worcester. He is survived by his wife, Anne; a daughter; two sons; a daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; and four siblings. 

Reid Higgins ’60, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of Cotuit, Mass.; Mar. 8. He held positions with the Atlantic Richfield Company and the United Gas Improvement Company as an assistant director of personnel, then went on to create and head the personnel department at Wellington Management Company, where he rose to vice president. He was transferred to Wellington’s Boston office in 1975, and he and his family lived in their summer home in Cotuit as year-round residents. He enjoyed wood carving, and, following his retirement from Wellington in 1989, turned his hobby into a second career selling carved birds at shops and craft fairs. He taught an annual seminar on bird carving in Cotuit. In his later years his focus shifted to watercolor paintings, mostly nautical and pastoral scenes and shorebirds. He is survived by his wife, Len; four children and their spouses; 11 grandchildren; and his former wife, Joanie Higgins. 

Ronald P. Formisano ’60, of Lexington, Ky.; Feb. 20, following a period of declining health. After earning his PhD from Wayne State University, his career included professorships at Wayne State University, Clark University, the University of Rochester, the University of Florida, and the University of Kentucky, from which he retired as the William T. Bryan chair. Additionally, he held Fulbright appointments in Rome and at the University of Bologna. He was the author of ten scholarly books and, in retirement, began writing fiction, authoring three detective novels featuring his characters Nathaniel Thorne and Dante Steele. He was a talented chef, a sommelier, and enjoyed playing tennis and sailing, especially at his home on Chebeague Island, Me. He is survived by his wife, Erica; a daughter; and a son. 

Albert E. Easton ’60, of Slingerlands, N.Y.; Feb. 2, from prostate cancer. He began an actuarial career in 1960 and in 1966 became a fellow of the Society of Actuaries. In 1969, he accepted a position as actuary at the Berkshire Life Insurance Company in Pittsfield, Mass., and rose to vice president. He was a deacon and choir member at South Congregational Church, where he also helped lead the youth fellowship groups. He was a 50-year member of the Monday Evening Club and volunteered with the Salvation Army, the Girl Scouts, and Rotary International. He served as president of the United Way of Pittsfield from 1979 to 1981, and was awarded the Robert K. Agar J. Volunteerism Award. He sang tenor in the Berkshire Concert Choir. In 1986, he and his family moved to Chicago and he became the director of examinations for the Society of Actuaries. He later led the Albany office of Milliman & Robertson and settled in Slingerlands. There he was involved in Rotary International, serving a term as president of the Albany chapter. He sang with the Mendelssohn Club, and he joined the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as treasurer, deacon, and choir member until 2022. With the Rotary, he traveled to Honduras and helped build houses and wells. He also coauthored two editions of Actuarial Aspects of Individual Life Insurance and Annuity Contracts and taught a class on the text to actuaries in Romania. He retired in 2002 from Milliman & Robertson. He is survived by two daughters, including Nancy Easton ’86; two sons-in-law; a son and daughter-in-law; a grandson; a sister and brother-in-law; brother Nicholas ’72; and a sister-in-law.

Donald R. Combs ’60 of Freeport, N.Y.; Jan. 14. He proudly served 28 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a pilot. During his service, he was an instructor pilot at Moody Air Force Base and served multiple tours in Vietnam. He also worked for more than four years at Lockheed Martin establishing and instructing the air ground operations school in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia. He received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. In retirement, he managed the Seadrift Restaurant in Crestview, Fla. He enjoyed woodworking, especially making furniture for his children and special crafts for his grandchildren. He is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, a great-grandson, a sister, and eight nieces and nephews.

Stuart S. Berman ’60, of Lawrenceville, N.J.; Mar. 20. He graduated from Columbia Law and began working at the Federal Reserve before becoming assistant general counsel at Prime Motor Inns, now Prime Hospitality. He retired as in-house general counsel of Hillsborough Associates. He was an advocate for those affected by Gaucher disease, a condition he personally battled, and he supported the Gaucher Disease Center at NYU. He worked for a short period as a New York City taxi driver and was a veteran of the Navy Reserve JAG. He enjoyed sailing and traveling, attending the Yankees opening day each year and traveling to Florida for their spring training. He also enjoyed solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. He is survived by his wife, Judith; a son and daughter-in-law; a stepdaughter and son-in-law; a granddaughter; and brother Robert ’64.

Linda L. Davis Williams ’59, of Pearsall, Tex.; Feb. 26. While working at American Airlines she met her future husband. They married and settled in San Antonio on a family ranch. After three years they moved to Pearsall and she taught language arts for 27 years. An avid bridge player, she earned the grand life master title and taught weekly bridge lessons and played at the San Antonio Country Club. She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. 

Carole Fishbain Liebson ’59, of Wilmette, Ill.; Dec. 16. After earning a master’s in linguistics at Northeastern Illinois University, she taught ​in elementary school; worked at Holt, Rinehart, and Winston publishers in New York (1965-1968); and taught ESL at Truman College, Chicago. An avid reader and collector of foreign language and American political science books, she also enjoyed gardening and was a patron of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. She is survived by her husband, Philip; two sons; and three grandchildren. 

Deborah Theisen Clough ’59, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Boston.; Feb. 25. She was a legal assistant with the law firm of Foley Hoag in Boston for 30 years before retiring to Florida. She was an avid tennis player and instructor and also enjoyed playing golf. She is survived by two daughters, a son and daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, 11 grandchildren, and two sisters. 

Anne Shrednik Vickery ’58, of Boulder, Colo.; Dec. 16. For many years she worked for the Colorado Mountain Club. She cofounded the Indian Peaks working group and was a founding member of the Colorado Fourteeners initiative. An avid hiker, she climbed all of Colorado’s 14ers (some multiple times). Music and folk dancing were also her passions and she devoted her time to the Boulder Creek Festival to showcase folk dancing and singing. She is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. 

Hugo R. Mainelli Jr. ’58, of Narragansett, R.I.; Jan. 29. He was a retired business owner. He was very proud of his single goal as a member of the Brown hockey team (“One Goal Hughie”), as well as his hole-in-one at Pine Valley Golf Club (while shooting 109). He was an active supporter of the Brown Sports Foundation and a member of the Dunes Club and Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, the University Club and Hope Club in Providence, and the Royal Poinciana Club in Naples, Fla. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, entertaining, and traveling, especially to Italy. He also enjoyed watching any sporting event that involved Brown. He is survived by six children and their spouses, including daughter Kathryn Mainelli Nani ’86; four grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law; and a sister-in-law. 

Paul Johnson ’58, of Guilford, Conn.; Feb. 6. After graduating he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy and was married. He then graduated from UConn law school in 1966 and was employed by the First New Haven National Bank until 1971, resigning when he was elected president and CEO of Connecticut Savings Bank. He remained in that office for the next 20 years. In 1991, at the invitation of the Hon. Guido Calabresi, he became assistant to the dean and director of the campaign for Yale Law School. In 1994, he became the president and CEO of the Gaylord Hospital, in Wallingford, Conn., retiring in 2001. He was an active Connecticut resident serving on numerous corporate boards. He also was an emeritus member of Brown’s Corporation. An avid golfer, he played competitively later in life and won senior championships at New Haven Country Club and Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club. Most pleasing to him was winning a father/daughter and member/guest championship with his daughter and son, respectively. He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn; three children, including son Philip ’87; two daughters-in-law, including Stephanie Maggart Johnson ’88; a son-in-law; and seven grandchildren. 

John E. Games ’58, of Granby, Conn.; Dec. 25. He completed a master’s degree in engineering from the Rensselaer Hartford Graduate Center and was employed for many years at Hamilton Standard, where he was awarded multiple patents for jet engine control systems. He had a wood shop in his basement and enjoyed making furniture for friends and family. In addition to enjoying photography and poetry, he discovered songwriting and wrote and sang several songs he posted on YouTube. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

R. Bruce Brougham ’58, of Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Feb. 14. He was a retired managing director of JP Morgan Chase & Co. He enjoyed singing in St. Anne’s Episcopal Church choir and was a member of the Bridgehampton Club. He is survived by his wife, Martha; a son; a sister; a niece; and three nephews. 

Kenneth P. Borden ’58, of North Scituate, R.I.; Dec. 23. He graduated from Columbia Law in 1961 and started practicing at Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney in 1962. He retired at the end of 2005 as senior partner. In 1985, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers Association. He served in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve as a first lieutenant in the JAG. In Scituate, he served as president of the Ponaganset unit of the American Cancer Society and on the board of directors of North West Mental Health, and he was a member of the North Scituate Zoning Board for 28 years. He was also a member of the University Club in Providence and the Providence Rotary Club, where he served as a trustee of the Rotary Charities Foundation and also for a term as club secretary. He enjoyed pistol shooting, amateur radio, photography, and computers. He is survived by his wife, Pamela; a son and daughter-in-law; and two grandchildren. 

Robert Erler ’57, of Windham, N.H., formerly of Haverhill, Mass.; Jan. 29. For 35 years he was employed with Western Electric and for 20 years he was involved with his family balsam fir Christmas tree, wreath, and kissing ball business, which included a roadside flower and vegetable stand. In 1996, he retired as captain of the Ayers Village Volunteer Fire Department. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served both active duty and in the reserves. He and his wife, Carolyn, who survives him, moved to Windham in 1999. He is also survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two sons and daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. 

Stephen T. White ’56, of Brunswick, Me.; Feb. 23. Shortly after earning a master’s degree from UC Berkeley, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving for two years. Upon discharge, he taught for a short time in the Scituate public school system. In 1961, he accepted a position at Bancroft School in Worcester, Mass., teaching English literature to upper school students, and he retired 47 years later at the age of 74, having taught some of his former students’ grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling, hiking in the San Juan Mountains, horseback riding, and spending time at their condo in Colorado and cottage in Maine. He is survived by his wife, Clare Hayden White ’56, and daughter Elizabeth Kelsey ’83. 

John A. Smith Jr. ’56, of Palm Harbor, Fla.; Feb. 7, of congestive heart failure. Having been in the NROTC program at Brown, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy upon graduating. He served for 24 years and rose to the rank of Commander. During his military career he was awarded many medals, including the commendation medal. He and his family lived in many states, as well as in Japan for three years. During his last tour of duty in Philadelphia he bought a home in Cherry Hill, N.J., where they lived for 33 years. After retiring, he had a second career in the aerospace industry for 16 more years. He owned a sailboat and enjoyed sailing in the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay near Cape May, N.J. He was a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Cape May for 30 years and a former member of the Union League of Philadelphia, where he participated in the glee club. He enjoyed singing and had an amazing memory for lyrics. His wife especially enjoyed his love songs that he continued to sing to her right up to his last few days. In 2005, while vacationing in Florida, they bought a condo. A lifestyle of golf, cocktail parties and dances, making friends, and enjoying the sunshine ensued for 19 years.They leased an apartment in N.J. to see their family frequently and be with their friends at the Weston Club, as well as with old friends in and around Cherry Hill and Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children and their spouses; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Philip R. Mehler ’56, of Manalapan, Fla., formerly of Scarsdale, N.Y.; Mar. 11. He had a long career in the commercial real estate industry that began at Cross & Brown and led to him starting his own firm, Philip Mehler Realty, Inc. He was a former member of Brown’s tennis team and remained involved with Brown’s Sports Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Carol; a daughter and son-in-law; son Rick ’93 and his wife; and five grandchildren. 

Sylvia Rosen Baumgarten ’55, of La Jolla, Calif., formerly of New York City; Feb. 1, of lung cancer. She was an author, a raconteuse, “queen bee” of the bridal salon, and “Maw,” says her son. She had a million expressions for every occasion and died wearing her favorite sweatshirt, which read, “I’m not bossy. I just know what you should be doing.” From 1982 to 2015 under the pen names Ena Halliday, Louisa Rawlings, and Sylvia Halliday, she wrote for a variety of publishers, including Pocket Books, Harlequin, Kensington Publishing, and Diversion Books. She authored 15 historical romance novels that were highly praised and translated into multiple languages. In addition, she received several awards for her writing, including 1986 and 1987 Gold Medallion Finalist awards from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), a 1989 Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine, and she was a 1994 RWA RITA Award Finalist. Later on, continuing in the romance sector, she took a job as a wedding gown saleswoman in New York City. She was president of the Romance Writers of America New York City chapter. She played the piano and was a fan of theater, opera, ballet, and classical music. She also enjoyed words and word play and had a Sunday crossword published in the New York Times on July 4, 1971. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of trivia and was a contestant on the game shows Jeopardy! and Who, What, or Where Game. In her 80s, she started a blog titled “Life Lessons from an Old Bitch,” which consisted of a mix of reminiscences, nostalgia, commentary on society, and advice for younger generations. She moved to Atria La Jolla senior independent living in San Diego in 2020 to be close to her daughter and, while there, wrote for and edited the Atria newsletter and participated in play readings. She signed her letters and emails to her children as Maw. She is survived by four children, including sons Fredrick Baumgarten ’79 and Roger Baumgarten ’82; daughter-in-law Barrett Sheridan ’82; sister Deena Rosen Mazer ’62; brothers-in-law Joel Baumgarten ’59 and Samuel Baumgarten ’65; niece Deborah Baumgarten ’85, and former husband Sidney Baumgarten ’54. 

Diane Aspinall Parker ’55, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., formerly of New York City; Feb. 10. She graduated from Brown and RISD, then had a long career in the New York garment district designing women’s clothes for Goldworm and other luxury manufacturers. She lived in Italy and Greece for a time before returning to Westchester County, N.Y., where she met and married her husband and had a daughter, Dana Rogers ’88. Both predeceased her. She was an accomplished skier who enjoyed skiing mountains in Europe, particularly in Switzerland and Italy. In addition, she enjoyed playing golf and painting. She is survived by her sister and nine nieces and nephews. 

John D. O’Brien ’55, of Harwich, Mass., formerly of Chicago; Apr. 2. Entering Brown his freshman year he met Anne Murphy ’55, who would later become his wife. While at Brown, he was a member of Brown’s football team, played tackle from 1951 to 1954, and was part of the All Decade team. Upon graduation, they moved to Chicago and he began a career in sales. He was a successful sales leader and began a long affiliation with ITT Semiconductor. In 1960, he accepted a position with ITT that brought him and his family back to the Northeast. While in Scituate, he served three terms on the board of selectmen, eventually as its chairman. He was a leader in creating the first units of designated affordable housing in Scituate in the early 1970s. In addition, he served as a state delegate supporting former Gov. Michael Dukakis and he served on the Massachusetts State and Andover Town Democratic committees. In 1975, he was transferred by ITT to Atlanta. In 1978, ITT transferred him back to Massachusetts and the family settled in Andover. He went on to be elected to the Massachusetts senate. In 1992 he and Anne moved to Harwich and he became executive director of the Cape Cod Economic Development Commission and oversaw its merger with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. He remained active at Brown, involved with the Brown Football Association and serving as class marshal twice. At the time of his passing he was serving as president of his class. In addition to being survived by his wife, he is also survived by sons John Jr. ’82, Thomas ’85, and William ’92; three daughters-in-law; eight grandchildren, including Matthew T. O’Brien ’15, ’16 MPA; and a sister. 

Russell A. Cook ’54, of Fairfax, Va.; Feb. 28. He had a 22-year naval career and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander as he captained submarines during the early years of the Cold War. After an illness ended his commissions at sea, he was assigned to serve the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. He returned to college, taking night courses to earn a master’s degree in computer systems engineering, and, after being honorably discharged, helped pioneer the development of complex software systems to track detailed, comprehensive expenses for the military. When his children were young, he was actively involved in their scout activities and coached their sports teams. He enjoyed the outdoors and nature, gardening, and camping trips with his family. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, three granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren. 

Donald M. Silver ’53, of Natick, Mass.; Mar. 28. After Brown, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean Conflict. While in the Navy, he married, and upon honorable discharge, he went into business with his father at Donna Louise of Boston. He designed, manufactured and sold women’s blouses for his entire career. He retired in 1984 when the business closed and he enjoyed wintering in Florida and traveling the world with his wife. He was a leader in the fundraising effort for the fight against juvenile diabetes. He had a passion for tennis that began at age 8 and continued until age 91. He also enjoyed sailing, which took him on trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. He was an avid water skier. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; three children, including son Howard ’79; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Deborah Josselyn Robinson ’53, of Roanoke, Va.; Feb. 2, from complications related to Parkinson’s. She was a homemaker when her children were young but later earned her Realtor’s license and had a successful career as a real estate agent in Roanoke for many years. She enjoyed playing bridge and is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. 

Stephen M. Krogness ’53, of Wayzata, Minn.; Feb. 1. He was known to his friends as Krog, Kroggy, or Steve. He had a long career in real estate, both residential and commercial, and was most proud of the development of the planned community of Jonathan, in Chaska, Minn. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Amateur Chefs, Ducks Unlimited, the Lions, the Minneapolis Club, and Woodhill Country Club. He enjoyed a good joke, spending time with family and friends at his 100-year-old log cabin Paradise Point, mushroom hunting, muskie fishing, duck hunting with his sons and grandson, and gardening, which provided ingredients that he used to prepare ethnic and exotic foods. He lived his life never complaining about adversity and always found a way to overcome challenges with a positive attitude and faith. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including Mark ’80; two daughters-in-law; a grandson; and a brother.

Joan Pesce Bryson ’53, of Needham, formerly of Weston, Mass.; Feb. 4. She was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed skiing with family at Sugarbush (Vt.) and playing on tennis and paddle tennis teams with her friends for many years. She was a member of the Boston Symphony Association of Volunteers, the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Auxiliary, the Wellesley Garden Study Group, and, for 40 years, of Brae Burn Country Club. The last few years of her life she lived at North Hill in Needham, where she was involved in a flower arranging group and sang in the chorus. She is survived by her husband, Francis; a daughter; two sons; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

Rev. Gordon J. Stenning ’52, of Portsmouth, R.I., Mar. 21. He graduated from the Episocopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass. in 1955 and was ordained a deacon and then a priest in 1956. He served as the curate at Saint Paul’s Church in Pawtucket (R.I.) until 1957 and the Rector of Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth (R.I.) until 1988. More recently, he served as the senior vice president for pastoral care of the Church Pension Fund in New York City from 1988-1995. He was elected deputy to the general convention of the Episcopal Church, representing Rhode Island at 10 conventions from 1964 to 1988. His memberships were many, including the board of advice to the president of the house of deputies from 1984 to 1988, the executive committee of the Episcopal Church from 1987 to 1989, and president of the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society of the Episcopal Church from 1993 to 1995, and he was one of six signers of the original resolution to allow women to be ordained Episcopal priests. He enjoyed gardening and was part of the URI Master Gardeners Association Hall of Fame, and he enjoyed being an amateur radio operator for many years. He is survived by daughter Pamela Caudill ’79 and her husband; a son and daughter-in-law; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

Donald Stehle ’52, of Fayetteville, N.Y., formerly of Cazenovia, N.Y.; Mar. 15. He enrolled at Brown at 16 years of age and met his future wife, Dorothy “Dot” Brandon ’54, who predeceased him. He enlisted in officers candidate school in Virginia and served overseas during the occupation of Korea. Following his service, he earned an engineering degree from Penn State and moved to New Hartford, N.Y., to work for General Electric. He retired in 1989 as a GE marketing manager. In 2012 he remarried and moved to Fayetteville. He was active in the Otsego Sailing Club, the Snow Ridge Ski Club, the House of Good Shepherd, the Willow Bank Yacht Club, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Charleen; four children and their spouses, including son David ’81; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. 

Barbara M. Hodnett ’52, of Providence, R.I.; Feb. 16. After receiving her master’s degree in education from URI, she began a long career as a school teacher in Providence and East Greenwich, R.I. She also taught in American schools in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Germany. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf and was a member of Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club. She is survived by seven nieces and nephews, including Catherine A. Hay ’15, Margaret M. Hay ’81, Robert J. Hay Jr. ’75, and Michael J. Hay ’78.

Glenn N. Bower ’52, of Southern Pines, N.C.; Feb. 21. After Brown, he spent two years in the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War and married Suzanne Griffiths Bower ’53, who predeceased him in 2017. He had a long career in the insurance business, starting in sales in Richmond, Va., then Atlanta, Ga., and moving up to executive vice president at companies in both New York and Cincinnati, Ohio, before retiring in 1995 to North Carolina. He is survived by daughters Pamela Bower-Basso ’77, Elizabeth Bower Hudgins ’79, Emily Bower ’83, Priscilla Bower Smyth ’87; two sons-in-law, including Joseph Basso III ’77; seven grandchildren, including Elizabeth Basso ’18; five great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Andrew S. Griffiths ’62; and nieces Katherine Griffiths ’91 and Nia Callender ’23, ’24 AM.  

Stephen T. Smith ’51, of Moorestown, N.J.; Mar. 15. After Brown, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected for Officer Candidate School. He was married in 1953 and discharged from active duty in 1954. He then earned a master’s degree from Harvard and taught mathematics, computer science, and data processing for more than 30 years at Moorestown Junior High School and later Moorestown High School. He served as Moorestown Education Association president and coached cross country, track and field, and swimming teams during his tenure. He also remained active in the Army Reserves, retiring as lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service. In 1985, he and his wife, Betsy, opened the House on the Hill ice cream parlor and restaurant, which they operated until 1990. He was active in numerous roles in community organizations, including the local Boy Scouts and the Moorestown Rotary Club. He was bookkeeper for Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development and was subsequently named Moorestown’s citizen of the year in 2006. He and Betsy were avid cloggers and square dancers and enjoyed traveling before her passing in 2012. He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Barbara Maxwell DeLaittre ’51, of Somerset, Wisc.; Feb. 7. She earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota and was later the regional development director of the Nature Conservancy. During her career she served on several boards, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Stevens Square Nursing Home, and the Minnesota Orchestra; she was president of the Young People’s Symphony Concert Association and the Women’s Association of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and a docent at Minneapolis Institute of Arts. She is survived by two daughters, a son, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. 

Barry Cohen ’51, of Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Aug. 28, 2023. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Navy. Following military service, he earned an engineering master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked in the semiconductor field at Bell Labs for a decade. He was a Fulbright fellow (1967-68) at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, followed by a position at Solitron Devices before forming his own company, Research Devices, which designed, manufactured, and marketed infrared microscopes. An avid ham radio operator since he was a teenager, he made friends all over the world and met many in-person during his many travels with his wife. He is survived by his wife, Norma; four children and their spouses; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Harold N. Godlin ’50, of Middletown, Conn.; Jan. 10. He graduated from Harvard Law School and then served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon discharge, he practiced law in Stamford (Conn.) for 41 years, primarily focused on civil litigation. He was a lifelong learner and participated in classes through Florida Atlantic University into his senior years. In addition to remaining active in Brown alumni affairs, he was involved in numerous civic organizations that included the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, the Serendipity Chorale of Norwalk (Conn.), and the United Jewish Federation. He was a teacher at Temple Judea (Fla.). He enjoyed performing magic tricks, acting, and singing. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by two children, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and brother Theodore ’51 and his life partner. 

Robert W. Carangelo ’50, of West Hartford, Conn.; Feb. 16. He received his juris doctor from Georgetown University Law School and, following his graduation, worked for Allstate Insurance Company as a casualty adjuster and claims examiner and for the offices of John C. Flanagan as an associate prior to opening his own private practice in 1958. He was voted into the position of probate judge for Orange, Conn. He was a member of several committees and organizations, including the New Haven County Bar Association, State Bar Association, American Bar Association, the Amity Club of New Haven, Unitas Club of Hamden, and the Hamden Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of many political organizations. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, watching sports, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; four children and their spouses, including son Robert ’84, and nine grandchildren. 

Rev. Marjorie Logan Hiles ’49, of North Scituate, R.I.; Jan. 22. She was a graduate of Boston University School of Theology and ordained a United Methodist minister and active member at Shepherd of the Valley UMC in Hope, R.I. Following her ordination, she was pastor of several United Methodist churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut until her retirement. She worked with the Girl Scouts of America for 20 years in many councils, including the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island. She was president of her Pembroke class and past president of the Brown Alumnae Club of Kent County. She was a member of the Brown Learning Community in Retirement and volunteered at the food emergency program, Project Outreach, at the Open Table of Christ UMC in Providence for many years. She is survived by two cousins.

Geraldine Segal Foster ’49, ’66 MAT, of Somerset, Mass.; Feb. 12. She was a teacher and chair of the English department of Nathan Bishop Middle School. She researched and wrote extensively about the history of the Jewish people of Rhode Island, including being a coeditor of Jews of Rhode Island, 1658-1958. She served as president of the women’s division of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Rhode Island, the Devorah Dayan Chapter of Na’Amat and the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. She was a lifelong member of Temple Beth-El. She is survived by four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. 

Virginia E. Baker ’49, of West Hartford, Conn., formerly of Westfield, Mass.; Jan. 22. She was employed with Travelers Insurance Co. in Hartford, and after many years with the company retired as an underwriter. She was a member of the Unitarian Church of  West Hartford and the Second Congregational Church of Westfield, where she sang in the choir. She is survived by a niece, a nephew, and cousins. 

David A. Wente ’47, of Reston, Va.; Dec. 14, of a heart attack. He had a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1973. He flew helicopters in Korea and was later assigned to posts in California. He commanded a 120-helicopter squadron during the Vietnam War and was responsible for 52 sea rescues. In 1968, he transferred to the Pentagon and worked on operations planning. During his last two years with the Navy, he was assigned to the Naval Air Systems command in charge of helicopter procurement. He received many decorations, including the Navy Commendation Medal. After retiring from military service, he operated the family business, the Suntan Shop. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters; two sons; and five grandchildren. 

Joanne Elliott ’47, of Princeton, N.J.; Mar. 5. She was professor of mathematics at Rutgers University from 1965 until her retirement in 1991. During her tenure, she supervised five PhD theses. Previously, she taught at Mount Holyoke College, where she wrote the 1956 paper “Stochastic Processes Connected with Harmonic Functions.” She also taught at Barnard College and Columbia University. She supported the arts and enjoyed birdwatching. After retiring from Rutgers, she volunteered for many years interpreting mathematical texts at Reading for the Blind (now Learning Ally). She is survived by a niece and a cousin. 

Catherine Schatz Brant ’40, of Washington, D.C.; Jan. 7, 104 years of age. While attending Brown, she met her lab partner, Earl Brant ’42, who would eventually become her husband of 60 years. After graduating, she worked as an order clerk at a machinery company in Boston supplying pumps and motors to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the Manhattan Project. She married Earl in 1943 and they moved to Philadelphia for him to attend medical school. While he was serving in Korea, she returned to Boston and resumed her previous job. After his military service, they moved to Ohio and then New York. She worked at Mamaroneck High School as a reading specialist and enjoyed helping teenagers read. In 1992, they moved to Washington, D.C., to be closer to their daughter. She became a volunteer at Heurich House Library and with the library committee of the National Presbyterian Church, where she was a member. She was honored four times by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living. Her daughter, who survives her, says, “She was sharp even in her advanced age and still proud to be a Brown graduate.” 

Georges Peter, of Brookline, Mass.; Jan. 11. He joined the Brown faculty in 1972 and retired after 34 years with the title of emeritus professor. During his career at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, he established the board-certified division of pediatric diseases. He authored or coauthored more than 150 publications. His focus was committed to the prevention of pediatric infectious diseases through immunizations. He was an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), serving on the Committee on Infectious Diseases for 13 years. He edited five editions of the AAP’s Red Book (Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases). He served on three federal committees: the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He was a member of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and he was a president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. An elected member of the Society of Pediatric Research, the American Pediatric Society, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, he was also a member of the board of directors of the American Committee for the American Memorial Hospital in Reims, France. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Physician Award of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the AAP Award for Lifetime Contribution to Infectious Diseases Education, and a special recognition award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Devoted to Harvard athletics, he managed the Harvard Stadium scoreboard for 29 years. In 2022 he received the President’s Special Award from the Harvard Club of Boston. He was a lifetime fan of the Boston Red Sox and he enjoyed sailing in the Lightning Class, in which he competed for more than 60 years, winning numerous regattas and sailing in national and international championships. He was a member of the Annisquam Yacht Club, Boston Harvard Club, Rhode Island Harvard Club, University Club, Niantic Bay Yacht Club, and Longwood Cricket Club. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn McClintock Peter ’76 MAT; a daughter; a son; and two grandchildren.

Richard D. Frary, of Barrington, R.I.; Oct.16. He matriculated at Amherst College and Boston University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Boston City Hospital before joining the U.S. Navy and being assigned to the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, N.Y. Upon discharge he opened an internal medicine and cardiology office in Rhode Island. He retired in 1994. He was a member of the American Medical Association and served several years on the Council of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He was a past president of the Bristol County Medical Society and a past president of the RI Chapter of the American Society of Internal Medicine. He also served on the boards of the RI Lung Association and the RI Chapter of the American Heart Association. He was an early faculty member of Brown’s medical school. In addition, he was a long term member of the Barrington Yacht Club and served several years on the Barrington Harbor Commission. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and three sons.

Timothy M. Empkie, of Providence, R.I.; Dec. 30. He had a distinguished career in medicine. He spent two years in the National Health Service Corps and spent a decade coordinating health programs in Central Europe and the Balkans. He joined the Department of Family Medicine in 1984 and later was director of predoctoral education and coordinated medical student exchanges between Brown and German universities in Rostock and Tübingen until 1993. He then was an assistant dean in the Warren Alpert Medical School and from 2002 to 2016 was an advisor to PLME students. In addition to teaching, he was a community activist who led efforts to stopconstruction of a stadium on park land in Providence and supported LGBTQ+ rights. Always a basketball fan, he served as faculty liaison for the men’s basketball program from 2017 until the time of his passing. He is survived by a sister and nieces and nephews. 

Louise S. Kiessling Fair ’76 MD, of Wakefield, R.I.; Oct. 12, of congestive heart failure. She was a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. She served from 1984 to 2000, and 2001 to 2003, as pediatrician-in-chief at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, R.I., where she was also founder and director of the hospital’s Neurodevelopmental Center. She earned a master’s degree from Cornell University in psychology and counseling and worked as a psychologist and social worker in New York state’s public school system before attending and graduating from Brown’s medical school. She retired in 2003 but continued to serve in multiple leadership roles with the Washington County Coalition for Children, helping to provide continuing education and training to local pediatricians and mental health providers in Rhode Island’s South County community. She enjoyed reading, music, gardening, and travel. She is survived by two stepdaughters. 

Gabriel G. Hudson ’00 MFA, of Burlington, Iowa; Nov. 23. 

Lois McPherson Beach ’95 AM, of Westerly, R.I.; Dec. 31. She began teaching in 1965 in Stonington, Conn., before starting a family. While raising her family, she taught nursery school and was a camp director for the Camp Fire Girls. She was a skilled seamstress and opened the Pin Cushion fabric store in Westerly. Later, after selling the store, she worked at Mystic Planetarium as a tour guide but, in 1988, returned to teaching in the Westerly school system as an English as a Second Language teacher. She joined a teacher outreach program and traveled to China, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and England. She retired in 2011 and continued to knit, quilt, and travel. She is survived by four children, six grandchildren, and six siblings. 

Edward G. Gray ’90 AM, ’96 PhD, of Tallahassee, Fla.; Dec. 22, of a heart attack while mountain biking. He spent his career teaching at Florida State University, rising to the rank of full professor and department chair. He published four books of American history and was coeditor of the Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. At the time of his death he had begun writing two more books. He enjoyed sports, attended Pilates classes, and taught himself the banjo. He is survived by his wife, Stacey Rutledge ’92 MAT; a daughter; a son; his parents; two brothers; his mother and father-in-law; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and 10 nieces and nephews. 

Silvia J. Dasilva ’86 AM, of Bristol, R.I.; Nov. 14. She graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in secondary education with a major in Portuguese. She continued her post graduate studies at Brown, obtaining her master’s degree in Brazilian Studies, and taught Portuguese at Rhode Island College. She was involved in several Portuguese organizations and was a member of the American Association of Speakers of Spanish and Portuguese. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.

Thomas E. Leary ’85 PhD, of Youngstown, Ohio; Oct. 29. While obtaining his doctorate at Brown, he was curator of Slater Mill in Pawtucket. Upon graduation, he settled in Buffalo, N.Y., and was director of interpretation for the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. While there, he coordinated a survey of Buffalo industry, along with the National Park Service’s Historical American Engineering Record, and he and his wife wrote a history of Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna plant. They also organized exhibits documenting the area’s industries titled “Made in Buffalo.” In 1988, the couple formed Industrial Research Associates, a consulting firm doing mitigation and other research for government and private agencies, including the Youngstown Museum of Industry and Labor. In 1999 he was hired by Youngstown State University as a history professor. He taught American architectural and industrial history and trained students in the art of public history documentation and museum practices. He retired from teaching in 2021 but continued to work at the museum until his death. He is survived by his wife,
Elizabeth Sholes.

Gordon J. Fine ’77 AM, of San Francisco; Nov. 3, of cancer. He graduated from George Washington University Law School and had a 30-year legal career. He was active in the American Decorative Arts Forum and enjoyed collecting antiques. He is survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law, and seven nieces and nephews. 

Paul B. Jenison ’76 AM, of Redding, Conn.; Dec. 10. He went on to earn his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and had a career as a financial consultant. He was executive director of UBS Investment Banking and senior managing director of Jenison Financial LLC. He is survived by three children. 

Christine J. Lees Jonientz ’75 AM, of Hamden, Conn.; Nov. 7. She worked as a consumer banker and was a master gardener. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, a brother, and her former husband, Frank Jonientz.

Neal A. Sondergaard ’73 ScM, ’77 PhD, of Severna Park, Md.; Jan 12. He worked as a scientist for the Naval Research Lab, earning accolades for his research. Upon retirement he worked as a consultant for Syntek Technologies. He was a member of Sigma Xi, the American Society of Naval Engineers, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He loved traveling, watching the Baltimore Ravens, and tinkering in his workshop. He is survived by his wife, Sally Olver Sondergaard ’76; two children; two grandchildren; and a sister.