Faculty and Staff
Edwin M. “Ted” Good, MA ’74 (music), of Eugene, Ore., September 12, at 86. He was professor emeritus and former chair of the religious studies department. He was also a Hebrew scholar, piano historian and author of six books and many articles. After retiring in 1991, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he was involved in the Smithsonian Institution’s “Piano 300” commemoration of the invention of the piano. He also completed a 10-year project transcribing the diaries of William Steinway, one of the brothers who brought their piano company to the United States in the 19th century. Survivors: his wife, Anita Sullivan; sons, Brian, ’78, Larry, ’80, and John; three grandchildren; and his first wife, Janice, MA ’77.
1930s
Virginia Mary Rooney O’Malley, ’36 (mathematics), of Boulder, Colo., August 17, at 98. She worked in San Francisco for IBM until the war broke out, when she became one of the first WAVES. She returned to IBM after the war but re-enlisted in the Navy during the Korean conflict, leaving the service as a lieutenant commander. She served on the board of Marymount High School, was active in PEO and had a passion for bridge and the mountains. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles. Survivors: her children, Maggie Luck and John; and four grandchildren.
Philip Monroe Klauber, ’37 (general engineering), of San Diego, May 23, at 98. He joined Solar Aircraft, rising to become chief administrative engineer before leaving in 1963 to work for San Diego Gas & Electric. He retired in 1980. Among his many civic activities in San Diego, he was president of the Rotary Club, the Historical Society and Symphony Orchestra Association. He also co-founded COMBO, the Combined Arts and Education Council of San Diego County, and helped establish what is now the San Diego Foundation. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Detty, and a grandson. Survivors: his children, Janet, Laurie Wasserman and Timothy; stepson, Jeffrey Conyers; four grandchildren; and one sister, Alice Klauber Miller, ’34.
Edward Charles “Bud” Persike, ’39 (basic medical sciences), MD ’44, of Hillsborough, Calif., July 27, at 96. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. In 1948 he became an assistant professor at Stanford Medical School and opened a private practice in San Francisco. He moved his family to the Peninsula four years later and practiced internal medicine and nephrology in San Mateo until his retirement in 1990. The founder of the Renal Dialysis Center in Mills Memorial Hospital and former president of the San Mateo Children’s Health Home, he was also an avid photographer and consummate gardener. Survivors: his wife of 71 years, Louise; children, Linda Dills and Edward; and two grandchildren.
1940s
Sally Hailauaala Edwards, ’42 (social science/social thought), of Honolulu, July 27, at 94. She served in World War II as a member of WAVES and later worked at Davies Travel.
Robert Allard “Bob” McNeil, ’42 (economics), JD ’48, of San Francisco, August 13, at 94. He served as a lieutenant in the Army and started his first real estate venture shortly after graduating from law school. In 1968 the McNeil Corp. sponsored the first public real estate limited partnership in the country, opening the syndication field to Wall Street and bringing billions of dollars into real estate investment vehicles previously not available to small investors. He sold the company in 1986. He loved to travel, sat on the board of the San Francisco Film Festival and was an active supporter of the Republican Party. Survivors: his wife, Carole; children; stepchildren; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Mary Elizabeth Levy Sacks, ’42 (social science/social thought), of Burlingame, August 11, at 93. Her favorite job was volunteering for ORT America and Children’s Hospital, now California Pacific. She enjoyed travel, collecting postcards, going to garage sales and sitting in the sun. She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene, and daughter, Margaret. Survivors: her sons, Randall and Roy Webster; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
William Philip “Bill” Creger, ’43 (biological sciences), MD ’47, of Stanford, August 9, 2013, at 91. He served in the Korean War, conducting research on tuberculosis. After joining the Stanford faculty in 1949, he held a number of positions, including head of the division of hematology, director of Stanford University Hospital’s clinical laboratories, associate dean of student affairs and editor of The Annual Review of Medicine. He also spent 22 years on the Medical School Admissions Committee. He contributed to advancements in hematology and received a Commonwealth Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship for his research. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Nancy (Smith, MA ’48); children, John, Phil, ’75, Austin and Russell; and nine grandchildren.
Jessica Wilbur Ely Hart, ’44, of Ross, Calif., June 29, at 90. Her grandfather Ray Lyman Wilbur, Class of 1896, MA 1897, MD 1899, was president of Stanford U. for 25 years and secretary of the interior under President Hoover. She became a nurse during World War II and was a passionate community volunteer. She enjoyed racing her sailboat on Duxbury Bay, Mass., traveling abroad with her grandchildren and spending summers in the Sierra with her extended family. She was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, George, ’31. Survivors: her children, Margaret, Douglas, George and Bruce, ’73, MBA ’77; 10 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
Barbara Ann Lyon Baxter, ’46 (education), of Healdsburg, Calif., August 15, at 89. She and her husband ran the White Oak Ranch in Healdsburg, raising sheep and then cattle, for many years. She was an active volunteer at the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society, but her overriding joy was watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren build their lives. She was known for her endless supply of generosity, forgiveness and love. Survivors: her daughters, Carmen Bettencourt and Laura Garrett; two grandsons; and three great-grandchildren.
Roy William Cauwet, ’46 (biological sciences), MD ’52, of Palo Alto, August 19, at 88. He served in the Army during World War II. A physician and professor at the Stanford Medical School, he specialized in OB-GYN and became a well-known fertility expert. He and his wife loved to travel, especially to Europe, the Far East and Hawaii. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol, and son Richard. Survivors: his children, Ken, Connie, Marianne and Stan; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
George Brunn, ’47 (economics), JD ’50, of Berkeley, June 30, at 90, following a short illness. He enlisted in the Army in World War II and fought in North Africa and Italy. After law school, he practiced in San Francisco and then became a judge for the county of Alameda, serving as a trial judge for 20 years. In retirement, he continued working as an arbitrator and mediator and wrote handbooks for judges on search and seizure and the death penalty. To his family and friends, he was known for his wit, smarts and poems he wrote over the years. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Ruth. Survivors: his children, Tracy and Scott.
Valeria Denny Gunton, ’47 (political science), of Castro Valley, Calif., September 21, at 89. She worked in San Francisco for a bank and insurance companies and later in New York City. After returning to California, she married and turned to personal interests that included travel, music and writing. In 2012 she self-published a diary written when she was 14, Paris, Here We (Didn’t) Come, in 1939. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert. Survivors: her stepchildren, Joanne Shortz and John Gunton; four step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Carl Feodor Heintze, ’47 (political science), of Los Gatos, Calif., September 4, at 92, after a valiant fight with kidney cancer. He served in the infantry during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and three battle stars. A passionate and prolific writer, he worked as a reporter, news editor and science editor at the San Jose Mercury News, wrote a weekly column for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers and published 14 works of fiction and nonfiction. He won the Associated Press Writing Award for Northern California and wrote the Class of ’47 column for Stanford magazine for more than a decade. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Marge. Survivors: his second wife, Mary Ann Cook; children, Mary Crue, Jane Johnson and Richard; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister.
Daniel von Huber Rogers, ’47, MA ’49 (biological sciences), of Rockford, Ill., March 25, 2013, at 88. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and spent his career working for Woodward Governor in Illinois and Japan. He was survived by his wife, Fusae, who subsequently passed away.
Robert K. Myles, ’48 (biological sciences), MD ’55, MA ’58 (medical microbiology), of Reno, Nev., May 24, at 87. He enlisted in the Army at 16 and spent two years in the military police in Germany. Specializing in cardiology, diabetes and pulmonary medicine, he opened a medical practice in Reno in 1958 and ran it with three partners for more than 20 years. He taught at the Nevada School of Medicine and was on the staff of Saint Mary’s Hospital and Washoe Medical Center. His other interests included numismatics, archeology and philanthropy. Survivors: his wife, Jean; children, Lora, Robert, Elliott and Malcolm; three granddaughters; and one sister.
Nosratollah Rassekh, ’48 (political science), MA ’50 (international relations), PhD ’62 (history), of Portland, Ore., September 7, at 89. He taught at Verde Valley School in Arizona followed by four years at Stanford. He twice held the Ray Lyman Wilbur Scholarship in American History and was a fellow at the Hoover Institute. In 1960 he moved to Portland to teach at Lewis and Clark College, where he served as chair of the history department for many years. He traveled extensively and was chair of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Portland. He was predeceased by his son Michael. Survivors: his wife, Mona; children, Paree, Susan, William, Martha, Mitra and Sam; seven grandchildren; and three siblings.
Lucille Ballard Anthony Gaignault, ’49 (French), of Princeton, N.J., June 27, at 87, from complications following a fall. She moved to Paris after graduation, where she married, raised a family and trained horses for a stable in the Bois de Boulogne. After moving to Princeton in 1981, she developed an interest in antique Staffordshire pottery, becoming a noted collector, scholar and restorer. Survivors: her children, Carlotta and Igor; and four granddaughters.
1950s
Robert Dressel Childs, ’50 (biological sciences), MBA ’52, of Newport Beach, Calif., August 19, at 87, of leukemia. He played on the football team and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. His career was spent in the insurance industry, and his passion for history and the humanities took him on many adventurous trips. Survivors: his wife, Beverly (Bond,’50); children, Gail Omohundro, Blake and Michael; and four grandchildren.
Ralph Parsons Davidson, ’50 (international relations), of Washington, D.C., August 1, at 86. He served in the Navy during World War II and later worked in Europe for the Marshall Plan and the CIA. He began his career at Time Inc. as an advertising salesman, rising to publisher of Time magazine and board chair in 1980. Following his retirement, he was appointed chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He served on a number of boards supporting the arts, education and human and environmental causes, and he received a 3-year service pin from Stanford Associates in addition to the Gold Spike award. He was predeceased by his son Andrew. Survivors: his wife, Lou; children, Will, Ross, Scott, Sydney and Mary Elizabeth; and 10 grandchildren.
James Herbert “Jazz” De Cou, ’50 (political science), of Le Vesinet, France, July 31, at 85, after a brief illness. He served in the Air Force before joining the foreign service as a career diplomat. During his 25 years with USIA, he served in Afghanistan, Rhodesia, Honduras, Laos, Vietnam, Upper Volta and Cameroon, among other places. He was fluent in six languages and loved opera, jazz, ethnic cuisine and philosophical discussions about politics and world affairs. Survivors: his wife of 28 years, Irene; children, Claire, Mike and Jack; three grandchildren; and two siblings.
Paul M. Hogan, ’51 (mechanical engineering), of Palo Alto, at 87, of complications of Parkinson’s disease. He served in World War II and worked as an engineer at FMC Corp. for 30 years. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Carmen, ’49; two children; and two granddaughters.
Lawrence T. “Larry” Kain, ’51 (economics), of Billings, Mont., August 11, at 85. A member of Alpha Sigma Phi and the Band, he served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He worked as assistant to the vice president for research at Montana State U., where he helped build a computer system to manage grants and contracts, retiring in 1986. He loved dancing and playing cards and was a master storyteller. He was predeceased by his first wife, Sue. Survivors: his wife, Joan; children, Kris, Daniel, ’78, Shirlee Steiner and Connie Clark; stepchildren, Bill, Bruce and John Hedge; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
William Christian “Bill” Kea Jr., ’51 (psychology), MBA ’55, of Sacramento, July 24. He was a member of El Toro eating club and a Korean War veteran. An entrepreneur and smart businessman, he served as president of Primo Brewing Co. in Hawaii and owned Le Fromage at Stanford Shopping Center and Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. Survivors include his daughters, Pamela Haider, Carrie See and Malia Daugherty.
Khodadad “Ted” Keyani, ’52 (biological sciences), MD ’55, of Los Altos, August 24, at 87. He began his private practice in internal medicine and cardiology in 1964 in Sunnyvale. While on staff at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, he helped establish the cardiac catheterization lab as well as the medical ethics committee. He was a man of integrity whose irreverent sense of humor and lack of pretention endeared him to many. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Judi; children, Elizabeth Keyani Castro and Edward; two grandchildren; and four siblings.
John Levis Hamilton, ’52 (English), of Long Beach, Calif., July 19, at 83. He served in the Navy before marrying and settling in California. He was an avid birdwatcher who pursued his hobby across 70 countries. Survivors: his wife, LaVonne; and daughters, Julie, Lynn, Claire Breen and Leslie Finch.
Elizabeth “Betty” Bonnett Miller, ’52 (economics), of Keizer, Ore., August 2, at 83. She worked for Price Waterhouse as a staff accountant in San Francisco and Seattle and later ran her own CPA practice in Bellevue, Wash., for 25 years. She was active in the American Society of Women Accountants, Soroptimist Club Charity and the Surry Downs Community Club. She was predeceased by her son, Alan. Survivors: her husband of 59 years, Art, ’51; daughters, Sandra Hudson and Janis Frank; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother.
James A. “Jim” Toney, ’52 (civil engineering), of Aptos, Calif., August 5, at 84, of complications following surgery. He was a member of Theta Xi and served in the Army. He enjoyed a long career with Crown Zellerbach, eventually becoming a vice president. An avid outdoorsman throughout his life, he was proud of being an Eagle Scout and loved hiking, climbing and skiing in the Sierra. He was also an active member of the Peace United (First Congregational) Church and their prison ministries program. His wife of nearly 60 years, Carol (Folsom, ’54, MA ’55), died on August 17. Survivors: his sons, Mike, Mark, ’81, and Jim; four grandchildren, including Caitlin Delahunt, ’15; and three sisters, including Virginia Toney Hilker, ’52.
Donn Erwin Byrne, ’53, PhD ’58 (psychology), of Feura Bush, N.Y., August 10, at 82. A teacher for more than 40 years at Stanford, Purdue and SUNY-Albany, among other institutions, he was also a social psychology researcher and the author of more than 30 textbooks. He enjoyed reading, writing, painting and music. He was predeceased by his son, Keven. Survivors: his daughters, Rebecka Kelley, Robin and Lindsey; and one grandchild.
Beverly Jean Bourne Sontheimer, ’53 (social science/social thought), of Berkeley, June 28, at 82, after a brave battle with lung cancer. She worked in banking and insurance in between lengthy travel adventures. Fun, optimistic, kind and generous, she relished spending summers at her family’s cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake and scouring antique stores. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter, ’53. Survivors: her children, Sarah and George; granddaughter; and sister.
Carol Marie Folsom Toney, ’54 (social science/social thought), MA ’55 (education), of Aptos, Calif., August 17, at 81. She taught at the Cyesis Center, a school for pregnant teens, in inner-city Oakland for 16 years. She was also a dedicated member and former president of the League of Women Voters of Oakland. She and her husband were loyal fans of the Stanford football and women’s basketball teams, and her extended family enjoyed annual mule-pack trips in the High Sierra. Her husband of nearly 60 years, Jim, ’52, died on August 5. Survivors: son, Mike, Mark, ’81, and Jim; four grandchildren, including Caitlin DeLaHunt, ’15; and one sister.
Ronald L. Hertel, ’55 (mechanical engineering), of Santa Paula, Calif., August 29, at 80, of arterial complications. A member of Zeta Psi and recipient of a 30-year service pin from Stanford Associates, he worked for Standard Oil before moving to Ventura, where he formed his own building and land development company. He served as co-commissioner of canoeing and kayaking for the 1984 Olympics and was active in community affairs and Stanford fund-raising. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Carolyn (Woolsey, ’55); children, Ronald, ’78, Caryn Hertel Woodburn, ’81, and Camille Hertel Tompkins; 10 grandchildren, including Jeanette Woodburn, ’06, Sharon Woodburn Buckby, ’07, MA ’08, Keenan Hahn, ’08, and Douglas Woodburn, ’11.
Daniel Ronald Osborne, ’55, MA ’57 (architecture), of San Francisco, September 30, at 80, of a torn mitral valve in his heart. A varsity swimmer for four years at Stanford, he set many Pacific Coast Conference records. He worked for Spencer and Lee until, in the mid-1960s, he and a partner formed Osborne and Stewart Architects. Their projects included campgrounds in Olema, Calif., schools in Stinson Beach and Bolinas, Calif., Willard Park in Berkeley and the Plumas County Museum. He was a longtime member of the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club and designed the club’s addition. He enjoyed a daily swim until one week before entering the hospital. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Mimi (Shreve, ’56); children, Michelle Watson, James and Donald; and six grandchildren.
Herbert Henry Fitz, ’56 (philosophy), of Glenbrook, Nev., in September, at 80. After one year of graduate work at Stanford, he was drafted and served in the peacetime military. Following his honorable discharge in 1959, he studied at UC-Hastings College of the Law and then worked as a trial attorney for the L.A. firm of Spray, Gould and Bowers. In 1970 he joined the faculty of Southwestern Law School, retiring in 1984. Survivors: his wife of 34 years, Mary; stepchildren, Anne Hayes and Robert Gilliland; and five step-grandchildren.
Frank A. Herrmann Jr., ’57, MA ’59 (civil engineering), of Land O’ Lakes, Fla., August 5, at 78. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), now known as the Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Miss., for 36 years and was a pioneer in estuarine research. In 1973 he joined the hydraulics laboratory executive office, where he was eventually named director. He retired in 1995 and was inducted into the WES Gallery of Distinguished Employees two years later. Survivors: his wife, Geri; sons, Frank III, Fred and Horst Muhlbacher; and three grandchildren.
Donald J. Manoukian, ’57 (history), of Reno, Nev., September 23, at 80, after a brief illness. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the football and wrestling teams. After playing one year for the Oakland Raiders in 1960—the team’s first season in the American Football League—he launched a pro wrestling career because it paid more. He spent nine years on the pro wrestling circuit before returning to Reno and working as a real estate broker for 49 years. He was active in the Elks Club and a number of business ventures, including restaurants and a premium vodka company. Survivors: his son, Dirk; two grandchildren; and two siblings.
Dady Kaikhushru Banaji, ’58 (architecture), of Mumbai, India, June 15, at 83, of a pulmonary embolism. He founded Banaji & Associates, an innovative and integrated architectural practice, in 1960. The firm gained an international reputation in 1981 with the introduction of its design studio in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Survivors: his wife, Dinaz; children, Jamshed and Huzan; and two grandchildren.
Dale Pressly Harris, ’58 (industrial engineering), of Woodinville, Wash., August 15, at 77. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and served in the Marines as a helicopter pilot. A defense contractor at Lockheed for 33 years, he worked on strategic defense systems such as Milstar and the Hubble space telescope. While at Lockheed, he earned an MBA and a law degree. After retiring, he divided his time between Sonora, Calif., and Gulf Shores, Ala. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Penny; children, Dale Jr., Diane and Ronnie; and four grandchildren.
Adrian Ralph Motroni, ’58 (history), of Capitola, Calif., September 3, at 78, after suffering a massive stroke. He practiced law in Sacramento for nearly 30 years, specializing in workers compensation law. Besides his great passion for the law and debate, he excelled at interior design, loved classic cars and was the consummate entertainer. He was a devout Catholic and many members of his parish benefitted from his legal advice and sage wisdom. Survivors: his wife, Frances; son, Ross; two grandchildren; and one brother.
1960s
Grant Edward Miller, ’63 (history), of Ashland, Ore., July 22, at 72. He spent three decades serving the California legislature and retired as principal consultant to the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Survivors: his wife, Elise Manders; son, Aaron; and two granddaughters.
John Davison Collins III, ’64 (history), of Cora, Wyo., August 6, at 71, following a brief illness. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and the Peace Corps, serving in the Republic of Niger. In 1977, having earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, he was hired by Western Wyoming College. Over the years, he earned numerous teaching awards, initiated a student internship program and developed the first distance-teaching course for the college. He loved the Wyoming outdoors, skiing with family and friends and sea kayaking in Mexico. Survivors: his wife, Katharine; sons, Davison and Douglas; three grandsons; and two siblings.
Mary Lea Gibson Bandy, ’65 (art), of New York, N.Y., September 20, at 71, of complications of encephalitis. After serving as an editor at Harry N. Abrams, she joined the staff at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1973. In 1980 she was appointed director of MoMA’s film department and later became chief curator of the department of film and media. The French government named her Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 1984 and in 2012 she published a comprehensive story of the American Western, Ride, Boldly Ride. Survivors: her husband, Gary; and two siblings.
Carroll Calvin “C.C.” Bridgewater Jr., ’66 (philosophy), of Castle Rock, Wash., July 21, at 70, of heart failure. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and the wrestling team. After earning a law degree, he worked as a hearing examiner for the Federal Trade Commission and then entered private practice at Walstead-Mertsching. In 1986 he was elected prosecutor for Cowlitz County, serving two terms before being appointed to the appellate court, where he worked until his retirement in 2010. He was a longtime advocate for children and Little League coach and would go to the mat for what he believed was right. Survivors: his wife of 46 years, Kay; sons, Beau, Jeff and Chris; four grandchildren; and one brother, Daniel, ’65.
Warren Thomas Chapman, ’66 (English), of Seattle, September 18, at 70, after a 24-year battle with cancer. After graduation, he spent two years in the Peace Corps, teaching English in Paraguay. He earned a JD from Columbia U. and practiced law for a decade in Seattle and New York before turning to entrepreneurial pursuits in the technology sector. He and his family loved hiking, skiing and sailing in the Pacific Northwest and, in his 50s, he took up rowing. A life member of the U.S. Power Squadron, he taught celestial navigation for the Seattle chapter for many years. Survivors: his wife, Fay; daughters, Katherine, Anne and Laura; and three siblings.
William Austin “Bill” Walser, ’66 (electrical engineering), of Hillsborough, N.C., May 17, at 70. He spent most of his career in the financial services industry in Chicago, and his interests ranged from astronomy to numismatics to Android development. Survivors: his wife, Susan; daughter, Wendi Smith; grandson; and sister.
Rodney Louis “Rod” Poteete, ’69 (history), of Las Vegas, July 8, at 67. An outstanding pitcher from a young age, he came to Stanford on a Buck Club scholarship. After earning a master’s at UNLV, he spent 35 years at Pahrump Valley High School, teaching and coaching baseball. He was an avid sports card collector and served as an official for high school basketball and slow pitch softball. Survivors: his wife of 38 years, Jean; sons, Kemer and Ryne; and three grandsons.
1970s
Lasta Tomasevich, ’73 (history), of Berkeley, September 8, 2013, at 62, of metastatic breast cancer. After earning a master of landscape architecture from UC-Berkeley in 1979, she wrote the local coastal plan for southern Marin County and worked as a planning consultant. An avid backpacker, she became active in sports of all kinds and was certified as a personal trainer. Survivors include her sister and brother.
Susanna Astrid “Susie” Castillo-Robson, ’74, MA ’74 (history), of Moraga, Calif., September 1, at 62, of multiple myeloma. She started her career in higher education administration at UC-San Diego before moving to Boston to work as the registrar of Harvard Law School. Returning to California, she became registrar at UC-Berkeley and eventually associate vice chancellor of student affairs and services. She enjoyed conversations with family and friends, travel with her parents and husband and being an active member of her church. Survivors: her husband of 40 years, Robert Robson, ’73; and sister.
Margo Dee Kerrigan, ’75 (human biology),
of Carmichael, Calif., in August, at 61. She earned a master’s in public health from Berkeley in 1978 and then joined the Federal Indian Health Service, where she eventually became area director. A member of the White Earth (Mississippi) Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, she worked with more than 100 California tribes to deliver high-quality health care to 100,000 patients throughout the state. In 1997 she was recognized by Vice President Al Gore’s National Performance Committee, the same year she was inducted into Stanford’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Survivors include her sister.
Gordon Michael Epperson, ’78 (history), MA ’78 (Russian and East European studies), of Bethesda, Md., September 30, 2013, at 57, after a brief illness. A former officer of the Central Intelligence Agency, he retired in 2012 after serving at the National Clandestine Service and the National Security Council. Prior to his federal service, he was a partner in the Washington office of the Chicago law firm Bell, Boyd & Lloyd. Upon retiring from the CIA, he received the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, and he had previously received the Donovan Award, the highest honor in the NCS. Survivors: his sons, Ian, Trevor and Colin, ’15; former wife, Katharine (Purcell, MBA ’83); and sister.
1980s
Wayne Patrick Rogers, ’81 (general engineering), of San Francisco, August 29, at 55. He worked in the aerospace industry in L.A. and San Francisco, including 22 years at Space Systems Loral in Palo Alto. A lifelong swimmer, he was a member of both the SF Tsunami swim team and its synchronized swimming squad. He attended almost every Gay Games and IGLA competition, receiving medals at all of them. He was also a talented violin player who recently performed with the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony. Survivors: his husband, Frank Wild; parents, James and Elfriede Rogers; and three brothers.
Rickey Ray Hudson, ’83 (political science), of Monroe, La., September 4, at 53, of a heart-related illness. After earning a law degree from Tulane U., he practiced with firms in New Orleans until he decided to open a solo practice in Monroe. His time abroad with Stanford in Britain gave him a lifelong love of travel and darts-playing skills. He was also a talented tennis player. Survivors include his four siblings.
Lisa Michelle Barker Dunn, ’84 (human biology), of San Francisco, July 13, at 52. Some of her passions included cooking, painting, the San Francisco Giants and traveling. For many years she enjoyed co-owning Pajaro St. Grill with her former husband. She was loved for her spirit, compassion and sense of humor. Survivors: her former husband, Deamer; stepson, Patrick; and father and stepmother, Mike and Carol Barker.
William Henry Penney, ’88 (urban studies), ’88 (economics), of Oakland, September 16, at 48, after a long illness. He enjoyed a successful career in finance at Drexel Burnham and Smith Barney and worked for Advent Software for more than 16 years in marketing and business development. A funny and big-hearted person, he nurtured interests that included architecture, gardening, skiing and an incessant remodeling of his homes. Survivors include his three siblings.
1990s
Kimberly Anne Brigati Wang, ’98 (engineering), of Menlo Park, March 24, at 37, of complications associated with treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Survivors: her husband, Benjamin, ’98; twin daughters, Sadie and Rilka; parents, David and Doreen Brigati; and sister.
2000s
Wiley Thomas Birkhofer, ’09 (English), of Brooklyn, N.Y, September 30, at 27. He completed a master’s of fine arts in creative writing at New York U. and recently achieved his goal of becoming an English professor. Having taught at Sacred Hearts School on Maui, Hawaii, and undergraduate writing and poetry courses at NYU during his master’s program, he had started teaching at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and was planning to teach underserved kids through the Community-Word Project in the city’s public school system. His uninhibited spirit, intellectual curiosity, sensitivity and compassion for others will be missed. Survivors: his parents, Wendell, ’78, MBA ’87, and Celeste; grandfather, G. Wendell, ’55; and sister, Elise, ’12.
Business
Arthur James Davie, MS ’81 (business), of Stuart, Fla., September 20, at 74. For more than 38 years he had a successful career in telecommunications, including positions at the Western Electric Co. and AT&T International before retiring from Lucent Technologies in 1996. His career took his family across the United States and to Seoul, South Korea, Brussels and Hong Kong. In retirement, he taught accounting as an adjunct professor at IRSC. Active in his community, he served as the treasurer and board member for the Friends of the Martin County Library System and the American Red Cross. Survivors: his wife, Mary Ann; sons, John, Matthew and Christopher; and four grandchildren.
Education
Robert C. Peniston, MA ’58, of Lexington, Va., August 2, at 91. During his lengthy naval career, he served aboard nine ships and was privileged to serve as navigator of the presidential yacht Williamsburg during the administration of Harry S. Truman. In 1976 he retired from the Navy and joined the staff of Washington and Lee U. as director of Lee Chapel. After retiring in 1998 he worked in special collections in the university’s Leyburn Library and gave guest lectures on military and American history. He lived his life as a true gentleman, officer and citizen. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Frances, and son, Robert. Survivors: his daughter, Lisa Sieg; three grandchildren; and five siblings.
John Fred Heflin, MA ’71, PhD ’78, of Kent, Ohio, April 11, at 73, after a 15-year fight against heart disease. A professor emeritus at Kent State U., he began a career at Portland State U. in 1976, becoming chair of the school of education. He also served on the board of directors and as education chair for the NAACP’s Portland branch and was a charter member of the Oregon Association for Multicultural Education. Committed at an early age to equal educational opportunity and social justice, he reflected these values in his academic scholarship and civic engagements. Survivors: his wife of 51 years, Anita; and sons, Kyle and Jonathan.
Lucy Dotto Ng’wandu, MA ’78, of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 24, at 68. After earning her master’s degree, she returned home to Tanzania, where she worked for more than a decade at the Institute of Curriculum Development, eventually becoming chief curriculum development officer in the teacher education section. An accomplished teacher, educator and diplomat, she accompanied her husband to Japan in the early 1990s, assisting him in discharging the duties of ambassador. Survivors: her husband, Pius, MA ’78, PhD ’81; children, Alex, Dolores, John, Leticia and Stella; and two grandchildren.
Carol Keller, MA ’81, of Trinidad and Tobago, December 17, 2012, at 68, after a short illness. Appointed a lecturer in social sciences at the School of Education at the U. of the West Indies in 1976, he remained there until retiring in 2009. Honored by UWI for excellence in postgraduate supervision, he also received the Chaconia Medal in 2005 for service to education. Survivors: his wife, Louise; children, Christopher, Carolyn and Marcus; and mother.
Engineering
Rodolfo H. “Rudy” de Lara, MS ’52 (civil engineering), of Pasadena, Calif., August 20, at 90. Born in the Philippines, he came to the United States to study at Stanford. After graduating he worked as a structural engineer for eight years at Bechtel and 32 at Parsons. He lived a long life, filled with adventure, joy and happiness. Survivors: his wife, Ute; children, Rudy, Eugene, Sue, Dee and Kim; and six grandchildren.
Paul Gene Griffith, PhD ’59 (electrical engineering), of Georgetown, Texas, July 20, at 82. He was an associate professor of electrical engineering at the U. of Arizona and also taught at Texas Tech U. as a professor of electrical engineering and then professor of engineering analysis and design. He joined Mobil Corp. in 1975, where held various titles prior to retiring as a geophysics associate. He was predeceased by his first wife, Helen Jean Martin, MBA ’53. Survivors: his wife of 27 years, Judy; sons, Mark, David, John and Peter; stepsons, Greg and Eric Melton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two siblings.
Emmet Douglas Anderson, MS ’60 (civil engineering), of Arlington, Va., August 30, at 93. He served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and graduated from Texas Tech College of Engineering. He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Lorene. Survivors: his wife, Freddie; children, Pamela Anderson-Taplett and Emmet Jr.; one granddaughter; and two sisters.
George Russell “Russ” Pflasterer Jr., PhD ’66 (mechanical engineering), of Hollister, Calif., August 9, at 86, of cardiac arrest. He served in the Army during the Korean War. His engineering career with General Electric spanned 50 years, taking him to Schenectady, N.Y., and San Jose. He was an active member of IEEE for 63 years. An avid daily hiker, he walked numerous trails in the eastern foothills of South Santa Clara Valley in California and trekked to the top of Mount Fuji, Japan. He was predeceased by his wife, Marty. Survivors: his children, Susan and John.
Humanities and Sciences
Boris Ilyin, MA ’49 (English), of San Rafael, Calif., August 10, at 95. Born in Russia in the midst of the Bolshevik revolution, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He studied at Stanford under Wallace Stegner and published a novel based on his experiences in occupied Germany. He taught English at Stanford and Pomona before undertaking a career in the foreign service. After retiring in 1969 he devoted himself to writing and painting. He was predeceased by his first wife, Edna. Survivors: his wife, Mary; daughters, Nadia, Alexandra, Natalia and Ann Ilyin McClain; stepchildren, Nicolas and Karin Hanni; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Victor B. Vari, MA ’52 (Italian), of Los Altos Hills, August 20, at 94. A World War II veteran, he held the Harold and Edythe Toso Chair in Italian Studies at Santa Clara U., where he taught for 66 years and ran the modern languages department for two decades. In addition, he was an Olympic-caliber fencer, journalist, radio announcer and military intelligence officer. He received a Life Achievement Award from SCU and was recognized by many Italian-American cultural organizations. Survivors include his wife, Julia.
Gerald Leland “Jerry” Davey, MS ’54, PhD ’59 (mathematics), of Nevada City, Calif., September 7, at 84, of Parkinson’s disease. A mathematician and businessman, he spent more than 30 years working for various companies including Hughes Dynamics, Credit Data Corp. and Utah Innovation Center. In the early 1990s, he joined the faculty of the U. of Utah, where he taught until his retirement in 2004. He loved music, particularly opera, the fine arts and, most of all, his family, friends and students. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Sherry (Stoddard, ’55); children, Claire Davey Ellis, Mark, Anne Davey Morrell and Lynne Davey DeMartini; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three siblings.
Stanley Earl Sobottka, MS ’57, PhD ’60 (physics), of Temecula, Calif., April 16, at 83, of congestive heart failure. He served in the Navy during the Korean War as an aviation electronics technician. After graduate school, he worked at Boeing Scientific Research Labs and Watkins-Johnson before joining the physics faculty at the U. of Virginia in 1965. For 10 years, he spent summers working at Los Alamos Laboratory. He enjoyed hiking, travel, family and square dancing. Survivors: his children, Daniel, Elizabeth Antell, Gr. ’84, and Laura Schifris; eight grandchildren; and six siblings.
Robert T. Oliphant, MA ’59, PhD ’62 (English), of Westlake Village, Calif., June 28, at 89. A World War II veteran, he worked as a professor of English at CSU-Northridge for 36 years. His doctoral dissertation was a translation from microfilm of the Old English Harley Glossary, an important scholarly contribution that was published in the early 1960s. He also wrote two novels, the first of which was adapted for television and published by Reader’s Digest. Survivors: his wife, Jane Philbrick; first wife, Lois Millett, ’57; sons, Matthew and Jason; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one brother.
Leonard Samuel Carrier, PhD ’67 (philosophy), of Asheville, N.C., June 26, at 80. In 1969 he joined the faculty at the U. of Miami, where he taught until his retirement in 2000. During that time he served as director of graduate studies and vice chair of the faculty senate. He was the author of dozens of articles and three books. In addition to his career in philosophy, he was a veteran of the Air Force, novelist, field editor for Mellon Press and USTA tennis official. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Claire; children, Erica Kampert and Sam; and four grandchildren.
Law
Sidney J.W. Sharp Jr., JD ’62, of Hanford, Calif., June 28, at 79, of leukemia. He served in the Navy as a communications electrician before attending Fresno State U. and Stanford and joining his father in his law practice. Also known as a landlord and developer, he was active in his community and preached the importance of a vibrant downtown. He built model airplanes, had an eclectic car collection and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow gearheads. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Janet; children, Diane Sharp Johnson, ’85, William and Robert; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cirilo Flores, JD ’76, of San Diego, September 6, at 66, after a battle with cancer. He was the first Hispanic bishop to preside over San Diego’s nearly one million Catholics, and his service was marked by a commitment to youth and the disadvantaged. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Orange in 1991, serving there for 18 years, and in 2013 he became the fifth bishop of San Diego.
