Faculty and Staff
Robert Chilton Calfee, of Stanford, October 24, at 81, of stomach cancer. A literacy-education expert who wrote extensively about pedagogy, he was a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education for three decades and former dean of the UC-Riverside Graduate School of Education. He pioneered new approaches to training classroom teachers and helped launch LeapFrog Enterprises, a leader in the educational entertainment market. Among his many awards and honors, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972. He was predeceased by his son Robert; and previous wife, Nel Little. Survivors: his wife, Suzanne Barchers; children, Adele Woodward, Elise Sachs and Robert; four grandchildren; and three sisters.
Helen W. Schrader, of Palo Alto, October 31, at 100. Her teaching career at Stanford spanned more than 50 years, beginning in 1946, when there were few women on the faculty. Recruited by the drama department, she developed a pioneering class on group communications that promoted dialogue and diversity in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. She was also a long-standing staff member of the National Training Institute of Behavioral Sciences. Survivors include her sister.
1930s
George Wadsworth Crapo Jr., '35 (history), of Berkeley, September 1, at 101. He left his position at Kaiser Shipyard to serve as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. Later he became a vice president at Michel & Pfeffer Ironworks, where he spent 25 years before retiring. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Ruth, and son George III. Survivors: his son Steve; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Charlotte Anita "Becky" Becker Connable, '36 (graphic arts), of Cupertino, September 2, at 99. She designed the signs and apparel for Eisenhower's presidential campaign in California, as well as the campaign aloha shirts for one of Hawaii's governors, William Quinn. She was president of the Honolulu Symphony in the early '60s and active on several other boards. She raised her children in Honolulu and instilled in them a love of art, education, music and hospitality. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold, '35, and daughter Lynne. Survivors: her children, Alfred and Laurie; four grandchildren, including Joelle Lozac'h Mayo, '00; and six great-grandchildren.
Caroline Houseman Helms, '37, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., October 22, at 98. A tireless volunteer, she was a longtime Sunday school teacher and very active in her church. She belonged to a book club and a bowling league and was an avid Stanford sports fan. She was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, Paul, '38. Survivors: her children, Suzanne Schaefer and Paul, '61; eight grandchildren, including Lara Daetz, '89, MA '89; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Barbara Elizabeth Nafsted Hancock, '38, of Bellingham, Wash., October 18, at 97. She worked as an executive assistant at San Jose Water Co. and later at IBM. While living in Santa Cruz, Calif., she learned picture framing and eventually opened Media Art, a gallery and frame shop in Bellingham. She taught Sunday school and ESL and enjoyed taking writing classes and painting. She loved to have fun, laugh and kick up her heels. Survivors: her daughter, Shelley; and two grandchildren.
Frederic M. Hoblit, '38 (general engineering), of Templeton, Calif., October 13, at 98. After graduating from Stanford, he earned a master's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the U. of Michigan. He wrote the textbook Gust Loads on Aircraft: Concepts and Applications and worked for Lockheed from 1945 until retiring in 1983. He was very involved with the YMCA and twice served as board chair of the East Valley YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Iris. He loved sailing, backpacking, folk dancing and reading. Survivors: his children, Tracy Hoblit Cook, Sidney and Fred Jr.; and two grandchildren.
1940s
Sylvia J. Onesti Richardson, '40 (speech and drama), of Tampa, Fla., October 24, at 94. She was a physician and educator whose passionate advocacy for children with language and learning disorders formed the spine of her long and distinguished career. In 1949 she established at Boston Children's Medical Center the first speech-language clinic in any children's hospital in the United States. While teaching at the U. of Oklahoma, she created the Child Study Center, and at the U. of Cincinnati, where she was clinical professor of pediatrics, she was a founding member of the Hamilton County Diagnostic Center for Children with Leaning Disabilities. She was a strong supporter of the arts, an avid traveler and utterly devoted to her family. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, William. Survivors: her sons, William and Christopher; six grandchildren; and one brother.
Theodora C. "Teddy" Kreps, '42 (political science), MA '59, PhD '64 (anthropology), of Novato, Calif., August 24, at 91, after a long illness. She worked for many years for the ILWU in both San Francisco and Hawaii. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Voorhees, MA '59. Survivors include her brother, Rodney, '59, and sister.
Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, '42 (biological sciences), MD '46, of Dana Point, Calif., November 10, at 93, of complications of a fractured femur. A World War II veteran, he set up a medical practice in Hawaii. He abandoned the practice to live on a kibbutz in Israel before moving to California, traveling to Mexico to surf and then returning to Hawaii, where he resumed his medical practice and helped found an outreach organization, Doctors on Call. Known to many in the surfing world, he founded the Paskowitz Surf Camp near San Diego, and his family and their unconventional lifestyle were introduced to the public in the 2007 film Surfwise. Survivors: his wife, Juliette Paéz; children, Moses, Joshua, David, Jonathan, Abraham, Israel, Adam, Joshua, Salvador, Deborah, Sarah, Navah and Claudia; and two siblings.
Malcolm Phillip "Bud" Youker Jr., '42 (chemistry), of Eugene, Ore., October 28, at 94. A captain in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps during World War II, he started his career with Standard Oil in 1947. He was responsible for the design and start-up of several chemical plants in various countries, including Japan, Brazil and Mexico. In 1959 he joined Purex Corp. as general manager of international operations. After retiring he moved to Visalia, Calif., where he served as president of Charter Oak Corp. a farming enterprise. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Mary Catherine. Survivors: his children, Terri Gundelach, Malcolm III and Ronald; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister.
Helen Louise "Bambi" Herring Knox, '46 (nursing), of Palm Desert, Calif., October 14, at 90. She earned a master's degree in psychology from Nevada Southern U. In Palm Desert, she served as a volunteer at the performing arts center and the humane society. She was predeceased by her first husband, Lester Luz, MD '44. Survivors: her children, Toni Louise Brown, James Luz and Scott Thompson; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Barrett Henry Weber, '46 (biological sciences), MD '49, of San Francisco, October 5, at 90. He served in a MASH unit in the Korean War, earning a Bronze Star. His surgical career took place at California Pacific Medical Center, where he was appointed chief of surgery. Fiercely intelligent and opinionated, he loved the ocean, fishing, hunting and his cocktail at the end of the day. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Elise. Survivors: his children, Barrett, Peter, David and Robert; and seven grandchildren.
William Robert "Bob" Phillips Jr., '47 (economics), of Napa, Calif., October 24, at 89. After serving in World War II and the Korean War, he pursued a career in the securities business, first at Mitchum Jones and Templeton and later Paine Webber Jackson & Curtis. In 1978 he moved to Napa Valley to operate the family vineyard, Vine Hill Ranch. He served on the board of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and was named Grower of the Year in 2011 in honor of his many contributions to the valley. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Alexandra; children, Alexandra Becker, Katharine L'Heureux and Bruce; and seven grandchildren.
Georgia Ray Williams, '47, MA '48 (education), of Santa Rosa, Calif., February 21, 2014, at 91. She played basketball and field hockey at Stanford and enjoyed a long and accomplished career as a scholar, professor and school administrator. As an active member of her Santa Rosa community, she enjoyed playing golf and tennis, camping and attending symphonies and the theater. Survivors include her sister.
William Hayes Allen, '48 (communication), JD '56, of Washington, D.C., October 11, at 87, of pulmonary fibrosis. He was a reporter and editor for the Stanford Daily and clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren after law school. His decades-long legal career encompassed both serving as a partner at Covington & Burling and teaching at Stanford, Cornell, Howard U. and Deep Springs College, where he also chaired the board of trustees. He drafted the first open housing law to be enacted south of the Mason-Dixon Line and argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Joan. Survivors: his sons, Edwin, JD '79, MS '79, Neal and Kent, '82; and eight grandchildren, including Scott, '05, and Daniel, '16.
Nathaniel C. Allyn, '48, MA '49, PhD '53 (history), of Palo Alto, September 29, at 90. After completing his doctorate, he taught briefly at Stanford before being hired to work in admissions. In the early 1960s, he became the first director of admissions at the Graduate School of Business. His last job was with the College Entrance Examination Board, after which he developed and directed AP summer workshops for teachers. In retirement, he enjoyed travel, especially to Italy and Greece to visit archeological sites. He was an avid cultivator of begonia plants and was happiest relaxing with his family near Tahoe. Survivors: his wife, Elizabeth; sons, Jeffery, '71, and Marc, '74; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Thomas George Smith, '48 (general engineering), of Carmichael, Calif., August 28, at 90. Upon returning from service in World War II, he resumed his undergraduate studies and then began a long career with the California Division of Highways (now Caltrans). He was active in local theater in Sacramento, sang in several choruses and played tournament bridge. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Jo (Glasson, '47), and son, William. Survivors: his daughters, Susan Durant, Cindra and Shelley; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
1950s
Jerome Lee "Jerry" Bechter, '50 (economics), of Denver, November 1, at 86, following a long illness. He belonged to Beta Theta Pi and worked in the computer industry and as an accountant and tax preparer. He was predeceased by his daughter Teresa. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Ann; children, Brenda Sabo and Don; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Donna Claire Mozingo Bowman, '50 (communication), of Idaho Falls, Idaho, September 29, at 85, due to injuries suffered from a fall at home. A talented violinist from a young age, she went on to play first violin for the Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra for many years. She was an outstanding skier and loved to hike. Fearless and kind, she was also extremely well read and a wonderful dinner party hostess. She was predeceased by her husband, Conrad, '50. Survivors: her children, Jane Bowman Lininger, Tom and Steve; and two granddaughters.
Crayton Winton Jones, '50 (political science), of San Francisco, July 21, at 87. He served in the Navy and bought only American-made cars. A fan of Jack Benny and the Marx Brothers, he enjoyed all forms of entertainment and was a regular at the Sacramento Jazz Festival. He was also an expert on presidential history, the stock market and politics. Survivors: his wife of more than 50 years, Sandra; sons, Scott and Brent; one granddaughter; and three siblings.
Kenneth E. Moore, '50 (social science/social thought), of Pasadena, Calif., November 2, at 87. He made a career in business and manufacturing molded fiberglass products and then focused on his creative side. A talented artist and self-taught pianist, he dedicated himself to recording music and producing CDs to share with friends and strangers alike. His other joys included entertaining, photography, travel, tennis and, above all, his family. He was predeceased by his son Eric. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Ginny (Cobb, '51); children, Jeffrey, Mary Engler, Claudia Bowen, Amy Allred, Lucy O'Quinn and Sarah; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Judith Marion Whipple Todd Dewitt, '51 (education), of Tucson, Ariz., November 17, at 85. An accomplished multimedia artist, she was well known in the Washington, D.C., Tucson and Durango, Colo., art communities. She loved hiking, gardening, opera, the mountains and horses. She was predeceased by her first husband, Murray Todd, '49, MBA '51. Survivors: her husband, Gerald; three sons; one stepson; five grandchildren; and four-great-grandchildren.
Cassius Lamb Kirk Jr., '51 (political science), of Menlo Park, September 22, at 85, of cancer. After graduating from UC-Berkeley School of Law, he served in the Army for two years and then joined Cooley, Godward in San Francisco. In 1960 he was appointed staff counsel for business affairs at Stanford, serving until 1978, when he became chief business officer at Menlo School and College. He then was a principal or investor in a variety of Bay Area business endeavors. He endowed two professorships at Stanford and received a 20-year service pin from Stanford Associates. Survivors include his sister, Patricia Kirk Dowd, '45.
Allen F. "Bill" Moore, '51, of Challenge, Calif., October 16, at 85. He pledged Alpha Tau Omega and met his wife at a dance with a sorority. His first job at his father-in-law's sign company, Nelson Neon, launched a 50-year career in the industry. He was a founding director and two-time president of the California Electric Sign Association and formed his own company, Bill Moore and Associates, in Albany, Calif., in 1975. He loved his home in the Sierra foothills and flying his Piper Comanche, and he founded a youth center program in his community called Friday Nite Lights. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Margery. Survivors: his children, Aerin, Skip, Kathleen and Suzanne; and six grandchildren.
Roderick Maltman Hills, '52 (history), JD '55, of Washington, D.C., October 29, at 83, of complications following surgery. He was a member of Zeta Psi and Stanford Law Review. He worked as a labor lawyer, managed political campaigns and taught at Harvard Law School before joining the administration of President Gerald Ford in 1975. Within months he was tapped to run the SEC. During his 18-month tenure, he eased regulations on the investment industry while advocating for greater transparency and disclosure practices by firms. More recently he founded and chaired the Hills Program on Governance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and was a senior partner of Hills Stern & Morley. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Carla (Anderson, '55); children, Laura, '83, JD '86, MA '86, Megan, JD '92, Roderick Jr. and Alison, '92, MA '01; and five grandchildren, including Daniel Hills-Bunnell, '18.
Marjorie Louise Swingley Lyte, '52 (political science), of Pasadena, Calif., October 4, at 83. After Stanford she earned a master's degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA. A member of the L.A. County Performing Arts Commission for more than 25 years, she was also founding chair of Girls in Gangs, a program to help young women transition out of juvenile probation. She also served as the L.A. chair of "Do the Write Thing," a program aimed at reducing youth violence. Survivors: her husband of 63 years, Fred, '50, MBA '52; children, Bill, Susan Lyte King, '77, and D.D.; and seven grandchildren.
Richard Lee "Dick" Parker, '52 (geology), of Perryton, Texas, September 3, at 88. A veteran of World War II, he first worked for Union Oil and then joined T. Boone Pickens to form Petroleum Exploration Inc. After moving to Amarillo, Texas, he and two partners created Alpar Resources, which explor-ed in Canada and the Rocky Mountain region. In the 1980s he worked as an independent consultant. He enjoyed golfing, skiing, fishing and playing bridge. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Joan; sons, Tim, Hugh and Rob; and eight grandchildren.
John Vincent Shields Jr., '54 (history), MBA '56, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., October 31, at 82, after a long illness. After serving in the Army, he started his career with Macy's. He left after 20 years and moved to Mervyn's in 1978, retiring nine years later as vice president of operations. Soon after a former fraternity brother offered him a position as president of Trader Joe's Co., and he was promoted to CEO in 1989. During his tenure, the company grew from 27 stores to 158 in 13 states. He was named Master Entrepreneur of the Year in 1993 and was honored as Retailer of the Year by the Institute of Retail Management the following year. Survivors: his children, John III, Michael, Karen Haake and Kathleen; and five grandchildren.
Alfred "Al" Williams, '54 (mechanical engineering), of Orosi, Calif., November 6, at 83. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and worked as a design engineer at FMC Corp. After 23 years, he moved to Visalia, Calif., to manage his family's citrus and olive ranch. He eventually served as president of the Visalia Citrus Packing Group and board chair for Sunkist. Active in his community, he devoted time to the Visalia Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts Mt. Whitney Area Council. He fished most of the central Sierra and loved time at the family cabin at Hume Lake. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Juanita. Survivors: his children, Rick, David, Rex and Trish; 16 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.
Richard "Dick" Geary, '56, MS '57 (civil engineering), of Lake Oswego, Ore., October 19, at 79, of a heart attack. He spent his 41-year career in construction with Kiewit Pacific Co. in the western United States, progressing from engineer to president. In 1988 he became a director of Kiewit's parent company, a position he maintained after his retirement in 1998. He served on many nonprofit boards, including trustee and past chair of the Oregon Health Sciences University Foundation, and enjoyed golf, fishing and spending time with his family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Patricia Lehto Geary, and daughter Elizabeth. Survivors: his wife, Janet; children, Arthur, Sarah Gustafson, David Garner and Suzanne; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two sisters, Susan Geary Boehner, '58, and Dorothea Geary Yellott, '60.
James Newman Andrews Howell, '57 (English), '57 (architecture), of New York, October 5, at 78, of myelofibrosis. He worked as an architect in the Pacific Northwest before choosing to pursue art exclusively, teaching himself to paint and draw. In 1968 he had his first solo show of abstract expressionist paintings. He built an award-winning studio on San Juan Island, Wash., where he developed a body of work exploring the gradations of particular grays. He moved to New York in the early 1990s and continued the gradation paints that led to his "Series 10," which occupied him for the rest of his life. His work is currently held by galleries and museums from Washington State to Spain and Germany. Survivors: his wife, D. Joy; former wife, Sandra Peters, '57; daughter, Karen Weir; and two grandsons.
John David Norcross, '58 (economics), of Chicago, November 9. A graduate of Northwestern U. School of Law, he was a founding partner in Crane and Norcross. He also co-founded Gibsons Restaurant Group. Well-known for his investing skills, he started each day trading for himself, his family and friends. He was a man of great faith, a sportsman and supporter of the performing arts. Survivors: his wife, Joanna; and one sister.
Stanley J. Goodman, '59 (history), of Los Angeles, October 26, at 76. He graduated from UCLA School of Medicine and enjoyed his career in neurosurgery. An outspoken intellectual and a humanist, he thrived on collaborative interactions of all kinds. He was foremost a family man, dedicated to showing by example that achievement fueled by passion can be balanced with integrity. Survivors: his wife, Linda; children, Sharon Goodman Squires and Jonathan; two grandchildren; and one sister.
Walker Kennedy Jr., '59 (history), of Lincoln, Neb., July 10, at 78. A member of Delta Chi, an Army veteran and a retired insurance executive, he served on the board of Family Service Lincoln, Cornhusker Bank, Nebraska Repertory Theatre and Meadowlark Music Festival. Survivors: his wife, Dianne (Wilkinson, '60); children, Lucia Thoensen and Walker III; four grandchildren; and one sister, Cameron K. Laine, '55.
Carol Ann Smith Whitebrook, '59 (nursing), of Cooper City, Fla., November 12, at 79. She became a registered nurse specializing in neonatal care but left the medical profession to be a full-time mother. Her passions included travel, golf, scuba diving, growing orchids and spending time with family and friends. In more recent years she rediscovered her love of bridge and played weekly. She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Paul. Survivors: her daughters, Paula and Debbie; two grandchildren; one step-grandson; and two sisters.
1960s
Gorham Eric Swanberg, '61 (philosophy), of Great Falls, Mont., September 20, at 75, of complications of Alzheimer's disease. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he graduated from the U. of Montana Law School, where he was editor of the law review. He practiced in Great Falls with his father and other partners for 45 years. He also served three terms in the Montana legislature and was active in his community. He enjoyed golf, tennis and especially bird watching and hiking. Survivors: his wife, Patti Joe; daughters, Kirsten Jacobsen, Brennan and Karen; and two grandchildren.
Nancy Louise "Lou" Becker Hillman, '62 (political science), of Oceanside, Calif., September 18, at 74, of heart failure. She worked as a fashion model and in later years was active as a real estate investor in Southern California.
Gary David Levinson, '68 (music), MA '69 (education), of Palm Springs, Calif., in November 2013, at 67, of esophageal cancer. He composed several Big Game Gaieties, including 1967's Wumberlogue, which won the BMI award for Best College Musical. He was also president of the Ram's Head board. Later, he wrote the music and lyrics for various productions at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto and an opera produced at the Theater of Riverside Church in New York and published a novel, The Books of Jonathan. Survivors include his husband and partner of 30 years, Peter Ginsberg.
1970s
Charles S. Tribolet Jr., '72 (industrial engineering), MS '73 (electrical engineering), of Morgan Hill, Calif., October 12, at 64, of cancer. He worked as a senior software engineer at IBM, where he spent 42 years and acquired five patents. Passionate about the ocean and its marine life, he went scuba diving almost every weekend in Monterey or Carmel for more than 17 years. He was an excellent photographer, both on land and underwater. He was predeceased by his first wife, Charmain Stansfield. Survivors: his wife, Linda Reisinger; and three brothers including David, MS '79, MS '82.
Mark Robert Bergstrom, '73 (physics), MS '73 (electrical engineering), of Palo Alto, August 29, at 63. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and the swim team, enjoying many more years as a competitive swimmer, including participating in Stanford alumni meets. The holder of five degrees, including a PhD in physics, he spent time as a particle physicist, network security engineer and instructor and worked on many research projects across a range of clients and businesses.
Julianne Kepler Meurice, '76 (psychology), of Evanston, Ill., October 7, at 60, from injuries she sustained after being struck by a car. After Stanford, she attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She was an avid cyclist and dedicated to her family. Survivors: her husband, Gilles; and daughters, Valerie and Claire.
1980s
Cecilia Beatrice Garcia-Delgado, '80 (medical microbiology), of El Paso, Texas, November 7, at 56, after a sudden illness. She was a psychiatrist for many years and often said she would never retire because she loved caring for and helping to heal her patients. She was a devoted parishioner at Queen of Peace and St. Luke's Catholic churches and especially enjoyed family gatherings. Survivors: her husband, Cesar Correa; son, Christian Delgado; mother, Isela; and two brothers.
Maria De Lourdes "Marilu" Magaña, '81 (economics), of Los Angeles, October 16, at 55, of a glioblastoma brain tumor. After Stanford she pursued an acting career in Manhattan, where she joined the Actors Studio, starred in many Off-Broadway productions and performed with Tony Randall at Lincoln Center. Following a move to L.A., where she supported herself as a substitute teacher in inner-city schools, she decided to devote herself to teaching disadvantaged kids. She taught in the L.A. Unified School District for 18 years, using her stage presence to make learning fun and inspiring thousands of students to excel. Survivors: her husband, Mark Ferber; parents, Luis and Irma; and five siblings, including Leticia, '83, and Gabriela, '85, MA '92, PhD '98.
2000s
Diana Lyn Hernandez Lebrun, '04 (civil engineering), of Huntington Beach, Calif., October 21, at 32, of acute myeloid leukemia. She was a member of Ballet Folklorico and worked at the library and bookstore. A dedicated mother, she loved to hike, travel, dance, play games, taste wine, entertain and explore. She served as the youngest ever supervisor at the Riverside County Flood Control District and volunteered time to the Special Olympics and AYSO. Survivors: her husband, Michael; sons, Zaid and Mason; parents, Robert and Jacqueline Hernandez; and seven siblings.
2010s
Daniel An Dien Ha, '10 (computer science), of San Francisco, October 31, at 26. At Stanford he joined the Talisman a cappella group, belonged to Alpha Kappa Psi and participated in the Charity Fashion Show. He also served as one of the senior class presidents. After graduation, he co-founded SSE Labs, better known today as StartX, where he volunteered his time and expertise to provide mentorship and resources to young start-ups. He moved on to a couple of his own start-ups before settling at MetroMile. Adventurous and outgoing, he had a childlike excitement for life and his authenticity was a beacon that drew people to him. Survivors: his parents, Ken and Ruth; and three siblings.
Business
Robert M. "Bob" Damir, MBA '49, of San Francisco, April 23, at 88. After earning his MBA, he opened a spice business in San Francisco and then enrolled in law school. He worked as an attorney for more than 40 years and a bankruptcy trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for eight years. He was a man of deep personal faith, starting a Christian high school in the City, and he personified the qualities of integrity, caring and warmth. Survivors: his wife, Marge; children, Nonda Ebbinghaus, Theresa, Garrick, Christian and Timothy; and 11 grandchildren.
Jack N. Hodgson, MBA '62, of Medina, Wash., October 30, at 76. He spent two years in the Army before settling in Seattle and working for Western International Hotels as their first director of development. In 1972 he started Jack N. Hodgson Co., specializing in the development and marketing of hotels and resorts. A lover of the outdoors, he liked to ski, run marathons, play golf and fly-fish. He served on a number of boards and, in retirement, relished his winters on the Big Island of Hawaii. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Barbara (McGregor, '60, MA '61); children, Susan, Wendy and Gregor; and six grandchildren.
Margaret Elliott Ashida, MBA '80, of Latham, N.Y., October 5, at 58, while vacationing in Indonesia. She was national STEMx director for the Battelle Memorial Institute and previously served as the Empire State STEM Learning Network director-in-residence for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Previously she worked at IBM, where her experience included leadership in diversity, university relations and operations in marketing and finance. Survivors include her sister.
Education
James G. Marmas, EdD '61, of Nisswa, Minn., October 9, at 85. He joined St. Cloud State U. in 1964, teaching business, and two years later he became professor and dean of the school of business. He retired in 1987. For his efforts in getting SCSU School of Business accredited, the governor of Minnesota issued a proclamation making May 30 James Marmas Day. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth. Survivors: his children, James, Lynn Studanski and Brenda; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two siblings.
A.G. Kirchner, MA '65, of Selma, Calif., March 11, 2014, at 98. He served in the Navy for 20 years, earned his undergraduate degree from Boulder U. in Colorado and entered the teaching profession. He was a lifelong learner and loved world travel. He was predeceased by his wife, Hattie "Odell," MA '65. Survivors include his brother.
John "Bo" Resch, MA '69, of San Diego, September 13, at 75. His teaching, administrative and coaching career spanned more than four decades on the Monterey Peninsula, and he is remembered as the best husband, father and grandfather. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Linda; children, Veronica Smith and Monte; and six grandchildren.
Engineering
Leonard Glazer Shaw, MS '57, PhD '61 (electrical engineering), of Roslyn, N.Y., October 22, at 80, after a brief illness. He taught for more than 40 years at the NYU Polytechnic School, where he was also dean of the department of electrical engineering and computer science and later vice provost for undergraduate studies. A longtime fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, he was known for his research on the filtering and modeling of stochastic processes. He co-authored a text on signal processing. In retirement, he enjoyed playing tennis and violin and walks with the family dog. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Peedee; children, Howard, Jenny Lindstrom and Mitchell; six grandchildren; and two siblings.
John Herbert "Jack" Hilmer, MS '69 (civil engineering), of Bingham, Maine, October 16, at 71. He was a graduate of Cornell and a veteran of the Vietnam War. Born in Ohio, he moved to Maine in the 1970s, where he built his homestead, working in the woods and raising animals. He was committed to helping the community through his volunteer work at Baker Mountain. He was predeceased by his children Angelina and Joseph. Survivors: his children, Maria, Jake, Anna, Lindsey, Johnny, Sarah, Grace, James and Belle; and two siblings.
Thomas Arthur "Tom" Manning Jr., PhD '70 (civil engineering), of Gloucester, Va., October 12, at 82. He served as a Navy Seabee on Guam during the Korean War and taught civil engineering at Louisiana State U. for 22 years. As part of his doctoral work, he worked with NASA on the Apollo Space Program. He could find humor in most anything and he enriched the lives of all he met. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Anna; sons, Thomas III and Dennis; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Michael Joseph Rutkowski, PhD '76 (aeronautics and astronautics), of Santa Clara, Calif., September 10, at 70, of thyroid cancer. A retired aerospace engineer, he was involved in several Apollo lunar missions at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. With a focus on helicopter research, he became assistant division chief of the Army/NASA Rotorcraft Division at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., and retired in 2013 as director of the National Rotorcraft Technology Center at Ames. Survivors: his wife, Janet; sons, Jonathan and Michael; two grandsons; and one sister.
Humanities and Sciences
Kenneth Edward Manchester, MS '50, PhD '55 (chemistry), of Princeton, Mass., November 10, at 89. He served in Patton's Third Army and helped liberate the concentration camps at Mauthausen in Austria in 1945. He enjoyed a 37-year career with Allegro Micro Systems, earning numerous patents and retiring as vice president of research and development. His strong faith in God sustained him and he was known for his gentle demeanor, quick wit and devotion to family. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Bonnie. Survivors: his children, Cynthia M. O'Brien and David.
William Earl "Bill" Stein, MS '50 (physics), of Los Alamos, N.M., September 17, at 90, after a brief illness. He served in the Navy during World War II and moved to New Mexico in 1949 to work at the newly established Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Recalled to serve during the Korean War, he then resumed his work at LASL while completing a doctorate at the U. of New Mexico. After retiring in 1982, he traveled to the greatest fishing spots in the United States and was a proud member of the New Mexico Sailing Club. Survivors: his wife of 67 years, Peggy; children, William Jr., Susan Stephens, Richard and James; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
George G. Lowry, MS '52 (chemistry), of Indianapolis, November 1, at 85. He worked as an industrial research chemist at Dow Chemical Co. before returning to school to earn a PhD. From 1963 to 1993 he was a chemistry professor at Claremont Men's College and at Western Michigan U. In addition he was a consultant in chemical safety and was author or editor of four books. He built his own furniture and stereo equipment and volunteered with Boy Scouts of America for many years. He was predeceased by his first wife of 54 years, Janet. Survivors: his wife, Marcia Mackey; children, Susan, JD '87, Barbara Fuller, Gretchen Flatto and Robert; five grandchildren; and two sisters.
Charles G. Wootton, MA '59 (economics), of San Diego, January 11, 2014, at 89. A foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department for 31 years, he was assigned to the first American delegation to the common market in Brussels and then appointed minister-counselor for economic and commercial affairs at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany. His final assignment was as deputy secretary general of the OECD in Paris. He then worked for Gulf Oil in Pittsburgh and Chevron Oil in San Francisco before retiring in 1993 and devoting himself to volunteer work, primarily in education. Survivors: his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth; children, Cheryl Brierton, Cynthia Clark, Emily Zack-Bates, Laurel Freeman, Virginia Gallagher and Charles; 11 grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters.
Gisela Gertrud Haas Nordby, MA '61 (German studies), of Syracuse, N.Y., October 12, at 79. Born in Kleve, Germany, she worked as a translator at the American Embassy in Bonn and retired as a professor of English and German from the State U. of New York at Oswego. She was a devoted mother and caring friend who enjoyed literature, music and travel. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward, '54, MA '62, PhD '71. Survivors: her sons, Peter and Christian; one grandson; and her companion, William Goodrun.
Gordon M. Wickstrom, PhD '68 (speech and drama), of Boulder, Colo., September 18, at 88. A Navy veteran, he earned his BA on the GI Bill at the U. of Colorado. He spent 16 years teaching and directing theater at Powell (Wyo.) High School, including one year in London with the British Drama League on a Fulbright Scholarship. After graduate school, he became a professor in the theater department of Franklin & Marshall College, where he stayed for 23 years. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty; and daughters, Linnea and Maurya.
Marie Virginia Mohr-Grandstaff, MA '77 (linguistics), of Surprise, Ariz., July 7, at 85, of a heart attack. The fifth of 18 children, she worked first for the International Grail Women's Movement and lived overseas for seven years, teaching English and religion in Indonesia. She then taught the Indonesian language for 10 years at Stanford. Her last job was an assignment with the State Department as an Indonesian language interpreter and translator in Java and Bali. She was also an author and gifted pianist and harpist. She was predeceased by her husband, Del Grandstaff.
Law
Ralph Ehrenpreis, JD '67, of Los Angeles, October 18, at 72, after collapsing while hiking in Franklin Canyon. He moved to L.A. to work for a large law firm but quickly found his niche by establishing what remains a renowned immigration law practice more than 40 years later. Besides his work, he was passionate about jazz, theater, literature and his family. Known for his irreverence and quick wit, he was a man who loved his friends and made strangers smile. Survivors: his wife of 18 years, Jennifer Kaufman; children, Ira, MBA '96, JD '86, Jeff and Jason; stepchildren, Darian and Ben; and three grandchildren.
Richard Thomas "Rick" Alber, JD '77, of San Francisco, October 17, at 62. He grew up in Encino and graduated from USC, a third-generation Trojan. Survivors: his wife, Maureen McVerry; children, Flannery and Jack; and one brother.
Richard Jon Welch, JD '77, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., October 6, at 62, following a valiant battle with melanoma. He served most recently as co-chair of Bingham McCutchen's corporate practice and managing partner of the firm's Los Angeles office. He previously served as the managing partner of Riordan & McKinzie from 1992 until its merger with Bingham in 2003. He received numerous awards and honors, including Los Angeles Business Journal's "Top 100 Lawyers" and "Most Influential M&A Lawyers," and he was active in many philanthropic and civic organizations. He loved Duke basketball, architecture, contemporary art and travel with family and friends. Survivors: his wife, Tawny Little; son, Cole; stepsons, JJ and Chris; and two sisters.
Medicine
Beverly Ann Webster Newell, Gr. '65 (physical therapy), of Henrico, Va., September 6, at 77. She practiced physical therapy in Washington State, Switzerland and Monterey County. Her talents and passions were many and expressed through music, art, master gardening, community service, family and worship. Survivors: her husband of nearly 50 years, Roger; children, Mark, Jonathan and Annika; and four grandchildren.
