1930s
Alvin Huron Brown, ’36 (economics), of Seattle, November 26, at 103. He married Anita-Nell in 1935, and the two settled in Tacoma, where he began a 40-year career in the candy business, working for Brown and Haley and then Harry Brown Confections. In 1950, the family moved to Seattle, where he became president of Rogers Candy Co. Anita-Nell passed away in 1974. He married Elizabeth in 1976. He served as president of the National Confectioners Association and of the Seattle Downtown Kiwanis Club. He was an avid fisherman, a golfer and a member of the Magnolia United Church of Christ. Survivors: his second wife; daughters Sharron Holtz, Judy Nilsen, Nancy Blessing, Sally Harris and Nita Mortensen; stepchildren Betsy Fornoff and David Blessing; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great- grandchildren.
1940s
Virginia Stevens Seaver, ’41 (history), of Lawrence, Kan., December 25, at 97. She met her husband, Jim, ’40, at Stanford. She was involved in many civic and volunteer activities, participating in the League of Women Voters, Friends in Council, Douglas County Senior Services and the Villages. She was managing editor at the University Press of Kansas. Known for her great sense of humor, she enjoyed travel and all things Italian, crossword puzzles and bridge. She was predeceased by her husband of more than 70 years; son Richard; a grandson; and a brother. Survivors: sons William and Robert; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Evelyn Lenore Gardner Ballard de Ghetaldi, ’42 (basic medical sciences), MD ’46, of Daly City, Calif., December 28, at 98. In 1946, she was hired to run the Student Health Service at San Francisco State, where she later taught classes. She was the national president of Camp Fire Girls in 1975, and led a pioneering effort to expand membership eligibility to boys and change the name to Camp Fire. She co-founded Action for Nature, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people promote love and respect for nature. She was predeceased by her 11 siblings; her first husband, Francis Edgar Ballard; and her second husband, Guido Oscar de Ghetaldi Jr. Survivors: children Charles Ballard, Anne Bergsman, and Dario, Laura and Larry de Ghetaldi; 24 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
Peggy Perring Fuller, ’42 (Spanish), of Cupertino, October 19, at 95. She was employed as a civilian with the U.S. Army within the War Department at McClellan Field in Sacramento from 1943 to 1945. In 1948, she married Bob, ’40, at MemChu. She was an avid letter writer and photographer, took flying lessons, and loved art and antiques. She helped initiate the Hawaii School for Girls, taking an active part in fundraising and volunteering there. Later in life, she studied interior design and continued to enjoy that for many years. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years. Survivors: children Hoyt, Sigrid and Oralani; stepchildren Lynn, ’63, Robert, ’64, and David; three grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Marie Pappas Johnson, ’42 (nursing), of Woodland, Calif., December 1, at 99, from heart failure. She met her husband, Kenneth, while studying at San Francisco State College in the mid 1930s. They both then transferred to Stanford, and were married in 1941. They set up their home in Napa, where she began raising their two sons, and in 1959, the family moved to Woodland. She worked as a school nurse in Davis, Calif., and as a consultant /advisor to pregnant teenagers in Yolo County. She retired from nursing in 1974. She enjoyed playing golf with several women’s groups and with her husband. She was predeceased by her husband; brother Gregory; and sisters Janice, Caroline and Grace. Survivors: sons Gregory and Jeffrey; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and twin sister Dori.
Walter Wataru Takeshita, ’42, MA ’52 (communication), of Torrance, Calif., May 4, 2016, at 95, from Alzheimer’s disease. While at Stanford, he was a member of the Daily and the Japanese Club. Five months before his graduation, he and his family were sent to a Japanese internment camp in Gila River, Ariz. Though he could not finish his senior year, Stanford awarded him his bachelor’s degree. He joined the U.S. Army in 1947, spent four years as an interpreter in Japan, and then earned his master’s degree. He worked as a reporter and an editor for the Marin Independent Journal for 33 years, and he retired in 1985. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and had small parts in several movies, including The Principal. Survivors: his wife, Michiko; son Ken Takesita, ’97; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Winifred Ellis “Poo” McKellar Wyer, ’43 (Spanish), of La Jolla, Calif., January 9, at 96. In 1944, she married Ralph, and together they raised four sons. She was a health-conscious outdoors enthusiast; swimming, tennis, hiking and skiing were her lifelong passions, as was playing Scrabble and traveling around the world. She supported the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Las Patronas, and several other organizations and charities. She was predeceased by her first husband; brother James, ’42, JD ’48; and a grandchild. Survivors: her husband of 17 years, John Amberg; sons Mike, Steve, Nick and Chris; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Donna Talbott Newberry, ’47 (nursing), of Sacramento, Calif., November 23, at 93. In 1946, she married Lawrence, ’49, MA ’50. She worked in the UC-Davis infirmary and at the Yolo County Department of Public Health. In 1964, the family moved to New Delhi, India, for Larry’s job. While there, she served as a nurse volunteer on a mobile medical van and as a school nurse. After returning to the U.S., she lived in Terre Haute, Ind., where she helped establish the city’s first Planned Parenthood and became a clinical instructor in community health at Indiana State U. After Larry’s retirement, they returned to California, where she was a volunteer at the Sutter Davis Hospital Resource Center. She was predeceased by her husband. Survivors: children Dean, Judy and Jim; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Karl Price, ’47 (social science/social thought), JD ’50, of Beverly Hills, Calif., December 25, at 96, of dementia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and served as a combat engineer in France, Belgium and Germany. He then attended Stanford and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation from the Law School, he joined the entertainment law firm of Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz & Selvin, where he eventually became managing partner. He left to become executive vice president of Corday Productions, the producer of Days of Our Lives. In 1955, he married Sylvia, and they had two children. He enjoyed travel and golf, was a passionate collector of art and antiquities, and enjoyed tracking his family’s genealogy. Survivors: children Howard, MD ’83, and Elisa, ’79; and four grandchildren.
Ingall William Bull Jr., ’48 (law), LLB ’50, of San Francisco, December 28, at 90, from pneumonia. In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was discharged in 1946 as storekeeper third class; became an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1948; and was in the active reserve unit at Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, from 1951 to 1957, when he retired as a lieutenant. He spent his career as a trial attorney and retired from law in 2010. He was a lover of history, especially the stories of his own family through the generations. He loved to travel and explored many countries. Survivors: children Richard, Hannah-Leigh, Mary and Ingall III; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild.
LaVonne Bello Laskey, ’48 (English), of Ceres, Calif., January 10, at 91. She was a volunteer for many organizations including the LARC Thrift Shop and Persephone Guild. She also volunteered for the Memorial Hospital Volunteers for over 45 years, serving as its membership chair and president. She traveled the world, and said Ireland was her favorite country. She enjoyed reading and spending time in her garden. A steadfast Stanford football fan, she attended games for five decades. Survivors: children Cassandra Sparks and Kim; and four grandchildren.
Irene Thieme McPherrin, ’48 (cell biology), MD ’53, of Redwood City, November 16, at 91. She was one of the few women doctors to graduate from the Medical School in the early ’50s, and she practiced as an allergist for the next 50 years. She met her husband, John, ’49, while she was at Stanford. She loved gardening, golfing, ballroom dancing, bridge and Stanford football games. She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 70 years and daughter Linda. Survivors: children Helen Dadmehr and David; and two grandchildren.
Irwin Rosa, ’48 (civil engineering), of Kailua, Hawaii, January 26, at 92. At Stanford, he was a member of Chi Psi. He served in the Merchant Marines and in the U.S. Navy, and he became a civil engineer for the California Department of Transportation. He also authored Hawaii Wild, a book on adventure travel in Hawaii. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Norma Jean (Clark, ’50). Survivors: children Jerry Bates, Susan Turnbull, Jeannie Hamblin, Marty and Bruce; and 21 grandchildren.
Rosemary Barnes Green, ’49 (education), of College Station, Texas, December 1, at 89. At Stanford, she was a sponsor at Roble Hall and lived in Lagunita. She married Don, ’47, in 1948. She and Don helped develop an avocado ranch in El Cajon, Calif., together with her parents. In 1972, the couple bought a cattle ranch in Oregon. She spoke Spanish, Portuguese, German and French, and she taught high school Latin and Spanish. A pilot, she flew a Cessna 182 and was a member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed women pilots. In 2011, she and Don moved to Texas; throughout their life, they enjoyed traveling and singing together in their church choir. Survivors: her husband; children Catherine, Lucinda, Margery and Douglas; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Frank Kerr, ’49, MA ’52 (English), of Seattle, January 4. He served in the U.S. Army for six years, stationed in the South Pacific during World War II, and then attended Stanford. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, in 1945. He taught high school English for 40 years in Whittier, Calif., and also served as a faculty member at Claremont College. Upon retirement, he and Pat returned to the Northwest and enjoyed many years of travel and time with family. He was a poet and a lover of music, art and the written word. He was predeceased by his wife of 70 years and two sisters. Survivors: children Nancy Beattie, Elizabeth Graham and Peter; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother.
Raymond McHugh Jr, ’49 (education), MA ’62 (history), EdD ’64, of San Carlos, December 27, at 96. During World War II, he was a member of the Army Air Corps. At Stanford, he met his first wife, Jared “Jerry” (Fitch, ’49). From 1963 to 1992, he was a professor at Cal State-Northridge. He served as chair of the secondary education department for five years. He taught many future history teachers and co-authored Quest for Liberty, a U.S. history textbook. In 1970, he married Nancy Spicer. He enjoyed traveling and jogging, and he took an active role in his community. He was predeceased by both Jerry and Nancy, and two sisters, including Carol Yokoi, ’54. Survivors: children Barbara, Douglas, Kathleen and Robin; stepsons David and Tom Pomatti; eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren; and brother Thomas, ’52, MD ’55.
Margaret “Mardi” Bemis Rose, ’49 (art), of Hingham, Mass., December 28. In 1953, she became the first woman to earn a master’s degree in city planning from Yale U. From 1954 to 1958, she worked as an associate city planner for Baltimore County, Maryland. She lived abroad, in Sweden and England, from 1960 to 1975, and was deputy director of the Samaritans, working to introduce the program to the United States. During the 1980s, she became involved with Cambridge Living Options for Elders. Her concern for the environment led her to participate in Earthwatch expeditions, and she loved animals and enjoyed staying active. She was predeceased by her former spouse, John. Survivors: sons Lochlan, Gregg and Garth; six grandchildren; and brother F. Gregg Bemis Jr., ’50.
1950s
Robert Berka, ’50 (communication), of Menlo Park, September 29, at 90, from aspiration pneumonia. At Stanford, he worked at the Daily and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. After graduation, he was an editor at Western Advertising, an interviewer for Safeway’s market research department, and the owner of CEO Merchandising Systems, Inc. Survivors: his wife, Paula (Minard, ’52); children Chris, ’76, and Alison; and six grandchildren, including Caitlin, ’08, and Haley, ’10.
Dorothy Deatherage, ’50, MA ’51 (education), of Long Beach, Calif., December 30, at 89. She attended Mills College, UCLA and Stanford before receiving her doctorate from USC. She became a member of the faculty at Long Beach State College in 1955, which eventually became Cal State-Long Beach. She co-published a book on sportsmanship, helped develop a competitive sports program for women and served as chair of the women’s physical education department. She was a devoted member of the First Congregational Church of Long Beach. Golf was her passion; she won the Long Beach Junior Golf Championship in 1946, and she played well into her 80s. She was predeceased by her brother, Dale. Survivors: niece Kathy Deatherage and nephew Tom Deatherage.
Alan Beck, ’51 (economics), MBA ’53, of Orinda, Calif., December 11, at 90, from natural causes. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1945, received his wings in June 1948 and then his commission six months later. He was released to inactive duty in December 1949 and joined a reserve fighter squadron at Naval Air Station Oakland. From 1967 to 1970, he was a commanding officer; he became a captain in 1972. He retired from the Navy in 1987, after 42 years and one day of service. He retired in 1982 as a vice president at Wells Fargo Bank. He spent his retirement years traveling, flying, fishing and hunting. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruby. Survivors: his life partner, Janet Whitehead; sons Ronald and Clifford; and three grandchildren.
Christopher Keith, ’51 (psychology), of New York, May 21, 2017, at 86. After Stanford, he served in U.S. Army Intelligence. After completing his service, he did graduate work in mathematics at Swarthmore College and MIT. During the ’70s and ’80s, he led the New York Stock Exchange’s transition into the era of automation as its chief technology officer and senior vice president. He left the NYSE to start his own company and to pursue music and writing, his lifelong interests. He became co-founder and CEO of Exchange Lab, an incubator for innovative technology companies. He composed a musical adaptation of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and wrote stories, essays, and a novel, The Man Who Waited. Survivors: his wife, Margaret; children Geoffrey, ’86, MS ’88, Stephanie, ’88, and Joseph; and five grandchildren.
Hugh Ross MacMichael, ’51 (history), MBA ’53, of South Pasadena, Calif., July 28, at 87. He worked for Getty Oil and Garrett Aerospace in financial research. He was an active volunteer for Oneonta Congregational Church of South Pasadena, Whittier Trust and the Economic Roundtable. Survivors: his wife, Mary (Hirsh, ’50, MD ’57).
Arthur Homer Miller, ’51 (undeclared), of Keizer, Ore., November 24, at 87. After attending Stanford, he graduated from U. of Washington in 1951. He was a veteran, having served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He worked for Boeing for 36 years and was a CPA. He is remembered by his daughters as a loving and nurturing father who put his family first, and as a caregiver for his family members. He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth (Bonnett, ’52); son Alan; and brothers Robert, ’49, and Donald. Survivors: daughters Janis Frank and Sandra Hudson; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Hugh William Bridgford, ’53 (economics), of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., January 12, at 86. At Stanford, he was a member of Kappa Sigma and met his first wife, Diane (Dean, ’56). After graduation, he served on the USS Calvert as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He spent his career in his family’s business, Bridgford Foods, serving as its president, chairman and chairman of the executive committee. In 1996, he married Carmen Wilcox. He loved athletics, sailing, traveling, his family and springer spaniels. He was predeceased by his brother Richard. Survivors: his wife of 21 years; children Deán Mastromatteo, Debra deAlcuaz, Bill, Brian and Blaine; stepdaughter Julie Lucas; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother Allan, ’57.
Robert Shure, ’53, MA ’63 (speech and drama), of Sarasota, Fla., January 14, at 86, from sepsis. He was a member of Delta Chi and the tennis team, and was involved with KZSU and the Daily. He was on the faculty of Oswego State College and the U. of Connecticut, and he authored the cult classic Twink and Digby and Marie. He wrote lyrics to several pieces by Finnish jazz pianist and composer Heikke Sarmanto, and his plays have been performed at the Edinburgh Festival. He was an avid sports fan, rooted for the New England Patriots, and was pleased to see his beloved Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Survivors: his sister Myrna.
Jane Caswell Hansen Tschannel, ’53 (undeclared), of Corral de Tierra, Calif., January 21, at 86. She studied music at Stanford. She volunteered with the Red Cross at Ford Ord Hospital, singing and playing guitar for the wounded soldiers who had returned from Vietnam. She served as president of the Girl Scout Board of Directors and the Hospice Giving Foundation board, and was on the board of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, in San Anselmo. She helped form the Valley Guild, and was instrumental in helping preserve and restore the boyhood home of John Steinbeck. Survivors: daughters Tina Hansen McEnroe and Sally Hansen Blackburn; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and friend Dick Burns.
Howard Williamson, ’53 (civil engineering), of Orinda, Calif., January 19, at 87, from complications from two strokes. At Stanford, he was in the Navy ROTC, and after graduation, served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. After completing his service, he worked for a large construction company. He enjoyed a healthy lifestyle, growing wheatgrass and alfalfa in the kitchen in the ’70s, taking vitamins, and encouraging everyone in his family to exercise. After his retirement, he enjoyed his time investing in stocks, going to the gym, ballroom dancing and embarking on cruises to destinations around the world. He was predeceased by his wife of almost 60 years, Ginny. Survivors: children Ann Walgenbach, Carol Layne and David.
Phillip Bostwick, ’54 (social science/social thought), of East Orleans, Mass., Dec. 18, at 84. At Stanford, he was Phi Beta Kappa. While attending law school at Harvard, he served in the U.S. Navy for four years as a naval aviator; he flew with a Marine Reserve squadron and held the rank of captain. He received his LLB in 1961. He was the first litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge, where he practiced from 1963 to 1997. He was an aviator and a sports car driver, and he restored vintage cars—many of which he raced competitively. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Jean Ann; children Dwight, ’83, Jennifer Bostwick Owens, ’85, and John, ’89; and six grandchildren.
J. Peter Fitzpatrick, ’54 (undeclared), of Carlsbad, Calif., December 15, at 84, from an extended illness. At Stanford, he was student manager for the baseball team. He received his undergraduate degree from Cal State-Los Angeles and his DDS from USC. Upon graduation, he joined his father’s dental practice in Encinitas, Calif., and practiced dentistry for 45 years. He was a member of the Encinitas Rotary Club for 52 years, serving as president in 1971. He also served on the Encinitas YMCA board and was a Cardiff School District board member for over 10 years. As a volunteer for the Zoological Society of San Diego, he occasionally performed dental surgery on an animal that needed help. A lifetime sports enthusiast, he enjoyed coaching with the San Dieguito Little League. Survivors: sons John and Jim; and three grandchildren.
Dolores Morelli Hoffman, ’54 (social science/social thought), MA ’54 (education), of Sonoma, Calif., December 19, at 84. In 1954, she married Robert, ’52. They lived in Ventura, Calif., for a few years and then moved to Bakersfield, where they raised five children. She volunteered with numerous organizations that reflected her dedication to service and lifelong learning, including the PTA, Junior League, Kern County Museum, California Living Museum and PEO. Survivors: her husband; children Susan, Laurel Winzler, ’76, Diana Oertel, ’81, Steven and Mark; three grandchildren; and a brother.
Alice Maile York Raphael, ’54 (undeclared), of Oakland, November 8, at 85, after a long illness. She transferred from Stanford to Smith College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1953. She was an exceptional athlete. At age 64, she ascended Mount Whitney with the Wildberries, a group of Monterey County senior women with whom she enjoyed many outdoor adventures. She also loved playing tennis and the piano (particularly ragtime classics). She volunteered for the Junior League and the Carmel Foundation, where she taught computer skills to other seniors in the 1990s. Survivors: sons John, Miles and James David; and four grandchildren.
Taylor O. Wright III, ’54 (undeclared), of Lombard, Ill., September 27, at 86, from an accident. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi during his time at Stanford. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and he later owned a jewelry and watch parts company. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Patricia; children Susan, James and Taylor IV; and four grandchildren.
Howard Elmer Dienger, ’55 (history), MA ’56 (education), of Palo Alto, June 23, at 84. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy flight training program and served 22 years in Naval Air Intelligence Reserve, retiring as a commander. He was very active in the California Teachers Association and taught history and government for 38 years in the Mountain View Los Altos High School District. For many years, he and his wife, Carol (Sheppard, ’56), led backpacking, canoe and sea-kayak trips in California and Alaska for the Sierra Club. In the ’90s, they hand-built a solar-heated cabin in the Truckee-Donner Sierra Nevada, and enjoyed spending time there. Survivors: his wife; children Christine Persinger, Jennifer Moon and Jordan; and four grandchildren.
Richard Kay Smith, ’55 (communication), of Studio City, Calif., December 21, at 84. He was recruited by Stanford to play football, and was a member of Sigma Chi. While attending, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. After the war, he returned to complete his degree in journalism. In 1958, he moved to Burbank, joined NBC News, and began a 36-year career as a cameraman. He received numerous awards, including two national Emmys and a Golden Mike. In 2012, he earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Ann; children William, Debra, Michael and David; and three grandchildren.
Marco Vitulli, ’55 (history), of Friday Harbor, Wash., October 14, at 83. After Stanford, he entered the U.S. Air Force, and in 1957 received his USAF Jet Pilot Diploma as a first lieutenant. He was an avid pilot for more than 40 years, as well as a hunter, fisherman, skier and world traveler. He was involved in real estate development in Bothell, Wash., and Cabo de Sol, Mexico. Survivors: his wife, Fritzie; daughters Kari Bennett, Stephanie Castle, Michelle Lambright, Jennifer Hagstrom and Maria; 13 grandchildren; and a sister.
Merilyn “Mimi” Snow White Walston, ’55 (undeclared), of Solvang, Calif., November 22 at 84. While at Stanford, she met her husband, Carl, ’54. They moved to Connecticut a few years later and stayed for 45 years, until 2001, when they returned to California to join two of their children and grandchildren. She played the piano, oboe and violin. For most of her adult life, she sang soprano, and she participated in the Greenwich Choral Society, Santa Barbara Choral Society and the Santa Ynez Chorale. She was a lifelong impressionist painter as well as a real estate agent. Her hobbies included shelling in Sanibel, Fla., playing bridge, gardening and driving across the country. Survivors: her husband of 64 years; children Mark, Lynn Golden and Noelle Burg; five grandchildren; and a sister.
Lowell J. Brown, ’56 (biological sciences), of Springfield, Ill., October 16, at 83. After Stanford, he earned an MD from Creighton Medical School, and had a private practice in Los Banos, Calif. He was a commander in the U.S. Navy and chief of staff of the U.S. Naval Hospital at Subic Bay in the Philippines. After serving, he worked for Humana Hospital in southwestern Virginia and was a medical examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1979, he relocated to Springfield and worked for Humana as a pathologist. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Medical Association. He was a Life Master bridge player and also enjoyed golf, movies and travel. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Veronica; children Caitlin Brown Horton, Neil, Brendan and Terence; six grandchildren; a brother; and a sister.
R. Wayne Mall, ’56 (psychology), of Fremont, Calif., December 17, at 83. He received his medical degree from the U. of Colorado. After his residency at Duke U., he served as a captain in the U.S. Army, where he met his wife, Ann, while they worked together at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver. They lived in Asaka, Japan, where he worked for a military hospital, and then moved to Estes Park, Colo., where he joined his father in private medical practice. After three years there, the family moved to California, settling in Fremont. He spent 21 years practicing internal medicine at Washington Hospital, and served as chief of staff for part of that time. He traveled to every continent but Antarctica and had many hobbies, including photography. He was predeceased by his wife. Survivors: children Rhonda Adler, Margo Hoffman, Mary McCarthy and Michael; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Linda Rudy Murphy, ’56, MA ’57 (education), of Jenner, Calif., May 26, 2017, at 80, from Alzheimer’s disease. She was a self-taught musician, and at Stanford she started a band with her dormmates called the Sexless Seven Minus Two. She met Bob Murphy, ’53, there, and they married in 1956. They had four children and raised them in Palo Alto. After their divorce, she and the children moved to her family ranch on the Sonoma County coast, and she began teaching at the Fort Ross School. She eventually took over the management of her family’s hospitality business at Stillwater Cove Ranch and worked there for 40 years. She was predeceased by Bob, son Jim Murphy and daughter Marisa Murphy Woods. Survivors: children Zak, KC and Victoria.
Margaret Shank Scherer, ’56 (history), of Palm Beach, Fla., January 10. At Stanford, she met her husband, Allan, ’53, MBA ’55. She was an accomplished horsewoman, owned several thoroughbreds, won championships, and traveled the world with her husband. She worked for 10 years as a leading runway model in New York and Los Angeles for a number of fashion designers, including James Galanos. She and her husband moved to Palm Beach in the 1970s and helped establish the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club. She also founded Palm Beach Design, an interior design and special-events firm. Survivors: her husband of 63 years; sons Brad and Warren; and three grandchildren.
Daniel Wolford Cook III, ’57 (Spanish), of Dallas, January 25, at 83. He served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander. In 1961, he received his MBA from Harvard U. and joined Goldman Sachs in New York. In 1968, he opened the company’s Dallas office. In retirement, he served on many corporate and philanthropic boards, including TD Ameritrade, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas, Southern Methodist U. and National Review. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, traveling the world, and watching Nebraska football. He was predeceased by his brother, G. Bradford, ’59. Survivors: his wife, Gail; children Dan, Chad, Cherie, Corbin and Heather; and 13 grandchildren.
William Geyer, ’57 (English), MA ’61 (history), of Sacramento, Calif., December 31. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and involved with KZSU and the Daily. He worked with the California Legislature and is remembered for his contributions to the Williamson Act (1965), which provided a tax break for landowners who agreed not to sell to developers for a set period of time. After 10 years as a legislative staffer, he launched three businesses: California Research, a state government monitoring service; California Journal, which covered the substance and politics of state issues; and Geyer Associates, a land-use consultancy. There, he helped establish coastal and land conservancies, as well as habitat- and species-management programs. Survivors: his second wife, Naida, of 38 years; children Carolyn Duty, Cathryn and Robert; three stepchildren; four grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
Michael Rodrigue, ’57 (economics), MBA ’61, of Santa Barbara, Calif., December 12, at 82. After finishing his undergraduate work at Stanford, he spent two years as a lieutenant with the U.S. Army, where he performed background investigations for the Counter Intelligence Corps. After he received his MBA, he started his 40-year career as a stockbroker at E.F. Hutton in Santa Barbara. He volunteered for the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Laguna Blanca School, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, the American Red Cross and Friends of the Montecito Library. He enjoyed playing tennis and golf. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Joann; son Marc; and two grandchildren.
Robert McClintock Whittier, ’57 (mechanical engineering), of San Clemente, Calif., October 29, at 81, from a stroke. As students, he and his wife, Mary Ann (Van Berckelaer, ’57) met on a blind date at the beach. He began his career at Wiancko Engineering, worked on the development of piezoelectric shock and vibration sensors, and did pioneering work leading to the field of nanotechnology. Later, at Endevco Corp., he managed the design of sensors that traveled into space and were used in medical applications. In 2001, he retired. He was a deacon and an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed relaxing at his home in the Sierra foothills. Survivors: his wife of 60 years; daughters Sara Whittier Boadwee, ’82, Laurel Whittier Reidy, ’83, MS ’83, and Margo Whittier Jones, ’86; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Dale Doty, ’58, MA ’60 (education), of Los Altos, November 14, at 81, from renal failure. At Stanford, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and ROTC. An educator for more than 40 years, he was a teacher, a principal and an assistant superintendent in the Cupertino Union and Los Altos Elementary school districts. He loved playing his guitar and bringing joy to family gatherings and to classrooms, and he was known for his kindness, commitment to family and friends, spirituality and positive outlook on life. Survivors: his wife, Judith; children Kelly Banks, Katie Mansergh, Kim English, Scott Barnes, Tom, Jeff and David; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Patricia Hurst Holt, ’59 (political science), JD ’63, of Los Angeles, October 26, at 80. After Stanford, she married Roger Godfrey, MBA ’58. She started her career at Rogers and Wells, and over the years mentored many young lawyers. She was a member of the Stanford Professional Women of Los Angeles County. After her second husband, Bud Keilly, passed away in 1992, she joined the Peace Corps and worked in Poland. She directed the lawyer referral service for the Los Angeles County Bar Association and in 2011 received the Benjamin Aranda III Outstanding Public Service Award. She raised Great Danes and French poodles as show dogs, and she is survived by her dog Tinker Bell, who was a steadfast companion through her nearly eight years of disability.
Timothy Turner Anderson Sodd, ’59 (anthropology), of Monkton, Md., December 31, at 80. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Survivors: his wife, Mary Elizabeth; children Margaret Ann Oakes, Mark Timothy and Steven Christopher; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four sisters; and three brothers.
1960s
Barbara Acres Baumgardner, ’60 (Spanish), MA ’61 (education), of Healdsburg, Calif., November 21, at 79, from metastatic lung cancer. She spent her career at Healdsburg High School, where she taught for more than 30 years. She retired in 1993, after serving a long tenure as chair of the foreign language department. She was independent and self-assured, drove tractors and co-piloted a single-engine Cessna with her first husband, Charles “Andy” Baumgardner. She enjoyed traveling and making new friends, and was always surrounded by her cats, Bootsie, Little Boots, Princess and Golden. Survivors: trustee and family friend Loretta Strong; travel companion and teaching colleague Margaret Heinonen Johnson; childhood best friend Roger Parker; and cousins Tom Gillum and Judy Darnell.
Medill “Toby” Teddington Hanna Williams, ’61 (English), of Palo Alto, December 20, at 77, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease and the flu. In 1961, she married Russell Williams, ’62, and they had two children. They divorced in 1971, and in 1978, she met Alan Cooper, MS ’73, PhD ’74. She was an executive assistant and a book editor who then became a residential real estate appraiser. She spent many years as photographer for the California Pops Orchestra, singing with Peninsula Women’s Chorus, leading a ukulele group, and serving on the board of trustees of the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. Survivors: her partner of 40 years, Alan; children Keira and Thad; stepsons Brian Cooper and Owen Cooper; and a grandchild.
Richard D. Givens, ’62 (history), of Menlo Park, December 4, at 78, from cancer. After Stanford, he attended law school at UC Hastings College of the Law and began his career with Boise Cascade. He then moved on to Ropers-Majeski and eventually became a sole practitioner. He spent almost 50 years in litigation. He felt strongly about serving others and was president of Menlo Park’s Rotary and Rotary Foundation. He co-founded the Rotary’s annual Tour de Menlo bike ride, which funds needs-based scholarships, and in his 60s he began cycling and participated in the AIDS/LifeCycle ride. He was an active sportsman throughout his life. Survivors: his wife, Sonya; daughters Leslie Sarandah, Katie Amoroso and Amy; stepchildren Kimberly Evans, John and Brennan Sheffield; 11 grandchildren; and a sister.
Randy Devening, ’63 (international relations), of Dallas, December 23, at 75, from pneumonia. At Stanford, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta, and played both football and rugby. He was a successful businessman and ended his career as chairman, president and CEO of Foodbrands America Inc. in 2001, when the company was bought by IBP. Over the years, he was a board member for many companies, including House of Visions, Del Monte Foods, Hussmann Intl., Seven Seas Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Safety Kleen, BancTec, Catalyst/Hall Funds and Hall Capital Partners. Survivors: his wife, Susie (Willis, ’62); children Jennifer, Brian and Jason; and five grandchildren.
William New Jr., ’63, MS ’66 (electrical engineering), MS ’81 (business), of San Francisco, December 21, at 75. He was a member of Kappa Sigma. He received his MD from Duke U. and his PhD in physiology from UCLA. He began his career as an engineer at Hewlett Packard and Ampex, and later became an anesthesiologist and intensive-care physician on the Stanford Medical School faculty. An entrepreneur, he held 15 patents and co-founded two companies, Nellcor and Natus Medical. At Nellcor, he developed the modern pulse oximeter. He was a fellow at the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He was predeceased by his daughter Heather. Survivors: daughters Catherine, ’98, Caroline and Christin; his partner, Carolyn Wilson, and her daughter, Claire Koerschen; and his former wives, Margaret (Freed, MA ’66) and Patricia.
Jerrold Schaefer, ’63 (political science), of San Francisco, December 14, at 76, from leukemia. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and participated in Rally Com. In 1966, he received his JD from UC Hastings College of the Law. He practiced labor law with the National Labor Relations Board and the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board. In 1976, he went into private practice at Corbett, Kane and Berk, and in 1984 joined Hanson Bridgett LLP as a founding partner. He enjoyed cooking, wine collecting, art history, music and travel. He was a scuba diver and an avid climber, counting the Matterhorn and base camp at Mount Everest among his achievements. Survivors: his wife of 18 years, Rosa Carrillo; a sister; a brother; and a stepbrother.
Robert Hardy, ’64 (biological sciences), of Auburn, Calif., November 28, at 75, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. At Stanford, he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. In 1968, he graduated with honors from UC-Irvine Medical School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1977, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel, and completed his ophthalmology residency at Letterman Army Medical Center, in San Francisco. In 1977, he moved to Auburn to begin a private medical practice and raise his family. He loved nature, games, chess, studying the cosmos, stargazing and, above all else, spending time with his family and friends. An avid fan of Stanford football, he held season tickets for 50 years. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Katherine (Koford, ’65); daughters Jennifer Kuri, Lesa Hardy-Bergeaud and Susanne Guilbert; four grandchildren; and a sister.
James J.P. O’Donnell, ’64 (biological sciences), of San Francisco, June 11, at 74. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and a Navy ROTC cadet. After graduation, he served as a Naval officer aboard the destroyer USS Halsey Powell. He later attended Yale U. School of Medicine. In 1991, he was appointed associate dean for postgraduate education at the UCSF School of Medicine, and in 1994 was named associate dean of continuing medical education and residency director in the ophthalmology department. His research interests were retinitis pigmentosa and AIDS complications, and he received, among many other honors, the Martin Luther King Award from UCSF. He enjoyed sailing and was a member of the St. Francis Yacht Club for 40 years. Survivors: his second wife, Barbara.
Lewis Shupe Jr., ’64 (mathematics), of Las Vegas, October 15, at 74. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and played varsity basketball. In 1966, he received a master’s degree from USC. He then joined the U.S. Air Force and became a captain at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. In 1969, he married Joeann Cothern, adopted her son, Rodney, and later welcomed son Nat. He was a computer analyst and an entrepreneur, a talented golfer, a writer (Presidential Diary and Presidential Diary II), and founded a political organization called the U.S. Freedom Army. Survivors: his second wife, Shirley; sons Rodney and Nat; and two sisters.
C. James Judson, ’66 (economics), JD ’69, of Seattle, January 4, at 73. During law school, he served as the executive editor of the Stanford Law Review. After graduation, he moved to Seattle and joined Davis Wright Tremaine, and later became a telecommunications entrepreneur; he helped expand the cellular industry in China. In retirement, he took on the role of angel investor. He loved sports and had a surprising hook shot on the basketball court. His recreational basketball team at the Washington Athletic Club won the championship at the World Masters Games in Melbourne, Australia. He supported many local organizations, including the King County United Way and the Alzheimer’s Association of Washington, and was a volunteer children’s basketball coach. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Diana; children Kevin and Nicole; a grandchild; and a brother.
1970s
John Robinson Allen, ’70 (speech & drama), of Palo Alto, March 5, 2016, at 68, from colon cancer. While at Stanford, he was involved with Students for a Democratic Society. After graduation, he enjoyed travel and work in Alaska, India, Switzerland and England. He was dedicated to his programming work at the Stanford Cancer Center, and he was senior software engineer there at the time of his death. He enjoyed tennis and biking, and was a fan of the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants. He was a coach and mentor to young people and managed teams for the Palo Alto Soccer Club. Survivors: his wife, Margaret; sons Ben and Tom; a grandchild; his stepmother, Willa; and three sisters.
William Graham, ’70 (history), of Los Angeles and Vineyard Haven, Mass., December 20, at 69. At Stanford, he was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi and was active in the antiwar movement during the Vietnam War. His family owned and published the Washington Post for many years. He was a lawyer at the Washington firm of Williams and Connolly in the 1970s, and then settled in Los Angeles, where he taught trial law at UCLA, where he had received his law degree. He later founded an investment firm, Graham Partners, which he owned and operated for about 20 years. He contributed to several philanthropic organizations in the areas of education, medical research and support for veterans. Survivors: his wife of seven years, Sally; children Alice and Edward; a sister; and two brothers.
Freda Wilkerson Bass, ’71 (economics), of Houston, December 27, at 68. From Stanford, she transferred to Cornell U., and received her bachelor’s degree in 1971. She received her MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1973, one of only a few African-American women students in her class, and then worked for the Exxon Corporation in finance and strategic planning for the next 39 years. She loved traveling, and her career led her to Australia, where she developed an interest in Aboriginal art. She served on the boards of of Texas Children’s Hospital and the Houston Zoo, among others, and was a member of the Financial Executives Institute and co-founder of the Houston Business Forum. She was an excellent cook and an avid equestrian. She was predeceased by her husband, Tony. Survivors: her daughters Drew and Callie; two sisters; and a brother.
Timothy Batchelder, ’72 (biological sciences), of San Francisco, in January, at 67. At Stanford, he was a member of Kappa Alpha. He earned his MD at Harvard in 1976, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at UCSF. He then joined the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, eventually becoming physician-in-chief at Kaiser, Richmond (Calif.). His children were his proudest accomplishment—he was their soccer coach, counselor, cheerleader, consoler and supporter. Survivors: his wife of 32 years, Laurie Green; children Monica and Ross; a sister; and a brother.
Leopold Czajkowski, ’72 (English), of Gunnison, Colo., January 9, at 67, from cancer. While at Stanford, he fell in love with the mountains, rivers and culture of the American West, and settled in Crested Butte, Colo., where he pursued his passion for architecture, skiing and fishing. He was an excellent carpenter, and he designed and built innovative homes and buildings. He fished throughout the country and had his biggest success landing a mammoth tarpon while fishing from a kayak in the Florida Keys. Above all, he loved skiing and was an accomplished backcountry skier. He lived life to the fullest, and was a friend to all. Survivors: his wife, Gwen Pettit; and a sister.
Ami Tamaki Doi, ’73 (anthropology), of Moss Beach, Calif., January 14, at 88. She and her family lived in the Topaz, Utah, internment camp, during World War II and then moved to Berkeley. She married and eventually moved to Palo Alto in 1954, where she raised her two children. In 1966, after her divorce, she became a docent at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. She received her master’s from the U. of Chicago and then worked at Varian and Hewlett Packard. In 1979, she moved to Moss Beach. She loved living at the coast and seeing the ocean every day. Survivors: her children, Elizabeth Doi Ludwig and Hunter; and a granddaughter.
Reuben Grove Clark III, ’74 (history), of Raleigh, N.C., January 24, at 65. At Stanford, he was a member of the crew team. He earned his JD at the U. of Pennsylvania, where he received the Jefferson Fordham Human Rights award. After law school, he joined Regional Housing Legal Services, focused on developing low-income housing. In 1987, he moved to Raleigh and joined Maupin, Taylor, Ellis and Adams, where he practiced real estate and commercial development for 28 years. He served on several boards, including that of the Friends of the Legal Resources Centre of South Africa, an independent public interest law firm known for fighting the injustices of apartheid. He was a voracious reader, enjoyed travel and was a lifelong Redskins fan. Survivors: his wife, Beverley; children Katharine and Reuben IV; a grandchild; his mother, Mary Ellen; a sister; and a brother.
Melody Broadbent McCutcheon, ’75 (political science), of Seattle, November 14, at 64, from a heart attack. At Stanford, she was involved with the Daily. She went on to receive a master’s degree in urban planning and a law degree at the U. of Washington. In 1988, she joined the firm of Hillis Clark Martin and Peterson P.S. She worked with regional organizations on many projects, including developments in South Lake Union, Safeco Field, the Seattle Aquarium Society’s Master Plan and the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation 2040 Plan. She also helped secure landmark status for historic buildings, including the Sorrento Hotel. She enjoyed tennis, travel, piano, gardening and working as a tutor for Reading Partners. Survivors: children Marin and Michael; her mother, Lillian Broadbent; and a brother.
Betsy Lasarow Tozzi, ’77 (medical microbiology), of Mountain View, June 7, at 61, from acute respiratory distress syndrome. She was a member of Cap and Gown and was on the Axe Committee. After Stanford, she received her master’s in microbiology and immunology from UCLA. She did clinical research at SmithKline Diagnostics, and was an assistant professor of health sciences at the U. of Alaska. She was very active in the Stanford Quads square dance group, and was Master Gardeners member. She was predeceased by her father, William, LLB ’50, and brother Richard, ’74. Survivors include her mother Marilyn (Powell, ’50).
William Creighton “Tony” Peet III, ’79 (international relations), of Pacific Grove, Calif., January 23, at 60, after a struggle with depression. At Stanford, he was senior class president and participated in ASSU, overseas studies and Gaieties. After graduation, he worked in advertising in New York City and San Francisco. He eventually left his job in San Francisco to spend two years at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. He was very active politically, and became involved in several presidential campaigns. Once, during the Iraq War, he hired a small plane to fly above the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament trailing a banner that read “Play Golf, Not War.” He was a member of the board of directors of LandWatch and worked as a docent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Survivors: brother Dave Austen, ’61; and two sisters.
1980s
Michael Lee Sheffels, ’86 (electrical engineering), of Maple Grove, Minn., November 15, at 54, from pancreatic cancer. At Stanford, he participated in intramural volleyball and ultimate frisbee, and met his wife, Ann (Boss, ’84). He worked for Honeywell in Minneapolis as a systems engineer for 31 years, designing avionics products. In 1996, he shared a patent on the design of a fault-tolerant navigation system for jets. He was a volunteer mentor for his children’s high school robotics team and inspired many students to pursue careers in engineering. He excelled at competitive target shooting and was an excellent cook. He enjoyed biking, skiing, dancing and playing pool. Survivors: his wife; children Erin, Sara, ’16, MS ’17, and Christopher; parents Jim and Karen; a sister; and two brothers.
1990s
Paul D. Choi, ’92 (biological sciences), of Los Angeles, January 26, at 47, from lymphoma. He received his MD at Washington U. of St. Louis, followed by a residency at UCSF and a fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He worked at CHLA for a decade as an orthopedic surgeon and was the director of hip preservation. In April 2017, he began working at Shriners for Children Medical Center. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and took great pride in his service to our country. He loved taking care of children and teaching residents and fellows. Survivors: his wife, Emily; son Daniel; his mother; and a brother.
Elliot Andrew Feldman, ’94 (classics), of San Francisco and Wynnewood, Pa., September 7, at 45. He was a member of Kappa Sigma. He was kind, giving, caring, thoughtful and utterly hilarious. His brilliant mind, wit, gentle nature and kind spirit touched everyone he knew. Survivors: his parents, Edwin and Dale; and two siblings.
Kerry Landreth Reed, ’95 (history), of San Francisco, December 6, at 44, from breast cancer. She was involved with Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Daily and Mixed Company, an a cappella group, during her time at Stanford. She worked for Goldman Sachs for two decades, becoming a managing director in 2011, shortly after her first bout with breast cancer. A few years later, she became an advocate for UCSF’s breast cancer program, chairing its Give Breast Cancer the Boot campaign and raising a record $1.2 million. She loved performing in a cappella groups in high school and college, and at age 39, joined fellow school parents as the lead vocalist in a band called Birdseed. Survivors: her husband, Creighton, MBA ’01; children Will and Bebe; her parents, Bill, ’69, and Jeanne (Murphy, ’69); and brother Peter, ’98, JD ’04.
Business
Harold Ottobrini,MBA ’50, of Wellesley, Mass., November 28, at 89. He met his wife, Eleanor, during his undergraduate years at MIT. After Stanford, he founded the Metalized Ceramics Corporation, which was later bought by the Rosenthal Corp. He was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed skiing, kayaking and golfing. After his retirement, he embraced watercolor painting, and he particularly enjoyed painting landscapes. Survivors: his wife; daughter Lisa Ganley; and three grandchildren.
Kenneth G. Sletten, MBA ’56, of Palo Alto, November 8, at 88. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from U. of Colorado, and then served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, where he was hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell during a mission to retrieve fallen comrades. He required a year of hospitalization to recover. After receiving his MBA, he joined the construction firm of Williams and Burrows. In 1962, he co-founded Rudolph and Sletten. The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the Apple campus at 1 Infinite Loop and the Monterey Bay Aquarium are only a few structures that his company completed. He served on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Children’s Health Council. Survivors: his wife of 51 years, Phyllis (Stewart, ’55, MA ’56); children Daniel and Joanna, and a sister.
Eugene O’Brien Henderson, MBA ’58, of Fairfax, Va., December 27, at 87. In 1951, he served in the U.S. Army before being recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. He met his wife, Martha, when both of them were working for the CIA in Munich, Germany, and in 1956 the couple moved to Palo Alto. After receiving his MBA, he worked for the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Intelligence Agency. In 1964, he joined the Defense Intelligence Agency; he retired from the DIA in 2009. He was a member of Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax for more than 40 years and served as district commissioner for the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was predeceased by his wife. Survivors: sons Ross and Eugene Jr.; and a grandchild.
Preston M. Harrington III,MBA’61, of Montclair, N.J., December 1. Born in Tenafly, N.J., he made Montclair his home for more than 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree from the U. of Arizona and had a long career in the investment industry in New York. In 1999, he retired from Merrill Lynch as vice president of fixed income research. He was a devoted member of St. James Episcopal Church and was active in the rotary club. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Nancy, and by his brother. Survivors: children Lisa Mead, Tom and Gerry; and two grandchildren.
William Albert Goodwin, MBA ’65, of Des Moines, Iowa, January 20, at 81. He served in the U.S. Navy as a capsule recovery officer in the Mercury space program. In 1982, he retired from the Navy Reserve as a captain. From 1970 to 1995, he was president of Iowa Concrete Block & Material Company. In recent years, he was a land developer, and served as president of Goodwin Grain and Land Companies and Cerro Gordo Land Company. He served on the board of several corporations and nonprofit organizations including First Federal State Bank and the Iowa State University Foundation, and he was a certified track and field official, an amateur umpire and a devoted member of Central Presbyterian Church. Survivors: his wife, Elizabeth; children Andrea, Jocelyn and Geoffrey; six grandchildren; and sister Sara, ’60.
Rudolph V. Dutzman, MS ’80, of Audubon, Pa., December 4, at 84. He received his undergraduate degree from Penn State U. before attending the Stanford Graduate School of Business as a Sloan fellow. He was a proud veteran, having served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. During his career, he was a corporate executive, management consultant, government official and university lecturer. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Joan; children Susan Crackel, Matthew and Christopher; and four grandchildren.
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
Alan Charles Ambler, MS ’54 (petroleum engineering), of Centennial, Colo., January 21, at 86. At Stanford, he was involved with the Stanford Chaparral and the Daily. In 1954, he joined the U.S. Navy. In 1957, he began working for Signal Oil and Gas Co. He retired in 2003 as vice president of Ensign Oil and Gas in Denver. He enjoyed travel and spending time with his family. He was involved with charitable organizations within his church and community, and often prepared hot lunches for children at the Kempe Center. He was predeceased by his first wife, Judy, of 34 years. Survivors: his wife of 27 years, Beverly; children Kathryn Riley, Craig and David; two stepchildren; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Phillip Elliott Playford, PhD ’62 (geology), of Nedlands, Western Australia, July 12, at 85, from cancer. He received his undergraduate degree from the U. of Western Australia and attended Stanford as a Fulbright scholar. He worked with both government and the oil exploration industry, and was appointed a director of the Geological Survey of Western Australia. He was known for his work on the Devonian reef complexes of the Canning Basin and the geology of Shark Bay. In 1998, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to geology and the history of Australia. He discovered a shipwreck, the Zuytdorp, and received a Premier’s Prize for literature for his book Carpet of Silver: The Wreck of the Zuytdorp. Survivors: his wife, Cynthia; daughters Julia and Katherine; four grandchildren; and a brother.
Education
Francis “Frank” Nardell, MA ’60, of San Rafael, Calif., November 29, at 94. In his youth, he taught himself the math needed to study radio science and Morse code at the United States Maritime Service Radio Training Station on Gallups Island, and served in World War II as a radio officer on Liberty ships. He met the love of his life, Patricia, in San Francisco. He taught math and music in Vallejo, Calif., public schools. The couple retired in Grants Pass, Ore., for 16 years, then moved to Marin County to be closer to their family. He spent the last four years of his life at Nazareth House in Terra Linda, making new friends and reconnecting with his Catholic faith. He was predeceased by his wife. Survivors: sons Tim and Mike; and two grandchildren.
Henry Thomas Ingle, PhD ’73, of El Paso, Texas, November 20, at 74. He received his bachelor’s degree at the U. of Texas-El Paso and his a master’s from Syracuse U. He spent his career in advancing communications and distance learning in universities around the country. He was a Fulbright scholar, and traveled the world, touching thousands of lives through his passion for education and Mexican culture. He was predeceased by his wife Yolanda. Survivors: children Lisa Ingle-Stevens and Stephen; and two grandchildren.
Engineering
John Barnard Karrh, MS ’59 (civil engineering), of Statesboro, Ga., December 5, at 86. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War. He received both a bachelor’s degree and a PhD in civil engineering from the U. of Alabama, and worked with the Alabama Highway Department for over 10 years as district engineer. He then began an 18-year career as a professor of civil engineering at the U. of South Alabama. In 1988, he moved to Statesboro, and was a professor at Georgia Southern U., where he retired in 1998. He was an active member in the Kiwanis Club for over 47 years, as well as a member of First United Methodist Church of Statesboro. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and sister, Kathryn. Survivors: children John Jr., Kent and Carolyn; two grandchildren; a brother; and a sister.
Kirsten Munk Dorph, MS ’72 (materials science and engineering), of Virum, Denmark, July 2, 2016, at 78, from colon cancer. Survivors: her husband, Hans.
Humanities and Sciences
Frances Mary Wrightson, PhD ’41 (chemistry), of Carmichael, Calif., December 25, at 101. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the U. of British Columbia. She met her husband, John, MA ’41, when they were both chemistry graduate students at Stanford. During World War II, she was the first woman to complete the Harvard radar program; afterward, she installed and calibrated radar on B-17 bombers. After the war, she conducted chemistry research and development for the M.W. Kellogg Company; later, she began a teaching career in the physics department at Sacramento State U. She retired at age 80 and spent her time in service to others, volunteering and maintaining the gardens of St. Francis Episcopal Church. Survivors: children Maud Hinchee, Mary and Jack; and three grandchildren.
Jeanne Claire Maurer Shutes, MA ’50 (English), of Palo Alto, December 29, at 93, from a heart attack. She received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, and met her husband, Robert, MA ’51, PhD ’69, at Stanford. The couple divorced in the mid-1950s. She taught at many schools on the Peninsula, including Castelleja School and Foothill College. In 1983, she received a PhD in clinical psychology, and went on to practice as a Jungian psychologist for 30 years. Together with Jill Mellick, she co-wrote The Worlds of P’otsúnú: Gerónima Cruz Montoya of San Juan Pueblo, a biography of a Native American woman elder and artist. The book includes more than 90 of Jeanne’s photographs. Survivors: children Christopher and Jorie; two grandchildren; and her soulmate of 42 years, Jill Mellick.
Norval Delwyn Carlson, MA ’52 (art), of Sarasota, Fla., November 7, at 93. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as a U.S. Marine. After Stanford, he taught for 30 years in the Palo Alto Unified School District, primarily at Cubberley and Gunn high schools. He retired in 1982 and spent the latter years of his retirement in Sarasota.
William G. Stryker, PhD ’52 (English), of San Marcos, Calif., December 25, at 99, from heart failure. He had a 40-year career teaching in the English departments at the U. of Omaha, Texas Christian U., the U. of Redlands and Cal State-Northridge. He was predeceased by his wife, Muriel. Survivors: children Janet and James; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
James Tyree Ralph, PhD ’58 (food research), of Goodlettsville, Tenn., December 3, at 91. During World War II, he fought in Okinawa with the U.S. Army’s 105th infantry and was awarded the Bronze Star; later, he joined the National Guard and eventually earned the rank of colonel. He received a bachelor’s degree at Middle Tennessee State U. and a master’s from Iowa State U. After Stanford, he taught at the U. of Kentucky as an assistant professor of agricultural economics. He went on to become director of the California Department of Agriculture and the assistant secretary of agriculture during the Kennedy administration. He was predeceased by his daughter Brenda and by four of his sisters. Survivors: his wife, Wei Chow; children Janet Carper, Liz Bondurant, Tyree, Allen and Hester; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers; and two sisters.
Joe H. Brumbaugh, PhD ’65 (biological sciences), of Santa Rosa, Calif., October 14. He received his bachelor’s degree from Miami U. and his master’s at Purdue U. While at Stanford, he studied at Hopkins Marine Station, in Pacific Grove. After Stanford, he became one of the first faculty members at Sonoma State College. He taught there for more than 30 years and served as department chair, president of the academic senate, and provost of the School of Arts and Sciences. He loved exploring the outdoors with his family, whether the Sierra Nevada or the Great Barrier Reef. He was predeceased by his wife, Judy, of 55 years. Survivors: children Amy (Reeves, ’84, MS ’86), Dan, ’87, and Shawn; four grandchildren; and a sister.
Julie Grover Klassen, MA ’66, PhD ’73 (German studies), of Northfield, Minn., January 13, at 74, from cancer. She received her bachelor’s degree in German from UC-Santa Barbara. After receiving her master’s and PhD, she became an assistant professor in German at St. Olaf College. She retired from Carleton College in 2009 as a tenured professor in German studies. She loved literature and culture, natural history, bird-watching and cooking. Her professional passions were teaching German and environmental studies, and accompanying her students on trips to Germany. She was predeceased by her husband, Hanno. Survivors: her partner, Will Kershaw; stepchildren Christopher and Renata Klassen; and brothers Scott and Phil.
Kirtland Chase Mead, MS ’68 (physics), of Cambridge and Marion, Mass., November 26, at 74, from a heart attack. In 1965, he received his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan U. He studied in Freiberg, Germany, as a Fulbright scholar. After receiving his master’s from Stanford, he earned a PhD in engineering from MIT. He was an international management consultant, most recently with the Leading Edge Forum in London. He loved European history and culture. He and his family lived in Paris from 1977 to 1981 and in London from 1986 to 1992. He wrote guides to these and many other European cities and shared them with friends and family. He loved maps, collected Baedeker guides and could read in three languages. He was predeceased by his brother Jonathan. Survivors: his wife of 48 years, Susan; daughters Lindsey and Hilary; four grandchildren; and two brothers.
Robert Copeland Dunbar, PhD ’70 (chemistry), of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, October 31, at 74, from heart failure. In 1965, he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Harvard. After Stanford, he joined the chemistry department at Case Western Reserve U., where he remained as a tenured professor until he became emeritus. He specialized in basic research, using mass spectrometers to study the binding of metal ions, interstellar and circumstellar chemistry, and new approaches to spectroscopy. He continued his research in collaboration with the Free Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments (FELIX) laboratory, in the Netherlands. He enjoyed cycling, playing piano, attending classical music concerts and vacationing on Maine’s Bear Island. Survivors: his wife, Mary (Asmundson, MA ’67); sons Geoffrey, ’93, and William; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Nilda Joven Timbs, PhD ’70 (speech & drama), of Van Buren, Ark., December 17, at 81, from renal disease. She received her bachelor’s degree from the U. of the Philippines at age 18, and her master’s in English at the U. of Sydney. After Stanford, she developed bilingual courses, texts and programs for Sullivan Language School, various Bay Area school districts and BABEL. She then became a writer, manager and director of technical publications at a number of Silicon Valley companies, notably Grid Systems, 3Com, Centigram and Sqribe/Brio/Hyperion. She retired with her husband to Van Buren in 2009. There, she was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and volunteered as an English tutor at the Literacy Council. She was predeceased by her sister, Nieves. Survivors: her husband, John; and a brother.
Law
James Matthew Lichtman, JD ’90, of Tarzana, Calif., November 25, at 52. In 1987, he graduated magna cum laude from U. of Pennsylvania. At Stanford, he was the editor of the Stanford Law Review. He married his wife, Jennifer, in 1989. The following year, he joined the law firm of Ropes and Gray in Boston. In 1997, the family moved to Southern California and he joined NBC as a litigator. He eventually rose to the position of executive vice president and deputy general counsel at NBC/Universal. He loved spending time with his family and never missed a single stage performance by either of his children. He also enjoyed travel, theater, music and literature. He was on the board of directors at the Alliance for Children’s Rights. Survivors: his wife; children Spencer and Miranda; his parents; and a sister.
Natalie Stewart Cortez, JD ’02, of Dallas, January 10, at 40, from colon cancer. She received her bachelor’s degree from the U. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At Stanford, she met her husband, Nathan, JD ’02. She practiced law first in Washington, D.C., and then in Dallas. She was an advocate for social justice and access to health care, and enjoyed dance, travel and UNC Tar Heels basketball games. Survivors: her husband; children Hugo and Mia; her parents; a sister; and two brothers.
