1930s
William Andrew Enemark, ’35 (economics), of Washington, D.C., April 17, at 102. A member of Phi Gamma Delta at Stanford, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in World War II. In 1965, he was promoted to major general and later served as the commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea and, in 1968, sworn in as the inspector general of the U.S. Army. He received the Distinguished Service Medal in 1972 and retired later that year. He was predeceased by his wife of 71 years, Trudie. Survivors: his son, Peter, ’68, MA ’74, PhD ’78; two grandsons, including David, ’02; and two great-grandsons.
Louise Glover Root Godfrey, ’37 (English), of Portland, Ore., April 4, at 100. The daughter of Oregon pioneers, she attended Reed College before transferring to Stanford. Her first job was with the Portland Symphony Orchestra until she enlisted in the WAVES program during World War II. She served as a communication specialist at the Seattle Naval Station. After the war, she worked for the Multnomah Athletic Club, where she met her husband, and retired after 32 years. She was an avid hiker and expert gardener, and she participated in a bimonthly wine tasting well into her 80s. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Richard. Survivors: her daughter, Martha Godfrey Nixon; and five grandchildren.
Barbara June Rosenblatt Burnett, ’38 (communication), of Palo Alto, April 18, at 98. She worked on the Stanford Daily and participated in Ram’s Head productions. Returning to her home state of Utah and marrying, she became active in Temple B’nai Israel and starred in more than one Sister Musical Follies. She loved singing, dancing and playing the piano and bridge, and she was twice state president of the League of Women Voters. In her later years, she never left home without her “I Read Banned Books” button. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Ted. Survivors: her children, Thomas, MBA ’67, David and Lisa, ’74, MA ’79; four grandchildren, including Nora Burnett Abrams, ’00; and four great-grandchildren.
Jay Glenn Marks, ’38, MA ’41, PhD ’51 (geology), of Englewood, Colo., March 28, at 99. In 1941, he took a paleontology job with the International Petroleum Co. in Ecuador, where he met his wife. After returning to California to complete his doctoral work, he moved the family to Venezuela for a job with Creole Petroleum Co. Political unrest brought them back to the United States, and he transferred to Humble Oil & Refining Co (which became Exxon-Mobil) in Denver. He retired in 1975. An expert fly-fisherman, he also loved bird shooting, tennis and golf. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Consuelo. Survivors: his sons, Jay Jr., ’66, John and Brian; and four grandchildren.
1940s
Mary Bradfield “Mollie” West Coleman, ’40 (social science/social thought), of Belvedere, Calif., February 25, at 96, after a short illness. With her first husband, she lived in Libya, India and Egypt from 1947 to 1950 before returning to the Bay Area with her daughters. She had a strong commitment to community and volunteered with Girl Scouts, Marin City Boys Club and Landmarks Society. She was also a longtime crossing guard and Election Day poll worker. In 1996, the city of Belvedere honored her and her second husband as citizen emeriti. Survivors: her daughters, Nancy, Mollie and Elizabeth; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
George LaRose Reid, ’40 (social science/social thought), of Cupertino, April 18, at 97. He was president of Phi Gamma Delta and played polo. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 76th Field Artillery, he became one of the last horse soldiers in the U.S. Army and later taught equestrian skills at Fort Sill, Okla. He began his civilian career as a citrus farmer in Southern California before moving to the Bay Area and working in cattle ranching, real estate, and automobile sales and financing. He loved all things Stanford and Stanford Athletics, the outdoors and spending time at his family’s property in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary “Mizi” (Hinds, ’40), and daughter, Sylvia. Survivors: his sons, Alan and Scot; four grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.
Margaret Wyllian Rea Curtin, ’41 (chemistry), of Carlsbad, Calif., May 5, at 95. After working as a chemist, she turned to music as her personal and professional passion, accompanying the L.A. Valley College choir and serving as organist for First Christian Church in Oceanside. She had a deep faith, loved gardening and nature, and had an innate curiosity about life. She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, John, ’40. Survivors include her children, Bud, Dana and Dave.
George Henry Linsley, ’41 (political science), of Roseville, Calif., March 15, at 96. He enlisted in the Navy and served during World War II. His teaching career began in Esparto, Calif., where he also served on the volunteer fire department. Later he became vice principal and, in 1951, the superintendent of the Roseville City Elementary School District, where he served for 16 years. He loved gardening, growing enough vegetables to share with family and friends, and he loved camping, hiking and fishing in the mountains. He was predeceased by his son, Christopher. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Joan; daughter, Paula Linsley Knuthson; three daughters from a previous marriage, Kathryn Benson, Karen Lyncoln and Virginia Kent; five grandsons; six great-grandchildren; and one sister.
Charles Edwin “Chuck” Runacres Jr., ’41 (economics), of Issaquah, Wash., May 17, at 98. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and served in World War II as a supply officer and an assistant machine gunner. After the war, he worked for the Simpson Timber Co., retiring in 1969 as vice president of the company’s Canadian operations. He and his wife moved to Easton, Wash., where they operated a successful Christmas tree farm for more than 20 years. A great golfer, he also enjoying fishing, gardening and amateur winemaking. He smiled widely and often. Survivors: his wife of 66 years, Doris; children, Robin Armstrong, Randall Start and Roger; and four grandchildren.
Jerald Helmer “Jerry” Melum, ’42 (social science/social thought), of Fort Myers, Fla., March 17, at 96. He served in the Navy during World War II and worked in advertising account management in Chicago and New York. Later he joined Time Inc., where he became corporate sales manager for Life magazine. He co-founded the Long Island business magazine On the Sound and ended his career as assistant to the president of C.W. Post Center of Long Island U. A lifelong reader of the New York Times, he derived comfort in the last weeks of his life from having the newspaper tucked next to him in his wheelchair. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley. Survivors: his daughters, Sheila Whitney, Deborah McBee and Melissa; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
William H. “Bill” Elson, Jr., ’43 (general engineering), of Tulsa, Okla., May 10, at 92. He served in World War II and then joined Shell Oil Co. in Long Beach, Calif., before returning to Tulsa. There, he worked for Elson Oil Co. and became a fixture in the city’s oil business community, retiring in January of this year. He had an insatiable curiosity and loved to travel, visiting France, wherever the fish were biting and throughout the West. He was predeceased by his first wife, Janet. Survivors: his wife, Marion; sons from his first marriage, John, David and Peter; his stepchildren, Lisa Huffman and James Jackson; two granddaughters; and one sister.
Garner Cal Setzer, ’43 (social science/social thought), of Sacramento, March 31, at 94. After graduating from Stanford, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in World War II. He was involved in many businesses, from Setzer Forest Products Inc. to Calpine Containers, and he loved riding horses, skiing and duck hunting. A committed member of his community, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento and Stanford Associates. Survivors: his wife of 72 years, Jo Ann; children, Cinders, Curt and Jeffrey; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Marianne Goldman, ’44 (political science), of San Francisco, April 15, at 92. She was the third staff member at the once-fledging Bay Area public television station KQED and was involved in various community groups and philanthropic endeavors in San Francisco. An avid tennis player and intrepid world traveler, she was devoted to her family and cared deeply for her 11 grandnephews and grandnieces and their children.
Clement Richard “Dick” Huntsberger, ’44 (mechanical engineering), of Camarillo, Calif., May 1, at 93. After earning degrees from Stanford, Caltech and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, he served in the Navy during World War II. He owned Huntsberger Equipment Co. in Oxnard, Calif., for 25 years until retiring in 1985. He was also a Ford and Kubota tractor dealer, an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, and a member of Delta Tau Delta. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Anne (Carter, ’48). Survivors: his children, Janie, Richard and Peter; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; and one sister, Elizabeth Huntsberger Fenn, ’39.
Virginia Schwartz Mueller, ’44 (undergraduate law), of Quincy, Calif., March 14, at 91 of pneumonia. Sacramento County’s first female deputy district attorney and a co-founder of the Women Lawyers of Sacramento, she spent 63 years as a prosecutor and defense attorney and mentored generations of women entering her field. In addition, she served on the Sacramento-Yolo Port District Commission as its first woman commissioner and was president of the National Association of Women Lawyers. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul, ’47, MA ’50. Survivors: her children, Christian and Lisa; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Robert A. Naify, ’44, of San Francisco, April 7, at 94, of kidney failure. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, he and his brother took the family-owned movie theaters, acquired cable companies and created United Artists Communications Inc. They also partnered with Hollywood film producer Michael Todd, a husband of Elizabeth Taylor’s, to form Todd-AO, once the largest sound studio in the world. He also invested in commercial real estate and thoroughbred horses. His philanthropic efforts included donating the Michael A. and Hanna Naify gallery to the Palace of the Legion of Honor in memory of his parents. Survivors: his wife, Jan; children, Leslie, Christie Naify Stadnick and Mark; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Barry Wells Ulrich, ’44 (political science), of Sonoma, Calif., March 8, at 95, after a short illness. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the Army during World War II and Korea, establishing an orphanage near Seoul during his service there. He retired from the military as a colonel. He also ran a restaurant, built homes and founded Barry’s Travel Center of San Carlos, Calif. His interests included reading, traveling and technology, and he enjoyed dining out and spending time at his vacation home in Mexico. Survivors: his children, Susan Ulrich-Angell and Barry Jr.; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one sister; and his friend Jane Chaigneau.
Clarence Alan “Stub” Harvey, ’45, of Carlsbad, Calif., February 17, at 91. He entered the Navy V-12 program during his freshman year at Stanford and transferred to UCLA to finish his premed studies. He then completed his MD at USC. He played football for all three rival teams and was an integral member of the USC team that went to the 1946 Rose Bowl. After leaving the military, he set up a medical center in San Diego County and practiced as a family doctor until his mid-70s. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Phyllis. Survivors: his children, Steve, ’71, Scott, Diana and Julie; and 10 grandchildren.
Robert Charles “Bob” Hannah, ’46 (social science/social thought), of Farmington, Conn., May 8, at 93, of cancer. He joined ROTC and was called into active duty in his junior year. Later, after World War II ended, he served as an officer, flying observation aircraft over the Japanese mainland. Later he enjoyed a long career at the Hartford Fire Insurance Co., retiring in 1984 as a corporate secretary. Humor, doing for others, family, and a passion for taking the best out of life were his hallmarks. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Audrey. Survivors: his children, Charles, Christine Davis, Carol and Craig; eight grandchildren, including Douglas, MS ’09, PhD ’16; and 13 great-grandchildren.
John White Harris, ’46 (biological sciences), MD ’49, of Sacramento, April 24, at 91. His college years were interrupted by World War II, and he served in the Marines during the Korean War. After completing his military service, he started a private internal medicine practice that continued until his retirement in 1990. His life was full of family events, travel, skiing, trips to the Sierra County cabins and storytelling. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice. Survivors: his children, Rich, Mollie, Jennie, Reed and Bruce; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
James William Lowrie, ’46 (civil engineering),
of Burlingame, March 16, at 90. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and served in the Marines during World War II. His entire career was devoted to his father’s general engineering firm, the Lowrie Paving Co., where he became president in 1965. The San Francisco International Airport and Mills Estate in Burlingame were among the company’s notable projects. He was an avid sports fan, from the SF Giants to Stanford football, and faithful supporter of the San Francisco Symphony. He was predeceased by his wife of more than 60 years, Barbara West, ’47. Survivors: his children, James, Christine, Carter, Mikkel, William and Peter; and three grandchildren.
Muriel Hopkins Payne, ’46 (humanities), of Roseville, Calif., April 2, at 91, of cancer. A proud fourth-generation Californian, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta at Stanford. She did graduate work at CSU-Sacramento and taught in the Sacramento City Unified School District for 31 years. At Sacramento High School, she served as the coordinator of the highly acclaimed visual and performing arts program. She was predeceased by her husband of 31 years, Earl.
Jean Betts Vail, ’47 (social science/social thought), of Pasadena, Calif., April 6, at 90. She served on the Junior League of Pasadena and edited their magazine for several years. Returning to school in 1975, she earned a nursing degree and worked as a registered nurse, specializing in the care of cancer patients. She excelled at tennis and in later years took up golf. Known for her open personality and ironic sense of humor, she always dressed smartly and loved the many dogs she had throughout her life. She was predeceased by her husband, Russ, ’43. Survivors: her children, Nathan, Timothy and Diana; and two grandchildren.
Gerald Vincent “Jerry” Underwood, ’49 (undergraduate law), JD ’50, of Modesto, Calif., April 18, at 91. He served on active duty during World War II and was in the Naval Reserve until 1961. After law school, he worked for the FBI and then started a law practice, Jensen and Underwood. In 1968, he was appointed to the municipal court by Gov. Ronald Reagan, followed by an appointment to the superior court of Stanislaus County. He served as a judge for 20 years before retiring and transitioning to private dispute resolution. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Marjorie (Dumont, ’49). Survivors: his wife, Joyce; children, Gerald III, ’75, and Carolyn Underwood Killeen, ’78; and five grandsons.
1950s
Susan Tolnay Endsley, ’50 (communication), of Mountain View, April 9, at 86. Born in Romania to Hungarian parents, she lived in Colombia before arriving at Stanford. She met her husband working the Daily and his career as a foreign service officer took them to Brazil, Washington, D.C., and the Philippines before returning to the Bay Area. Fluent in five languages, she loved to play bridge and was an avid news hound and Giants fan. She was predeceased by her husband, Daniel, ’47. Survivors: her children, Steven, Michael and Megan Castagneri; three grandchildren; and one sister, Claire Tolnay, ’46.
John R. Norton III, ’50, of Paradise Valley, Ariz., April 17, at 87. He served in the Air Force and later founded the J.R. Norton Co., an agricultural and cattle-ranching operation in California and Arizona. In 1980, newly elected president Ronald Reagan asked him to join his transition team, and in 1985, he became deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a member of the board of overseers of the Hoover Institution and established the John and Doris Norton Cardiothoracic and Transplantation Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arizona. Survivors: his wife, Doris, children, Melanie, John and Michael; and two granddaughters.
Rex John Underwood, ’50 (biological sciences), of Mapleton, Ore., February 19, at 89, following a brief illness. He served in the Navy and earned an MD and MS from the U. of Oregon Medical School. After teaching at OHSU, he became chief of anesthesiology at Kaiser Medical Center facilities in Portland, Ore. Music played a major role in his life, and he traveled extensively, beginning with his volunteer work teaching anesthesia in underserved countries. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Julianne; children, Christine Heard and Paul; and two grandchildren.
Janis Patton Hubner Falkenberg, ’51 (philosophy), of Denver, May 20, at 87. She was predeceased by her sons, Chris and Charles, and two granddaughters. Survivors: her husband of 65 years, Bill; daughter, Ruth; and one grandson.
Edward Alton Shive, ’51 (economics), of Raleigh, N.C., May 27, 2015, at 86. An Army veteran and member of Delta Chi, he lived in California most of his life and worked as an accountant, owning his own business for nearly 30 years. He was an avid sports fan and an excellent athlete, and he loved playing golf. Survivors: his daughters, Vicky Shive Bunger, Susan Shive Wayt; three grandchildren; and one sister.
Lloyd Milton Westphal Jr., ’51 (economics), of Rio Rancho, N.M., March 7, at 86. He was a captain in the Navy and earned a master’s degree in international relations from George Washington U. While stationed at the Pentagon, he participated in arms control negotiations with the Warsaw Pact in Vienna, and later he was head of the Inspections Directorate with the Defense Nuclear Agency. After retiring from the Navy in 1978, he earned an MBA and worked as a CPA. He and his wife enjoyed playing golf and traveling the world. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Anita; children, Max, Jerry, Devon, Suzette Walker and Christopher; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Raeburne Seeley “Rae” Heimbeck, ’52, PhD ’63 (philosophy), of Ellensburg, Wash., February 9, at 85. He earned a master’s of divinity and was a Fulbright scholar at Victoria U. in New Zealand. In 1967, he came to Central Washington U., where he became a professor of philosophy and religious studies, retiring in 1999. He was the first recipient of the William H. Bonsall Visiting Professorship in Humanities at Stanford in 1976 and was a visiting professor at Anhui U. in China. Passionate about Chinese and Indian philosophies, he played a key role in the Ellensburg American-Sino community and was the author of Theology and Meaning. Survivors: his wife of 20 years, Cynthia Krieble, MFA ’73; sons, Bryn and Reid; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister.
David Lee McKean, ’52 (art), of San Mateo, May 7, at 85, from traumatic injuries sustained in a cycling accident. At Stanford, he worked for the Daily and belonged to Alpha Delta Phi. He then served in the Army and earned a second bachelor’s degree in architecture from UC-Berkeley. He worked for Pan Am designing airport terminals and later decided to teach art and eventually transitioned to special education. After earning a master’s degree from San Francisco State U. and teaching in the Fremont Union High School District for 28 years, he retired and devoted more time to outdoors, art and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gundi, and one grandchild. Survivors: his children, Bill, Lisa and Peter; four grandchildren; and brother, John, ’50.
Norman Floyd Fifer, ’53 (chemical engineering), of Lake Wildwood, Calif., December 8, at 85. College was interrupted when he was drafted by the Army and sent to Japan for two years. After graduation, he was hired by General Electric to work at the Hanford nuclear reservation in southeastern Washington. In the early 1970s, he took a job with GE in the Bay Area and worked there for 17 years. Upon retiring, he became active in his church and enjoyed camping, crafts, volunteering and being with family. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Arlayne (Overfelt, ’53); children, Karen Hinkle, Steve, Linda McGhee and Laurie Smith; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Larry E. Henninger, ’54 (economics), of Palo Alto, April 11, at 83, of congestive heart failure. President of Theta Xi and an Air Force veteran, he worked in personnel at Litton Industries, in finance at Philco and in business at Acurex. After a stint at Barron data Systems, he started consulting, which gave him the opportunity to serve as a liaison between Silicon Valley and Rouen, France, and to teach entrepreneurship in Russia through USAID. He was active in the Palo Alto Rotary and the Stanford Area Council Boy Scouts, where he served on the executive committee and was honored to receive the Silver Beaver Award. Survivors: his wife, Amber (Spinning, ’55); sons, Dwight and Derek; and two grandchildren.
Joanne Theron Brown Caldwell Ris, ’54 (nursing), of Madison, Wis., May 7, at 84. In the 1980s, she received a second bachelor’s degree, in fine arts, and an MFA, both from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison. She was a painter whose work was exhibited widely and a passionate advocate for animals, volunteering at the Dane County Humane Society. She was predeceased by her first husband, William Caldwell, ’51, MD ’55; and second husband, Hans Ris. Survivors: her children, Ben, Sam, Alan, Megan, Erica Caldwell Colmenares and Bret, ’88; stepchildren, Chris and Anet Ris; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
William “Jack” Callahan, ’55 (history), of Yuba City, Calif., August 30, 2015, at 82. He served in the Air Force for nine years, achieving the rank of captain and getting inducted into the “Mock Busters Club” by breaking the sound barrier. After flying for United Airlines for 28 years, he retired to work in his orchard or sit in the backyard and enjoy a Guinness. He and his wife also enjoyed many vacations on the Mendocino coast and cherished time spent with close friends. He was predeceased by one grandchild. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Jan; sons, Kevin and Terry; three grandchildren; and one sister.
James Hunt “Jim” Fleming, ’55, MS ’57 (electrical engineering), of Kailua, Hawaii, September 17, 2014, at 81. He was employed at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and retired after 27 years as head engineer for the nuclear engineering division. In retirement, he volunteered at the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology at Coconut Island, serving as engineering handyman, flume specialist and pump expert. He also raised orchids, sailed his boat on Kaneohe Bay and made beautiful bowls from local hardwoods as a member of the Honolulu Wood Turners. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Joan; children, David, Leslie, Marcy and Bruce; five grandchildren; and two brothers.
Joy Carolyn Jaegeling Best, ’56 (nursing), of Corte Madera, Calif., March 26, at 81, of cancer. After receiving a master’s degree from UCSF, she worked with the Berkeley Health Department as a staff and supervising nurse and at Sonoma State U. as a faculty member in community health nursing. She loved the mountains, met her husband through the Marin Ski Club and skied into her 80s. She also served as treasurer of the Marin Tennis League and was instrumental in developing its scholarship program. Survivors: her husband, Alan; sons, Brian and Wayne; and two grandchildren.
John Scott MacDaniels, ’56 (art), of Palo Alto, May 4, at 81, from a heart attack. Upon graduating from high school, he was offered a contract with the N.Y. Yankees, but his father sent him to Colgate U. instead. After two years, he transferred to Stanford, where he joined Theta Chi and played baseball. In his senior year, he declined an offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates because he was already married and his wife was expecting a child. His decades-long career in advertising started at Dailey and Associates in San Francisco and culminated with the formation of MacDaniels, Henry & Sproul. Survivors: his wife of more than 60 years, Joan; daughter, Dianne; and one sister.
Eleana Marie deVrahnos Peratis, ’56, of Walnut Creek, Calif., April 13, at 81. During her 60-year career as a travel agent, she visited all seven continents, met penguins in Antarctica and marveled at the northern lights in Norway, but her favorite place was the spinning teacups ride at Disneyland, where she celebrated her 80th birthday. After several years of working for others, she opened her own agency, specializing in international travel and cruises. She had a magnetic personality, and a positive attitude and Spartan spirit defined her. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Paul. Survivors: her children, Tanya Pemberton and Tina Fletcher; and five grandchildren, including Natalie Fletcher, ’20.
Mariana Osuna Hanifan, ’57 (nursing), of St. Louis, July 17, 2015, at 82. She attended the American School in Quito, Ecuador, the U. of New Mexico and UC-Berkeley before graduating from Stanford. She then obtained a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from the U. of Utah in 1968. During her 22-year career, she practiced and taught nursing and served as the director of nursing at Belleville Area College in Illinois. A talented poet and artist, she earned a life masters certification in bridge and cherished her annual road trip to the family cabin in Lake Tahoe. Survivors: her husband of nearly 58 years, Jim; children, Kathleen Hinder and James; one grandson; and one sister.
Else Benjamin Weinthal Peters Tracy, ’57 (biological sciences), MD ’61, of Moss Point, Miss., February 14, at 79, of a stroke. Born in Germany, she was a member of the American Psychiatric Association and practiced medicine in New Orleans before moving to Pascagoula, Miss., in 1978. Her generosity, compassion, humor and hope brightened the lives of her patients, family and friends. Survivors: her daughters, Laura Kinsey and Lisa Carpenter; and their father and her friend, Richard Tracy.
Clarence William “Van” Vandenberg, ’57 (industrial engineering), of Walnut Creek, Calif., May 4, at 87, of cancer. He was a fighter pilot in the Korean War and joined IBM after his graduation from Stanford. His career took him from the Bay Area to Hong Kong and England, an international immersion that deepened his love of art from Native American artifacts to Asian collections. Once retired, he enrolled in art school in the South of France and excelled at sculpting and painting. Survivors: his children, Cary, Scott, Elise Cutini and Brian; 11 grandchildren; his ex-wife, Anita; companion, Carol Posey; and one brother.
Barbara June Klint Volk, ’57 (psychology), of San Jose, April 18, at 81, of lung cancer and complications following a stroke. Born in San Francisco to Swedish immigrant parents, she was the first in her family to attend college. Known for her grace and philanthropic endeavors, she raised funds for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Banning House Museum, and she was active in the Junior League of Los Angeles and the Bel Air Garden Club. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Robert, ’54, JD ’58. Survivors: her children, Christopher, William, ’79, Lauren and Elisabeth; 10 grandchildren, including Schuyler Tilney-Volk, ’20; and four great-grandchildren.
Richard Clyde “Dick” Dundas, ’58 (petroleum engineering), of Palo Alto, March 30, at 80. A member of Phi Kappa Psi, he was an engineer, a Marine, a fisherman, a conservationist and a sports fanatic. Being raised in Alaska gave him an appreciation for tradition and place and a love of the natural land. He was a 30-year season ticket holder to Stanford football games and rejoiced in seeing the Cardinal win two recent Rose Bowls. His other passions included exploring his adopted California, especially Muir Woods and Kings Canyon, single-malt Scotch, crispy bacon and Dungeness crab. Survivors: his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Lynn; and his son, Michael.
Robert Gilman “Bob” Weinland, ’58 (history), of Sarasota, Fla., April 19, at 79, in a car accident. At Stanford, he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and worked as the advertising manager at the Daily. After graduating, he worked as an intelligence specialist in the Army and later moved to Italy to enroll at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Returning to the United States, he worked for many years at the Center for Naval Analyses, followed by the Brookings Institution and Rekenthaler Technology Associates. His interests ranged from history and politics to stamp collecting, wine and gardening. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Gisela; children, Audrey Stevenson, ’85, Christina Bergen, Stephan, Heather Sutherland, Jessica Curry and Amelia Simpson; and six grandchildren.
George Robert Fischer, ’59 (anthropology), of Tallahassee, Fla., May 29, at 79. He distinguished himself as the founding figure of underwater archeology in the National Park Service, leaving behind a legacy of students, project and groundbreaking methods and philosophies. He was instrumental in developing the submerged cultural resource program at the NPS as well as the underwater archeology program at Florida State U. In addition, he was a founding member of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. Survivors: his wife of almost 55 years, Nancy (George, ’61); son, Matthew; and two grandchildren.
1960s
Joya Rose Marie Firenze, ’60 (speech and drama), of San Mateo, March 21, at 77, of a heart attack. She was predeceased by her ex-husband, Michel Dattel. Survivors: her daughter, Gia Dattel; and estranged brother.
George Morris Hayter, ’60 (biological sciences), of Santa Ana, Calif., March 27, at 77. A member of Delta Upsilon and a graduate of Duke U. Medical School, he served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. After completing his residency at UCLA, he began a private medical practice in psychiatry that lasted for more than 35 years in Orange County. Survivors: his children, Terence, Erin, Brian and Shauna Hayter Tondevold; eight grandchildren; his fiancée, Linda Dmytriw; and one brother.
Thomas Green Terbell Jr., ’60 (economics), of Santa Barbara, Calif., April 14, at 77. A graduate of Harvard Business School, he started his career in the toy business at JackBuilt Toys, followed by corporate banking and a stint as acting director of the Pasadena Art Museum. Returning to banking, he lived in many cities around the world, from London to Tokyo, and ended his career with Mellon Bank in Los Angeles. He was a great patron of the arts and an excellent dominoes player, but he enjoyed nothing as much as having his family gathered around him in song. Survivors: his wife of 44 years, Yolanda; children, Lisa Terbell LaHorgue, Alison Terbell Nikitopoulos, Jennifer Terbell Wisdom, Heather and Thomas III, ’99; 13 grandchildren; one sister, Joan Terbell Knowles, ’56; and four stepsiblings.
George Adrian Dean, ’61 (speech and drama), of Twin Falls, Idaho, April 21, at 76. After serving in the Air Force, he attended the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and became an ordained Southern Baptist minister. In 1974, he graduated from Tulane U. School of Medicine and, after moving back to Twin Falls, started practicing psychiatry. Remembered for his commitment to serving the mental health community, he had a deep concern for his patients and always read up on the latest medical science. He was predeceased by his wife, Judie Dean. Survivors: his family, Brenda Thorpe, Marsha Brekke, Marcus Gabriel, Kalyn Gabriel and Tammy Gray; and two grandchildren.
Charles Robert Fullerton Jr., ’63 (economics), of Long Beach, Calif., February 2, at 74, of melanoma. A member of Theta Xi, he earned an MBA from USC and worked in banking and finance throughout his career. He also served on the board of the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation as well as the boards of several banks and other organizations. An enthusiastic Stanford fan, he earned a 10-year service pin from Stanford Associates. In retirement, he enjoyed golf, travel and spending time with his family and many friends. Survivors: his wife of 47 years, Jean; children, Lynn Fullerton Veit, ’95, and Nick, ’97; five grandchildren; and one brother.
Walton Delane Laffranchini, ’63 (economics), of La Quinta, Calif., January 27, at 74.
Ronald Allen Kovas, ’64 (history), of Atherton, April 8, at 74. After receiving an MBA, he served in the National Guard and then started his career at J Walter Thompson. He ran the company’s San Francisco office and moved to Toronto to run the JWT Canadian company. In 1986, after moving to New York, he was named vice president of the JWT Group. Eventually he followed his dream to return to the Bay Area as president of Sunset magazine, and he spent some of his happiest times as a professor of Menlo College from 2013 until his death. He served on the boards of Filoli and Stanford Athletics. He was predeceased by his son Scott. Survivors: his wife, Patty; children Allyson, Charlie, Peter and Joe; and three grandchildren.
Joseph Edmond Lebenzon, ’66 (biological sciences), of Visalia, Calif., March 5, at 71. A graduate of UCLA Medical School, he was also educated at the Sorbonne in Paris and at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, Calif. After starting out in family medicine, he discovered his true passion and embarked on a 40-year career practicing child, adolescent and family psychiatry. He was also an accomplished classical and flamenco guitarist, he loved science fiction and politics, and he spent joyful hours surfing and scuba diving. Survivors: his wife of more than 30 years, Suzette; children, Maya, Noah, Lili, Beatrix and Roxanne; four grandchildren; and three siblings.
James Curtis Wall, ’67 (English), of Pismo Beach, Calif., April 11, at 71, of a heart attack. After earning a master’s degree in English, he taught high school for one summer before embarking on a 41-year banking career. He was directly involved with establishing four community banks on the Peninsula, and he spent 10 years managing private banking groups for both Seafirst Bank and Wells Fargo. Active in his community, he served on several boards, including the Community Services Agency of Mountain View, which named him Hometown Hero in 2000. Survivors: his wife, Anne (Fuller, ’68); children, Jennifer and Christopher; and three grandchildren.
1970s
John Lee Parish, ’70 (humanities), Waianae, Hawaii, May 7, at 69, after a valiant struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he played football at Stanford and pledged Phi Kappa Psi. He then attended the San Francisco Theological Seminary, graduating in 1973, and served as a minister for more than 50 years. He was also the author of Cry Aloud: From Protest to Praise. Survivors: his wife, Esther; daughters, Shareen Dukes, Talitha Parish Easterly, ’01, and Danielle; seven grandchildren; and four siblings.
Earl Arthur Shorthouse, ’71 (anthropology), of Hydesville, Calif., April 14, at 77. He enlisted in the Marines and served for three years. Following his discharge, he attended Foothill College and Stanford and earned a master’s degree from Brown U. He found his calling as a craftsman and furniture maker, and many of his creations grace homes, churches, schools and wineries up and down the Peninsula. A finder of strays, a renaissance man, a teacher and a thinker, he believed in the art of living and a life well lived. Survivors: his wife of nearly 50 years, Randi; daughter, Astrid Spencer; four grandchildren; and one sister.
Daniel Paul Westman, ’78 (history), of Great Falls, Va., May 22, at 59, after a lengthy illness. A graduate of the U. of Chicago Law School, he practiced labor and employment litigation in San Francisco and Palo Alto. Since 1999, he practiced in Northern Virginia, most recently as a partner with Morrison & Foerster. He was also the author of Whistleblowing: The Law of Retaliatory Discharge. A proud Midwesterner, he was personable and loyal and devoted to his God, family, friends and profession. Survivors: his wife of 29 years, Alison Carlson; sons, Peter, Eric and Alex; father, Jack; and two brothers.
1980s
Colleen Eva McAvoy, ’81, of San Carlos, Calif., May 21, at 56. She joined McGlashan & Sarrail in 1986, where she became a partner, specializing in estate planning, business and real estate law. In 2009, she was named a Northern California Super Lawyer. Her community engagements included serving as president of the San Mateo County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. As an athlete, she enjoyed extreme skiing, soccer and the Scottish game of Shinty. She was passionate about living life in a positive way and improving the world, both for herself and for those around her. Survivors: her husband, James Buatti, ’81; children, James Buatti and Eva McAvoy; and three siblings, including Heather, ’83.
1990s
Jon Peter Zimmerman, ’91 (industrial engineering), of Seattle, April 25, at 47, of unspecified causes. He was CEO of Front Desk, a start-up he co-founded in 2012 after helping run a CrossFit gym. The company develops management, payment processing and scheduling software used by studios, spas, gyms and other small and medium-sized personal services businesses. He previously held management roles at Expedia and T-Mobile. Survivors include his wife, Nicole Petrich, MS ’92, and two children.
Nesanet Senaite Mitiku, ’97 (engineering), MD ’07, PhD ’07 (genetics), of New York, September 24, 2015, at 40, of cancer. She was an active member of the Stanford Symphony and was passionate about ballroom dancing. After completing her residency at the U. of Washington in physical medicine and rehabilitation, she received grants from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to continue her research while concurrently serving as a physician at the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital. Following her fellowship, she accepted a position as an assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine and neurology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Survivors: her parents, Mitiku and Senaite Habte; and two sisters, including Meseret Mitiku, ’01, MA ’02.
2000s
Ladidi Saratu Garba, ’11 (science, technology and society), of New York, May 8, at 26, unexpectedly in her sleep. At Stanford, she was a member of Delta Sigma Theta and performed in and helped direct the a cappella group Talisman. Survivors include her parents, Ali and Augustina Garba; and three sisters.
Business
Louis Cardon Hickman, MBA ’50, of Logan, Utah, April 11, at 93. He spent 22 years in the Air Force, served in the Army Air Corps, and worked as both a surveyor and an independent engineer. Starting in 1950, he owned and operated Hickman Land Title Co. and was named Small Businessperson of the Year in 1988. Active in many civic organizations, he volunteered on the Logan Junior Chamber of Commerce and was chair of Logan City’s Planning and Zoning Board. He had a lifelong love of music and looked forward to his daily visit with friends at the Blue Bird Coffee Club. Above all, he was a man of character and thoughtful service. Survivors: his wife of 46 years, Rosemarie; children, Kristeen Christensen, Robert, David, James, Heather Thompson, Suzanne and Holly Haslem; and 16 grandchildren.
Norman Lloyd van Patten, MBA ’56, of Oakland, March 6, at 85. A Korean War veteran, he received his undergraduate degree from UC-Berkeley before enrolling at the Business School. He then embarked on a 38-year career at Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp., from which he retired in 1994. In his youth, he acquired a love for the wilderness and backpacking, and later he and his wife enjoyed adventures both in the United States and abroad and skiing in the Sierra. Survivors: his wife of 34 years, Elizabeth; his children from his first marriage, Angela, John, Mark and Margaret; one stepson, Rob Brandt; five grandchildren; and three half-siblings.
Earth Sciences
Charles Richard Stelck, PhD ’50 (geology), of Edmonton, Alberta, May 14, at 98. During World War II, he worked for the Canol project and for Imperial Oil, mapping the geology of the foothills from Jasper to the Arctic by horseback, canoe and dogsled. After the war, he began a long career as a faculty member at the U. of Alberta. His consulting work during sabbaticals took him and his family around the world, including locating one of the earliest on shore oil and gas fields in Australia. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances, and son John. Survivors: his children David, Brian and Leland; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Education
Emma Jane Wilder, Gr. ’46, of Kearney, Neb., November 20, at 95, of heart failure. During World War II, she worked as a secretary for the Red Cross at the Presidio in San Francisco. Seeing so many wounded men returning from battle motivated her to enroll at Stanford, and she eventually became one of the first five physical therapists registered in Nebraska. She worked for orthopedic surgeons in Omaha, attending the Second World Congress of Polio in Copenhagen. She wound down her physical therapy career in 1970, when she joined the family real estate business. Survivors include her sister.
Noel Joseph Reyburn, MA ’55, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., at 93. After Stanford, he earned a doctorate at UC-Berkeley and worked at Boston College and Worcester State College as vice president and academic dean. Retiring to California’s Santa Clara Valley, then settling in Sun Lakes, he continued to remain active while enjoying golf, acting, cooking and art fairs. He was a renaissance man who lived life to its fullest. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Anne.
Barbara Jane Vance, PhD ’67, of Salt Lake City, April 24, at 82, of Parkinson’s disease. As a faculty member at Brigham Young U., San Jose State College and Tufts U., she taught child development, child psychology, gerontology and parenting for 34 years before retiring in 1996. She served on the Sunday school board of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, traveled the world and enjoyed playing golf, hiking and going for long walks. Survivors include her four siblings.
Engineering
Irving Hurd Hawley Jr., MS ’67 (electrical engineering), of Bellingham and Lopez Island, Wash., April 6, at 73, after a monthlong battle with acute respiratory distress syndrome. He worked for Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto for 33 years. A lover of the outdoors, he was most content working on construction projects and successfully completed six garages, two gazebos and four playhouses. He could fix just about anything, loved reading and enjoyed motoring around Aleck Bay in his antique cars. Survivors: his wife of 44 years, Joan; children, Jessica Barter and Christopher; and four grandchildren.
Richard Lee “Rick” Townsend Jr., PhD ’69 (electrical engineering), of Bridgton, Maine, April 22, at 73, of pulmonary fibrosis. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT and a doctorate from Stanford, he joined the technical staff at AT&T in New Jersey. He switched to Lucent Technologies, retiring in 2007 after 38 years of service. He then took a job traveling the world as a lead telecommunications standards representative for Lucent. His hobbies included tenting with his family in national parks, driving with the Porsche Club at racetracks around the country and woodworking. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Laurel; children, Scott and Kristin; and two grandchildren.
Humanities and Sciences
Van Akin Burd, MA ’41 (English), of Cortland, N.Y., November 7, at 101. He served in the Navy as part of the invasion forces that invaded and later rebuilt Okinawa, Japan. After Stanford, and with a doctorate from the U. of Michigan, he joined the department of English at the State U. of New York at Cortland in 1951 and stayed until his retirement in 1979. His research related to John Ruskin, the Victorian thinker, artist and philanthropist, produced five books. A frequent traveler to the U.K., he made at least two visits in his 90s, when he also published six new papers on Ruskin (the last in his 100th year). He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Julia. Survivors: his daughter, Joyce Burd Hicks; one granddaughter; four great-grandchildren; and one sister.
Donald Henry Singer, MA ’51 (biological sciences), of Chicago, February 14, at 87. A graduate of Cornell U. and Northwestern U., he completed five years of postgraduate training before joining the faculty of Columbia U. Medical School. This was followed by many years on the faculty of Northwestern U. School of Medicine and Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the U. of Illinois-Chicago. Survivors: his wife, Ruth; children, Karen, Michael and Jonathan; and four grandchildren.
Ronald Warren Walker, MA ’69 (history), of Salt Lake City, May 9, at 76, of cancer. With an unwavering commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he taught in the LDS Seminary and Institute programs, serving as director of the program in San Francisco. He then earned a doctorate at the U. of Utah and joined the burgeoning LDS Church historical department. The author of eight books, he played an instrumental role in the “New Mormon History” movement. He is remembered for mentoring generations of students, his love of politics and for being a generous man who cared deeply about others. Survivors: his wife, Nelani (Midgley, ’62, MA ’64); children, Jennifer Thomas, Allison Toronto, Jonathan, Elizabeth Mehr, David, Peter and Andrew; 21 grandchildren; and one brother.
Petros Nicoletopoulos, MS ’74 (chemistry), of Athens, Greece, February 23, at 68. A graduate of the U. of Athens, he served in the Greek navy and worked for Hellenic Chemical Products and Fertilizers. Together with his wife, he started Hellex SA, a textile and clothing company. He was an award-winning stamp collector. Survivors: his wife, Maria; sons, Alexander and Constantine; and brother, Vasili, MS ’70.
Law
Kenneth Brooks Wright, JD ’60, of Ojai, Calif., May 7, at 81. He practiced law in Los Angeles at Lawler, Felix and Hall and at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius. A member of the board of Campbell High School for 35 years, he was also active in the Episcopal Church at St. Michael’s in Studio City and at St. Andrew’s in Ojai. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Soni; children, Margo Wright Lane, ’85, Daniel and John; and three grandchildren.
George Ernest Frasier, JD ’68, of Palm Desert, Calif., February 7, at 73. After law school, he moved to Seattle to join Riddell Williams, where he practiced tax law and labor law and went on to found the firm’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice. He loved spending time with his family skiing across the Pacific Northwest, sailing the Puget Sound, camping in the Olympic Mountains and golfing wherever he could. Having grown up in modest circumstance, his fierce defense of the underdog and his criticism of abuses of political power grew more passionate over time. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Lynn; daughters, Elise and Corrie; four grandchildren; and one brother.
Medicine
John Henry Monlux, Gr. ’51 (physical therapy), of Taos, N.M., December 9, at 89. He joined the Navy at 17 and received commendation for saving downed pilots in the Pacific campaigns. He played football at Washington State U., where he earned a degree in bioscience. After working as a physical therapist for 40 years, he retired to Taos. Survivors: his wife, Barbara; and children, Steve and Leslie.
