Faculty and Staff
Otis Arnold Pease, of Seattle, September 6, at 85, of a heart attack. He served in the Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart. He earned his undergraduate degree and doctorate at Yale and joined the Stanford faculty in 1956 as a professor of history and American studies. In 1966 he joined the department of history at the U. of Washington, where he taught until his retirement. He also served on the Stanford Board of Trustees for 16 years and received a service pin from Stanford Associates. Survivors: his wife, Donna McCampbell; his children from his previous marriage to Mary Pease, Jonathan, Catherine Barnhart, MA '78, PhD '86, Martha Khosa and Emily; eight grandchildren; and a brother.
Ernest Rosenbaum, of San Francisco, September 7, at 81. An oncologist in the Bay Area for more than 40 years, he created some of the area's first supportive care programs for cancer patients, including one at Stanford U. Medical Center, where he also taught as an adjunct clinical professor. He also wrote more than 25 books on cancer, many with his wife, such as Everyone's Guide to Cancer Supportive Care. He was the physician for the San Francisco Opera for many years as well. He was predeceased by his wife, Isadora. Survivors: his children, Eileen Maron, Alexandra von Ehrenkrook, Diane Shapiro and Steven; six grandchildren; two brothers; and a sister.
1930s
Mario J. Perelli-Minetti, '31 (economics), JD '34, of Hillsborough, Calif., August 26, at 101. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the wrestling team. He worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C., and on the West Coast, and in 2009 he became a 75-year member of the State Bar of California. He also worked for his family's wine business, managing the wine and brandy marketing operations, and in 1978 he began making wine under his own name. He was predeceased by his wife, Miriam (Strout, '32, MBA '34), and two children, Ernest and Quita. Survivors: his son, Tony; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Brown "Dottie" Smith, '34 (psychology), of Portola Valley, July 15, at 96. She received her teaching credential from Whittier College and taught briefly in Pasadena, Calif. For many years she divided her time between Palo Alto and Kihei, Hawaii, and she moved permanently to the Sequoias in 1993. She was predeceased by her husband, Earle, '24. Survivors: her children, Elise, Janet and Charles; and her stepchildren, David and William.
Madelyn Hughes Borden, '37 (English), of Orinda, Calif., August 6, at 94. A resident of Orinda for 65 years, she was active with the Orinda Garden Club and president of the Orinda Arts Council. She was passionate about gardening and known for her love of anything pink, her sense of style, her elegance and her intelligence. She was predeceased by her husband, Fred, MBA '36. Survivors: her children, Joan Shea, Holly and Rick, MBA '73; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Geraldine Olson, '43, MA '65.
Jackson Clark Gillis, '37 (English), of Moscow, Idaho, August 19, at 93, of pneumonia. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and participated in student drama. He acted with the Westminster Theater Company and the Barter Theater prior to serving in the Army during World War II. After the war, he began a long and successful career as a writer for radio and television. His screen credits include episodes of Superman, Lost in Space, Perry Mason and Colombo, for which he received an Emmy nomination; he also wrote two detective novels. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia. Survivors: his daughter, Candida, '65, MA '67, PhD '75; a grandson; and a brother.
Jane Morrison Reinhart, '38 (communication), of Whispering Pines, N.C., June 22, at 93. After graduation she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank before becoming a Navy wife. She and her husband lived in Europe and enjoyed travel. They retired to Whispering Pines in 1970. She was predeceased by her husband, George. Survivors include her son, George.
1940s
Carl McNeilan "Neil" Ballard, '41 (economics), of Seattle, September 9, at 90, of lung cancer. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and the tennis team. He graduated from Harvard Business School and taught in the Army at the Officer's Training School at Camp Lee, Va. Over the course of his career, he worked for Harold H. Huston and Co., Campbell Waterman and First Washington Corp. He had a lifelong interest in bridge and almost attained the level of Platinum Life Master. He was predeceased by his son David. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Jude; his children, Douglas, Katy, Marcella and Storey; and nine grandchildren.
Audrey Clark Bush Hall, '41, of Weaverville, Calif., September 14. She worked as a commercial artist and art teacher and later in life served as president of the Trinity County Arts Council Board. Her career also included writing for the Trinity Journal and more than 30 years as a real estate agent. She enjoyed trout and salmon fishing, shopping and spending time with friends. Survivors: her children, Mindy Hollenbeck, Clark Minor and Shannon Rooney; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Jacob "Yank" Levin, '42 (general engineering), of Ontario, Calif., May 12, at 90. He served in the Army Air Corps. He was a professor at CSU-Pomona and also worked in the aerospace industry. He retired from Pacific Bell after 16 years with the company. Survivors: his wife, Elsie; his daughter, Deborah; his stepchildren, Mari Lou Baratti and Scott Holt; four grandchildren; and a sister.
Wesley D. Smith, '42 (economics), of Saratoga, Calif., September 1, at 89. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and the Buck Cardinal Club. He served in the Navy and later joined his father's insurance company, which became Smith & Elgart Private Services. He was the former commander of the Golden Gate Yacht Club and a member of the Presidio Golf Club. Survivors: his wife, Vinie; his daughter, Susan Touché; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister.
Robert M. "Bob" Greening, '43 (economics), of Phoenix, July 23, at 88. He was a member of Zeta Psi. He served in the Navy during World War II and then went to work for his father's chemical company. A successful entrepreneur, he owned and sold several businesses in fields including agriculture, real estate development and lasers. During his time in Phoenix he was involved in the Thunderbirds, Boys Ranch and All Saints Church, and he enjoyed travel and spending time with friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Marcella (Mahony, '43). Survivors: his companion, Pat Goldman; his children, Chip, '66, JD '72, Gayland, Marcella, '70, and Paule; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Stevens Weller Jr., '47 (economics), JD '50, of San Rafael, Calif., September 15, at 85, after a long illness. He served in the Navy prior to attending Stanford. He enjoyed a distinguished legal career, eventually becoming senior partner at Walker, Wright, Tyler and Ward in Los Angeles. He loved golf and sailing and was a member of the Los Angeles Yacht Club as well as the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. He was known for his generous spirit and sense of humor. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Margery; his children, Sandra, '74, Sarah Weller King, Stevens III and William, '80; and six grandchildren.
Victor Calvo, '48 (political science), of Mountain View, September 26, at 86. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He had a long career in politics that included three terms as mayor of Mountain View and election to the state assembly in 1974. He also owned the De Anza Lumber Co. from 1959 to 1985. He loved bird-watching and playing golf, and he was instrumental in the creation of Shoreline Park. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Nellie; his children, Suzanna, Victor, Peter, Theodore and Mary; 12 grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother, Eugene, '53.
Richard Schilling Cotchett, '49 (economics), of Carmel, Calif., July 8, at 87. He served in the Air Force during World War II. He worked for Granite Construction for 35 years and served as president of the Builders Exchange of the Monterey Peninsula. His favorite place was Lugano, Switzerland. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy. Survivors: his children, Carolyn Conklin, Derik and Tracy; and two grandchildren.
James Leroy Rose, '49 (political science), MBA '51, of San Jose, August 4, at 86, after a fall. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II and then had a 38-year career in the retail furniture business. In his retirement he enjoyed reading, volunteering, travel, golf and theater, and he was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Stanford Associates awarded him a 15-year service pin as well as an award of merit. Survivors: his wife, Beverly, '49; his children, Linda Rose Westby-Gibson, '77, and Richard, '81; and three grandchildren.
1950s
Dan Carl Gower, '50 (economics), of San Mateo, September 3, at 86. He served in World War II and was awarded one Purple Heart, three Bronze Stars and numerous ribbons. He owned and operated Pacific Insulation and Acoustic Co. for more than 40 years. He was predeceased by his children Debra, Dan and David. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Agnes; and his children Bruce and Brian.
Margaret Vorse "Peg" Thompson, '51 (social science/social thought), of Palo Alto, August 4, at 80, of heart failure after a struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease. She was captain of the ski team. After graduation she worked for Equitable Life, and later she developed and managed a building in downtown Los Altos. She loved the wilderness and took her family on annual backpacking trips in the high Sierras. She and her husband traveled extensively and particularly enjoyed Stanford Travel/Study programs. Survivors: her husband, John, MBA '51; her children, Jane, Sally, '78, Nancy and Elizabeth, MA '94; and eight grandchildren.
Charles Robert Hokanson, '52, MA '54 (education), of Pleasanton, Calif., June 15, at 80, of pneumonia. He was a member of the football team, the track and field team and Theta Delta Chi. He taught middle school and later had a 28-year career with Lucky Stores in the Bay Area. He was a member of Centerpointe Presbyterian Church and enjoyed working in the yard, fishing and traveling to visit his sons. Survivors: his wife of 41 years, Janet; and his children, Charles Jr., '93, MA '93, Chris, '95, and Craig.
Joyce Hupp Beckett, '54 (political science), of Lafayette, Calif., March 23, at 77, following complications from a medical procedure. She worked on the yearbook and was a member of Cap and Gown. She and her husband settled in the Bay Area, where they raised their children. She enjoyed working as a career counselor, spending time outdoors and going to theater with friends. Survivors: her husband, Garner, '53; her children, Mark, '80, MS '81, Rick, '83, MBA '87, and Katherine; and six grandchildren.
Clarence Gardiner, '54 (biological sciences), of San Jose, August 4, at 78, from complications of dialysis treatment. He received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College and spent many years working as a psychiatrist, primarily at the Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health. He enjoyed travel and spent two months per year in Hawaii; he was also a board member of the San Jose Opera for six years. Survivors: his children, Yvette and Eric; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Wesley Ernest Wedge, '55 (economics), MBA '59, of Gig Harbor, Wash., September 20, at 77, of cancer. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, Navy ROTC and the football team; he and his brother were the first twins to play in the Rose Bowl. He served in the Marines and later began a career in the manufacture of concrete and asphalt saws. He founded Wedge Co., which helped build many U.S. airport runways and freeways. Survivors: his children, Jacquie Goodwill and Ann Swarens; three grandchildren; and a brother, Win, '55, MBA '59.
Louise Rogers Doggett, '56 (history), of Sacramento, July 22, at 76, of pancreatic cancer. A graduate of Catherine Delmar Burke's School, she was committed to motherhood in her adult life. She loved gardening and was adored for her sense of humor and generous nature. She was predeceased by her daughter Wendy. Survivors: her children, Scott and Victoria; her former husband, Scotte, '53, MD '56; her stepmother, Dorothy; and her brothers, Reid Rogers, '59, JD '62, and Doug Rogers, '54.
Kathleen Amelie Slagter Fox, '57 (law), of San Jose, August 29, at 74. She spent her career as a librarian at San Jose City College. She was active with the Central Sierra Audubon Society and the Genealogy Society, and she enjoyed travel and retirement life in the mountains at Sugar Pine near Yosemite, Calif. She was predeceased by her husband, James. Survivors: her children, James, Julie, Nancy Csabanyi and Jeremy; four grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.
Robert Owen Christiansen, '58 (biological sciences), MD '61, of Glendale, Calif., July 29, at 73. He was involved with KZSU radio. He began his career in biomedical research and later worked on the pediatrics faculty at Stanford U. Medical Center. He was the director of the inpatient and critical care division at Martin Luther King Jr./Charles R. Drew Medical Center and professor of pediatrics at Charles R. Drew U. of Medicine and Science until his retirement. He had a lifelong love of opera and early music. He was predeceased by his life partner, Sam DeCastro. Survivors: his son, Mark; two grandchildren; his former wife, Janis (Wilcox, '58); and a sister.
Donald Dougherty Dawson, '58 (speech and drama), of Santa Barbara, Calif., August 16, at 73. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and the baseball and football teams. He lived in Hawaii for many years and worked in the insurance industry, eventually starting Dawson and Chambers Ltd. He moved to Santa Barbara in 1997 and enjoyed woodworking, carpentry and all things Western. He was the past president of the Will James Society. Survivors: his wife of 15 years, Nollie Lei Hoopli; his children, Starr McLaughlin and Mark; and five grandchildren.
1960s
James Michael McKnight, '61 (general engineering), of Bend, Ore., April 24, at 70, of cancer. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and captain of the crew team. He served in the Marines and then spent most of his career in construction management, including nine years at Stanford. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Susan (Thomas, '61); his children, Tim, '86, and Walter; two grandchildren; and a sister.
Suzanne Beaumont Pannier, '63 (sociology), MA '64 (education), of Newport Beach, Calif., July 13, at 69, following a stroke suffered on July 3. She was a teacher, working for public schools as well as IBM, and a stay-at-home mom. She volunteered at her church, in schools and for other community organizations. She enjoyed reading and travel. Survivors: her husband, Loren; her children, Marc and Scott; and four grandchildren.
Sharon Kettering Broadley, '64, MA '65, PhD '69 (history), of Kensington, Md., August 24, at 67, after a 15-month battle with cancer. She earned a law degree from Georgetown U. She taught at Montgomery College in Maryland for 25 years before retiring in 1995, and she authored five scholarly books on early modern French history, including Patrons, Brokers and Clients in Seventeenth Century France. Survivors include her husband of 37 years, John.
Nancy McLennan King, '64 (art), of Palo Alto, June 21, at 68, of advanced dementia. She was a longtime educator and school administrator in New York City. She loved art and appreciated other cultures, and she was an avid reader. Survivors: her children, Gregory and Gavin; her three grandchildren; her sister, Jane McLennan Stearns, '68; and two brothers, Jim, '62, and Tom, '70, MS '72, MBA '74.
1970s
John Martin Baca Jr., '72 (physics), of Grants Pass, Ore., July 24, at 59, of esophageal cancer. He was an avid Ultimate Frisbee player at Stanford and was active in preserving Palo Alto's open spaces during his time there. He worked in the IT industry for several years before moving to Grants Pass. Survivors include two sisters.
Robert Elliot Weinberg, '72 (anthropology), of Pacifica, Calif., April 11, at 59, of cancer. He was a member of LSJUMB. After earning a master's degree from UC-Berkeley, he worked as an environmental technology specialist for Crissy Field Community Environmental Center and most recently as an information systems analyst at UC-Berkeley. He loved sailing and windsurfing and was an instructor at Cal-Windsurfing. Survivors: his wife, Linda; his parents, Carlena and Elliot; and a sister.
Richard C. Newth Jr., '76 (human biology), of Great Falls, Mont., September 17, at 55, of colorectal cancer. He was a member of Sigma Chi. He earned his doctorate at the Illinois College of Optometry and practiced for 20 years in the Kansas City area. Later he practiced at the Chippewa Cree Health Center and at the Great Falls Clinic. He was named Optometrist of the Year by the Montana Optometric Association and loved flying, singing, golfing and skiing. Survivors: his wife of 30 years, Tawny; his daughter, Shannon; and three brothers.
Erik E. Osenbaugh, '76 (psychology), of Irvine, Calif., August 9, at 55, of a heart attack. He was a member of Zeta Psi and the baseball team. For the past 20 years he managed troubled assets for lenders. He lived simply and was a generous donor to needy families overseas. He was passionate about sports and especially loved Stanford teams. Survivors include his parents, Patricia, '52, and Roger, '52, MBA '57; and a brother, Kurt, '79.
Steven C. Glassman, '78 (electrical engineering), MS '78 (computer science), of Palo Alto, July 30, at 54, of kidney cancer. During his career, he worked as a programmer for many companies, including Xerox, Gavilan Computers and Acorn/Olivetti. Most recently he worked for Google. He enjoyed computers, gadgets, tinkering and fixing things. Survivors: his wife, Lucille (Reid, '84); his children, Naomi and Ethan; his mother, Rae; and a sister.
Education
Marta Ve Fox Everton Graham, MA '47, of Escondido, Calif., August 15, at 83. She received her medical degree in 1955 from Baylor College of Medicine, where she was one of only three women in her graduating class. A respected ophthalmologist, she had her own practice and traveled frequently on short-term medical missions to Mexico and Central and South America. She was a longtime member of Emmanuel Faith Community Church and was named as a Woman of Merit by the North County Times in 2001. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Robert, and her stepsons David, Robert Jr. and G. Wesley. Survivors: her children, Leslie Fox, Marcia Beveridge and Christi; her stepchildren, Greg, Robin and Janice; and seven grandchildren.
Gilbert Ruggles Rankin, Gr. '56, of San Francisco, August 22, at 84. He taught in the Oakland and San Francisco unified public schools for many years and also served as a principal. He was passionate about education and learning new things. He was a long-standing member of the Order of the Masons and will be remembered for his endless energy. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Marjorie, and his children, Cissy and Gilbert.
William Gregory Yoder, MA '56, of West Point, Calif., March 6, at 81. He served in the Army in Korea and later served as principal of West Point Elementary School. He retired after 36 years of service as the superintendant of schools for Monterey County. He was also president of the local Lions Club and served on the Calaveras County planning commission and East Bay MUD Comanche Lake water board. He loved animals of all kinds and enjoyed going to the elephant rescue in San Andreas, Calif. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Marianna; and his children, Marty, Janon and William.
Mary Ann Maughan Atkisson, MA '63, of Salt Lake City, April 19, at 72, shortly after a stroke. She taught high school art classes in San Jose and later lived in many cities in the U.S. and Argentina. She served as a docent for the Muskegon Museum of Art in Michigan and was named Docent of the Year by the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City. Her interests included painting, drawing, birdwatching, gardening, puzzles and writing music. Survivors: her husband, Curtis, MBA '61; her children, Rosanne, Jeanne Bilson, Curtis, David, Valerie and Michael; 13 grandchildren; and her mother, Ann Maughan.
Engineering
George Rudolph Thenn Jr., MS '47 (civil engineering), of Alameda, Calif., March 19, at 91, of a heart attack. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II and earned numerous awards and medals. After the war he enjoyed a long career in real estate, land development and civil engineering, including work with Jones, Thenn & Associates. He maintained his private pilot's license and was known for his ability to talk with anybody about anything. Survivors: his children, Karen, Holly, Kristine, Karl and Greg; and three grandchildren.
Humanities and Sciences
Edgar Fisher Daniels, MA '48, PhD '52 (English), of Carmel, Calif., August 5, at 89. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was an assistant professor at Western Washington College prior to joining the faculty at Bowling Green State U., where he spent the rest of his career and served as chair of the English department. After retiring, he moved to Carmel and took up art, volunteered at the Carmel Foundation and was a member of the Friends of the Harrison Memorial Library. He was predeceased by his wife, Harriet (Manifold, '50). Survivors: his son, Scott; and three grandchildren.
Kenneth B. O'Brien Jr., MA '51, PhD '56 (history), of Sacramento, August 21, at 83, of heart failure. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. He had a long career in academia, including faculty positions at Colgate U., U. of Maryland, and Stanford, and was the former president of Bloomfield College. Later he became the executive director of the California Postsecondary Education Commission. He liked to sing, played trombone with a jazz band for two decades, swam competitively and coached in a youth soccer league. Survivors: his wife, Carol; his children, Ellen Trapp, Kyle and Wick; three grandchildren; and a sister.
Leon Haller, MA '62 (economics), of Cottonwood, Ariz., June 14, at 74. He began his career in finance with the Peace Corps in Peru, and he also owned a haberdashery in Massachusetts. He authored two books on finance, including Financial Resources Management for Nonprofit Organizations. Later in life he became an artist, creating wood sculptures and bronze castings from tree trunks and roots. Survivors include a brother.
Melvin Jay Hinich, PhD '64 (statistics), of Austin, Texas, September 7, at 71, after a fall in his home. He was the Mike Hogg Professor of Government and Professor of Economics at U. of Texas-Austin and published papers in many fields, including statistics, signal processing, economics and political science. He was a fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the American Statistical Association and the Public Choice Society. He played the bassoon and enjoyed listening to baroque music. Survivors: his wife, Sonje; his daughter, Amy; and two grandchildren.
Ann Marie Best Koller, PhD '65 (speech and drama), of Raymond, Mont., June 12, at 96. She taught German, Latin and English at Burlingame High School in California from 1949 until her retirement in 1978. Her book, The Theater Duke: George II of Saxe-Meiningen and the German Stage, was published in 1984. An avid traveler, she visited Cambodia at age 86 and China at 91. She was predeceased by her husband, Ashbel. Survivors include her daughter, Margaret, and two grandchildren.
Sheldon Harold Feldner, MFA '67 (speech and drama), of San Francisco, August 11, at 74. After serving in the Army, he went on to enjoy a long career in theater as a writer, director and actor. He taught playwriting and theater at several colleges and had numerous plays produced, including Mad Oscar. He also worked as an actor in film and television and was a regular on the TV series Good Grief. He loved dogs, his friends and the spoken word.
