Faculty
Edwin M. Bridges, of Stanford, March 7, at 85, of heart failure. He was a professor of education best known for applying problem-based learning to the training of educational leaders. He led the Prospective Principals Program from 1988 until he retired in 1999. In the field of education, he was the author of two books and numerous articles. He was predeceased by his son Richard, ’82. Survivors: his wife, Marjorie; children, Rebecca Altman, ’81, Brian, MS ’93, and Bruce; and four grandchildren.
Edward Rubenstein, of Hillsborough, Calif., March 11, at 94, of natural causes. He was professor emeritus of primary care and population health. He served in the Air Force as head of medicine at March Air Force Base during the Korean War. He published an early textbook on intensive care medicine and researched sickle cell anemia, diagnostic imaging using synchrotron radiation and the role of cerebrospinal fluid in age-related mental disorders. He joined Stanford in 1955 as a clinical instructor at San Mateo County General Hospital. He became a clinical professor in 1960 and was named associate dean for postgraduate medical education in 1972. He was a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Survivors: his wife, Nancy; sons, John, ’77, PhD ’83, MD ’86, James, ’84, and William; and two grandchildren.
1940s
Beatrice Marie Brown Borden, ’42, of Montecito, Calif., March 25, at 98. Together with her husband, she documented wildlife throughout the world. She contributed to Disney and MGM films, and her work was featured on National Geographic Specials, Sesame Street, NOVA and elsewhere. She was also a producer and on-camera host of the syndicated series Wonders of the Wild. She also served on the board of Direct Relief International. She was predeceased by her second husband, Dick. Survivors: her children and stepchildren, Jane Chermayeff, Betsy Carlson, Spencer, Beatrice Knox-Johnston, Patricia du Pont, Bill Sweney, Michael and John; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and special companion Royal Peterson.
Ida Jane “Jiggs” Erlanger Scott, ’42 (English), of Sebastopol, Calif., at 97. She walked across the Golden Gate Bridge on its opening day. At various times she lived in Hawaii, Japan, Italy, England and Germany. She was a volunteer for the Red Cross, Fort Ross Visitor’s Center, Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, the Tate Gallery in London and, for the last 21 years, at Sutter Hospice Thrift Store in Sebastopol. She also enjoyed gardening, studying art, playing the piano and doing needlepoint. She was predeceased by her husband, Laurence. Survivors: her children, Laury, Ken and Anne; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Beverly Jane Ottem Mohr, ’45 (undergraduate law), LLB ’46, of Palo Alto, May 25, 2018, at 94. She was a member of Alpha Omega Pi. She earned a law degree and practiced law in San Francisco. Later she started a pool equipment export company with her husband. She enjoyed collecting art and traveling the world, but her favorite places were in California: Palo Alto, Pajaro Dunes and Blue Lake Springs. She was predeceased by her husband, Hank, ’42. Survivors: her children, Craig, Carla Raffeto and Andrea Gandolfo; five granddaughters; and one great-grandson.
Doris Ellen Martinsen Hedlund, ’46, of Cayucos, Calif., March 20, at 94, of viral pneumonia. She earned a master’s degree in psychology and worked at the U. of Iowa before marrying and moving to Colorado, Texas, Germany, Washington, D.C., and Missouri. She worked at the Smithsonian Institution and volunteered at the Missouri History Museum. She found joy in gardening. Survivors: her husband, James; and daughters, Ann and Carey.
Elizabeth Caspers Peters, ’47 (English), of San Francisco, February 13, at 92. She first worked in advertising. In 1959, she took her family’s savings and loan public and served as director of Wesco Financial Corp. for the next 50 years. She was also a noted fund-raiser for the California Pacific Medical Center and San Francisco Symphony Association and a member of the Stanford alumni board. She particularly enjoyed spending time on the family ranch and found refuge in gardening. She was predeceased by her husband, Evan. Survivors: her children, Lisa, ’78, Margaret Charnas, ’80, and Alec, ’82; and five grandchildren, including Juliet Charnas, ’15.
Nancy Adams Thorp Steiny, ’47 (political science), of Los Angeles, March 30, at 94. After raising her children and building a dream home at Lake Tahoe, she returned to school to earn the credentials to launch a career as director of the Southern California Counseling Center. She continued training therapists and maintained private therapy practice until recently. She was predeceased by her husband, Homer, ’43. Survivors: her children, Julia, MA ’99, Nancy Borris, Susan and J.T.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
1950s
Nancy Louise Lagomarsino Farrar, ’50 (political science), of Menlo Park, April 9, 2018, at 90, of bronchiectasis. She volunteered for the Committee of Art and the 100th anniversary Big Game party. She traveled to Europe 45 times, but Florence, Italy, was her favorite destination. She enjoyed art, music and tennis. She was predeceased by her daughter, Michele Williamson, ’77. Survivors: her husband, William, ’50, MBA ’53; children Caroline Grey, ’73, and William Jr.; and three grandchildren.
William C. Ingram Jr., ’50 (economics), of Mansfield, Ohio, February 7, at 90. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After graduation, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps Reserve and served on active duty in the Korean War. He spent the rest of his career in the family business and retired as president of Ingram Oldsmobile-Nissan in 1996. Survivors: his wife, Joyce; and children, Lizbeth Himes and Bradford.
Joseph Thomas August, ’51 (biological sciences), MD ’55, of Baltimore, February 11, at 91, of metastatic cancer. He served in the Army. At Stanford, he was a member of Delta Upsilon and the football team. He was a Markle Scholar at Stanford and fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a faculty member at New York U. and Albert Einstein College of Medicine before being appointed director of the department of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at Johns Hopkins U. He discovered lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMP) and their role in the immune system, and later worked on vaccines targeting viruses such as HIV, dengue, influenza and West Nile. After his family, his next love was his garden. Survivors: his wife, Jean (Nordstrom, ’51); children, Christina Hecht, ’78, Paul, ’80, and Stephen; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Ralph Bradford Bettman, ’51 (mechanical engineering), of Atascadero, Calif., March 5, at 90, of a heart attack. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the boxing team. He served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War and was involved with the Coast Guard Auxiliary throughout his life. He earned an MBA from Harvard and spent his career in management consulting with Cresap, McCormick & Paget and helped to found Performex. He enjoyed sailing, sailboat racing, and camping and hiking with his family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Shirley, and a grandson. Survivors: his second wife, Nancy; children, Brad, ’78, MS ’79, Jeff, Melissa Ahern, Sarah and Matthew; three grandchildren; and a sister.
Dennis Purver Cox, ’51, MS ’55, PhD ’56 (geology), of Palo Alto, February 25, at 89. He worked for the Anaconda Copper Co., was a visiting professor of geology at the U. of Bahia in Brazil and worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. He mapped mineral deposits in Puerto Rico, Alaska, Arizona and Mongolia. He received the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award in 1990. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen (Rossetti, MA ’56). Survivors: his wife, June; and children, Sarah, ’12, Mary, Laura and John.
George Edward Gray, ’51 (civil engineering), of Poway, Calif., December 12, at 91. He came to Stanford for the Army Specialized Training Program during World War II and later served in the Army Air Force in Japan. He and his wife were married in Stanford Memorial Church. He worked for the California Division of Highways and then CalTrans from 1951 to 1994, except for two years as a highway consultant in Vietnam and four years advising on mass transportation in Saudi Arabia. He advocated for mass transportation as a better alternative to California’s freeway culture and helped found the statewide bike path system. He shared with his wife a love for travel, gardening and genealogy, especially through Los Californianos. His wife of 68 years, Edna (Hables, Gr. ’52), passed away two months after he died. Survivors: his sons, Ken, Chris, ’75, and Dana, ’77; four grandsons; and a great-grandson.
Margaret Claire Vodra Hulter, ’51 (undergraduate law), JD ’53, of La Jolla, Calif., February 3, at 89. Entering a field that was not accepting of women, she worked first as a legal secretary, then for other attorneys before opening her own family law practice. She found success again later in life as a property investor. But her passion was traveling to every continent in the world with her husband. They shared a love of museums, collecting art, camping and hiking. She was a dedicated lifelong learner and supporter of charitable causes and first-generation college students. She was predeceased by her husband of 35 years, Robert, and son Christopher Turney. Survivors: her children Meg Fried and Michael Turney; three stepchildren; and 15 grandchildren, including Benjamin Fried, ’10.
Charles Joseph Kelly Jr., ’51 (history), of Washington, D.C., November 2, at 88, of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and the swim team. He served in the Air Force. He earned a law degree from Yale before entering government service. He was special counsel to the Civil Aeronautics Board during the Eisenhower administration and then served as assistant to the Secretary of Commerce. He then shifted to banking, holding positions in New York and Washington. He also served on the board of the Lindbergh Foundation and published a history of the airline industry. Survivors: his wife of 45 years, Marguerite; daughters, Karen Beardsley, Mia Walton and Lisa; and four grandchildren.
Robert Lene’ Nielsen, ’51 (economics), MBA ’57, of Walnut Creek, Calif., March 22, at 89, of heart failure. He was a member of the freshman football team and Beta Theta Pi. He served in the Navy Supply Corps, including active duty during the Korean War, and retired from the Naval Reserve in 1989 with the rank of commander. He worked in benefit plan design and administration for the Zischke Organization for 30 years. In retirement, he enjoyed Stanford Travel/Study adventures and held season tickets for football games until 2015. Survivors: his wife, Marian (Beaver, ’51); children, Sally, Lucy, ’78, and Andrew; four grandchildren; and brother, Thomas, MBA ’57.
Diane Locke Raison, ’51 (economics), of Dinuba, Calif., December 3, at 89, of causes related to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. She was publisher of the Dinuba Sentinel. She enjoyed world travel and was an avid reader and art collector. Survivors: her husband, Robert; and children, Charles, ’81, and Margo, ’83.
Keith Paul Young, ’51 (industrial engineering), of Sacramento, February 21, at 89, after a brief illness. He built a milk bottling plant, but anticipated changes in the dairy industry and purchased an underperforming Chevrolet dealership. Over the next 30 years, he turned it into one of the largest dealerships in Dallas and General Motors parts departments in the Southwest. He enjoyed travel, classical music, sailing, flying his airplane, woodworking and spending summers at Lake Tahoe. He particularly enjoyed antique car rallies and completed the fifth Peking to Paris Motor Challenge as the oldest participant at the age of 84. He was predeceased by his first wife, Jere (Snider, ’52), daughter Kathe Griggs, and son, Keith Jr., ’80. Survivors: his second wife, Anne (Ryan, ’52); daughter Nancy Dorociak; stepdaughters, Betsy Dozier Salomon, ’77, MA ’78, and Annette Dozier, ’78, MA ’84; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister.
Alan M. Kyman, ’52 (history), of Phoenix, March 29, at 88, after a brief illness. He graduated from the U. of Arizona Law School and opened a solo practice the same year, devoting more than 55 years to helping people and defending civil liberties. He was an amateur photographer and collected jazz recordings from the 1920s to 1950s, and he particularly enjoyed being a volunteer fireman at Firebird Raceway. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Joyce. Survivors: his children, Leslie, Denise and Daniel; and five grandchildren.
Molly Kennard Smith, ’52 (history), of Richland, Wash., February 26, at 87. She worked in antiques for Dillingham & Co. She also pursued her interest in fine and decorative arts as a longtime volunteer at the de Young Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Survivors: her daughters, Alexandra and Miranda.
Morton Field, ’53 (biological sciences), of Los Angeles, March 21, at 87. He earned an MD from Washington U. in St. Louis and practiced medicine for 63 years, making house calls and taking calls at all hours of the night. He specialized in internal medicine, endocrinology, osteoporosis and diabetes. Survivors: his wife, Mary; children, Nikki, Lauren, Bruce and Allen; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
John William Kroeger, ’54, MS ’55 (mechanical engineering), MBA ’57, of Sandy Springs, Ga., February 19, at 86, of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and the waterpolo team. He worked first at Bell Helicopter Aerosystems Corp., but spent most of his career at Lockheed Georgia Aeronautical Systems. He was an avid tennis player. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Lynda; children, Kim Hatchett, Karly Post and Dana; five granddaughters; and a sister.
Margaret “Dickey” Mathews Thomas, ’55 (psychology), of Brookline, Mass., February 16, at 85. She worked for many years at Allendale Farm, the registrar’s office at Harvard Business School and the ophthalmology department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She enjoyed knitting and reading and was passionate about animal welfare and the environment. She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Bill. Survivors: her daughters, Susan Macleod and Annie Hyder; four grandchildren; and sister.
Curtis S. Pendergrass, ’56 (speech and drama), of Locust Grove, Va., February 8, at 84. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He served in the Navy for 26 years and retired as a commander. He also worked in the Pentagon and as public information officer for Germanna Community College. In retirement, he was involved with local television and the county chamber of commerce. He was predeceased by his daughters, Susan and Jeanne. Survivors: his wife, Bennie; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Cecile Ann Lewis Bagwell, ’57 (nursing), of Bakersfield, Calif., February 7, at 83. She served with her husband as a Presbyterian missionary in Pakistan during the 1960s. After returning to the United States, she worked as a nurse until becoming a marriage and family therapist at Kern Medical Center and in private practice. She earned a master’s degree in education from CSU-Bakersfield. As an expression of love for the Lord Jesus, she welcomed missionaries to her home and participated in Altar Guild and the Order of St. Luke at Trinity Anglican Church. Survivors: her husband of 61 years, Woody; children, Bruce, Bobi and Steve; eight grandchildren; and three siblings.
Rodolfo Frank “Rudy” Figueroa, ’58 (history), of Hilo, Hawaii, March 14, 2018, at 82, of natural causes. At Stanford, he was on the baseball team and a member of ROTC and Phi Delta Theta. After his Army service, he found a job selling bowling supplies in Hawaii, married, and raised a family of devoted baseball players. He later worked in life insurance. He played the trombone and loved old-school jazz. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria Lau’a’e Estores. Survivors: his children, Roland, Neil, Ramona, Carla, Andrea Messina and Anita Nash; two granddaughters; and two great-granddaughters.
Stephen Clark McEuen, ’58 (industrial engineering), of San Diego, February 16. He was president of the Glee Club and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He worked as a material manager on solar turbines and led Boy Scout troops for 48 years. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Clio; three children; and four grandchildren.
Karen Joy Erickson Orvik, ’58 (political science), of Cambridge, Mass., March 10, at 82. She was a member of Cap & Gown. As a Fulbright fellow, she interviewed all 200 members of the Finnish parliament. This research formed the basis of her doctoral work at Harvard. She taught political science at Queen’s U., the U. of Guelph, the U. of Western Ontario, the U. of Southern Maine and the U. of Alaska-Fairbanks. She completed her academic career as dean of arts and sciences at Southern New Hampshire U., where she was instrumental in establishing programs in art and music and an MFA in creative writing. Survivors: her children, Kirsti, Karl and Kari, ’98; two grandchildren; and one brother.
1960s
Gary Eugene Pike, ’60 (psychology), JD ’63, of San Diego, March 17, at 80. He played football and rugby, ran track and was a member of Delta Tau Delta. After law school, he served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He spent his career as a family law attorney and partner at Mitchell, Ashworth, Keeney, Barry and Pike. As a supporter of women in the workplace, he spearheaded the hiring of the firm’s first female attorney. He also earned a black belt in tae kwon do. In retirement, he was a docent on the USS Midway and a scorekeeper at community college basketball games. He was also a eucharistic minister at Blessed Sacrament parish, where he attended mass daily. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Judy (Minna, ’64); children, Amanda and John; and six grandchildren.
Kyrk Dennis Reid, ’60, MS ’61 (civil engineering), of Mira Loma, Calif., February 13, at 80, of cancer. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, played soccer and football and was featured in Sports Illustrated as a key player on Stanford’s winning rugby team. In a 57-year career in construction engineering, he managed complex projects and critical infrastructure throughout California. He enjoyed racing homing pigeons and NASCAR cars, coaching rugby, flying small airplanes and singing karaoke. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Carol; children, Dorothy Sluder, Michael, Patrick Ackley, Don Reid, Stewart Reid, Jack Reid and Nancy Doe; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
James Joseph “Jim” Garrett, ’61 (political science), of Lafayette, Calif., February 18, at 79, of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of the German Club, Beta Theta Pi and ROTC. He served as an Army intelligence officer in West Germany. He earned a JD from Harvard and worked at Morrison & Foerster for more than 35 years. His passions included baseball, fly-fishing and backpacking. His love and sense of stewardship for Yosemite and the Sierras led him to devote hundreds of hours in legal service to nonprofit organizations such as the High Sierra Hikers Association. Survivors: his wife, Maria Rivera; sons, Sean, Drew, Craig, ’96, Joshua and Matthew; six grandchildren; and one brother, John, ’61.
William Peter “Bill” Johnston, ’61 (civil engineering), of San Diego, February 26, at 78, following a short illness. He served as an officer in the Navy. He was a clinical laboratory manager at Sharp Memorial Hospital and later worked in real estate. He enjoyed travel, especially visiting relatives in Croatia, and was an avid reader and active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Susan; daughters, Rebecca Aubery and Elizabeth; and two grandsons.
Lawson Lowe, ’61 (economics), of Riverside, Calif., January 29, at 79, of metastatic melanoma. He was a member of the golf team and Theta Chi. He was an Air Force officer in Saigon during the Vietnam War. He earned an MBA from the U. of Nebraska and retired from the Air Force at the rank of major. His later career was in financial management, first in private industry and then for Riverside County. He was an avid golfer and Boy Scout leader. In retirement, he especially enjoyed travel and camping with his family at Carlsbad State Beach. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Abigail; children, Jennifer and David; five grandchildren; and one sister.
Roger Duncan Moore, ’61 (mathematics), of Toronto, March 21, at 79. As a student and in his early career, he worked on some of the fundamental developments in computer science. He co-founded I.P. Sharp Associates in 1964, which was sold to Reuters in 1987. He was a recipient of the Grace Murray Hopper Award from the Association for Computing Machinery. A passionate supporter of the arts, especially within Canada’s classical music scene, he commissioned works by numerous composers of opera and chamber music. Survivors: Carol Luscombe; and his brother.
William Alfred Richmond, ’64 (psychology), of Dillon, Mont., March 1, at 76, of lung cancer. He earned a law degree from UC-Hastings. As a lawyer, he worked to protect California communities, first in private practice and then as an assistant and district attorney in Tulare, Santa Clara and Alpine Counties. He prosecuted environmental crimes in eight counties in eastern California and supported the Mono Lake Committee, Bodie Foundation and Eastern Sierra Land Trust. Survivors: his girlfriend, Lysa Eldridge; former wife, Jan (Stillwell, ’65); children, Kara, Bret, Laurel Szazynski and Anne Kemp; eight grandchildren; and sister.
Alan Shepard Hanson, ’69 (mechanical engineering), of Goldens Bridge, N.Y., August 4, 2018, at 71. He earned a PhD in nuclear engineering from MIT and worked first for Yankee Atomic Electric Co. and then the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. After holding senior positions at Transnuclear and AREVA, he returned to Stanford for a year in 2011 as a visiting scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. In 2012, he was named executive director of the International Nuclear Leadership Education Program at MIT. He enjoyed jazz and classical music and spending time in nature, especially hiking the Appalachian Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, or in Austria, Ireland or Acadia National Park. Survivors: his wife of 34 years, Bairbre; children, Alanna Reed and Colin; two grandchildren; and one sister.
Adele Ruth Palmer, ’69 (economics), MA ’72, PhD ’72 (food research), of Santa Barbara, Calif., March 8, at 71. She worked first for the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C., and then joined the RAND Corp., where she held the first chair of research management and became vice president of human resources. Survivors: her daughter, Bethany Grant; and two grandchildren.
1970s
Gary Scott Hahn, ’74 (biological sciences), of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., February 6, at 66, of complications from a heart attack and stroke. He earned an MD and pursued postdoctoral research at UC-San Diego. He founded two companies, Immunetech Pharmaceuticals and Cosmederm Technologies, based on his discoveries in molecular immunology. He loved Star Trek, motorcycles, science and solving “unsolvable” problems, and he was motivated by the desire to improve the lives of people suffering from disease.
1980s
Lael Anne Stone, ’82 (biological sciences and Spanish), MS ’82 (biological sciences), of Cleveland, February 4, at 59, of lung cancer. She earned her MD at Baylor College of Medicine and was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, where she researched multiple sclerosis. She spent most of her career at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis in Cleveland. She was editor in chief of the International Journal of MS Care and was passionate about advancing and mentoring women in medicine. She found joy in travel, reading and dance, and in her later years also enjoyed yoga and tai chi. Survivors: her former husband, Daniel Schoonmaker; sons, Matthew Schoonmaker and Geoffrey Schoonmaker; and mother, Mary.
2020s
Mikhail Erickson “Mischa” Nee, ’20 (computer science), of Palo Alto, March 22, at 20, in a hiking accident in Spain. He was a proud alumnus of Camp Winnarainbow, a circus and performing arts camp in Mendocino County. At Stanford, he won the programming methodology graphics contest as a freshman, joined the jump rope team and participated in the dance marathon, also serving as dorm captain and graphic designer for the event. He explored the world, visiting nearly 30 countries outside the United States and living for two months or more in five of them: France, the Dominican Republic, India, Italy and Spain. He also enjoyed skimboarding, sketching and painting, and studying art history. Survivors: his parents, Eric and Tekla; and two siblings.
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
Simon Grenville “Steve” Horner, MS ’82 (petroleum engineering), of Santa Barbara, Calif., March 16, at 62, of mesothelioma. He studied physics at Oxford and pursued a master’s degree in geophysics at the U. of London. After graduation, he worked in the oil and gas industry for Occidental Petroleum, Pennzoil, Venoco and ERG Resources. His career allowed him to travel the world while he worked in Peru, Pakistan, Oman, Ecuador and Venezuela. His career accomplishments include publications for the Society of Petroleum Engineers, World Oil and the Department of Energy. Survivors: his wife of 30 years, Yolanda; children, Christopher, Stephanie and Nicole; mother, Audrey; and two siblings.
Timothy Dennis Coulter, MS ’86 (petroleum engineering), of Aberdeen, Scotland, December 21, at 65, of melanoma. With the Norwegian company Statoil (now Equinor), he developed energy projects in China, Congo, Turkmenistan, Switzerland, South Africa and Sicily. Establishing a home base in Scotland allowed him pursue his passion for golf. Survivors: his wife, Astrid Koppernaes, MS ’84; children, Xeres, Xesha and Ziæna; and sister.
Education
Richard D. “Dick” Elton, MA ’47, of Sun City, Ariz., at 101. He served in the Navy during World War II. He taught at SUNY-Brockport and completed a doctoral degree in education at the U. of Buffalo. After retiring from teaching, he became a vice president of Glendale Community College. In 1950 he started Ranger Camps, leading groups of teenage boys from the Northeast on eight-week trips to the West Coast and back, camping in national and state parks along the way. He also hiked the full length of the Pacific Crest Trail. He was predeceased by his wife, Elsie. Survivors: his children, Judith, Cynthia and Wallace; and companion, Theda Vickers.
William A. Gustafson, MA ’52, EdD ’58, of Woodinville, Wash., July 17, 2018, at 100, of acute respiratory failure and aortic stenosis. He served in the Pacific theater during World War II. He was superintendent of Orestimba Union High School District in Newman, Calif., and then of Big Oak Flat-Groveland School District in Groveland, Calif. He was a member of the South West Masonic Lodge for 75 years. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Akiko. Survivors: his children, Albert, ’72, William and Patricia; and two grandchildren.
Elizabeth Ann “Betty” McDonald, MA ’58, of San Francisco, February 16, at 95. She spent her career at UC-San Francisco Medical Center as a nurse in the ear, nose and throat department. She was active in the California Alpine Club and a devoted member of Calvary Presbyterian Church. She was predeceased by her lifelong friend Elizabeth Hall, with whom she traveled the world from the ’40s to the ’90s.
Paula Jean Luck Jorde Bloom, MA ’73, PhD ’85, of Lake Bluff, Ill., February 17, 2018, at 70, of cancer. Her career was devoted to educating leaders in early childhood education. She founded, directed and funded the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis U. She was the author of 21 books and numerous articles and training guides in her field. Survivors: her husband, Darrell; children, Laura, Todd, Erik and Kristine; and eight granddaughters.
Engineering
Roland E. Thomas, MS ’53 (electrical engineering), of Scottsdale, Ariz., March 23, at 88. He served more than 26 years in the Air Force and retired as a brigadier general. After earning his MS, he completed a doctoral degree from the U. of Illinois. He began teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1959 and headed the electrical engineering department from 1966 until 1979. Following his retirement, he worked in the defense industry and founded an independent consulting firm. He served on numerous engineering accreditation committees and authored a textbook that is now in its eighth edition. He also enjoyed hiking, skiing, camping and studying the history of the Southwest. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Juanita. Survivors: his children, Lynnette, Christine and Lee; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
James Warfield Meek, MS ’59 (civil engineering), of Mitchellville, Md., December 25, at 87, of Parkinson’s disease. He began his career as a water quality specialist for Colorado’s Public Health Service before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1966. At the EPA, he helped implement the Clean Water Act and was dedicated to protecting rivers and lakes across the country. He was a teacher and vestryman at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Survivors: his wife, Marilyn.
Humanities and Sciences
LaVerne “Pris” Hiebert Spong, Gr. ’65 (English), of Highlands Ranch, Colo., January 24, at 76. She taught high school in Kansas, worked for the Joplin Globe in Missouri as the newspapers in education coordinator and then taught junior high language arts in Joplin. As she battled Parkinson’s disease for many years, she set an example of kindness, strength and faith. Survivors: her husband of 52 years, Richard; daughters, Cheryl Hampton and Katie Lozano; three grandchildren; and one brother.
Allan Frank Rothenberg, MS ’69, PhD ’72 (physics), of Geneva, December 29, at 71, of cardiac arrest while ski mountaineering. He was a staff member for six years at CERN for Rockefeller U., working primarily with the ATLAS and UA2 particle detectors, before returning to Stanford for a position at SLAC. He then returned to Geneva to work in private industry and enjoy Switzerland’s mountains and cultural life. Survivors: his wife, Heide; children, Linda and Gerd; and two grandchildren.
Joseph Gerald Medalis, MFA ’70 (speech and drama), of West Hollywood, Calif., November 3, at 76, of Parkinson’s disease. As actor in residence, he taught at Stephens College for three years before moving to Los Angeles. He appeared in feature films, television shows and movies from the 1970s to the 2000s, and also performed onstage at Lincoln Center, Ford’s Theatre and in the Oregon and Los Angeles Shakespeare festivals. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Lucille.
Law
Karl ZoBell, JD ’58, of La Jolla, Calif, February 20, at 87. He was on the crew team. During the Korean War, he captained a Coast Guard cutter. He practiced law for 55 years at Gray, Cary, Ames and Frye (now DLA Piper) and led the effort to license and protect the works of Dr. Seuss. He served his community as president of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the La Jolla Town Council and chairman of the City of San Diego Planning Commission. He was a fan of Stanford sports and an avid traveler, especially to St. Tropez in the south of France, where he spent each June for more than 40 years. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Barbara; former wife, Janet Finney; children, Bonnie, Elizabeth, Karen, JD ’86, Claude and Mary; 11 grandchildren, including Iris Clayter, ’13; one step-grandson; and a brother.
Donald A. Jackson Jr., JD ’62, of Aptos, Calif., December 20, at 82, of natural causes. He practiced law for 56 years in Fresno and Aptos, specializing in tax law and estate planning. He was also active in politics, including work on the Reagan and George H. W. Bush presidential campaigns. He was appointed to the California Public Employee Relations Board in 1998. He also co-founded the Central California Women’s Conference and served on the boards of the Dominican Hospital and Saint Agnes Medical Center foundations, and the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute and Gazarian Real Estate Center at Fresno State U. He was predeceased by his wife, Sydney. Survivors: his six children; eight grandchildren; and two siblings.
Lloyd W. Lowrey Jr., JD ’71, of Salinas, Calif., December 28, at 72, of lymphoma. At Stanford, he was a founding member of the Environmental Law Society. He worked in the legal department of the U.S. Postal Service, then returned to the university as director of the Stanford Law Fund. He joined the firm of Noland Hamerly Etienne and Hoss in 1976, where he practiced property, water and environmental law. He was the 2018 recipient of the Monterey Bar Association’s Chief Justice Phillip Gibson Award for community service. He was past president of the Gilroy Rotary Club, a senior warden at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and a volunteer for Kairos Prison Ministry. Survivors: his wife, Carol (Ottman, ’69, MA ’70); children, Susanna King, Amanda Van Houtte, ’98, and Daniel; and five grandchildren.
