Faculty
Robert Lesh “Buzz” Baldwin, of Portola Valley, Calif., March 6, at 93, of pulmonary failure. He was emeritus professor and founding member of the biochemistry department. His research fundamentally changed his field by demonstrating intermediate stages of protein folding. He published nearly 200 articles and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was awarded the Protein Society’s Stein and Moore Award in 1992 and the Wheland Award in chemistry in 1995. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Anne Norris; sons, David and Eric, ’90; and five grandchildren.
David Allenberg Katzenstein, of Harare, Zimbabwe, January 25, at 69, of COVID-19. He was professor emeritus of infectious diseases and global health. As associate medical director of Stanford’s AIDS Clinical Trial Group, he conducted studies that ultimately led to the antiretroviral drugs that have saved the lives of countless HIV/AIDS patients. His later research focused on HIV drug resistance. In retirement, he continued the fight against infectious diseases as director of Zimbabwe’s Biomedical Research Training Institute. He was predeceased by his wife, Sharon Mayes. Survivors: his stepdaughter, Melissa Sanders-Self; two stepgrandsons; step-greatgrandchild; and three siblings.
Jon Kosek, of Stanford, October 16, at 90. He was clinical professor emeritus of pathology. Over nearly 45 years as staff pathologist for the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, he mentored hundreds of pathology residents and medical students and performed countless autopsies. He was also an avid outdoorsman, runner and bicyclist. The cut-your-own Christmas tree farm he founded in Pescadero, Calif., in 1965 is still in operation. Survivors: his wife, Margaret; children, Ann Akey, Jon, Margaret, Mary Patz and Peter; and 12 grandchildren.
Jared R. “Jerry” Tinklenberg, of Palo Alto, November 18, at 80. He was professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral science. He spent eight years in the Army Reserves. After medical school in Iowa and a psychiatry residency at Stanford, he initially focused his research on psychopharmacology and drug abuse before shifting to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He helped found the Stanford/VA Alzheimer’s Disease Center, which has been treating patients since 1981, and also served on the White House Drug Abuse Council. He enjoyed running marathons, birdwatching and hiking. Survivors: his wife, Mae; daughters, Karla Tinklenberg Jurvetson, ’88, and Julie, ’90, MS ’90; and five grandchildren, including Kylie Callan, ’20, Leif Jurvetson, ’22, Ashlyn Callan, ’23, and Erika Jurvetson, ’24.
Ernlé William Dyer Young, of Ashland, Ore., February 14, at 88. He was a Methodist minister in South Africa until his anti-apartheid activism forced him to emigrate, but the experience prepared him to serve as associate dean of Memorial Church, Medical Center chaplain and lecturer in medical ethics. His publications focused on ethics in neonatal and intensive care, and he helped create the Center for Biomedical Ethics. In retirement, he became chief ethics adviser to the institutional review board at NASA Ames Research Center. Survivors: his wife, Margaret; children, Heather, Andrew, Jenny and Timothy; and seven grandchildren.
1930s
Helen C. Wadsworth Fraser, ’39 (social science/social thought), of Los Angeles, March 2, at 102. She was a member of Chi Omega and met her future husband at a freshman dance. She was an active volunteer with the Los Angeles Assistance League. As a supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, she helped raise funds to build the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center. She also enjoyed golfing and took many Stanford trips with friends. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Ted, ’39. Survivors: her children, Christie, ’71, and Shelley; and two grandchildren.
Marie Annette Friedman McLaurin Oberholtz, ’39 (sociology), of Lake Oswego, Ore., January 3, at 102, of protein calorie malnutrition and dementia. After earning a teaching license from Mills College, she taught elementary school from 1951 to 1969. In retirement, she divided her time between Santa Rosa, Calif., and Honolulu, where she enjoyed golf and tennis, before moving to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to family. She was predeceased by her first husband, De McLaurin, ’39; second husband, Louis Oberholtz; and son, Ronald. Survivors: her two granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.
1940s
Robert Davis Shurtleff, ’43 (economics), MBA ’48, of Palo Alto, December 15, at 100, of heart failure. He served in the Navy during World War II, then returned to Stanford for his MBA. He spent his career in insurance and private venture capital. He was the Graduate School of Business Class of ’48 secretary from graduation until 2020. Survivors: his wife of 68 years, Nancy; children, Robert Jr., Elizabeth Dawes and Janet Zucker; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Robert William “Bobby” Brown, ’46, of Fort Worth, Tex., March 25, at 96. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and the baseball team. While at Stanford, he earned the Coast Guard Silver Lifesaving Medal for rescuing the lone survivor of a crashed Navy seaplane. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II and the Korean War, which interrupted both his medical training and a baseball career that included playing for four World Series championship teams. He practiced cardiology until he retired in 1984 to serve as president of the American League. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Sara. Survivors: his children, Peter, Beverley Dale and Kaydee Bailey; and 11 grandchildren.
Joan Taylor MacKenzie, ’48 (biological sciences), MA ’49 (physiology), of Menlo Park, December 10, at 94. She earned her MBA from Golden Gate U. and her JD from the U. of San Francisco. She spent her career first in medical research and then in industrial economics at SRI. In her professional life, she supported women’s struggle for equal pay for equal work. She also wrote poetry throughout her life and published her work in 2010. Survivors: her children, Emmy and Philip; and grandson.
Earl Seymour “Duke” Douglass Jr., ’49 (political science), of Atherton, Calif., November 27, at 94. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and served in the Marines during World War II. He worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and later switched to owning and managing a religious bookstore in Menlo Park, which allowed him to pursue his passions for travel, family, local history and the preservation of historic buildings. He was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Barbara. Survivors: his children, Christine, Scott, Stuart, Alan and Mark; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two half-brothers.
Sumner Walters Jr., ’49 (sociology), MA ’49 (education), of Walnut Creek, Calif., January 9, at 96. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. At Stanford, he was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi and rowed crew. He earned his PhD at Oxford and received ordination in the Episcopal Church in 1952. He served as parish rector in California, Oregon and Washington and spent five years at the national Episcopal Church education department. He also served as headmaster of the San Rafael Military Academy. He was predeceased by his first wife, Norma Jean. Survivors: his wife, Roxanne; children, Sumner Paul, Leanna Kay, Evelyn Page and Mary Ann Marguerie; and five grandchildren, including Hillary Page Ive, ’14, MA ’15.
1950s
Barbara Jane Timmins Livingston, ’50 (history), of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., February 23, at 92. She entered an executive training program at the Emporium in San Francisco and later ran her own interior design business. She served her communities in many ways: as president of the Peninsula Volunteers, board member for Palo Alto Junior League, founding president of Friends of Carmel Forest, four-term member of the city council and president of the Carmel Residents Association. She was also an avid world traveler and tennis player. She was predeceased by her partner, Bob Kohn. Survivors: her sons, Michael and Brian; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Jane Elizabeth McArthur Tuttle, ’50 (speech and drama), of New York City, March 29, 2020, at 90. Her acting career included 18 stage productions and roles in more than 250 television shows. After earning her master’s degree in speech pathology from NYU, she began a second career in New York City public schools. She also served as an overnight volunteer at a women’s shelter for more than 20 years. An avid world explorer, she traveled in retirement to Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Cuba. She was predeceased by her husband, Jim. Survivors: her stepson, Douglas.
Margaret Joann Harper Southgate, ’51 (English), of Norwalk, Conn., February 19, at 91, of dementia. She was an avid reader and tennis player and also enjoyed music, travel and gardening. She was predeceased by her former husband, James Cannon, ’51; second husband, John Hand; third husband, Richard Southgate; and son James. Survivors: her children Peter Cannon, ’73, Jane Cannon and Catherine Cannon; seven stepchildren; and three grandchildren.
Paul Louis Dawson, ’52, MS ’53, Engr. ’54 (mechanical engineering), of Culpeper, Va. and La Jolla, Calif., February 6, at 90. As a General Electric executive, he managed projects at the forefront of technology. For reducing pollution in the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix named him a Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau. In 2005, he earned a PhD in history from George Washington U. He also served as a docent at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. He was predeceased by his first wife, Jacquelin (Begien, ’54). Survivors: his wife of 14 years, Kathleen; children, Jennifer Lawrence, Paul, Kristin Wilson and Christopher; five grandchildren; and sister.
Roger Laurence Mosher, ’52 (history), LLB ’57, of San Francisco, January 20, at 90, of squamous cell skin cancer. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. After serving in the Marine Corps, he returned to Stanford for his law degree. During his legal career in Silicon Valley, he helped establish the start-up models and venture capital terms still used by entrepreneurs. In retirement, he and his wife jointly operated an antique business for nearly 20 years. He was predeceased by his first wife, Martha (Smith, ’52). Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Challiss; children, Karen, Amie, Scott, Daniel and Jake; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Leslie Kerns Bradford Wheeler, ’52 (psychology), of Portland, Ore., June 9, 2020, at 90, of cancer. She initially worked in San Francisco before returning to Portland to raise her family. As a dedicated homemaker, she served as PTA president and on the board of the Junior League. She was a talented interior designer and also enjoyed tennis, golf, Stanford football and alumni activities. Survivors: her sons, John, Chuck, ’85, Ted, ’85, and Tom, ’87; and six grandchildren.
Ronald E. Cole, ’53, of San Francisco, March 12, at 88. He earned a degree in dental surgery from UC San Francisco. After serving two years as an Air Force dentist, he spent 42 years in private practice. He was an early supporter of the Gifted and Talented Education program in San Francisco schools, an active member of the dog training community, and devoted fan of opera and classical music. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Lynn; children, Laura Wendover and Raymond; and grandson.
Malcolm Douglas Crawford, ’53 (applied earth sciences), of Las Vegas, February 19, at 89, of a stroke. He paused his education to enlist in the Air Force and marry and then returned to Stanford to complete his degree and compete as a varsity wrestler. During his career, he designed uranium mines in Wyoming, ran the family farm in Tulelake, Calif., and managed water districts in Oregon, Idaho and California. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman and chess player. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Londa. Survivors: his children, Douglas, Marcus, Daniel and Anne-Marie; and three grandchildren.
Thomas Scott Edgington, ’53 (biological sciences), MD ’57, of La Jolla, Calif., January 22, at 88, of heart failure. He rowed crew. While interning at the U. of Pennsylvania, he designed one of the first heart-lung machines. Among his notable achievements was the cloning of tissue factor and identifying the pathways it regulates, which earned him numerous awards in the fields of immunopathology and vascular biology. During his 55 years at Scripps Research, he published 70 patents and 462 articles. He also founded five biotech companies. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Joanne (Rogers, ’55). Survivors: his second wife, Sandra; children, Kassy Perry and Scott; and four grandchildren.
Cynthia Jane “Cinnie” Barrick Lewis, ’53 (French), of Pasadena, Calif., January 22, at 89. She was devoted to gardening, attending her children’s activities and introducing her grandchildren to the adventure of travel in Europe. She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, James, and a granddaughter. Survivors: her children, Liz Gilfillan, Peter, Cynti Oshin and David; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Eugene Bernard “Gene” Rauen, ’53 (undergraduate law), JD ’56, of Atherton, Calif., December 26, at 92, of prostate cancer. He was recalled to Army duty after his sophomore year, then returned to complete his undergraduate and law degrees. After an MBA from NYU, he began a career as an investment broker and financial adviser, ultimately retiring from Prudential-Bache. He was an avid photographer, world traveler and outdoorsman who enjoyed skiing, swimming, hiking, fishing and backpacking in the High Sierra. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Molly; and children, Marjorie and Ray.
Joanne Marion Klemmedson Sullivan, ’53 (political science), of La Jolla, Calif., February 6, at 89. She initially worked for the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and later for Thomas Cook. She shared her love of travel with her children through family trips to San Francisco, Hawaii, the East Coast and Europe. She especially loved spending days at Horseshoe Beach with friends and family. She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Robert. Survivors: her children, Leslie Bentley, Lindsay Sullivan-Thomas and Christopher; and five grandchildren.
Jack Eugene Teeters, ’53 (political science), JD ’59, of Malibu, Calif., September 11, 2019, at 88. He played French horn in the Stanford Band. He practiced as a CPA and an attorney, specializing in trusts and estate law in the Bay Area.
Frank Hood Trane, ’53 (mechanical engineering), of Newport Beach, Calif., January 13, at 89. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. After Navy service, he was an engineer, manager and member of the board of directors of the Trane Company. He enjoyed surfing, skiing, playing golf, hiking and yachting. He devoted himself to full-time church service in 1990 and helped form the Anglican Church in North America, which named him an honorary lay canon. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Amy Christeson Strutzenberg, ’03, MA ’03. Survivors: his wife of 69 years, Allan (Farwell, ’53); children, Marty Chapman, Cindy Christeson and Byron; eight grandchildren, including Kelly Christeson Callaghan, ’01; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Miles Carlisle, ’54 (economics), of Chevy Chase, Md., January 13, at 87. After two years in the Army, he earned his MBA from the U. of Pennsylvania. He started his career in investment finance with Loomis Sayles and later worked in international banking with the International Finance Corp. He was an avid racquet sport and bridge player and especially enjoyed curating a collection of whaling artifacts in the historic home built by his great-grandfather in 1834. He was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Margo. Survivors: his second wife, Kate Clark; children, Mary, Hamilton and Tristram; and four grandchildren.
Beth Yoakum Clemans, ’55 (Spanish), of Pacific Beach, Calif., March 18, 2020, at 86. She met her future husband on her first day at Stanford, but it took him six years to propose. After teaching elementary school, she devoted herself to raising her children in Florence, Ariz. She was also an avid tennis player and fan of the sport. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Bill, ’55, and a grandson. Survivors: her children, Julie Watkins, William, Michael, Tim and Cecilia; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three siblings.
William John Gardner, ’55 (psychology), MBA ’59, of Portola Valley, Calif., March 18, at 87. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. In the years between earning his degrees, he served in the Navy. After completing his MBA, he worked as a utility consultant for Tilden Engineering for more than 50 years. He served his community as a Little League board member, AYSO coach and referee, Cub Scout den leader, emergency preparedness and traffic and safety committee member, fire board member and volunteer at Christ Church Portola Valley. Survivors: his wife, Ellie; children, Scott, Lynn Holthaus and Mark; and four grandchildren.
Mary Esther Horn Israel, ’55 (Chinese), of Santa Barbara, Calif., March 10, at 87. She was a member of Cap and Gown. She earned her master’s degree in Asian studies from Claremont Graduate U. and taught at the Boston Children’s Museum, Taipei American School and Pitzer College. She then spent the greatest part of her teaching career at the U. of Virginia as the outreach coordinator for East Asian studies. She was also a lecturing guide for more than 30 National Geographic and Smithsonian travel groups touring China. Survivors: her daughters, Mei-Ling, ’86, and Tania; and two sisters.
Sue Anne Jones Merriman, ’55 (social science/social thought), of Kentfield, Calif., February 6, at 87. She worked in advertising at BBDO, then devoted herself to raising her family. She was active in the Junior League of San Francisco and volunteered for many years at Sunny Hills Orphanage in San Anselmo, Calif. She also managed the Dovecote gift shop in Belvedere, Calif., and enjoyed sharing her talents for cooking and sewing. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Dwight Jr. Survivors: her children, Dwight III, Greg and Cynthia; five grandchildren; and sister.
Frederick Annable Frye, ’56 (biological sciences), of San Diego, January 21, at 86. He played soccer and rugby. After medical school at USC, he practiced pediatrics for more than 35 years. He later held senior positions at Aetna and Mercy Physicians Medical Group. He was also an avid skier and runner and a competitive sailor. He served as Rotary Club president, commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club and president of the San Diego Medical Society and San Diego Zoo Global. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Joy (Brunner, ’57); children, Barbara Singleterry, Fred Jr., Christopher and Robert; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two brothers.
Dennis Wesley Holliday, ’57 (engineering science), of Lafayette, Calif., March 18, at 85. He earned his PhD in theoretical physics from Princeton. His career included a postdoctoral fellowship in Sweden, research at the U. of Oregon and RAND Corporation and co-founding R&D Associates, which was later acquired by Logicon and Northrop Grumman. He was an avid glider pilot and cyclist and also served on the Sacramento Homelessness Board. He was predeceased by his wife, Pamela (Dokken, MA ’66). Survivors: his sons, Wilson and Wesley, ’07, PhD ’12; two grandchildren; and sister.
Edward Thomas Stephenson, ’57 (economics), of Hollister, Calif., February 27, at 85. He was a member of Theta Xi and Navy ROTC. After earning his MBA from UC Berkeley, he worked for Wells Fargo and the Bank of Newport. In 1983, he became founding president of San Benito Bank. He devoted himself to community service after retiring in 2004 and was recognized in 2008 as the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Michele (Hedding, ’59); children, Tom, Ann and Matthew; and five granddaughters.
1960s
Charles Morton Dresow, ’60 (political science), of San Francisco, February 8, at 82. He earned his law degree from UC Berkeley, then served in the Army Reserve. After gaining experience as a prosecutor in San Jose, he worked as a criminal defense attorney for more than 40 years. He was a talented basketball player and an avid sports fan of all levels, from professional teams to his children’s T-ball games. Survivors: his wife of more than 40 years, Joan; children, Jacqueline, Charlie and Keegan; and seven grandchildren.
Karen Kay Chaffee Siegel, ’60 (hearing and speech sciences), of Punta Gorda, Fla., December 30, 2017, at 79. She earned her MA in speech pathology from Columbia U., then worked as an audiologist in southern New Jersey. In retirement, she enjoyed traveling the country with her husband and extended sailing trips on their boat. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Robert. Survivors: her son, Edward; and two grandchildren.
Leon Robert Allen, ’61 (history), of St. Helena, Calif., December 13, at 81. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. His career with Procter & Gamble began in Ohio, but soon moved his family to Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Austria and the U.K. He was later chair and CEO of Del Monte Pineapple and Tetley Tea. His favorite pastime was bringing together large groups of friends for annual “three-day picnics” that involved renting out a streetcar or a castle. Survivors: his wife, Susan; former wife, Karen; children, Michael, Benjamin, Zulay, Meg Smith, Katie Smith, Sam Smith and Tom Smith; and grandchildren.
Lynda Lee Lytle Holmstrom, ’61 (anthropology), of Cambridge, Mass., February 6, at 89, of a cerebral hemorrhage. After serving as an editorial intern for two professors writing a book on sociology, she decided to pursue the field herself. After earning her PhD from Brandeis with a dissertation on two-career families, she rose to full professor at Boston College. Her research focused on sexual violence against women, neonatal intensive care and how families choose colleges for their children. She enjoyed skiing and travel. Survivors: her husband, Ross, MS ’60, PhD ’65; and sons, Bret and Cary.
A. Ross Johnson, ’61 (international relations), of Vienna, Va., February 6, at 81, of cancer. Studying abroad in Germany led to a passion for foreign affairs. After an MA from Tufts and PhD in public policy at Columbia U., he worked as a research fellow at RAND Corporation, the Hoover Institution and Wilson Center and was later director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He was a tireless advocate for democracy in Eastern Europe and was twice recognized by the Polish government for his service. He also enjoyed cycling, hiking and cross-country skiing. He was predeceased by his daughter Maria. Survivors: his wife, Diana; children Karin and Eric; and brother.
Thomas H. Sherman Jr., ’62 (electrical engineering), of Oracle, Ariz., February 25, at 81, of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and the sailing team. He spent his career with Digital Equipment in Los Angeles and Maynard, Mass. He was also an avid skier and Porsche enthusiast. He and his wife bicycled across the United States together and visited more than 90 countries. He was active in Stanford activities throughout his life and an active member of the Tucson Stanford Club. Survivors: his wife, Connie; and brother.
Charles Wiley Bischoff, ’63 (political science), of Endwell, N.Y., February 19, at 78. After earning his PhD in economics at MIT, he taught at Yale and Binghamton U. He published in the fields of macroeconomics and econometrics, directed 25 doctoral dissertations and advised the federal government and national organizations. He was a lifelong supporter of the civil rights movement; in retirement, he served his community through the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse and Binghamton U. Arts Corps and as chairman of the Temple Concord outreach committee. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Babs Putzel-Bischoff; daughter, Tracy Putzel-Bischoff; and two siblings, including James, ’61.
Jared R. B. Hutton, ’63 (economics), JD ’66, of Ormond Beach, Fla., February 24, at 79, of heart failure. He was a member of the marching band, symphony orchestra and Delta Kappa Epsilon. During his legal career, he was an attorney for Brown and Brown and then for many years for Carlsberg Corp. Survivors: his wife, Jackie; daughter, Kathryn; and sister, Laurel Hutton Brobst Gilbert, ’61, MA ’62.
Burton Jay Krohn, ’63 (physics), of Los Alamos, N.M., May 20, 2019, at 78, of renal cancer. After graduating from Vanderbilt, he earned his PhD at Ohio State and focused his postdoctoral work on theoretical molecular spectroscopy. He worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 28 years. He was also an accomplished classical pianist and served as music chairman, organist and choir member for Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe and Congregation Israel in Albuquerque, N.M. He loved studying Torah Talmud, Jewish thought and conversational Hebrew. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Susan; daughters, Laurie Liss and Mollie Chippeck; eight grandchildren; and two siblings.
David Craig Van Vleck Lightwine, ’63 (history), of Portland, Ore., January 16, at 79, of congestive heart failure. He earned master’s degrees from the U. of New Mexico and the U. of Oklahoma. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia and later as an assistant director in Nicaragua. In 1975 he moved to Jackson, Miss., to lead the nurse midwifery program at the U. of Mississippi. He later held several state medical offices, including director of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center and director of rural health planning. He loved reading, music and dancing. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Gloria; daughters, Allison and Alexis; four granddaughters; and sister.
Jonathan Newhall, ’63 (economics), of Oakland, February 19, at 79, of heart failure. He started out as a journalist and editor for alternative liberal newspapers and founded the San Francisco-based Zodiac News Service. After a second career as a computer programmer for several Bay Area companies, he led the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation as director and then president. He served his community as a supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, public libraries and animal shelters. Survivors: his wife of 44 years, Barbara; children, Peter and Christina; two granddaughters; and brothers, Skip, ’60, and Tony, ’63.
John Morgan Daniel, ’64 (English), of McKinleyville, Calif., in December, at 79, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He returned to Stanford as a Wallace Stegner Fellow and worked at Stanford University Press. He was the author of several novels and many short stories. As an editor and publisher for more than 20 years in Santa Barbara, Calif., he advanced the careers of numerous writers and taught the craft of writing to aspiring authors. Survivors: his wife of more than 35 years, Susan; sons, Morgan and Ben; stepsons, Cory Graham and Stewart Graham; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother.
Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra, ’64 (industrial engineering), MBA ’65, of Sierra Madre, Calif., January 29, at 80. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. As president and CEO of Rain Bird, he led the company’s expansion from the agricultural sprinkler manufacturer founded by his parents to a company whose irrigation products are used worldwide. He served as a trustee of the University of La Verne and supported the Citrus College Foundation, California Native Plants Society and Theodore Payne Foundation. He also enjoyed fishing, hiking and studying the botany of Southern California. Survivors: his children, Suzanne Collier and Michael; four grandchildren; and sister.
Larry Ronald Questad, ’65 (general engineering), of Boise, Idaho, October 29, at 77, of pneumonia. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and an NCAA champion sprinter. After a hiatus to earn an MBA from USC, he returned to training and finished sixth in the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. After 25 years with IBM, he bought a steel fabrication business in Caldwell, Idaho. He was a dedicated youth sports coach and Boy Scout leader, an enthusiastic Harley rider and an avid Porsche tinkerer. Survivors: his wife of 48 years, Liz; sons, Christian and P.L.; and four grandchildren.
Frank Alexander “Dusty” Welsh III, ’65 (chemistry), of Bryn Mawr, Pa., April 2, at 77, of leukemia. He earned his PhD in pharmacology from Washington U. in St. Louis and completed a biochemistry postdoc at Duke. In a 40-year career at the U. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he published widely in the field of stroke and cerebral blood flow. He was also an avid baseball player and dedicated Little League coach, a long-distance backpacker and a regular volunteer at the Sierra Club Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Barbara; sons, Edward and Frank IV; four grandchildren; and sister, Laurie Welsh Howard, ’69.
Cathleen “Cathy” Montague Cochran, ’66 (English), of Wimberley, Tex., February 7, at 76, of COPD. She earned her JD from the U. of Houston in 1984. After beginning her legal career with Rusty Hardin & Associates, she served as assistant district attorney and taught law at the U. of Houston. She advised Governor George W. Bush as director of criminal justice policy, was appointed an appellate justice in 2001 and was twice reelected. The Texas State Bar named her Jurist of the Year in 2006. Survivors: her husband of 55 years, David Herasimchuk-Cochran, ’64; and daughters, Hilary Herasimchuk and Christie Kline.
Arthur M. Snyder, ’66 (communication), of Mountain View, September 14, at 78, of cancer. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and the water polo team. Survivors: his wife, Holly; sons, William, James, Donald and John Henry; and brother, Peter, ’74, MA ’76.
Richard George Beman, ’67 (English), of Bakersfield, Calif., January 13, at 74. He studied abroad in Italy. He was a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient for his service in the Vietnam War and later served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji. He lived in Alta, Wyo., for many years and was an avid skier, surfer, kayaker, runner and swimmer. Survivors: two siblings, including John Beman, ’63, MBA ’65.
Laurie Phyllis Levenson Mesibov, ’67 (history), of Chapel Hill, N.C., March 31, at 75, of glioblastoma. She met her future husband at Stanford in Paris. After teaching elementary school, she earned her JD from the U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her subsequent 35-year career at the university, where she specialized in public school law, included working in the provost’s office and serving as the first faculty ombudswoman. She made it her goal to swim her age in pool laps each year, reaching 1 mile when she swam 73 laps in 2019. Survivors: her husband, Gary, ’67; sons, Brian, ’94, and Todd; four grandchildren; and sister.
Louis Campbell Schutte, ’67 (psychology), of Kansas City, Mo., January 2, at 75. He was a member of Kappa Sigma. After serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, he spent his career in information systems management with Burroughs and Long Motor Corporation and as the owner of Internet Solutions Group. He also enjoyed photography, bowling, golf, hunting and collecting smoking pipes and fountain pens. Survivors: his wife of 48 years, Shirley; and brother.
1970s
David Carr Easton, ’70 (general engineering), of Napa, Calif., February 4, at 72, of prostate cancer. He was a member of Theta Chi and ROTC. As founder and director of Rammed Earth Works, he was a lifelong advocate of using local subsoils as a sustainable and low-cost building material. He was involved in the construction of more than 300 projects including Stanford’s Windhover Contemplative Center. He also co-founded Watershed Materials to reduce carbon emissions from cement. Survivors: his wife of 30 years, Cynthia Wright; children, Darth, Khyber, Terra, ’04, and Taj; stepsons, Jack and Evan; three granddaughters; and two sisters.
Stephen Wainwright Jubb, ’71 (English), MA ’82 (education), of Oakland, September 10, at 71, of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys after playing offensive tackle in the 1971 Rose Bowl victory but opted for a career in music instead. He later earned his master’s degree, worked as a teacher and subsequently as a journalist in Cuba. Directing the Coalition for Equitable Schools enabled him to unite his talents and experience with his commitment to educational activism. Survivors: his wife, Constance, ’71, MA ’73; children, Lucas and Sonya; and four grandchildren.
Greg A. Steltenpohl, ’76 (individually designed), of Los Angeles, March 11, at 66, of complications of a liver transplant. He was a member of Zeta Psi. To support a jazz band in which he played saxophone, he and his bandmates began selling fresh orange juice in 1980, an endeavour that grew into the Odwalla juice company. An E. coli outbreak led to Odwalla’s demise as an independent company, but he saw a new opportunity in non-dairy drinks. In 2010, he founded Califia Farms, one of the most successful brands in the plant-based beverage industry. Survivors: his son, Eli; stepsons, Justin Meade and Kevin Meade; and grandson.
Linda Lou Ames, ’77 (history), MA ’84 (food research), of Salem, Ore., January 20, 2019, at 63,
of cancer. She was on the track team. She also earned a master’s degree in economics from Boston U. As an analyst, she worked on such complex problems as increasing crop yields in West Africa, implementing Oregon property tax limitations and helping to build the Oregon Health Authority’s multibillion-dollar budget. She was a passionate supporter of women’s sports and also enjoyed hiking, gardening, bicycling and international travel. Survivors: her husband, Bruce Miller; son, Zachary Miller; granddaughter; and two siblings.
1980s
Robert Bruce Beyers, ’80 (chemical engineering), MS ’82, PhD ’89 (materials science), of Menlo Park, April 12, at 62, of ALS. In addition to his Stanford degrees, he earned an MBA and a JD from Santa Clara U. At IBM, he co-invented single-wall carbon nanotubes and developed microscopy techniques now used throughout the semiconductor industry. In his next career as a patent attorney, he was a partner at Morgan Lewis. But the job he loved most, for more than 40 years, was being the unofficial photographer for the Stanford Band. Survivors: wife, Elena (Camacho, ’79); sons, Bobby, ’11, and Danny; stepson, Will; mother, Alice; and two siblings.
Deborah Anne Barba Howell, ’82 (mathematical and computational science), of San Diego, March 18, at 60, of cancer. She played volleyball and rowed crew and was actively involved with the Neumann Center. After working in the defense industry and teaching software classes, she dedicated herself to raising her family. She enjoyed windsurfing, bicycling, skiing and family trips to the Sierras. Survivors: her husband of 36 years, Carl; children, Tricia Walsh, Ed, ’10, Denis Howell-Stiles and Tito; five grandchildren; and seven siblings, including Denis Barba, ’81.
Alicia Nájera, ’83 (psychology), of Santa Cruz, Calif., February 25, at 60, of cancer. After earning a master’s degree in social work from San José State, she served the needs of low-income communities, first for several nonprofit agencies and then for Santa Cruz County. As senior behavioral health manager, she led the South County Behavioral Health Clinic in Watsonville, Calif. She was also an excellent cook, a fantastic dancer and a seasoned traveler with a special fondness for Florence, Italy. Survivors: her husband, Russell Rodriguez; and three siblings.
2000s
Stanislav “Stan” Karas, ’01 (history), of Studio City, Calif., March 23, 2020, at 41, of acute pancreatitis. He wrote for the Daily and played on the College Bowl team. After earning his JD from UC Berkeley, he spent his legal career at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker; Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan; and then at Capstone Law. He specialized in intellectual property, securities and complex civil litigation. Survivors: his mother, Victoria.
Business
Stephen Davison Bechtel Jr., MBA ’48, of San Francisco, March 15, at 95. After service in the Marine Corps and earning his MBA, he joined the family business. As company president from 1960 to 1990, he led Bechtel from a major national company to a global civil engineering and construction powerhouse that carried out some of the world’s largest and most complex building projects, from airports to urban rail, nuclear power plants and the Chunnel. Survivors: his wife of more than 70 years, Betty; children, Riley, MBA ’79, JD ’79, Gary, Shana Johnstone, Lauren Bechtel Dachs, ’71, and Nonie Bechtel Ramsey, MBA ’79; 16 grandchildren, including Abigail Dachs, ’00, Emily Dachs Taylor, ’05, Brendan, MBA ’07, MS ’08, Darren, ’04, MBA ’10, Katherine Bechtel Thompson, ’07, MBA ’14, and Alex Ramsay, MBA ’10; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Wesley Morse Gardiner, MBA ’55, of Palo Alto, February 21, at 92. He served in the Army. After completing his MBA, he joined Macy’s as a buyer of men’s furnishings and later was asked to establish the store’s “Cellar” and stock it with wines, liquors and gourmet foods. After 26 years, he left to develop several necktie brands, collaborating with Charles Schultz on Snoopy and Woodstock designs, and was a wine industry consultant. He enjoyed travel, skiing, hiking, Rotary and spending summers in Cohasset, Mass. Survivors: his wife, Dianne (Catlin, ’54); children, Pamela Gardiner Wellin, ’79, Wesley Jr., Andrew, Suzanne Bryan and Sarah Farr; 12 grandchildren, including Gustav Wellin, ’15; and brother.
Charles Rease “Chuck” Braley Jr., MBA ’56, of Greensboro, N.C., January 22, at 94. During 20 years in the Navy, he helped the Supply Corps embrace information technology. He retired at the rank of commander. He had a second career as director of information systems at Burlington Industries and later launched his own management consultancy. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and Europe, tennis, sailing, skiing and annual family beach trips. Survivors: his wife of 71 years, Goodie; children, Chuck, Prince and Bill; six grandchildren; and five great--grandchildren.
Jay Frederick Ayers, MS ’71 (mechanical engineering), JD ’75, MBA ’75, of Colleyville, Texas, February 7, at 72. He spent 42 years with SEBCO in Seattle and served as president and CEO. He also loved fishing, bird-watching, trains and spending time with his family. Survivors: his wife of 36 years, Lynn Losleben; children, Michael and Lauren; and sister.
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
Richard Francis Walters, PhD ’57 (geology), of Davis, Calif., January 18, at 90. After 11 years in the oil industry, he brought his computer expertise to the UC Davis School of Medicine. He helped found the UC Davis department of computer science and served as its first chair. He was also a founding member of the choir of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and Davis Comic Opera Company. He enjoyed the many opportunities he had for world travel. Survivors: his wife, Shipley (Newlin, ’51); children, Leslie Tuomi and David; and four grandchildren.
Education
Barbara Braden Ebright Varenhorst, PhD ’64, of Portola Valley, Calif., February 24, at 92. As a counseling psychologist in Palo Alto high schools, she recognized the significance of peers in young people’s lives and developed pioneering peer counseling programs in response. She was co-founder and president of the National Peer Helpers Association and taught others about her work as a visiting instructor at Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins and other universities. She also served on the Vesper Society board of directors and as an elder at Valley Presbyterian Church. She was predeceased by her husband, Vern, Engr. ’56. Survivors: her nieces and nephews.
Engineering
Ole Curtis Griffith Jr., MS ’48 (mechanical engineering), of Phoenix, February 17, at 99. During 28 years as an Air Force command pilot, he flew more than 50 types of aircraft. In civilian life, he was an engineer and program manager for Garrett Turbine Engine. He was also a founding member of the National Air and Space Museum and American Air Museum in Britain and president of the Phoenix wing of the American Aviation Historical Society. He was predeceased by his wife, Victoria. Survivors: his children, Jeffrey, Jennifer Cecil and Julie Anderson; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Donald Cornell Brown, MS ’64 (electrical engineering), of Grinnell, Iowa, February 16, at 85. He served as a carrier pilot in the Navy and later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. After taking early retirement, he devoted himself to building homes and making custom cabinets and handcrafted furniture. Survivors: his children, Allen, Duncan and Barbara; six grandchildren; and two brothers.
Humanities and Sciences
Starr Jenkins, MA ’59 (English), of San Luis Obispo, Calif., February 15, at 95. He served in the Navy during World War II. After working for the Forest Service as a smoke jumper, he earned his master’s degree, followed by a PhD from the U. of New Mexico, and enjoyed a 28-year career teaching at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He published stories and nonfiction articles and worked as a summer park ranger in Yosemite. He also served for many years as a Presbyterian deacon. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Stella. Survivors: his children, Stewart, Janet and Scott; and three grandchildren.
William John “Bill” Lillyman, PhD ’64 (German studies), of Mission Viejo, Calif., November 28, at 83. He published on Goethe, 19th century German literature and postmodernism in contemporary architecture. As professor, department chair, dean and vice chancellor for academic affairs, he helped turn recently founded UC Irvine into a powerhouse of emerging critical theory by hiring luminaries such as Wolfgang Iser, Jacques Derrida and Jean François Lyotard as faculty. He was also a popular teacher who developed a highly subscribed course on fairy tales. Survivors: his wife, Ingeborg Wolz; and children, Christina and Gregory.
Robert James Morrison, MA ’64 (art), of Reno, Nev., December 16, 2018, at 77, of cancer. After postgraduate work at UC Davis, he began teaching at the U. of Nevada, Reno. He retired as full professor after 47 years. He continued to show his work regionally and at shows in New York, Texas and Florida. Survivors: his significant other of 37 years, Lynn McLellan; and children, Jens, JenniferAnne Cavanaugh and Roderick.
Robert Edmund “Bob” O’Malley Jr., PhD ’66 (mathematics), of Seattle, December 31, at 81, of pneumonia. He was emeritus professor at the U. of Washington but also taught at NYU, the U. of Edinburgh, the U. of Arizona, Rensselaer, Cambridge, University College Cork, Dublin City U. and the Technical University of Vienna. He published several books and hundreds of articles and served as president of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He loved good food and music and reading about Ireland, American Catholicism and women in science. Survivors: his wife, Candace; sons, Patrick, Timothy and Daniel; grandson; and brother.
Raimo Heikki Tuomela, PhD ’69 (philosophy), of Helsinki, November 22, at 80. After visiting Stanford on a Fulbright, he returned for his second PhD. His multiple books and articles were pioneering works in the fields of social ontology and the philosophy of collective intention. He taught at the U. of Helsinki for 37 years and was recognized by a lifetime achievement award from the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. In Germany, he received a Humboldt Research Award and also held a permanent visiting appointment at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He enjoyed long-distance running and classical music. Survivors: his wife, Maj.
Allan Giles Walker, MA ’73 (communication), of Toronto, March 23, 2020, at 74, of brain cancer. Over a 40-year career in Canadian film and television, he won numerous Genie and Gemini awards. He began as a documentary filmmaker with the National Film Board but soon switched to dramas. His film Bravery in the Field was nominated for an Academy Award for best live action short film in 1979. He was predeceased by his first wife, Imogen Dean, ’68. Survivors: his wife, Hannele Halm; children, Anna-Kaisa and Sam; two grandchildren; and two brothers.
David Charles Villa, MA ’81 (Latin American studies), of Madison, Wis., February 13, at 66, of cancer. He earned his MBA from Northwestern and worked as an auditor for Arthur Anderson, followed by finance jobs at First National Bank of Chicago, Brinson Partners and the Florida State Board of Administration. At the time of his death, he was CEO of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, director of the SEC’s Financial Accounting Foundation and director of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. He was also president of the Chicago chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Survivors: his wife, Jane; daughter, Elena; parents, Fred and Maria; and three siblings.
Frederic Stuart Baker, PhD ’87 (philosophy), of San Francisco, December 18, at 74. He worked as a criminal defense attorney. As a devout Roman Catholic, he was an ardent opponent of capital punishment and other forms of torture and a fervent defender of all animals, domesticated or wild. He was predeceased by his wife, Michele Bee. Survivors: his cousins.
Law
Robert Egar “Bob” Formichi, LLB ’54, of San Anselmo, Calif., February 9, at 93. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He began his legal career in San Francisco with Sullivan, Roach, Johnson & Faraher. He later served for more than 20 years as Reporter of Decisions for the state of California. In this role, he authored the third edition of California’s legal style manual. He was active in Rotary and also enjoyed rose gardening and family trips to Hawaii and the Sierras. Survivors: his wife, Peggy; children, Bob, Jerd, Bret, Lisa, David, Maria Formichi-King and Nina; 11 grandchildren; and sister.
John Charles Shevlin, LLB ’68, of Palm Springs, Calif., February 7, at 77. After working briefly at the appeals court in Riverside County, he co-founded Schlecht, Shevlin & Shoenberger. He supported and held leadership roles in numerous community organizations in Palm Springs, including the Community Concert Association, Friends of the Philharmonic, Public Library, Rotary Club and Desert Hospital Foundation. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Carolee; daughters, Rosemary and Nancy; granddaughter; and two sisters.
Medicine
Harold “Hal” Brownstein, MD ’55, of San Francisco, March 2, at 95. After completing military service, he worked in private practice until 1978, when he became director of ambulatory services at Mount Zion Hospital. He established the hospital’s geriatric program, which grew into the Institute on Aging. He also trained physicians as a clinical professor at UCSF. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Joan; children, Carol, David, Robert and Martin; and 13 grandchildren.
