Faculty
Atilla Aydin, MS ’74, PhD ’78 (geology), of Stanford and Istanbul, February 8 at 77, of cancer. He was a professor emeritus of geological sciences. For 25 years, he co-directed Stanford’s Structural Geology and Geomechanics Research Group and the Stanford Rock Fracture Project, leading teams of researchers and students on trips from Zion National Park to Sicily to study prehistoric rock formations. Outside of work, he played Balkan folk music, was an accomplished chef of Turkish cuisine, and became a fan of American football but remained an ardent soccer fan. Survivors include his beloved grandnieces and grandnephews.
Denis A. Baylor, of Stanford, March 16, at 82, of a heart attack. In 1977, his lab pioneered a technique for examining the function of individual retinal cells, which explained how the human eye converts light into electrical signals that the nervous system can read. The pioneering research answered fundamental questions about how the eye actually allows people to see. His colleagues called his experiments magnificent and his lectures prodigiously precise. He was a small-town Midwesterner who was passionate about Stanford football, woodworking and his golf game. Survivors: his wife, Eileen; children, Michele Engelke, Denis, ’88, MS ’89, and Michael, ’90; nine grandchildren; and two brothers.
W. Bliss Carnochan, of Portola Valley, Calif., January 24, at 91, of congestive heart failure. He was the Richard W. Lyman Professor in the Humanities, emeritus, and a leading scholar of 18th-century English literature. During his 31-year academic career at Stanford, he served as chair of the English department, director of the Stanford Humanities Center and dean of graduate studies. He wrote and co-authored 20 books, including Lemuel Gulliver’s Mirror for Man and a short memoir. He was a large presence at Stanford and a man of broad interests, from American folk art to Bob Marley’s music. Survivors: his wife of 42 years, Brigitte (Fields, MA ’66); children, Lisa, Sarah, Gouverneur Morris Peter, Sibyll Carnochan Catalan and Erika Jurney; and 10 grandchildren.
Evan John Reed, of Stanford, March 19, at 46. He was an associate professor of materials science and engineering and a leader in the emerging field of computational materials science, using machine learning and supercomputers to comb through possible materials to find new applications. His work combined a physicist’s acumen with a computer scientist’s knowledge. He developed a type of graphene that could bend when jolted with electricity, and he contributed to the development of safer lithium-ion batteries. He appears as the author or co-author of a remarkable 229 cited publications. He won the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award. He was a licensed pilot, distance runner and motorcycle aficionado. Survivors: his wife, Sabrina Yan; daughter, Remy; mother; and sister.
Samuel Strober, of Portola Valley, Calif., February 11, at 81, of multiple myeloma. A professor of immunology and rheumatology, his career was laser-focused on improving transplant recipients’ lives, driven by a quest to free them from the burden of immunosuppressant drugs that increase the risk of serious illness. He pioneered a protocol that could induce immune tolerance, which resulted in an overwhelming number of patients going without immunosuppressant drugs for years or getting by on a reduced dosage. A multifaceted Renaissance man, he was an opera lover, a voracious reader of history books and a debater of big ideas. Survivors: his children, Will, Liz, Jason, ’89, MBA ’95, and Jesse, ’18, MA ’21; four grandchildren; and brother.
1940s
James Gordon Knapp, ’43 (political science), of Palo Alto, February 20, at 99. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and joined the Navy during World War II. He led the Automatic Weapons Division aboard the USS Louisville. He earned a general contractor’s and a broker’s license and helped build the first high-rise in Palo Alto. He was asked to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force by President Gerald Ford and was named a four-star general by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Survivors: his wife, Elaine Lange; children, Jim, Cathleen Dorinson and Barbara Romandia; stepchildren, Bill Lange, Arthur Lange and Sara Harris; eight grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
David Smedley Colburn, ’44 (physical science), MS ’52, PhD ’64 (electrical engineering), of Portola Valley, Calif., January 22, at 99. He contributed to the Stanford Daily and served in the Navy during World War II. He spent most of his professional life as a space scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. He loved the outdoors and bought a rustic mountain cabin where he spent summers hiking, birding and enjoying wildflower walks with his family. He was an avid singer and member of the San Francisco Symphony Choir. Survivors: his wife of 72 years, Catherine; children, Caroline Armstrong, Gregory and Nicholas, ’86, MS ’89, MBA ’94; five grandchildren; and great-grandchild.
Emalee Flora Sala Chapman, ’45 (social science/social thought), of San Francisco, March 23, at 98. She contributed to the Stanford Daily. She was the founder of one of the first cooking schools in San Francisco and the author of seven cookbooks, including Fifteen Minute Meals and a series for Williams-Sonoma. She was known for her personal style, fashion taste and interior design, and she took her children to live in Florence, Italy, in the early 1960s for “the exposure.” Her homes appeared in House Beautiful and Architectural Digest. Survivors: her children, Cecelia, Peter and Duncan; and four grandchildren.
Betty Ann Porter Badenhop Sox, ’46 (physics), of Atherton, Calif., January 22, at 98. She was hired by Bill Hewlett in 1956 and spent the next 47 years at Hewlett Packard, where she developed a corporate payroll system and later managed the retirement administration. Outside of her family, Stanford University was her greatest passion. She was predeceased by her first husband, John Badenhop Jr., ’45, and second husband, Harold Sox, MD ’34. Survivors: her children, John Badenhop III and Nancy Perakis; stepchildren, Harold Sox Jr., ’61, David Sox and Jonathan Sox, ’66; two grandchildren; stepgrandchildren; great-grandson; and step-great-grandchildren.
Matthew Henry Walker Wallace, ’47 (graphic arts), of Salt Lake City, April 6, 2021, at 97. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. After earning a master’s degree in city planning from MIT, he became president of the commercial real estate firm Wallace McConaughy and worked on numerous projects in downtown Salt Lake City. An outstanding athlete, he was a competitive skier, accomplished golfer and avid fly fisherman. He was predeceased by his first wife, Constance. Survivors: his wife, Susan Rilling; children, Annie Maulding and Matthew; stepchildren, Kim Ritschel, Ann Rilling and Lynn Rilling; four grandchildren; and stepgrandson.
Willard Ellis Hamilton, ’49 (civil engineering), of Calistoga, Calif., January 13, at 98. He was a naval aviator during World War II and attended Stanford on the GI Bill. Later he worked as the chief engineer for civil, structural and architectural projects at Bechtel. After retiring, he built a home in Napa Valley on a property he called Two Dog Vineyard after his Labradors. He and his second wife enjoyed working in the vineyard, sailing on San Francisco Bay and backpacking in the Sierras. He was predeceased by his first wife of 25 years, Phyllis. Survivors: his wife of 44 years, Anne Hunter; stepchildren, Craig Hunter, Tracey Hunter and Kathy Hunter; grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
Wesley Allen Kissel, ’49 (psychology), MD ’54, of Bloomington, Ind., April 1, at 94. During a stint in the Air Force, he counseled Korean War servicemen. He had his own psychiatry practice until 1985, when he became the medical director at South Central Medical Health Centers (now Centerstone). He was a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He was a life master in bridge and a member of the Organists Guild who enjoyed playing at church services. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Mary. Survivors: his children, Steven, Virginia Miele, Margaret Gohn and Carolyn; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Lois Claire Teasdale Poole, ’49 (education), of Woodside, Calif., March 3, at 94. She was a legal secretary at Cross and Brandt and a member of the Young Republicans. She was president of the Stanford’s Women’s Club of San Francisco and hosted tailgate parties before home football games for 40 years, attending 62 Big Games and three Stanford Rose Bowls. She was the first female junior warden at Trinity and St. Bede’s Episcopal Churches in Menlo Park. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Gordon. Survivors: her children, Elisabeth Poole Parker, David, ’79, MS ’80, and Edward; and four grandchildren.
1950s
Joanne Humphrey Caldwell, ’50 (education), of Snowmass Village, Colo., January 28, at 93. She was on the polo team. She raised her four children in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Kenilworth, Ill., and volunteered actively, devoting herself to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, Chicago Foundation for Education, Kenilworth Union Church, Chicago Botanic Garden and Chicago Art Institute. She enjoyed tennis, paddle tennis, golf, skiing, gardening and traveling. She was predeceased by her husband, Wiley, ’50. Survivors: her children, Dave, Wendy Caldwell von Oech, ’76, Tom and Chuck; six grandchildren, including Athena von Oech, ’03; and eight great-grandchildren.
Diane Porter Cooley, ’50 (social science/social thought), of Watsonville, Calif., March 10, at 93. She was an environmentalist and conservationist whose family helped found Driscoll Berries. In 2001, she donated her family property in Pajaro Valley, Calif., to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County as a conservation easement, a move that set a benchmark nationwide as a way for communities to save agricultural land from development while preserving it as working land. She helped found the Elkhorn Slough Foundation and the Pajaro Valley Arts Council. Survivors include: her husband of seven decades, Don, MBA ’50; and children, Anne Youngblood and Steven.
Frances June Wakeman Erickson, ’50 (physical therapy), of Kirkland, Wash., October 8, at 92. She worked as a physical therapist and raised four children in Portola Valley, Calif. She lived in Jerusalem for 10 years while her husband worked for the Lutheran World Federation. In their later years, she and her husband moved to Washington to be closer to family. She was predeceased by her husband of more than 70 years, Wayne, ’49. Survivors: her children, Dianne Schultheis, Karen Alberto, David and Richard.
William Gorham, ’52 (economics), of Washington, D.C., December 28, at 91. He came to Washington in 1962 to join the Defense Department with a focus on troop effectiveness, compensation and the military draft. For 32 years, he led the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank created to measure the success of Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society programs. His leadership put the institute at the forefront of public policy analysis focused on the problems of urban America. He was predeceased by his daughter, Beckie. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Gail; daughters, Sarah, Nancy Haiman, Kim Umbarger and Jennifer Ackerman; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Joan Andrews Symon Harrison, ’52 (law), LLB ’54, of Davis, Calif., October 28, at 91. She was on the tennis team and active in student government. She practiced law for 60 years in Santa Clara County, primarily in Gilroy where she shared an office with her husband. She served as legal counsel to Gilroy Unified Schools and Gilroy Presbyterian Church and was chair of the Santa Clara County Planning Commission. She was a champion tennis player. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard. Survivors: her children, Lois Michaels and David; and two grandsons.
Evelyn Butterfield Wadsworth Hoffman, ’52 (international relations), of Altadena, Calif., March 27, at 91. She was the founding development director of the Aman Folk Ensemble. In 1984, she became the director of corporate giving at the Music Center of Los Angeles County. She helped found the Library Foundation of Los Angeles in 1992 and became its first executive director, serving in that role until she retired in 2007. Prior to her work in Los Angeles, she was an active volunteer at her children’s schools. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard, ’50. Survivors: her children, Martha Kauffman, ’82, Jennifer, Craig and Thomas; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Peter Dunster Costigan Sr., ’53 (political science), MBA ’55, of Ojai, Calif., January 16, at 90, after a short illness. He was a member of Beta Theta Phi. He spent more than 48 years as an investment analyst and banker in San Francisco before retiring from Moors & Cabot in 2003 and moving to Ojai. From 2007 to 2009, he paused his retirement to serve on the Ventura County Grand Jury. He is remembered for his mischievous sense of humor and ready smile. Survivors: his wife of 45 years, Ann; first wife, Carol (Gray, ’54); sons, Carlton, William and Peter Jr., ’79, MS ’81; stepson, Charles Hein; and seven grandchildren.
Roderick Cameron McMicking Hall, ’54 (history), of London, January 12, at 89, of heart failure. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and served as an Army private in Korea. He had a successful career in business, private ventures and housing development, working at the Sotogrande golf course development near Gibraltar, the World Bank in London and U.S. Venture Partners in Menlo Park. He educated others about the Japanese occupation of Manila by creating a historical monument and publishing a memoir. He was predeceased by his wife, Jenny. Survivors: his children, Andrew, Peter, Nonie, Michael, Barnaby and Benjamin; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two siblings, including Ian, ’55.
William H. Northway Jr., ’54 (basic medical sciences), MD ’57, of San Carlos, Calif., January 26, at 89, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. As an assistant professor of radiology and pediatrics at Stanford, he discovered a lung condition among premature infants, which he named bronchopulmonary dysplasia. His research paper on the condition prompted neonatologists worldwide to lower the oxygen level and reduce ventilation pressure on infants who were intubated, saving countless young lives. He was predeceased by his son, William, ’87. Survivors: his wife, Linda; son, David, ’86, MS ’95; two grandsons; and brothers, James, ’57, MD ’60, and John, ’62, MA ’67.
Claire Lucine Foster Pelton, ’54 (English), MA ’55 (education), of Los Altos, February 20, at 89, of breast cancer. She was active in student government. For more than 30 years, she taught English at Los Altos High School. She chaired the English department for more than 20 years and founded the College Testing Seminar. She was the runner-up for California Teacher of the Year. She loved dogs, Peet’s Coffee, the Warriors and Armenian food. She was predeceased by her husband, Chuck, ’54, MA ’55. Survivors: her daughter, Cathie Lucine Pelton, ’79; stepson, James Burr; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Eugene Kelly Shank, ’54 (mechanical engineering), of Santa Monica, Calif., August 8, at 89. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and played football and rugby. He began his career in the aerospace industry but found his true calling as a financial consultant and wealth manager. He was a stockbroker with Shearson Hammill & Company, which through mergers and acquisitions became Smith Barney and then Morgan Stanely, where he ultimately retired as a vice president. He enjoyed gardening, fine wine, and military and aviation history. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Jean Lee Fonda. Survivors: his children, Katherine, Peggy, Skip and Mary; and seven grandchildren.
Alice Cosette “Dinky” Wiley Snell, ’54 (political science), of Phoenix, December 28, at 89. She immersed herself in Arizona civic affairs for 50 years, serving as chair of the Arizona State University Foundation and helping to raise more than half a billion dollars for the university. She was chair of the governor’s task force on juvenile corrections and the first female chair of the Valley of the Sun YMCA. She loved treks to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Survivors: her husband of 67 years, Richard, ’52, JD ’54; daughters, Karen, ’77, JD ’81, Marilyn and Sarah; grandchildren, Sophie Meyer, ’15, MS ’17, and Clay Meyer, ’18, MS ’19; and two siblings.
Barbara Louise Berry Corneille, ’55 (psychology), of Walnut Creek, Calif., January 4, at 88. Dedicated to supporting local charitable organizations, she was a champion of the Acacia Group to benefit Children’s Hospital of Oakland, an avid patron of the Oakland Symphony and an active member of the Lowell W. Berry Foundation board of directors. She was energized by travel, especially visits to Paris, and passionate about animals. She was predeceased by her first husband, James Smith; and her son, Scott Smith. Survivors: her children, Jami Kane, Todd and Kent; five grandchildren; and sister.
Susannah Ronk Chapman Dahill, ’55 (nursing), of Thousand Oaks, Calif., December 14, at 89. After learning Danish on a freighter crossing the Atlantic, she worked at a hospital in Hillerod, Denmark, then in a plastic surgery unit in Edinburgh, Scotland. She returned to the United States and became director of nursing for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif. She later taught Allied Health courses at Orange Coast College, earned a master’s in vocational education and helped pioneer the development of parish nursing. She was a church leader, crostic puzzler, dream-tracker and alto singer. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard. Survivors: her children, Lisa and Gerald; and grandchildren.
Jerold James Haserot, ’55 (general engineering), of Arcadia, Calif., October 19, at 88. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and the crew team. He reached the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, in the Navy. He spent most of his career in the commercial construction industry with the O.K. Earl Corporation in Pasadena, Calif. He was a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and served on the elder and deacon boards at Arcadia Presbyterian Church. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Jean (Kishbaugh, ’56); daughters, Janet Haserot Dosker, Jennifer Haserot Moser and Jamie Haserot Parish; six grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren.
Richard Roy Kelley, ’55 (biological sciences), of Honolulu, February 24, at 88, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. After graduating from Harvard Medical School and enjoying a career as an accomplished medical doctor, he took charge of the family business, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, turning it into the largest and most diverse hotel company in Hawaii. He spearheaded the creation of Hawaii’s Convention Center in Waikiki and played a role in helping shape the state’s travel and tourism industry. He loved being in the water, whether fishing, surfing or sailing. Survivors: his wife, Linda; seven children; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and sister.
Ann Martin Loze, ’55, of Beverly Hills, Calif., December 30, 2020, at 87. After she finished her education at UCLA, her curiosity and intellect led her to become assistant to a political science professor while also conducting research for Cole Porter. She was active in the PTA of her children’s schools, overseeing her children’s academic and athletic activities while engaged in local politics. She was also a voracious reader and a member of Sinai Temple. Survivors: her husband, Donald, ’54; children, Emily Kreshek and Matthew; and four grandchildren.
Robert Lee Johnson, ’56 (basic medical sciences), MD ’59, of San Tan Valley, Ariz., March 18, at 87, of a stroke. He was a member of the El Campo Eating Club and contributed to the Stanford Daily. He met and married his wife during his medical residency at Yale, after which he became an otolaryngologist, practicing in San Francisco for 45 years. He played tennis for more than 50 years and was a devoted patron of the opera, symphony, ballet, theater, the 49ers, the Giants and all Stanford sports teams. Survivors: his wife of more than 60 years, Barbara; daughters, Stephanie and Bridget; and four grandchildren.
Eric Nelson Fricker, ’57 (political science), of Lompoc, Calif., December 26, at 86. He served as an officer in the Navy, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant in the Navy Reserve. After earning an MS in business administration, he worked as an accountant for various firms in the Los Angeles area. In 1969, he joined Coldwell Banker and was promoted to controller for L.A. County in 1970. By 1981, he was self-employed as a CPA, based in Long Beach. He loved traveling the world, especially on sailboats, politics and history. Survivors: his wife, Grace Dodson; and stepchildren, Robin, Randy and Rusty Dodson.
George Yamasaki Jr., ’57 (economics), JD ’59, of San Francisco, February 7, at 86, of a heart condition. He was an immigration lawyer who helped people with green card issues and served on the San Francisco Human Services Commission for 46 years, making him the city’s longest-serving commissioner. He was active in San Francisco’s Japantown and was known as the voice of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. In 1995 Mayor Gavin Newsom decreed a George Yamasaki Day in San Francisco. He played piano in jazz groups for more than 50 years. He was predeceased by his second wife, Anne. Survivors: his children, Paul and Emily; and stepdaughter, Susie Okimoto.
Joan Maxine Balling Rehnborg, ’59, MA ’60 (education), of Laguna Beach, Calif., January 22, at 84. She was one of the early Stanford Dollies. She was a public school teacher and served as a docent at both Laguna Art Museum and Orange County Museum of Art for 25 years. After visiting the Holy Land as an evangelical Christian, she focused on the human dimension of the conflict over Palestine, raising awareness and tutoring children at the Shalimar Learning Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. She was predeceased by her son Tucker. Survivors: her son Rod; and three grandchildren, including Jack, ’22, and Zoë, ’26.
1960s
Charles Timothy “Tim” Hopkins, ’60 (political science), of Idaho Falls, Idaho, April 23, 2021, at 85, of heart failure. He served in the Army and was a member of Chi Psi. He began his legal career working at a San Francisco law firm before returning to his hometown, where he started two law firms. He argued approximately 35 cases before the Idaho Supreme Court and served as president of the Idaho Bar. He served on the boards of numerous land conservation organizations. An avid outdoorsman, he loved riding horses, skiing and tending to his garden. He was predeceased by his daughter Elizabeth Anne. Survivors: his wife, Anne; children Kate Hopkins Salomon, Hilary Anne and Talcott; and two granddaughters.
Rhoda Karen Maxfield Stanley, ’60, MA ’61 (hearing & speech sciences), of Newport Beach, Calif., February 9, at 83, after a long illness. Her life was a testimony to her intellect, energy and enthusiasm for recreation. She served as PTA president and a member of the Orange County Art Museum support group and of the Assistance League and the National Charity League while managing her husband’s medical practice. She enjoyed golf, bridge, skiing and travel. Survivors: her husband, Jim, ’60; children, Grant, ’87, Richard, ’90, and Brooke Stanley Lawson, ’90; and eight grandchildren, including Talia Stanley, ’22, and Ben Lawson, ’25.
Rune Alf Engebretsen, ’62, MA ’70, PhD ’80 (German studies), of Millers Falls, Mass., December 8, at 82, after a short illness. He was on the soccer team and the track and field team. He translated, wrote, and lectured widely on Henrik Ibsen and Søren Kierkegaard, serving as associate editor and translator of Kierkegaard’s work for Princeton University Press. He was chair of the Scandinavian Studies Program at Concordia College, a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and a Fulbright senior research scholar to Norway. Survivors: his wife; two sons; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters.
Frank Bailey Mapel, ’62 (political science), of San Marino, Calif., February 26, at 81. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, played on the rugby team and enlisted in the Army as a second lieutenant, serving in the 4th Armored Division in Ulm, Germany. With an MBA from Harvard, he embarked on a career in the propane industry. He was executive vice president at Petrolane and founder, president and CEO of Pacer Propane. He had a booming voice, a genuine curiosity and a brilliant sense of humor. Survivors: his wife of more than 50 years, Mona (Tromblé, ’62); children, Brian, Michelle and Kevin; and four grandchildren.
Judith A. Jorgensen, ’63 (history), of La Jolla, Calif., February 28, at 80, after a brief illness. She earned her medical degree from UCLA, specializing in psychiatry. During her 40 years of practice, she served as vice president of the San Diego Society of Psychiatric Physicians and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSD—and never missed an appointment with any of her patients. She was an avid supporter of the arts, a life member of ZLAC Rowing Club and a lifelong lover of animals, especially Irish setters. She was predeceased by her husband of 26 years, Ronald Crown. Survivors include her sister, Genie Brown.
Stephen Craig Rose, ’63, MS ’70 (petroleum engineering), of Vashon, Wash., December 19, at 80, of diabetes and congestive heart failure. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and contributed to the Chaparral humor magazine. After graduation, he went to work for Arco Oil and Gas, choosing the company because of its reputation for protecting the environment. He was an operations manager for Arco Indonesia in Jakarta. His career ultimately took his family to a number of countries, including China, France and India. He loved roadside geology, scuba diving and orchard restoration. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Nancy (Weidemann, ’63); daughter, Kathleen Rose Hart; two grandchildren; and two half siblings.
William Ernest Collins, ’64 (health education), of Burien, Wash., April 1, at 79. He was a member of Zeta Psi, played football and served in the Navy. With a master’s of public administration from USC, he became a hospital and emergency medicine administrator. He oversaw clinics and emergency care for Oregon Health Sciences University, and later was director of EMS services for Multnomah County. He was a terrible speller, an excellent eater and an upside-down guitar player. He most loved being a father and grandfather. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Mary Beth (Vandeveer, ’67); children, Jennifer Daly, ’91, and Noah; four grandchildren; and three siblings.
Allen Bruce Cagle, ’65 (biological sciences), of Whittier, Calif., December 6, at 78, of acute myelogenous leukemia. He attended medical school at UCSF and practiced pathology in Whittier for 25 years. He oversaw the PIH Blood Donor Center and was himself a resolute blood donor, estimating that he donated 40 units of whole blood during his lifetime. He sang many supporting roles with the Downey Civic Light Opera and performed with the William Hall Chorale in Australia and Russia. He also served on Whittier’s Cultural Arts Commission and was an accomplished photographer. Survivors: his sisters, Frances Sinclair and Sharon McCorkle, ’78, MS ’79.
Rowley Montague “Terry” Thomas III, ’65 (history), of Tiburon, Calif., November 9, at 78, of cancer. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and served as a second lieutenant in the Vietnam War, assigned to a counterintelligence unit in Saigon. For most of his career, he was an executive recruiter, working for Korn Ferry before establishing his own practice. For the last 20 years, he specialized in the vision care industry and placed executive leadership in large companies like Allergan and Essilor. He had an abiding appreciation for Latin American food and culture, having lived in Cuba as a child, and was an avid tennis player. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Denise; and children, Megan, Monty and Mackenzie.
Joe Michael “Mic” Alexander, ’68 (political science), of Salem, Ore., March 14, at 75, of cancer. He was on the crew team and spent four years in the Air Force. He attended law school and practiced in Salem for 38 years. He was a man of humility and integrity who enjoyed life’s simple pleasures, and he saw the importance of the natural world and our stewardship of it. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Anna; daughters, Dina and Jennifer; granddaughter; and brother.
Nathaniel Kirtman, ’69 (sociology), of Pasadena, Calif., February 23, at 74. He was on the football team (a heavily recruited running back). He was the first African American from San Francisco to receive a congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, and at Stanford he was co-chair of the Black Student Union. He spent 29 years working for the Alameda County Probation Department, primarily in juvenile units, and was recognized as employee of the year. He was a wonderful cook, a fan of Black jazz musicians and a devout Muslim. Survivors: his wife of more than 50 years, Deborah (Hammond, ’70); children, Nathaniel, Amina Portelli, Khahlil and Nisaa; eight grandchildren; and two siblings.
Patricia Chase Bowen Sullivan, ’69 (communication), ’74 (nursing), of Santa Cruz, Calif., December 28, at 74. Following her early work as a journalist, she became a registered nurse and worked with early heart transplant patients at Stanford Hospital, then in post-anesthesia care at Watsonville Hospital. She later became an accountant. She was an active volunteer at her children’s schools and a lifelong artist. She took up Mandarin at the age of 72 and studied it faithfully every day until she died. Survivors: her husband, Patrick, MD ’70; children, Michael and Meredith; two grandchildren; and two sisters, including Meredith Bowen Philips, ’65.
1970s
Susan Lasker Brody, ’70 (art), of New York City and East Hampton, N.Y., April 11. She worked at Parke-Bernet Galleries (later Sotheby’s), where she created the museum services department and served as the department’s director and vice president. She also served on the board of overseers of the Huntington Library Art Collections. She was very interested in health and medical research, earned a master’s in public health from Columbia, and was a longtime board member of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation in New York. She was deeply connected to Zen Buddhism. She had a deep love of reading, travel, opera, movies and all things outdoors.
Janice Marie Beene Adams, ’71 (sociology), of Washington, D.C., March 3, at 72. She earned a law degree from Georgetown University. She dedicated her life to the work of the Washington Christian Academy, where, over the decades, she served in a number of roles, including principal, director of admissions, college guidance counselor, senior thesis adviser and AP government teacher. She was a pillar of her local church, served on several committees and taught a Sunday school class. She supported Covenant College, the College Park Community Food Bank and Christian Schools International. Survivors: her children, Esther Drake, Naomi, Hannah Wachter, Agur and Isaac; and 11 grandchildren.
Nancy Diane Jamison, ’77 (psychology), of San Diego, July 9, 2021, at 66, after a battle with glioblastoma. She participated in the glee club and other performing arts. She was a philanthropic leader in San Diego for more than 14 years, serving as the president and CEO of San Diego Grantmakers (now Catalyst) until she retired in 2019. Under her leadership, the network blossomed to more than 150 organizations, funders and impact investors. She was a lover of all things music and dance, and had an infectious sense of joy. Survivors: her husband, Mark Dillon; children, Alec and Susanna; mother, Barbara; and brother.
Roy Karl Skogstrom, ’77 (biological sciences), of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, May 4, 2021, at 65. He contributed to the Stanford Daily and the Chaparral humor magazine. He was a physical therapist, owner of Kahua Exotic Tropical Fruits Farm in Pepeekeo, and CEO of Oncologic, a biotech company working on a treatment for cancer. Survivors: his wife, Catherine Marquette; and sister, Susan Skogstrom.
Harriet “Holly” Cornwall Newman, ’79 (mathematics), MS ’80 (operations research), MLA ’15, of Pleasanton, Calif., June 12, 2021, at 63, after a 10-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was a member of the Stanford Historical Society. She worked at the Chevron Corporation for 31 years, starting in the fertilizer division and moving to operations and planning. When she retired, she pursued a lifelong dream of studying classics, history and language by enrolling in Stanford’s Master of Liberal Arts program. She supported the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto. Survivors: her husband of 43 years, William, ’78, MS ’79, PhD ’85; and sister, Anne Cornwall Boyce.
1980s
Lauren Whitney Freed Scott, ’86 (communication), of Menlo Park, February 9, at 57. She was a member of Lambda Nu. She broke through Silicon Valley gender barriers in the early years of the technology boom, working in project and program management at Oracle, Informix and Kennandy. Midcareer, she went back to school for a master’s in library and information science, ultimately returning to Stanford to build databases and implement products for University Libraries. She was a devoted patron of the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto, an insatiable reader, a lover of the outdoors and all things Disney, and a committed Catholic. Survivors: her husband of 35 years, Larry, ’83; brother, Michael Freed; and goddaughter, Tillie.
R. Ryan Stoll, ’86 (philosophy and economics), MA ’87 (economics), of Lake Bluff, Ill., December 20, at 57, from an accident in the Grand Canyon. He was on the track and field team and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving his JD from Harvard, he completed a federal clerkship, moved to Chicago to work as an assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division, and eventually became a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom. He loved the grit and the beauty of nature and was a passionate outdoorsman who participated in the National Ironman World Championship in Kona, among many other adventures. Survivors: his wife of 32 years, Cilla; children, Kelsey, Drew and Maggie; parents, Ralph and Sally; and two sisters.
1990s
Clemont Robert “Rob” Austin IV, ’90 (American studies), of Chicago, March 6, at 53, of acute myeloid leukemia. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and played on the soccer team. He taught English for five years and coached soccer and baseball, winning Western Reserve’s prize for outstanding young faculty members. After returning to school for an MBA, he began a career in supply chain management, traveling the country as a “road warrior.” He was a lover of words, an intellectual and a caring father. Survivors: his children, Margot, Jonathan and Ella; parents, Clemont III, MBA ’70, MS ’71, and Penelope; and two siblings.
John Joseph Reilly, ’93 (English), of New York City, March 5, at 53, of an aortic aneurysm. He earned an MFA in creative writing from New York University. He wrote and directed the 2006 documentary Bystander, which was screened in eight cities as part of the ninth United Nations Association Film Festival, along with several plays.He was also a talented programmer, with a patent on procedures for consumer protection. He devoted two years to upgrading and revitalizing The Fireplace, his family’s restaurant in Paramus, N.J. Survivors include: his three siblings and their families.
Jennifer Lynne Muse, ’98 (communication), of Grass Valley, Calif., January 6, at 44, of chordoma of the skull. She was a member of Chi Omega, participated in the Stanford in Florence study-abroad program and contributed to the Stanford American Indian Organization. She enjoyed an adventurous career in San Francisco, New York City, Newport Beach and Seattle, working in advertising, marketing and branding for multiple companies including Gap, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Urban Decay, People and General Mills. Survivors: her father, James; and sisters, Jamie, ’97, and Jessica, ’00.
2000s
Peter Karlsson Rubin, ’07 (engineering), ’08 (mechanical engineering), of Berkeley and Santa Cruz, Calif., January 29, at 36. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi and received a Terman Award for being in the top 5 percent of his engineering class. He taught team dynamics at the Stanford d.school. After three years as a product designer, he worked as a business and personal coach. He also co-founded the Brotherhood Community, where he offered workshops on racism, social justice, masculinity and relationships, and led guided meditation for various groups. He was a creative oil painter and talented musician. Survivors: his parents, Andrea (Peterson, ’74) and Michael; and siblings, Eric and Emily.
Business
Jackson Le Roy Schultz, MBA ’56, of Hillsborough, Calif., March 10, at 96. He spent 28 years in the Navy, including seven years of active duty in the Pacific, and retired as a decorated captain. He was the senior vice president and manager of public and government affairs at Wells Fargo for 25 years. He served on the board of directors of the California Bankers Association and was appointed by three California governors to various commissions. He loved photography and building dollhouses. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Rhoda Welch Lachman. Survivors: his children, Beatrice Hamlin and George; stepdaughters, Rhoda Regalado, Roxanna Shores and Robin Lee; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Robert Addison Johnston III, MBA ’65, of Dallas, February 11, at 85, of Alzheimer’s disease. With degrees in geology and industrial engineering, he worked for Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto before joining his father’s business, Johnston Inc.—a children’s clothing manufacturer in Texas. He was an active runner who completed marathons in the United States, Canada and Europe, and he was a lifetime member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, serving on the forum board. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Maria; sons, Rob and Will; three grandchildren; and sister.
Education
Merrill Edward Newman, MA ’55, of Palo Alto, January 17, at 93. He served in the Army, stationed on islands off the coast of Korea. He taught high school math and science, coached the swim team and taught industrial engineering at College of San Mateo’s Adult Evening Program. He later became CFO of several high-growth technology companies. In 2005 he was awarded Avenidas’ Lifetimes of Achievement Award. He was a scuba diver and an adventurer, became proficient in celestial navigation, earned a Coast Guard 50-ton license and mastered the art of welding. He was predeceased by his daughter, Jennifer, ’84. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Lee (Crowell, ’56, MA ’57); son, Jeff; and two grandsons.
Engineering
Howard B. “Bud” Demuth, MS ’54, PhD ’57 (electrical engineering), of Boulder, Colo., February 20, at 93, after a fall. In 1956 he joined the IBM Research Laboratory. Later, at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, he worked on computer simulations of nuclear reactors and helped develop cutting-edge interactive graphics systems. He was professor of electrical engineering at the universities of Tulsa and Idaho, and he led the development of the Neural Network Toolbox for Matlab. He ran his first marathon at age 68. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth; and second wife, Joan. Survivors: his children, Katherine, Kimberly, Mary, ’79, and Hal; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Ronald Lee Longnecker, MS ’61 (industrial engineering), of Louisville, Ky., February 10, at 84. He retired from Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati after 33 years of service. He loved golfing, sang in the Myrtle Trace Choir and served as the HOA president. He also volunteered for the Girl Scouts of Cincinnati as a treasurer. Survivors: his wife of 46 years, Bonnie; children, Shelley, Caroline Bowen, Kim Dehler and Kevin Henderson; six grandchildren; and brother.
Frank Jameson Rees, MS ’64 (aeronautics and astronautics), PhD ’68 (applied mechanics), of Montecito, Calif., March 2, at 80. He co-founded Energy Management Associates, a software and management consulting firm. He sold the company to Electronic Data Systems in 1992. In 2000, he co-founded Devastudios, a film graphic design firm whose clients include major motion picture studios and video streaming companies. He volunteered at Stanford Business School and mentored numerous entrepreneurs over the course of his life. He was a professionally accomplished tennis player, a vivacious friend and a mentor with a laser-sharp mind. Survivors: his wife, Marlo; children, Nicole, Brandon and Danielle, ’99; three grandchildren; and two sisters.
Dewey Harper Hodges, MS ’70, PhD ’73 (aeronautics and astronautics), of Dunwoody, Ga., January 31, at 73, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a captain in the Army. One of the world’s foremost rotorcraft dynamics experts, he spent 16 years at NASA Ames Research Center and 35 years as a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. He regarded his relationships with graduate students as the most important aspect of his life’s work. He served on the editorial boards of at least six academic journals and was elected fellow of four professional societies. He loved singing and playing piano. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Margaret; his sons, Timothy, Jonathan, David, Philip and Benjamin; 28 grandchildren; and sister.
Helene Francoise Arnould Netillard, MS ’71 (materials science/engineering), of Grézels, France, September 25, at 77. She began her career as a research engineer in solid state physics with Philips France. In 1976, she joined Valeo, a leading French automotive equipment manufacturer, and was soon named CEO of a manufacturing subsidiary. She later shifted to the executive search business, working for Korn Ferry International in Paris and specializing in automotive, chemical and building companies. When she retired in 2008, she and her husband restarted a small wine business in the South of France. Survivors: her husband, Yves; and son, Philippe.
Theodore William Rogers, MS ’92 (mechanical engineering), of Alameda, Calif., February 14, at 53, of prostate cancer. He worked at Edge Innovation, where he helped build animatronic creatures for several films, and Asyst Technologies. He spent the past 15 years at Intuitive Surgical, where he was the VP of vision systems at the time of his death. He was an excellent sailor who spent many hours on the San Francisco Bay sailing several different kinds of boats, including International 14’s, a Moth and a J100. He also enjoyed cycling, backpacking and traveling with his family. Survivors: his wife, Anne; daughters, Fiona and Maeve; parents; and four siblings.
Humanities and Sciences
John Edward Haldi, MA ’56, PhD ’61 (economics), of New York City, February 3, at 90. After receiving his PhD, he spent time at the Rand Corporation and then at the Bureau of the Budget in Washington, D.C., setting up the first USPO office of planning and budgeting. In New York City, he founded Haldi Associates, an economics and consulting firm. Among his many accomplishments was drafting the first no-fault automobile insurance law in Hawaii. He was an expert witness in many areas, a junior-ranked badminton player and an avid skier. Survivors: his wife, Mary; children, Patricia and John Robert; and three grandchildren.
Donald W. Aitken Jr., MS ’61, PhD ’64 (physics), of Ajijic, Mexico, February 27, at 85. He was an emeritus professor and founder of the environmental studies department at San Jose State University. He co-founded Friends of the Earth and helped lead the Northern California Solar Energy Association and the American and International Solar Energy Societies. Affiliated with the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, he was an energy design consultant and, for many years, the senior consulting scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists. Survivors: his daughters, Katherine Aitken-Young and Sarah; and longtime companion, Leslie Kingsbury.
Carl Hanson FitzGerald, MS ’65, PhD ’67 (mathematics) of San Diego, November 2, at 79, of complications from COVID-19. As a faculty member in the mathematics department of UC San Diego, he enjoyed teaching, his colleagues and San Diego’s climate. He taught at UCSD his entire career, with sabbaticals in Israel and at Queens College in London. He was a visiting professor in China, where he co-sponsored a major international symposium. He could play “Sweet Georgia Brown” on this trumpet from memory and once sailed in Boston Harbor on a boat he sanded, caulked and painted. Survivors include his brothers, Norman and Gerald.
Brian McKibben Kincaid, MS ’73, PhD ’75 (physics), of San Francisco, January 1, at 74. He was an early developer of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and the use of extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which is now widely applied to the study of local structure in proteins and other macromolecules and to compounds containing metal ions. He was the director of the Advance Light Source at UC Berkeley and made major contributions during its construction, development and early use. Survivors: his wife, Elizabeth Theil; children, Eleanor and Christopher; and two grandchildren.
Philip A. S. Sedlak, PhD ’75 (linguistics), of Washington D.C., March 26, at 82, of Parkinson’s disease. His thesis considered the impacts of language shift in an East African coastal community. He spent his career in international development, leading radio language education and public health/public awareness projects in Kenya, Nepal, Guatemala, Nicaragua, India, Irian Jaya, Guinea and Morocco. He spoke French, German, Italian, Nepali, Somali, Spanish and Swahili at full professional proficiency and attained basic conversational proficiency in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Ewe, Huichol, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese. Survivors: his wife, Enoya; children, Aaron and Chloe; stepson, David; and two siblings.
Antonia Judith Levi, PhD ’91 (history), of Point Roberts, Wash., March 2, at 74. A scholar of Japan, her interests and publications ranged from mid-20th-century Japanese politics to anime, pop culture and science fiction. She also published on rubrics as a tool for educators. After studying in Tokyo, she taught at Amherst College, Loyola Marymount, Whitman College and Portland State University. She retired to become a full-time writer of novels, short stories and poems. Survivors include her brother, Matt, and his family.
Law
Philip Donnan Irwin, LLB ’57, of San Marino, Calif., January 11, at 88. Upon earning his law degree, he joined O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, where he stayed for his entire 64-year career. He was a nationally acclaimed tax lawyer whose work—especially in the arena of spin-offs and mergers—helped shape the future of corporations like Dole, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America and Chase Bank. In 2002, he was recognized by the Los Angeles County Bar Association with the Dana Latham Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in taxation law. He was the consummate early bird, chipper even before sunrise, and read the sports page every day. Survivors: his wife, Sandra; children, Jane Irwin Laudeman, ’80, Jim, Victoria and Philip Jr.; and four grandchildren.
Bret Richmond Williams, JD ’93, of Atlanta, January 24, at 55, of COVID-19. His legal career spanned three decades. He served for more than 16 years as a federal prosecutor in Georgia and New York, and also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency. At the time of his death, he was doing white-collar criminal defense work for corporate and individual clients, while also representing indigent defendants. A prolific writer who published many articles and op-ed pieces on topics including election laws and voter fraud, he was known for being simultaneously the smartest person in the room and the most humble. Survivors: his wife of 18 years, Stephanie, children, Dexter and Grady; mother, Addie; and four siblings.
