Faculty
Theodore Henry Geballe, of Woodside, Calif., October 23, at 101. He was the Theodore and Sydney Rosenberg Professor in Applied Physics, emeritus. The hundreds of articles he wrote and co-authored on condensed matter and superconductivity helped define the field of applied physics and led to numerous technological innovations. He received multiple awards and a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials was named for him in 2000. He was predeceased by his wife of 77 years, Frances. Survivors: his children, Gordon, Alison, Adam, ’74, Monica, Jennifer Norman and Ernest; 16 grandchildren, including Corinne, ’06, MA ’07, Nicholas, ’04, Daniel, MBA ’13, and Stephanie, ’09; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Douglass J. Wilde, of Stanford, October 28, at 92. He was professor emeritus of chemical and mechanical engineering and served as associate dean for affirmative action in the School of Engineering. In his later career, he focused his expertise on design and industrial optimization, approaches to education, applied psychology and the psychological underpinnings of exceptional teams. He authored several textbooks and more than 100 articles and was awarded the Lanchester Prize in operations research and the Lincoln Foundation’s Student Design Gold Medal. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Jane Ann. Survivors: his son, Nicholas; granddaughter; and brother.
1940s
Maxine Frances Samuel Dickson, ’40 (psychology), of San Francisco, August 27, at 102. She earned a graduate degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley. She was a voracious reader who loved tennis, gardening, cooking, kayaking, hiking, fishing, skiing, traveling and summers at Lake Tahoe. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Milton. Survivors: her children, Gary, Wendy, Jill Relles, Kit Harwood, Sue and Eve Eppard; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Suzanne Stephens Weeks, ’43 (education), of Portola Valley, Calif., July 1, at 100. After working for Matson Steamship Line, she trained Pentagon staff ON how to use punch-card computers. She raised her children in Woodside and served on the town council and as mayor. She was also an avid tennis player and skier and especially enjoyed spending time at Lake Tahoe. She was predeceased by her husband, William, ’43. Survivors: her children, Tacy Hahn and Stephen; four grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
Loralee Smith Durkee, ’44 (graphic arts), of Oroville, Calif., August 17, at 98. She served in the Navy during World War II. After studying at the California Art Institute, she began painting with the California Group and enjoyed a long career, working primarily in watercolor. Her paintings preserve many of San Francisco’s Victorian homes that have long since disappeared. Survivors: her children, Carolyn Adams, Doug Adams and Jay Adams; grandson; and two great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Marie Chandler Gonda, ’44 (humanities), of Palo Alto, August 29, 2020, at 98. As a longtime resident of the Palo Alto and Stanford communities, she was an active volunteer at Stanford’s Children’s Hospital and a devoted sports fan. She also enjoyed traveling the world with Stanford friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, ’42, MD ’45; and her son Paul, ’67. Survivors: her children Lynn, ’76, and Bill, ’74; four grandchildren; and great-grandchild.
Alan Norman Weeden, ’45 (economics), of Greenwich, Conn., September 28, at 97, of heart failure. He pledged Zeta Psi, played water polo and was a national record-setting swimmer. He served on a Navy underwater demolition team during World War II. Following a career in securities trading, he served on the boards of the Sierra Club, American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International and Audubon. He also served on Stanford’s board of trustees and received the Gold Spike Award. At 90, he set a national record for his age group in the 50-meter backstroke. Survivors: his wife of 71 years, Barbara (Elliott ’49); children, Donald, Robert, ’76, and Leslie, ’83; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother, Don, ’51.
Betty Mae Gettle Hilmer, ’48 (social science/social thought), of Atherton, Calif., July 4, at 95. She played on the basketball team. She was known for her sense of humor and for putting others’ needs before her own. She was also an avid tennis player whose career spanned 70 years. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, ’47, MA ’53. Survivors: her children, Mike, Nancy and Eric.
Holt Morris Alden, ’49 (biological sciences), of Mountain Ranch, Calif., May 25, at 96. He was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi and served in the Army during World War II. He later earned a graduate degree in forestry from UC Berkeley. Survivors: his wife of 70 years, Susanne (Coate, ’51); four children; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandsons.
Arnold Binder, ’49, PhD ’53 (psychology), of Issaquah, Wash., October 2, at 97. He taught psychology at Indiana U., but spent most of his career as a professor at UC Irvine, where he founded the School of Social Ecology. He co-authored four books as well as numerous articles on research methodology, police use of deadly force and juvenile delinquency. He also founded the Youth Service Program (now Waymakers of Orange County), which provides housing and services to at-risk youth and victims of violence. Survivors: his wife of 51 years, Virginia; children, Andrea Mayner, Jennifer Capasso and Jeffrey; and four grandchildren.
Maile Ruth Allen Scott, ’49 (education), of Palm Springs, Calif., October 3, at 94. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi and the voice of “Stanford Sadie” on KZSU. Over the course of her career, she was a model for Coca-Cola ads, acted in summer stock theater, studied at Inchbald School of Design in London, worked in fashion and interior design and sold real estate in Sedona, Ariz. She was predeceased by her former husband, Roger Olson, ’50, and sons, Roger Olson and Brigham Olson. Survivors: her daughters, Kristin Olson and Karinne Lindsey; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
1950s
Marilyn Ellen Singer Benioff, ’50, of San Francisco, August 22, at 93. Her artistic eye and sense of style aided her in creating advertising for the family-owned Benioff’s Department Store, a jewelry store she managed and other businesses. In retirement, she volunteered with the San Francisco Public Library and City Guides. She was also an avid world traveler, theatergoer and sports fan. She was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Alexis. Survivors: her children, Jeanne, Carol and Louis; and grandchildren.
Walter Leo Maas Dunbar, ’50, MS ’51 (petroleum engineering), of Bakersfield, Calif., October 6, at 93, of heart failure. He was president of Chi Psi and played on the football, rugby, soccer and crew teams. Service in the Korean War and later in the Navy Seabees led to both civilian and Navy management positions, including serving as director of engineering of the Naval Petroleum Reserve. He loved tennis, sailing, woodwork and the outdoors. Survivors: his wife of 32 years, Marilynn; and children, Michael, William, ’84, and Janice; two stepchildren; eight grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.
Richard Dean Esbenshade, ’50 (economics), of Pasadena, Calif., September 14, at 92. He was on the wrestling team and found lifelong friends in the fraternity of DMOs—the Dish Machine Operators. After serving in the Army, he earned his JD at Harvard. He helped start the firm of Munger, Tolles & Hills (now Munger, Tolles & Olson) and worked there until 2012, except for a sabbatical with his family in Switzerland. He was predeceased by his daughter Lee, ’83. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Nancy; children Richard, MA ’93, Jill, Anne, ’88, and Andy; 11 grandchildren, including Shara Walker, ’12, and Kate Esbenshade, ’25; and two sisters.
Charlotte Adams Nourse Martin, ’50 (political science), of Carmel Valley, Calif., August 5, at 92. She taught elementary school in Salinas, Calif., for 26 years and was active in regional and international associations as a reading specialist. In retirement, she volunteered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and served on the county grand jury and on an advisory committee to update the Toro area master plan. She also enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad. She was predeceased by her husband, John. Survivors: her children, John, Frank, Priscilla Wild and James; and five grandchildren.
William Charles Miller, ’50 (petroleum engineering), of Houston, July 23, at 92, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a member of Theta Chi and played trumpet and designed half-time shows for the marching band. He taught for two years at the Army Engineer School. With Shell Oil, he worked on projects in California, the Four Corners area, the Netherlands and Texas and lectured for the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He also enjoyed coaching sports, attending the Houston opera and symphony and singing in his church choir. Survivors: his wife of 70 years, Barbara; children, Camille Powell, Dane, Amy Williams and Doug; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
John C. Wallace, ’50 (political science), of Long Beach, Calif., August 4, at 94. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and played on the golf team. He served in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War. During a 36-year civil career, he oversaw Petrolane’s growth into a large, diversified company and its later acquisition. He was also a co-founder of Kampgrounds of America. He was a dedicated supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, St. Mary Medical Center, Boy Scouts and United Way. Survivors: his wife of 38 years, Alice (Harvey, ’56); and children, Jim, Bruce, John Michael, Phillip, Jane, Jeff Merrill and Scott Merrill.
Patricia Jean O’Farrell Casey, ’51 (history), of Portland, Ore., September 21, at 91. She played on the basketball team. She initially worked at the Asia Foundation in San Francisco, then raised her family in Los Altos Hills. She volunteered with the Allied Arts Guild and was president of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She loved playing golf, tennis, bridge and the piano. She was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Edward. Survivors: her children, Frances Casey von Schlegell, ’78, Carolyn, ’80, Edward Jr. and Suzanne; five grandchildren; and sister.
George Robert Chambers III, ’51 (physical science), MBA ’59, of Murphys, Calif., July 30, at 92, of Lewy body dementia. He was a member of Theta Chi. He served for two years in the Marine Corps, then began his electronics career at Eitel-McCullough. After returning for his MBA, he was a senior industrial economist at SRI International in Menlo Park and London. He enjoyed cycling tours of Europe and the Sierra Nevada, nature photography, cooking, woodworking and classical music. Survivors: his wife of 67 years, Cathleen; and children, Margaret Mackintosh and Edward.
John Benjamin Licata, ’51 (economics), MBA ’55, of Clio, Calif., January 16, 2021, at 91, after a fall. He was a member of Theta Chi and played volleyball, baseball and golf. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he returned to the university for his MBA. He first worked for Standard Oil, but spent most of his career as CEO of Sonoma Securities. Survivors: his wife, Jeannie; children, Marisa and John Anthony; two grandchildren; and brother.
Robert Paul Meye, ’51 (English), of Altadena, Calif., August 9, 2020, at 91. He was in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. After studying at Fuller Theological Seminary and earning a doctorate in theology from the U. of Basel, he was a professor, dean and acting president for 15 years at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He returned to Fuller in 1977, where he taught New Testament and served as dean of the School of Theology. Survivors: his wife of 69 years, Mary; children, Douglas, Marianne Thompson and John; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Hubert Gregg Stokely, ’51 (economics), of Surprise, Ariz., October 15, at 91, of COVID-19. He swam competitively and played water polo. After Navy service, he spent most of his banking career in Southern California. He was a longtime member of the Tournament of Roses Association but most of all loved spending time with his family in the mountains or at the beach. He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara (Lafot, ’52), and second wife, of 36 years, Naoma Lancaster. Survivors: his children, Janet Mayou and Thomas; and five grandchildren.
Alvin Lee Duskin, ’52, of Tomales, Calif., July 25, at 90. He completed his degree at San Francisco State. He was pursuing an academic career when he opened a small women’s clothing store, and the company quickly became a success. He eventually sold the Alvin Duskin Company and focused his activism on opposing war, nuclear power, the sale of Alcatraz Island, the Peripheral Canal and destructive development. After working as a Senate aide, he continued his activism as an entrepreneur and CEO of wind power and innovative energy companies. Survivors: his wife of 50 years, Sara; children, Marcus, Laura, Sarah, Ceres, David and Zoe; and 12 grandchildren.
Jerry Grundfest, ’52 (history), of Somerset, N.J., September 5, at 91. After earning his MBA and PhD from Columbia U., he spent his career in arts and historical organizations, including the Philadelphia Bicentennial Commission and the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. He later worked as a real estate agent. He was a lifelong lover of opera, symphony, ballet and theater. Survivors: his wife of 66 years, Sandra; children, Leslie and Robert; and three grandchildren.
Tien Nio Oei, ’52 (Romantic languages), of Rio de Janeiro, July 19, at 91, of ovarian cancer. She was predeceased by her daughter, Lauren Siok Ing Oei Shak, ’77, MS ’86. Survivors: her son, Rodney; and two grandchildren.
Paul Richard Johnson, ’53 (education), MBA ’58, of Portland, Ore, August 25, at 89. He played basketball and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He worked for 38 years at the Graduate School of Business, retiring as the associate dean for finance and administration, emeritus. During his career, he oversaw construction of the Littlefield office facility and Schwab Residential Living Center. He was also a freshman adviser for more than 20 years. He loved golf, tennis, fly-fishing, photography and wood turning. Survivors: his wife, Carol Domenico; sons, Eric and Kirk; stepchildren, Tony Domenico and Lisa Domenico; and nine grandsons.
Frederick H. Krock Jr., ’54 (chemistry), of Rossmoor, Calif., August 26, 2020, at 87. He got his start in radio at KZSU as an emergency fill-in. He worked for Armed Forces Radio and then for almost 50 years as a sound engineer and announcer at the classical station KKHI and public radio station KQED. He enjoyed opera, ham radio and Southern cooking. He was also an enthusiastic railroad historian and volunteered at the Western Railway Museum and Niles Canyon Railway. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Pat. Survivors: his children, Diana Godwin and Alan; seven grandchildren; and brother.
Jon Morrow Lindbergh, ’54 (biological sciences), of Lewisburg, W. Va., July 29, at 88, of cancer. His preferred housing as a student was in a tent off campus. His preferred work location was underwater as a cave explorer, submersible crew member, researcher for Ocean Systems and part of a Navy underwater demolitions team. He later worked in underwater construction and commercial aquaculture development. Survivors: his wife, Maura Jansen; children, Kristina, Anne, Alena, Wendy, Lars, Leif, Erik and Morgan; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three siblings, including Land, ’59.
Anna Serge Kovaleff Peterson, ’54 (Russian/Eastern European studies), of Alexandria, Va., October 20, at 89. Her 30-year career with the CIA as a Russia specialist took her to Washington, D.C., Japan and Cyprus. In retirement, she served on the board of the Washington-Tokyo Women’s Club and was a founding member of Mount Vernon at Home. She was also a pianist and cellist, a fan of jazz and classical music, and a frequent attendee of symphony and ballet performances at Washington’s Kennedy Center. Survivors: her husband of 65 years, Don; sons, David and Chris; and five grandchildren.
Marlene Carol Pfleger Nylander, ’55 (nursing), of Los Gatos, Calif., October 14, at 89. She earned a master’s degree in special education from San José State. She was an accomplished singer, stage actor and certified scuba instructor. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to dive around the world, and she taught English in China. Survivors: her husband of 65 years, Lennart; children, Tana, Karen, Lara, Mara and Lars; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Carlton Woodruff “Tony” Thompson, ’55 (English), of Little Compton, R.I., September 20, at 88, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, an Air Force helicopter pilot during the Korean War and the Class of ’55 correspondent. He held roles with Time-Life in Mexico City and Sydney, among other places, and helped start HBO. He spent his later career in executive recruitment at Spencer Stuart Associates. His passions ran from limericks to bow ties, but he loved nothing more than being a cheerleader for his friends, family and neighbors. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Nancy; children, Dewey, ’83, Elizabeth and Woody; eight grandchildren; and sister.
Eugene Clark Treaster, ’55 (chemical engineering), of Sacramento, Calif., October 21, at 88. He played trumpet in the marching band. He served in the Army and then earned a law degree from UCLA. He practiced worker’s compensation law in Sacramento for nearly five decades. He is remembered for his devotion to family and his kindness. Survivors: his girlfriend, MeThi James; former wife, Zoette (Easterly, ’57); daughters, Genette Davis, Genelle and Geneen Sherrets; and five grandchildren.
William Bradford Flint Jr., ’56, MS ’58 (petroleum engineering), of Bayfield, Colo., December 22, 2020, at 86, following a stroke. He was a pole vaulter on the track and field team. After graduation, he served in the reserves of the Army Corps of Engineers. During his 33-year career with Unocal, he lived and worked in California, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Indonesia. He later worked for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Koveva. He was predeceased by his first wife, of 25 years, Janet Schleuss. Survivors: his wife of 39 years, Susan Terrill-Flint; children, Susan Klucker, Jim, Carol Andreatta, Ken, Lance Thomas and Tiffany Caron; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
LeeAnn Frazee Hiber, ’56 (education), of San Diego, August 11, at 87. She was on the tennis team. She taught elementary school and, after raising her daughters, earned a master’s degree in counseling and then worked as a guidance counselor. She enjoyed riding horses, playing tennis, sailing and participating in Bible study and prayer groups. She was predeceased by her former husband, Harvey, ’55. Survivors: her husband of 15 years, John Koca; daughters, Sarah Allyson, Cindy Braun and Cathy Nevins; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brother.
Anthony Joseph Holzhauer, ’56 (economics), of St. Helena, Calif., October 6, at 88. He was a member of Kappa Sigma and served in the Marine Corps. He spent his career in public service as a St. Helena planning commissioner and member of the city council, as a grand juror and an advocate for affordable housing, and on the Napa County Planning Commission. Once a week for 15 years, he volunteered for the restorative justice program and Kairos Prison Ministry at San Quentin. Survivors: his wife of 36 years, Betsy; daughters, Kathleen, Gretchen and Heidi; and four grandchildren.
Alex Lee, ’56 (psychology), of Black Mountain, N.C., October 17, at 87. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and served for 27 years in the Marine Corps. After retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel, he worked in aviation and property development. He also published two books, Utter’s Battalion and Force Recon Command, based on his experience leading reconnaissance missions in Vietnam. Survivors: his wife, Bronwyn Bowman; children, Alexander, Parker, Charles, Karin and Marta; and three siblings, including Robert, ’62, MA ’64, and Catherine Lee Lasky, ’65.
Robert Nicholas Rogers, ’56, PhD ’62 (physics), of Santa Rosa, Calif., September 3, at 87, of Alzheimer’s disease. His 50-year academic career began at Wesleyan and the U. of Colorado before he returned to the Bay Area to become a professor at San Francisco State, where he also served as dean and department chair. He had a passion for classical music, performing with several choral groups, and also enjoyed backpacking, tennis, scuba diving and bird watching. Survivors: his wife of 11 years, Connie; children, Richard, Robin, Barbara and Mary; and two grandchildren.
Bruce Overman Inglis, ’57 (social science/social thought), of Estes Park, Colo., August 10, at 86. He later attended the U. of Denver and Andover Newton Theological School, and earned a master of divinity at Harvard and doctoral degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary. After being ordained in the United Church of Christ, he served congregations in California and Colorado. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Jean; children, Catherine and David; and four grandsons.
Richard Owsley Bray, ’58 (history), of Heber City, Utah, September 3, at 85. He spent his career in residential real estate and commercial landscaping. In 1995, he founded the Rocky Mountain Butterfly Project, which identified 46 new species and documented the impact of climate change on butterfly migration and led to his receiving the park’s Citizen Scientist Award and the President’s Call to Service Award. He loved model railroading, being a Boy Scout leader and serving in the Fort Collins, Colo., temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors: his sons, Jonathan, Richard and Peter; nine grandchildren; and brother.
Kay Diane Zaninovich Debs, ’58 (international relations), of Berkeley, August 25, at 84. While raising her children in California, New York and Oregon, she continued her political and antiwar activism. After earning her PhD from the U. of Oregon, she launched a 40-year career as a clinical psychologist. Her happiest moments were attending college and pro sporting events, classical music concerts and theater performances with her children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her former husband, Martin George Zaninovich, ’53, PhD ’64. Survivors: her children, Kathy Zaninovich Layendecker, ’83, Michael Zaninovich, Tom Zaninovich, Susan Zaninovich and Jamie Zaninovich, ’93, MBA ’01; seven grandchildren; and brothers, John, ’66, MBA ’68, and Robert, ’70.
Edward Louis Epstein, ’58 (economics), of Portland, Ore., October 7, at 85, after a long illness. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He earned his law degree from Harvard, then served in the Air National Guard before beginning a career in Portland at Davies, Biggs, Strayer, Stoel and Boley (later Stoel Rives), where he specialized in health and corporate law. He also helped guide the Morrison Center for Youth and Family Service, Good Samaritan Hospital, Oregon Association of Hospitals Foundation and Multnomah County Library Foundation. Survivors: his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Lisa and Rachel, ’92; and grandchild.
Richard J. Koerting, ’58 (economics), of Elkhart, Ind., April 17, 2020, at 83. He was on the swim team. He served in the Army and then earned his MBA from Northwestern. He began his business career with Hewlett-Packard and FMC before working for more than 30 years at Miles Laboratories and then, after that company’s acquisition, at Bayer. He served on the board of the Humane Society and Goodwill and enjoyed Stanford reunions and watching the Cardinal play Notre Dame. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Gretchen; sons, Rick, Woody and David; and six grandchildren.
Gary Russell Truex, ’58 (psychology), of San Rafael, Calif., September 10, at 85. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. After earning his MD from USC, he specialized in internal medicine and nephrology and was in private practice for 30 years. He also served for 34 years in the California Army National Guard, where he was a brigadier general and commander of the 175th Medical Brigade and won numerous honors, including the California State Service Medal. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Gwen; children, Megan, Grey and Laird; and five grandchildren.
Frank R. Alviso Jr., ’59, of Plymouth, Calif., July 23, at 84. He was a member of Theta Xi. After working in the family cattle business as the manager of large farms in California’s Central Valley, he recognized Amador County’s winemaking potential. He and a partner established Clockspring Vineyards in the early 1970s, learning the grape growing business from the ground up and specializing in zinfandel, primitivo, albariño and tempranillo varietals. He was also a machinist, concert promoter, musician, race car campaigner and woodworker. Survivors: his wife of 36 years, Kathy; sons, P.J. and Thomas; and three grandchildren.
Barrie Bruce Lovin, ’59 (political science), of Lacey, Wash., September 3, at 83, of Alzheimers’s disease. She was a member of the ski club. She later pursued graduate study at Radcliffe. Survivors: her husband, John; and son, Brian Young.
1960s
William Addison Bennett Jr., ’60 (general engineering), of Summit, N.J., August 22, at 82. He was a member of Chi Psi. After serving in the Navy, he earned his MBA from NYU. He worked first at Xerox in Palo Alto, then had a career in finance with Bank of America, Clark Dodge, Merrill Lynch, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and Brave Asset Management. In Summit, he volunteered at Calvary Episcopal Church, the American Red Cross and Overlook Hospital. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Joan; children, Bill and Betsy; and five grandsons.
Lynne Widdis Davidson Harrison, ’60 (chemistry), of Mercer Island, Wash., September 21, at 83, of pancreatic cancer. Her photojournalism work was published in the New York Times and Seattle Times, while her fine art and portrait photography was exhibited in galleries and art museums in Arizona, California and Washington. She later turned to horticultural and botanical subjects. She developed an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and was a founding member of the Northwest Perennial Alliance. Survivors: her husband of 62 years, Halstead, ’55, PhD ’60; children, Drayton, Grace Hensley and Evan; four grandchildren; and brother.
Portia Heaps Leet, ’60 (mathematics), of Redwood Shores, Calif., July 2, at 83, of cancer. After raising her children in Monte Sereno, Calif., and living briefly in Hong Kong, she returned to California to work at Stanford in the School of Engineering development office and sports medicine department. She was also an avid golfer, cyclist and endurance athlete. Survivors: her partner, Larry Wallace; children, Julie and John; and four grandchildren.
Alexander “Sasha” Lanz, ’61 (physical science), of Richardson, Tex., April 2, at 81. He was the grandson of three Stanford faculty members. Over the course of his career, he worked for Geotech, Texas Instruments, U. of Texas Health Science, US Tel and Sprint. He loved collecting keys, had a passion for sports cars and enjoyed rallies with the Sports Car Club of America. He was predeceased by his daughter Laura. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Betty; daughter Amanda; five grandchildren; sister, Jean, ’65; and brothers, Kai, ’74, MS ’75, and Chris, ’76, DMA ’89.
Judith Ann Lochridge Haidinger, ’62 (French), of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., October 11, at 81. She loved Big Game and was proud to engage in student pranks, including hanging a “BEAT CAL” banner from the Campanile on the UC Berkeley campus. While living in Newport Beach, Calif., she helped create the Orange County Natural History Foundation and Museum in Irvine. Later, in Rancho Palos Verdes, she worked as director of admissions at La Jolla Country Day School and then director of admissions and financial aid at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. Survivors: her daughters, Kerry Avrit and Tori Fay; and grandchildren.
Gail Grunsky McDaniel, ’62 (sociology), MA ’76 (education), of Pahrump, Nev., November 7, at 81, of a heart attack. She met her future husband studying abroad in France; they married in 1989. For the first 12 years of her career, she was a teacher in Brazil. Back in the U.S., she taught and worked as a claims representative and community center director. She was predeceased by her son, Eric Muller. Survivors: her husband of 32 years, Ralph; children, Beth Muller and Charles Muller; and five grandchildren.
Frank Bellows Williams, ’63 (general engineering), of Santa Barbara, Calif., September 21, at 79, of COVID-19. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After earning his MBA from Harvard, he worked for 20 years at Hewlett-Packard, where he helped establish factories in Malaysia and Singapore. He was later vice president of three high-tech firms and owner of an office equipment company. In retirement, he enjoyed playing golf, traveling and serving his community through the Visiting Nurses Association, Rotary Club, Meals on Wheels, United Way and the Santa Barbara Foundation. Survivors: his wife of 53 years, Parmele; and two siblings.
David Main Glen, ’64 (economics), of Ashland, Ore., September 13, at 79. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He was a Stanford fund-raiser for more than 35 years and retired as associate vice president for development. In Ashland, he served on the board of directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He also enjoyed golf, dogs, fast cars, international travel and exploring the U.S. in a motor home. Survivors: his wife, Kathy Nixon Esslinger, ’68, MA ’69; stepsons, Michael Esslinger and Matt Esslinger, ’96; three grandchildren; and brother, Bob, ’58.
Earl Frederic Herkenhoff, ’64, MS ’66 (geophysics), of Orinda, Calif., September 8, at 79. While working for various divisions of Chevron, he lived and worked in more than 50 countries and led major oil and gas discoveries in the United States, Canada, Australia, West Africa, Indonesia, the Middle East and China. In retirement, he was a docent at Mount Diablo State Park, visiting scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Labs, lecturer at UC Berkeley and vice president of the Bay Area Geophysical Society. He was also an avid golfer, skier and runner. Survivors: his sons, Brett, Eric, James, John and Kyle; four grandchildren; and sister.
Patricia Ann Mayberry Hobe, ’64 (political science), MA ’65 (education), MA ’67 (history), of San Mateo, Calif., August 17, at 79, from complications of dementia. She earned a third master’s degree in developmental therapy from Notre Dame de Namur U. She worked as a benefits specialist. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, she started Pyramid Learning Center for children with developmental disabilities. She loved to sing and was a member of Masterworks Chorale for 43 years. She was also an avid traveler, photographer and PEO member. Survivors: her partner of 36 years, Marilyn Courter; sons, Mark and Steven; and two grandchildren.
Russell Robinson Jr., ’66, MS ’68, PhD ’71 (geophysics), of Wellington, New Zealand, December 24, 2020, at 75, of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. He was active in the Alpine Club. He did postdoctoral research in seismology at Victoria U. of Wellington and decided to stay, joining the geophysics division of New Zealand’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was awarded the department’s Ministerial Award for Excellence and a New Zealand Science and Technology Medal and was part of a team that won the 2019 Science New Zealand Supreme Award. Survivors: his wife, Alison; children, Thomas and Emily; and brother, Arthur, ’63, MS ’65, PhD ’71.
Sara Jane “Sally” Segerstrom, ’69 (art), of Santa Cruz, Calif., August 3, at 74. She worked at three spiritual centers and traveled to six continents. Some of her most memorable trips were exploring Europe with her family, crossing the U.S. with each of her children, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and traveling to China, Kenya and Argentina. Survivors: her children, grandchildren and siblings.
1970s
Marjorie Ellen Tripp, ’70 (biological sciences), of Asheville, N.C., September 18, 2019, at 70. After earning her MD at Yale, she worked for almost 40 years in pediatric cardiology. Survivors: her daughter, Brittany Caudill; grandson; and two sisters.
Lisa Robin Kantrowitz, ’74 (human biology), of Chilmark, Mass., June 6, at 68, of cancer. She earned her MD from the U. of Michigan and then trained at Columbia Presbyterian and Mass General. She worked as a surgeon and interventional radiologist at Yale New Haven Hospital and UC Irvine. She later had a career as an investor. She cultivated numerous intellectual passions and loved sharing them with others. Survivors: her husband, Elliott Fankuchen; and children, Sam Fankuchen, ’08, MA ’09, Alex Fankuchen, Peter Fankuchen and Olivia Fankuchen.
Jonathan King Ferraiolo, ’76 (math/computational science), of Palo Alto, July 16, at 67, of ALS. He earned his MBA from Santa Clara U. He was a Silicon Valley software engineer and entrepreneur. At Adobe, he helped develop the SVG, PDF and ePUB specifications. He was later a distinguished engineer at IBM. While paralyzed by ALS, he wrote two books using eye-gaze technology and programmed a text-to-speech web app for ALS patients. Survivors: his wife of 47 years, Karen Kang; daughters, Nicole, Natalie and Allison; two grandchildren; stepmother, Karen; and three siblings.
Lise Ann Kimball, ’76 (art), of Dana Point, Calif., March 27, at 67, of cancer. She was on the field hockey team. She studied sculpture at the Saci College of Art and Design in Florence, Italy. She began her career as a graphic designer and later found her passion in sculpting marble and writing mystery novels. She was an avid hiker and horseback rider and also pursued interests in Tai Chi, aromatherapy, holistic medicine and studying Italian and Portuguese. Survivors: her children, Lillian Clausen and David Clausen; mother, Dorcas Hardison Thille, ’53; and five siblings, including Gordon Kimball, ’75, MS ’76, Margaret Kimball, ’80, and Nick Thille, ’85.
1980s
Lora Michelle Riggs Wadsworth, ’85 (economics and mechanical engineering), of Atherton, Calif., October 8, at 58. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the lacrosse team. After four years with Mobil Oil Corp., she attended Harvard for her MBA. She worked at Boston Consulting Group and was business development director for educational software at Disney. She held leadership roles at numerous nonprofits and was CEO and director of the Children’s PSC Foundation for more than 15 years. Survivors: her husband of 30 years, Steve; children, Christina, ’18, and Drew, ’22; parents, Samuel and Lois Riggs; and sister, Marsha Riggs Abbott, ’84, MS ’87.
Jeffery Dean Plaskett, ’86 (industrial engineering), of Fremont, Calif., August 5, at 57, of a cerebral hemorrhage. After earning his MBA from NYU, he worked as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve in New York and San Francisco. In 2014, he became chairman of Child Development Inc. in San Jose. He was a sports enthusiast, member of the Stanford golf club and fan of the Giants, 49ers, Warriors and all Cardinal teams. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family. Survivors: his wife, Kristi; children, Joseph and Haley; parents, Sherian and Vernon, ’60; and brother.
1990s
Jason Robert Jordan Plummer, ’92 (psychology), of Southlake, Texas, November 15, at 52. He was an All American swimmer and represented Australia at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. He later earned his MBA at UCLA and worked on Wall Street before shifting to a career selling luxury real estate. He was also a swim coach, including serving as an assistant coach at the U. of Hawaii. Survivors: his wife, Kris; and two children.
Sacha K. Henchman, ’93, MS ’94 (civil engineering) of San Francisco, October 1, at 50. He was the cycling team captain. After working at an engineering company in Massachusetts and as a software developer in California, he changed course, interning as a cabinetmaker and learning woodworking and carpentry. He was also a Passivhaus designer and co-founded Stingray Builders in 2007, focusing on affordable, high-quality, energy efficient solutions. He enjoyed cycling through the Alps and loved taking friends on extreme mountain-biking adventures. Survivors: his mother, Kitsie Henchman-Sallet; stepfather, Herbert Sallet; stepmother, Kate; sister; and two stepbrothers.
Charles Lamonte Donovan, ’98 (biological sciences), of Bronxville, N.Y., and Sebago, Maine, September 11, at 44, of cancer. He was in the marching band. He taught science at Loyola Blakefield preparatory school in Towson, Md., where he led the speech and debate team to a national championship. He earned his MBA from Loyola College in 2017 and was also summer director for 20 years at Camp-O-At-Ka in Maine. Survivors: his mother, Marilyn.
2010s
Kai Lee JuVette, ’15 (urban studies), of Stillwater, Minn., July 28, 2019, at 28. After graduation, he worked at Oracle and became an LGBTQ advocate. He also enjoyed exploring nature and playing soccer, basketball and beach volleyball. He was planning to attend Northwestern Health Sciences U. to study Chinese medicine. Survivors: his parents, Miriam and Jack; and sister.
Business
John Albert Townsend, MBA ’62, of Meadow Lands, Pa., October 15, at 83, from a brain hemorrhage after a fall. He earned his JD from the U. of Pittsburgh and worked as an assistant district attorney and for the firm of McIlvaine, Allison & Townsend before becoming president and general manager of The Meadows Racetrack. In retirement, he focused on raising, breeding and racing Standardbred harness horses. He was also active in Democratic presidential and congressional campaigns. Survivors: his former wife, Jacquelyn; children, Kelly Cook and Bill; five grandchildren; and brother.
Michael Paul Burkart, MBA ’66, of San Francisco, July 3. The university was his bridge from Navy service to the banking division of IBM. After taking a break to volunteer with California Common Cause, he shifted to accounting and earned his CPA while at Arthur Young. He spent the last 15 years of his career as CFO at Hoefer Scientific Instruments. He enjoyed hiking and bicycling, but his happiest hours were on the tennis courts at the Olympic Club at Lakeside. Survivors: his wife, Naomi.
Larry Robert Clapper, MBA ’66, of San Diego, August 28, at 79, of fragility syndrome. He spent his career as a management consultant. He was active in several business groups, including the MIT Enterprise Forum and Corporate Finance Council. He was also an active Rotarian and enjoyed driving his Miata in Autocross competitions and attending symphony, opera, Old Globe and Mostly Mozart performances. Survivors: his wife, Gretchen Vik; children, Laurie Chamberlin and Dave; four grandchildren; and two siblings.
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
Lawrence Edward Mannion, PhD ’60 (geology), of Oakland, August 1, at 97. He served in the Army during World War II. He traveled extensively during his career as a geologist. Family trips to geologically interesting places, including Yosemite and the Tetons, required frequent stops at road cuts and outcrops, rock hammer in hand. He also enjoyed involvement with the Society for Creative Anachronism and local Catholic outreach to the needy. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Emily. Survivors: his children, Mary Rowe, Lawrence Fellows-Mannion, Margaret Smart and John; five grandchildren; great-granddaughter; and two sisters.
Education
Carl Heinz Feldman, MA ’51, of Menlo Park, December 8, 2020, at 92. He worked as a chemist for Aramco in Saudi Arabia, served in the U.S. Army in Germany and taught chemistry at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, Calif., before moving on to a new career as a realtor and eventually running his own real estate company. He supported environmental and social justice causes and enjoyed hiking, mountaineering, California history and activities with Stanford alumni. He was predeceased by his ex-wife, Jeannine, and two grandsons. Survivors: his children, Richard, Fred, Anise and Mary Mary; four grandchildren; great-granddaughter; and two brothers.
Joseph Ehrman III, MA ’53, of San Francisco, October 22, at 97. He served in the Army during World War II. He taught for 34 years in San Francisco, including three decades at Lowell High School, where he was a teacher of mathematics and mechanical drawing, counselor, testing coordinator and dean of students. He was also scoutmaster of Troop 14 for 49 years and was awarded the Silver Beaver for his service. His other passions included car travel and photography and attending the opera, theater, ballet and symphony. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Diane Roth Ehrman, ’48.
Joan Louise Trittipo Perkins, Gr. ’56, of Newark, Ohio, September 3, at 89, of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was an avid artist and enjoyed painting and spending time with family and friends. Survivors: her cousin.
Marjorie Anne Riley Summerville, MA ’68, of Greenbrae, Calif., October 10, at 82. During her 40-year career as an educator, she was an elementary school teacher, substitute and aide in San Francisco public schools. She was also development director at St. Gabriel School and volunteered for St. Gabriel’s Parish, St. Ignatius College Preparatory and Mercy High School. She served her community through Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the American Association of University Women. Survivors: her husband of 46 years, Ed; son, Peter; and sister.
Engineering
Donald Charles Baxter, MS ’55, PhD ’58 (mechanical engineering), of Ottawa, Canada, August 24, at 91. He worked at Ottawa National Research Council and then Government Supply and Services. He later served as Canada’s assistant auditor general. He used his technical expertise to support the Catholic Immigration Centre, Historical Society of Ottawa and Ottawa Baytown Museum. He also enjoyed traveling and playing tennis and bridge. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Mary. Survivors: his children, Debbie and Ross; and four grandchildren.
Robert LeRoy Smith, MS ’55, PhD ’60 (electrical engineering), of Sutter Creek, Calif., September 3, at 90. He taught in Hawaii and at Cornell and worked at Stanford as a research physicist focusing on very low-frequency radio waves generated by lightning. He wrote his first computer program in 1955 and was a member of the IEEE Floating Point Standards Committee. He was also a member of the San Francisco Accordion Chamber Ensemble. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Lois (Kurrie, ’56). Survivors: his children, Ceci Gross, Allean Richter and Marcus; three grandchildren; great-grandson; and two sisters.
Noble Hancock, MS ’56 (electrical engineering), of Portola Valley, Calif., August 21, at 99. He served in the Army during World War II. He taught at San José State until 1961, then served as program officer of the Luke B. Hancock Foundation in Palo Alto. As an avid amateur radio enthusiast, he built his own 1000-watt transmitter and served as treasurer of the Santa Clara County Amateur Radio Association. Survivors: his wife, Lorraine; children, Joyce Gavino, Bruce, Janice Pettit, Diane Hancock Sheehy, ’70, James and Allen; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and great-great-granddaughter.
Glen Everett Myers, MS ’57, PhD ’62 (mechanical engineering), of Madison, Wis., December 2, 2019, at 85. He was professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; his 40-year teaching career included publishing his thermodynamics notes for undergraduates as a textbook in 1989. He was a longtime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education, and received several departmental, college and campus-wide teaching awards. He also enjoyed attending bowl games and concerts and tracing his family history. He was predeceased by his son Gregory. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Susan (Ralph, ’60, MA ’61); children Timothy and Christine; and grandson.
Elmer Dale Martin, PhD ’68 (aeronautic and astronautic engineering), of Cupertino, Calif., October 5, at 87, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Over his 40-year career with NASA at Ames Research Center, he used theoretical mathematics and computational methods in fluid dynamics to study boundary shock waves, the Riemann hypothesis, multidimensional complex variables and inflated sphere landing vehicles. He also enjoyed tennis, skiing, jogging, dancing and staying fit. Survivors: his wife, Barbara; children, Carol Riccio and Kreg; and stepdaughter, Karen Hersh.
Humanities and Sciences
Nicholas John DiNapoli, MA ’61 (art), of Santa Barbara, Calif., November 8, at 84, of heart failure. At General Motors Styling, he worked on the lunar rover program. Later at a series of other companies, including two that he founded, he designed cars for the U.S. Department of Transportation, an airboat, the DiNapoli automobile, high tech military components and Santa Barbara’s downtown shuttle buses and Maritime Museum. He was also head of the art department at Powell Skateboards and taught design at UC Santa Barbara. Survivors: his wife, Meg (Mullen, ’62); children, Stella Acuna and Nick Jr.; and three grandchildren.
David Evan Kaun, PhD ’64 (economics), of Santa Cruz, Calif., September 9, at 88. He played first clarinet in the Stanford Symphony Orchestra. After a fellowship at the Brookings Institution, he became a founding member of the economics department at UC Santa Cruz, where he taught for 50 years and served as provost at Stevenson College. He performed with the Santa Cruz Symphony for many years and supported the arts in numerous ways, including as co-founder of the Music in May chamber music festival. Survivors: his daughter, Abigail; and granddaughter.
Penelope Helen Sarason Vrachopoulos, DMA ’71, of Oakland, July 12, 2019, at 97. She taught at Cornish College of the Arts, SUNY Potsdam and Washington State U. She also founded and led the Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company The Peccadillo Players. It performed all the comic operas in the composers’ canon during her 39-year tenure as its director and conductor. She also founded the Bellevue Opera and a chamber opera group, the Eastside Lyric Theatre. She was predeceased by her former husband, Leonard Sarason. Survivors: her children, Heidi Houston, Mark Houston and Penelope Houston; and granddaughter.
Christopher Kalman “Casey” Johns, MFA ’77, of Racine, Wis., March 2, 2021, at 68, of intracranial hemorrhage. He was professor emeritus of art at Louisiana State U., where he taught painting and drawing from 1979 to 2011. His work was exhibited at galleries in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He held numerous fellowships, including at the Vermont Studio Colony and the David and Julia White Artist Colony in Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica, and he was the 2020-2021 recipient of the Racine Art Museum Fellowship. Survivors: his wife, Mary; son, Eric; and brother.
Tracy Land Mott, MA ’78, PhD ’82 (economics), of Denver, November 4, at 75. He taught at the U. of Colorado Boulder before becoming a professor and department chair of economics at the U. of Denver, where his research focused on Keynesian economics and he mentored countless junior scholars over his 40-year career. He was an active supporter of progressive causes such as the fight for a living wage. He also enjoyed classic country music, played the guitar and harmonica and was an avid baseball fan. Survivors: his stepchildren, Wendy Bartlo and Bret Bartlo.
Susan Rickel Welch, MA ’80 (English), of Minneapolis, September 4, at 72, after a brief illness. She taught English and creative writing at St. Catherine U. for more than 30 years. Her publications included novels and short stories, including “The Time, the Place, the Loved One,” published in The Paris Review, for which she won the Pushcart Prize. Survivors: her husband, Gary Hellweg; daughter, Leah; and three grandsons.
Law
Frank Andersen Small, LLB ’64, of Portola Valley, Calif., August 8, at 82. He practiced real estate and business law for over 52 years with Lakin Spears in Palo Alto. He pursued numerous intellectual interests, including world history, politics, classical literature, modern fiction, and national and international politics. He later studied Russian, Italian and calculus. He also enjoyed running, rowing, Rollerblading and kickboxing. Survivors: his wife of more than 50 years, Kay (Stevens, ’60); and sister.
Medicine
Larry Jew, MD ’55, of San Francisco, September 17, at 96. He served in the Army during World War II. After interning at San Francisco General and completing residencies at San Joaquin General and San Mateo General, he and his brother opened a private practice in San Francisco in 1957; it continues to operate today. He enjoyed reading, in both English and Chinese, about history, literature and art, and a good game of chess. He was predeceased by a grandson. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, May; children, Jonathan, Nicholas and Matthew; six grandchildren; and brother.
