Faculty
J. Myron “Mike” Atkin, of Palo Alto, August 18, at 95. A former dean and professor emeritus at the Graduate School of Education, he was known for bridging education research with the practical realities inside the classroom. He championed the Stanford Teacher Education Program, which became a national model for teacher preparation. Alongside former Stanford president Donald Kennedy, he launched an initiative that connected GSE faculty with local high school teachers and administrators for education research. Survivors: his wife, Ann; children, Jon, ’85, MS ’86, Ruth, and David, ’74; and three grandchildren, including Elizabeth, ’20, and Michael, ’23.
Carl Gotsch, of Palo Alto, June 12, at 89. He was a professor emeritus of food research who promoted the use of microcomputing to improve agricultural management. In developing countries in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, he used mathematical models and innovative statistical techniques to study irrigation, agricultural price policy, and farm labor demand. He also analyzed and promoted the use of privately owned tube wells in Pakistan, furthering the Green Revolution that saw substantial increases in agricultural yields in developing regions of the world. Survivors: his wife, Alexandra; daughters, Liza Pigram and Sonia Chessen; four grandchildren; and two brothers.
William LeRoy Heinrichs, of Menlo Park, September 21, at 90. He was a professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology who chaired his department from 1976 to 1984, championing virtual medical training technologies and minimally invasive surgical techniques. He was a leader in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and an early adopter of less invasive laparoscopic surgery for conditions like endometriosis. He developed technologies and simulator applications for training medical students and physicians in advanced and remote surgical procedures. Survivors: his wife of 68 years, Phyllis; children, Lynn and Stephen; three grandchildren; and great-grandchild.
Saul Rosenberg, of Palo Alto, September 5, at 95. He was a professor emeritus in the School of Medicine and a pioneer in treating Hodgkin lymphoma. He helped develop the first randomized clinical trials for oncology and spent decades developing therapies that used decreasing amounts of radiation. He revolutionized cancer care by combining radiation and chemotherapy to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. He established the nation’s first division of medical oncology in 1965. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley. Survivors: his children, Anne Miller, ’81, and David; and three grandchildren.
1940s
Welko Elton Gasich, ’43 (general engineering), MS ’47 (mechanical engineering), MBA ’67, of Los Angeles, January 14, 2022, at 99. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi and was on the football team. He was a flight test engineer in the Navy during World War II. During his 35 years at the Northrup Corporation, he helped design numerous supersonic jets for the Air Force, co-patenting at least two. He later managed the parachute recovery system for Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space vehicles. Survivors: his wife Patricia; and son, Mark.
Dolores Virginia Stammer Eaton, ’44 (biological sciences), of Fresno, Calif., September 12, at 99. After graduating from USC’s medical school, she worked for the Fresno County Public Health department, traveling to rural farming and Native American communities. Later, she used genetic testing to diagnose children with developmental disabilities. She was predeceased by her husband, Lewis, ’42. Survivors: her children, Bill, ’74, Joan, ’75, and John, ’78, MS ’84; and six grandchildren, including Katherine Gibson, ’06, Claire Gibson, ’09, Kimberly Gibson, ’13, and Lea, ’14, MS ’16.
Armilda Joan Pond McDonough, ’44 (English), of Berkeley, September 7, at 100. She postponed her education to support the war effort by working at an assembly plant. She loved art, architecture, the theater, and opera, and she was a longtime docent at the Oakland Museum. She was a book lover, a gracious host, and a thoughtful grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard, ’47, LLB ’49. Survivors: her children, Annalee, Richard Jr., Robert, and Elizabeth; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Diane Kathleen Roth Ehrman, ’48 (social science/ social thought), of San Francisco, September 14, at 96. After earning a certificate from the Zweegman School for Medical Secretaries, she worked in private practices and at Mount Zion Hospital before moving to New York City and working in the medical profession there. She was predeceased by her first husband, Harvey Steiner; and second husband, Joseph Ehrman III, MA ’53. Survivors include her nieces and nephews, Robert Appleton Jr., ’67, Michael Appleton, Diane Appleton, and Elisabeth Oppenheimer.
1950s
Marilyn A. Schwartz Brown, ’50 (economics), of Portola Valley, Calif., October 11, at 94. She was elected secretary-treasurer of her senior class. She worked as a bookkeeper and office manager, served on the board of trustees of the Sierra Club Foundation, and devoted 10 years to fund-raising for the Yosemite Conservancy. She loved traveling, hosting her Stanford class reunion parties, and playing competitive tennis. Survivors: her husband, Allan, ’50; children, Erik Layman, ’76, MS ’78, Karen McDonald, and Janis Freschi; stepsons, Davin, Steven, and Bowen; and four grandchildren.
Frederick Beringer Fank, ’50, MS ’51, PhD ’58 (electrical engineering), of Los Altos Hills, August 23, at 95. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was on the track and field team. He served in the Navy during World War II. He worked at General Electric in millimeter wave research and developing new semiconductors. In retirement, he learned to speak Chinese and volunteered at his local fire department, earning the town’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2009. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia (Brown, ’49, MA ’51). Survivors: his children, Debbie, Carolyn, Gregory, and Christopher; and two granddaughters.
William Kenneth Carson Jr., ’51 (civil engineering), of Webster, Texas, September 9, at 94. He was a project manager with Bechtel, a job that took his family to Missouri, Wyoming, Utah, and California. He was a member of the Saint Bernadette Catholic Church and loved hunting, jigsaw puzzles, playing pool, card games, and reading. He was a skilled gardener, baker, beer maker, and woodworker. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Jane; children, Wayne, Brad, Joel, Jill Mowers, Carol Watson, and Mary Vlahovich; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Judith Lee Anderson Falconer, ’51 (social science/social thought), of Portola Valley, Calif., April 27, at 92. She devoted her energy to parenting, the PTA, the Portola Valley Library, Cub Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls, and as a founding member of Christ Church. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, ’51, MS ’54, Engr. ’58. Survivors: her children, Steve, Lorry Gordon, ’77, and Rob; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
David Harrah, ’51 (philosophy), of Studio City, Calif., August 16, at 95, of cancer. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda and served in the Army. He was a member of the Stanford Alpine Club, and in 1950 he summited Mount Yerupaja in Peru, the world’s highest unclimbed peak at the time. After earning a PhD at Yale, he became a professor of philosophy at UC Riverside. He was predeceased by his wife, Rita (Giese, ’55). Survivors: his sons, Shane, ’78, MS ’79, and Mark; and granddaughter.
Michael G. Ioakimedes, ’51 (economics), of Vallejo, Calif., August 27, 2021, at 91. He practiced law in Solano County for more than 66 years, longer than any other attorney in the county’s history. He was an anchor in his community and a tireless fighter for his clients, friends, and family. He was predeceased by his wife, Joyce. Survivors: his children, Michael, Matthew, and Stacey; stepchildren, Robert Campbell and Martha Cole; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and sister.
John Warren “Jack” Knowlton, ’51 (petroleum engineering), of Phoenix, July 9, at 96. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and earned a master’s degree in nautical science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He was president of Martin Decker and also worked for Humble Oil and Smith International before forming Knowlton Consulting. He traveled to more than 40 countries, bringing home hats from every culture along the way. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Annie. Survivors: his children, Sharon Miles, Jill Pilcher, Leslie, and Dono; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Dawn Blacker Yates Black, ’52 (psychology), of Palo Alto, August 29, at 92. She was on the tennis team. She became a bridge life master in 2015. She served on the boards of the San Francisco Opera, the California Pacific Medical Center, and Menlo School. She was predeceased by her first husband, Alden Yates, ’50; and second husband, Peter Black. Survivors: her children, Karen Weiss, Trish Mitchell, Steve Yates, ’77, Mike, Jeff, and Russ; four stepchildren; 16 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sister.
Doris Jane Graves Chez, ’52 (economics), of Sacramento, Calif., August 9, at 91. She worked at the Sacramento County Department of Voter Registration and Elections for 17 years. She published a three-volume genealogy of the Graves and Chez families, contributed to local history books, and was her husband’s magician’s assistant, performing for community groups and at their grandchildren’s schools. She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Joe, ’52. Survivors: her daughters, Karen, MS ’79, Leslie Chez Tavernier, and Alison Chez Bowman; six grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.
Barney Galland Glaser, ’52 (social science/social thought), of Mill Valley, Calif., January 30, 2022, at 91. He contributed to the Stanford Daily and served in the Army. A research sociologist at UCSF, he contributed to path-breaking research in the sociology of medicine, studying the process of dying in U.S. hospitals. He authored more than 70 journal articles and books, which collectively garnered more than 250,000 citations. Survivors: his wife of 34 years, Carolyn; children, Jillian Rhine, Barney Hartman-Glaser, ’03, MS ’05, Lila, and Bonnie; and four grandchildren.
Joanna von Briesen, ’53 (philosophy), of San Francisco, September 27, at 91, of cancer. She contributed to the Stanford Daily. She was a secretary for Pan American Airways and a founding member of SCRAP, a nonprofit creative reuse center for discarded materials. She was also a documentary filmmaker and an artist with an eye for the unusual, lining the front steps of her home with body-shaped stumps that she called the “torso forest.” Survivors: her children, Peter and Deborah Fimrite; two grandchildren; and brother, Hans, ’60.
Blair C. Pascoe, ’54 (economics), MBA ’59, of Sonoma, Calif., October 5, at 89. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and served in England as a finance officer with the Air Force. He spent his entire professional career at the Transamerica Corporation, ultimately serving as senior vice president. He and his wife spent many happy years at their home near the Dordogne River in France. Survivors: his wife of 42 years, Helen; children, Brenda Lhormer, ’83, and Bruce; stepchildren, Leslie Smartt and Jonathan Dreyfous; and grandchildren.
Ray Ellwin Swarts, ’54 (social science/social thought), of Redding, Calif., August 12, at 90. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and played baseball, signing a Major League Baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates during his junior year. He was the associate director of continuing education at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, and later became a real estate developer in Hawaii. Survivors: his wife, Elaine; children, Shannon Stewart, ’85, Jeffrey, and David; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, and sister.
Ronald Johnson Bush, ’55 (mechanical engineering), of Larkspur, Colo., August 10, at 90. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and played football and rugby. He served in the Navy and was selected for the Top Gun Fighter Pilot Program, serving on the USS Hancock. Following his naval career, he joined United Airlines and retired as a B767 captain. Post-retirement, he was a flight simulator instructor for new pilots. He loved fly fishing, hunting, and skiing. He was predeceased by his son, Ronald Jr. Survivors: his wife, Anne, granddaughter, Anica; and sister.
James Donald Faville, ’55 (history), of Portland, Ore., October 11, at 88. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and served in the Army in Korea as commander of the Special Services Company. He was devoted to his company, the Pacific Paper Box and Bindery, which made custom-cut boxes, displays, and counter cards. He was involved in the Rotary, the Multnomah Athletic Club, and in pool volleyball. Survivors: his wife of 66 years, Diana (Dewees, ’56); children, Jeffrey, Maria, David, and Christopher; and six grandchildren.
Rosalie Ann Gale Gray, ’55 (nursing), of Salinas, Calif., March 13, 2022, at 88, of Alzheimer’s disease. She worked as a public health nurse in Orange County investigating communicable diseases and for California Children’s Services as a case manager. After retiring, she volunteered as a literacy teacher, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and for the American Association of University Women. She loved to read and discuss literature. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Phillip. Survivors: her three children and six grandchildren.
William Charlton Lawrence III, ’55 (psychology), of Portland, Ore., August 22, at 88. His career was devoted to the family leather business, the George Lawrence Company, founded in 1857. He loved skiing in leather knickerbockers, camping in his Westfalia, Gilbert & Sullivan, beautifying his yard with native plants, and connecting with distant relatives. When he became disabled in 1989, he took up retrimming fishing creels in leatherwork and gifted the proceeds to conservation organizations. He was predeceased by his wife, Emmy. Survivors: his first wife, Mary Parker Lawrence; children, Katharine and Peter; and granddaughter.
Paul A. Bissinger Jr., ’56 (history), of San Francisco, September 1, at 88. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi and served in the Navy. He earned a graduate degree from the American Institute for Foreign Trade. He was active with the Big Brothers organization, and he spearheaded the founding of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. He was predeceased by his son David. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Kathy; sons Stephen and Matthew; two granddaughters; and two siblings, including Tom, ’61.
Cornelius Gary Skartvedt, ’56, MS ’57 (mechanical engineering), of Fallbrook, Calif., October 20, at 88, of pneumonia. He was a member of Chi Psi and played the trombone. He was an aerospace engineer for Martin Marietta and received the Engineer of the Year award in 1969. He later founded a solar energy company and a digital scanning company. He was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia (DeVilbiss, ’58), and second wife, Ann McKee Warfle. Survivors: his third wife, Piyawan Teekeaw; and children, Peter, Elizabeth, ’82, Ann, and Stephen.
Donald Anthony St. Claire, ’56 (biological sciences), of Angels Camp, Calif., August 31, at 87. He was a member of Delta Chi. He was on the clinical faculty at Stanford and practiced internal medicine in Palo Alto and Portola Valley for more than 40 years. He was also committed to an impressive array of hobbies, including carpentry, wine-making and playing piano. Survivors: his wife, Mary Jean; children, Valeri Andres, Donald Jr., Gregory, and Jeffrey; stepchildren, Michael Henningsen and Christa Flores; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
James Wilder Truher Jr., ’56 (civil engineering), of Anaheim, Calif., December 4, 2018, at 84. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, and played on the football and track and field teams. He worked in civil engineering at the Skaggs Island Naval Communication Center. Later he worked as a senior manager at Pacific Bell Telephone Company before founding his own communications firm. He was predeceased by his first wife, Joby; and second wife, Mary. Survivors: his children, James III, Julie, Sarah, Mary, and Pat; and brother, John, ’60.
Gregory Stanton Ball, ’57 (psychology), of San Francisco, October 2022, at 87. He served in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps and was activated for the Cuban Missile Crisis. He worked as a title insurance officer, underwriter, and general manager in California. He loved tennis, beating younger players with his vintage wooden Wilson racket, and refused to own a pair of jeans on principle. He was a dedicated father with a sharp wit and mischievous sense of humor. Survivors: his daughters, Julia Ball-Dugan, ’96, MA ’97, and Lisa; and four grandchildren.
Edward L. Spencer Jr., ’57 (chemistry), of Novato, Calif., June 18, at 86. After graduating from Yale Medical School, he practiced neurology in Petaluma, Calif., for many years. He loved flying with his father and soloed at age 16. Survivors: his former wife, Nancy; sons, Kirby and Gabriel; and grandchildren.
Jane Harris Kleerup Threlkeld, ’57 (sociology), of Los Banos, Calif., October 27, at 87. She was a devoted housewife, mother, and community member. She will be missed for her caring and loving nature and fun-loving sense of adventure. She was predeceased by her husband, John. Survivors: her daughters, Debra Threlkeld Berge, Susan, ’80, and Kristi; and two grandchildren.
Kiyo Anne “Ish” Ishii Fujimoto, ’58 (economics), of Downey, Calif., August 2, at 86. She was a longtime member of the Downey PTA. Together with family members, she built and ran Lyon Supply for 26 years, growing it into a well-respected retailer. She loved hosting events at her home, fishing with her husband, and taking road trips with her son. Survivors: her husband, Sumifusa; son, Frank, ’84; two grandsons; and sister.
Barry Lee Bonwit, ’59 (international relations), of Pensacola, Fla., April 20, at 95. He enlisted in the Air Force at age 16, served as a B-17 tail gunner in World War II, and gained counterinsurgency experience in Southeast Asia. Over the course of his career, he flew 212 combat missions and accumulated 7,700 flying hours. He was honored with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters and the Combat Readiness Medal. He was predeceased by his son Mark. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Roberta; children Lisa and Christopher; and two grandchildren.
Patricia Louise Van de Graaff Hanson, ’59 (Russian and Eastern European studies), of Brandon, Vt., May 29, 2021, at 83, of myelodysplastic syndrome. She earned a PhD in Slavic linguistics from Harvard, taught Polish and Russian, and later trained to become a computer programmer. She spent a year in Poland on a Fulbright Scholarship and built several energy-efficient solar houses. She volunteered with a reading program and delivered meals to hospice patients. She was predeceased by her husband, David. Survivors: her daughters, Chandra and Nita; grandson; and sister.
Meredith McGovney Kaplan, ’59 (English), of Oakland, June 28, at 84, of multiple system atrophy. She was an avid hiker and a landscape architect who served for many years as a superintendent with the National Park Service, helping to plan the 1,200-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and the 175-mile Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. She previously taught elementary and high school, set up a ceramics studio, and raised goats and sheep. Survivors: her partner, Peg Henderson; children, Rachel Lanham, Kate Henderson, Sarah, Esther, and Sharon; and four grandchildren.
Carol Joyce Sowers Kessler, ’59 (biological sciences), MD ’64, of Marblehead, Mass., February 18, 2022, at 84, of breast cancer. She was the only female graduate in her medical school class. With a master’s of public health from UC Berkeley, she practiced pediatrics in Alviso and King City, Calif., primarily serving the children of migrant workers from Mexico. After moving to Massachusetts, she worked at Tewksbury Hospital serving children with disabilities and in pediatric practices in Lynn and Beverly. Survivors: her husband of 52 years, Robert, PhD ’68; daughter, Rebecca; two grandchildren; and brother.
1960s
Marla May Ackerson Gault, ’60 (mathematics), of Sandy, Utah, August 14, at 84, of thyroid cancer. A lifelong patron of the arts, she was a masterful player and teacher of piano. She was also devoted to Stanford, serving as president of the Stanford Club of Utah and as a member of Stanford Associates. She loved the outdoors, hiking the Himalayas and Grand Tetons, and continued to trek into her 80s. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Walden. Survivors include her sisters, Carla Parks, ’60, Katherine Lovrich, ’67, and Mary Orr.
Warren Richard Nelson, ’60, MA ’63 (history), of Los Altos, October 8, at 84, of renal disease. He was a member of Sigma Chi, played baseball, and participated in the Army ROTC. He taught at Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, where he was the director of student activities. He also served as treasurer of the Sigma Chi House Corporation and was a docent at the Stanford Hall of Fame. Survivors: his wife, Ann (Prescott, ’62, MA ’63); and daughter, Karen.
Roger Edwin Crist, ’61 (history), LLB ’65, of Ketchum, Idaho, September 3, at 83, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and played football. He served in the Marine Corps. He was an attorney in Palo Alto for many years before moving to Ketchum, inspired by his passion for the outdoors. He was an enthusiastic skier whose thirst for adventure took him kayaking in Nepal, surfing in Costa Rica, and skiing in Greenland. Survivors: his wife, Susan; first wife, Diane; children, Reggie, Danielle, and Zach; stepson, Tyler; and 10 grandchildren.
Janette Friel, ’61 (psychology), of Eugene, Ore., August 4, at 82, of voluntary assisted death following a hemorrhagic stroke. She received a master’s degree in comparative physiological psychology and worked as the coordinator of the University of Florida’s longitudinal dyslexia project from its inception. At 40, she decided to become a veterinarian, graduated second in her veterinary school class, and co-owned an animal clinic in Atlanta for several years. Survivors include her spouse, Nancy Curran.
Walter Shepard Janzen, ’61 (civil engineering), of Palo Alto, October 12, at 82, of pneumonia. He worked for 58 years in the commercial construction industry as a civil engineer and estimator, most recently with Vanguard Construction Company. He was a devoted father who participated in activities like Cub Scouts and Little League. He enjoyed square dancing, woodworking, and being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Kathleen (Dunlap, ’61); children, Kathleen Freeman, Walter, and Eric; and six grandchildren.
Charles Barrett Robison, ’61 (mechanical engineering), of Birmingham, Ala., October 11, at 83, of respiratory illness. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and played football his freshman year. He worked as an engineer in Birmingham for more than 30 years. Initially, he established and enforced air quality standards. Later, he co-founded the engineering consulting firm Robison and Layton, and then served as VP of environmental health and safety at McWane Cast Iron Pipe Co. Survivors: his wife, Susan Robison; daughters, Amy Robison Mabry and Barri Holston; and four grandchildren.
Ronald Chase, ’62 (psychology), of Montreal, September 6, at 81, of leukemia. As part of a lifelong effort to understand his brother’s mental illness, he earned a PhD in psychology from MIT and then joined the faculty at McGill University. Through innovative research on snails, he expanded the understanding of the neural basis of animal behavior. He wrote four books on mental illness, published numerous scientific articles, and was a well-loved teacher of neurobiology. Survivors: his wife, Dorothy; children, Zanna and Aaron; and two grandsons.
Judith Edna Raynor Walz, ’62 (hearing and speech sciences), of Sacramento, Calif., October 13, at 82, of a stroke. She received a master’s degree in speech and hearing therapy and worked in that field before attending the Santa Clara University School of Law. She worked for the state of California in the attorney general’s office and became a deputy attorney general. She especially enjoyed work related to the environment. She was predeceased by her husband, Brewster Morgan. Survivors include her sister, Phoebe Raynor McFarlane, ’58.
Robert Nelson Sayler, ’62 (political science), of Charlottesville, Va., September 7, at 82. He was a member of Delta Upsilon. After Harvard Law School, he joined Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. As a 31-year-old associate, he argued pro bono before the Supreme Court. He achieved national prominence as a trial lawyer, chaired the litigation section of the American Bar Association, and taught rhetoric and trial advocacy at the University of Virginia Law School. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Marty; children, Chris and Ben; four grandsons, including Will, ’25; and brother.
Herbert Wayne Meyer, ’63 (civil engineering), of Fairway, Kan., August 16, at 81. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda and was in the LSJU marching band. While in the Peace Corps, he designed and supervised the construction of bridges in Bangladesh and Iran. He later earned an MBA and served as vice president of the Meyer Lumber Company. Returning to public service, he consulted on 35 economic growth projects in 20 developing countries. Survivors: his wife, Nancy; children, Christopher, Diana, and Victor; three grandchildren; and two sisters.
Robert Wilber Wirtz, ’64 (history), of Bismarck, N.D., July 24, at 80. A graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, he practiced in the state for many years. He was an active supporter of Stanford and the University of North Dakota. He was predeceased by his wife, Verna Jean.
Kenneth Chaloner Schley, ’65 (history), of Monterey, Calif., June 24, at 79. He was a member of Theta Xi. He loved speed and raced cars for several years after graduation. He started his finance career at Kidder Peabody and was proud of what he helped build with the Pacific Investment Group at UBS. He loved golf, traveling, riding his motorcycle, reading, and bow ties. Survivors: his wife, Susan Freeland; daughter, Mary; stepchildren, Patrick Susemihl, Amy Susemihl, and Katie Bennie; five grandchildren; and two brothers.
Philip M. Shaw Jr., ’65 (electrical engineering), of Mill Valley, Calif., August 23, at 79. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and the judo club. After earning a JD from UC Hastings Law School, he joined San Francisco-based Limbach, Limbach and Sutton as an intellectual property attorney, eventually becoming a senior partner and working on patents for clients like Sony. Survivors: his wife of 40 years, Lynn; sons, Greer and Cameron; stepchildren, TJ Williams and Jenifer Williams; and five grandchildren.
Wayne Richard “Rick” Webb, ’67 (psychology), of Novato, Calif., September 30, at 76, after a long illness. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and served in the Air Force. His foundational work in high-resolution chest CT, including what’s considered the definitive textbook on the subject, underpins the modern evaluation of diffuse lung disease. He wrote or co-wrote eight books and more than 200 manuscripts, and delivered lectures in more than 35 countries. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Teresa; children, Emma, Sonny, and Andy; four grandchildren; and sister, Judy, ’63.
Michael Aris Nishkian, ’68 (general engineering), of Long Beach, Calif., September 2, 2021, at 76, of Parkinson’s disease. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. He earned a law degree from USC and became a solo practitioner specializing in estate planning. He loved Lake Tahoe vacations, movies, games, jokes, and writing songs, as he did every year for every family on his block ahead of the annual Christmas caroling party. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Karen; children, Jennifer and Michael; four grandchildren; and sister.
Nancy Wynn Craig, ’69 (history), of Petaluma, Calif., September 15, at 75, of a chronic illness. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She worked for clinics in Maryland and humane societies in the Bay Area before co-founding Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital in Pacifica, Calif., providing high quality care at prices that everyday people could afford. She cared deeply for animals, and their caretakers, and enthusiastically mentored veterinary technicians. Survivors: her partner of 32 years, Jane Turrel; and two siblings.
Bruce Alan Sramek, ’69 (geology), of Oakhurst, Calif., April 27, at 74. He ran track and field and cross country. An antiwar activist in college, he nonetheless joined the Navy, where he was AQ2 in the VF-194 Red Lightnings aviation unit aboard the carrier USS Oriskany. He worked for many years as a circuit designer and design manager in the Bay Area, founding two companies and running an independent design service bureau. He was predeceased by his son Colby. Survivors: his wife, Debra; sons Chris, MS ’07, PhD ’10, Kyle, and Michael; six grandchildren; and sister.
1970s
Linda Lee Winthrop Peterson, ’71 (English), of Portland, Ore., October 11, at 73, of Alzheimer’s disease. She was a member of Lambda Nu and worked for the KZSU radio station and Stanford Daily. The author of The Stanford Century, she chaired the annual Books on Review, was a key adviser for the Stanford Challenge, and received a Stanford Associates Award of Merit. She was a distinguished communications leader and a board chair for several organizations. She published three mystery novels. Survivors: her husband of 51 years, Ken, ’71; son, Ben; grandson; and two siblings.
Barry Allen Smith, ’71 (civil engineering), of Las Vegas, March 4, 2022, at 72, of cancer. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and served in the Army as an air defense artillery officer in Germany. With an MBA from the University of Chicago, he became a stockbroker and financial adviser with Smith Barney and then Morgan Stanley, building a client base of leading figures in emerging Silicon Valley firms. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling the world. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Debby; and three siblings.
Craig Allan Heaps, ’75 (communication), of Austin, Texas, April 29, at 68, of complications following open heart surgery. He contributed to the KZSU radio station. Despite losing most of his vision by the age of 28 due to Type 1 diabetes, he worked at KTVU in the Bay Area for nearly 30 years as a writer, reporter, and producer, covering the 1989 earthquake and the Yellowstone fires, and traveling to Bosnia and Uganda to report on the impact of war. He was predeceased by his daughter Elizabeth. Survivors: his wife, Patti; children Jonathan and Anne; three grandchildren; and two sisters.
1980s
Helen M. Robison-FitzGerald, ’82 (chemical engineering), of Palo Alto, August 7, at 62, of pancreatic cancer. In high school, she won a bird-calling contest that led to an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Following graduate studies at the University of Chicago, she worked for Cisco Systems, CoastCom, and Verizon. She shared a love of reading and traveling with her daughter. She also loved to cook and attended the San Francisco Culinary Academy. Survivors: her husband, Cary FitzGerald; daughter, Anna Stang; mother, Marianne Robison, ’53; and brother.
Education
Karl Gustaf Anderson, MA ’61, of Castro Valley, Calif., September 3, at 88, of pancreatic cancer. He taught high school art for several decades in Berkeley. After retiring, he pursued interests in improv, illustrating, and promoting gay rights, and was involved in his grandchildren’s endeavors. He wrote Biff n Bunky, a comic strip he compiled into a book that is in the Library of Congress. He was predeceased by his partner, Keith Jacobsen; and ex-wife, Sonia (Berdan, ’61). Survivors: his daughters, Megan Ware and Malary Hathcox; and four grandchildren.
Jack Seward Schreder Jr., EdD ’68, of Redding, Calif., June 5, at 88, of heart failure. He was the first principal at Nova High School in Redding, where he learned the names of all 1,200 students in six weeks. He obtained initial funding for Northern California’s Schreder Planetarium. His consulting company secured more than $2 billion for California schools. He was predeceased by his grandson Henry. Survivors: his wife of 34 years, Kristen; children, Andrea Fountain, Elona Cunningham, Sabrina Kikut, Bryson, Seward, Skovran, and Zane; and 15 grandchildren.
Engineering
Charles Leonard Mraz, MS ’56 (mechanical engineering), of Mary Esther, Fla., September 28, at 91, of an infection. At Aerojet General, he became a project engineer responsible for the design and testing of the Titan I missile engine. From 1959 to 1961, he served as a liaison with the federal government for Project Gemini. Later, based in Japan and Singapore, he arranged sales of the Tomahawk ICBM and the Apache attack helicopter. Survivors: his wife, Celia; daughters, Laurene Mraz-Peterson and Maria; three grandchildren; brother; and three half-sisters.
Leo G. LeSage, MS ’62 (engineering science), PhD ’66 (mechanical engineering), of Boulder, Colo., July 6, at 87. For 33 years, he worked at the Argonne National Laboratory outside of Chicago, where he served as senior scientist and directed several divisions. He was the designated U.S. representative to the committee tasked with developing a long-term solution for stabilizing the Chernobyl site following the 1986 accident. He helped organize two NATO Advanced Research Workshops on Russian nuclear submarine decommissioning. Survivors: his wife of 64 years, Carolyn; daughters, Annette and Marietta; and three grandsons.
Louis Boyd Hilderbrand, MS ’68 (civil engineering), of Yakima, Wash., May 29, 2020, at 86, of ALS. He was a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe in Fort Hall, Idaho. He served in the Navy Construction Battalion Three in the Philippines, and worked for numerous companies and organizations, including the U.S. Forest Service and Tippetts Abbott McCarthy Stratton Consultants. His passion for travel and exploration brought him to places as varied as Yemen, Peru, Thailand, and Ethiopia. Survivors: his wife, Consuelo; daughters, Patricia O’Connor and Sandra Petrequin, ’91; eight grandchildren; and five half-siblings.
Michael Kenneth Sahm, PhD ’92 (mechanical engineering), of Canton, Conn., May 24, 2021, at 64, of cancer. He completed USGBC LEED certification courses in 2008 and held over 42 U.S. patents. After more than 20 years with United Technologies, he established his own company and worked as an independent engineering consultant. He had a contagious laugh and an amazing sense of humor, and he extended kindness and generosity to everyone. Survivors: his wife, Dawn; daughters, Heather Whitney, Ashley, and Megan; mother, Toby; and two siblings.
Humanities and Sciences
Joan C. Striefling Crespi, MA ’55 (English), of Blue Bell, Pa., April 27, at 91, of dementia. After graduate school, she moved to New York City and worked as a copy editor at Esquire magazine. She relocated to New Jersey, where she wrote for the Princeton Packet and U.S.1, reviewing local theater productions. She wrote several plays, traveled extensively, and spent countless hours reading the New York Times. She was predeceased by her husband, Irving. Survivors: her children, Robert and Judy; and six grandchildren.
Richard Stefen Waritz, PhD ’57 (chemistry), of Hockessin, Del., March 3, 2022, at 92, of Alzheimer’s disease. He managed biosciences and toxicology groups at the DuPont Company and Hercules Company before forming his own toxicology consulting company, BioSante International. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. He loved traveling, woodworking, fishing, and the New York Times crossword puzzle. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Ruth. Survivors: his children, Joyce Farmer, Carol Buccio, Sharon, and Gary; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Edward James Conklin, PhD’ 62 (chemistry), of Rockford, Ill., October 10, at 89. He served in the Army. He worked as an organic chemist at Pierce Chemical/Thermo Fisher Scientific for many years. He was also an associate professor at Rockford College, president of the Rockford School Board, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Crandall. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Mary; children, Jim, Don, Bill, Kathi Phillilps, Eric, and Michelle; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
John O’Neill, PhD ’62 (history of social thought), of Toronto, September 7, at 89, after a fall. He was a renowned sociologist, phenomenologist, and social theorist who co-founded the Journal of Classical Sociology and the graduate program of social and political thought at York University in Toronto. He wrote dozens of books and hundreds of articles. He was predeceased by his son Greg and first wife, Maria. Survivors: his wife of 38 years, Susan; children Daniela, PhD ’94, and Brendan; stepchildren, Wendy Hallam Martin, Kathleen Kibzey, and Jennifer Rea; three grandchildren; and six stepgrandchildren.
Don Harvey Card, MS ’64 (statistics), of Shoreline, Wash., January 24, 2022, at 84, of a stroke. At the NASA Ames Research Center, he engaged in seminal work analyzing and interpreting geographic satellite data. He later earned his PhD in geography at the University of Utah. He was a virtuoso classical pianist, a master chess aficionado, and a devoted student of linguistics and philosophy. He was predeceased by his second wife, Maureen. Survivors: his first wife, N’Shama Sterling; children, Judith, Ken, and Dave; and granddaughter.
Charlotte Nell Cook Morse, MA ’68, PhD ’70 (English), of Richmond, Va., September 25, at 79. She joined the junior faculty at Yale University’s English department and later became a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She served on two VCU committees, and was instrumental in promoting the development of the library into a core service for students and faculty. She enjoyed conducting research on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales at the British Museum Library in London each summer. Survivors include her sister and two nieces.
Lawrence Kwan Ho Ma, MS ’86 (mathematics), of Hong Kong, September 29, at 60, of a stroke. He was a lecturer at the National University of Singapore, head of quantitative research at Man Drapeau Research, senior vice president at American Bourses Corporation, and founder of the Hong Kong Blockchain Society. An innovator and lifelong learner, he also founded eMALI.IO Limited, a Hong Kong-based blockchain startup. He was a kind uncle, jovial friend, intelligent mentor, funny brother, and caring son.
Law
Russell Lloyd Johnson, LLB ’58, of Los Angeles and San Francisco, July 12, at 89. He was an editor for the Stanford Law Review. He spent his entire legal career at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, becoming the first head of the real estate department. For decades, he was involved in major Los Angeles real estate developments, including California Plaza, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. He loved mentoring junior lawyers, hosting family gatherings, and visiting relatives near and far. Survivors: his wife, Mary; and daughter, Teresa, JD ’92.
Medicine
Robert H. Friedman, MD ’68, of West Newton, Mass., September 6, at 80, of Alzheimer’s disease. A pioneer in the field of medical infomedics, he led a novel program in computer applications of medicine at Boston University Medical School, where he was a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics. He was insatiably curious and enjoyed wine-making, traveling, and the arts. Survivors: his wife of 58 years, Rochelle (Rame, MD ’68); daughters, Jordana, Alissa, Heather, and Tamar; nine grandchildren; and two siblings.
Sustainability
Robert Worth Esser, MS ’59 (geology), of Huntington, N.Y., August 3, at 89, of a heart attack. He served in the Navy and participated in Operation Deep Freeze, during which he explored the Antarctic with Admiral Richard Byrd. For decades, he located and forecasted global oil deposits for Mobil Oil and Cambridge Energy Research Associates. He was honored by the Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation with their Trustees Career Service Award. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Gail; sons, Robert Jr. and David; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
