Faculty/Staff
Walter Michael Bortz II, of Portola Valley, Calif., August 5, at 93. He was a clinical professor of medicine and an expert on aging and longevity whose work laid the foundation for Stanford’s Lifestyle Medicine Program. He regarded aging as a condition largely caused by disuse and advocated for regular exercise. He completed 45 marathons and published numerous books and 150 articles. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth. Survivors: his partner, Jeanne Kennedy; children, Danna, Gretchen, Edward, and Walter; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
William Weis, of Palo Alto, October 13, at 64, of brain cancer. In addition to serving as chair of the structural biology department, he was also a professor of molecular and cellular physiology, and of photon science. A pioneer of molecular imaging, he refined advanced imaging techniques and described the three-dimensional structure of many cellular components. He developed imaging techniques that included advanced X-ray crystallography methods, which help scientists determine how proteins interact with surrounding molecules and which molecules are good possibilities for drugs. Survivors: his wife, Sherin Halfon; and brothers, Philip and Richard.
Norman Keith Wessells, of Jersey City, N.J., September 20, at 91, of cancer. He was a professor of biological sciences and dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences. His research included early electron microscopy on plant and animal cell cytoskeletons. He authored 11 books and 80 scientific papers. He was predeceased by his wife, Lois. Survivors: his wife, Catherine; children, Christopher, Stephen, MA ’91, Philip, ’85, Colin, ’08, MS ’12, PhD ’12, and Elizabeth, ’10; four grandchildren, including Quinton, ’18, MS ’19; two great-grandchildren; and sister.
Ferid Murad, of Menlo Park, September 4, at 86. He was an adjunct professor, pharmacologist, and Nobel Prize winner whose research into the effects of nitric oxide on the heart and blood vessels enabled widespread advancements in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. His discovery that nitric oxide functions as a signaling agent in the cardiovascular system paved the way for drugs like Viagra, which facilitates erections and stimulates the lungs of premature babies. Survivors: his wife, Carol Leopold; children, Joe, Christy Kuret, Carrie Rogers, Marianne Delmissier, and Julie Birnbaum; and nine grandchildren.
Robert Greenwood Walton, of Modesto, Calif., April 21, at 100. He was a professor of dermatology and directed Stanford’s dermatology clinic. Born in England, he was fascinated by cowboy culture and decided to open a commercial livestock business. He served as president of the Central Valley Polled Hereford Association and formed the Modesto Polo Club. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary; and grandson Delmar. Survivors: his children, Betsy, Rob, Bil, Susan, F.D., and Mary; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
1940s
Gloria Greenbach Kennett, ’43 (economics), of Atherton, Calif., September 16, at 101. She was a dedicated philanthropist who, together with her husband, played a pivotal role in establishing the Sequoia Hospital Foundation and raising nearly $95 million. Later she established the Dr. Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship program, which has granted over $1.5 million in scholarships. She was predeceased by her husband, William Kennett. Survivors: her children, Katharine Gallison Stevens, Daniel Tehaney, Carol Douglass, Ken Tehaney, Celia Hull, and Lauren Teel; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Thomas Friedrich Paul Leo, ’45 (biological sciences), MD ’48, of Pebble Beach, Calif., December 10, 2022, at 97, of respiratory failure. He participated in student drama and was on the swim team. He retired from his cardiology and pulmonary practice in San Jose in 2002. He liked astronomy, sang with the Santa Clara Chorale, and was a Religious Society of Friends member. He was predeceased by his daughter Karin Madson and son Ivan York Shadwick. Survivors: his wife, Emily; children, Eric, Ingrid, Paul, David, and Elisabeth; and 10 grandchildren.
Martin Anderson Jr., ’46 (undergraduate law), LLB ’49, of Palo Alto, October 15, at 99. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and was on the football and track and field teams. He was a colonel in the Marine Corps and a trial attorney who retired from Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel in 2006. He was chairman of the Hoover Institution Board of Overseers. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ilma “Illie” (Costigan, ’48). Survivors: his daughter, Christen Docker, ’71; two grandchildren, including Heather Docker, ’00; and three great-grandchildren.
Shirley Ann Sneath Kelley, ’47 (social science/social thought), of Portola Valley, Calif., April 9, at 96, of cancer. She spent 20 years as a development director at Stanford Lively Arts. Later she helped grow the Santa Clara County affiliate of Planned Parenthood into one of the nation’s largest. She was involved in the gay community’s medical response to AIDS and volunteered with Renew, a nonprofit supporting caregiving professionals. She was predeceased by her husband, Ryland, ’49. Survivors: her sons, Tom, Richard, ’75, MBA ’89, and Bruce; and four grandchildren.
Doris Elaine Coplen Santana, ’47 (social science/social thought), of Palo Alto, December 30, 2022, at 96. She had a passion for golf and tennis, and was a competitive dominoes and bridge player. She enjoyed the vibrant social circles at the Menlo Circus Club and Menlo Country Club. She and her husband explored the world, from India and Egypt to South Africa and Europe. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, John, ’48. Survivors: her children, Mark, Jane, Sally Santana King, Annie Higgitt, and James; and 10 grandchildren.
Audrey Ellen Nixon Drawbaugh, ’48 (humanities), of Greenville, S.C., May 12, at 97. Her father’s work as a geologist and mining engineer took the family from the Pacific Northwest to the jungles of Venezuela. She later worked in the geology department at Kansas University, where her father taught. She was a caring homemaker and enjoyed studying French. She later became a tutor, attended continuing education classes, and developed friendships at Senior Action. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald. Survivors: her children, Laura and Max; and brother, Alan Nixon.
Joan Joaquin Wood, ’48 (psychology), of San Francisco, August 9, at 95. She waitressed at Vesuvio Cafe in the city’s North Beach neighborhood and crossed paths with the likes of Billie Holiday and Allen Ginsberg at local clubs and galleries. She worked for 29 years for the city and county of San Francisco, serving as a supervisor in the welfare department. She was also a civic activist who fought to protect her neighborhood from chain stores and big developers. Survivors: her daughters, Sarah Kliban and Linda Dyer; two grandsons; and great-grandson.
Georganne Salisbury Parsons Thomsen, ’48 (communication), of Glendale, Calif., October 3, at 97. She contributed to the Stanford Daily. After graduation, she worked for the Los Angeles Times. In 2016 she was recognized by the California State Senate for her dedication to the city of Glendale, The League of Women Voters, the California Coalition for Fair School Finance, and the Glendale YWCA. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Robert, ’48. Survivors: her children, Erica, Christopher, ’77, Peter, Lance, and Mark; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Robert Foster Sawyer, ’49 (economics), MBA ’50, of Palo Alto, July 14, at 97, of congestive heart failure. He was a member of Kappa Alpha. He founded Woodruff-Sawyer & Co., one of the country’s largest independent insurance brokers. A philanthropist and volunteer, he was active through his church, Stanford, and health care organizations. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Ellen (Aldag, MA ’52). Survivors: his children, Wende Sawyer Hutton, ’81, and Steve, ’77; and five grandchildren, including Cameron Hutton, ’14, MS ’15, and Rachel Hutton McKenzie, ’17.
1950s
John Leslie Darby, ’50 (speech and drama), of San Francisco, July 28, at 96. He served in the Army and was an expert rifleman. He worked as a clinical audiologist at the San Francisco Hearing Center and went on to serve as executive director of the Hearing Society for the Bay Area for 36 years. He and his husband were honored in 2007 by KQED and Kaiser Permanente as “LGBT heroes” for integrated housing work. He was predeceased by his husband, and companion of more than 50 years, Jack Bird.
Susanne Holyoke Elwood Houston, ’50 (international relations), of Lawrence, Kan., July 11, at 94. She attended graduate school at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where she developed a passion for medieval history. While raising a family in Jays, Kan., she helped found the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. She loved gardening, cooking, traveling to England, and researching family genealogy. She was predeceased by her husband, Clay, ’51. Survivors: her children, Laura Weaver and Peter; five grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
Gordon Joseph Vosti, ’50 (basic medical sciences), MD ’54, of San Jose, September 4, at 93, of heart failure. He served in the Army before returning to California to finish his internal medicine residency. He spent his entire career at the San Jose Medical Group, where he was loved by patients and staff and respected by colleagues. He was an avid tennis player, backpacker, painter, master gardener, musician, and singer. Survivors: his wife of 68 years, Marcia; children, Ann, ’80, David, and Hugh; and two grandchildren.
Shirley Jean Smith Kellogg, ’51 (nursing), of Stanton, Calif., August 15, at 95, after a fall. She gave up a career in hospital nursing to raise her family, becoming socially active on issues like housing and health solutions for Orange County’s homeless population. She loved Stanford Nursing School and Medical School reunions, her husband’s Navy ship reunions, and visiting family. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Frank, ’47, MD ’51. Survivors: her children, Richard, Karen Parotti, and Cheryl Petretti; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and sister Gerry.
Lawrence William Brown, ’52, MBA ’58, of Moraga, Calif., August 28, at 93. After freshman year he transferred to San Jose State to study business administration. He was a captain in the Navy. He specialized at the Bank of America in international banking, a subject he taught on the side at Vista College, now Berkeley City College. He volunteered for Big Brothers of San Francisco. He was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, Neda. Survivors include his brothers, Donal, ’60, Dan, ’48, MBA ’50, and Allan, ’50.
Gerald Walker Smith, ’52 (political science), MBA ’55, of Atherton, Calif., July 21, at 92. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the water polo team. With a doctorate in psychology, he maintained a counseling practice in San Mateo County for more than 60 years. He wrote two books, led Esalen Institute workshops, and had a television talk show. Survivors: his wife of nearly 40 years, Joyce (Adams, ’56, MA ’58); sons, Andy and Martin; stepdaughters, Kristine Hanna and Katie Dickson, ’84; six grandchildren; and sister.
Betty Ann Cain Bruno, ’53 (political science), of Sonoma, Calif., July 30, at 91. She was cast as a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 film that inspired the title of her autobiography, The Munchkin Diary: My Personal Yellow Brick Road. She was later a political talk show producer and an Emmy-winning on-air investigative reporter for San Francisco-based KTVU. She was a native Hawaiian and taught both modern and ancient hula dancing. Survivors: her husband, Craig Scheiner; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; and brother.
Joan Lewis Danforth, ’53 (sociology), of San Francisco, June 12, at 90. She worked as a portfolio manager at Dean Witter & Company and later as an investment officer at Citicorp-Citibank. She volunteered for numerous organizations, including the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Oberlin College, San Francisco Performances, and Big Sisters Inc. She loved to hike, ski, golf, and travel the world. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, and stepdaughters Patricia and Sally. Survivors: her stepchildren, Jill, Betsy, and William; three stepgrandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
C. Bradford Jeffries, ’53 (undergraduate law), JD ’55, of San Francisco, June 30, at 92. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta, the Band, and the crew team. After Stanford, he served in the Air Force. He was a venture capitalist and venture capital attorney who helped build Silicon Valley’s venture capital industry. He was president of the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California. He was predeceased by his second wife, Dorothy. Survivors: his children, Steven, ’82, and Lynn; two grandchildren, including Michael, ’25; first wife, Ann; and sister.
Francis McKinely Kirk Jr., ’53 (philosophy), of Boise, Idaho, September 19, 2022, at 90. He was student body president. He earned a master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and served as a pastor in western states for 20 years. After earning a master’s in education and a PhD in clinical psychology and counseling, he worked as a practicing psychologist for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for 26 years. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Nancy; children, Katherine, Andrew, and David; and four granddaughters.
Norman Vartkes Manoogian, ’53, MA ’57 (education), of Palo Alto, November 20, 2022, at 91. He was a member of Sigma Chi, played in the 1952 Rose Bowl, and was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. He coached the defensive line at the Marine Corps Academy in Quantico, Va. He taught at Ravenswood High School and Foothill Community College, and he pioneered community college fitness classes. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Jone, ’55, MA ’56; children, Shannan Johnson and Brian; and five grandchildren.
Don Lee Nickerson, ’54 (philosophy), MA ’60 (education), of Vancouver, Wash., April 13, at 96, of dementia. He was a minister in the UCC church and later became the director of counseling at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., where he taught Gestalt therapy for over 20 years. He then developed an interdisciplinary counseling program in Milwaukee, Ore. He loved his Tanqueray martinis, playing tennis, and writing poetry. Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Linda Larsen.
Beatrice Diana “Yana” Moya Coda-Nunziante, ’55 (psychology), of Siena, Italy, September 6, at 89. In the 1970s, she and her husband moved to the Montalto Castle in Tuscany and made the peasant houses within its walls available as vacation rentals. They worked hard to provide an idyllic setting for guests. She applied her talent as a painter to restore some of the castle frescoes. She was predeceased by her husband, Giovanni. Survivors: her children, Paola, ’85, Carlo, Anna, and Elena; five grandchildren; and sister, Clementina Moya Kun, ’57.
Carter Grant Elliott, ’55 (social science/social thought), of San Jose, March 28, 2023, at 92. He was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi. He served in the Air Force. He owned and operated Carter/Elliott Advertising and Public Relations, an agency serving primarily television equipment-related clients. He was one of the original members of the management team at International Video Corporation. Survivors: his wife, Linda; children, Elizabeth O’Leary, Eric, and Grant; stepchildren, Kristin Lamson and Karl Odquist; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and step-great-granddaughter.
William Clayton McDade, ’55 (basic medical sciences), MD ’58, of San Diego, February 13, 2023, at 89. He was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi and was on the crew team. He served in the Navy as a flight surgeon. He became a practicing partner of the San Diego Orthopedic Associates, spent many years as a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at UCSD, and was a traveling surgeon in Malawi. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Carol; children, Steve, Patti Guyer, and Karen Adams; and five grandsons.
Ellen Skillen Bogen Alkon, ’56 (history), of Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., December 30, 2020, at 84, of kidney failure. She was the commissioner of health at Minneapolis Health Department. At the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she was the medical director for public health and director of public health education for physicians. She was also an adjunct professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul, and daughter Kathy. Survivors: her daughters Cynthia and Margaret and brother David.
James Cameron Bageman, ’56 (industrial engineering), of Las Vegas, March 13, 2023, at 88. He was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi. He was in the Army ROTC while he was pre-law and studying engineering at Stanford. He later graduated from law school at the University of Southern California. He was predeceased by his spouse, Karen (Wyman, ’57). Survivors: his children, Janet Medlin and Paul.
Kenneth Grover Berry, ’56 (history), MBA ’61, of San Francisco, October 22, at 88. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He served in the Navy. During his 43-year career as an investment counselor, he was a partner in investment firms and a founding partner of Berry, Hartell, Evers, and Osborne. He became chairman and CEO of Pillar Point Capital Management Inc. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Gail. Survivors: his children, Bliss Talbott, Jeffrey, and Brooke Dunton; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Mark Clay Davis, ’56 (history), of Atherton, Calif., July 7, at 90. He founded the Stanford Real Estate Club, was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and played football. He co-founded the commercial division of the Cornish & Carey real estate company in 1971 and continued as an executive managing director for over 43 years. He was a partner in Golden Gate Investments. He mentored many young people interested in real estate. Survivors: his wife of 64 years, Patricia; children, Kimberley and Todd; and three grandchildren.
James C. Kelso, ’56 (mechanical engineering), of San Jose, October 4, 2020, at 86. He worked on the Atlas and Saturn V rocket engines used in the early space program leading to the Apollo moon landings. He spent most of his career with the San Jose GE nuclear program, retiring to write a training guide for the turbine to which he devoted so many years of his working life. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Helen; sons, Timothy, Michael, Patrick, Christopher, and Matthew; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandsons.
Richard Alden Lewis, ’56, MS ’58 (civil engineering), of San Diego, August 13, at 89. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and was in ROTC. He worked as a civil engineer and consultant for 55 years. He enjoyed investing and personal finance, skiing, sailing, golfing, and playing tennis. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Bobbi. Survivors: his son, Rick, and two granddaughters.
Robert M. McGrouther Jr., ’56 (history), LLB ’61, of Oakland, June 23, at 88, while recovering from surgery. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta. He served in the Navy. He spent his entire legal career at Lillick, McHose & Charles (now Nixon Peabody) and was the national coordinating counsel for a major insurance company. He was universally respected by his law partners for his fairness and sound judgment. Survivors: his wife, Lila; children, Robert, David, Stephen, William, and Caroline; 12 grandsons; and sister, Martha Eddleman, ’65.
George Schafer Roberts, ’56 (geography), of Woodside, Calif., September 26, at 89. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He served in the Army. He worked for the family grocery business before buying a small store on a dirt road in Woodside, growing it into Roberts Market, an institution for over 60 years. He went on to create a town center, Canada Corners, where neighbors would gather. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Kathie; children, Christine, Suzanne Vandenberg, and Brian; stepson, Braxton Zink; and six grandchildren.
Bernice Yoshiye Kamei Tashima, ’56 (social science/social thought), of Keauhou Kona, Hawaii, August 24, 2020, at 86. She received a master’s degree from Columbia University and spent most of her career as a first-grade teacher at Kealakehe Elementary School in Kona. She was predeceased by her husband, Sadaharu. Survivors: her children, Karen and Wendell.
Barbara Patricia “Patsy” Landis Hulting, ’57 (history), of San Francisco, July 26, at 87. She was a fourth-generation Californian who lived most of her life in San Francisco. She enjoyed a 20-year career in banking and was an enthusiastic bridge player and an active member of the Junior League, Town & Country Club, National Society of Colonial Dames, and the Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums. Survivors include her sons, Frederick and William, and two grandchildren.
Carl Edward Isaacs, ’57 (social science/social thought), MBA ’59, of Stockton, Calif., February 21, 2023, at 87, of heart failure. He was a member of Kappa Alpha and lettered in three sports as a freshman. He played for the Cleveland Browns before earning his MBA. He was a real estate broker in Stockton for over 50 years. He was enshrined in the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. Survivors: his wife of 33 years, Jan; children, Allison, Stacey Isaacs-Wolf, and John; two grandsons; and sister.
Mary Kathryn Bronson Paterson, ’57 (history), of Reno and Sparks, Nev., July 6, at 88, of lung cancer. She loved reading, playing bridge, traveling the world, and Stanford, but none more than being a grandmother. Survivors: her daughters, Mary Carroll Davis, Lori Paterson, and Diane Jones; two grandchildren; and a brother.
Virginia Lee Clinch Palmer Everding, ’58 (education), of Denver, October 6, at 86, after a fall. She taught second grade, then attended the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work, becoming a counselor. She served as CEO of a newly formed radio station until it was sold to her son. She was predeceased by her husbands, Richard Kylberg, ’56, Ken Palmer, and Ed Everding; and stepson, Henry Everding. Survivors: her sons, Richard Kylberg, ’84, and Robert Kylberg, ’86; stepdaughters, Linda, Lisa, and Kelly Everding; and two grandsons.
Jacqueline H. Greene Leney, ’58 (education), of Danville, Calif., September 7, at 87. She was a devoted wife and mother who loved to travel. While living in Belgium with her husband and sons, she enjoyed many weekend car excursions to other countries and went on an East African safari in the early 1970s. She also loved music, reading, playing bridge, cooking, and attending Stanford sporting events. Survivors: her husband of 65 years, William, ’57, MBA ’63; sons, James, ’85, and Thomas; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brother.
Sherrill Lee Hossom Muller, ’58 (art), MA ’63 (education), of Bow, Wash., February 28, 2022. She was in the choir and on the sailing team. She was a graphic and technical illustrator for Stanford Research Institute, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Program, and other tech companies before moving to a ranch in Oregon and raising cattle, horses, and llamas. She had a private pilot’s license and raced in Porsche rallies. Survivors: her husband, Eric; his three children, Cheri Mason, Ken, and Rich; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister.
Jane Livingston Ostrander Baron, ’59 (undeclared), MS ’81 (civil engineering), of Tehachapi, Calif., November 11, at 86. She founded an environmental company and then worked as a consultant for the rest of her professional career. Survivors: her second husband, Larry Gilligan; sons, Ronald and Jonathon; and four grandchildren.
Jerrald Roger Goldman, ’59 (political science), of Lafayette, Calif., June 22, at 85. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. He was a medical corps major in the Air Force. A sports medicine specialist, he was among the first orthopedic surgeons to perform arthroscopic procedures in the East Bay. He served as team orthopedist for the Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Athletics, co-founded The Doctors Company, and helped lay the groundwork to found Summit Bank. Survivors include his son, Bert, and sister, Valerie Alexander.
Robert Cameron Kahn, ’59 (art), of Belvedere, Calif., October 16, at 86. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and was on the swimming team. He co-founded Kahn and Nippert Insurance Brokers. He was a rancher, farmer, skier, windsurfer, and member of the San Francisco Yacht Club. He was predeceased by his first wife, Karen (Jacobsen, ’60). Survivors: his second wife, Sharon Huntley; four children, including Abigail, ’87, and Cameron, ’88; seven grandchildren, including Kelsey Urban, ’20, and Cole Urban, ’22; great-granddaughter; and brother.
Nancy Louise Page Ostrom, ’59 (history), of Chico, Calif., August 30, 2023, at 85. She was on the tennis team. She taught math, physical education, and social studies at Chico Junior High School and was the director of student activities at Chico High School. At Stanford’s RISE program, she provided cultural and international studies education resources. She was predeceased by her son Erik. Survivors: her husband, Rick, ’59; son Rennolds; five grandchildren; and sisters, Marilyn Page South, ’57, Kathleen Page Clark, ’63, and Martha Page Greene, ’66.
1960s
Elsiedale “Dale” Clyde Peterson, ’60 (history), of Cupertino, Calif., July 4, 2022, at 83, of esophageal cancer. She was a guidance assistant at Los Altos High School and volunteered with school PTAs, Planned Parenthood, and El Camino Hospital. An accomplished amateur photographer, she founded and ran a pet photography business. She was an avid walker, jogger, and golfer, and she and her husband shared a love of adventure travel. Survivors: her husband of 62 years, Kent, ’61, MBA ’63; daughters, Kim Peterson Ambach and Carol; and five grandchildren.
Richard D. Biggar, ’61 (economics), of Pasadena, Calif., January 11, 2023, at 83. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. He was a lieutenant in the Navy. With an MBA from Dartmouth, he began working at J.H. Biggar Furniture Company, the family business. He later started Allen Avenue Self Storage. He was president of the Pasadena Jaycees and was a longtime member of Pasadena Rotary. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Susan; children, Lauren Poncefranco, Rob, and Matt, MA ’95,
MA ’01, PhD ’15; and seven grandchildren.
William Charles Hanson, ’61, MS ’63, (industrial engineering), of Mansfield, Mass., July 15, 2020, at 80, of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He worked at the Digital Equipment Corporation, opening plants internationally and ultimately leading global manufacturing. He later founded the Leaders for Manufacturing program (now Leaders for Global Operations) at MIT, mentoring hundreds of its alumni. His wife of 59 years, Bette, survived him but passed away in 2021. Survivors: his children, Susan Wall, MS ’87, Richard, and Carolyn Zolla; 11 grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
Allen Lawrence “Lawry” Chickering III, ’62 (political science), of Saint Helena, Calif., August 13, at 82. He was a member of Zeta Psi and was on the tennis team. He worked at California’s State Organization of Economic Opportunity, established the International Center for Economic Growth, and founded the nonprofit Educate Girls Globally. He was a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and started The Transpartisan Review. Survivors: his wife, Serena Mondavi Ventura; children, Christopher and Carter; stepchildren, Sabrina Buell, ’99, and Justin Buell; and two siblings, including Nicholas, ’64.
Millett F. Keller, ’62, MS ’63, (geophysics), of Seattle, October 8, at 83. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and played baseball. He co-founded Scientific Computer Systems in Alaska and contracted with British Petroleum, developing the first oil field reservoir model of Alaska’s North Slope, which played a pivotal role in the boom of the Alaskan oil industry. He was later the VP of information technology at Starbucks. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Pat; children, Lisa and Jeff, ’87; four grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and four siblings.
Ann Haller Chamberlain Emanuels, ’63 (history), of Inverness, Calif., July 7, at 81, of multiple myeloma. After graduation, she spent seven years in the Peace Corps in Colombia and Guatemala. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of San Francisco and worked as a school principal, spending eight years at the helm of Carmichael Elementary School. She loved spending time in her kitchen and garden. Survivors: her husband, Kenneth, ’63; daughters, Karen Tully, Kristina Phipps, ’91, JD ’98, and Kyra Ross; nine grandchildren; and two siblings.
James Michael Epstein, ’63 (economics), of Encino, Calif., August 27, at 83, of pancreatic cancer. He was a member of Zeta Psi and played football and rugby. He worked as a juvenile probation officer for Los Angeles County and, after graduating from UCLA’s law school, joined the county’s public defender’s office. His talents as a criminal defense attorney led to his being assigned to serious felony cases. He later entered private practice and successfully tried several federal civil rights cases. Survivors include his wife, Jeannine, and sister, Elizabeth Schwartz.
Denis Michael McGinty, ’65 (history), of Sacramento, Calif., September 3, at 80, of pancreatic cancer. He graduated from UCSF’s medical school and felt most at home in Sacramento, where he was a physician, coach, mentor, neighbor, and ardent Sac Republic fan. He enjoyed continuing his medical education by attending grand rounds even after retirement. He was an avid walker and a devoted grandfather. Survivors: his wife of 55 years, Susan; sons, Michael and Patrick; five grandchildren; and four siblings, including Ellen McGinty King, JD ’76.
David Vokes Mitchell, ’65 (English), MA ’67 (communication), of Point Reyes Station, Calif., October 26, at 79, of Parkinson’s disease. For 27 years, he edited and published The Point Reyes Light, a community newspaper that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1979 for an exposé of the quasi-religious corporate cult Synanon. His defense in a retaliatory libel suit filed by Synanon advanced the rights of investigative reporters. Survivors: his wife, Lynn; stepchildren, Anika Zappa-Pinelo, Kristeli Zappa Monterroso, and Shaili Zappa Monterroso; and two stepgrandchildren.
Marvin Charles Shelby, ’65 (mathematics), of Woodburn, Ore., November 2022, at 79, of pancreatic cancer. He worked in the food processing industry throughout his career, spending many years at the Birds Eye frozen vegetable plant in Oregon and later moving to Small Planet Foods in Washington state, where he remained until his retirement. He was active in the Woodburn United Methodist Church. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Carol. Survivors: his sons, Jeff, ’94, and Greg, ’97, MA ’00; two granddaughters; and brother.
James Robert Fuller, ’67 (physics), MBA ’75, of Los Altos Hills, December 9, 2022, at 77, of bladder cancer. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He flew a helicopter as a Marine Corps lieutenant. During his 27-year career in the aerospace industry at Lockheed Martin, he had top secret clearance and worked with lasers and cable television. He later earned a master’s in marine biology and volunteered in a biogeochemistry research lab. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia (Ireland, ’67). Survivors: his daughters, Kimberly Byers and Caroline; three grandsons; and brother.
Timothy Richard Brown, ’68 (economics), of Houston, November 10, at 77. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He practiced law for more than 50 years in Houston, starting at Andrews, Kurth, Campbell and Jones before branching out to form his own firm, which was ultimately called Brown, Parker and Leahy and acquired by Thomson Knight LLC. He was recognized as one of the best lawyers in America by numerous publications. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Suzanne; daughters, Tiffani, Allyson, and Laura; and three grandsons.
Charles Hearn Hoke Jr., ’68 (biological sciences), of Columbia, Md., September 21, at 77, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was a member of Chi Psi and was on the crew team. He was an Army colonel. After medical school at the University of Rochester, he devoted his career to the field of infectious disease and vaccine development. He was instrumental in developing vaccines for Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A, and adenovirus. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Ellen Boudreau; children, Allison Thomas, Courtney Cox, Elliott, and Geoffrey; six grandchildren; and four siblings.
1970s
Eric Lucien Almquist, ’70 (anthropology), of Belmont, Mass., September 16, at 75, of heart disease caused by radiation treatment. He earned a PhD in anthropology at Boston University, where his research introduced him to statistical analysis. He spent 29 years as a statistician at what became Mercer Management Consulting and later became a partner and head of customer insights at Bain & Company. He loved photography, mountains, and rock and roll. Survivors: his wife, Nanny (Osborne, ’70); sons, Adam, Adrian, and Nicholas; two grandsons; and brother, Adrian, ’68.
Scott Campbell Davis, ’70 (English), of Seattle, October 19, 2022, at 74. He was a social worker, a carpenter, a published author, and the founder of Cune Press. He was a lifelong Christian Scientist and a talented photographer. He loved rock climbing and mountaineering, tackling unclimbed routes in the Cascades and a historic first ascent up the then-new “Heart Route” of Yosemite’s El Capitan. Survivors: his wife of 43 years, Mary; and siblings, Peter and Isobel.
John Reed Knight, ’70 (English), MA ’71 (education), of Davis, Calif., July 24, at 75. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He was an English teacher and principal at his alma mater, Dixon High School, and was the namesake of nearby John Knight Middle School. He later became the principal of the local continuation high school and the district’s personnel director. He was predeceased by his wife, Sharon (Sisk, ’70). Survivors: his daughters, Heather Bennett, ’98, and Beth Hawkins; four grandchildren; and two siblings.
Charles Spurgeon Wingo, ’71 (chemistry), of Gainesville, Fla., September 25, at 73. He was an internationally renowned researcher, an exemplary physician, and an endowed professor at the University of Florida School of Medicine, where he was recruited in 1981 to help establish the division of nephrology, hypertension, and renal transplantation. His pioneering studies of renal potassium transport led to the discovery of a new family of H-K-ATPase proteins in the kidney, which changed medicine’s understanding of how the organ worked. Survivors: his wife of 52 years, Barbara (Gray, ’70); children, Thomas and Linnea; two grandchildren; and sister.
Robert García, ’74 (philosophy), JD ’78, of Los Angeles, April 6, 2020, at 67, of cancer. He was a civil rights attorney who taught at UCLA Law School and worked with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund before founding The City Project, a public interest law firm focused on environmental justice. He was instrumental in creating or preserving more than 1,000 acres of park space in Los Angeles County. Survivors: his wife, Susan Allison, ’75; sons, Nicolas, Tomas, and Samuel, ’18; mother, Ana Maria; and sister.
Abigail Anne Roeder Johnson, ’77 (political science), of Redwood City, September 7, at 68, of pancreatic cancer. She contributed to the Stanford Daily. She and her husband founded the Roeder-Johnson Corporation, a PR and communications firm that she led as president for over 30 years. She helped shape the messaging and public relations for over 130 high technology ventures. In the late 2000s, she shifted her focus to mentoring start-ups and their CEOs. Survivors include her husband, Steve, and sister, Penelope Roeder.
Claire Ruth Kahn, ’77 (art), of Santa Fe, N.M., August 15, at 67, of cancer. While working for architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, she designed San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall and Miami’s Southeast Financial Center. She later became the executive designer at fountain design firm WET and designed fountains for the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Bellagio in Las Vegas. She was predeceased by her husband, Dan Tuttle. Survivors include her brother, Ira Kahn, ’72.
Christopher M. “Kit” Keyes, ’78 (human biology), of Nashville, Tenn., September 7, 2019, at 68. After graduating from the McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific, he worked for Ellis Law Offices Inc. before devoting 37 years to the Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, most recently as associate general counsel. He loved to cook, read books, scuba dive, go to movies, and learn new things. He was predeceased by his wife, Kathleen MacDonald. Survivors: his wife, Barbara; daughters, Casey, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Jocelyn, and Justine; and two siblings.
Sharon Elizabeth Nichols, ’79 (economics), of Dallas, July 31, at 66, of surgery-related complications. She earned a graduate degree from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. She loved her family, adventure, scuba diving, music, her dog “Little Bear,” and a good laugh. She was a steadfast mother, friend, sibling, partner, daughter, and aunt who selflessly and passionately supported her loved ones. Survivors: her daughter, Brooke Grindinger; father, Alan; and two brothers, including Alan, ’81.
1980s
Sarah Lynn “Sally” Alden Longyear, ’83 (human biology), of Palo Alto, October, 2022, at 61, following a heart attack. She was on the crew team. She spent over 36 years at SRI, creating its ergonomics program, leading its fitness activities, and operating a staff fitness center. In 2002, she was honored with the SRI Alumni Hall of Fame Award. She was predeceased by her husband, Rick, ’82, MA ’83; and daughter, Sarah. Survivors: her son, CJ, ’12; father, John Alden, ’55, MS ’56, JD ’59; siblings, Suzy Alden Cordisco, ’85, and Jack Alden, ’87; and three stepsiblings.
Shaun Desforges Pickering, ’85 (sociology), of Loughborough, England, May 11, at 61, of complications from Type 2 diabetes. He was a member of Theta Delta Chi and captain of the track and field team. In 1996 he made the shot-put team for the Atlanta Summer Games, becoming half of the first mother/son Olympian pair in British history. He worked as the sports sponsorship director for Canon Europe and later became a sports commentator and team throws coach for the London and Tokyo Olympics. Survivors include his sister, Kim.
Christine Ciesielka Shiiba, ’88 (electrical engineering), of Swarthmore, Pa., August 18, 2021, at 55. After college, she taught English with the JET program in Japan, where she also worked as an electrical engineer for Texas Instruments. Later she earned a master’s degree in theology from St. Charles Seminary, worked in pastoral care ministries, and was active with youth groups in several churches. Survivors: her husband of 30 years, Atsushi; children, John, Thomas, Mark, Maria, and Joseph; mother, Regina Hoffman; and two siblings.
1990s
Tanya Larisa Leise, ’93 (mathematics), of Amherst, Mass., January 18, 2023, at 51. She was in the symphony orchestra. She was an applied mathematician and the first woman mathematician to receive tenure at Amherst College, where she was a professor of mathematics and computer science. Her research focused on mathematical modeling, particularly biomathematics, and her 2006 co-authored article on the linear algebra behind Google is considered a landmark expository piece. She is credited with creating Amherst’s applied mathematics curriculum. Survivors: her husband, Andrew Cohen, ’93; and daughter, Adira.
Arturo Hernandez Armenta, ’94 (biological sciences), of Houston, February 14, at 51. He was a member of Theta Xi and played rugby. He attended Baylor College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in plastic surgery and fellowship in microsurgery. He opened his own practice in Houston in 2008. He was passionate about fishing, hunting, traveling, the Dallas Cowboys, and helping his wife with her jewelry business. Survivors: his wife, Emily; children, Art and Ridley; parents, Ana Maria and Arturo; and sister.
Isabel Yuriko “Isa” Stenzel Byrnes, ’94 (human biology), of Redwood City, July 12, at 51, of cancer. She and her twin sister were born with cystic fibrosis. Following a double lung transplant in 2004, she took up the bagpipes, swimming, cycling, running, and triathlons, winning dozens of medals in nine Transplant Games of America and a World Transplant Games. She earned master’s degrees in social welfare and public health from UC Berkeley and dedicated her career to bereavement care. She was predeceased by her sister, Anabel, ’94. Survivors: her husband, Andrew, ’94; parents, Hatsuko and Reiner Stenzel; and brother.
2000s
Michael William “Sunshine” Passey, ’06 (international relations and film and media studies), of Tempe, Ariz., September 20, at 40. He was intellectually curious and committed to excellence in all areas of his life. He had a passion for swimming, kitesurfing, cycling, skiing, music, Latin dancing, cooking, and art. His creative spirit shone through his various endeavors, and his kind personality and zest for life were infectious. Survivors: his father, Bill; mother, Kristen Magnuson; grandmother, JoAnn Lassen; and three siblings.
Business
Roy Francis Cooke Jr., MBA ’54, of Midlothian, Va., September 19, at 95. He served in the Army as a lieutenant. He worked at Chase Brass and Copper Company and Corning Glass Works, and retired after 30 years with Reynolds Metals, where he was the director of promotions and incentives of the consumer products division. He loved golfing, hunting, the Boston Red Sox, and the Washington Redskins. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Alice. Survivors: his sons, Scott, Steven, and Kevin; and two grandchildren.
George Burley Abbott, MBA ’55, of Menlo Park, February 9, 2023, at 91. He worked for W.R. Grace in San Francisco, traveling to Central America to audit the company’s coffee plantations. He co-owned the Abbott & Gibb Dodge-SIMCA dealership in Los Gatos. He later joined Hewlett-Packard and served as the director of corporate internal audit for 25 years. He was predeceased by his son Michael. Survivors: his wife of 39 years, Judy; sons Jim and Tom; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother, Bill, MS ’57.
Raymond Lee Pekary, MBA ’71, of Mountain View, August 21, at 82, of cardiac arrest. He received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy and served as a submarine officer on the USS Sea Cat and USS Tirante and as project officer at the Key West Naval Ordnance Unit. After resigning as a lieutenant, he became a division controller and corporate controller at companies including Hewlett-Packard. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Patricia; sons, Shannon, ’87, MS ’88, and Christopher; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Engineering
Simon Min Sze, PhD ’63 (electrical engineering), of Lafayette, Calif., November 6, at 87, of lung cancer. A visionary in the field of semiconductor physics and technology, he co-invented the world’s first floating-gate nonvolatile memory device (a key component in consumer technology products). He authored several books, served as president at Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University, and received numerous awards for teaching and research, including the Future Science Prize in 2021. Survivors: his wife of 62 years, Therese; children, Raymond and Julia, ’89, MA ’90; and four grandchildren.
Robert L. Rockwell, MS ’64, PhD ’70, (aeronautics and astronautics), of Ridgecrest, Calif., October 29, 2019, at 83, of a blood disorder. He spent many years in research and development at the Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake and received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He was a member of mountain rescue groups, climbed Mount Whitney over 160 times, and participated in a USA-USSR mountaineering exchange in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. Survivors include: his wife, Sheila; and children, Kurt, Bruce, and Jennifer.
Thomas C. Arnoldussen, MS ’69, PhD ’73, (materials science and engineering), of Los Altos, November 13, at 77. He spent his career developing magnetic recording technologies for several companies in Silicon Valley, including 23 years at IBM. Survivors: his wife, Barbara; children, Mark and Aimee; and three grandsons.
Thomas Howard Bredt, PhD ’70 (computer science), of Menlo Park, December 9, 2022, at 82. After working for Bell Labs and earning a master’s in electrical engineering, he taught at Stanford and became an engineering manager at Hewlett-Packard, a vice president of the Information Systems group at Dataquest, and a partner at Menlo Ventures. His volunteer work helped to revive the Tahoe Maritime Museum, and scholarships in his name have supported more than 150 Stanford students. Survivors: his wife, Polly; daughter, Melissa Bredt Riches; four grandchildren; great-granddaughter; and brother.
Fred Donald Russell, PhD ’70 (electrical engineering), of Santa Rosa, Calif., October 17, at 88. After graduating, he taught graduate-level engineering classes at Arizona State University. He was in the aerospace industry in Silicon Valley for 35 years, working on projects like the Apollo program. He was vice president and director of advanced research and development at Ford Aerospace and chief scientist at Loral Corporation. Survivors: his wife of 66 years, Madeline; children, Linda Sosa, Greg, and Karen Rondon; eight grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and sister.
Humanities and Sciences
Ernest Perez, MA ’58 (biological sciences), of San Jose, June 27, at 101. He flew 23 bombing missions in Nazi-occupied Germany, and during the Cuban missile crisis his B-47 carried nuclear bombs. In the Air Force, he flew over 5,000 hours in operational and training assignments. He later worked for the Santa Clara County Administrator. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Stella, and sons Steven and Paul. Survivors: his children Lynn Tippets, Michael, and Phillip; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two siblings.
Phillip Andrew Tjelle, MS ’61 (chemistry), of Issaquah, Wash., June 22, at 88. He retired from Boeing as a chemical engineer. A proud Norwegian, he liked pickled herring, lutefisk, and krumkake. He had a great laugh, a giving spirit, and a sly sense of humor. He loved salmon fishing and traveling the world with his wife. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Jennifer Hawkinson. Survivors: his wife of 66 years, Carole; children, Jim, Kristin Hawkinson, Karli Spear, and Katie Briggs; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister.
Emily Honig, MA ’77 (East Asian studies), PhD ’82 (history), of Santa Cruz, Calif., October 14, at 70, of cancer. A professor emerita of history at UC Santa Cruz, her research focused on modern China, with particular attention to labor and gender. Her books delved into topics like women cotton mill workers in prerevolutionary China and the experiences of youth during the cultural revolution. She was a black belt in Aikido and studied multiple languages, including Japanese, Dutch, and Russian. Survivors: her son, Jesse; and sister, Lisa.
Barbara Kathleen Norton Devin, MA ’87 (music), of Redwood City, August 18, at 87. She taught and played piano throughout her life, for many years as accompanist to doctoral degree candidates in the music department at Stanford. She gave private lessons until her retirement. She loved playing Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Gershwin; walking by the ocean or in the forest; and gardening in her yard. Survivors: her husband of 28 years, Stephen; children, Siobhan, ’85, and Sean, ’85, MS ’87; and sister.
Law
Christopher Alan Westover, LLB ’68, of Oakland, October 18, at 80. He was on Law Review. He was the 19th lawyer hired at Cooley, Crowley, Gaither, Godward, Castro. He worked at the firm for 45 years, practicing business law, pioneering a sports law practice, and representing the Golden State Warriors. He served on educational boards and community organizations, including the University of San Francisco and Stanford. Survivors: his wife of 56 years, Barbara; sons, Matthew and James; and four grandchildren.
Sustainability
Thomas Lucius Trowbridge Grose, PhD ’55 (geology), of Golden, Colo., September 13, at 98. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was an exploration petroleum geologist for Texaco, a teacher at Colorado College, and a professor of geology at the Colorado School of Mines. He was honored with the Thomas Dibblee Award for excellence in field geology and mapping. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Barbara, and a granddaughter. Survivors: his wife Cecilia Travis; children, Kathryn Beymer and Clark; two stepdaughters; four grandchildren; a stepgranddaughter; two great-granddaughters; and sister.
