Faculty
Russell Hardin, of New York, February 24, at 76. A scholar, a professor and family man, he was loved by many. He retired from NYU in 2016, after having been a professor of politics there for more than 20 years. He also lectured at Stanford, the U. of Chicago, the U. of Virginia, Northwestern, the U. of Maryland and the U. of Pennsylvania. The author of more than 15 books and the editor of the journal Ethics, he was well-known for his books Collective Action, David Hume: Moral and Political Theorist and Morality Within the Limits of Reason, among others. A Rhodes scholar, he held many fellowships, including at the Hoover Institution. Survivors: his wife, Andrea; and his son, Joshua.
1930s
Adeline Jeanne “Jeannie” Lehman Frost, ’39 (French), of San Diego, April 2, at 98. She was president of Alpha Phi at Stanford and the Junior League of San Diego, a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America and a longtime member of the Wednesday Club. She enjoyed vacations on her family’s yacht, the Helen, and adored flowers, tending to her garden and giving bouquets to others. She was predeceased in 2002 by her husband, Gordon Tucker Frost, ’38. Survivors: her daughters, Alison Gildred, ’64, and Susan “Dulie” Ahlering; her son, Gordon “G.T.” Frost Jr.; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
J. Gardner Gray, ’39, of Mountain View, Calif., March 23, at 99, of congestive heart failure. At Stanford, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta. During World War II, he worked for Bethlehem Steel, and later owned Allied Ropes Inc. in South San Francisco. While building his family’s cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains, he became a master builder and repairman, helping many neighbors. He remained a loyal fan of Stanford athletics, played the senior tennis circuit and was a member of the Shoreline Seniors Golf Club. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (Holman, ’39), and his daughter Dulcie. Survivors: his son, Gardner “Jay” Jr., ’72; his daughter Millicent; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
1940s
Lyman C. Wear, ’40 (communication), MBA ’46, of Portola Valley, April 13, at 97. A World War II veteran, he received two air medals for his 98 missions, as well as an oak-leaf cluster. After earning his MBA at Stanford, where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi and a Stanford Daily contributor, he worked for Macy’s California. A longtime member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, he led youth groups and held church office. He and his wife were active in many community organizations and in 1988 received Menlo Park’s Golden Acorn Award. He was predeceased by his first wife, Jean, and his second wife, Denyse Peach. Survivors: his daughters, Charlene, Nancy and Virginia; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Betty Barry Deal, ’42 (history), of Lafayette, Calif., March 12, at 95. She left Stanford as an undergrad to serve with the Red Cross during World War II. She passed the California bar in 1955 and then worked as an editor of law books until 1965, when she opened her own private law practice. She joined Helzel, Brunn, and Leighton as a full partner in 1970. In 1977, she was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the bench of the Alameda Superior Court. In 1980, she became the first woman appointed to the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, where she served until retiring in 1990. She was fond of genealogy, gardening and hummingbirds. She was predeceased by her husband, John. Survivors: her daughter, Diana; her son, Thomas; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Peggy Alice Roach Geeting, ’43 (nursing), of Anaheim, Calif., April 3, at 96. While her husband served in World War II, she worked for the Red Cross, treating the wounded as they returned from Europe and the Pacific theaters. In later years, she worked for an ophthalmologist in Whittier, Calif., and took up golf. She later became a real estate agent and was a docent at the Nixon Library. She was predeceased by her husband, Dixon. Survivors: her son, Steven; her daughters, Christy and Susan; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Jane Bicknell Meierdiercks, ’44 (speech and drama), of Keizer, Ore., March 30 at 94. As a Red Cross Gray Lady during World War II, she tended to patients in Bay Area hospitals. She and her first husband, Sankey Hall, raised a family in Chico, Calif., and divorced in 1972. In 1973, she married John W. “Bill” Meierdiercks. In 1998, they moved to Salem, Ore., to be near her children. She was a substitute teacher, a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization and the first female board president of Chico’s Butte Creek Country Club. Survivors: her husband, Bill; her daughter, Lori; her son, David; her step-daughter, Maryn; one granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.
Silvio J. Onesti, MD, ’45 (electrical engineering), of Cambridge, Mass., March 26, at 91, after a brief illness. Following a pediatric residency in 1956 and two years of training in adult psychiatry at Yale, he completed his child psychiatry training at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston in 1963. He was the director of child psychiatry at Beth Israel from 1966 to 1972. In 1973, he became the founding director of the Hall-Mercer Center for Children and Adolescents at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., where he stayed until 1991. An assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard, he was long associated with the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry and the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Survivors: his wife of more than 60 years, Jean; his daughter, Sally Blair; his son, Stephen; and three grandchildren.
William Clarke Dillinger, ’47 (humanities), of Sacramento, April 19, at 93. He graduated from Stanford after having served as a combat infantryman in World War II. A writer, an editor and an environmentalist, he worked for the state of California for 31 years, serving both the California Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Parks and Recreation. During his retirement, he worked part-time for the California Tahoe Conservancy and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sacramento Audubon Society in 2013. His book, James Marshall and the Discovery of Gold in California, remains popular at Gold Rush-era parks, and he offered his expertise as a writer and editor for several other publications. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol, ’47. Survivors: his daughters, Anne, Carla and Ellen; his son, William; and six grandchildren.
Roy Wesley Hendrick Jr., ’47 (physics), MS ’51, PhD ’56, of Goleta, Calif., April 24, at 89. Entering the workforce at age 16 as a sheet metal trainee for Douglas Aircraft, he worked until age 84. A pioneer in the field of high-altitude nuclear explosions and their effects, he contributed much of his research to government missile defense while also helping the fields of theoretical physics and mathematical modeling. He invented four patents and authored or invented several tools and algorithms. A designer of jewelry and furniture in his spare time, he designed a home patio shade, a pool, a pool deck and a patio. He and his wife, Lani, enjoyed a beachfront condo on Maui and the relationships they formed with their neighbors. He played clarinet in the Stanford Band, joined the Prime Time band as an oboe player while in his 70s and delighted in attending band camps around the country. Survivors: his wife of 45 years; his sons, Michael and Roy III; his daughters, Allison, Holly, Joanne and Nancy; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Marilyn Laney Perry, ’47 (social sciences), of Scottsdale, Ariz., March 30, at 91. A junior-high English teacher and adviser to the school newspaper at Amphitheater Junior High in Tucson, she later became a homemaker and a community volunteer, serving on the boards of the Junior League of Phoenix and the YWCA Phoenix. In 1973, she was a trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona. A horse lover, she frequently went on rides with the Las Damas and Desert Saddle Bags women’s groups. She enjoyed the arts, painting, travel and intelligent conversation. Survivors: her daughter, Sally; her sons, Bryan and Roger; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Jean Stout Frioux, ’48 (biological sciences), of Holladay, Utah, April 26, at age 90. During her time at Stanford, she was the only female member of the Stanford polo team. A member and onetime president of the Sacramento Junior League, she also served on the board of the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she held many leadership or teaching positions in the church. An avid player of bridge, dominos and Trivial Pursuit, she enjoyed traveling to Hawaii with her husband, George. She was predeceased by her husband and a grandson. Survivors: her daughters, Emily and Kathryn; her son, George; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
John Lawrence “Larry” Stewart, ’48 (electrical engineering), MS ’49, PhD ’53, of Vancouver, Wash., April 6, at 91. He joined the Army Air Corps at age 18 and became an aerial navigator. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. He was an associate professor at both the U. of Michigan and Caltech, and a professor at the U. of Arizona. He began a Silicon Valley company that dealt with research and development in bionics technologies for the U.S. Air Force and other defense agencies. He and his sons later started a company in Eugene, Ore., that made software and hardware for audio, speech synthesis and voice recognition for computers. He also authored several graduate-level textbooks and trade articles. He was a holder of 14 patents regarding advanced signal-processing methods. In his free time, he enjoyed scuba, hiked, and flew small personal and experimental planes. Survivors: his wife, Rita; his sons, Brad and Mark; and three grandchildren.
Bruce Leon Wiggins, ’48 (English), of Los Altos, April 8, at 90. After serving in the U.S. Army in South Korea as a sergeant in the Signal Corps, he returned to Stanford, where he was a student fireman. That led to a job with the Los Altos County Fire Protection District upon graduation, where he ultimately became captain. In 1952, he was hired as the first Santa Clara County fire marshal, a post he held for 17 years. In 1969, he returned to Stanford to work in the department of Facilities and Plant Operations, which he did for 35 years (it was his job to unlock the Stanford Mausoleum every Founders’ Day). He ultimately earned emeritus status and became a board member of the Stanford Historical Society. He was also president of the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association. Survivors: his wife, Elizabeth (McMurray, ’47, MA ’48); his daughter, Kathleen,’73; his sons, Brian, ’75, Glen and Kent; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Verda Griesinger Averill, ’49 (psychology), of Bainbridge Island, Wash., May 8, at age 88. Originally a teacher of music (she had become a harp soloist with the Portland Junior Symphony), she built a lifelong career in publishing. With her husband, Dave, she bought the Kitsap County Herald as well as the Bainbridge Island Review, running both newspapers out of their home in Poulsbo, Wash. She continued running the papers following the couple’s divorce and became the first female president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, as well as one of the first American journalists to travel to China. Following retirement, she enjoyed photography, travel and her grandchildren, but again took on journalism by establishing the quarterly Bainbridge Island Library News, which she edited for 15 years. Survivors: her sons, Bob, Charlie and John; her daughter, Sue; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Daniel Jon Barbulesco, ’49 (mechanical engineering), of Sonoma, Calif., April 8, at 94. Born in Romania, he immigrated to the United States at age 2. He grew up in southern Ohio, near Dayton, and later spent 31 years at General Motors, where he worked with both the Frigidaire division and at Delco, where he specialized in auto air conditioning. Daniel and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Gainesville, Fla., following his retirement, enjoying the snowbird life, split between Florida and a lakeside cottage in Michigan. Having moved to Sonoma in his later years, Dan became a popular figure in the community. He was predeceased by his sister, Carmen, and his second wife, Lila. Survivors: his sons, David and Noel; his stepdaughter, Cynthia; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
William Arthur Crump, ’49 (political science), of Greenbrae, Calif., March 28, at 92. He was a member of the 10th Mountain Division Ski Troops, with whom he earned two Bronze Stars for serving in Italy during World War II. Following the war, he used his degree from Stanford (where he was a member of Chi Psi) to train in Washington, D.C., as a diplomatic courier and serve the State Department around the world. Later years found him in San Francisco working in marketing, and he became an artist in retirement, during which time his paintings were shown and sold in the Bay Area. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Ann; his son Stephen; and one grandson.
Robert Bruce Ferguson, ’49 (geology), of Capistrano Beach, Calif., May 8, at 93. After leaving Stanford after a year to join the Army infantry during World War II, where he attained first-lieutenant status while serving in Japan, he returned to Stanford, where he was a member of Theta Delta Chi. A petroleum geologist, he started his own company in Los Angeles: Bob Ferguson—Independent. He owned and operated the Asphalto oil wells in Kern County, Calif., and invested in other oil production while immersing himself in the oil-and-gas industry via various organizations and political involvement (through meetings with senators and congressmen). With a Scottish heritage he was happy to tell anyone about, he served for two years as president of the Clan Ferguson Society of North America. He was predeceased by two brothers, including John Ferguson, ’33, MBA ’35. Survivors: his wife of 28 years, Diane; his stepdaughter, Lori; his stepson, Eric; and two grandchildren.
Orlan Vincent Wade Masters, ’49, MD ’53, of Athens, Ga., January 18, at age 96. A California native, he was the recipient of both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Legion of Honor Medal. A World War II pilot, he survived for 24 hours before being rescued after putting his B-17 bomber down in the Atlantic Ocean after his engines were damaged in an air attack. Following the war, in which he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, he earned his medical degree from Stanford and started a gynecological practice in Redlands, Calif. He later was instrumental in the forming of the Women’s Clinic at the U. of Georgia. After retirement, he worked part-time for the Clarke County Health Department. Survivors: his four children, Martin, Matthew, Michael and Susan.
George Frederick “Fritz” Randolph, ’49 (social sciences), of Phoenix, May 7, at 88. When he started his own painting and roof repair business at age 18, he became the youngest person at the time to receive a contractor’s license. At Stanford, he was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Phi and many others. Before law school at the U. of Arizona, he worked in sales for Proctor and Gamble. As a member of the U.S. Army, he served on the Nike Missile program in Germany, receiving three medals for his service. A legislative assistant for Barry Goldwater in Washington, D.C., he later became lead counsel for Blakely Oil in Phoenix. He subsequently established his own practice in the area of real estate law and established the Foundation for Burns and Trauma (now the Arizona Burn Foundation). He was an active Republican and also a founding director of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society. Survivors: his son, George; his daughter, Leslie; and five grandchildren.
1950s
Maynard “Bud” Anderson, ’50 (mechanical engineering), of Pebble Beach, Calif., April 13, at age 91. A combat infantryman in the Philippines in World War II, he spent his later career working in the aerospace industry. When not working and raising his large family, he considered himself a serial entrepreneur. Over the years, he also developed a passion for home construction. Survivors: his wife of 70 years, Gertrude; and a large extended family.
William E. Deyoung, ’50 (economics), MBA ’52, of Upland, Calif., February 2017, at age 88. An athletic and academic star, a football scholarship brought him to Stanford, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A second lieutenant in the National Guard, he was an executive officer at the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea. Following his military service, he worked at Kaiser Steel until his retirement upon the company’s closing in the 1980s. Survivors: his wife, Mary; his sons, Daniel and Douglas; his daughter, Diane; and four grandchildren.
Harold Calvin Ludwig, ’50 (international relations), MA ’52, of Carmichael, Calif., March 20, at 89. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy after high school, he was stationed in the Philippines, where he worked as a pressman for the Navy news. Following more than three decades of civilian service at McClellan Air Force Base working on the F-111 and as a logistics officer and branch chief, he retired in 1982. He rooted for the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. He enjoyed traveling, especially to state parks. Survivors: his wife of 67 years, Patricia; his sons, Alan, Brian and Mark; his daughter, Katy; and nine grandchildren.
Richard Dean Moore, ’50 (communication), of Bellingham, Wash. While at Stanford, he wrote for the Daily, a precursor to a long career in communications. He served for 10 years as the writer and director for news, sports and special events at KGO, a San Francisco radio and TV station. He later worked for 22 years with the United States Information Agency, under the State Department. Twenty-one years ago, he married Margaret G. Moore.
Jean McCrea Olson, ’50 (education), of Gig Harbor, Wash., January 14, at 88. She was vice president of her class at Stanford, where she was involved in Stanford in Government and the Haas Center for Public Service. A member of the United Methodist Church, she was also active in sports, served as president of the Girls Club and played violin in the Tacoma Youth Symphony. After working for United Airlines in Hawaii, she volunteered for the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor, among other organizations. Survivors: her daughters, Karen and Linda; her son, Marc; her former husband, A. Walter Olson, ’50; and five grandchildren.
Margaret Ann “Bumpy” Graves Smith, ’50 (education), of Rancho Palos Verdes Calif., March 27, at age 88. A native of Washington when she arrived at Stanford, she met her future husband, Stephen R. Smith (’51, MS ’52), on campus. They married in 1950 and remained together until her death. In life, she built a 20-year career in the Palos Verdes Unified School District, serving as everything from a kindergarten teacher to a middle school math instructor, always learning what she needed to (even from her children) in order to fill whatever need the district might have. After retirement, she enjoyed both domestic and foreign travel with Steve and their children, including trips to Iran (when Steve was working there), Africa, South America, China and Antarctica. She was predeceased by a grandson. Survivors: her husband; her five children: Anne, Julia, Sara, Steve Jr. and Susan; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
David Harding Allen Jr., ’51 (Romance languages), of Davis, Calif., March 29, at age 88, of pneumonia. With a love of surfing that carried back to his days in junior high (when he fashioned a surfboard out of redwood), he could often be found among the waves. After a stint in the Army in three states, he attended Stanford, where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He held a variety of jobs, including working as a toolbox carrier and welder’s assistant for the Liberty ship; working at Eastside Brewery in Los Angeles; and as a hearse driver for a San Diego mortuary. A Spanish teacher at Oceanside High School in San Diego for nine years, he later took a position as an assistant professor in the UC-Davis Spanish department. He also represented the U. of California as a liaison with Northern California high schools and community colleges. Survivors: his wife, Suzanne (Culberson, ’52); his daughter, Eileen; his sons, Craig and Lerick; and five grandchildren.
Nancy Truitt Arce, ’51 (education), of Pomona, Calif., December 7, 2016, at age 86. She had a lifelong dedication to teaching and helping students. At El Roble and La Puerta junior high schools, she developed a program called SPAN (Supportive Parents Are Necessary) to help parents support their learning-disabled children. She ran the program for 10 years in the Claremont Unified School District. An 18-month stay in the Netherlands and five visits to China invigorated her, and she used her time in these countries to impart her special-education knowledge, teach English, and explore and share the role of women in these societies. She was a member of many organizations, including serving as chairman of the board for the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic/Learning Ally. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill, ’49, MA ’51, EDD ’56. Survivors: her sons, Jeff and Jim; her daughter, Judy, ’77; one sister and one brother, Ed (’56, MBA ’61); nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
John Chynoweth Burnham, ’51 (history), PhD ’58 (history), of Columbus, Ohio, May 12, at 87. A world-renowned historian who explored the histories of medicine, psychiatry and psychoanalysis, he published 10 books and edited four others. He taught at Stanford and was a postdoctoral fellow of the Foundations’ Fund for Research in Psychiatry. After a handful of teaching positions, he spent nearly 40 years on the faculty of the Ohio State U., teaching at every level. Having held distinguished teaching positions worldwide, he lectured in North America, Australia, Japan and throughout Europe. A recipient of the APA Lifetime Achievement Award for the History of Medicine, he proved influential with colleagues and a mentor to countless students. He also served three years as the editor of the Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences. Survivors: his wife, Marjorie; his sons, Leonard and Peter; his daughters, Abigail and Melissa; and four grandchildren.
Salvatore Colletto Jr., ’51 (education), of Pacific Grove, Calif., March 25, at 87. Born and raised in Monterey, Calif., he served two years in the Army following his time at Stanford, where he had been a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. After 36 years as an elementary school teacher and principal, he retired to Pacific Grove, where he read about history, golfed, traveled and cheered on the 49ers. He was proud of and knowledgeable about his family’s connection to the Monterey fishing industry. He was also a member and onetime president of the Kiwanis Club. He was predeceased by his sister and three brothers. Survivors: his wife, Mary Jane; his sons, Jeffrey and Rick; his daughter, Sallie; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
David H. Elliott, ’51 (communication), of Carmel, Calif., April 16, at age 87. After reviving a bankrupt steel company in Vallejo, Calif., he and his wife, Ellen, spent time in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and India directing and leading various programs for the Peace Corps, including a 1,200-volunteer endeavor in India. He worked with Memorex and, with international executive search firm Hedrick and Struggles, becoming managing partner before his 1996 retirement. A 1991 sabbatical and his love of helping others took him back to the Peace Corps, this time in Poland, to assist the country in moving away from communism. He enjoyed both outdoor and indoor activities (hiking, kayaking, bridge and dominoes) and served on many boards. Following Ellen’s death in 2007, he remet a former love, Roberta “Bertie” Buffett Bialek, who became his second wife. Survivors: his wife; his sons, Andy and Fred; his daughter, Karen Lovekamp, ’84; his stepdaughters, Carolyn, Cynthia and Susan; seven grandchildren; and 11 step-grandchildren.
Peggy Kelley Longman, ’51 (philosophy), of Santa Rosa, Calif., May 10, at 87. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Stanford, she was soon hired to teach art and design at Lawrence Cook Jr. High and went on to a position at Santa Rosa High School, where she led the business department. Through this position, she built a relationship with the Santa Rosa Junior College to help business students. She and her husband, Ray, who she’d known since elementary school, were managers of the Santa Rosa Symphony and sang in the Sonoma County Chorus. She enjoyed music, ice skating, art, teaching, traveling and family. Survivors: her sons, Doug and Norman; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Theodore S. Reynolds, ’51 (education), of Tucson, Ariz., April 9, of kidney failure. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and he started his post-Stanford life in Southern California, marrying Francine Foreman. He was involved with Phi Sigma Kappa at Stanford, and he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from USC; he was elected to the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi. He established a career as a consulting engineer in the construction industry, found employment as a principal in several consulting firms and served as president of Engineering Resources Inc. He was registered as a professional engineer in both California and Arizona. Survivors: his sons, David and James.
Donald Hoffman, ’52 (civil engineering), MS ’60, of Diablo, Calif., April 28, at age 86. A captain in the U.S. Air Force who was stationed in both Greenland and Texas, he made a career in civil engineering and construction, building his own engineering business, SRE Inc. During his time on campus, he was actively involved in the Diablo Community Services District, the Stanford Alumni Club and the Daily. Survivors: his wife, Mavis; his sons, Keith and Robert; and eight grandchildren.
Harold E. Rogers Jr., ’52 (history), JD ’55, of San Mateo, March 12, at 86, of Parkinson’s disease. Born in Chowchilla, Calif., he came from a pioneering family. After serving in Italy as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, he founded a San Francisco law firm specializing in public finance. He later founded regional finance practices for two national firms. An accomplished legal writer, Harold had works published in the Stanford Law Review and in publications devoted to military law and California water law. A lecturer at Stanford Business School and Law School, he also was a member of trade delegations to China and Russia, and he wrote a number of books about Russia, which have been translated into Russian. He was a member of many groups, including the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco and Stanford’s Golden Gavel Law Society. Survivors: his wife, Barbara; his sons, George and Harold; his daughters, Diane and Suzanne; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Loraine Wilbur Dicke, ’53 (biological sciences), of Scottsdale, Ariz., May 1, at 85. She was the granddaughter of former Stanford president Ray Lyman Wilbur. At Stanford, she was involved with Cap and Gown and the Daily. She and her husband met at Stanford Oil of California. Active in the Arizona Quarter Horse Association, she worked with the junior league to plan the Arizona Science Center. She was predeceased by her parents, Blake, ’22, and Mary, ’22. Survivors: her husband, Bill, ’60; her sons, Charlie (’86, MS ’87) and Frederick; her daughter, Eleanor; and 12 grandchildren, including Molly, ’18.
Richard Dudley Sawyer, ’53 (geography), of Turlock, Calif., March 18, at 85, from complications due to a stroke. He was the owner of R.D. Sawyer Construction, building homes in the Central Valley and the Sierra foothills. In retirement, in addition to his love of old Westerns and the San Francisco Giants, he passionately enjoyed ranching and the cattle business, traveling to his ranch in Stanislaus County every day to manage his herd. He was predeceased by his wife, Elsie. Survivors: his sons, Mike and Rick; his daughters, Beth and Susan; his stepsons, Kelly and Perry; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Donald W. Carlson Jr. ’54 (undeclared), of Orinda, Calif., February 20, at 84. Attending Stanford on an athletic scholarship, and a member of Phi Gamma Delta, he interrupted his college career to serve his country with the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, Calif., and in France. After college and the war, he worked as the community center director for the recreation department in Berkeley and then began selling insurance for Prudential, taking a keen interest in the lives of his customers. He co-founded Consolidated Capital Companies, a leading real estate investment firm in the 1970s and ’80s. Politically active, he and his wife, Barbara, founded the ARK Foundation with an aim toward achieving world peace. He is also predeceased by his wife and his son, Richard. Survivors: his daughters, Anna and Kathleen; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Leonard Thomas Evans Jr., ’54 (civil engineering), MS ’58, of Pasadena, Calif., December 26, at age 83, of a heart attack. Accepted into the Army Corps of Engineers following his stint at Stanford, he later joined his father’s firm, L.T. Evans Corp., ultimately becoming a partner, with clients including UCLA and Universal Studios. He was a respected soil engineer. Following the sale of his company, he earned a doctorate at UC-Berkeley and went on to be a chief engineer at Converse Consultants, and later held the same title at Willdan Group. In his spare time, he enjoyed photography and woodworking. Predeceased by his second wife, Jean (Johnson, ’55), and his son, David. Survivors: his wife, Joan (Evans ’54); his first wife, Xantha (King, ’57, MA ’58); his sons Lynn, Mark and Michael; his daughter, Jean; and one grandchild.
Helga Biermer Medearis, ’54 (social sciences), of Davis, Calif., May 16, at 84. Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, she moved to the United States in 1938. Graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford, she later earned an RN degree and worked as a registered nurse at Stanford Hospital for over 40 years. A member of the Davis United Methodist Church, she was an active volunteer with the California Nursing Alumni Association, the Sacramento Region Emergency Medical Response Team and the UC-Davis Farm Circle. An avid cook and reader, she was involved in several book groups in the Davis and Palo Alto communities. She was predeceased by her sister. Survivors: her husband, Robert, ’54; her sons, Dale and Kenneth, ’89; her daughter, Ilsi; and four grandchildren.
Joseph Wade Mell Jr., ’54 (history), LLB ’57, of Menlo Park, May 7, at 84, of surgical complications. A private attorney in Redwood City, he was immersed in Stanford sports, including a run as the senior football manager and as a member of the rugby team. While at Stanford, he was also a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He was predeceased by his son, Joseph Wade Mell III. Survivors: his wife, Jeanette; and his daughter, Dyan.
Juanita Elaine Roy Tolle, ’54 (nursing), of Pismo Beach, Calif., May 22, at 85, of a stroke. After a few years working as a nurse, she joined the San Luis Obispo County Health Department as their sole visiting nurse, a job she loved because it let her travel all over the county and help people. Ultimately, she became the director of public health nursing. After retirement, she was elected the president of the California Nursing Association. Traveling around the state with her husband, Ray, she would attend meetings and Ray would golf. She loved travel, golf, photography, writing and doing volunteer hospice work. She was predeceased by her husband, Ray. Survivors: her stepson, Barry; her stepdaughter, Dawn; five step-grandchildren; and several step great-grandchildren.
Michael Shane Tormey, ’54 (economics), of Corvallis, Ore., May 11, at 83, of heart failure. A member of the U.S. Air Force, he went on to have a marketing and sales career with IBM International for nearly 35 years, working in New York, Switzerland, Australia and Asia. He was a Phi Kappa Sigma member while at Stanford. A fan of good conversation, he also enjoyed woodworking, golf and travel. Survivors: his wife, Carol; his daughters, Ellen, Kathleen (Rochester, ’78) and Sharon; his son, Grant; six grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and seven step-great-grandchildren.
Ney D. Abrahamson, ’55 (undeclared), of Sparks, Nev., October 3, 2014, at 81. He built his career in the construction industry as an estimator, first with Beyer and Abrahamson, where he was a partner, working with his father. Later, in Reno, he worked for Q&D Construction. He and his wife traveled to 48 states and Europe. He placed a high priority on morals, ethics and the “golden rule.” Survivors: his wife, MaryAnn; his sons, Chris, Eric and Kyle; his daughter, Kacy; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Helen McDill “Nell” Walker, ’55 (geography), of Saint Paul, Minn., May 9, at 83. With a life spent all over the globe, she spent most of her life in Lexington, Mass., where she participated in many groups. She showed an aptitude for geography at Stanford and was an avid lover of the outdoors, enjoying skiing, hiking, biking, golfing, birding and gardening. Her affinity for plants, flowers and trees led her to earn a certificate in landscape design from Radcliffe College in 1987. This led to her own business, Nell Walker Design, and her integral involvement in the transformation of Lincoln Park and the creation of the Lincoln Park Fitness Path, an area that now bears a tribute to her. She was predeceased by her sister. Survivors: her husband, Christopher; her sons, Alexander, Bruce and Christopher; and two grandsons.
Roy W. Fowler Jr., ’56 (civil engineering), MS ’57, of Orangevale, Calif., April 29, at 82, of a heart attack. After accepting admittance to the U.S. Naval Academy, he also gained acceptance from Stanford and, after much thought, opted for Stanford and pursuing his civil engineering degree. He was an active member of the Theta Chi fraternity. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and went on to graduate as a distinguished military cadet from Stanford’s AFROTC program. He was assigned to the Itazuki Air Base, where he served as a Base Civil Engineer. He later joined the Air Force Reserves and was honorably discharged as a captain. Working as a project manager for a Southern California construction company, he later joined Granite Construction Company in Watsonville, Calif., was promoted to office engineer manager and became a registered civil engineer. He formed and ran his own engineering and surveying company in Red Bluff, Calif., until 1967. Subsequently, he was vice president of Ham Engineering Corporation and helped develop the North Star Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, Calif., and the Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara. He passed the California State Bar in 1978. Survivors: his wife, Marianne; his son, Eric; his daughter, Robin; nine grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
William Prichard Jones, ’56 (physics), MS ’64 (aeronautical engineering), of Jacksonville, Fla., March 23, at 85. Stints in the Navy and Naval Reserves followed his time at Stanford. His career began at the NASA Ames Research Center while he was working on his master’s and his PhD. He attended Mandarin Baptist Church and enjoyed his family and friends in his Senior Adult Sunday School class. Survivors: his wife, Angharad; his daughters, Heather, Bronwen, Angharad, Meredith, Catherine and Elizabeth; and 16 grandchildren.
Johnson Washington Ackiss Jr., ’57 (international relations), of Portsmouth, Va., October 18, at 92. After 28 years of service, he retired in 1972 as a major in the U.S. Air Force, having served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and having received a Bronze Star. An avid golfer, he played courses all over the world and was proud of a double eagle and 11 holes-in-one. Survivors: his daughter, Terry; his sons, David, Glen and Johnson; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Fred R. Patterson, ’57 (history), of Bridgewater, N.J., April 3, at 81. A history major at Stanford, he also served as student manager of the varsity football team and was a member of the University Athletic Board. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a first lieutenant who served two years in Korea. A sales representative with Procter and Gamble, he later joined Johnson and Johnson’s health care division as a sales manager throughout California, and retired after 30 years, continuing to work as a consultant for another decade. An advocate for those with disabilities, he was focused on preventing injuries to children; he founded Safe Kids USA and the New Jersey Safe Kids chapter. He also served on many other New Jersey committees, including as chairman of the Governor’s Council on the Prevention of Developmental Diseases. For his efforts, he was awarded the Governor’s Pride of New Jersey Award. He was predeceased by his daughter Kathy. Survivors: his wife, Roselyn; and his daughter Barbara.
Nicholas L. Frazee, ’58 (undeclared), of San Diego, April 2, at 81. After a freshman year at Stanford, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Medical Corps in Darmstadt, Germany, for two years. Following his stint in the Army and meeting the love of his life, Leslie, he joined the family business, Frazee Paint, in San Diego. He and his brother persuaded their father to try making his own paint, which led Frazee Paint to expand throughout the West. A lover of long-distance sailing, Nick built a Swiftsure in 1973 and sailed in the 1975 Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, during which the boat and crew veered off-course to rescue six crew members from a boat that was sinking. He competed in many other races, enjoying being with friends on the water. A life of travel for him and his wife led to a habit of reconstructing cabins, inside and out, in towns they visited in the northwestern United States, including their second home in Big Fork, Mont. Survivors: his daughters, Jennifer, Kimberly and Linda; and his son, Daniel.
George H. Niederauer, ’58 (undeclared), of Menlo Park, May 2, at 80, of lung cancer. A Los Angeles native, the eighth archbishop of San Francisco and a former English professor at St. John’s Seminary and Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, he was ordained in the Roman Catholic Church in 1962. Named archbishop of San Francisco after serving for a decade as a bishop in Salt Lake City, he moved to San Francisco focused on ministering to the city’s diverse citizenry. The archbishop was a defender of the Church’s view on marriage and a leader in the Proposition 8 battle in 2008, as well as an advocate for and supporter of gay priests—he promoted, in his words, “tolerance, respect and trust” among people at all times, including when sides neither agreed nor approved of the other’s stance on issues. He loved playing bridge and reading the New Yorker, and was a trombone player in his earlier years. When he retired, he focused on holding retreats and offering counseling for his fellow clergy.
Ann Cooper Phythian, ’58 (English), of Mill Valley, Calif., February 26, at 80, after a long battle with dementia. Before motherhood, she worked for Wells Fargo and a small publisher. She worked as an administrative aide at Tam High School, looking out for students and staff alike. She developed her talents in glasswork, tilework and knitting, and joined the Artisan’s Gallery and the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley. A lover of the outdoors and a Sierra Club member, she enjoyed climbing the mountains in the area. Survivors: her partner, Mark Sapiro; her former husband, Phillip, ’62; her sons, Charles and Doug; her daughter, Liz; and four grandsons.
Robert Herman Curtis, ’59 (industrial engineering), of Bellevue, Wash., May 3, at 80. After Stanford, he earned a master’s degree at Purdue’s School of Industrial Management. After spending time working in Mountain View at Sylvania Reconnaissance Systems, he started what would turn into a long career in Boeing’s engineering department of commercial airplanes, which saw him handling various projects related to the 747, 767, 737 and 757 jetliners. He helped many people at Alcoholics Anonymous through his encouragement and example. After he retired in 1995, he worked part-time at H&R Block helping others during tax preparation time. Survivors: his daughter, Christina; his son, Eric; and two granddaughters.
Howard “Howdy” Elkus, ’59 (mechanical engineering), of Lincoln, Mass., April 1, at 78. A world-renowned architect who built structures all over the world, he was loved and respected by classmates, colleagues and friends alike. Boasting a five-decade career that began at the Architects Collaborative, he quickly rose up in his industry. He and partner David Manfredi opened their own business in 1988: Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects. He designed Boston’s Copley Place complex, as well as working on New York’s Hudson Yards, the 27-acre Miami Worldcenter, City Place in West Palm Beach, Fla., and a property in Abu Dhabi. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, among others. He was predeceased by his sister, Gene Wollenberg, ’57. Survivors: his wife, Lorna; his son, James; his daughter, Jenny; and three grandchildren.
1960s
Joan Rowe Ferry, ’60 (history), of Houston, April 27, at 78. At Stanford, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. For 18 years, she worked at Rice U. as an archives associate in the Woodson Research Center while simultaneously attaining a master’s and a PhD. She was known as someone who put others first, and she shared many adventures with her husband. Survivors: her husband, George, ’59; her daughters, Gwendolyn, ’85, Jennifer and Pamela, ’87; and five grandchildren.
Peter Choate, ’62 (architecture), of Los Angeles, March 31, at 76. A standout member of Stanford’s golf team, he sometimes competed barefoot, and he once set an amateur-course record (66) at Cypress Point Club. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta while at Stanford. He hailed from an artistic family and pondered a life on the PGA Tour, but he ultimately chose architecture, practicing with Cliff May for a time and then founding Choate Associates Architects in 1971; clients across the country lived happily in homes he designed, as did he and his wife. Survivors: his wife, Patti; his sons, Chris and Peter; his daughter, Courtenay; and four grandchildren.
Carl Uddo Zachrisson Jr., ’62 (economics), of San Francisco, March 10, at 76. Holder of both a degree from Stanford (where he participated in student drama and an overseas tour of France) and a PhD from Oxford, Carl taught at Pitzer College and the Claremont Graduate School before starting and overseeing the study-abroad program at Pomona College. In the 1980s, he began his career as the West Coast director of the Institute of International Education. He was a parishioner at St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church and a member of the Bohemian Club. A lover of California history and live theater, he was also involved in many community organizations. Survivors: his wife, Adele; and his sons, Carl F. and Christopher.
David P. Miller II, ’64 (economics), LLB ’67, of Camas, Wash., June 7, 2016, at 73, of Alzheimer’s disease. A double-degree holder from Stanford and a member of Theta Xi, he made his mark on campus as editor of the Law Review and achieved Order of the Coif honors. After clerking on the Oregon Supreme Court, he joined the law firm now known as Stoel Rives, where he made partner and spent his career, practicing in the areas of real property and timber transactions. After retiring in 2006, he occupied his time with hunting, fishing, and playing blues on one of the many guitars he owned. Survivors: his wife, Pattie; his son, David; his daughter, Jennifer, ’03; his former wife, Judith Potter Miller, ’65; two stepdaughters; three grandsons; one step-grandson; and his brother Fred (’62, LLB ’65).
Irvin Engle Jr., ’65 (economics), of Victoria, British Columbia, May 8, at 74, of lung cancer. A skilled carpenter and general contractor, he was born in Seattle, grew up in Umatilla, Ore., and lived in many places during his life. He considered himself a resident of Cascadia. His love of travel and adventure led him to become a skilled pilot and sailor. Survivors: his wife, Sarah; his sons, Chris and Matt; and three grandchildren.
Michael H. Agar, ’67 (anthropology), of Santa Fe, N.M., May 20, at 72. A self-starter, he arranged his own year-abroad program with the help of Stanford professor Alan Beals, traveling to South India. He attended graduate school at the Language Behavior Research Lab at Berkeley. When the Vietnam War began, he accepted a commission at the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service during graduate school. He taught at universities worldwide, including teaching linguistics at the U. of Vienna. At the U. of Maryland, he helped develop a program to train practitioners rather than academic researchers. He was the author of many articles and books, including a story on crack cocaine that helped change discriminatory drug laws. His last book, The Lively Science, attempted to show how human social research was a different kind of science. He also received a career award from the National Institutes for Health. Survivors: his wife, Ellen.
James A. Douglas, ’68 (psychology), of Seattle, April 11, at 71. A 35-year partner at Seattle law firm Theiler, Douglas, Drachler, McKee and Gilbrough, and an advocate for social justice, he spent his career helping disabled people obtain Social Security benefits. He gave hundreds of volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity, the Seattle Labor Chorus and other organizations. He was a bass player, a baseball fan and a softball player. While at Stanford, he was a member of Theta Delta Chi and traveled to Florence. Survivors: his wife, Alexandra, ’66; and his son, Owen.
John Peter Franks, ’68 (history), of Woodside, September 23, 2016, at 70. A world traveler at a young age, he lived in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the United States and Switzerland during his childhood. Eventually settling in San Francisco, which he loved, he made his career in stocks, working for both the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange and later, for many years, at Charles Schwab. A running enthusiast, Peter specialized in the ultramarathon (races longer than 26.2 miles) on trails. Completing roughly 30 of them, his best time, 4:45, was achieved running the Quadruple Dipsea Race, a race he did five times. He loved running with friends and telling stories while he ran, and he was dubbed the “Surgin’ General” for his ability to pull away from the pack on hills. His wit, knowledge of the game and kindness also made him a sought-after bridge partner. Survivors: his three sisters.
1970s
Roger Boesche, ’70 (political science), MA ’72, PhD ’76, of Los Angeles, May 23, at 69. A beloved professor at Occidental College for 40 years, he was named by President Obama as both a favorite instructor and the one who led to his interest in politics. He led efforts for Occidental to sever ties with South Africa during apartheid. He went on to write several books, including Theories of Tyranny: From Plato to Arendt and The Strange Liberalism of Alexis de Tocqueville. He and his wife visited 120 countries, including Nepal, Madagascar and Greenland. Roger was twice voted by Occidental students as their favorite teacher. Survivors: his wife, Mandy (Reynolds ’73); and his daughter, Kelsey.
Noël Ferris, ’70 (English), of Sacramento, May 21, at 68, of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A trial lawyer with numerous victories in Northern California, she was the first Sacramento barrister to be inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. While at Stanford, she traveled to England. A devoted mother, she baked, sewed and cheered for all the events in her children’s lives. An avid quiltmaker, she created works of art that adorn the homes of many of her friends and family. Survivors: her husband, Parker White; her former husband, Frederick Dillen, ’68; and her daughters, Abigail, Caroline and Hilary.
Jennifer Sue Wade, ’76 (classics), of Austin, Texas, at 63. She was known as a scholar of the classics, a voracious reader and a thoughtful conversationalist, and she earned her law degree from the U. of Texas School of Law. She was an Anglophile, and 20th-century British letters and society particularly captured her interest. She also loved dogs and helped with the delivery of many champion field trial pups. Survivors: her sisters, Ellen and Julie; and her former husband, James Black.
Lisa Kolp, ’78 (biological sciences), of Reistertown, Md., April 16, at 61, of lymphoma. Raised in Paris, Madrid and Spokane, Wash., she attended medical school at Wayne State U., and then did her internship and residency at the U. of Virginia School of Medicine; she completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology. She later joined the faculty at the Johns Hopkins U. School of Medicine. Her calm demeanor endeared her to patients, whom she often saw at 6 a.m. in order to accommodate their schedules. She was nationally known for her work helping children with genital abnormalities. She gardened often and was an animal lover. Survivors: her husband, Roger (Johns, ’77); her sons, Brian and Matthew, ’14; her daughter, Jessica; her father, Arthur; and her stepmother, Marianne.
1980s
Robert Weber, ’80 (math/computational science), of Irvine, Calif., February 6, at 58, of a heart attack. Having a keen love for actuarial science, he ran his own actuarial consulting company for more than 25 years and was also involved in the property casualty industry, teaching seminars and writing papers. He thrived on taking care of his family, including coaching water polo, swimming (he was a swimmer while at Stanford) and his daughter’s softball league. Survivors: his wife, Lisa; and his daughter, Alison.
Jon Johnston, ’82 (industrial engineering), MS ’82, of Park Orchards, Australia, April 24, 2016, at 56, of a fall while mountain-climbing in Tibet. A varsity water polo player and a member of Kappa Alpha while at Stanford, he began his career with Hewlett Packard in 1983 before moving to HP in Australia. While there, he founded Centari Systems. After selling the business, he kept busy restoring old HP computers for his HP Computer Museum. In later years, he developed an affinity for climbing high mountains, including Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. His final climb was Mount Shishapangma in Tibet. Survivors: his wife, Susan; his sons, Nathaniel, Nicholas and Noah, ’16; his brother, Lonn, ’81; his sister; and his parents, Clyde and Bernadine.
Lauri Anne Busboom Kober, ’85 (industrial engineering), of Redwood City, April 3, at 54. A Phi Beta Kappa at Stanford, she worked as a CFO with the SPCA in San Francisco, as well as professional stints with Stanbridge Academy, Active Desk, the Castle Group and Providian. A member of the Manufactured Housing Community Council for Urban Land Institute, she was also a dedicated mother, an animal lover, and someone who enjoyed cooking and physical fitness. Survivors: her former husband, Christopher, ’86; her sons, Kent and Fred; and her parents, Herbert, ’63, and Anne.
1990s
John Kim, ’97 (biological sciences; psychology), of Irvine, Calif., April 16, at 43, of bladder cancer. Survivors: his wife, Veronica; and his children, Elise, Henry and Simon.
Business
Edward Alexander McGough III, MBA ’49, of Albuquerque, N.M., May 14, at 98. Born in Philadelphia in 1918, he had a distinguished military career. Following a stint in the U.S. Navy from 1936 to 1939, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., graduating in 1943 with a commission as a second lieutenant. He attended the Army Air Corps Flying School while a West Point cadet. His flights in World War II included flying on D-Day. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak-leaf cluster; the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak-leaf cluster; and an Air Force Commendation Medal. After retiring from the Air Force in 1975, he and his wife, Romaine, lived in Placitas, N.M., where he helped develop the Placitas Volunteer Fire Department. He served as a New Mexico state senator from 1982 to 1986. A serious golfer, he was a member of the New Mexico Golf Association team that won the state championship. He also served as an elder at the Las Placitas Presbyterian Church. He was predeceased by his wife, and by his grandson Lindsey Green. Survivors: his daughters, Ann, Gail, Nancy and Sara; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Alan Lockwood MacLean, MBA ’50, of Minneapolis, April 16, at 95. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and MIT, spending three years away from the latter when he was ordered on active duty for the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. After earning his Stanford degree, he and his wife, Charlotte, returned to Minneapolis, where he spent 34 years at Honeywell, beginning in the residential division and ending there on the corporate staff responsible for computer and corporate-systems management. For nine years after that, he consulted for an international organization of computer manufacturers and telecommunication companies. He also offered his time and talents to many organizations, including the Hennepin County Library Board and the Boy Scouts. He was predeceased by his parents; Edwin and Gladys; his wife, Chalky; his brother Donald; and his infant son David. Survivors: his sons, William and Robert; his daughter, Katharine; and eight grandchildren.
Henry S. “Hank” Kinsell, MBA ’51, of Santa Barbara, Calif., April 1, at 89. A stockbroker by trade, he was president of the local YMCA and served on the board of Meals on Wheels. An avid traveler, he and his wife, Sally, traveled to more than 100 countries, though he most loved sitting on a local beach reading The Wall Street Journal. Competing in bodysurfing championships, he shared his love of the ocean with his daughters and grandchildren. Survivors: his wife, Sally; his daughters, Eliza Kropp, ’77, Sara and Annie; seven grandchildren (including Garner Kropp, ’10); two great-grandchildren; and one brother, C. Seybert (MD ’44).
Richard K. Ives, MBA ’54, of Tiburon, Calif., May 19, at 87. A lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, he later held a variety of positions at IBM on the sales and marketing side. He later became Western regional manager for DPF&G and then partner with Bacchi, Bentley, and Evans & Gould. He went on to form his own executive search firm, Richard K. Ives & Company, which turned into Wilkinson & Ives in 1984. He retired in 2000. He was an avid golfer, a gourmet cook, a sports fanatic and a member of several organizations. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia. Survivors: his daughters, Kathleen, Sharon, Lisa and Cameron; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Donald James Douglass, MBA ’59, of San Antonio, March 27, at 86. Active in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1958 as a lieutenant and aviator, he later founded Alamo Group Inc. in Seguin, Texas, in 1969. The company, which is a global manufacturer of high-quality tractor mounted mowing and grounds maintenance equipment, had Don as its chairman and director until 2011. A 1996 Forbes article highlighted Alamo and the Douglass Foundation, which was started in 1982 for educational, entrepreneurial, scientific and artistic purposes. With passions for poetry and the arts, he also was a loyal churchgoer. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen, and his parents, Arthur and Alice. Survivors: his former wife, Shirley; their three children, Daryl, Scott and Laurel; and three grandchildren.
John Willy Guth, MBA ’59, of Yuma, Ariz., April 25, at 85. An officer in the U.S. Navy, he served on the Underwater Demolition Team 12 in Coronado, Calif., he later joined Home Federal Saving and Loan, from which he retired as senior vice president. An avid bird hunter, fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, he served on the board of directors for the Cuyamaca Park and Recreation District. He was predeceased by his youngest son, John. Survivors: his wife, Gail; his son, William; his daughters, Lisa and Laura; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Joel Pucek Culley, MBA ’60, of Pacific Palisades, Calif., December 30, at 80. He was a retired banker, and during his undergrad years at Grinnell College, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Survivors: his wife, Patricia; his sons, Scott and Steven; his daughter, Kimberly; and six grandchildren.
Terran Ray “Terry” Boyd, MBA ’71, of San Marcos, Calif., April 13, at 76. After attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., he married and started an 11-year career with the Navy on the USS Tioga County and the USS Abraham Lincoln submarines. He earned his Stanford degree while in the Navy. After his service, he and his wife, Linda, began a wholesale pet-supply business that is still operated by the family in Vista, Calif. Fond of travel, aviation and their RV, he and his wife explored the world. Survivors: his wife; his sons, Jeffrey and Mark; and four grandchildren.
Education
Pauline Crouse Alchian, MA ’41, of Los Angeles, March 29, at 101. After a year of teaching in Seattle, she started her studies at Stanford, which is where she met her husband, Armen (’36, PhD ’44). Splitting their time between Palo Alto, Seattle, Texas and Los Angeles, she raised her children while engaging her interests in genealogy, quilting, golf and bridge. She became the family genealogist, and the stories and biographies she wrote about family members are used to educate subsequent generations of the family. She also recorded memorable events in quilts, as she loved making them as remembrances as well as ways to keep warm. Golf lessons led to participation in tournaments and a Presidents Cup win at Rancho Park in the 1960s. Also a bridge player, she joined the American Contact Bridge League, becoming a Silver Life Master and playing casually until she was 101. She was predeceased by her husband. Survivors: her daughter, Arline, ’65; her son, Allen; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Fred Hanson, MA ’53, of Vero Beach, Fla., March 12, at 94. He was a teacher, coach and administrator in the San Francisco school system. Skiing, backpacking in the high Sierras, jigsaw puzzles and traveling were just some of his interests. He walked the Golden Gate Bridge on the day it opened, typical of his adventurous and curious nature. Upon retirement, he moved to Vero Beach. Survivors: his wife, Kay; his daughters, Carol, Kathy, Susie and Linda; his stepchildren, Joe, Steven and Jodi; seven grandchildren; and eight step-grandchildren.
James Marshall McCarty, MA ’57, of Livermore, Calif., February 2, at 96. James served as a teacher, principal and administrator for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District for more than 34 years, retiring in the early 1980s. He was predeceased by his wife, Ysleta. Survivors: his daughters, Colleen, Cathy and Sheryl; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Janet Miriam Mohr, MA ’63, of Anchorage, Alaska, August 23, 2016, at 77. Her Stanford degree led to a 30-year career for Janet at Los Altos High School, teaching French and civics, and leading a program for gifted students. Her wanderlust sparked by time she spent in Belgium on a scholarship, she traveled to India and Nepal, during which time she recorded her experiences for Harcourt Brace and World. A frequenter of cultural events in San Francisco, she was a skilled conversationalist, known for her wit and humor.
Peggy Jeanette Metzger Bair, MA ’67, of Sonoma Valley, Calif., May 17, at 85. A Fulbright scholar and the recipient of a Danforth Foundation grant, she was an accomplished educator. Constantly wanting to learn and teach others, she saw learning—and life—as fun. With a California teaching credential starting in 1959, she taught elementary school while starting a family. In 1968, she took on a job at Sonoma State Hospital as assistant program director for an adolescent residential ward. She went on to be director of a program that piloted innovations to help developmentally disabled people with living arrangements, education and therapy. Partnering with her sister-in-law, Reva Metzger, whom she referred to as “the sister I never had,” they managed the program for 16 years. Later, she switched gears for a career in real estate. She served on the board of directors for the Association of Realtors and wrote a weekly real estate column for the Sonoma Index-Tribune. She and her husband traveled worldwide, including in Turkey, Tibet, Thailand and Alaska. Survivors: her husband, Russ; her daughter, Jeanette; and her son, James.
Paola Barbieri, MA ’72, PhD ’78, of Rome, March 22, at 69. A Fulbright scholar, she overcame a diagnosis of stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1972, becoming one of the first people in the world to be cured of the disease in a time when the disease was considered terminal. She remained healthy until 2012. She took part in numerous psychology conferences in Europe, India and China, even consulting with the Italian media on introducing Sesame Street into Italian culture. Survivors: her husband, Taruneshwar Singh Bedi.
Laura Tyrrell, MA ’75, of Granite Bay, Calif., April 18, at 64. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, she became an advocate for a cure, volunteering for the American Cancer Society and traveling to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to support cancer-related bills for research. In 2015, she even left the hospital following an emergency procedure to keep a scheduled D.C. appointment with a notoriously tough-to-crack lawmaker. Relentless years of pain due to cancer never deterred her from pushing on with her fight. Two weeks before her death, she was meeting with lawmakers in Sacramento and being honored with California’s Capitol Dome, the most prestigious statewide award from the American Cancer Society’s advocacy department. She also worked in the Los Altos school system teaching swimming, volleyball and tennis. Survivors: her husband, Steve; her daughter, Katie; her sons, Jeff and James; and two grandchildren.
Engineering
Ernest A. Ellestad VIII, MS ’47 (mechanical engineering), of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., March 28, at 91. He was commissioned into the Navy after graduating from Southern Methodist U., serving in Panama and traversing the Panama Canal 13 times. After Stanford, he joined Northrop at age 22 and worked there for 35 years on projects such as the Boeing 747, the F-18 and the B-2 stealth bomber. He and his wife, Eunice, who met at a cousin’s home on Thanksgiving 1949, raised three children, as well as sponsoring refugee and immigrant families and hosting exchange students. He was a 25-year volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a world traveler. He loved aviation, vintage cars, mountain climbing and World War II aviation. Survivors: his wife, Eunice; his children, Boyd, Bruce and Gail; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
John D. Spragins Jr., MS ’58, PhD ’64 (electrical engineering), of Pendleton, S.C., December 24, at 82. A lover of higher education, he taught at Arizona State, Duke, North Carolina State, Oregon State and finally Clemson, where he remained as a professor of electrical and computer engineering from 1980 to 2000. In 1996, he achieved professor emeritus status. He was a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society and a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. His textbook, Telecommunications, Protocol and Design, co-written with Joe Hammond and Krys Pawlikowski, was adopted by more than 80 universities worldwide. Traveling on many church missions trips around the world, he advocated helping those living in poverty and oversaw Water Missions Walks for Water. A member of the Sierra Club, he hiked many mountains. He was predeceased by his first wife, Hope, his brother, and his parents. Survivors: his second wife, Catherine; his children, Katrina, Jennifer and Matthew; and six grandchildren.
Frederick G. Blottner, PhD ’62 (mechanical engineering), of Albuquerque, N.M., May 15, at 84, of dementia. A research scientist at Sandia National Labs for 42 years, he was passionate about aerospace, family, traveling, biking and ice cream. Survivors: his daughters, Laura and Cheryl.
Dale Frank Kempf, MS ’64 (electrical engineering), of Granbury, Texas, April 26, at 77, of pancreatic cancer. Always wanting to help students with their educational goals, he donated his body to science via the Willed Body Program at the U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. A career that started at the Eastman Kodak Research Laboratories later took him to Valparaiso U., where he was an adjunct assistant professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering. A die-hard fan of Valparaiso athletics and a loyal Lutheran. Survivors: one sister.
Robert Needy Whitesel, MS ’66 (engineering science), PhD ’70 (mechanical engineering), of Fairfax, Va., February 8, at 77, of prostate cancer. After earning his undergraduate degree, Robert went to Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va., and was commissioned as a Marine first lieutenant stationed in Southern California. For most of his career, he worked in the nuclear industry, most notably as a nuclear safety director in charge of cleaning up after the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident in 1979. Later, he worked on safety and nonproliferation for the U.S. Department of Energy. He also spent much time helping others who were suffering from prostate cancer, offering guidance and keeping a blog. An avid hiker, skier and wine lover, he enjoyed good friends and good conversation. Survivors: his wife, Heidi; his children, Kathy and Todd; his stepdaughters, Stacy and Stephanie; six grandchildren.
Francis John “Jack” Hilbing Jr., PhD ’69 (industrial engineering), of Dayton, Ohio, May 20, at 79. Retiring from the U.S. Air Force as lieutenant colonel, he had a career in the computer industry. An active volunteer at the Church of the Incarnation, he was also involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Survivors: his wife, Birdie; his children, John, James and Kathleen; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Stephen C. Pohlig, MS ’75, PhD ’78 (electrical engineering), of Concord, Mass., April 14, at 64, of gallbladder cancer. He was a well-respected electrical engineer, spending his career at MIT’s Lincoln Lab. He developed the Pohlig-Hellman algorithm, used for computer algorithms and helped in the first days of internet cryptography and security. Survivors: his wife, Jennifer (Bonnie) Pohlig, 92; and his daughters, Ellie and Katie.
George Leger, ’86 (electrical engineering), of Mesa, Ariz., April 25, at 65. A renowned electrical genius, he could fix any device ever made. He was known for his love of God and his family. He was predeceased by his father, James, and his brother, Gary. Survivors: his wife, Gina; his sons, Keith, Max, Phillip and Joshua; his mother, Josephine; and five grandchildren.
Soren Ingomar Petersen, PhD ’09 (mechanical engineering), of South Pasadena, Calif., April 7, at 52, of complications from surgery. A leader in the field of design thinking. He published two books, Profit by Design and Design Driven Startups. In 2016, he began his own consultancy, Applied Design Science, with two partners, developing a unique algorithm to help entrepreneurs with their breakthroughs while using Applied Design Science’s Design Valuations Dashboard. He was dean of academic affairs for Niels Brock’s Copenhagen Business College location in San Diego. Survivors: his wife, Marysia; and his parents Anna and Carl.
Humanities and Sciences
Harley E. Barnhart Jr., MA ’48 (political science), of Post Falls, Idaho, April 22, at 94. Soon after he was commissioned in the Army Air Force in 1944 from the Aviation Cadet program, he left for a combat tour in Foggia, Italy. After World War II ended, he was placed on inactive reserve. He returned to active duty in 1947 and served until his retirement as a colonel in 1974. He liked photography and mycology, so lots of published photographs of mushrooms were his pride and joy as they appeared in magazines and field guides, as were articles he wrote on the subject. His second wife, Catherine, was an instructor in mycology, and the two of them enjoyed traveling to further explore their interest in mushrooms. He was predeceased by his first wife, Hildred Bragg Barnhart, his second wife, Catherine Belser Scates Barnhart, and two brothers.
Morton L. Goldberg, ’50 (psychology), of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., April 12, at 92. A veteran of the U.S. Army who served in World War II, he earned his PhD in psychology at Union College and worked for many years helping students in his position as a school psychologist in the Schenectady/Troy, N.Y., school system. Upon retiring, he and his wife, Diane, moved to Florida, where they lived happily for 30 years. He played racquetball and delighted in the many cruises he and his wife enjoyed together. Survivors: his wife of 54 years; his daughters, Beth, Janet and Rena; and seven grandchildren.
Barbara Aileen Wells Gunn, PhD ’60 (sociology), of Oak Ridge, Tenn., March 28, at 90. A high school counselor, she showed her talent for writing a good story during high school, when she sold an article to the Saturday Evening Post about GIs who returned from war and wanted to start families while getting a degree. She was also an agricultural-extension specialist at UC-Davis and, for 30 years, a professor of human development and family studies at the U. of Nevada, Reno. She retired as professor emerita in 1998. She later spent time as a suicide-prevention counselor and manager of a food ministry in Reno. She was predeceased by her son, Rex; sisters Carolyn and Elaine; her brother, David; and her former husband, Rex, MA ’53. Survivors: her daughters, Kate and Sally; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
Nicholas A. Salerno, PhD ’62 (English), of Phoenix, March 15, 2016, at 79, of cancer. A member of the Arizona State U. English department for 33 years, he also served as chairman for 10 years before his retirement as a professor emeritus. A fan of arts, literature and film, he contributed much to the Arizona community in those regards, including hosting Cinema Classics for the local PBS station for 10 years, exploring movies and making it appointment TV in the area. He also launched, with Dan Harkins, Critics’ Choice at Harkins Camelview Theater, examining independent films.
Belisandro Mares Jr., MA ’63 (Latin American studies), of Highlands Ranch, Colo., April 24, at 94. A World War II veteran, he taught for the Peace Corps and was a longtime Spanish teacher for Albuquerque Public Schools. He was predeceased by his son, Michael, ’79, and his siblings Aurora, Flora, Tonita, Robert, Carlos, Eugene and Andres. Survivors: his wife, Mary; his daughters, Janelle and Michele; his son Gary; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Thomas Goleeke, DMA ’66 (music), of Garden Grove, Calif., May 4. Music was in his blood almost from the beginning. Starting piano and violin lessons at age 8, he later also discovered his talent as a tenor. With two music degrees already under his belt from the U. of Washington, he served his country in the Army as a Chinese linguist in Taiwan. After earning his doctorate at Stanford, he took a job as a music professor at Southern Illinois U., then Kansas State U., and then he returned to the Pacific Northwest and began a 37-year stint at the U. of Puget Sound. There, he headed the voice department, was the opera director, and taught voice and diction while finding success as a conductor and a performer. He also offered his talents to many community events—when he wasn’t busy abroad studying Handel, his favorite composer. He wrote two volumes of Literature for Voice, and had many articles published. Later in life, he played violin with the Tacoma Community College Orchestra. Survivors: his daughters, Sherral and Sharon; his son, Glenn; and three grandchildren.
Dean Francis Smith, MS ’66 (physics), PhD ’69 (special program), of Boulder, Colo., May 7, at 74, of cardiac arrest. First employed by the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colo., then at the U. of Colorado Boulder, and later for Berkeley Research Associates. He also joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in its Environmental Technology Laboratory, then at CU’s Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, where he was a member of the NOAA-CU Center for Environmental Technology. An avid mountain climber, he summited peaks around the world. He also loved fine wine, traveling to Burgundy, France, every summer to learn more about it, even briefly forming his own label, Boulder Cellars, before deciding to import and judge instead. He was predeceased by his siblings, Bob and Arlene. Survivors: his wife, Zdenka, ’67; his daughters, Helena and Lara, ’97, MS ’98; and four grandchildren.
John William “Jackie” Bernet, MA ’69, PhD ’69 (English), of Fairbanks, Alaska, April 23, at 87. After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps (mostly in Korea), he went on to earn degrees from three universities, including Stanford. He then taught English composition and literature in the College of Engineering at the U. of Colorado Boulder from 1957 to 1959 and at the U. of Arkansas from 1969 to 1970. He fulfilled his longtime dream to live in Alaska at a historic time: in 1959, the year Alaska became a state. There, he taught English at the U. of Alaska Fairbanks from 1959 to 1964 and from 1970 to 1988. He taught other courses as well, including one he developed: Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples in English Translation. He retired as professor emeritus, English. He also enjoyed much of the recreation Alaska had to offer and took other diverse jobs there. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Elizabeth. Survivors: his son, Daniel; his stepdaughter, Lynda; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Law
Paul Selzer, JD ’65, of Palm Springs, Calif., April 30, at 76. A respected attorney who adored his family, he began his legal practice in Riverside, Calif., with a focus on estate planning and real estate development. Upon moving to Palm Springs with his wife, Kay, he turned the focus of his practice to natural-resource conservation, specifically with regard to endangered species. He successfully negotiated conservation agreements in five states. In all, his work helped with the permanent conservation and management of more than 500,000 acres. For his efforts preserving more than 50,000 acres in the Coachella Valley, he received the prestigious Silver Eagle Award. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years in 2015. Survivors: his son, Mark; his daughter, Lori; and four grandchildren.
John Hiller Zobel, JD ’85, of Seattle, January 30, at 56, at the summit of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. A former partner at the Seattle firm of Davis, Wright and Tremaine, he became a full-time parent and writer, a second career that saw the publication of A Slight Change of Plans, among other works. An avid mountain climber, John was also a devoted dad, coaching his son’s baseball team and taking up fencing when his son began competing. A member of the Washington Athletic Club’s Torrs running group, he ran 30 marathons, completing the Boston Marathon seven times and winning a 50-mile race in 1995. While at Stanford, he was a member of the Order of the Coif. Survivors: his wife, LaVerne Woods; his son, Eric; his parents, Hiller and Deborah; and his stepparents, L. Kinvin, Rya and Margaret.
Medicine
Daniel Albritton, ’50 (physical therapy), of Shreveport, La., March 25, at 96. Attending three schools prior to his time at Stanford, he played varsity sports at all three schools. He received a commission to Midshipman’s School at Columbia and served aboard the USS Anne Arundel as an attack-boat officer, participating in the invasions of Normandy and Okinawa, Japan. He was in the Ready Reserve of the Navy until 1958, then transferred to the U.S. Air Force; he retired as Lt. Colonel in 1983. He was one of the first physical therapists in the country, practicing in Shreveport for 40 years, including 27 years at the Schumpert Medical Center. He was predeceased by his first wife, Julia; his second wife, Gwindell; and his granddaughter Julia. Survivors: his daughters, Donna, Kathleen and Betty; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
John T. Decker, MD ’58, of Fort Collins, Colo., December 28, at 83, of liver cancer. After earning his degree from Stanford, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, followed by service at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Later, he became chief of pathology at Fitzsimmons Medical Center in Denver and retired from the military as a Lt. Colonel in 1968. The next 35 years found him practicing pathology at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. He was inspired by books, music, nature and photography. He was predeceased by his first wife, Carolyn Fuller, and his sister, Marilyn. Survivors: his wife, Marie; his daughters, Ingrid and Susan; his stepchildren, Monica, Leah and Spencer; and 10 grandchildren.
