Faculty
Thomas Rohlen, of San Francisco, March 6, at 81. He was a professor emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and a senior fellow emeritus at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, where he was instrumental in creating the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. With expertise in Japanese economics, education, and society, he served as the founding director of the Stanford Japan Center in Kyoto and supported numerous distinguished scholars through his family’s philanthropy. Survivors: his wife, Shelagh; children, Ginger, Katie, Duke, ’90, Brooks, Alison, and Michael; stepchildren, Karen, Jean, and Sarah; and 19 grandchildren.
1940s
Ardrey “Dree” Witt Taylor, ’40 (social science/social thought), of Modesto, Calif., March 30, at 103. She volunteered for the Red Cross in Nome, Alaska, during World War II. She enrolled at CSU Stanislaus to earn a teaching credential and taught at Woodrow Elementary School in Modesto for 13 years before retiring. She was a volunteer docent at the Great Valley Museum in Modesto and a founding member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She cherished time spent at her family’s Fallen Leaf Lake cabin. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Gordon; and son, Phillip. Survivors: her children, Teresa Taylor-Hoffman and Tom; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sister.
Charles John Astrue Jr., ’43 (general engineering), of San Francisco, March 3, at 101. He served as a salvage and diving officer in the Navy during WWII. After the war, he worked as a transportation engineer for the California Public Utilities Commission. He had a lifelong interest in Latin culture and loved Latin food, mariachi music, dancing tangos, and “charlando” in the Spanish language. He was predeceased by his first wife, Charlotte Determan; and daughter, Carol Astrue Homer. Survivors: his wife of 44 years, Miriam Rivero; children, Joan Maher, Charles, and Raymond; seven grandchildren; and brother.
Janet McClanahan Morris, ’44 (political science), of Hillsborough, Calif., March 20, at 99. She was a member of Delta Gamma and contributed to the Stanford Daily. During college, she flew for the Civil Air Patrol looking for Japanese submarines along the Pacific Coast. After graduating, she worked briefly for the federal government in Washington, D.C. She was a founding member of the San Mateo Parks and Recreation Foundation. She circumnavigated the globe numerous times and became a licensed balloonist later in life. Survivors: her sons, Randall, ’70, MD ’76, and Scott, ’73; four grandchildren, including Christine, ’01; and two great-grandchildren.
Maxwell A. Myers, ’44 (English), of San Francisco, April 19, at 99. He contributed to the Chaparral humor magazine and served as a first lieutenant in the Army during WWII. After working as a reporter for Official Detective magazine in Sacramento, he joined his father’s wholesale and real estate business, the L. Myers Company, which he ran for the rest of his life. A serial entrepreneur, his ventures included a chain of boutiques selling nylon stockings and costume jewelry and a theater for satirical political plays. He ate dinner with his wife every night for 74 years. Survivors: his wife, Elaine; children, Catherine Feldman, ’74, David, and Laura; and 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arthur Crawford Cooley, ’48, of Petaluma, Calif., April 16, at 95. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and Phi Gamma Delta, and he served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. In 1959, he became a partner at Draper, Gaither, and Anderson and continued venture capital investing throughout his life. He managed his family’s ranching operations for more than 60 years and donated or sold thousands of acres to local open space districts. He served as president of the board of directors of the Stanford Alumni Association. He was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Jess (Porter, ’49); and son, Michael. Survivors: his children, Janet Cooley Dilg, Nancy, and Robert; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Marion Kidd Schwaneflugel Fay, ’48 (French), of Amherst, N.Y., March 19, at 95. After graduating, she worked in fund-raising for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the United Negro College Fund. An active volunteer and homemaker, she worked in the local high school library and devoted time to PTAs, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She enjoyed sailing, camping, car trips, and Caribbean vacations with her family. She served as president of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra. She was predeceased by her husband, Homer. Survivors: her children, Elizabeth Fay Daly and Frank, MS ’81; three grandchildren; and brother.
John Allan Paterson, ’49 (industrial engineering), of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., January 28, at 97. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He served in the military for 42 years, ultimately becoming a brigadier general in the Air Force. He was also a general contractor, real estate broker, and developer in Oregon, where he served as Washington County commissioner. A visionary home builder, he began burying electric lines in the 1960s to preserve the aesthetics of residential communities in and around Portland, Ore. He was a pilot, an impeccable dresser, and a lover of jazz music and sports. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Dolores. Survivors: his daughters, Leron and Allaire, ’84; and granddaughter.
1950s
Bruce E. Van Alstyne, ’50 (social science/social thought), of Carmel, Calif., May 2, at 95. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and the football team and served in the Navy. He was an investment banking professional for 60 years, serving as executive vice president and member of the board of directors at Morgan Stanley. He was also chairman of the board of trustees for Menlo College. He loved traveling, tennis, golf, flying, hunting, hiking, swimming, skiing, and dominoes. Survivors: his wife of 70 years, Barbara; children, Bruce, Byron, and Nancy; five grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
Nathaniel Stewart Rogers, ’51 (economics), of Seattle, January 20, at 91. He was a member of Theta Xi. He spent his 40-year career at the company his father co-founded, Van Waters & Rogers, handling mergers, acquisitions and legal and tax issues. He loved going to work every day and retired in 1991 as senior vice president and a director. He valued integrity, honesty, and humility and cherished family above all else. He was predeceased by his first wife, of 38 years, Jane (Steele, ’51). Survivors: his wife of 29 years, Carol Rogers; children, Susan Cook, ’78, Mark, and Steven; stepchildren, Joe Williams, Claire Tingen, John Williams, and Larry Williams; eight grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Hugh O’Neill McDevitt, ’52 (biological sciences), of Stanford, April 28, at 91. He spent 50 years at Stanford, starting as an assistant professor in 1966 and eventually becoming chief of immunology. In researching how immune cells recognize invading microbes, he paved the way for modern immunology. He was a pillar of the department of microbiology and immunology and was a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Medicine, and the Royal Society of London. Survivors: his wife of 38 years, Grete Sønderstrup; children, Elizabeth, Katharine, Thomas, and Lina; and two grandchildren.
Carolyn Sue Wendell Perkins, ’52 (education), of Pebble Beach, Calif., December 19, 2019. She worked as a substitute teacher while raising her children and later returned to the classroom full time, retiring in 1991. She traveled nearly every year, with an emphasis on Mexico, Europe, Russia, and China. In retirement, she and her husband built a home in Pebble Beach, where they joined the church, symphony and Gentrain communities. She was active with AAUW and loved her P.E.O. sisters. Survivors: her husband of 70 years, Bill, ’52, MS ’53; and sons, Todd, ’77, and Chris.
Conrad Carl von Bibra, ’52 (chemistry), of South Pasadena, Calif., March 13, at 92. He served in the Air Force. He was president of Exeter Oil Company and chairman of the Conservation Committee of California Oil and Gas Producers. As governor of Rotary International District 5300, he worked tirelessly to connect local Rotary clubs with international service projects. He was a pillar of Calvary Presbyterian Church and welcomed numerous international students, including from Mongolia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, into his home over the years. He spent decades restoring his ancestral home in Germany, where his family spent many happy summers. Survivors: his wife of 69 years, Pat (Terry, ’52); children, Brenn, Anne, Margaret, Carl, ’84, and Terry; and 10 grandchildren.
Margot Sinton Biestman, ’53 (French), of Sausalito and Sonoma, Calif., April 9, at 90. She received a master’s degree in education from Sonoma State University. Throughout her life, she was a teacher, artist, jeweler, and author. She was involved in the conception of the Head Start program and taught people ages 3 to 93. Starting in the early 1980s, physical challenges prompted her to embark on a decades-long career as a teacher, practitioner, and leader of Breathexperience as founded by the late Ilse Middendorf. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Perry. Survivors: her children, Annie Caro, John, and Mark; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Ronald Edwin Eadie, ’53 (economics), MBA ’57, of Medford, Ore., April 24, at 91. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and the football team, playing in the 1952 Rose Bowl. He served in the Navy and Naval Reserves, reaching the rank of captain. He spent 34 years with Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, eventually becoming one of four executive vice presidents. He was a natural leader and masterful storyteller with a quick wit and a loud, infectious laugh. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Patricia Duckert. Survivors: his children, Michael and Dayna; two grandchildren; sister; and companion, Hannelore Herbig.
Katherine Alice Hines Grigsby, ’53 (sociology), of Santa Barbara, Calif., April 6, at 90. She was a driving force behind major building renovations and the placement of the Riverside Art Museum’s Julia Morgan building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 2016 she was awarded the museum’s Top Dog award. She worked at the Idyllwild School of Music and Arts until she retired. She was predeceased by her husband, James, and son, James. Her twin sister, Mary Hines King, ’53, died in June. Survivors: her daughter, Robyn Grigsby Beck; four grandchildren; and brother, Fred Hines, ’56, MS ’57.
Sarah Ann “Sally” Marble Lewis, ’53 (sociology), of Pasadena, Calif., January 27, at 90, of complications from COPD. During her time at Stanford, she danced in the annual Spring Show and boarded the SS Constitution for its maiden voyage to Europe. In the 1980s and ’90s, she worked in sales at Pasadena’s premiere florist, Jacob Maarse, and served on the All Saints Flower Guild. She was a talented musician and pianist and had a beautiful singing voice. Survivors: her children, Carey Mott, Julie Bullock, Tom Jr., and Rebecca; three grandchildren; and former husband, Thomas.
Virginia J. “Ginger” Timmons Ludwick, ’53 (political science), of Los Angeles and Palm Desert, Calif., February 27, at 89. She was a congressional aide on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and worked in real estate and interior design in California. In later years, she and her husband traveled the globe, leaving her family a rich and lasting legacy through her photographs. She was a dedicated volunteer for Stanford and was named the first female president of the Stanford Club of L.A. County. Survivors: her husband of more than 65 years, David; children, Leslie Ludwick Bires, ’80, and David; five grandchildren; and sister, Janet Timmons McNeil, ’57.
Frederick A. Soderer, ’53 (electrical engineering), of Arnold, Calif., December 12, at 94, of congestive heart failure. He served in the Navy and married the daughter of his station commander. He worked for GE for more than 30 years, mostly in the Bay Area. He served as chairman of the Redwood City Planning Commission. He enjoyed woodworking and volunteered with Ebbetts Pass Elves to make toys for children in Calaveras County. He and his wife loved to hike, backpack, and cross-country ski in the Sierras, and they were part of an active group of hikers for 60 years. Survivors: his wife, Shirley; two children; and two grandchildren.
John Hall Biggar III, ’54 (economics), MBA ’58, of Rancho Mission Viejo, Calif., May 16, at 90. A member of Sigma Chi as an undergraduate, he interrupted his master’s degree program for a 16-month tour of duty while serving in the Army in Korea. He was the third generation of leadership at JH Biggar Furniture Co., a family-owned furniture company in Southern California, where he became president. He volunteered with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses for more than 50 years. He was predeceased by his first wife, Carol (Romer, ’54). Survivors: his wife, Karol; children, Mike, ’81, MBA ’94, and Lynne, ’84; stepchildren, Susan King and Bob Hezlep; two grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and brother, Richard, ’61.
Constance Elaine Budgen Doty, ’54 (philosophy), of Walnut Creek, Calif., April 28, at 89. She participated in the Orchesis modern dance society, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and later studied Spanish, French, Norwegian, Italian, and German. She volunteered at multiple schools and held board positions with the Orinda Woman’s Club and the Stanford Women’s Club of the East Bay, where she served as president. She was a member of the Orinda Community Church’s Chancel Ringers Handbell Choir for more than 40 years. She was predeceased by her husband, Ken. Survivors: her sons, George, Paul, Ken Jr., and Curtis; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Ronald Allen “Rocky” Harris, ’54 (economics), of San Francisco, February 21, at 89. He acted in Ram’s Head productions, played tennis and edited the Stanford Quad. He served in the Navy. At the Dillingham Corporation, he supervised the construction of the Wells Fargo building at 44 Montgomery Street, the tallest building west of Dallas at the time. He later set up real estate partnership businesses and served as president of the Institute of Real Estate Management. He enjoyed travel, watching Stanford sports, and besting his children and grandchildren at dominoes, hearts, and cribbage. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Laine, ’55. Survivors: his children, Linda, Danny, and Jon; and two grandsons.
Stirling Gainer Pillsbury Jr., ’54 (basic medical sciences), MD ’57, of Long Beach, Calif., January 5, at 89, of cancer. He was a member of Sigma Nu/Beta Chi and served in the Navy. During a 32-year career as an obstetrician/gynecologist, he delivered more than 3,000 babies. He was appointed chief medical officer at Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach in 1996, helped develop what is now Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, and held academic roles at UCLA and UC Irvine. He was a staunch advocate for accessible, affordable medical care. Survivors: his wife, Lynne; daughters, Tricia Pillsbury Peacock and Gayle; and five grandchildren.
John Garrettson “Gary” Belcher, ’55, of Napa, Calif., 2019, at 86. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and served in the Navy, stationed in Korea and Japan. He earned a business administration degree from Menlo College. With the dream of becoming a rancher, he acquired Gordon Valley Ranch and Rancho Corazon. He loved working the land and introducing his six children to the wonders of the wilderness. He had an insatiable curiosity and a love for sharing information. Survivors: his children, Paul, Carrie Berger, Camille Harrison, Debbie, John Jr., and Mark; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two siblings.
Neil Jenkines MacPhail, ’57 (social science/social thought), of San Francisco, December 24, at 86. He contributed to the Stanford Daily. He taught elementary school in San Rafael, Calif., for over 25 years. Students and colleagues from Gallinas, Glenwood, Bahia Vista, and Coleman elementary schools remember him as a kind, patient, and inspiring teacher who was always ready to listen. An avid philanthropist, he was awarded the Ruth Brinker award for his generous support of Project Open Hand, an organization that delivers food to homebound and critically ill residents of Bay Area communities. He was predeceased by his partner, Gerald Kelly.
Barbara Ruth Bailey Murch Wellner, ’57 (economics), of Albuquerque, N.M., August 10, 2021. An avid quilter, she designed beautiful, award-winning quilts, some of which were featured on magazine covers. She maintained a lifelong love of birdwatching, and was a vocal fan of Stanford sports teams and individual alumni athletes. She competed in pickleball in the New Mexico Senior Olympics into her 80s. She was predeceased by her second husband, Leo Wellner. Survivors: her children, Amy Murch Sloan, Linda Murch Pedersen, and Stephen Murch; grandchildren; great-grandson; and sister.
Carol Franc Buck, ’58 (history), of Crystal Bay, Nev., April 9, at 85, of complications from a heart condition. She was president of the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation, which provided college scholarships to more than 300 students. She created the Carol Franc Buck Foundation to support visual and performing arts organizations. She served on the boards of organizations like the San Francisco Symphony and the Nevada Museum of Art. She was instrumental in the development of the Classical Tahoe music festival. She earned her pilot’s license and flew twin engine land and sea planes. Survivors: her son, Christian Erdman; and granddaughter.
Anne “Moff” Moffatt Conway, ’59 (English), of Sacramento, Calif., May 17, at 85, of pancreatic cancer. She was a lifelong reader with a special focus on World War II. While globe-trotting with her husband Pat, she maintained a boutique where items from her travels found a home beside more traditional antiques. She enjoyed writing and acting as a juror in moot court for the McGeorge School of Law. She joined the Sacramento Stanford Association Board of Directors in 2019. She was predeceased by her first husband, Ed Bayless and second husband, Pat. Survivors: her son, Michael Bayless; grandson; and brother.
Jeanne Margaret Menken LaChapelle, ’59 (history), of Santa Rosa, Calif., November 16, at 83, of a stroke. She rode for the equestrian team. From childhood through her early 20s, she was an avid rider and made the Olympic team. She loved the theater and spent many years acting in local productions. She was devoted to her three children and chose to give up her career in the mid-1970s to move to Mendocino, Calif., in order to raise them in a small town with a safe environment. Survivors: her children, Steve, Tom, and Tracy.
1960s
Marilyn Kay Hoth, ’61 (history), of Portland, Ore., April 29, at 82. She was her freshman class vice president. She worked in fund-raising and communications, starting with the Stanford Development Office and including the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History, the City of Ogden, the Oregon Medical Professional Review Organization, and Lewis & Clark College. She was a beautiful writer who also had a great love for music and the natural beauty of Oregon. She enjoyed tutoring newly arrived refugees and migrants in recent years. She was predeceased by her stepson Gary Mays. Survivors: her daughters, Karen Gulick, ’88, and Kristin Gulick; stepson Doug Mays; and two grandchildren.
Robert H. Ludlow Jr., ’61 (history), of Santa Cruz, Calif., April 14, at 83. As a teenager, he fractured his neck in a swimming pool and became quadriplegic. He was the first quadriplegic to pass the California and Hawaii bar exams. For 50 years, he practiced law in Santa Cruz. His advocacy on behalf of spinal cord and brain injury victims helped lay the foundation for what would become the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wheelchair-bound for 72 years, he was among the longest-living quadriplegics. He loved the opera, dogs, Stanford, and carrot cake. Survivors: his wife, Lisa; children, Justine Lagerwey and Spencer; and four grandchildren.
James Leonard Reed, ’61, MA ’62 (history), MA ’63 (education), of Corona, Calif., May 9, at 82, of kidney cancer. He taught U.S. history, economics, government, photography, and yearbook at Norco High School for 35 years. He earned a JD in 1984 and worked as a lawyer for one year before returning to education, spending a year in England as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program. He loved camping in the western U.S. with his family, and he was a passionate woodworker. Survivors: his children, Rick, ’86, MS ’86, Shawnessy and Mark, ’90, MS ’91; six grandchildren, including Kyle, ’20, Matthew, ’23, Kelsey, ’20, MS ’21, and Jenna, ’24; and brother.
James Lauren Amdahl, ’62 (sociology), of Chandler, Ariz., December 29, 2020, at 80, of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. He was a member of the marching band and served in the Navy for two years. He worked at the Arizona Automobile Club before launching a successful career in real estate. He served on the board of directors for SEVRAR (Southeast Valley Realtor Association, now WESERV) and was president for two terms. He served on the National Association Board of Realtors and volunteered with Sun Sounds, a reading service for the blind, for 15 years. Survivors: his wife of 48 years, Janet; son, Joel; two grandchildren; and brother.
Linda Louise Swanson Foley, ’62 (biological sciences), of Alameda, Calif., and Dundee, Ore., November 23, at 81. She began her career at UC San Francisco before getting a master’s degree in genetics at UC Berkeley. She worked for the state of California as a genetic counselor specializing in Tay-Sachs disease. Well rounded in her interests, she could just as easily recite the history of various kings and queens of England as the benefits of using nematodes in the garden. She was social and gregarious and loved to travel. She was predeceased by her husband, Jeff. Survivors: her sons, Christopher and Michael; three grandsons; and brother.
Julie D. Cosgrove Masterson, ’62 (English), of Mendocino, Calif., March 5, at 81. She earned a teaching credential from UC Berkeley and was president of the Junior League of Los Angeles. After attending an Ansel Adams’ Friends of Photography workshop in Carmel, Calif., she started traveling around the world and documenting endangered landscapes in remote regions from Yemen to Patagonia. In 1988, her fine art photographs of Tibet became a major exhibition at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, Calif. She was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, Bill. Survivors: her stepdaughters, Mary Masterson Hockridge and Barbara; four stepgrandchildren; and two siblings, including Carole Cosgrove Terry, ’59.
Judith Kathryn Schafer de Vore, ’63 (chemistry), of Granville, Ohio, December 24, at 80. She also received a bachelor’s of science and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oregon. She was a senior programmer analyst and ultimately the director of computer services at Denison University. After retiring in 2011, she spent many happy hours at the Licking County Community Center playing bridge and dominoes and visiting with friends. She enjoyed computers, computer games, reading comics (especially Mother Goose and Grimm), and watching Netflix. Survivors: her children, Andrei de Vore and Patricia Dow; and brother.
Arthur T. “Chip” McIntosh III, ’63 (history), of Portola Valley, Calif., March 27, at 81. Early in his career, his investment business involved buying distressed apartments around the country, improving and then selling them. He later got into the almond business, successfully sharing ownership of several orchards for decades. He worked to fuel global adventures like heli-skiing, fly-fishing, mountain biking, and golfing. He loved Portola Valley, reflected in his decades of service on its open space, finance, and planning commissions. He was predeceased by his stepdaughter Kelly, ’85. Survivors: his wife, Kay; sons, Hawley and Monty; stepdaughter Canda; seven grandchildren; and two sisters.
Judith Louise McClure Tyler, ’63 (biological sciences), of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., March 21, at 80. She earned a master’s degree in clinical science and worked as a lab technician at UCLA and Stanford, taking pride in her skill at drawing blood from the tiniest babies. She later completed an MBA and a master’s in marriage, family, and child counseling, which led to her career as a Christian marriage and family therapist. She was a talented gardener, a meticulous organizer, and a competitive ballroom dancer. Survivors: her husband of 22 years, Marlowe; stepdaughters, Tammy and Debbie; two grandchildren; and three siblings, including Susan Diekman, ’65, MA ’67.
Joseph Henry Wally III, ’63 (English), of Shawnee Mission, Kan., April 23, at 80. He was a member of Theta Chi and served in the Army in Germany. After attending Harvard Business School, he joined his family company, Western Blueprint Co., and then became CEO of Opti-Copy. He sold several companies, including Title Boxing in Kansas City. Known for his humor, intelligence, and geniality, he had a great facility for languages and loved to travel. Survivors: his former wives, Liz (Stewart, ’65) and Gail Jenson; children, Catherine LaBelle and Jody; three grandchildren; and two brothers.
David Welford Williams Jr., ’63 (political science), LLM ’67, of Decorah, Iowa, February 12, at 80. He initially practiced entertainment law, representing numerous musicians, actors, and screenwriters before shifting his focus to business and real estate law. After moving to rural Preble Township, he was elected township supervisor and devoted himself to environmental work, advocating for and preparing local ordinances designed to reduce pollution and environmental damage from industrial and farming activities. He prevented the mining of silica sand used in oil and gas fractured drilling in several southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa counties. Survivors: his partner, Sherry Berg; children, Kaj and Kyrsten; six grandchildren; and brother, Vaughn, JD ’69.
Daniel Riley McGreevy Jr, ’64 (mathematics), of Valencia, Calif., February 26, at 80, of cardiopulmonary issues. He participated in the marching band. With a master’s degree in mathematics, he taught at Sierra Vista Jr. High and College of the Canyons, and he worked as an aerospace software engineer with Unisys/Lockheed Martin and Litton for more than 30 years. He was quick to laugh and always had a smile and good word for others. He was blessed to be part of a loving church community. He was predeceased by his wife, Jannette. Survivors include his sister, Kathleen, ’66.
William Charles Turner, ’64 (physics), of Santa Rosa, Calif., April 10, at 79. He had a 30-year research career at three Department of Energy laboratories, retiring in 2004. He was elected fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. An avid runner and cyclist, he was a longtime fan of aerobic exercise, culminating in 25 years as a fitness swimmer with the CALM masters swim team at UC Berkeley. He enjoyed playing the saxophone, photography, motorcycling, and skiing. Survivors: his life partner, Tania Selden; ex-wife, Ellen (Carlton, ’66); sons, Luke and Ben; two granddaughters; and two siblings.
John Vincent Erickson, ’66, MS ’67 (electrical engineering), of Grand Haven, Mich., April 16, at 78, of cancer. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He worked as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard and MITRE Corporation before attending Harvard Law School. He was a founding partner of the Collette Erickson Farmer and O’Neill law firm, where he supported clients in the technology sector. He loved cheering on Stanford sports teams and spent much of his time later in life at the Presidio Golf & Concordia Club. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancee. Survivors: his sons, Nelson and Justin; two granddaughters; and sister.
1970s
Mary Ann Allstetter Lairon, ’70 (anthropology), of San Jose, May 22, at 73, of brain cancer. After earning a teaching certificate, a master’s in counseling psychology and a doctorate in cognitive psychology, she worked as a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent, and an associate superintendent. In retirement, she continued to mentor educators, tutor students, and advocate for teachers and less fortunate, vulnerable students. She was renowned for her enchiladas and enjoyed a robust social life, golf, and gardening. She was predeceased by her husband, Daniel. Survivors: her children, Daniel and Darsie; and siblings, Susan Neufeldt, ’63, MA ’63, Frederick Allstetter, ’67, MA ’71, and William Allstetter, ’78.
Douglas John McCutcheon, ’70 (physics), of Encino, Calif., April 8, at 73. He served on a nuclear submarine and taught at Mare Island before earning an MBA at UC Berkeley. Despite this (and the fact his wife is also a Cal grad), the family remain loyal Cardinal football fans—currently raising the fourth generation at the Bloom tailgate in Chuck Taylor Grove. He was a finance executive at many Silicon Valley companies including Diasonics, Cadence, and Asyst. He had a lifelong love of the ocean, especially when enjoyed in Hawaii. Survivors: his wife, Christine; children, Megan, Lauren, and Bradford; and two grandchildren.
Gail Anderson Needleman, ’70 (English), of Oakland, March 2, at 73, of cardiac arrest. She contributed to the Stanford Daily and participated in the Stanford Savoyards theater company. A nationally recognized expert on the roots and variants of American traditional song, from sea shanties to spirituals to cowboy campfire songs, she was described by colleagues as one of the country’s best transcribers of folk songs. By listening to songs sometimes hundreds of times, she transcribed the words and music and helped to create the American Folk Song Collection website—the primary online English language folk song collection in the world. Survivors: her husband, Jacob; mother, Harlene Anderson; and two siblings.
Patricia Susan Beck Parmely, ’70, of Carlsbad, Calif., April 1, at 72, of progressive supranuclear palsy. After Stanford, she worked part time as a dental hygienist while raising three daughters. She had a lifelong love of nature and enjoyed traveling to national parks, especially Yosemite. After raising her daughters, she taught second and fourth grades at Canyon View Elementary in the Poway Unified School District for many years. She loved playing bridge and attended religious services every Sunday at the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. Survivors: her husband, Mark, ’68; daughters, Shane, Heather, and Anna; eight grandchildren; mother, Patricia Beck; and three siblings.
Warren Paul McNaughton, ’73, MS ’78 (mechanical engineering), of Durango, Colo., September 4, 2021, at 69. He was a world traveler, an outdoors enthusiast, and a long-distance cyclist. One of his proudest achievements was to finish the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs, a grueling, timed 1,200- kilometer road race. He was a devoted student of Chen-style tai chi, a skilled and enthusiastic social dancer, and a founding director of the Grief Center of Southwest Colorado, which provides bereavement services to families who have sustained loss. He was predeceased by his wife, Tomi, Gr. ’77. Survivors: his stepdaughter, Maureen Quintana; and brother.
John Leo Manley Jr., ’76 (history), of La Quinta, Calif., May 2, at 68. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta and went on to earn a law degree from Boston College. His long, distinguished career on Wall Street analyzing markets began at Smith Barney before he landed the role of chief equity strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management Group (now Allspring Global Investments). He was a fixture on media outlets like CNBC, PBS, CNN, and Bloomberg TV. He was also an avid reader and history buff who possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of American and European history. Survivors: his sons, John “Jack” and Mark; and former spouse, Victoria.
1980s
Stephen Emery Eastman, ’83 (economics), of Danvers, Mass., March 22, at 60, of pancreatic cancer. The son of a career diplomat, he grew up in France, Vietnam, Benin, Israel, and Morocco. He built his career in financial management, most recently as a managing director at MFS Investment Management in Boston. He was known for his kindness and generosity as well as his love for all things mechanical, forests, and cats. Outside of work, he loved spending time in Maine with his family and friends. Survivors: his wife of 11 years, Cristi Hollidge; father, Harland; and two siblings.
Diane Araxia Frenster, ’87 (physics), of Galesburg, Ill., January 27, 2020, at 54. After earning a master’s in physics, she taught physics and astronomy at Carl Sandburg College and worked as the science technician at Knox College. She loved music and performed with Carl Sandburg College and Knox College jazz combos, the Rootabaga Jammers, Galesburg Community Chorus, and Troubled Minds. She enjoyed building ingenious polyhedral models, ice skating, reading Victorian literature, and Greek food. Survivors: her husband of 28 years, Thomas Moses, ’87; son, Mark; mother, Jeanette Frenster; and two siblings, including Linda Frenster Jackson, ’91.
Christopher Jess Munguia, ’89 (philosophy), of Daly City, Calif., January 19, at 54, of a stroke. At Stanford he contributed to Barrio Assistance and El Centro Chicano. After graduating, he lived in the Bay Area and worked with Matthews Asia for 10 years before becoming a full-time technical recruiter. He had a passion for documentaries and created and ran DocumentaryNews as his passion project. Survivors include his parents, Esther and David.
1990s
Kiersten Jennifer “Kayj” Nash Andersen, ’94 (psychology), of Waxhaw, N.C., May 7, at 49. She ran track and cross-country. In addition to her Stanford degree, she earned four more: a master’s in counseling and personnel services, a PhD in counseling psychology, a bachelor’s in nursing, and a master’s in nursing. She worked as a licensed psychologist and psychiatric nurse practitioner, and in her spare time enjoyed going for long walks, caring for the family’s four pets, and watching sports. Survivors: her husband, Jeremy Andersen; children, Kailey Okine, Kai Okine, Keira Okine, and Brody Andersen; parents, Robert and Madelyn Nash; and sister.
2000s
Alvaro Ponce, ’00 (political science), of St. Helena, Calif., November 22, 2021, at 43. He participated in the marching band. After Stanford, he received a law degree from UC Davis. He practiced law in Silicon Valley and most recently worked for Lighthouse Global in San Francisco. A lifelong photographer, he could often be seen on the sidelines during Stanford football games or with the Band. He loved ballet, in particular the San Francisco Ballet. Survivors: his parents, Maria and Jaime; and two siblings.
Business
Stephen Edgar Wingert, MBA ’66, of Dallas, March 26, at 78. He began his career at Texas Instruments as an engineer, then worked in real estate in the Dallas area, and later became a consultant in industries like gold mining technology and oil and gas technology. He loved research and his family and had an eye for details in both business and fashion. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved meeting new people. He would talk often and proudly about his Stanford experience. He was predeceased by his ex-wife, Paulette. Survivors: his sons, Brent and Troy; and two brothers.
Francisco P. “Jun” Bernardo Jr., MBA ’69, of Parañaque City, the Philippines, April 15, at 86. After finishing his MBA, he returned to the Philippines and helped found the Asian Institute of Management, one of the most prominent business schools in Asia. He served as dean there from 1990 to 1995 and taught for more than 50 years, retiring as a professor emeritus. A mechanical engineer by training, he was known as an exacting professor who expected to draw deep insights and impart enduring lessons to his students. Survivors: his wife, Luz; children, Melody, Jay, and Chris; and grandson.
Hugh Kennedy Tirrell, MBA ’70, of Scottsdale, Ariz., January 23, at 77, of kidney and heart disease. He created Visucom Productions to write, direct, produce, and distribute over 50 educational and training films, some of which won national and international awards. He was the executive producer of the claymation feature film The Adventures of Mark Twain. He envisioned the I Am America series of books for children as his legacy and completed four titles (Arizona, California, Florida, and Colorado) before he died. Survivors: his sisters, Susen Fagrelius and Priscilla Bisher; two nieces; and two nephews.
Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences
Edward Sharar Montgomery, MS ’63 (geology), of Tucson, Ariz., February 8, at 88, of pancreatic cancer. He served as a first lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War. After Stanford, he spent two years in the Peruvian desert mapping and drilling phosphate deposits for Nicol Industrial Materials. At the Duval company in Tucson, he led the exploration of numerous mineral deposits worldwide. When Pennzoil Sulphur Company was formed in 1985, he moved to Houston to manage its exploration program. He was a legendary storyteller and a passionate woodworker. Survivors: his wife of 35 years, Shari; sons, John and Edward; stepchildren, Kim and Terry Hoover; seven grandchildren; great-grandchild; and two siblings.
Education
Florence Margaret O’Malley, MA ’63, of San Francisco, April 18, at 82, of cancer. She completed her postgraduate work at the University of San Francisco and spent her career as a teacher, counselor, and dean in the San Francisco Unified School District. She devoted countless hours to mentoring students and working to secure scholarships for them. She remained active in education long after her retirement by offering her expertise to numerous scholarship funds. She was a proud Irish Catholic who always put her family and friends first. Survivors include her cousins and countless friends.
Charles Hamilton Andrews III, MA ’64, of Easton, Md., May 24, at 81. He survived polio in childhood. He began teaching English at Thousand Oaks High School in 1964, and worked as a journalist during the summer for the first 16 years of his career. He was voted teacher of the year and counselor of the year numerous times, and was inducted into the Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame in 2012. In retirement, he became a Ventura County master gardener and was an active member of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church. Survivors: his wife of 54 years, Susan; sons, Charlie and Robbie; and three grandchildren.
Herman C. Dustman Jr., MA ’67, of San Diego, December 8, 2020, at 76, of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. After Stanford, he became the associate dean of students and residence director at New York University before returning to school for a master’s in history. He crisscrossed the country as a sales manager and product trainer for Bang and Olufsen of America, then returned to California as the general manager of an off-campus dormitory near San Diego State University. He was a marathon runner, and he and his wife were theater lovers and active in the La Jolla Presbyterian Church. Survivors: his wife of 38 years, Goldie Sinegal; stepmother, Betty; brother; and two stepsisters.
Engineering
Wilfred Henry Comtois, Engr. ’56 (mechanical engineering), of Warrington, Pa., April 12, at 94. He served in the Army during World War II. He spent his career as a mechanical engineer working for Air Preheater in Wellsville, N.Y.; Combustion Engineering in Windsor, Conn.; and the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was devoted to his family and his faith. He was predeceased by his daughter Carol. Survivors: his wife of nearly 69 years, Marie; children, Barbara, Kathryn, Anthony, Mark, John, Jean, Paul, Mary, and Michael; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Gordon Bark-Jun Mah, MS ’58, Engr. ’64 (civil engineering), of Sunnyvale, Calif., September 25, 2021, at 87. He worked in the aerospace industry after graduation and contributed to the Apollo space program at North American Rockwell. At Northrop Grumman Corporation, he worked on the B-2 stealth bomber. He was an inventor with a passion for solving global issues and he held three patents: a transportation, sanitation and therapy system for handicapped people; a portable photovoltaic assembly; and a high-security moving mass lock system. Survivors: his wife, Yu-Chen; children, Grace, Leland, Sophia, ’86, Victoria, and Annie; and eight grandchildren.
Denver Laverne Mills, MS ’65 (civil engineering), of Salado, Texas, May 7, at 91. He was the eighth of nine children and the first in his family to graduate high school. He worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for nearly 30 years, retiring in 1986 with the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal. He enjoyed secondary careers in real estate, engineering, and homebuilding, and he established the Denver L. Mills Construction Engineering, Co. in 2005. He was president of the Pace Park board of trustees for 25 years. His was a life characterized by a love of God, gratitude, and willingness to work hard. Survivors: his wife of 71 years, Jackie; daughters, Nancy Mills Mackey and Susan Humiston; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Ronnie Reginald Radford, MS ’65 (aeronautics and astronautics), of St. Augustine, Fla., January 23, 2021, at 81. He served his country for 24 years as an engineer and program manager supporting crucial Air Force defense initiatives, including the NASA Gemini space program, the F-16 fighter jet, the Advanced Cruise Missile, and the B-1 bomber. He rose to the rank of full colonel, and in the last two years of his career took on general officer roles leading thousands of personnel. He had a legendary work ethic, was an involved father, and enjoyed listening to Johnny Cash. Survivors: his wife, Nancy; children, Gina Mangus, Joel, and Laura; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother.
Joseph Conklin Mixsell Jr., MS ’69 (electrical engineering), of Anchorage, Alaska, March 29, at 76. He earned a PhD from Lehigh University and joined the faculty as an assistant professor in electrical engineering. He went on to a successful career as an executive at Hewlett Packard and Celestica, where he led the development and manufacturing of HP’s next-generation RISC computers. He concluded his career as a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Above all, he loved being a teacher and mentor. He enjoyed cooking, hunting, and sudoku, and he had a great fondness for plaid shirts. Survivors: his wife of 29 years, LuAnn (Piccard, ’82, MS ’85); and daughter, Sarah.
Robert Stephen Palmer, PhD ’74 (civil engineering), of Ormond Beach, Fla., July 12, 2021, at 98. He was a member of Sigma Xi. He was a professional engineer and natural resources analyst, and an advocate for government economic accountability and ecological imperatives. At Stanford, he was a National Science Foundation faculty fellow in interdisciplinary studies that included hydrology, political science, and economics. He was a consultant for the 94th U.S. joint congressional hearings on “Will the Family Farm Survive in America?” He was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Frances. Survivors: his children, Carol Palmer-Brilliant, Franette Roschuni, Mark and Robert; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Humanities and Sciences
Darrel James Guzy, MS ’58 (statistics), of Menlo Park, April 11, at 86. He was among the earliest computer technologists and angel investors in Silicon Valley. Sponsored by the NSA, he was selected as one of six mathematicians in the country to advance computer technology in order to surpass Soviet technology after Sputnik was launched. He developed the first computer with semiconductor memory and authored patents with mathematical applications, including the first microfilm printer. He loved golf, his Saturday morning men’s Bible study at Menlo Church, Stanford football games, and his grandchildren. Survivors: his wife, Marcia; six children, including Pamela Rae, ’81; 15 grandchildren, including Wyatt Bunce, ’14; and two sisters.
Norbert Sherman Artzt, MA ’60 (English), of Asheville, N.C., May 1, at 85, of a heart attack. He began his career teaching English and humanities at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., and then taught at Miami-Dade Community College, where he twice served as the chairman of the English department and enjoyed a distinguished tenure for more than 30 years. He was a fine writer who contributed to professional journals, campus magazines, and professional gardening newsletters. He enjoyed cooking and playing piano, and he loved animals, including his many and varied pets. Survivors: his partner, John Denton; sons, Eric, Benjamin, and Joel; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister.
Glenn Ray Nance, MA ’70 (history), of San Francisco, March 27, at 87. He was an engineer in the Army, stationed in South Korea. He taught in the San Francisco Unified School District and joined the faculty of City College of San Francisco in 1969, retiring in 2010. At City College, he was the first African American chair of the African American studies department and served two terms as president of the academic senate. A lover of the arts, he was a set designer with the West Coast Black Repertoire Theater. He was predeceased by his son Glenn and grandson Chris. Survivors: his children, Craig, Carlton, Anyika, and Mariama; three grandchildren; and great-granddaughter.
M. Stephen Weatherford, MA ’73, PhD ’76 (political science), of Santa Barbara, Calif., January 10, at 75, of a heart attack. He was a scholar of American politics, a political economist, a political historian, and a student of democratic deliberation and education policy. He chaired UC Santa Barbara’s political science department for seven years and was an associate dean in the social science division for five years. As a political historian, he examined presidential management of the economy, publishing studies on the economic policies of every presidential administration from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama. Survivors: his wife, Lorraine (McDonnell, MA ’70, PhD ’75); and son, Jonathan.
Diane Michelle Nelson, MA ’92, PhD ’96 (anthropology), of Carrboro, N.C., April 28, at 58, of pancreatic cancer. A professor of cultural anthropology at Duke University, she spent her life advocating for the rights of those less fortunate and the disenfranchised. She began her fieldwork in Guatemala in 1985 exploring the impact of civil war on highland indigenous communities. Her later research led to the publication of three books and scores of articles that chronicled Guatemala’s 36-year civil war and its aftermath. A member of the Duke faculty for 21 years, she was named Professor of the Year multiple times, loved by her students, and respected by fellow scholars. Survivors: her husband, Mark Driscoll; parents; and three siblings.
Law
Philip Warren Aaron, JD ’59, of Sebastopol, Calif., March 4, at 91, after a stroke. He was a naval officer on the USS Fort Marion, serving in Korea and reaching the rank of lieutenant. After Stanford, he began a business and real estate law practice in Redwood City that still bears his name. He was a longtime board member of the Sebastopol Senior Center and played an instrumental role in the financing and construction of its current building. He loved tending his apple orchard and restoring antique classic cars. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Carolyn. Survivors: his children, Steven and Lisa; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother.
Medicine
Marjorie Gloria Harman, MA ’59 (hearing and speech sciences), of Oakland, January 21, at 86. She spent most of her career working in public schools, notably the Oakland Unified School District and the San Francisco Unified School District. Survivors include her sister-in-law, and six nieces and nephews.
Robert Terrence “Terry” Wertz, MA ’64, PhD ’67 (hearing and speech sciences), of Knoxville, Tenn., December 2, 2021, at 86. He was an Army veteran and a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. He worked as a speech pathologist at the University of Colorado and served at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Madison, Wis.; Davis, Calif.; Martinez, Calif; and Nashville, Tenn. He was also employed by Vanderbilt University. He was a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and was an avid supporter of the arts. Survivors: his wife, Donna; daughter Beth Howe, ’89, MA ’90, MA ’90; and three grandchildren.
