March 24, 2004: Memorials

ALEXANDER WOLFRED DANNENBAUM JR. ’33

Bink Dannenbaum died at his home in Boca Raton, Fla., Jan. 10, 2004. He was 93.

Bink, a former senior vice president of Westinghouse Broadcasting, was a pioneer in the early days of radio and TV. In 1956, he began his career with Philco Corp. in Philadelphia. He then joined Westinghouse in NYC, where he had a prestigious career for 17 years. He retired in 1973.

At Princeton he was an avid polo player. He was a major in the Signal Corps during WWII. After his retirement, he became an enthusiastic sailor. He divided his time between Maine and Florida.

In addition to his wife, Sally, he is survived by a son, Alexander III; a brother, Paul; beloved stepchildren Brian, Ricky, and David; and six grandchildren. He will be remembered by his family and friends for his sense of humor, warmth, and love.

The Class of 1933

CHARLES CONOVER TALBOT ’34

Connie “Doc” Talbot, a retired physician specializing in internal medicine and a tree farmer on the side, who described himself in our latest directory as “happy, relaxed, healthy,” died of a stroke Dec. 15, 2003, at home in Chicago.

“On most weekends throughout his adult life,” according to the Chicago Tribune, “he could be found walking among, and caring for, the hundreds of crimson maples, blue spruces, and white pines he had planted on the property of his second home in Wisconsin.” Doc’s wife, Sylvia (Martin), who survives him, said “he loved his trees, and he absolutely loved his practice.”

Before he retired in 1995, Doc was a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Northwestern U., where he received his MD in 1939. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the U. of Maryland, then returned to Chicago in 1941 to set up practice with his father, Dr. Eugene S. Talbot Jr., and began practicing out of Passavant Hospital, where he became president in 1964. In WWII he served overseas 1942-45, earning a Bronze Star. In Chicago, he was very active in the Boy Scouts, winning their Silver Beaver Award.

Surviving, besides Sylvia, are sons C. Conover Jr. and Christopher, and four grandchildren.

The Class of 1934

EDWARD DE FOREST CANDEE ’37

With sadness, we report the death of Ned Candee, from pneumonia, following a stroke June 19, 2003. He was a loyal, enthusiastic classmate, and he served as class agent for many years. We particularly remember the 65th reunion, when four of his children proudly marched with him in the P-rade.

Ned came to us from the Lawrenceville School. He majored in modern languages, held two scholarships, and graduated with honors. He was on the track team and the editorial board of the Daily Princetonian, and was a member of Dial Lodge.

Ned had a long career in public relations and advertising. He was director of public affairs for Cyanamid International at his retirement in 1982. He was proud of his travels on seven continents, helped by his fluency in Spanish and French.

Ned was predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his children, Anita Jones, in 1985, and by his second wife, Jane Morgan, in 2002. His survivors include children Hamilton II ’75, Barbara McCarthy; Joan Collins, Virginia, Catherine, and Paul; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandson. The class will treasure his friendship and offers its sincere sympathy.

The Class of 1937

SAMUEL GARVER THOMSON JR. ’37

Reunions won’t be the same without affable Sam, who never missed a reunion and served as chairman of our 15th. He died April 25, 2003.

Sam, whose father was a member of the Class of 1898, came to us from the Law-renceville School. He earned a degree in electrical engineering, and was a member of the wrestling and tennis teams, and Court Club.

His business life was spent following his major. In 1940, Sam became president of Thomson Equipment Corp., specializing during WWII, the Korean War, and until 1975 in the development and building of automated computer-controlled machinery products. Among other things, Sam was proud of the invention of a streamlined stretcher. His hobbies included sailing, photography, and amateur radio.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Evelynne, whom he married after graduation; his daughter, Jeanne T. Mann; his son, Gary; and two granddaughters. Sam’s classmates send their sincere sympathies.

The Class of 1937

JOHN HENDERSON SELBY ’41

As the San Francisco Chronicle reported, “Jack Selby, joke teller, golfer, Navy pilot, and longtime Bay resident, died peacefully at home at 84” on Nov. 25, 2003. He was a descendant of a gold-rush ’49er and of SF’s 13th mayor.

A Lawrenceville School graduate, Jack majored in chemical engineering at Princeton and joined Tower Club. On the golf team all four years, he is best remembered for scoring the low score in the 1941 NCAA golf tournament, enabling Princeton to win the national collegiate title over Louisiana State U. at the Ekwanok Golf Club in Manchester, Vt., by two strokes.

Also on the gym and bowling teams, as well as intramural swimming, Jack roomed with Bob Townsend freshman year and with Ike Pryor all four years.

In the service, Jack became a four-engine seaplane pilot in the Naval Air Transport Command, flying the Pacific. He retired as a lieutenant. After the war, Jack joined Chevron Chemical Co. in marketing, where he spent his entire career, taking early retirement as eastern sales manager in 1970.

Throughout his life, he was a talented amateur golfer, and by our 25th reunion had already played in the British, Swiss, French, Canadian, and US Amateur Championships. In 1948 he played in the Masters.

He is survived by members of the Henderson and Selby families. We shall miss this loyal and generous classmate.

The Class of 1941

JAMES G. ROBERTS ’43

Jim died unexpectedly Jan. 9, 2004; he was 82. A native of Akron, Ohio, he lived almost all his life in that city.

Jim attended Culver Academy and the U. of Akron before enrolling at Princeton, from which he graduated summa cum laude. He attended medical school at Penn, then served as a surgeon in the Army.

After his discharge, Jim returned to Akron and a residency in orthopedic surgery. In 1953, he joined his father in practice and also participated in training many generations of orthopedic surgeons at Akron General and Akron Children’s Hospitals.

Jim’s main interests outside his profession were photography and sailing.

Jim’s wife of 53 years, Jody, predeceased him in 1999. Survivors include three sons, James G. Jr., John D., and Richard L.; and seven grandchildren. To the entire family, we extend our most heartfelt condolences.

The Class of 1943

THOMAS MARSHALL SHAND ’44

Tom died Dec. 7, 2003, in Lancaster, Pa., where he lived all his life.

He prepared at Phillips Exeter Academy and followed his brother, William Jr. ’40, and uncle James ’13, to Princeton. He majored in economics, won a letter in swimming, and was a member of Cap and Gown. His roommates included Roc Semmes, Trubee Haebler, Ernie Holland, Jack Wagenseller, Ed Jones, Pete Williams, and Jay Bowman.

He enrolled in NROTC, served as skipper of a landing craft transport in the South Pacific, and took part in the Normandy invasion, earning the rank of lieutenant.

After WWII, Tom returned to Princeton to graduate. He joined the Ward & Shand department store in Lancaster, a family business founded in 1878. He became operations manager and retired in 1958 as senior vice president. He served as president of the Downtown Merchants’ Assn., was active with the Pine Valley Golf Club, was president of the Donegal Witness Tree Society, and was a member of the 1964 award-winning professional golf team at Lancaster Country Club.

Tom is survived by his wife, Barbara Burnsted Mann Shand, two stepsons, and six grandchildren. The class shares its sympathy with them.

The Class of 1944

DON DURGIN ’45

Don Durgin died Dec. 26, 2003, from a brain aneurysm.

He prepared for Princeton at Hotchkiss and was one of our most illustrious classmates in his profession of media entertainment. At Princeton, he joined Elm Club, was editorial chairman of the Daily Princetonian, and a member of Triangle Club.

His Princeton career was interrupted by service with the 8th Air Force, when he flew combat missions over Germany as a B-17 bombardier. After receiving his degree summa cum laude in 1947, he worked in advertising before joining NBC, then worked briefly at ABC before returning permanently to NBC in 1957, where for almost two decades he occupied one important position after another. Eventually, he became president of NBC-TV and executive vice president of NBC.

Leaving NBC in 1975, he returned to advertising as president of McCaffrey & McCall, and finished his career as executive vice president of Dunn & Bradstreet, and then as vice chair at Newsweek, finally retiring in 2001. After serving as ’45’s president from 1975-80, Don mentored every successive group of class officers.

Sorrow came to Don when Tess, his wife of more than 30 years, died during a trip to Morocco in 1981. He subsequently married Catherine Meacham, who shared in his many Princeton activities in later years.

In addition to Catherine, Don is survived by his daughter, Hillary Harmon ’85, son William Ryerson Durgin II, and four grandchildren, to all of whom the class expresses its deep sympathy.

The Class of 1945

EDWARD WILLOUGHBY MIDDLETON JR. ’46

E. Willoughby “Wib” Middleton died Oct. 11, 2003, after a long illness, in Rochester, N.Y., where he lived and worked most of his life.

He attended Exeter, living off campus as a senior with Kingman Bassett, Tom Hargrave, and Reeves Hicks, who all were accepted to Princeton for 1942. But Wib joined the Army and did not come to Princeton until 1946. He married Nancy Snow in 1947 and they got an apartment in the “barracks” on Harrison Street (the former polo fields). Graduating in 1948, Wib went on to Cornell Law School and then into practice in Rochester.

In the 1980s, Wib went to DC at the invitation of Congressman Kenneth Keating to serve as minority counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. Afterward, he returned to Rochester to form an estate-planning firm.

Wib and Nancy spent many pleasant summers on Nantucket (their tranquility occasionally interrupted by noisy motorboat visits by Charlie Erdman from Edgartown). Wib will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, and deep love and affection for family and friends. Although joining the class late prevented his sharing many experiences, he will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

The class sends sympathy to Nancy and their four children, Edward III, Elizabeth, Anne, and Thomas; to his brothers, Jenkins ’48 and Jack ’53; and his cousin, Tom ’48.

The Class of 1946

PHILIP MATTER III ’51

Phil died of cancer Sept. 27, 2003.

Born Aug. 3, 1929, in Marion, Ind., he was the son of Milton Matter ’09, the nephew of Robert ’11, brother of Fred ’58, and cousin of Robert ’45 and Thomas ’52. A graduate of Cranbrook School, he majored in economics at Princeton, was a member of Cap and Gown, and was on the freshman wrestling, 150-lb. football, and polo teams. His roommates were Lew Esler, Phil Hungerford, Bill Mettler, Ed Tilden, and Tom Mangan ’52.

Phil was in the NROTC and commissioned in the Marines; he then served in Korea. He married Margaret Barton and worked for Owens-Illinois. Phil earned his PhD in geology from the U. of Arizona. In 1972 he joined Phelps Dodge and spent a challenging and enjoyable two years in Johannesburg setting up a satellite lab for its exploration program. Becoming interested in African art, Phil and Margie opened African Arts Ltd., an art gallery in Tucson, upon their return.

Phil also was an independent consulting mineral/petrographer. He continued to enjoy tennis, skiing, and horseback riding, while remaining close to his family and friends. He is survived by Margie; their children, Rob, Mary Ann, and Carl; their grandson, Ryan; and his brothers, Milton and Fred.

The Class of 1951

JOEL EDWARD HENKEL ’52

Joel died of congestive heart failure July 29, 2002. His ashes were interred at Christ Church Episcopal in Short Hills, N.J., beside his parents, Marvin ’25 and Eleanor.

In the BOH, Joel described himself as a “nonconformist stand-alone maverick.” But his contribution to the 50th book of essays, titled “What is Mind” (in collaboration with Bill Gough), revealed an intellect dedicated to exploring the edges of knowledge. A physics major at Princeton, Joel belonged to Elm Club and roomed with Mal Payne.

After earning master’s degrees in physics at the U. of New Hampshire and Yale, he later completed his PhD at UNH. He did stints at the Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, N.Y., Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, and taught at Youngstown[Ohio] State U., and the U. of New Hampshire.

With his wife, Stephanie, whom he met while constructing his post-and-beam house in the woods near Hillsborough, N.H., he settled into his role as an independent scholar, studying the evolution of the mind.

Joel is survived by Stephanie; his companion of many years, Mame Willey; and his brother, Stephen ’55. The class extends to them its deepest sympathy.

The Class of 1952

STEWART EPHRAIM PURSEL ’52

Pete died Sep. 18, 2003, of lung cancer, in Royal Oak, Mich.

He graduated from Mercersburg Academy. At Princeton, he majored in biology, was a member of Tower Club and the Daily Princetonian staff, and played varsity golf. From Princeton he went on to Yale Medical School and a distinguished career as a surgeon, professor, and volunteer. After service as an Air Force captain, he worked as clinical assistant professor of surgery at Wayne State U. School of Medicine from 1970 until his death; as a chief of thoracic surgery and a cardiovascular surgeon at four metropolitan Detroit hospitals; and as a founding doctor in a free clinic for the homeless.

Pete’s skill and accomplishments earned him many honors, including Yale’s Winchester Fellowship in Thoracic Surgery, the presidency of the Detroit Academy of Medicine, and special recognition from the United Way and Lutheran Social Services.

Ever gentle and compassionate, Pete was an avid golfer and member of the Detroit Golf Club, and also an elder at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church. Above all, he was a devoted friend and loving family man.

To his cherished wife of 50 years, Mary Louise; his son, Thomas; his daughter, Linda; his sister; and his six grandchildren, the class extends deepest sympathy.

The Class of 1952

JOHN P. MALONEY ’55

John died of cancer Nov. 2, 2003, in Hartford, Conn.

John graduated from the Loomis-Chaffee School. At Princeton he majored in English, wrote his thesis on George Bernard Shaw, and joined Tiger Inn. John volunteered at the Jamesburg [N.J.] Reform School, which sparked his interest in the criminal-justice system. After Princeton he served two years in the Army before graduating from U. of Connecticut Law School.

John practiced law in Hartford, served as first selectman in Woodstock, Conn., and from 1975-85, was legal counsel to the Connecticut secretary of state. In 1991 he was appointed a judge on the State Superior Court, serving until his 70th birthday, when he became a trial judge referee. Since 1964, John volunteered for Community Partners in Action, which helps people in the justice system return to the community.

Away from the bench, John enjoyed his family, his house in Vermont, and cooking. He was a theater buff, participating in several Hartford-area productions. He enjoyed performing marriages, officiating most recently at the wedding of the daughter of Don Brigham ’55, his Princeton roommate.

He leaves his wife, Anne; daughters Sarah and Libet; son Vixay, an adopted Laotian boy; stepdaughters Sarah and Amy; a sister, Linda; and seven grandchildren.

The Class of 1955

JOSEPH N. WALSH JR. ’56

Joe Walsh died Sept. 2, 2003, surrounded by his family.

He prepared for Princeton at the Canterbury School, where he was active in sports, publications, and dramatics. At Princeton he participated in club sports for Cap and Gown, played varsity baseball for three years, and wrote his thesis on H. L. Mencken for the American Civilization Program. In his senior year, he roomed with Jeff Dunkak and Mark Grassi in Blair Hall. He retired in 1993 after a 37-year career with New York Telephone Co. and Nynex Corp. He served on the boards of Unity Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Syracuse, M&T Bank of Syracuse, the New York Medical College, and USA Datanet of Syracuse.

He devoted himself to community service as president of the Assn. of Mentally Ill Children of Westchester, as general campaign chairman for the United Way of Central New York State, chairman of New York State fundraising for the 1984 Olympic games, chairman of the Syracuse Symphony, and as a board member at LeMoyne College and the Apawamis Club, Rye, N.Y.

To his wife, Patty, children Elizabeth ’83, Joe ’86, and Mark ’90, and six grandchildren, the class extends deepest sympathy.

The Class of 1956

ASA JAMES BABER ’58

“Ace” died June 16, 2003, in Chicago, his birthplace and locus of his working life, after a long and courageous battle against ALS. He never lost his enviable sense of balance, wit, optimism, and inner peace that he lavished on all until the end.

Ace was a man who wore many hats: Husband, brother, professor, author, columnist, and Marine captain with military experience that profoundly affected and strengthened him for life. After Princeton, military duty, and graduate work at Northwestern

U., he attended the U. of Iowa Writer’s Workshop. Thereafter, he taught at Roberts College in Istanbul and the U. of Hawaii, then returned to Chicago in 1975.

Ace then joined Playboy magazine, which had serialized his novel, The Land of a Million Elephants, based on his covert military work in Southeast Asia. His long-running column, “Men,” placed him at the perimeter wire of gender warfare, but he was always well-armed with correct, though maybe not politically correct, ammunition. He spoke on college campuses, TV, and radio talk shows, and appeared on the 2002 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. Ace disclosed his illness in his column, and shared his progress, thoughts and hard-won wisdom, writing until the end.

The class extends its sympathy to his sons, Brendan and James, his sister, Dorothy, and his fiancée, Sherri Stubbs.

The Class of 1958

Graduate Alumni

BENJAMIN SHIMBERG *47

Benjamin Shimberg died Sept. 24, 2003, in Trenton, N.J. He was 85.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., Shimberg graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the U. of Rochester in 1941. He did graduate work in the psychology department at Princeton, leaving in 1947 to attend Purdue, where he received a PhD in industrial psychology in 1949.

Shimberg joined Educational Testing Service in 1953 and spent 35 years there as a research scientist. His studies and books became landmarks in credentialing numerous occupations. He reformed licensing in the Coast Guard, the NYC Police Dept., and the Merchant Marine. He improved examinations for auto mechanics, and for health and safety experts around the world.

Also a social activist, Shimberg worked in New Jersey for racially integrated housing and for public financing of gubernatorial elections, the latter as chairman of Common Cause in the early 1980s.

After retirement, Shimberg and his wife, Helen, volunteered as emergency workers for the American Red Cross, helping disaster victims throughout the US.

Shimberg is survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

JOHN C. MEAGHER *62

John Meagher died of complications from gastrointestinal illness Aug. 25, 2003, in Toronto. He was 68.

Meagher, professor emeritus of English and religion at the U. of Toronto (St. Michael’s College) and the Toronto School of Theology, was a remarkable scholar, beloved by many. Hailed as one of the most brilliant students to graduate from Notre Dame in the 1950s, Meagher earned two PhDs in quick succession, the first at the U. of London, the second at Princeton in English, and in midlife received yet a third in religion from McMasters U.

Continuing his scholarly interests in Renaissance theater and Shakespearean dramaturgy, he delved into study of New Testament theology and the rethinking or, as he called it, the “truing” of Christianity. He wrote many articles and books, the latest of which, Pursuing Shakespearean Dramaturgy, is considered indispensable to the field.

Meagher supplemented his professional interests with vocational turns at composing music, writing poetry and short stories, and sleuthing through the history of coins.

He is survived by five children.

ROY S. LILLY *65

Roy Sherman Lilly died of cancer Dec. 12, 2003. He was 63.

A distinguished member of the psychology department at Kent State U., Lilly retired from that faculty four months before his death. In his 38 years there, Lilly variously chaired his department, served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and received Kent State’s highest awards for outstanding teaching and service.

Specializing in psychometrics, Lilly earned his Princeton PhD in the psychology department. His undergraduate alma mater was U. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Priscilla, and is survived by a daughter. JEFFREY D. WHITE *90

Jeffrey Daniel White, 37, died Apr. 25, 2003, in an apartment fire in NYC.

Born in Dubuque, Iowa, White went to the U. of Virginia on a merit scholarship and graduated with highest distinction in 1988. Two years later, he earned a master of architecture degree from Princeton, where he was awarded the William Crosby Butler Fellowship. Thereafter, White practiced architecture in NYC with a number of firms, most recently Fifield Piaker Architects.

White loved art galleries, dogs, and travel. He is survived by his parents and four siblings.