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September 14, 2005: Memorials
VICTOR A. OSWALD JR. ’33
Victor, also known to some as Ozzie, died Aug. 9, 2003. He was 93.
He was born Dec. 17, 1909. He attended Franklin and Marshall Academy and then Princeton, where he graduated junior year Phi Beta Kappa and as valedictorian of his class. He received his doctorate in German from Columbia.
Victor married Nina Chaitins in 1931. He was a professor emeritus of the Department of Germanic Languages at UCLA.
Victor was preceded in death by his wife and one granddaughter. He is survived by two daughters, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He will be missed.
The Class of 1933
DOUGLAS HESKETH HAHN ’34
Doug, prominent in Princeton and class affairs since he was president of his undergraduate eating club, died May 18, 2005, two months after the death of his wife, Gloria.
Over the years Doug had been class vice president, class vice president for Annual Giving, class agent, winner of our Award for Outstanding Achievement, co-chair with Ken Fairman of our 25th reunion, and editor of our 20th-year book. He also had been a Schools Committee chairman and Alumni Association president. He was national chairman of Annual Giving from 1964 to 1969. For the past nine years he lived at Meadow Lakes, a CCRC near Princeton.
Doug worked for 50 years “plus one day” at B. Altman & Co., the former New York department store, where he was advertising director until retirement in 1984. He was also president of the 34th Street Midtown Association and chairman of the New York State Retail Council in Albany, and served five years on the retail advisory council of the U.S. Department of Commerce. His free hours were so dominated by Princeton activities that he once wrote, “Princeton can be a life sentence.”
Doug’s first wife, Luella Cotterell, died in 1968. They had two children, James D. and Gail Austin, who survive, as do four grandchildren.
The Class of 1934
Joseph Thistle Lambie ’34
Joe, chairman of the Daily Princetonian in our day, who went on to become an investment counselor, teacher, therapist, and volunteer, died April 22, 2005.
After earning his Ph.D. in history from Harvard, Joe taught at Andover, where he had prepared for Princeton, and at Wellesley College before becoming an investment counselor with Loomis-Sayles. He worked there for 20 years before retiring in 1975 as vice president in the Boston office.
In 1954, after “six pleasant and productive years,” as he wrote, at Wellesley, the New York University Press published his book From Mine to Market: the History of Coal Transportation on the Norfolk & Western Railway.
Joe was a rare Princetonian in that he never missed a year of Annual Giving since its start in 1940. In recent years he had suffered from macular degeneration, “a bloody nuisance,” as he wrote a classmate, “but I manage to get along with assistance.”
Surviving are two daughters, Marcia Farrell and Sara Moore; a son, Andrew; and three grandchildren.
The Class of 1934
Robert R. Deutsch ’36
Bob died Feb. 22, 2005. He was a recent resident of Venice, Fla. For many years he summered in Yarmouth Port, Mass., and wintered on Water Island, U.S.Virgin Islands.
He graduated in 1932 from Newark Academy, where he was on the varsity track team. At Princeton he majored in economics. In 1959 he married Ethel Lee Kauffman, daughter of James L. Kauffman ’08. She died in 1986.
Bob’s entire working career of 34 years was devoted to Western Electric. He retired in 1970 as a senior contract specialist. His hobbies were sports, boating, fishing, and travel.
He is survived by a daughter, Jill W. Clark; a son, Jay McEvitt; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
The Class of 1936
FREDERICK CROCKER WHITMAN ’36
Fred, a descendant of one of California’s founding families and a resident of San Francisco for more than six decades, died Sept. 7, 2004. He was 90.
Fred was the great-grandson of railroad baron Charles Crocker, one of the state’s “Big Four” economic powers in the mid-19th century along with Mark Hoptins, Leland Stanford, and Collis Huntington. His father was Malcolm D. Whitman, a three-time U.S. tennis champion.
Fred prepared at Phillips Exeter Academy. At Princeton he majored in political science and was on the varsity tennis team. He also received advanced degrees from Yale Law School and Harvard Business School.
During World War II he served as a Naval Intelligence officer in the Pacific theater, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.
After the war he joined the St. Francis Investment Co., a Crocker family investment firm. He was president and chief executive officer until 1983 and chairman until 1985. After he retired, he devoted himself to the Whitman Institute, a foundation he started in 1985 to study and promote ways to help people to improve their thinking skills in relation to their everyday lives.
Fred is survived by a daughter, Tania Stepanian; sons Michael, Jonathan, and Kevin; a brother, Robert Henderson; and three grandchildren.
The Class of 1936
PHILIP ELLICOTT BARRINGER ’38
Phil died Jan. 11, 2004, in Bethesda, Md.
After graduation from Princeton, he began law school at the University of Pennsylvania and then served as an Army officer during World War II, becoming secretary of the legal division of the Allied Control Council for Germany. In 1945 he was a U.S. negotiator with Britain, France, and the U.S.S.R. over the legal status of the occupying powers.
After graduating from law school in 1949, he joined the Department of Defense. He participated in negotiating the original NATO Status of Forces Agreement, attended the National War College, and was a delegate to the 1954 Berlin Conference concerning West Germany’s contribution to NATO’s defense. From 1964 to 1966 he was politico-military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London. In 1968 he became director of foreign military rights affairs for 25 countries in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
Phil was president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, played bassoon in a chamber music group, and was a member of the Cosmos and Princeton clubs in Washington.
His wife, Sophia, died in 1970. Survivors include his second wife, Bettyanne, and three children from his first marriage, Thomas H., C. Frances, and Paul M. Barringer, to whom the class offers sincere condolences.
The Class of 1938
ROBERT LEE CROPPER ’38
Bob died May 1, 2005. Born in Ocean City, Md., he came via Mercersburg Academy to Princeton, where he majored in mathematics but for family reasons left before graduating.
Bob spent five years in the Navy as an aviator. After early duty on an American battleship attached to the British Home Fleet, he transferred to the Pacific as a torpedo pilot on a carrier. There he saw fighting from the Aleutians through the Solomon Islands, Tarawa, and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands to Ceylon. In the course of these operations, Bob was involved in the sinking of several Japanese ships, including a heavy cruiser.
Bob returned to Ocean City a war hero but quickly settled into small-town life, running several local businesses and becoming active in city affairs, including serving as a city councilman.
In 1967 Bob married Renata Fuchs of Berlin, Germany, “after having proposed to her at their first meeting.” In retirement the Croppers sailed in a houseboat down the Mississippi, across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida and the Intercoastal Waterway, finally settling in Vero Beach. The class extends its deep sympathy to the widow of this quiet hero.
The Class of 1938
ROBERT ALEXANDER HAUGHWOUT ’38
Bob died Feb. 26, 2005, in Stockton, Calif., his home for nearly 50 years.
At Princeton he majored in history and graduated with honors. During World War II he served four years with the Merchant Marine.
Postwar, he earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and passed the California bar in 1947. He practiced criminal research law in Stockton and at one point was research attorney for seven judges of the San Joaquin Superior Court.
Bob married Barbara Howell in 1945 and Evangeline Case, an Air Force widow with four children, in the 1960s.
His favored pastime was sailing. He was commodore of the Stockton Yacht Club, and in 1971 he and Vangie sailed a 44-foot ketch from New Zealand to San Francisco.
Bob is survived by five children, Robert A. Jr., William and Robert Case, Nancy Neitzel, and Jeannie Quintoa; and a brother, Peter Haughwout. His extended family includes 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 27 nieces and nephews. The class sends them all sincere condolences.
The Class of 1938
FREDERICK EDWARD HENZE ’38
News of Fred’s death on Aug. 2, 2004, recently was received by Alumni Records.
Fred came to us from Mercersburg Academy where he was first in his class. At Princeton he majored in economics and graduated with honors.
He was on the freshman track team, was a member of Dial Lodge, and was a member of the University band all four years.
During World War II Fred served in the Air Force. Postwar, he graduated from Harvard Business School and then worked for the Rome Cable Corp. for many years in Rome, N.Y., where he was a member of the Zion Episcopal Church. In 1982, he retired from Rome Cable and moved to Sarasota, Fla. At various times he had been a member of the Palm-Aire, Ivy League, Princeton, and Harvard clubs.
Fred is survived by Jessie, his wife of 60 years; daughters Caroline Lawrence, Marion Bartel, and Jessica Edwards; his son, Frederick Jr.; three sisters; two brothers; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The class extends its sympathy to the entire family.
The Class of 1938
Gilbert C. Norton ’39
Gil died May 17, 2005, in Sun City Center, Fla., after a long period of declining health. He had moved to Florida after his retirement from his medical practice in Endicott, N.Y.
Gil came to Princeton from the Lawrenceville School, where he starred as a cross-country runner and graduated cum laude. At Princeton he roomed with Jim Boyd in his freshman year, and later with Bill Stoll. He majored in biology, graduated with honors, and then earned a medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Following service as captain in the Army Medical Corps, Gil practiced as an ophthalmologist in Endicott, N.Y. During his long retirement in Florida, Gil enjoyed extensive travel, including several of our class trips, and painting. He generously gave volunteer medical service to the Senior Friendship Clinic in Sarasota.
Throughout his life, Gil always maintained a compassionate interest in others, especially the sick and those of limited resources. He found deep satisfaction in meeting special needs of the unfortunate.
Predeceased by his two sons, Philip and Gilbert, he is survived by his wife, Polly, who enriched his life for 63 years, and three granddaughters. We offer them our sincere sympathy.
The Class of 1939
Karl Dravo Pettit Jr. ’39
Karl died peacefully May 14, 2005, at the University Medical Center in Princeton following a short hospitalization for pneumonia and internal bleeding. His daughter, Helen, with whom he had been living in Lambertville, N.J., reports he had been independent and active with his family until his hospitalization.
During World War II, Karl was a Navy fighter pilot and a pioneering instructor in the Navy Aviators’ Night Fighter program. He remained in the Naval Reserve until 1959, when he retired as a lieutenant commander. Following the war, Karl and his wife, Ruth, settled in Princeton, where they raised their family of four.
For his entire career Karl was in the mutual funds business and was an investment counselor. He was sales director for Knickerbocker Fund, president of Future Planning Corp. and regional sales manager for Waddell & Reed until his retirement in 2001. He was an avid golfer, a member of Springdale Golf Club, and, above all, an active Princetonian. The night before his death he was singing Princeton songs.
Predeceased by Ruth, Karl is survived by their four children, Helen, Karl D. III ’67, Katherine, and Dorothy; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers; and two sisters. To them, we extend our sincere sympathy.
The Class of 1939
FREDERICK HERMAN BRUENNER ’41
Fritz died April 19, 2005, at his home in Port Washington, N.Y.
He came to Princeton from the Kew Forest School. He was a history major who graduated with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at the end of junior year. He also won honors in the Divisional Program in the Humanities.
A member of Cloister Inn, he rowed on the crew, and was an officer of Whig-Clio and chairman of the history club. He roomed variously with Hugh Johnson, Black, Ellrodt, Elfers, and Ritter.
Joining the Navy in 1942, Fritz served as an officer on the USS Straus, a destroyer escort that won four battle stars in the Pacific theater. He later was assigned to the occupation forces in Japan, before separating as a lieutenant.
After Columbia Law School, where he was a member of the law review and a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar, he joined the New York firm of Breed, Abbott, and Morgan. He practiced there his entire career, retiring as senior partner.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Euphemia Bruenner, but is survived by his wife of 12 years, Nancy Allen Bruenner; sons David and Eric; a daughter, Carol Parker; four stepchildren, Tayler Neville, Leslie Schechter, George Oestreich III, and Jennifer Loeb; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
WILLIAM JAMES CARNEY ’41
Bill died April 21, 2005.
A graduate of Chicago Latin School, he won honors in the Department of Economics at Princeton. He joined Cloister Inn and was captain of the polo team, on the skeet team, and in ROTC. He roomed with Hal Jerry for two years, and senior year roomed with Poole and Zed Brown.
In 1941, Bill was assigned as a second lieutenant to the Third Armored Division. He fought through five campaigns in Europe and by V-E Day was commander of the division, the youngest lieutenant colonel in World War II. He received the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Belgian Fourrasie, and the German Occupation ribbon. Bill admitted he was lucky; in his division of approximately 15,000 men, there were almost 13,000 casualties, and he was not among them!
Postwar, Bill was the founding partner of Carney Management Co., an investment-management firm. He served as a director of Superior Graineries for 31 years and was involved in real estate development in Chicago and Jacksonville. He also was a nationally ranked polo player in the 1950s and 1960s.
Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kyle Adams Carney; four daughters, Keven Wilder, Kyle Gregory, Lisa Stebbins, and Amanda Mabie ’85; his son, William Roy Carney; and 14 grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
VERNON BOYD FARR ’41
Vern died May 3, 2005.
A graduate of the Hun School, at Princeton he majored in chemical engineering and chemistry. He played freshman football and joined Key & Seal Club, where he was first secretary and then vice president. He roomed variously with Arnold, Farrington, Tolles, and E. S. Davis ’40.
Enlisting in the Marines in 1942, Vern went through OCS, but was then released to the Navy, where he served in the so-called Rice Paddy Navy, training and arming Chinese guerillas in Free China behind Japanese lines.
Always in sales engineering, in 1952 Vern joined Indiana General Corp., a manufacturer of magnetic materials, retiring in 1985. A longtime resident of Medford Lakes, N.J., he was active in community affairs.
Vern was predeceased by his first wife, Patricia Thomson Farr, but is survived by his wife of just over nine months, Jane V. Farr; his son, Kim; two stepsons, John and Patrick Barnett; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
JOSEPH HOWARD MARCY ’41
Joe died May 31, 2005.
He prepared at Wilkinsburg (Pa.) High School. At Princeton he majored in modern languages and literature, graduating with honors. He was a member of Key & Seal.
He started medical school at the University of Pennsylvania after graduation and took the Army’s ASTP program as part of his training. He interned at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh.
As a doctor just out of internship, Joe served two years as a medical officer in the U.S., separating as a captain in 1947. He completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in 1950, and then joined the anesthesia staff at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago. Joe then became director of the Department of Anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh from 1955 to 1977 and was professor of anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine from 1969 to 1984.
Never married, Joe is survived by his sister, Jane Pritchard, and his three nephews, Donald Jr., Joseph, and David.
The Class of 1941
HENRY LUTHER PITTS JR. ’41
Henry died May 6, 2005.
Son of a Navy admiral, Henry grew up on a variety of bases and graduated from San Diego High School.
He majored in politics at Princeton and graduated with honors. He was on the freshman soccer team, the JV badminton team, and joined Dial Lodge.
Joining the Foreign Service after graduation, Henry was posted to Mexico City in 1942, where he met and married his first wife, Josephine Frey. From 1943 to 1947 he was assigned to Panama. From 1943 to 1948 he was acting consul general in Buenos Aires, and in 1948, he was transferred to the U.S. Consulate in Porto Alegre as principal officer.
Two years later Henry was named consul general in Venice, where he remained for five years (living in a 480-year-old palace on the Grand Canal).
In 1958 he was assigned as officer-in-charge for Bolivia and in 1960 he went to Madrid as commercial attaché. In 1965, back at the State Department, he was chief of the International Business Protection Division and then returned to his first post, Mexico City, as counselor for commercial affairs before retiring in 1974.
Henry’s second wife, Barbara Nance Pitts, predeceased him. He is survived by sons James and John ’67; his daughter, Sandra; four stepchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The Class of 1941
CHARLES DUNCAN FERRIS ’42
Charles, one of our brightest, died Jan. 30, 2005, of interstitial lung disease in Morristown, N.J.
Valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society at Mountain Lakes (N.J.) High School, at Princeton Charles earned high honors in mathematics, won the George B. Covington Prize for math, and was a member of Terrace Club. In World War II he was a technical sergeant and commended by the Army for his contributions to ballistics research at Aberdeen (Md.) Proving Ground. In 1943 during his military service, Charles married Eleanor Fribley. Over the ensuing 12 years they had Stephen, Carolyn, Mary, and Peter.
Charles applied his mathematical talents to a career in quality control and operations management. After four years with General Electric as a quality-control engineer, he accepted an offer as quality-control manager at Bigelow Sanford. Four years later, in 1954, he was appointed director of quality control at Mohasco Industries, where he rose to become director of operations.
Always looking for ways to help his community, Charles will be remembered as a co-founder of Fulton-Montgomery County Community College (part of the SUNY network). In retirement he enjoyed reading, classical music, and several trips to Europe.
To Eleanor, the children, Charles’ sisters, and four grandchildren, the class extends its deepest condolences.
The Class of 1942
JOHN STUART MORROW ’42
Stuart died May 17, 2005, three weeks after his 84th birthday, in Sewickley, Pa.
He prepared at Shadyside Academy, where he was a member of various musical organizations. At Princeton Stuart majored in music, won numerals in JV soccer, and was a member of Elm Club.
Stuart entered the Navy in 1942 as an aviation cadet immediately following graduation.
During World War II, as a lieutenant junior grade, he flew PBYs, PB4Y2s, and PB4Y4s in the Pacific theater, and was awarded the Navy Air Medal for action against Japanese shipping while flying out of Okinawa. He also flew missions from Guam and Tinian.
Following the war, Stuart earned a business degree from the University of Pittsburgh and went to work for Joy Manufacturing. In 1965, he joined H.K. Porter Co., serving as president until his retirement 13 years later.
He was predeceased by his lovely wife, Helen Bullitt. He is survived by his sons John Stuart Jr. and Christian Bullitt, and four grandchildren, to whom the class extends its most sincere condolences.
The Class of 1942
ROBERT C. CONNER ’43
Bob died of cancer June 15, 2005, in Saratoga (N.Y.) Hospital Nursing Home. He was 83.
A Pittsburgh native, he graduated from Radnor High School and won a scholarship to Princeton.
During World War II, Bob was a Navy ensign working for Pan Am under contract with the U.S. military, chiefly as a navigator on transport flights to North Africa. After the war ended, Bob spent his entire career with Pan Am, as dispatcher in London and later as manager of flight control for Europe. He ended his career in New York as manager of flight control standards.
Bob had varied interests in his leisure time. He was a good enough singer to have appeared several times at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Choral Society. He enjoyed sailing and travel, and did volunteer work with the Salvation Army.
Surviving are his wife, Florence; a daughter, Christina Arber; a son, Robert; six grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.
To the entire family, we extend our deepest sympathies.
The Class of 1943
Harold R. Tyler Jr. ’43
Ace died May 25, 2005, of an apparent heart attack outside his Manhattan apartment. He was 83.
He had an illustrious legal career that was jump-started in 1960 when then-President Eisenhower picked him to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division as an assistant attorney general. He continued in that post until President Kennedy nominated him to be a District Court judge in 1962. Over the next 13 years, Ace presided over hundreds of cases, large and small. He sentenced Carmine DeSapio, former Tammany Hall leader and onetime Democratic kingmaker, to prison for a bribery conspiracy in 1969.
After leaving the bench in 1975, he was deputy attorney general in the Ford administration; one of his aides was a young man named Rudolph Giuliani. In 1977, Ace became a partner in the law firm of Patterson, Belknap, and Webb. Giuliani joined the firm as well.
A native of Utica, N.Y., he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, earning his nickname, Ace, from his athletic prowess. After Princeton, he served in the Army and rose to the rank of captain.
Ace is survived by his second wife, Sara Cree Norris; two sons, Bradley and John; a daughter, Sheila Gregg; a sister, Murney Kelleher; and six grandchildren.
To the entire family, we extend deepest and most heartfelt condolences.
The Class of 1943
Werter Pullen VanDeusen ’43
Jack, as he was better known to all of us, died April 21, 2005. He was 83.
A native of Hudson, N.Y., he worked for Eastman Kodak for 42 years in the field of chemistry before his retirement. He was a member of the team that worked on the Manhattan Project, headed Kodak’s Research Laboratories, and worked on the litigation group for Eastman Kodak during the 1980s.
Jack belonged for 60 years to the American Chemical Society, contributed annually to the Princeton Alumni Association, and served on the Williamson (N.Y.) Board of Education from 1957 to 1972. In addition, he was active in the local Boy Scouts of America, the Williamson Rotary Club, and the Wayne County Council of Churches.
He was preceded in death in 1988 by his wife of 44 years, the former Marion Arnold. Jack is survived by his four children, Peter, Jeffrey, Sarah, and Mark; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
To all the survivors, we offer profound condolences.
The Class of 1943
CHARLES E. DENNEY ’44
Chuck Denney died Feb. 1, 2005, in Delray Beach, Fla.
He went further than any member of ’44 in film acting: He was Meryl Streep’s dinner partner in Heartburn, danced with Jane Fonda in Rollover, and appeared in Hair and Woody Allen’s Zelig. He also enjoyed careers in broadcasting, securities research, and advertising.
Born in St. Paul, Minn., he prepped at Exeter and Western Reserve. At Princeton, he majored in English, played JV football, ran track, and was a member of Tiger Inn. He joined the Army Air Force in 1943 and flew 35 combat missions in Europe as a B-17 pilot, returned to Princeton to earn his degree in 1946, and then attended Harvard Business School.
Chuck wrote sensitively in our 50th-reunion directory, about his life appearing unfocused. But he candidly called the firebombing of Dresden, Germany (when he piloted the second plane in), a “terror raid, pure and simple,” and regretted it. He worried about our classmates “who didn’t return,” and about the world younger people face.
Chuck is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Herrero and Tracy Hritz; a son, John Denney; and seven grandchildren. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Our sincere condolences go to his family.
The Class of 1944
THOMAS M. McMILLAN III ’44
A pioneering cardiologist in New Jersey for more than 40 years, Tom died April 7, 2005, in the former Burlington County Memorial Hospital (now Virtua Memorial), where he founded its cardiac-care unit, and where a new wing bears his name.
He thanked Princeton “for nourishing my love for subjects not purely scientific.” He majored in English; sang in the Chapel Choir; was active in golf, and was a member of Westminster Society and Colonial Club. His roommates were Reg Bishop and John Price.
Tom earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School with classmate Hank Russell, who married Tom’s sister, Frances, in 1946 and thinks of him as a brother. Tom also served an Army tour of medical service in the Pentagon. In 1963, he became chief of cardiology at Burlington and later chief of internal medicine. He was a president of the New Jersey Heart Association. Music (piano and pipe organ) and horticulture (growing prize orchids) were other devotions.
Tom is survived by Sheila , his wife of 55 years; son Thomas; daughters Katherine and Linda; another sister, Julia; and six grandchildren. His Princeton antecedents went back to the Class of 1888. Our warm condolences go to his family.
The Class of 1944
THOMAS A. WOLF ’44
Tom died April 30, 2005, in San Antonio, where he lived most of his life. He was 82.
He prepped at Texas Military Institute. At Princeton, he majored in mechanical engineering, was active in the student ASME chapter, and was a member of Tower Club. His roommates included Logan Bostian. After receiving his degree in September 1943, Tom served three years with the Navy, six months on Pacific duty. He added a master’s degree in math from Trinity University, then started his own air conditioning and refrigeration business in San Antonio. He also worked as an aerospace propulsion engineer at Kelly Air Force Base.
Tom was proud to be the father of our class baby, Richard Wolf, born Nov. 27, 1944. They both were at our fifth reunion.
Tom’s San Antonio memberships included the Order of the Alamo, the Texas Cavaliers, and the Petroleum Club. His first wife, Jean, predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Muriel Oxford Wolf; sons Richard and Thomas Jr.; a daughter, Lucie Taylor; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; stepsons Terry, Larry, Alan, and Brad Oxford; and a sister, Edith Liebermann. Our sincere condolences go to the entire family.
The Class of 1944
JOSEPH CROSSLEY ’45
Joe died Aug. 7, 2004, after a long battle with cancer.
Joe was the grandson and namesake of the founder of the Crossley Machine Co. in Trenton, N.J., and son of the famed pollster Archibald M. Crossley of Princeton. He entered Princeton from Loomis and joined Cloister Inn. His Princeton career was interrupted by Navy service with the Atlantic Fleet as a member of Torpedo Squadron 153.
Joe returned to Princeton to receive a degree in electrical engineering in 1947 and then joined Time magazine in its engineering department. He remained at Time for a decade, specializing in paper manufacture. In 1952 Joe married Suzanne Moore, but they subsequently divorced. In 1970 the National Science Foundation sent Joe to Pennsylvania State University in preparation for teaching engineering technology and he received a master’s in education. Joe later worked for Westvaco in Pennsylvania and finally as a technical inspector for the Department of Defense.
Joe is survived by his second wife, the former Nancy Tirrell; three sons, Robert, Peter, and Lawrence; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sisters Helen Crossley and Dorothy Crossley. The class expresses its sympathy to the family.
The Class of 1945
MONTAGNIE VAN NORDEN ’45
Monte died Oct. 1, 2002.
He entered Princeton from the Browning School in New York, roomed with Breck Stringer and Frank Gilbertson, and joined Quadrangle Club. His Princeton education was interrupted for service as a forward observer with the 101st Airborne, which saw extensive combat in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. His famed division was trapped in Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. It was in this battle that Gen. A.C. McAuliffe, commanding the 101st, made the memorable response of “Nuts!” to a German surrender demand.
Monte returned to Princeton to receive a degree in history from the Woodrow Wilson School in 1948. He then became a broker with Merrill Lynch in New York, retiring as a managing director. Monte became an avid hunter and fisherman, taking several safaris to Africa.
He married Gwendolyn Olson in 1950. She survives him, as do their four children, Montagnie Jr., Adam, Kristina, and Julianna. The class extends its sympathy to the family. As Breck Stringer noted, Monte will be sorely missed by those who knew him.
The Class of 1945
Robert Bennett Congleton ’46
Bob died March 29, 2005, of heart failure at his home in Lexington, Ky.
He came to Princeton in1943 after Darlington School in Rome, Ga., and the University of Kentucky. Soon drafted into the Navy, he served in the amphibious corps, surviving a typhoon in Okinawa. He returned to Princeton in 1945, married Marian Harris, and graduated in 1948 with a degree in economics. Entering the family lumber and construction business in Lexington, he soon co-founded Congleton-Hacker, a general contracting business,that did projects throughout the state. He also engaged in a prestressed concrete enterprise.
Bob owned and operated a thoroughbred horse breeding and boarding farm, serving as director of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. Tennis and piano playing were his prime hobbies.
Bob is survived by Marian, his wife of 57 years, daughter Barbara, son John, and four grandchildren. He leaves a legacy of constructive business and family care. To his family, the class expresses its sympathy.
The Class of 1946
William H. Sword ’46
Bill died June 9, 2005, after a long illness. He was 80. His funeral at Nassau Presbyterian Church included President Shirley Tilghman h’46 and class representatives wearing reunion jackets.
Bill grew up in Mountaintop, Pa., and graduated from Wyoming Seminary. At Princeton he majored in English and joined Charter Club. Roommates who played a significant role in his life were Joe Flanagan, How Brown, Ray Haberman, Dick Judge, and his good friend Doc D’Agostino. During World War II he served in three branches of the military, and finally graduated from Princeton in 1948. He settled in Princeton and served as class president for five years and secretary for 12, working to unite a war-dispersed class.
Bill joined Morgan Stanley in 1954 and became a partner in 1962, helping the firm expand especially in mergers and acquisitions. He formed his own Princeton-based investment-banking firm, Wm. Sword & Co., in 1976.
Bill served on many company boards and was an enthusiastic volunteer for dozens of nonprofit organizations, including the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation.
Bill adored Sally, his wife of 55 years. She survives him as do their children William Jr., Richard Morgan, Molly McDonough, and Sarah Lazarus; and 10 grandchildren. To his family, the class extends deepest condolences.
The Class of 1946
WILLIAM C. BENNETT JR. ’50
Bill died from cancer March 24, 2005, in suburban Washington, D.C..
A Lawrenceville graduate, Bill delayed his entry into Princeton when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at 18. At Princeton, he was a business manager of Theatre Intime, majored in history, and belonged to Tower Club. He graduated from the University of Florida Law School in 1952 and used his legal training first with Southern Railway and then with Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), where he helped engineer its acquisition of Sinclair Oil in 1969. In retirement he volunteered at a public library and hospital near his Chevy Chase, Md., home.
Bill delighted in playing golf at the Chevy Chase Club, where he led his Friendly Foursome, an innovative group that fashioned its own rules to speed up play and insure early access to the 19th hole. One of his foursome eulogized Bill as “maddeningly modest,”as a man who listened as much as he talked, and now as “a light gone out of our game.”
We extend our sympathy to Kay, his wife of 30 years; his three children, William III ’74, Kim Rinehart, and Douglas; two stepdaughters; and four grandchildren.
The Class of 1950
EVAN WILKES BELL ’51
We lost our good friend Doc Bell, who had suffered from a heart condition since 1997, on April 12, 2005. A native New Yorker, he was the son of Dr. Samuel D. Bell ’13 and nephew of James Christy Bell ’12.
Doc prepared at Deerfield and affiliated with ’51 after serving in the infantry during World War II. He was a chemical engineer and treasurer of Prospect Club.
After graduation he worked for many years with Phillips Petroleum Co. in the high-density polyethylene field. His marriage to Carlotta Houck ended in divorce; he shared the rest of his life with his beloved Polly, whom he married in 1984.
Doc and Polly operated a family-oriented nudist park in Banks County, Ga., where they were also active in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance and the Cold Sassy Players, and sang in the Homer United Methodist Church choir.
He is survived by Polly; his four children, Daniel, Caroline Leardo, David, and Nancy; six grandchildren; his brothers Christy ’44 and Philip ’46; and his sister, Miriam Reed. Another brother, Sam ’43, predeceased him. The class shares this Princeton family’s deep sense of loss.
The Class of 1951
ROBERT EUGENE COWEN ’52
Bob died June 4, 2005, at his Knoxville, Tenn., home after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Pueblo, Colo., he entered Princeton from Denver’s South High School, where he was an all-star athlete. While at Princeton he married his beloved Beverly, majored in English, continued to excel as a football player, and belonged to Tiger Inn.
Bob spent his entire career in education, enjoying success and finding fulfillment in a variety of positions. He began as a secondary school teacher and coach at St. John’s School in Houston and John Burroughs School in St. Louis. Then, in 1964, he turned to development work and over the years served as director of development at Willamette University, Colorado College, and Kenyon College, and as director of major gifts at Princeton. Finally, he capped his distinguished career as president of Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vt.
In 1989 he retired to Fairfield Glade, Tenn., where he was a member of Druid Hills Country Club and the Fairfield Glade Community Church. He served as president of the church board.
Surviving Bob are Beverly, his wife of 54 years; daughters Robin and Susan; sons David and Daniel; and 10 grandchildren. To them, the class extends deepest condolences.
The Class of 1952
LANDON PETERS ’52
Landon died in Princeton April 9, 2005, of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Born in Montclair, he entered Princeton in 1948 from Governor Dummer Academy.
He majored in economics at Princeton and was a cum laude graduate in 1956
as a member of our class. He served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955
during the Korean War.
He joined the Bank of New York as a securities analyst, retiring after
25 years as executive vice president and treasurer. He was a senior
manager of the YMCA Retirement Fund from 1982 to 1986 before joining the
investment firm of Delafield, Harvey, Tabell, where he served from 1986
to 1991. He was a member of the Seeing Eye Board of Trustees
for 30 years from 1971 and received the Buddy Award for outstanding service
there on his retirement. He was a director of the Adams Express
Co. and of Petroleum & Resources Corp. from 1974 until his death.
A sailor par excellence, Landon summered on Martha's Vineyard, where he
had long family ties. His clubs included the Pretty Brook Tennis
Club, the Springdale Golf Club, the Nassau Club, the Edgartown Yacht Club,
and the Edgartown Reading Room.
Landon was a loving family man. He is survived by his wife of 53
years, Florence Lamborn Peters; four sons and their wives, Eric Peters
and Eileen Murphy of Vineyard Haven, John and Sarah Peters of Vineyard
Haven, David and Carol Peters of Hopewell, N.J., and Christopher and Kathryn
Peters of Dallas, Texas; his sisters, Lorna Garron of Weston, Mass., Sheila
Peters of Mesa, Ariz., and Marion Peters of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and five
grandchildren, Nathaniel, Molly, Emily, Caroline, and Lorna Peters.
He was predeceased by his son Michael in January 1962.
The class extends its deepest condolences to the entire family.
The Class of 1952
TIMOTHY ROCKWOOD CUTLER ’53
Tim, who joined the Air Force at the end of junior year, died of cancer May 17, 2005.
A New York City native, he graduated from the Darrow School. At Princeton he belonged to Tower Club, sang in the choir, and was head soccer manager. He was a liberal arts major who roomed with engineers Neal Christie, Pete Conrad, and Hank Aldrich. Hank recalls that Tim, having finished his assignments, enjoyed the evenings while his dormmates slaved over their projects.
In the military, Tim was a helicopter pilot stationed in Germany with the 81st Air Rescue Squadron. Upon his discharge he enrolled at Hofstra University, from which he received his degree in 1956. He expanded his family’s manufacturing business, Miracle Adhesives Corp. in Bellmore, N.Y., and rose to become president and CEO. He retired to Fort Pierce, Fla., in 1990.
Hank Aldrich’s wife, Lesley, and Tim’s wife, Sheelagh, were at Simmons College together. Both couples married in 1953 and kept in touch. Lesley recollects Tim telling a hilarious tale about his attempt to move a New England summer cottage to another location and the house falling apart piece-by-piece on a flatbed trailer.
Besides Sheelagh, Tim is survived by daughters Sheryl Trezise and Amanda Batson; son Tim Jr. and eight grandchildren. We offer them sincere condolences.
The Class of 1953
CARL BLACKBURN LYLE JR. ’53
Carl died March 14, 2005, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
He came to Princeton in 1949 from Rogersville, Tenn. In June 1951, when his Princeton heavyweight crew was racing in the collegiate championships on the Ohio River, the Naval Academy shell next to them struck a log, left its lane, and broke off the Princeton rudder. Suddenly dead in the water, Princeton appeared to be out of the race, but Carl, the coxswain, put his arm into the river and steered the shell with his hand for a mile and a half. Princeton reduced the lead of other boats and finished the race.
Carl went to medical school at Columbia, did residencies in internal medicine in California and North Carolina, was a flight surgeon for two years in the Air Force, and went into practice in Charlotte. In 1976, he became a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. As a flying physician, he joined other pilot physicians to develop a system of airborne care in remote parts of the state.
Sometimes he would fly to Princeton, just to spend a few hours on campus. His medical students voted him their highest honor as a teacher. For patient, student, or friend, he was always ready to put his hand in the water and steer you past a crisis.
He is survived by his wife, Ishbel; daughter Mei-Mei; and her daughters, Emily and Laura. Sadly, he was not survived by his beloved son, Scott. Our deepest sympathies go to the family.
The Class of 1953
DERICK DOANE SCHERMERHORN ’53
Derick, one of 15 Hotchkiss grads who entered in 1949, died May 1, 2005, at his West Palm Beach home after a long and gallant fight against cancer.
An English major, he was on the board of The Tiger, a WPRU writer, and a Republican Club member. He made lasting friends with roommate and fellow Terrace Club member Paul Brown, who followed his career. Paul recalls that Derick was in the Army Security Agency as a Russian language specialist and then worked for International Paper Co.
In 1966, Derick married Joan Nesbitt and they became parents of Richard and John and grandparents of Richard Jr. Later, Derick had his own consulting and public relations firm. His ability to write clearly about complicated issues resulted in his 1984 sought-after book, Improving Your Business Communications — How to Speak, Write, Listen, and Observe More Efficiently. After retirement, he was a substitute teacher at three local high schools.
His devotion to our class was evidenced after the 50th reunion, when he and Joan drove to Watertown, N.Y., to share the good times they had with Paul, who couldn’t attend. Paul remembers Derick as “one of the most gentle men,” and those memories will sustain Paul and his family and friends in Derick’s absence.
The Class of 1953
JACQUES BLAISE DE SIBOUR JR. ’54
Diz died July 9, 2005, of cancer at his home in Cape May, N.J.
He prepared for Princeton at Phillips Andover Academy. At Princeton, he majored in history, served as president of the Republican Club, participated in IAA football, basketball, and baseball, and was a member of Colonial Club.
After graduation Diz served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. His subsequent career was in insurance in Washington, D.C., where he became owner/operator of DeSibour Association, an insurance brokerage firm. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club and the Chevy Chase Club, and was a recruiter for Princeton in Washington. He retired in 1994.
Diz is survived by his children, Stephanie, Jacques Blaise III, and Nicole, and four grandchildren. The class extends its condolences to them in their loss.
The Class of 1954
John J. Humphrey ’54
John died June 14, 2005, of complications from multiple myeloma.
Born in Greensburg, Pa., John prepared for Princeton at Kent School. He majored in English and participated in numerous committees and sports. He was captain of the crew in his senior year.
After graduation, John served in the Army artillery in Germany as a second lieutenant. Upon his return, he began his advertising career and became a partner in the agency Van Dine Humphrey Alber & Manges.
After his retirement, John pursued sculpting in marble, refining his technique during trips to Italy. He became a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Society of Sculptors. He served on the board of the Friends of Art for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and became board president as well as president of the Three Rivers Arts Festival in the 1970s.
John is survived by his wife, Joan; son David; daughters Margaret and Connie; a brother Fritz; and five grandchildren. The class extends sympathy to them in their loss.
The Class of 1954
Henry DuBarry Knower Jr. ’54
Barry died May 20, 2005, at his Upper Marlboro, Md., home from an inoperable brain tumor.
He graduated from Pomfret School in Connecticut and obtained his bachelor’s degree in modern languages. While at Princeton, he was involved with Triangle and Theatre Intime productions.
After Army service at the Pentagon for two years, Barry enrolled at the Yale School of Drama and obtained a master’s degree in 1959. In 1972, he earned his doctorate in theater literature and history from the University of Denver. He taught theater and directed plays at Marywood University, Wheaton College, Goucher College, and the universities of Wisconsin and Tennessee.
He wrote several plays dealing with important issues, including the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the nature of the artist’s vision, and as Barry phrased it, “what America was headed for if we don’t look out.”
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; sons Cyrus and Zachary; daughter Andrea; a brother and sister, Stewart and Brooks; and two grandchildren. The class extends its sympathy to them in their loss.
The Class of 1954
George Peck Luger ’54
George died May 16, 2005, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born in Kansas City, Mo., where he graduated from the Pembroke Day School. While at Princeton, he was a religion major, a member of Colonial Club, and served on the House Committee. He was also a member of the ROTC Rifle Team and was an active participant in intramural sports. On graduation, he received an MBA from the University of Missouri, after which he served in the Coast Guard in San Juan and New Orleans.
George’s professional career was with the Vendo Co., L.T. York Co., and Business Men’s Assurance Co. He enjoyed flying single- and twin-engine airplanes. He served as director of the Kansas City Club, was director and president of the River Club and a member of the Mercury Club, and president of the Bacchus Ball Foundation.
He is survived by Sue, his wife of 50 years; sons Brad and Brian; seven grandchildren; a sister, Patricia; and a brother, Charles. The class extends sympathy to them in their loss.
The Class of 1954
WILLIAM B. PLASKET ’56
Bill died in his sleep Jan. 6, 2005, at his new home in Kennesaw, Ga. His activities that day were typical of many he enjoyed since retiring after 43 highly successful years with GE, mainly in North Canton, Ohio.
Born in Camden, N.J., Bill went to school in nearby Merchantville, where he met his future wife, Ruth, whom he married shortly after our graduation. His freshman roommates were Bill Sweeney, Bob Hein, and Bob Card. Bill majored in electrical engineering, served as treasurer of Dial Lodge, and joined Westminster Fellowship. He developed a lifelong interest in sports after playing IAA football, basketball, and volleyball, somehow squeezing in jobs as busboy and busboy captain in Commons. A loyal ’56er, Bill attended all major reunions and several mini-reunions.
Bill served as president of the Rotary Club and in several official positions with the Faith United Methodist Church in North Canton, and worked with Habitat for Humanity and the Meals on Wheels programs. His generosity of spirit, his energy and unfailing good humor made him a huge asset to community-service organizations throughout his life.
Our class extends deepest sympathy to Ruth, his devoted wife of 48 years; their children Patti, Pam, and Willie; and their five grandchildren.
The Class of 1956
SANFORD B. GABIN ’58 *73
Sandy died of cancer Nov. 27, 2004, near his home in Yardley, Pa. He was 68.
He came to Princeton from Academy High in Erie, Pa., where he was class valedictorian.
A Woodrow Wilson School major, Sandy was a member of Elm Club and active in interclub athletics. He was also a member of the Pre-Law Society and of Whig-Clio. He won the Princeton Fellowship to Harvard Law School but knew after his first year that practicing law was not for him and he returned to Princeton, earning a master’s and a Ph.D. in politics. Sandy taught constitutional law at Princeton, and at the universities of Massachusetts, Houston, and California, retiring from Binghamton University (SUNY) in 1999. He wrote a nationally recognized book on the Supreme Court and contributed to other publications.
From remarks at his funeral, it was clear that he was an exacting teacher, yet adored by his students for his devotion to the clarity of an argument and the extending of their minds. Sports and music, especially opera, played a major role in his life.
To Rosalind, his wife of 36 years; his sisters, Gail and Nancy; and his five nieces and nephews, the class extends deepest sympathy.
The Class of 1958
Baxter Hart Wrightson ’60
Baxter died March 13, 2005.
Born in Los Angeles, Baxter was raised in Darien, Conn., and graduated from The Hotchkiss School. Following college, he served as an Army pilot and artillery spotter, reaching the rank of captain. Baxter was vice president and co-owner of Brown Street Furniture, a furniture manufacturing firm in Whitefield, N.H. In addition to being a true bon vivant, he was an avid sailor and a member of the Newport (R.I.) Yacht Club.
Baxter’s friend, Bo Torrey, wrote: “In his final days, Baxter (having fought off prostate cancer for many years) endured great pain and many indignities with stoicism, courage, humor, and nary a complaint or a moment of feeling sorry for himself. Having kept abreast of Bax’s declining condition, I had scheduled a visit back to New Hampshire to see my old, dear pal. But he passed away peacefully two days before I was to leave, leaving me with a nonrefundable ticket. Baxter, with his infectious humor, would have laughed at my folly. We shall all miss him, those of us who had been blessed to cross his path.”
Baxter is survived by his beloved wife, Jan New Wrightson; his former wife, Diana Wrightson, and their children, Cassandra and Beau; two brothers, Dave Hart and Joe Hart. His sister, Sharon, predeceased him.
The Class of 1960
Robert Lee Losey ’67
Bob died Feb. 2, 2005, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.
A graduate of Livingston (N.J.) High School, Bob was a chemical engineer at Princeton. He was president of Chapel Choir, an officer of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and a member of Tower Club. He played freshman lacrosse, and roomed with Ken Wilson, Dave Guyer, Dick Erdman, and Rick Karch.
After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1970, Bob began practicing law at Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke. He then worked in the legal departments of NL Industries and Revlon and finished his career as general counsel of Marvel Entertainment.
Bob was an avid bird-watcher, tennis player, traveler, photographer, and outdoorsman.
Bob’s daughters, Annie Losey Teillon and Katie Losey, and his friend and former wife, Carol, were tireless caregivers throughout his long and debilitating illness. The class offers its condolences to them and to his son-in-law, Geoffrey, and his sister, Betty Weik.
Princeton was represented at his memorial service in Chappaqua, N.Y., by Guyer, Wilson, and Bud D’Avella ’66. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
The Class of 1967
William Saunders Weismann ’70
Bill died unexpectedly May 2, 2005, in Orlando, Fla., where he lived.
He grew up in Rotterdam, N.Y., and was the first person in his county to attend Princeton. During high school, Bill distinguished himself both academically and athletically, lettering in football, basketball, and track, and as a member of the National Honor Society. Bill loved Princeton and enjoyed being a member of the rugby team and Cannon Club, where he resided his senior year with Bill Craswell. He majored in politics and was invited to take courses at the Woodrow Wilson School.
After graduation he went to Northwestern University School of Law, graduating cum laude. He served with the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, further distinguishing himself as a prosecuting attorney and a company commander. Bill went on to the private sector as the CEO and COO of several major printing companies. Later on, Bill taught law at local colleges, wrote poetry, and contributed time to his community of Tenafly, N.J., as a councilman, police commissioner, and fire commissioner .
Bill is survived by his son, William II; his stepdaughter, Rachel Weismann; his stepson, Aaron Weismann; as well as his mother, brother, and sister. Bill will be missed greatly by his family and his many friends.
The Class of 1970
Rodney Joseph Rodriguez ’80
Rodney died March 17, 1987, in San Antonio.
Rodney was born in Hollington, Texas, April 24, 1959. At Princeton, he received the Crossman Scholarship and majored in biology; he was originally a member of the Class of 1981 but completed his studies in three years. After Princeton, Rodney attended Texas Chiropractic School in Houston, graduating in 1984. Rodney was a chiropractor in Houston at the time of his death.
Rodney was survived by his mother, Oralia Rodriguez, and three brothers, Roy, Roger, and Joey Rodriguez, all of San Antonio. The class extends its wishes that the family has found comfort since his death.
The Class of 1980
Andrew Rosenbloom ’80
Andy died Nov. 20, 1988, in London after a long illness.
He was born in New York City. At Princeton, Andy was an English major and a member of Campus Club. He was also involved in campus theater. After graduating cum laude, he worked as a paralegal. He then went on to Fordham Law School, graduating in 1985 with honors and as a member of the Law Review.
Andy went to the New York law firm of Shearman and Sterling as an associate in the corporate area. His supervising partner described Andy as “one of the most outstanding young associates in the firm,” who in a brief period of time, had become proficient in merger and acquisition work, public offerings, and joint ventures.”
While in New York City, Andy was a dedicated young member of the congregation of St. Michael’s Church. In London, Andy was a very active member of at St. Peter’s Eaton Square. He also was a member of the Groucho Club, an organization for artists and patrons of the arts.
Andy’s sense of humor, his warmth, and his friendship are all missed greatly. To his mother, Diane Jessup, and sister, Elizabeth Rosenbloom, we extend deepest sympathies.
The Class of 1980
Denalyn Hamburger Chern ’83
Dena died Nov. 16, 2004, of inflammatory breast cancer.
Dena was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended Yeshiva of Flatbush High School. She majored in history at Princeton and joined Stevenson Hall dining facility.
After Princeton, Dena studied at Israel’s Bravender Women’s Seminary, the start of her lifelong passion for Israel. After five years, Dena returned to the U.S. and worked for a software company and several Wall Street brokerage firms. In 1993 Dena married Ilya Chern. They moved to North Miami Beach, Fla., and had four children, Mordechai in 1994; twin girls Rachel and Bracha in 1996; and Simcha in 1998.
In 1999 Dena was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the next five years she was on almost-continuous chemotherapy. Her incredible courage, spirit, and will to live astounded everyone, and she survived far beyond any treating physician’s expectations. During this time she continued to direct her family, taking immense pride in the achievements of her children. She was especially focused on positive character traits and values (“middos” in Hebrew). In recognition of her focus and conduct, the annual middos fair at her children’s school was named the Dena Chern Memorial Middos Fair.
To her devoted husband, Ilya, their children, and her family and friends, the class extends its heartfelt sympathy.
The Class of 1983
Graduate Alumni
SEYMOUR M. BOGDONOFF *48
Seymour M. Bogdonoff, a world expert on supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamics, died Jan. 10, 2005, on his 84th birthday, from a fall in his Princeton home.
Bogdonoff, known to colleagues as “Boggy,” received a master’s in aeronautical engineering from Princeton. He was a professor on the faculty from 1948 until his retirement in 1989 and remained active in campus affairs as professor emeritus.
Bogdonoff was a key international figure in the research and development of high-speed aerodynamics, his specialty at Princeton. Under his watch, the Gas Dynamics Lab on the Forrestal Campus trained the engineers and scientists who, according to a fellow professor, “made the moon mission possible.” Bogdonoff consulted widely in industry and government, wrote hundreds of technical articles, and won many honors, including the Air Force’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award.
True to his calling, Bogdonoff also raced sports cars at the track and, in retirement, started a driving school for older drivers.
He is survived by his wife, Harriet; daughters Sondra and Zelda; a son, Alan ’77; and five grandchildren.
WILLIAM H. CHERRY *58
William H. Cherry died Feb. 19, 2005, in Princeton. He was 85.
Cherry received a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton, well after his 1941 start of a lifelong career with RCA. Involved in radar development during World War II, Cherry turned his hand to the development of color television for RCA, refining the mathematical basis of “video high fidelity.” As an early pioneer in the field of superconductivity, he paved the way for current MRI technology. Cherry also helped develop gigahertz computing using electron-beam addressing.
A longtime Princeton resident, Cherry was active in township affairs. He received the Good Guy Award from the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey in 2004.
Cherry is survived by his wife, Patricia, two daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.
This issue has an undergraduate memorial for Sanford B. Gabin ’58 *73.
FRED G. BURKE *58
Fred G. Burke, architect of sweeping change in public school financing and accountability, died March 11, 2005, in Newton, N.J., from pulmonary embolism. He was 79.
A graduate of Williams College, Burke earned a doctorate at Princeton in politics. Over the next dozen years he pursued an academic career, penning six books on African affairs, consulting for the United Nations, and directing Peace Corps training in East Africa.
Appointed commissioner of education for Rhode Island in 1971, he oversaw transition there to full state funding of public schools. Stepping into the same role in New Jersey in 1974, he plunged into controversy over financial and evaluative practice in public education. He helped pass a highly contested 1975 law mandating state testing and review of students and teachers. In the following year, the state’s first income tax promised an equalization of aid across school districts. Much to Burke’s regret, initial efforts to close the funding gap failed. Resigning from public service in 1982, he took a senior position at the University of Connecticut and later the Phelps Stokes Fund. His last book argued for a national education policy.
Burke leaves behind his third wife, Carol Sterling, three sons, and a daughter.
