UMass Magazine Online

Summer 2003

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Extended Family

Features

The Vast Area of Small

Tiny couch potatoes

Pumped-up Roosters

The pervasive presence of microbes

At-risk Native Talk

Our giant in hedge funds

Extended Family

In Memoriam

Milton C. Richardson ‘23, passed away on April 10, 2002. He would have been 98 on May 24th. He was a lifelong farmer, businessman and resident of West Brookfield. Three of his children also attended the University of Massachusetts….

Mary Zalesky Rolfe ‘27, 96, of Hatfield, died January 21 in Linda Manor Nursing Home in Leeds after a lengthy illness.
Born October 10, 1906, in Fitchburg, she was the daughter of the late John E. and Anne (O’Malley) Mullen.
She grew up in Fitchburg, where she attended local schools and was a graduate of Fitchburg High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Fitchburg State College and in 1953, earned a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She also took graduate courses at Springfield College.
She had lived in Northampton for many years, moving to Hatfield in 1977. She then lived for a time in Del Ray, Fla., returning to Hatfield in 1995.
For 26 years, Mrs. Rolfe was a schoolteacher in Northampton, working at Bridge Street School and the former Feiker, Vernon Street and D. A. Sullivan Schools. She also taught remedial reading from 1967 to 1974 at the former Florence Elementary School.
Earlier she had taught for 10 years in Haverhill.
She was also a volunteer at the city’s Bridge Street and Jackson Street schools and Northampton High School. She received the Friend of Education Award from the Northampton Teachers Association.
She served two terms as president of the Northampton Teachers Association and was a life member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, serving on its board. She was a member of the Classroom Teachers Department of the National Educational Association, of which she was also a life member.
She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Hatfield.
Mrs. Rolfe was president of the board at Children’s Aid and Family Service of Hampshire County in Northampton and was a longtime member of the Northampton League of Women Voters. She was a life member of the Fitchburg High School Alumni Association. She was also on the board of Dollars for Scholars, serving as secretary.
She volunteered at Cooley Dickinson Hospital until May.
She enjoyed teaching, politics, the birds in her backyard, her pets, watching tennis and listening to Red Sox baseball.
Her first husband, John W. Zalesky, died in 1975.
Her second husband, John Rolfe, died in 1995.
She leaves a son, John Zalesky of Hatfield; three daughters, Lucille Straub of Lansing, NY, Marcia Young of Fairfax, Virginia, and Charlene Abrahamsen of Riverhead, NY; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. . .

(Daily Hampshire Gazette,1/23/03)

Lora Margaret Ewing ‘28, 96, of Boulder, CO died December 4, 2002.
She was born April 10, 1906, in Newfane, VT, daughter of George Hildreth Batchelder and Etta Flora Davis. She married Clifton Henry Ewing June 14, 1928 in Easthampton, MA. She was an area resident since 1980. Living first in Boulder for 9 years, and returning to Boulder for the past 3 years. Prior to moving to Colorado she lived in Westhampton, MA and Austria. She received a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She received an MS in Physiology from Springfield College, Springfield, MA. She then received an MA in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her early working career was spent in NYC. After raising four children, she returned to work as an assistant professor of Physiology and then English at Springfield College. She was a member of the American Association of University Professors. She had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing, playing the piano, and gardening. She leaves her husband, Clifton H. Ewing of Boulder, CO; two sons, James H. Ewing of Lexington, MA and Dr. Peter C. Ewing of Boulder, CO; two daughters, Dr. Margaret Ewing Stern of NYC, NY and Heidi Ann Kapsokavathis of Rochester, MI; 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one great-grandchild. . . .

Gerald Thomas Bowler ’34, 92, of Manchester, CT, the husband of Rita Bowler, died on December 10, 2002 at Manchester Manor. He was born on May 10, 1910 in the Town of Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard Island, MA to Thomas W. Bowler and Lillian (Bickford) Bowler. Both his parents were teachers. He moved at an early age to Westfield, MA when his father, “Pop” to all students, accepted a position as Latin teacher at Westfield High School, Class of 1928 and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1934, having majored in Landscape Architecture.
Upon graduation he worked at Grandmother’s Garden in Westfield, then for the Federal Government making plans and maps in the Blackstone Valley area, with offices in Worcester, MA. He was hired in May 1940 as the Landscape Architect for the Park Dept. in the City of Waterbury, CT, designing the various gardens in the many parks throughout the city and also on the Green. In October of 1940 he married Rita Burke in St. Thomas Church in West Springfield, MA. They had two children and lived in Waterbury until 1956. In 1956 he was employed at UConn in Storrs from which he retired as Chief of Landscape Design and Operations in 1975. Among his designs at UConn was the soccer field when John Squires was soccer coach and the J. O. Christian ball field when Larry Panciera was baseball coach. He was known among his peers as one of the foremost agronomists in the State of CT. Gerald was interested in all sports and lettered in soccer while at UMass. He was an active tennis player in his youth and was an avid UConn and Red Sox fan. In 1970 he received the UConn Medallion Athletic Award for recognition as a Track and Field Official during many years at UConn when Bob Kennedy was coach.
After retirement he and his wife moved to Manchester on Portland St. They were both very active in the Senior Center, having been on the committee to select the site of the present Center. He was chosen Mr. Senior Citizen for 1988-89. He was also on the Conservation Commission for many years. He helped design the Manchester Vietnam Park on Main St. and designed the foundation planting at the Town Hall, the Lutz Museum and the Senior Center, and readily gave his advice and expertise to non-profit groups. In his retirement he and his wife enjoyed traveling mostly in the United States and Canada. However, he took great pride in his Irish heritage and enjoyed a trip to Ireland where he traced his grandfather’s residence in the town of Dingle. Gerald was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, first joining the Whip City Council in Westfield, the Sheridan Council in Waterbury in Willimantic. He was Past Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Assembly #121 in Willimantic, and he was also a member of the CT State Employees Retirees Assoc. In 1997 he and his wife moved to the Arbors Retirement Community, which he really enjoyed and in April, failing health caused him to move to Manchester Manor.
Besides his loving wife of 62 years, he laves his daughter, Rita and her husband, Richard S. Borden, Jr.; his son, Thomas W. Bowler II and his wife Yolanda, all of Manchester. He also leaves grandsons, Thomas W. Bowler III of Rocky Hill and John and Cathleen Borden of Glastonbury; granddaughters Kelly Bowler of Rocky Hill, Catherine and John Healy of Tolland, and Atty. Mary McKernan and Brian of North Andover, MA; and great-grandchildren Shannon, Paige, Connor, and Aidan. He also leaves his sister, Mary Bolger of Westfield, MA; and many nieces and nephews. Gerald was predeceased by four sisters and one brother. He was a very unassuming “down to earth” individual and had no patience with people who “put on airs.” His life was centered around his home and family . . .

(Union News, 12/12/02)

Mary Bieber ’36, 56G, 87, a former Hadley teacher, died January 23 in Bethesda Nursing Home of complications resulting from a stroke.
Born in Branford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Patrick J. and Mary (Reed) Cawley.
She was raised in Winthrop by her aunt and uncle, the late John F. and Alice (Reed) Fahey.
She was a 1932 graduate of Winthrop High School, where she was an outstanding tennis player. She received a bachelor’s degree in 1951, both from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She had lived in Silver Spring, MD., from 1959 until moving to the nursing home last year. Earlier, as the wife of a tank commander in Gen. George Patton’s 2nd Armored Division, she had lived during his pre-war training in North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana. During the post-war U.S. occupation of Japan, she and her young family lived in Tokyo and Sendai.
Mrs. Bieber taught math, physics and chemistry at Walter Johnson High School in Rockville, MD. She had begun her teaching career in 1936 at Ware High School. After the war, she taught until 1959 at Hopkins Academy in Hadley.
She was a communicant of St. Bernadette’s Church in Silver Spring, and a member of the parish’s Tuesday Club and sodality.
Her husband of 50 years, Robert A. Bieber, died in 1990.
She leaves three sons, Robert A. Bieber Jr. of Kansas City, Mo., and James P. Bieber and Frederick J. Bieber, both of Silver Spring; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Roche of Puyallup, Wash.; a sister, Alyce Cawley Raleigh of Chicopee; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. . .

(Gazette, 2/6/03)

Mildred MacDonald ‘36, 87, a South Deerfield native, died November 2 at home.
Born October 16, 1915, in South Deerfield, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Callahan) Kleyla.
She grew up in South Deerfield, where she attended local schools. She was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Her husband, George MacDonald, died earlier.
She leaves a daughter, Mildred Tassone of New Hyde Park; a son, George MacDonald of Naples, Florida; a brother, James “Jay” Kleyla of South Deerfield; four grandchildren; and several cousins. . .

(Bulletin, 11/22/02)

Richard H. Thompson ‘36, 88, of the Lathrop Inn in Northampton and longtime Amherst resident, died January 24 at Holyoke Hospital.
Born October 7, 1914, in Colrain, he was the son of the late Walter and Carolyn (Oehlof) Thompson.
He was a 1932 graduate of Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls and received his business degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1936.
Mr. Thompson was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a lieutenant and as a commander of an LCI boat on the Pacific Rim during the war.
He was a banker at the Franklin County Trust in Greenfield and the former First National Bank, where he worked from 1949 to his retirement as bank president in 1977. He was also a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank.
Mr. Thompson was a past president of the Amherst Rotary Club; a member of the Planning Board; a director at the Amherst Boy’s Club, the Leverett Arts & crafts and at Worcester Bank and Trust Co.; a member of the Amherst Golf Club; and a member of North Congregational Church.
Mr. Thompson leaves his wife of 63 years, Marjorie (Whitney) Thompson; a son, Brian W. Thompson of Amherst; a daughter, Joanne Allen of Oakdale, NY; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. . .

(Gazette, 1/25-26/03)

Carol M. Levitch ‘38, 87, of Greenfield, who attended college in Amherst, died April 5 in Franklin Medical Center after a period of declining health, with her family by her side.
Born December 8, 1915, in West Stockbridge, she was the daughter of the late David A. and Mattie (Bristol) Millard.
She attended school in Dighton and was a 1934 graduate of Taunton High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in home economics and psychology in 1938 from the former Massachusetts State College, now the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She lived in NYC from 1938 to 1941. She and her husband, who was in the military, relocated to Bakersfield, CA, Florida, and Washington, before moving in 1947 to Greenfield.
An advocate for the less fortunate, Mrs. Levitch was a social worker from 1967 to 1982 for the state Department of Public Welfare in Greenfield. From 1965 to 1967, she worked at Franklin County Public Hospital, now Franklin Medical Center, where she initiated a volunteer program for young people ages 15 to 18.
She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Greenfield.
She was a former board member and current associate member of Organized Work at Franklin Medical Center. She served on the Council of Aging in Greenfield and the advisory board of Franklin County Home Care Corp. and was a former member of League of Women Voters, Greenfield Town Meeting and the town’s solid waste advisory committee.
She served on the Greenfield Town Council from 1991 to 1997 and was on numerous committees. She was a member of the UMass Alumnae Association, the Greenfield YMCA and Friends of Tanglewood.
A published author and member of the Writer’s Guild in Amherst, she enjoyed creative writing and calligraphy.
She leaves her husband of nearly 62 years, Gerald I. Levitch; a son, Kim A. Levitch of Shelburne; a daughter, Wendy Levitch of Greenfield; a grandson; a niece; and several grandnieces, grandnephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. . .

(Gazette, 4/2/03)

S. Gilbert “Buck” Davis ’41, Ph.D. ‘48, 83, of South Dennis, died January 31 at the Pavilion in Hyannis, after a long illness.
He leaves his wife of 51 years, Lillian (Moldaw) Davis, a son, Todd Davis of Lenox; a daughter, Nancy Davis of Cambridge; a sister, Myra Etsten of West Yarmouth. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of Lewis and Daisy (Rothstein) Davis, and grew up in Worcester. He earned his Bachelor of Science, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was elected to Sigma Xi and Phi Tau Sigma scientific honor societies. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a captain in the Medical Service Corp. Mr. Davis was laboratory director from 1948 to 1958 at Davis and Bennett Inc. of Worcester. He then spent two years as director of research and development for Pyrotex CO. Inc. of Leominster. In 1960 he began a 20-year tenure at Astra Pharmaceutical Products Inc. of Worcester, where his positions included director of Analytical Laboratories, Medical Sales and Special Projects, and vice president and director of the Pharmastar Division. He also became a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In 1979 he moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, and became director of product development for the GIBCO division of Dexter Corp. of Chargrin Falls. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemists, Institute of Food Technologists and Society of Plastics Engineers. He had a longtime affiliation with the Worcester Temple Emanuel and Isaiah Thomas Masonic Lodge. . .

(Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 2/1/03)

Jean Leighton ’41 , 83, of Concord, died Friday, February 21, 2003 at New England Deaconess Association in Concord. Born in Medford, MA, to the late Rev. Francis D. Taylor and Lois V. (Lannin) she spent her childhood living at St. John’s Parsonage on Mt. Auburn St. in Watertown, MA. She attended and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she met Arthur Berry Leighton whom she married in 1946, relocating to Holyoke permanently. Mrs. Leighton was a schoolteacher in the Holyoke Public School System for 23 years retiring in 1982. She was a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Holyoke. Mrs. Leighton was predeceased by her husband Arthur, in 1988, and her daughter Elizabeth Leighton in 2001. She leaves one son, James Leighton and his wife Jean (Tesini) of Framingham, MA; one daughter, Jane MacNeil and her husband Daniel of Plymouth, MA; and two grandchildren, Kim Leighton of Framingham, MA and Kathryn Leighton of Los Angeles, CA. . . .

(Sunday Republican, 2/23/03)

Roy “Sam” Tanner Jr. ’41, 82, Dewitt, NY, a former Amherst resident, died February 10.
Born March 26, 1920, he was the son of the late Roy S. Sr. and Luella Tanner.
He moved to amherst as a young child and was a 1938 graduate of amherst High School, where he was captain of the football team. He was a 1941 graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at amherst.
He lived for many years in willimantic, Conn., and had moved 35 years ago to DeWitt.
He was a US Army Air corps veteran of World War II, serving as a pilot with the 310th Fighter Squadron of the 58th Fighter Group in the Pacific theater.
Mr. Tanner worked for 45 years for Agway, starting in Willimantic when the company was known as the Eastern States Farmers Exchange. He retired in 1982.
He was a member of DeWitt Community church and assisted at the DeWitt Cemetery.
He was a member of the Willimantic Masonic Lodge and enjoyed playing golf locally and in Myrtle Beach, SC. He also enjoyed playing bridge.
His wife, Louise (Farrah) Tanner, died in 1982.
He leaves two sons, Craig Tanner of Sarasota, FL. And Trent Tanner of East Syracuse, NY; a daughter, Andrea Tanner Gleason of Liverpool, NY; a sister, Rose Tanner of Chicago; and three grandchildren.

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 3/31/03)

Gould Ketchen ‘42, 83, died peacefully at his home in Belchertown on Monday after several years of failing health. He was born in this same house and was a lifelong Belchertown resident, except while at UMass, Amherst, where he earned a degree in engineering. Mr. Ketchen founded Quabbin Industries, a precision metal parts manufacturing company, and served as its president for over 30 years. Among his many innovations, he pioneered the use of computer technology in millwork and deep hole drilling. Mr. Ketchen was very active in the local community, working with many youth groups and as a member of the Congregational Church, president of the local Republican Party, and a Mason. He represented the 12th generation of his family to live in the Pioneer Valley. His love of local history led him to lecturing in the senior’s continuing education program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, sharing his personal experiences while serving Swift River Valley communities before their demise with the creation of Quabbin Reservoir. In mid-January, he celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary at home with his wife, Charlotte (Parker) and family members. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Dexter of Lawrenceville, PA, Gregory of Winchester, MA, Bettsy of Belchertown, Beverly of Arlington, MA; and by seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his eldest son, Parker. . .

(Union News, 1/30/03)

Victor Mushenski ‘42S, 80, of Hadley, died January 14 at home.
Born July 20, 1922, in Hadley, he was the son of the late Alexander and Amelia (Cendrowski) Mushenski.
He was a 1940 graduate of Hopkins Academy. In 1942, he received a degree in commercial floriculture from the Stockbridge School at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
He was an U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Mushenski taught industrial arts for many years at East Longmeadow High School, retiring in 1981.
An avid gardener, he also enjoyed woodworking and oil painting.
He leaves a sister, Sophie Tylunas of Northampton; and nieces and nephews.
Two brothers, Stephen Mushenski and Zygmond Mushenski; and two sisters, Regina Russell and Stella Russell, died earlier. . .

(Gazette, 1/16/03)

Kathryn R. Sanderson ‘42, 81, formerly of Springfield, died at Naples Community Hospital in Florida (2/7/2003). She was born in Springfield to the late John F. and Mabelle C. (Manning) Duffy, and lived here until 1989 when she became a resident of Naples, Florida. Mrs. Sanderson attended Cathedral High School as well as American International College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She was employed by the Town of East Longmeadow as a schoolteacher for 20 years, before retiring in 1981. She leaves her husband, Carlton B. Sanderson of Naples, FL; her two daughters, Kathryn M. Connors of Springfield and Ellen M. Devanney of Manchester, CT; along with three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. . .

(Sunday Republican, 2/9/03)

Michael J. Donohue ’47, Holyoke, retired twenty-six year first justice of the Holyoke District Court, died Thursday, February 6, 2003. Born in Holyoke on December 12, 1923, he was the son of the late David I. Donohue of County Mayo, and Mary Anne Fitzgerald of County Kerry, Ireland. At age 14, he was president of the Holyoke Junior City Baseball and Football Leagues. He attended the Holyoke public schools and was a graduate of the HHS Class of 1940 and attended post-graduate studies in 1941. He attended the Massachusetts State college of Agriculture in Amherst until he enlisted in the US Army in 1941. During World War II, he served as a medic in the Philippines. Upon his return, Mike re-enrolled at Mass aggie and was chairman of the Student Steering Committee, which led the drive at the State House and Beacon Hill to create the University of Massachusetts, and was chairman of the Student Committee to effect the first pay raise for faculty and staff since 1941. In 1947, he received the first diploma awarded by the newly formed university by then President Hugh Potter Baker and was a past president of the University of Massachusetts Alumni Association. He received his LLB from Boston University in 1950, practiced privately until 1963 and was an assistant Holyoke City Solicitor. Mr. Donohue was president of the Massachusetts Junior Bar conference, vice president of the national Association of Claimants compensation Attorneys, President and Executive Director of the american Judges Association, President of the American Judges Foundation, a world jurist participant for the white House conference of Judges during the Nixon administration, and co-chairman of the International conferences on Violence and Terrorism in 1983 and 1986. Governor Endicott Peabody appointed him to the Holyoke District Court in 1963 where he presided as First Justice until 1989. Throughout his judicial career he worked to improve the lives of children in the community. He was co-author of Project “R,” a school-based educational program developed to instill respect for people and property, and was a member of the Holyoke Police community Relations committee in 1981 where he originated the idea of the Holyoke summer Olympics. The Judge published a report, "the Effect of Immigration as to the Holyoke District Court." He began the firrst televised court proceedings on daily cable television. At the District Court, he established an affirmative action program for employees and a 7-day a week Probation Office from 7am to mignight. Mr. Donohue was chairman of the Citizens Committee that established the Holyoke Community College. He was a past Grand Knight of KofC Council #90. He was president of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade in 1961 and was a Parade incorporator. In 1989, he founded and was publisher of Hello, Holyoke. He was a member of the world Judges Association and a Knight of Malta. He was a communicant of Holy Cross Church. He was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church Building Fund. He wife, the former Adeline L. (OhNeil) died in 1986. He is survived by six children, Michael J., Jr. and Nancy of Wickford, RI, Adeline "nina" Donohue-McDonald and Thomas of Alexandria, Va, Owen B. of Holyoke, Anne Carey and Charles Voth of McLean, VA, Quenting J. and Debra of West Springfield, and Maria L.P. and Craig Burke of Florence, MA.....

(New England News

Mary W. White ‘48, 77, of Winchendon, died Tuesday, January 14, in Heywood Hospital in Gardner after being stricken ill at home. She leaves her husband of 52 years, John H. White; a son, Willard M. White of Westminster; three daughters, Julia White Cardinal of Winchendon, Martha Winnie Morgan of Abingdon, PA, and Rosemary E. White of Haddonfield, NJ; two brothers, Alfred W. McKinstry of Chicopee and Warren C. McKinstry of Granby; five grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was born in Holyoke, daughter f Willard A. and Florence W. (Chapin) McKinstry and lived here for 52 years. She graduated in 1943 from Chicopee High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Mrs. White was a sales associate for her husband’s business, White Electronics, before retiring. She was a member of the Church of the Unity and its Standing Committee. She also sang in the choir, and was a former Sunday school teacher, and was past president and current vice president of the church’s Putnam Alliance. She was a member of the district past president’s club of the Winchendon Women’s Club, which honored her with the Woman of the Year Award.
She was a member of the Winchendon Garden Club, the Winchendon Historical Society, the Friends of the Library, and led the 4-H Club for many years. She enjoyed baking, rug braiding, and gardening. . . .

(Submitted by John H. White)

Walter M. Bussolari ‘49, 89, formerly of Southampton, and a more recent resident of Lafayette Redeemer Community in Pennsylvania, died January 1 at the Jeanes Hospital in Philadelphia.
Born in Springfield to the late Walter and Dagney (Ericksberg) Bussolari, he was a graduate of Technical High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was an active alumnae member and recently attended his 50-year college reunion. He received his Masters Degree in Health Administration at the University of Pennsylvania. He was U.S. Air Force Veteran of World War II and was a P-51 Pilot. He loved to fly and was given the nickname “Buzz.” He spent many years in the Pharmaceutical Industry and after retiring he enjoyed selling Real Estate part-time. He was a member of Our Lady of God Council Church in Southampton where he was a counter and worked bingo on Monday nights for many years. He was also active in local politics. Walter was an avid card player belonging to various card clubs. Poker was his favorite and he continued to play while in Lafayette Redeemer. He also enjoyed golf, dancing and bowling. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ruth (Connelly) Bussolari; his devoted daughter, Mary Ellen Barbuto and her husband, Richard of Chester Springs; two caring brothers, Robert and Richard Bussolari of Agawam; and two loving grandchildren. . . .

(Sunday Republican, 1/5/03)

Daniel J. Leary ‘49, 77, died January 28 in Camden, New Jersey. He was born in Lynn, son of the late Daniel J. Leary and Helena B. Healey Leary. He was the loving brother of Miriam Leary Dumas and James Dennis Leary, and predeceased by his brother William P. Leary. He was also the cherished uncle of 21 nieces and nephews. He graduated from Lynn English High School in 1943, and was a member of Mr. Copeland’s Boy Scout Troop 27 at Eastern Junior High School. He was a member of the Massachusetts State Guard, and served in the Army Air Corps as a navigator for the 15th Air Command in Italy and throughout Europe during WWII. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1949 with a BS, and was a member of the University R.O.T.C. After graduation, he signed into the US Air Force and served during the Korean War and at the height of tension of the Cold War. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command at Plattsburg, New York, retired from service to his country as a captain. He joined the Carmelite Order, Attended Mount Carmel College Niagara Falls, Saint Bona Venture University, White Friars Hall, Washington, D.C. While he was at White Friars Hall, Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. He and brother seminarians were sent out into the community to calm tensions during the turmoil. He served as a selectman in West Poland, Maine, and was an active member of the Androscoggin County Democratic Committee. He taught at the Poland Springs Federal Job Training Program. Until his death he was in prayer and doing parish work with Brother Simon Rooney. . . .

Douglas B. Footit ‘50, passed away on January 21, 2002. He was a great supporter of the alumni and was instrumental in going to the state house to “change Mass Agriculture” to the university it is today.

(Submitted by Marguerite Foote)

James A. Scott ‘50 - no obituary available.

John H. Talmage ‘50, 79, of Whately, died Feb. 7 at home.
Born June 30, 1923, in Springfield, he was the son of the late Harry J. and Mary I. (Hoag) Talmage.
He attended Springfield schools and was a 1941 graduate of Springfield Technical High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also attended Union College in New York, Northeastern University in Boston and the former Lowell Institute School of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He had lived in West Whately since 1979.
He was a US Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific with Air Group 6 aboard the USS Hancock.
Mr. Talmage worked as a technical writer at Kollmorgen Corp. in Northampton, retiring in 1988.
He was a member of the Society of Technical Writers and the USS Hancock Association. Mr. Talmage was known for his record-keeping skills.
He leaves his wife of 51 years, Janice R. (Knight) Talmage; a son, John K. Talmage of West Whately; two daughters, Jo-Ann Wenzell of Broken Arrow, OK, and Janice L. Taylor of Haverhill; two sisters, Anne Edwards of Carver and Carol Waldron of Waltham; and three grandchildren. . . .

(Daily Hampshire Gazette)

Raymond W. Hegarty ‘51, 81, a resident of Wilbraham for the past 35 years and formerly of Springfield, died late Sunday afternoon. Raymond was the son of the late Jeremiah F. and Mary E. (Foy) Hegarty, and was a graduate of Springfield Technical High School, Class of 1937. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army. Raymond was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts School of Engineering Class of 1951. Mr. Hegarty retired from the United States Internal Revenue Service in 1985 and was previously employed for many years as a mechanical engineer at the Springfield Armory. He was a parishioner of St. Cecilia’s Church in Wilbraham, and was the husband of the late Mary Catherine (Tormey) Hegarty who died in August of 1990. Mr. Hegarty leaves one daughter, Catherine M. Hegarty, MD of Florence, MA; one son, Michael R. Hegarty and his wife Lyza B. Bayard of Cambridge, MA; one brother, Frances E. Hegarty of Springfield, MA; and one granddaughter, Ceshia Josephine Hegarty of Cambridge; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Charles H. and Gerald R. Hegarty.. . .

(Union News, 1/29/03)

Matthew E. Highlands ‘51G, 97, died January 21, 2003, after a brief illness at an Orono nursing home. He was born June 19, 1905, in Huntington, Ind., the son of Mary (Lightle) Highlands and Jesse Highlands. He was predeceased by his wife, Ramona. . .

Leroy Rolland ’52, 80, of Conway, passed away Saturday at the Western Massachusetts Hospital after a brief illness. Bucky was born in Northampton on February 7, 1923, the son of the late George & Melinda (Tessier) Roland. He was raised in Leeds in the section known as “Irish Town” with his neighbors who were his extended family. He was educated in Northampton schools and then joined the military at the onset of World War II. Bucky enlisted with the Marine Corps in 1943. He was assigned to Cherry Point, NC and Quantico, VA, and was then selected to enter the Naval Air Corps and trained as a Fighter Pilot in Florida. After his discharge, he returned to Ft. Devens, enrolling in the engineering program and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with his engineering degree. He moved to Enfield, CT after graduation and was employed as an engineer for 34 years with the Hamilton Standard Division of Untied Technologies, retiring in 1986. He was a longtime member of the Elmcrest C.C. in Longmeadow and the Northampton C.C. in Leeds, never forgetting his hometown friends and his roots. His wife, Eleanor (Keefe) Rolland passed away in 1992. He leaves his longtime companion, Joyce (Turner) Greenwood of Conway; a son, Thomas Rolland of Rochester, NY; a daughter, Beverly Fabero of St. Petersburg, FL; a brother, Arthur “Art” Rolland; 3 sisters, Martha Hayes and Verna Bontempo, both of Leeds and Viola Betrand of Florence; six grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Four sisters and brothers, Edna Heon, Ernie Rolland, Harvey “Ace” Rolland and Leah Bachand predeceased him. . . .

(Sunday Republican, 3/16/03)

Edwin A. Laszczyk ’51, of West Springfield died Thursday April 17, 2003 at Noble Hospital in Westfield. He was born in Westfield and attended Holy Trinity School, Westfield High School and the University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School of Agriculture. He enlisted in the Air Force serving in Amarillo, Texas
with a mobile training detachment as an instructor in jet mechanics. He was employed at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Conn. For 37 years as a Test rig Operator in the Air Lab, testing various aircraft parts and controllers. In 1961 with the start of the space program he transferred to the Space Lab as a Test Rig Builder, Operator and then Lead Man, testing various parts of the Space Suit, Backpack and Space Shuttle until his retirement. He leaves his wife, Irene Laszczyk; sons, Steven and richard Laszczyk; daughter Laurie Jackowski and son-in-law John Jackowski; and three beloved granddaughters, Kristen, Ashley and Allison, all from West Springfield. He also leaves a sister, Sophie Gonet of Chicopee; and several nieces and nephews…

(Springfield Sunday Republican, 4/22/03)

Edward G. White ‘52 - no obiturary available

Robert E. Evans, Jr. ’53, 86, of Old Ferry Rd., Holyoke, died Friday [9/12/02] in Baystate Medical Center. He was a retired professor at Holyoke Community college and was a well-known community leader. Born in marion, alabama, he was educated in Marion schools. Robert attended Hampton University in Hampton, VA, later gradating from Holyoke Community college and receiving his BA degree from the Univesrity of MA and a Masters degree from Springfield College. He taught in the Holyoke School System for over 15 years. He also taught at Holyoke Community College for 14 years, retiring in 1984. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the US Air Force and was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in 1943. Robert was a member of St. Pauls Episcopal Church (Holyoke), the Civital Club, the Graduate Fellowship Orogram at Holyoke Community College, the Holyoke-Chicopee NAACP, the Original Bridge Group, the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, the Holyoke Planning Board, the Association of Improving Minorities (AIM), the National Conference for Christians and Jews (NCCJ), the Selective Service System, and the Holyoke Hospital Board of Directors. Robert leaves his wife, Agnes (Stokes) Evans; 2 sons, Robert E. Evans III of Palmer Lake, CO, Daniel Evans of Northampton; 3 daughters, Gertrude Monson of Holyoke, roberta Fletcher and Dawn Martin, both of Baltimore, MD; one sister, Mary thompson of Springfield; 11 grandchildre, 3 grea-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 2 daughters, Margaret Louise Gordon (1998) and Gail Elaine Evans (1966) and 2 sisters, Clara Jackson (2002) and Mabel Patton (1996)…

(Springfield Sunday Republican, 9/15/02)

Elizabeth “Bette” Fisler ‘53, of Halifax, VT, died December 23, 2002 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in NH.
Born February 18, 1932 in North Attleboro, MA., she was a 1953 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Bette taught many years in Attleboro, MA’s school system before her retirement.
She is survived by her sister, Frances F. Guinta (’56) of Stamford, CT.

(Submitted by Fran Guinta)

Marvin Samuel Schindler '53, professor emeritus German and Slavic Studies, WSU Marvin Schindler had a keen intellect, a brilliant wit, a wonderful sense of humor, a huge heart, and a winning smile. He was a champion of peace, social justice, the arts and education. The youngest of three children of Edward and Esther (Weisman) Schindler, Marvin was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on January 2, 1932. He died June 11, 2003, at Harper Hospital in Detroit, when he lost his struggle with several chronic illnesses.

After graduating from Boston Latin School, Schindler earned his bachelor's degree in Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Massachusetts. He went on to get his master's and doctoral degrees in Germanic Languages and Literatures at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. He taught German language and literature at The Ohio State University, the University of Virginia (where he was also Associate Dean of the Graduate School), Northern Illinois University and Wayne State. He was Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at Northern Illinois University (1971-74) and Chair of the Department of Romance and Germanic Languages and Literatures at Wayne State University (1974-83).

Professor Schindler authored The Sonnets of Andreas Gryphius; and co-edited a collection of scholarly essays, a Festschrift in Honor of Diether Haenicke. He also wrote numerous articles and conference presentations, and he served as Book Review Editor of The German Quarterly. He was also President of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Teachers of German.

Director of Wayne State's Junior Year in Germany (Freiburg and Munich)Programs from 1975 to 1993, Marvin Schindler also served as Resident Director of the Freiburg Program for two years. The Programs were the joy and the passion of his professional career. His broad and deep knowledge of and abiding commitment to college study abroad were reflected in his vision and accomplishments. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to international education, Schindler received three major awards. The Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg honored him twice -- in 1982, with the University's silver medallion; and in 1985, with the designation of University Senator. In 1987, he earned the highest award given a civilian by the Federal Republic of Germany: Das Verdienstkreuz, erster Klasse (the medal of honor, first class).

Marvin Schindler leaves behind to honor his memory and celebrate his life his wife of 28 years, Roslyn Abt Schindler, and their son Neal as well as the children of his first marriage to Patricia Schindler: Daniel (and his wife Karon) Schindler; Lore Schindler; Inge (and her husband John) Slater and their son Jonathan. Other survivors include his brother and sister-in-law Charles and Barbara Schindler; his mother-in-law Goldie Abt; and several nieces and nephews. His sister Frances Waterman died a few years ago.

Contributions in Marvin’s memory may be made to:

Congregation T'chiyah, c/o Sheldon Kohn, 10044 Nadine, Huntington Woods, MI 48070.

John F. Brosnan ’58, 67, of Buckland, died Saturday at home following a bout with cancer.
He was born in Montague, March 7, 1935, the son of James R. and Marion P. (Wheeler) Brosnan.
He attended the former Crittenden grammar school in Buckland and was a 1953 graduate of Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls. He was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Brosnan served in the Army for two years and spent some of that time in Germany with the Army Chaplain.
He was employed by New England Electric Co. in Westboro for 32 years. He retired in 1993 as a senior rate analyst. He also worked part-time at H&R Block in Worcester during tax season.
He moved to Buckland in 1993.
Brosnan was a selectman for the town of Buckland for eight years. Joe Judd, Shelburne selectman said, “John not only cared deeply for his family but he also was truly dedicated to the service of others. HE served his beloved town of Buckland for eight years as a selectman. He worked diligently for his community and had a true commitment to make Buckland a town that all could be proud of. He worked hard to create a partnership between the towns of Buckland and Shelburne and during John’s time in office the two communities worked hand in hand solving problems and facing issues that affected both sides of the river. It was John who first suggested the idea of a community dinner on the Iron Bridge, which has since become an annual event and has drawn great praise from all that have had the pleasure to participate. He also gave of his time as a volunteer at the Village Information Center greeting people and helping them find their way around the area. John Brosnan was a visionary who served this community with the knowledge, leadership, and sincere compassion. He will be missed by all that have had the opportunity to know and work with him during his lifetime.”
He was a member of St. Joseph’s parish in Shelburne Falls.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons reading to them at school, swimming or just watching television with them at home. He also enjoyed golf and watching the Boston Bruin hockey games.
Survivors include a son, Timothy J. of Shrewsbury; two daughters, Ellen M. and her husband, Edward Baker, of Buckland, and Nancy M. Brosnan of Shrewsbury; an aunt, Ernestine Wheeler of Nashua, NH; two grandsons, Garrett W. and Patrick J. Baker, and several cousins; and his former wife, Joann M. (Dowd) Brosnan, of Shrewsbury. . . .

(The Recorder, 2/10/03)

Elizabeth A. Czapran ’58, ‘72G , 65, died November 23 in a local nursing home.
Born May 26, 1937, in Holyoke, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Sophie (Markoski) Czapran.
She attended Mater Dolorosa School in Holyoke and was a graduate of Holyoke High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in bacteriology in 1958 and a master’s degree in education in 1970, both from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She also received a degree in human resources from American International College in Springfield.
Ms. Czapran was an instructor and caseworker at Westover Jobs Corps in Chicopee. Earlier, she had worked as a teacher at Fitchburg State Training School and in pathology labs in Michigan and Boston.
She was interested in art, animals, gardening and her Polish heritage.
She was a communicant of Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke and sang with the choir.
She leaves two aunts, Mary Markoski of CT and Jenina Gewinner of Southampton; and many cousins. . . .

Wendell E. Dodge ’58G, ’67G, 74, of Pittsfield. N.H. , former Leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at UMASS, took the “high flight” on April 8, 2003 after a long struggle with cancer. The son of Charles and Dorothy Dodge, he was born in Pittsfield on February 7, 1929. He attended local, elementary and High School in Pittsfield. After serving with the Army Air Force, primarily in the south Pacific, he received a BS in Biology from the University of New Hampshire, an MS in Wildlife Management and a Ph.D in Zoology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. At UMASS he studied under Dr. Bill Sheldon, a pioneering conservationist whose father was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt. After receiving his Doctorate he was employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, retiring in 1988 as a Supervisory Research Biologist after 30-years of employment. He was also an Emeritus Professor at UMASS. His duty tours with the Fish and Wildlife Service included stints at the Denver Wildlife Research Center in Colorado, supervisor of the Olympia Wildlife Research Station in Washington State, and until retirement, Leader, Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit in Amherst. He received many awards during his distinguished career, including the John Pearce Memorial Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society.

He authored and co-authored numerous scientific papers and manuals related to wildlife and conservation and provided guidance and counseling to many graduate student candidates who attained MS and Ph.D degrees in Wildlife Management at UMASS and later became prominent participants in State, Federal and private conservation groups and as educators at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Among the many research projects he was responsible for initiating were pioneering studies on black bear ecology in Massachusetts as well as the reintroduction of nesting bald eagles in the Bay State. He was a pioneer in the application of radio telemetry to the study of wildlife ecology. He had a profound influence as an educator and mentor to the many students he trained. His knowledge of field biology and wildlife was legendary, and many students were attracted to study under Wendell so that some of that knowledge could rub off on them. His students appreciated the fact that his door was always open and he would drop what he was doing to help them fix a problem they had in the field.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and, after retirement, was sort of a quasi-farmer on the old Pittsfield home site. He was a licensed private pilot and loved flying. This activity, however, was curtailed in recent years because of failing health.

He married Polly Ladd of Loudon in 1955. Polly, in addition to her RN, was awarded a Ph.T (pushing hubby thru) degree for her many years of keeping Wendell in line during the slim academic years. They have 3 children, Karen, Charlie and Carole Jeanne and 3 grandsons, a son in-law Daniel and a daughter in-law Karen.

At his request, there will be no memorial or graveside services. His ashes will be placed in a cherished location on the Will Smith Road homestead by his wife and children.

In lieu of flowers a scholarship fund is being established to support graduate research in wildlife conservation. Contributions can be made to the University of Massachusetts with an indication that it is for the Wendell E. Dodge Scholarship Fund, and sent to Lori Miner, Department of Natural Resources Conservation, Holdsworth Natural Resources Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.

(submitted by Joseph S. Larson)

Carle Ellis ‘58, 82, formerly of Montague Center, died Friday (1/17/03) in the Shady Lawn Rest Home.
He was born in Turners Falls, August 16, 1920, the son of Waldo and Mable (Martin) Ellis.
He graduated from Greenfield High School and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a master’s degree in education from Westfield State College. He had been a resident of Montague Center for more than 50 years.
Ellis was a grammar and high school science teacher in the Montague school system from 1959 until his retirement in 1982.
He served in the Navy as a carrier fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea. He attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He was awarded the Navy occupation medal and the national defense medal. He was also awarded the 10-year naval reserve medal.
He was a lifetime member of the Daly-Solomon VFW Post 923 of Turners Falls and the National Rifle Association.
Ellis was a former member of the Greenfield Lions Club and the Civil Air Patrol. He was an avid hunter and a ham radio operator with the sign of W1TZZ.
His wife, the former Ruth I. Worden, died August 30, 1982.
Survivors include three sons, Paul and his wife, Louise, of Litchfield, NH, Roger and his wife, Donna of Vernon, VT, and James and his wife, Laurie of Gill; a daughter, Linda Symmes and her husband, Richard, of Beverly; four grandchildren, Melinda Roy of Montague, Rebecca Ellis of Gardner, Pamela Ellis, of Vista, CA, and Kali Ellis of Gill; a great-grandson and several nieces and nephews. . ..

(Recorder, 1/20/03)

Donald J. Jacque ‘58, 67, of Hadley, died Monday (1/20/03) in Mercy Hospital, Springfield.
Born July 23, 1935 in South Hadley, he was the son of Louis and Helen (Sipay) Jacque.
Jacque graduated from Amherst High School and was a longtime resident of Amherst. He received an Associate Degree in turf management from Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He worked at the Hampshire County Jail until his retirement.
He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Jacque was an avid golfer and a member of the Amherst Golf Club. He was a communicant of St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his two grandchildren.
Survivors include his former wife Sally Reichle of Conn.; a son, Matthew A. of Hadley; a daughter, Deborah Merritt of Ware; four brothers, Louis of Warren, Philip of Montague, Bruce of Belchertown and Francis of Florida.
His twin brother, Douglas, died in March 2002. . .

(Recorder, 1/22/03)

Alan Gruskin ’59, 65, a longtime pediatrician in chief at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and a leader in academic pediatric circles, died Monday of pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Gruskin, a pediatric nephrologist, served as chief pediatrician from 1984 to 2002 at Children’s Hospital and had chaired the Department of Pediatrics at the affiliated Wayne State University School of Medicine, both in Detroit.
Under his tenure, he transformed Children’s Hospital into a profitable, nationally recognized hospital in patient care, teaching and research.
He was a gregarious man, an accomplished pianist and a leader with an open-door policy, said Dr. Larry Fleischmann, president of Children’s Hospital of Michigan and a friend. He valued his role as teacher and mentor to more than 700 pediatric residents he worked with over the years at Children’s. “He always asks: ‘What’s the gold standard?’” Fleischmann said. . .
Dr. Gruskin founded the International Pediatric Chairs Association, and was a past president of the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs. He was honored with several lifetime achievement awards from the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the International Society of Hypertension.
While earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Gruskin, a classically trained pianist, earned money by playing at nightclubs. He graduated cum laude from the University of Vermont medical school. He later told Fleischmann that had he not become a physician, he would have liked to become an orchestra conductor. Surviving are his wife, Renee; children Glenn Gruskin; Dr. Karen Gruskin Smith; Ken Skolnick; Joel and Carolyn Skolnick, and eight grandchildren. . .

Joseph R. Harrington ‘61, 67, of Framingham, formerly of W. Springfield, died on Monday, February 17, 2003 in Framingham after a long illness. He was the husband of Helen R. (Salva) Harrington. Born in Springfield, son of the late John F. and Ruth (Reed) Harrington. He attended West Springfield West Springfield High School, graduating in 1953. While playing football in his Senior year he made a game winning interception for a touchdown which was instrumental in his football team’s winning the Western MA Championship and being sent to play in the Peanut Bowl in Georgia. His 50th reunion from high school would have been this year. He attended AIC, before enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1954. After his honorable discharge from the Coast Guard in January of 1958 he attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and he graduated with a BA. While at UMass he was a lacrosse player and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. After college, he was employed by the Valley Bank and Trust Company in Springfield where he became involved with computers as a programmer. He continued his career in the field of computer marketing and support after joining Honeywell Information Systems Inc. in 1964. His work at Honeywell at locales and capacities until his retirement for medical reasons in the early 1990’s. Besides his wife, he is survived by 1 son, Kevin, 1 daughter, Bunny, both of Framingham; a beloved grandson, Joseph; four sisters, Sheila Bowler and husband Edmund of West Springfield, Joan Kokernak and husband Ronald of Webster, Ruth Daigneau and her husband Alan of Granville, and Eleanor Burke and her husband Raymond of Agawam; and nieces and nephews. . .

(Union News, 2/20/03)

Marsha Ginn ‘62, 61, of Needham, a college admissions director, died Wednesday at a local hospice center after a brief illness.
Born and raised in Dorchester, she graduated from Girls Latin School. She then attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, graduating in 1962 as the first in her class.
Mrs. Ginn was director of admissions at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
She is survived by her husband, Edward B; two daughters, Claire of Arlington and Julie Komack of Holliston; a son, Geoffrey of Ashland; three sisters, Sylvia Golden of Needham, Diane Weinberger of Framingham, Linda Katseff of Holliston; a brother, David Katseff of Rehobeth; three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. . . .

(Boston Herald, 1/3/03)

Patricia (Palmer) Donovan ’63, - no obituary available.

Gardner Otis Howes ’63, of Sandwich, MA, passed away on May 26, 2002. He was my dear friend for all these yars and will be missed by his family and friends.
- Submitted by George W. Lake

Donald Edmund Evans ‘64 - no obituary available.

Raymond S. Stec ‘65, 58, of Chicopee, died suddenly at Bay State Medical Center, Springfield Unit. Born in Springfield, he was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. Ray graduated from Chicopee High School in 1961 and received his BS in mathematics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his Masters from Central Conn. University in Hartford.
Ray was a 35-year math teacher at Chicopee High School, retiring 2 years ago. At the high school, he coached track, and served as coach and mentor of the Math Team and The Quiz Team, which appeared on “As Schools Match Wits”. Ray was an assistant scoutmaster for Chicopee Boy Scout Troop 131, secretary/treasurer for Western Mass. Swim Officials Assoc., a member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks. He was a communicant of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus.
Ray leaves his wife of 31 years, the former Linda L. Jez; sons, Edward Stec and his wife Elaine of Ossining, NY, David Stec of North Brookfield, MA; a daughter, Karen Stec at home; and his parents Stanley and Helen (Swierad) Stec of Chicopee. . . .

(Sunday Republican, 12/8/02)

Robert S. Annino ‘66, 59, beloved husband of Eugenia “Genie” LaMonica Annino, died March 27, 2003 at MUSC in Charleston, SC. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Mr. Annino was born on June 5, 1943 in Springifeld, MA, a son of Joseph Annino and Ruth (Berlin) Annino of West Springfield, MA. He served in the US Army Reserves and was a graduate of the Univesrity of Massachusetts where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History. He was an insurance agent and retired after 30 years. He served as president of the New England Chapter of Consumer Affairs and received several awards from various insurnace companies. He is survived by his parents; his wife of Beaufort, SC; two sons, Brian M. Annino of Vernon, CT and Robert J. Annino of Central Village, CT; a daughter, Laura Elizabeth Annino of Sanford, Fl; a brother, Richard Annino of Edgecomb, ME; two sisters, Jean Raad of E. Hampton, CT, and Carol Noonan of Springfield, MA…

(Springfield Sunday Republican, 3/30/03)

Mary Anne (Olszewski) Dougal ‘66, 59, of Ware, formerly Mary Anne Olszewski, died Saturday, January 25, 2003 following an automobile accident in Monson. She was born in Ware, daughter of the late Walter and Stephanie (Kozlik) Olszewski, and was lifelong resident. She graduated from St. Mary’s School in Ware, Ware High School, in 1961, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1966, and received her masters degree in special education from Westfield State College, Westfield. She taught at the Hardwick Elementary School in Hardwick for thirty-five years before retiring in June of 2001. She was a devoted teacher and friends to her many students, all of whom she dearly loved. Mary Anne was an active member of the 4-H Club for many years, and also worked in the 4-H office at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She held various elected offices, including vice president and president of the organization throughout the years. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Ware, and was the president of its Ladies Guild, chairperson of bingo, and volunteered her services at St. Mary’s Annual Carnival for several years. She was past president of St. Mary’s Parent Teacher Organization and the Falcetti Music Center Parent’s Association in Indian Orchard, a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. . . She is survived by her beloved daughter, Theresa J. Hansen and her husband Todd of West Hartford, and her special friend, James J. Lechowicz of Ware. She is also survived by her much loved and special grandsons, Walter and Richard Hansen. She also leaves some dear aunts, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. . . .

(Union News, 1/29/03)

Janet K. (Smith) Driscoll ‘66, 58, of South Hadley, wife of Robert E. Driscoll, Jr. and a former teacher at Holyoke Community College died Saturday at her home. Born in Winthrop, MA, daughter of Christina (Cowan) Smith of Sharon, MA and the late William Smith. She was educated in Winthrop, Virginia schools, East Boston and Sharon, MA. She resided in Sharon at one time. Janet taught at Holyoke Community College from 1982-2002. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received her Masters Degree from Brown University. She worked at one time for the Monsanto Co. as a mathematician. She was a member of the Holy Cross Church Choir at one time and was also a volunteer at South Hadley Library and the South Hadley High School Band. Besides her husband, she leaves one son, James Driscoll and his fiancée, Sarah Goldy of Lindon Wold, NY; one daughter, Michaela Driscoll of South Hadley; and one brother, Robert Smith of North Attleboro. . .

(Sunday Republican, 12/29/02)

Louis V. Andreoli, Jr. ‘67, 57, of Walpole, NH, died Sunday, December 1 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Mr. Andreoli was born in Springfield, MA May 9, 1945, the son of Louis V. and Enes (Alissi) Andreoli, he was a 1963 graduate of Agawam High School in Agawam, MA. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1967 with a BA in Political Science and graduated Dartmouth College with a MALS in Social Sciences in 1973. He worked as a Social Studies teacher and Department Head at Fall Mountain Regional High School in Langdon, NH from 1967-1995. He was real estate broker for more than 30 years and was the owner of Galloway Real Estate in Walpole, NH. He was very active in the community. Mr. Andreoli married Antonia Zerra on July 8, 1967 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Agawam who survives. Also surviving are his daughters, Lisa Andreoli of Walpole, NH, Allegra Carignan and son-in-law Mark Carignan of Brattleboro, VT; a brother and sister-in-law, Don and Sulema Andreoli of Feeding Hills, MA; one uncle Anthony Andreoli of West Springfield, MA: and one aunt, Adelaide Moles of Springfield, MA. Also surviving are many cousins, nieces and nephews. . .

(Union News, 12/7/02)

James M. Parent ‘67, of Westfield, a retired longtime teacher in the Westfield Public School System, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Born and raised in Westfield, he was a lifetime resident.
Mr. Parent attended Westfield High School. He attended Norwich University in Northfield, VT. He was a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms College, Chicopee, where he received a BA in history. He received his Masters in Education from Westfield State College. He also received a Masters of Arts, Government from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
He taught math and world history at Cathedral High School, Springfield, from 1961-62. From 1962 to 1968 he taught math, world history, geography and civics at Westfield Jr. High School. From 1968 to 1985 he taught Problems of Democracy and psychology at Westfield High School. He also taught tennis through the Westfield Parks and Recreation for many years and was a longtime tennis coach at Westfield High School. He retired in 1985. He was WWII Army Captain Veteran, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines. He was wounded on Minder. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Westfield. He was a charter member of the Westfield Planning Board
He was the husband of the late Marguerite (Foley) Parent who died in 1983. His son, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Parent, USMC, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969. He leaves two sons, James M., Jr. of Westfield and John M. of Hudson, MA; a brother, Leslie of West Springfield; a sister, Marie Parent of Westfield; 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. . .

(Union News, 1/9/03)

Helen M. Egan ‘68, 67, known as Sister Maureen James, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Holyoke, died Thursday, December 19 at her friends’ home in Worcester.
She leaves two sisters, Maureen Egan of Worcester and Joan Connier of Leicester; nieces; nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews. Two sisters, Anne Egan and Betty Wilber, predeceased her. She was born in Worcester, daughter of James and Mary (Grady) Egan. She graduated from St. Peter’s High School in Worcester in 1954. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, and completed a certificate of advanced graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She was a member of the Sisters for 49 years. She taught at St. Joseph School, North Adams, and at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. From 1979 to 1986, she was a director of education and congregational personnel at Mont Marie Motherhouse, Holyoke. In 1986, she became the chaplain at Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester. . .

(Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 12/21/02)

Daniel P. Barry ’69, ’73G,56, of Pantry Road [Hatfield, MA] died Feb. 18 at home. Born Jan. 24, 1947, in Waltham, he was the son of Daniel barry of Peabody and the late Anna (Penttila) Barry. He attended school in Waltham and was a 1965 graduate of Essex Agricultural High School in Danvers. He received a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and a master’s degree in education, both from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He moved to western Massachusetts in 1965 and had lived in Hatfield for many years. Mr. Barry had been a professor at Springfield Technical Community College for 33 years. Until 1988, he had owned and operated locally the former Hampshire Landscapes and Barry’s Nursery. He had served on the Hatfield Planning Board since 1992. He was a longtime member of the Hatfield Lions club. Mr. Barry also served on the advisory board of Westfield Vocational and Chicopee Comprehensive High schools. Besides his father, he leaves his wife of 34 years, Bonnie (Molino) Barry; two sons, Sean M. Barry of Hatfield and Garrett J. Barry of Northampton; two brothers, John Barry of Epping, NH, and Michael Barry of Epping, NH and Michael Barry of Northwoods, NH; six sisters, Mary Ann Moore of Hamstead, NH, gail Hydrick of North Augusta, SC, susan LeBlanc of Salem, Jean Smith of Hamden, Conn., Sally Gagnon of Epping and Sandra Morrissey of Beverly; a grandson; and several nieces and nephews…

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 2/20/03)

Chris J. Bakas ’70, ’72G 53, of Lynn, a salesman, died unexpectedly on Wednesday at Beverly Hospital. Born in Lynn, he was a graduate of Lynn English High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and later earned a master’s degree in communications. Mr. Bakas was a veteran of the national guard. He was a salesman for Kely Jeep Chrysler Plymout. Previously, he worked for the Lynngate Volkswagen in Lynn, also as a sales representative. Mr. Bakas attended St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn. He was an avid Red Sox and horse racing fan. Mr. Bakas is survived by his fiancee, Susan golberg of Lynn; two aunts; and several cousins…

(Boston Herald, 9/28/02)

Roma E. Klimczuk ’70, 54, of Washington, D.C., died January 3 at home. Born in Northampton, December 23, 1948, she was the daughter of Jadwiga (Jackiewicz) Klimczuk of Holyoke and the late Walter Klimczuk. She was raised in Holyoke and has lived in Washington for 20 years. She was a 1970 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and achieved her masters from Georgia State University. Roma was a case manager of Cadeaux & Taglieri Law Firm for the past 10 years and also spent time as a volunteer at the National Arboretum in Washington. Her passion was gardening and gourmet cooking. She also had a weakness for stray cats. Besides her mother, Roma leaves two sisters, Ina Klimczuk of Belchertown and Lydia Klimczuk of S. Hadley; along with a cousin, Ewa Pierzchalski and an aunt, Ola Klimczuk, both of Holyoke. . .

(Sunday Republican, 1/12/03)

John P. Lessard ’72,63, of Boulder, Colorado, former resident of Greenfield, Mass., died Dec. 1, 2002, at home. Born in Barre, Vt., June 12, 1939, he was the son of Paul J. and Rachel (Wild) Lessard. He received an associate’s degree from Greenfield Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He moved to Boulder County in 1993. Survivors include his wife, the former Kathleen Starr; three sons, Joseph of boulder, Louis of Newburyport, Mass.; his stepfather, Howard White of Orange Park, Fla.; three brothers, Jerome Lessard of Texas and James and Jeffrey White, both of Ocala, Fla., and a grandson. A son, Maurice, predeceased him…

(Greenfield Recorder, 1/15/03)

John Joseph Mazzuchi ’72,55, of Brattleboro, died unexpectedly Tuesday, August 13, 2002.
He was born on September 24, 1946 in Dorchester, Mass, a son of Leo and Phyllis (Catennachi) Mazzuchi of Nashua, NH. Mr. Mazzuchi was a graduate of Keith Academy High of Lowell, MA, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Antioch College of New England.
He served in the U.S. Navy as a medic in 1965, before being honorably discharged with the rank of hospital medic 2.
Over the years, he worked in many departments for the State of Vermont, including Social Services, Probation and Parole and Unemployment. He was director of Community House before serving as a director of personnel for A.M.P., formerly of Cotton Mill Hill.
He later became vice president in charge of personnel for Cheshire Transportation Services, now Laidlaw Bus Company, before joining Business and Tax Consultants. Most recently, he was employed by Hannaford’s Superstore.
Mr. Mazzuchi loved sailing and was a new member of the Windham Sailing Club. He delighted in playing with his grandchildren and teasing anyone who would stand for it. He cherished time listening to “golden moldies” and often joked about his lifetime membership in Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program.
He had a sense of humor that his wife and daughters didn’t always appreciate, but his friends thoroughly enjoyed. His contagious spirit touched every corner of Brattleboro, and he will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Diana Jean ( Bennett); two children, Michelle (Mazzuchi) O’Meara and Allyson Lynn Mazzuchi; two grandchildren, Caitlin and Darin O’Meara; his mother, Phyllis Mazzuchi; two brothers, Leo and Kenneth Mazzuchi; two sister, Susan and Barbara Mazzuchi; his mother-in-law, Priscilla Tacey; and many nieces and nephews. . .

(Brattleboro Reformer, 8/17/02)

Peter D. Dunphy ‘73, 52, of Bondsville, died December 25 at his home. Born in Holyoke, he was the son of the late Owen P. Jr. and Mary A. (Guimond) Dunphy. He graduated from South Hadley High School in 1968 and went on to receive his BS in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Peter worked for many years as a psychologist at the former Belchertown State School before co-founding Vanguard, Inc. in Chicopee where he was a program director. He is survived by his two brothers, Owen P. Dunphy of Easthampton and Christopher P. Dunphy of Brimfield. He also leaves a niece and nephew, Erin and Conor Dunphy. . . .

(Union News, 1/6/03)

Joyce Marie Parsons ’73, 61, an Easthampton native, died Dec. 16, at home of cancer.
Born March 15, 1941, in Easthampton, where she attended local schools and was a 1958 graduate of Easthampton High School.
After graduation, Ms. Parsons worked for five years at Mass Mutual in Springfield.
She received bachelors’ degree in English in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, graduating summa cum laud. In 1976, she received a law degree with honors from the School of Law at the University of San Francisco and became a member of the State Bar of California.
From 1963 to 1965, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil. She returned to the U.S. in 1966 and worked for a year on the Peace Corps staff in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Parsons was an assistant business enterprises program manager with the California Vendors Policy Committee in Sacramento, retiring in 2001 because of ill health. Before that she had been a committee consultant. She had also worked with the blind in the California Department of Rehabilitation’s Business Enterprises Program and as director of legal specialization in the Office of Professional Standards for the State Bar of California in San Francisco. Earlier she had been a court counsel and staff attorney for the State Bar’s Department of Sections and Committees, also in San Francisco.
From 1967 to 1970, she was administrative assistant to the director of California’s Office for Economic Opportunity, then area supervisor for recruitment and training for VISTA, both in San Francisco.
In April, during a remission of her illness, Ms. Parsons returned to her Peace Corps home in Brazil to reunite with the woman she called her “Brazilian Mother.”
In the early 1990s, Ms. Parsons discovered a passion for golf. She returned to Easthampton frequently, visiting friends and family and playing golf with her brothers.
She leaves two sisters, Joan Briere and Audrey Brown, and a brother, John Stanton Parsons, all of Easthampton; and 14 nieces and nephews. . .

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 12/18/02)

Michael J. Lemanski ’74, of 44 Crown St. [Westfield] died recently in Westfield. He was born in Westfield on April 19, 1949 son of the late John and Bernice (Dejkus) Lemanski. He attended local schools and greaduated from Holyoke Community College in 1969, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1971 with a BA in journalism. He was an author and recently had his book History of Addiction and Recovery in the United States published by Sharp Press in 2001. Michael was a member of the writers union, an avid fisherman and he loved to restore atique furniture. He was a kind and gentl person who will be sadly missed by his many friends. He leaves several cousins, and aunts and unlces…

(Springfield Union News, 2/22/03)

Scott Bacherman ‘76 - no obituary available.

Allen “Bud” Barton, ’80S 49, a UMass graduate, died Sept. 22 in New England Medical Center in Boston after a lengthy illness. Born February 19, 1953, in Willimantic, Conn., he was the son of Merle (Rhicard) Barton of Amherst and the late Allen Barton. He was a 1980 graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In 2000, he earned a degree in physical therapy from New Hampshire Community Technical College. Until he became ill, Mr. Barton had worked as a physical therapist assistant at Nutmeg Pavilion in New London, Conn. Earlier, he managed full Circle Farm in Winchester, NH, for 12 years. He had also worked in the clinary and building trades befroe returning to school. He was passionate about wilderness and farming and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He had a lifelong interst in horticulture. Besides his mother, he leaves his wife, Janet (Guillow) Barton; a son, Edwin Barton, and a daughter, Emily Barton, both of Hindsdale, NH.; a stepson, Samuel Jenks, and a stepdaughter, Hannah Jenks, both of Niantic, Conn.; three sisters, Dana Preble of Milford, NH, susan Roberst of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Judy Strong of Hatfield; and several niecs and nephews. Memorial gifts may be made to the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass, Amherst, 01003….

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 9/30/02)

David S. Brakey ’81, 44, of Natick, died unexpectedly Sunday, April 27, 2003 at his home. He was the husband of Ellen (Rosenfeld) Brakey. A resident of Natick for the past 11 years, he was born in Holyoke, the son of Gladys (Pryor) Brakey of Easthampton and the late walter Brakey. Mr. Brakey was a chemist for Abbott Bio research and formerly was employed by Dupont and New England Nuclear Laboratories. An avid outdoors man, he enjoyed camping, hiking, backpacking and skiing. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts and received his Masters degree from Northeastern University. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two children, Jesse and Danielle Brakey, both of Natick; one brother, Glenn Brakey of South Hadley; one sister, Laurie LaPointe of Greenwich, CT; his mother and father-in-law, Robert and Ida Rosenfeld of Poughkeepsie, NY…

(Springfield Republican, 4/30/03)

Richard Brousseau ’81, 68, of Northampton, died December 2 at home.
Born August 24, 1934, in Northampton, he was the son of the late Dona H. and Blanch E. (Therian) Brousseau.
He grew up in Northampton and was a graduate of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
He was an U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
Mr. Brousseau was a self-employed artist and sculptor.
He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Northampton.
He was a member of the local Masonic Temple and American Legion Post 28 in Florence, of which he was a past commander.
He leaves a son, Michael D. Brousseau of Rincon, GA; a daughter, Lisa, Ibrahim of Sanford, Maine; two brothers, Robert Brousseau of Easthampton and Ernest Brousseau of Florida; a sister, Ilene Hickle of Easthampton; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A son, Rick A. Brousseau, died earlier. ..

(Gazette, 12/4/02)

Cynthia J. Scheumann ’85, 72, of East Longmeadow, died on Thursday at home. Born in Holyoke, she lived here since 1956. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from UMass and her Master’s Degree in marriage and family counseling from Springfield College. She was a founding member and former senior warden at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, E. Longmeadow. Through the church, she helped initiate the Food Bank for the town of East Longmeadow. She worked at the Diet Center of E. Long and West Springfield, and was a former nursery school teacher in Ludlow and Palmer. A published poet, Cynthia won second place in a writing contest for adults sponsored by the Friends of the East Longmeadow Library. Her poem was published in the Harvest Art Book V Collection of work by East Longmeadow writers. She leaves her beloved husband of 51 years, William F. Scheumann, Jr.; 4 sons, William F. III of Barrington, RI. David H. of Longmeadow, Peter B. of South Hadley and Theodore R. of Santa Clarita, CA; one daughter, Sarah Lewis of Shirley; four sisters, Dorcus Young, Polly Choquette, and Jacqueline Paar, all of St. Petersburg, FL, and Patricia Dunn of Jericho, VT: and seven grandchildren.. . .

(Union News, 12/14/02)

Wilson “Deak” Deakin Jr. ’86G, who spent 28 years as assistant superintendent of schools in town, was remembered Monday for his generosity and thoughtfulness. Deakin, a Vernon resident, died Friday. He was 68. “He was a wonderful gentleman, a bigger-than-life character who was always willing to take time for you and with you,” Superintendent Alan Beitman said. Deakin, a graduate of Rutgers University, retired from the school district in 1997 but stayed involved with students by volunteering at Bennet Middle School, Washington Elementary School and esewhere. He was also known for other roles in the community. In the mid-1970s he began to moonlight as a softball umpire and worked at thousands of games throughout the region. “He had the respect of everybody,” said Carl Silver, who was working with the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department when Deakin began umpiring. “You couldn’t get mad at him if he called you out or if he called a strike on you. He just had that way about him.” Deakin also enjoyed singing, playing cards and wearing a phony beard and red suit each year for the “Breakfast with Santa” fund-raiser run byt the Manchester Education Association. “He was a fantastic guy,” said tom Alexander, the teacher’s union president. “He was a touch negotiator and we had our differences. But his word was good.” Alexander said that Deakin’s proudest moment was when he earned a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts in 1989.

(The Hartford Courant, 3/4/03)

Brian D. Baysinger ’89 - no obituary available.

Farhad Ahad ’93, ’95G had one of those life stories that was a real page-turner.

He fled his native Afghanistan as a teenager -- led with his parents by a smuggler to Pakistan across treacherous terrain on camels, donkeys and even a bulldozer scoop.

Half a lifetime later, the businessman, in his early 30s with a master of business administration degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and work experience at Progress Energy and Enron, returned to his war-torn homeland to help rebuild the country he loved as a child. His friends and former co-workers, many of whom live in the Triangle, had great expectations for the man they describe as driven but fun-loving and affable.

"I was pretty convinced that he was going to be some big shot minister in Afghanistan," said Massimo Marolo, 27, a former Enron worker who relocated to Washington. "He had it all worked out. He has this great story -- he escaped Afghanistan and returned later to help the country. He had all the pieces together for a great success story."

Ahad, indeed, became a leader in Afghanistan -- the foreign ministry's acting economics director. But his success was short-lived.

On Tuesday, according to international news reports, President Hamid Karzai expressed "shock and deep sorrow" over a plane crash that presumably ended the life of Ahad and four Afghan government officials with whom he was traveling.

The delegation, which included Mines and Industry Minister Juma Mohammad Mohammadi, had been in Pakistan to talk with Pakistani and Turkmen officials about a trans-Afghan pipeline project. The Cessna plane they chartered reportedly crashed into the Arabian Sea off the southern coast of Pakistan.

Word of the downed plane got out quickly to Ahad's close friends in the States. And because one news account listed the wrong job title and had an inaccurate spelling of his name, sorrow was laced with hope.

Other news reports came out with the correct spelling and correct title, and a friend in Washington spoke with one of Ahad's sisters, who tamped down that optimism.

While flags flew at half-staff around the world Tuesday, e-mail messages and phone calls went back and forth between the many people Ahad touched in this country -- an adopted land where he blossomed from a teenager into a capable deal-maker.

"He was an extremely bright individual, just very articulate and thoughtful," said Tom Sullivan, a treasurer at Progress Energy who hired Ahad in early 2002. "We all tipped our hat to him when he decided he was going back to Afghanistan to help with the reformation of the government. We all thought it was pretty cool."

Ahad had been at Progress Energy for less than half a year when he went into a supervisor's office and laid out his plans to leave his comfortable life here. He had visited Afghanistan briefly several weeks before that and been devastated by what he had seen in Kabul. His old school was pocked with bullet holes and blast marks. Trees that once stood in the courtyard in front of the well-stocked science labs and classrooms had been cut down during the warlordism of the 1990s to keep fighters from hiding in the grove.

Always one to seize an opportunity, Ahad returned to the States after that short trip with two job offers. He would receive $250 each month, he was told, well below his $110,000 annual salary at the now-defunct Enron. But he would have a hand in reshaping a whole country.

The day he stepped off a plane in Kabul, he was informed that a minister of public works had been killed in a hail of bullets earlier in the day. His friends said he knew what he was doing was risky, but they also said he liked to be among the palaces of power.

Newsweek ran a story about him in July 2002.

"I couldn't turn my back," he told the magazine reporters.

Pursuing a dream

Ahad was just 15 years old and almost drafted into the communist Afghan army to fight the insurgent mujahadeen when his family decided it was time to escape Afghanistan. His mother left with his five sisters first and then returned for her son and husband. While making the harrowing journey to Peshawar, Pakistan, Ahad told several people, the trio had to crouch in the shadow of a lone mountain after Soviets launched flares in the night skies to find the smuggler's caravan.

On another occasion, a Soviet helicopter swooped down on the group near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The smuggler yelled: "Do nothing; sit," according to Ahad's account in Newsweek. The helicopter circled overhead and left.

After two harsh years in Pakistan, Ahad and his family set out for the United States for a cramped two-bedroom apartment in Flushing, N.Y. While his sisters worked in pharmacies and supermarkets, he mapped out plans for attaining the so-called American dream. He earned degrees in engineering at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, juggling his studies with a $5-an-hour security guard job. He worked at an energy consulting firm for three years but found the work tedious and decided to pursue an MBA.

That path led to Enron and a job in 1999 at a subsidiary in Argentina. He was in Houston in 2001 during several historical moments -- the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and when, after the largest bankruptcy filing in this country, senior managers at Enron told employees to go home.

In business school, Ahad hooked up with a circle of seven friends who socialized and planned vacations together. They went to the Bahamas, South Beach, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico. Even after completing their degrees and settling in different parts of the country, they stayed in touch by e-mail and got together whenever their corporate schedules allowed.

Ahad was somewhat of a jokester. Some of his Enron co-workers called him Poppie because he was several years older than they and liked to portray himself as a father figure. For a laugh, he would walk up behind Marolo, five years his junior, and say in Spanish: "Who's your daddy?"

"He doesn't carry Afghanistan on his sleeve," said Shannon Rosati, a former UNC-CH classmate. "But once you got to know him on a personal level, you understood there was this whole other side to him. He had this very serious intellectual side that is a love of his homeland and a vision for it that made him stay constantly abreast of what was going on there. The other side of him was just this crazy, fun guy, always there for a life doing the most bizarre things."

His business school class spent much of the past week trying to think of a suitable memorial.

They lament that they never got to hear or read a detailed explanation of the work he was doing in Afghanistan. "I don't think any of us understood what he was doing on a daily basis," Rosati said. "Now we know that he dedicated the last year of his life to that. Every day was just a big deal."

( Anne Blythe, Raleigh News & Observer, 3/3/03)

John P. Alexopoulos ’93, 33, of Manhattan, NY, died tragically Thursday, March 13, after being struck by a Queens bound E-train at the 53rd St. Station in New York. John graduated from Longmeadow High School, class of 1987. He then attended the University of colorado in boulder, CO and graduated from UMass Amherst in 1993 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. John was a Realtor for Corcoran Group Real Estate in Manhattan, NY. He had previously workded for Metropolitan Life Insurance co. in Longmeadow. He owned his own business, Panic Records, for five years and also worked for City Habitat Real Estate in New York City. John is survived by his parents, Peter and Lannie (Stosick) Alexopoulos of Longmeadow; his two brothers, Joseph Alexopoulos and his wife Maria (Soledad0Ortiz) of Lausanne, Switzerland, and P.J. Alexopoulos and his wife Susan (Cabral) of East Longmeadow; his grandmother, Harriet Witkowski of Three Rivers; is Goddaughter, Catalyna Alexopoulos; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and two special co0workers, Karin Rathje-Poshuma and Mimi Murphy, both of New York…

(Springfield Sunday Republican, 3/16/03)

Donald Irwin Kendrew ’94, 62, of 13 Chapman Ave. [Easthampton] died April 16 at home of cancer. Born May 3, 1940, in Northampton, he was the son of Hazel Alice (LaFountain) Kendrew of Easthampton and the late Francis Kendrew. He attended the former Immaculate Conception elementary school in Easthampton and was a 1958 graduate of the former St. Michael’s High School lin Northampton. He received an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Mr. Kendrew worked for many years as a dispatcher for Valley Transporter in Amherst before declining health forced him to retire. He was a self-employed computer consultant. He also taught a card gambling course in HCC’s division of continuing education. His hobbies included gambling, art, painting, graphic design and computers. He was an avid card player. Besides his mother he leaves his wife, Renee Auguste Kendrew of New York City; a son, Kyle Kendrew of Los Angeles; a sister, Judith Anne Funderburg of Stanley, Idaho; his friend and caregiver, with whom he lived, Kevin Kolodziej; a nephew; two nieces; and two grandnephews…

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 4/18/03)

Lynn Wies ’94, of West Dundee, born Feb. 22, 1971, she died Monday, March 17, 2003. Lynn was an associate buyer for Sears, roebuck & Company in Hoffman Estates. She was an active member of the congregation at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church. She is survived by her loving parents, Mr. And Mrs. Frank Weis of Valley City, ND; her beloved brother, Douglas; her large extended family and all her loving and caring friends…

(Chicago Daily Herald)

Brandon Brei ’99, As one of five recipients of a CDC Fellowship in Vector-Borne Disease at Yale University, Brandon traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico to spend a week studying Dengue Fever at the CDC Dengue Research Lab.

During the week, the group, which consisted of 10 doctoral and masters students from the Departments of Epidemiology and Public Health and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology listened to presentations on the ecology, epidemiology, and entomology of Dengue, met with local mosquito control officials, and learned to trap and identify mosquitoes. As a part of the week's program
Brandon presented his doctoral research to the staff of the CDC lab and students from the University of Puerto Rico.

On Saturday, March 22nd, the group planned to spend the day snorkeling and swimming near Fajardo, a town on the northeast coast of the island. It was here that Brandon drowned while rescuing another student who was caught in the strong current.

(yaledailynews.com, http://info.med.yale.edu/eph/brandon/works.html)

Guy E. Coombs ’00, 25, a resident of Wells, Maine and Bridgeport, Conn. died Jan. 25, 2003 as a result of a homicide in Kansas City, Mo.

He was born in Dover, N.H. April 19, 1977, a son of William Coombs and Denise (Beaulieu) Marby. He attended Wells schools and graduated from Wells High School where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. He also was on the school's honor roll. Following his graduation he attended Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine, again excelling in the football program at Hebron. He then went on to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree.

He was employed in New York City and more recently with the Cerner Corporation, a medical software company in Connecticut.

He enjoyed traveling, skiing, fishing, golfing and the outdoors.

He is survived by his mother, Denise Marby of Wells; his father and step-mother William F. and Anna Coombs of South Berwick; his girlfriend, Isa Simmons of Bridgeport, Conn.; one brother, Keith Marby of Wells; one sister, Alicia Coombs of South Berwick; his maternal grandmother, Ruth Talpey of Lemon Grove, Calif.; his maternal grandparents, Erland and Colleen Coombs of Wells; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A funeral Mass was said Monday at St. Mary's Church, Wells with the Rev. Joseph Ford officiating the Mass. Interment will be Ocean View Cemetery, Wells later in the spring.

Should friends desire memorials may be made to the Pee Wee Football Program in care of WOYFCA, PO Box 681, Moody, ME 04054 in Guy Coombs' memory.

(seacoastonline.com)

Gregory J. Bielski ’02, 25, of 22 Elm Circle died Feb. 22.

Mr. Bielski was a grounds-keeper at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in South Deerfield and worked as an assistant in the family business, Baranowski Cleaners and Tailors in South Deerfield.

He leaves his parents, Jerzy and Teresa (Baranowski) Bielski of South Deerfield; a brother, Eric Bielski of South Deerfield; his paternal grandparents, Mieczyslaw and Teresa Bielski of Poland; his maternal grandmother, Zofia Baranowska of Poland; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

(Daily Hampshire Gazette, 2/25/03)

FACULTY

James William Callahan, 82, '46, '54G, of Amherst, a retired associate professor in Food and Resource Economics, died March 5 at home.

He served the University for 32 years before retiring in 1978. From 1967 to 1976, he served as assistant department head, and in 1970-71 he was acting head.

A graduate of Hopkins Academy, he held a bachelor's degree from Massachusetts State College and a master's degree from the University.

A veteran of the Army Air Corp, where he served from 1942 to 1945, he worked as a squadron radio operator in the European Theater. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and earned four air medals and five battle stars.

Upon returning from the war, he farmed for a year then began working as a technical assistant in Agricultural Economics.

He taught Stockbridge School of Agriculture courses in economics, accounting and business management. He advised the school's yearbook staff from 1958 to 1960 and saw the 1960 yearbook dedicated to him.

He was a member of the University's Agricultural Land Purchase Committee from 1958 to 1961 and served on the editorial board of the Journal of the Northeastern Agricultural Economics Council.

A specialist in tobacco farming, he published 10 articles, wrote for 11 bulletins and produced many other pieces.

He was a communicant of St. Brigid's Church.

He leaves his wife, Isabelle "Billie" Callahan, a retired clerk IV in the Copy Center; a son, Patrick J., associate editor in the News Office; three daughters, Sharon Callahan-King of Amherst, Kathleen L. of South Deerfield and Mary Thompson-Leary of Florence; a sister, Rita F. Streeter of Dalton; a brother, Frederick D. of South Deerfield; grandchildren and other family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National World War II Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission, P.O. Box 96766, Washington, D.C. 20090-6766.

(Campus Chronicle, 3/14/03)

Gesa Gordon, 72, of Storrs, Conn., a former instructor in the departments of Music and Germanic Languages, died Nov. 19 at home.

She served the University for 16 years before resigning in 1971.

A graduate of the Hamburg State Academy of Music and Theater, she immigrated to New York state in the early 1950s. She received a master's degree in German from Middlebury College and continued her work with the violin, performing as a soloist at Carnegie Recital Hall.

Upon moving to Amherst in 1965, she began teaching German language on campus and soon added a position as concert mistress of the Symphony Orchestra. She also was a charter member of the Amherst Music Group and the Five College Chamber Soloists.

She leaves her husband, professor emeritus of Sociology Milton Gordon; a daughter, Karin Dionne; and four grandchildren.

(Campus Chronicle, 12/13/02)

James K. Kindahl, 71, of Pelham, a retired professor of Economics and former head of the department, died Jan. 15 at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst.
He served the University for 31 years before retiring in 1998.

He had taught previously at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the University of Chicago, the University of Georgia's Camp Gordon Center, and at Amherst College. At Amherst, he also had been chair of the economics department. One year after arriving in the department in 1967 as a visiting associate professor, he was made full professor and head of the department, a position in which he served for three years. He served on the Economics personnel committee on and off for a decade and consulted for businesses and institutes in the region. Early in his career, he had done market research for a Chicago firm.

The author or co-author of several books, including "The Behavior of Industrial Prices," which he wrote with George J. Stigler, he specialized in travel and tourism, particularly that in Massachusetts, intra- and international pricing issues, regional input-output analysis, and other areas of applied, usually micro-, economics.

He spent a year as a guest associate at the University of Oslo in Norway.
A member of the editorial board of the Journal of Economic Literature, he served as an editorial referee of the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and the Western Economic Journal.

He held a bachelor's degree, a master's of business administration and a doctorate in Economics, all from the University of Chicago. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma.

He leaves his wife of 45 years, Connie Kindahl; a son, Kelvin of Easthampton; a daughter, Carolyn of Florence; a sister; and a granddaughter.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032-9982.

(Campus Chronicle, 1/24/03)

Dario Politella ’47, 81, of Sunderland, a retired professor of Journalism and member of the Class of 1947, died Feb. 12.

He served the University for more than a quarter century before retiring in 1990. He previously taught at Kent State University in Ohio and Ball State University in Indiana. In the middle of his career, he taught summer programs at the Chautauqua Institution in New York for two decades. He also advised and lectured to many college and high school publications.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he was an aviator for more than four years in the Rhineland and Central Europe and a first lieutenant aviator for more than a year from 1951-52. He received several Air Medals for his work in World War II and a Bronze Star after his Korean service.

An unflagging advocate for freedom of the press, before he taught journalism, he was an Army information officer, CBS-TV writer and did public relations for Flying Magazine, Lockheed Corp. and Red Devil Corp. He also wrote articles for magazines and feature stories for newspapers and critiqued books for publishers.

He authored 10 books, including one on campus humor and "When Hell Froze Over."

He was president of the National Council of College Publications Advisers for two years in the late 1960s and the recipient of several distinguished service awards, including one for service to the Annual Press Institute of Savannah State College in Georgia. As a student, he was editor of the Index yearbook, the Collegian, Spectrum, a general-interest publication, and Yahoo, a humor magazine. As a faculty member, he advised the Index and the Collegian for many years.

In 1997, he donated $20,000 to the campus to renovate a room in Bartlett Hall, where Journalism students could read or gather in small groups. The Politella Reading Room received new lighting, a couple of computers, comfortable seating, and a magazine rack, among other things.

He held an M.A. and a Ph.D. in journalism from Syracuse University.

An avid reader, he followed world events and community affairs. He also loved art and painting and supported the Greenfield Area Animal Shelter.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Sunderland, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Deerfield Valley Art Association, where he was president for 27 years. He also chaired the Board of Directors of the Sunderland Library Committee.

He leaves his wife of 60 years, Frances Politella; a son, Dario A. of California; two daughters, Darian S. Robertson, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Sunderland, and Daria K., clerk IV in the Ombuds Office, of Easthampton; and three grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Greenfield Area Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 786, Greenfield 01301.

(Campus Chronicle, 2/21/03)

Harvey B. Scribner, education – no obituary available.

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In Memoriam

Souvenir

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