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The
following obituaries appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of Maine Alumni
Magazine. For further information or additional obituaries,
contact the UMAA Publications office at (207) 581-1137 or
1-800-934-2586.
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Bradford Francis Merrill, 97, from
Chula Vista, California, on November 10, 2004. B.A. in economics and
sociology and a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was employed as a
correctional counselor for the department of corrections in California. He
retired in 1971. He is survived by one son, three grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren.
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Helen “Beazel” Wales Beasley Ernst,
99, from Tom’s River, New Jersey, on January 1, 2007. B.A. in psychology and
a member of Chi Omega sorority, chorus, All Maine Women, Maine Outing Club,
El Circulo Espanol, Women Student Government, and the honor society Sigma Mu
Sigma. She then graduated from the Child Education Foundation Training
School in New York City, studying the Montessori method of child culture and
training. She was the director of Childcote Nursery School in Swampscott,
Massachusetts, and for the next 47 years taught nursery school and
kindergarten in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. She was a
representative in Washington, D.C., for the Child Development Associate
Consortium and a member of the evaluation team at the Bernard Cohen Research
and Development Association. She was an active member of her church, singing
in the choir and serving as an elder. She enjoyed “rock hounding,” lapidary
work, and traveled to Europe and Israel for an archeology tour with
Princeton Seminary. She was the mother of one son and grandmother of two.
Willis “Bill” Stiles, 97, from
Portland, Maine, on March 15, 2007. B.A. in economics and sociology and a
member of Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, Sophomore Owls, band, and the track
team. After graduation he joined the family business, Maine Insurance
Agency, where he remained until his retirement in 1964. He was a veteran of
World War II serving in the Navy. He was a member of the Woodsford
Congregational Church, Kora Shrine, and a longtime member of the Masons. He
enjoyed his camp on East Moxie Lake, where he hunted and fished. He
collected stamps, enjoyed golfing, raising and racing horses, and spending
winters in Boynton Beach, Florida. In his younger days he held his pilot’s
license and flew small engine planes. He is survived by four children
including William ’60 and Margaret Stiles Hansen ’59; 13 grandchildren
including Karen Hanson ’85, William Hansen ’88, Thomas Hansen ’92, and Marc
Sawyer ’99; and 25 great-grandchildren.
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Harry “Boothie” Edward
Booth, 99, from Griswold, Connecticut, on March 12, 2007. B.S. in
forestry and a member of Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, ROTC, band, Sophomore
Owls, Senior Skulls, Forestry Club, snowshoe team, played winter sports, was
on the indoor and outdoor track teams, ran cross-country all four years and
was captain of the cross-country team his freshman and senior years. He was
a forester working on Mount Katahdin before joining the Civilian
Conservation Corps in Jefferson, Maine. During World War II he worked at the
Portland Shipyard. After the war he worked at the Auburn Post Office and in
1947 began working at the Mount Auburn Cemetery. He became the
superintendent in 1950 and was known for his ability to know exactly where
every lot was located, and in helping those seeking information about their
families. He retired in 1997 after a 50-year career. He moved to Connecticut
in 2000 to be near his daughter. He is survived by his daughter, three
grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
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Robert “Bob” Gray Adams, 94, from
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, on January 12, 2007. B.S. in chemical engineering
and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Golf Club, the honor societies
Alpha Chi Sigma and Tau Beta Pi, and the track and tennis teams. He was
employed with International Paper for 43 years, working in Glens Falls, New
York; and Livermore Falls and Jay, Maine. He was a member of the Masons,
Kora Temple, and enjoyed fishing, golf, bowling, and gardening. He was a
frequent Red Cross blood donor. He is survived by two daughters including
Cynthia Adams Bryant ’63, two granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren.
Josiah “Joe” Henry Allen, 92, from
Riverside, California, on March 10, 2005. Attended from 1930 until 1932 and
a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity.
Francelia
“Frankie” Pearl Dean Corbett, 95, from Lenox, Massachusetts, on March
26, 2007. B.S. in home economics and a member of Chi Omega sorority, All
Maine Women, Prism board, Maine Outing Club, Home Economics Club, Sophomore
Eagles, Women’s Athletic Association, played basketball, and was captain of
the field hockey team her junior year. He was employed as a home
demonstration agent in Piscataquis County, Maine. During World War II she
managed a dairy farm in Winslow. In 1961 she and her family moved to St.
Louis, Missouri, and in 1970 to West Hartford, Connecticut. She had traveled
throughout the United States, Europe, South Africa, Pakistan, Thailand,
Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In 1992 she moved to Lenox and spent
winters in the Bahamas. She and her late husband, Donald Corbett ’34 were
loyal alumni and generously donated to many projects at the University of
Maine including funding the construction of the Corbett School of Business.
In 1993 she received the Black Bear Award from the University of Maine
Alumni Association for her devotion and loyalty to the university. They also
were responsible for the Corbett Medical Center in Treasure Cay, Bahamas.
She enjoyed needlepoint, gardening, and golf. She was a member of the
Waterville Country Club, the Treasure Cay Golf Club, the Wampanoag Country
Club, and St Ann’s Parish in Lenox. She is survived by daughters Ann Corbett
Lucas ’61 and Virginia Corbett ’64, five grandchildren, and three great
grandchildren.
Walter Edwin Ludden, 91, from
Alexandria, Virginia, on March 25, 2003. Attended from 1930 until 1932 and a
member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, band, rifle team, and Spanish Club.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army in the Hawaiian
Islands, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He was awarded the Philippine
Liberation ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater ribbon, and three battle
stars. He retired from the Army as a major in 1964 and retired as a budget
analyst for the federal government in 1975. He is survived by nephews.
Dorothy “Dot” Helen Moynihan, 90,
from Hamden, Connecticut, on March 2, 2004. B.A. in Latin and a member of
Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, YWCA, All Maine Women, Women’s Athletic
Association, vice president of Sodalitas Latina, the honor society Beta Pi
Theta, played hockey, and worked on the Campus. She was employed in 1934
teaching in Madison, Maine, and later in Hudson Falls, New York. She earned
a M.A. from Columbia University and a Certificate of Advanced Study from
Fairfield University. She began teaching French and Latin at Hamden High
School in 1947 and beginning in 1960 became the director of foreign
languages.
Alicia “Al” Maude Tracy Smith, 93, from
Lincoln, Maine, on July 24, 2005. B.S. in home economics and a member of the
Home Economics Club.
Eva Myrtle Bisbee Weidel, 93, from
Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on July 23, 2005. B.A. in economics, M.A. in 1936,
and a member of the varsity Debate Team, YWCA, and the honor societies Phi
Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Mu Sigma. As a UMaine senior in 1933,
she was the debating coach at Old Town High School. In the 1940s she was
employed as a social worker and in the 1950s she was a bookkeeper at the
University of Pennsylvania.
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Alice Augusta Sonnichsen Birnbaum,
92, from Madison, Connecticut, on December 31, 2006. Attended from 1931
until 1932 and a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After attending the
University of Maine she studied nursing at Rhode Island State Hospital and
was a registered nurse. She started the first Brownie troop in Madison and
later was a leader of local troops. She was a member of the Connecticut
Trails Council of Girl Scouts and in the 1970s escorted the Madison troop to
Europe. She was a community leader in Madison serving as president of the
PTA, chairing the March of Dimes, and managing local Red Cross drives. In
1983 she received the Madison Lions Club Public Service Award. She enjoyed
golf and was a member of the Madison Country Club and Black Hall Country
Club. She is survived by three children and four grandchildren.
Eleanor “El” Genevieve Gowen Jacobs,
92, from Biddeford, Maine, on March 4, 2007. B.A. in romance languages and a
member of Chi Omega sorority, YWCA, French Club, Maine Outing Club, Women’s
Athletic Association, Rifle Club, vice president of the Spanish Club, and
manager of the field hockey team. She taught in Biddeford and Saco for many
years and after retirement she taught adult education classes in Biddeford
and was a long-term substitute in local communities. She attended the
Universalist Church of Biddeford and enjoyed sports, especially the
Biddeford Tigers and Boston teams. She was a member of the Thursday Club,
Eastern Star, the York County Retired Teachers Association, and the National
Education Association. She served as an election ballot clerk in Saco and
was a volunteer for the Red Cross. She is survived by two children, five
grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
Donna Lucille Kendall Parks, 92,
from Sarasota, Florida, on August 1, 2006. Attended from 1931 until 1933.
She was employed as a paralegal. She was a member of Pine Shores
Presbyterian Church. She is survived by nieces and nephews.
Wilbert “Prony” Lucien Pronovost, Jr.,
92, from Augusta, Maine, on March 8, 2007. B.A. in mathematics and a member
of the “M” Club, Prism board, Campus board, track team, the honor societies
Kappa Gamma Phi, Sigma Delta Zeta, Kappa Phi Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi
Beta Kappa, and stage manager for Maine Masque. In 1937 he received his M.A.
and in 1939 his Ph.D., both from the University of Iowa. He began his career
teaching at Queens College in New York and from 1947 until his retirement in
1980 was a professor in the department of special education at Boston
University. His interest was in the area of teacher training for educators
of the deaf at Horace Mann School in Boston and the Boston School for the
Deaf in Randolph, Massachusetts. He was active for many years in the
national Speech and Hearing Association, serving as editor of their
professional journal, The Volta Review. He also wrote a textbook for
teachers of the deaf. He organized and led numerous travel groups that
visited special education programs in Europe, Russia, and the Far East.
After retirement he moved to Waterville, Maine, spending time on Donnell
Pond. He served as a member of the Maine Governor’s Advisory Council for
Developmental Disabilities, and volunteered with the Talking Book Service
and Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed traveling, reading He is survived by four
sons, and seven grandchildren.
Virginia “Gin” Trundy Stone, 92,
from Searsport, Maine, on January 7, 2007. B.A. in psychology and a member
of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, Maine Outing Club, YWCA, and played
basketball. She went on to study psychiatric social work at the Metropolitan
State Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts; work for the Maine bureau of
social welfare, and the city of Rochester, New York. She became a full-time
homemaker, raising two children. She enjoyed sewing, painting, gardening,
photography, reading, and auditing courses in geology and astronomy at
Wellesley College. She is survived by two children including Donald ’73, and
three grandchildren.
Donna Victoria Weymouth Wheeler, 94,
from Ellsworth, Maine, on March 16, 2007. B.A. in history. She taught for
many years in the Houlton school system and was active in the Women’s Club
and A.A.U.W. After retirement she moved to Ellsworth and enjoyed her camp on
Prospect Harbor. She was active in the Lutheran Church. She is survived by
her sons David ’65 and James ’67, four grandchildren, and three
great-grandchildren.
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George Ahrens Clarke, 91, from
Stamford, Connecticut, on January 5, 2007. B.A. in chemistry and a member of
Theta Chi fraternity; cross-country, track, and debating teams; and worked
on Maine Campus. He was employed as a manager with W.T. Grant Company in
1937 and in 1943 he accepted a position as a chemist in the Analytical
Chemistry Laboratory of American Cyanamid Company in Stamford. He became a
group leader and worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Idaho Falls. He retired
from American Cyanamid in 1985. He enjoyed traveling and had visited all
seven continents and over 60 countries. He was an active member of the First
Congregational Church in Stamford from 1958 until his death. He served as
moderator, deacon, and most recently as web-master for the church’s website.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, three children, three grandsons, and
one great-grandson.
Margaret Asnip Doucet, 91, from
Ipswich, Massachusetts, on September 26, 2004. Attended from 1932 until 1935
and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She received her A.B. degree in 1938
from Boston University and her M.Ed. from Boston University in 1953. During
World War II she was employed as a Navy inspector of engineering materials.
She taught in the Ipswich school department for 23 years. She enjoyed
reading. She was the mother of two children and five grandchildren.
John Marshall Etter, 91, from East
Quoque, New York, on October 1, 2006. B.S. in electrical engineering and a
member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity, the Radio Club, Electrical Club, and the
honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi. In 1931 he became a licensed
amateur ham radio operator, which continued to be a life-long passion. In
1936 he began employment with RCA in New York and continued to work there
for 42 years. His career spanned many different jobs, starting with a junior
position in plant layout, progressing to senior design engineer positions.
He helped set up communications for the United States fleet in the Pacific
following the attacks in Pearl Harbor. He continued to supervise these
stations, helping improve radio communications technology. He was an avid
participant in worldwide ham radio contests and enjoyed surfcasting on the
north and south forks of Long Island, New York. He is survived by his wife,
four children, and 11 grandchildren.
Georgia Isabel Fuller Wiesendanger,
92, from Winthrop, Maine, on October 29, 2006. B.A. in English and a member
of Chi Omega sorority. She was the owner of Winthrop Real Estate Agency and
was very active in animal rights, founding a no-kill shelter in Winthrop.
Proceeds from her estate will benefit the Protectors of Animal Life Society
shelter in Winthrop and the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta. She
is survived by sons John ’66, ’68G and Peter ’68.
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Charles Maynard Bartlett, 90, from
Naples, Florida, died on December 1, 2006, from congestive heart failure.
Attended from 1933 until 1934. He was a veteran of the Navy serving from
1940 until 1941, part of that time on the USS Reuben James. He was employed
for 30 years as an electrical engineer with Western Electric. He lived in
North Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. He was a past
member of the Palm River Country Club, Bonita Springs Country Club, and AT&T
Pioneers. He enjoyed boating, baking decadent chocolate desserts, golf, and
was a ham radio operator. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, three
daughters, eleven grandchildren, one great-grandson, and sister Janet
Bartlett Easton ’43.
William Follett Chapman, 92, from
Bradenton, Florida, on December 6, 2006. B.S. in forestry and a member of
Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Although he graduated in 1938 he wished to
affiliate with the Class of 1937. After graduation he was employed with
DuPont as manager of the Portland, Maine, warehouse. He was a veteran of
World War II serving in the Navy in the North African Theater and
Mediterranean as commanding officer of an LSm (landing ship, medium). After
the war he lived in New Hampshire and was a sales representative for 35
years with DuPont. In 1972 he moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and in 2005
moved to East Falmouth, Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife, two
children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Eugene “Red” Coffin,
92, from Guilford, Maine, on December 23, 2006. B.S. in agricultural
economics/farm management and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, the
honor society Alpha Zeta, and the Agriculture Club. After graduation he was
employed as a supervisor of dairy herd improvement associations in Waldo and
Aroostook counties, worked for a wholesale fruit and vegetable company in
Portland, and as a county agent in Penobscot County. During World War II he
was employed with the U.S. Customs Department. He was the first forestry and
agriculture teacher at Foxcroft Academy, which in the ’60s was the only
secondary school in the state to have a large forestry program. His students
maintained a plot of Christmas trees, and cleared deadwood, brush, and
stunted trees from ten acres of pine located in back of the Academy while
learning natural resource conservation. His forestry classes planted the oak
trees that line the campus on West Maine Street. He obtained his M.S. degree
from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. He enjoyed traveling, hunting,
fishing, and spending winters in Largo, Florida. He was a member of the
Masons and the United Baptist Church in Dover-Foxcroft. He is survived by
his wife of 68 years, four children, 10 grandchildren, and 14
great-grandchildren.
Gardner “Gard” Coffin Grant, 91,
from Cherryfield, Maine, on April 9, 2007. B.A. in economics and a member,
treasurer, and vice president of Sigma Chi fraternity; a member of the
wrestling team, and played intramural sports for three years. During World
War II he was a civilian instructor for the Air Force at Yale. For 29 years
he was postmaster in Cherryfield. He helped operate his father’s lumber
business for many years and briefly taught high school in Steuben. He served
as president of the Cherryfield school district, chairman of trustees of
Cherryfield Academy, and a 41-year member of the Rotary Club where he
received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He was a member of the Masons and
the Knights of Pythians. He enjoyed wintering in Florida, carpentry, and his
camp on Spring River Lake. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, sons Phil
’66, ’68G and Wayne ’68, ’75G, four grandchildren including Andrea Grant
Goodell ’00 and Maria Grant ’03, and four great-grandchildren.
Grace Elizabeth Knowles Homsted, 89,
from Hermon, Maine, on April 2, 2007. Attended from 1933 until 1934. She was
employed as the office manager for CE Noyes in Bangor. She attended the
Hermon Baptist Church, and was a member of the Hermon Historical Society,
Hermon Senior Citizens, the Hermon Garden Club, and Rebekah Lodge. She is
survived by two daughters including Judith Homsted Harding ’68, three
grandchildren including Bruce Goodin ’89 and Amanda Harding Hughes ’02, and
six great-grandchildren.
George Laurence Houston, 91, from
Bangor, Maine, on March 9, 2007. B.S. in forestry and a member of Alpha
Gamma Rho fraternity and the honor society Xi Sigma Pi. He was employed as a
professional engineer and land surveyor in New York, Maine, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Vermont and West Virginia. He spent 30 years with New York State
Electric and Gas Corporation starting as an engineer and from 1976 until
1978 served as assistant vice president and senior consultant. From 1978
until 1980 he was vice president of Moneco in Montreal, Canada, and from
1980 until 1982 was a consulting engineer with Stetson-Dale. In 1995 he
donated land in Hudson, Maine, to the University of Maine for the forestry
program. He is survived by a daughter-in-law.
Anne May Bradley LaFave, 89, from
Plano, Texas, on December 1, 2002. Attended from 1933 until 1934. She was a
homemaker raising five children. She volunteered with the hospital auxiliary
and Catholic Charities and enjoyed playing bridge, golf, swimming, and
traveling. She is survived by three children including Joelle LaFave ’59,
eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
George Sumner Lawless, 91, from
Pinellas Park, Florida, on June 23, 2006. Attended from 1933 until 1935 and
a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Army in the European Theater. He was employed for 25 years
with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut. He enjoyed
golf, swimming, and travel, and belonged to several local civic and
fraternal organizations. He was the father of one daughter.
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David Cameron, 89, from Rockport,
Maine, on December 31, 2006. Attended from 1934 until 1936 and a member of
Phi Eta Kappa fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the
Navy and saw action with the 1st Marine Division in the invasions of Guadal
Canal and Cape Gloucester. He was employed for 39 years at the Boston office
of New York Life Insurance. He was a former trustee of Rockport United
Methodist Church and a member of the American Legion. He is survived by his
wife of 53 years, three daughters, and five grandchildren.
John Wilbur Coffin, 91, from
Sykesville, Maryland, on December 13, 2006. Attended from 1934 until 1935.
He attended New York Diesel Institute in 1937 and from 1939 until 1940
attended General Motors Institute. He was employed for 40 years at Capitol
Cadillac-Oldsmobile Company in Washington, D.C. as an auto service
technician. After retirement he was self-employed as a home craftsman. He
was a member of the Masons, was active in his church, and enjoyed gardening
and home crafts. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Miriam Hilton Coffin
’38, one son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Joseph “Joe” Henry Lewis, 90, from
Sorrento, Maine, on March 23, 2007. B.S. in electrical engineering and a
member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the honor
societies Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi. M.S. in economics and business in
1939. His early career included three years as a civilian engineer and
operations analyst for the Navy in Washington, D.C., and London. For his
work during the war he was awarded the U.S. Navy Meritorious Civilian
Service Award. From 1961 until 1968 he developed and directed command and
control activities of the weapons systems evaluation group at the Institute
for Defense Analyses for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He then was a senior
project director of the Urban Institute and in 1970 became director for the
Police Foundation. He was the author of several articles and reports on the
subject of evaluation of research. He enjoyed sailing, gardening, and
photography. He is survived by his wife Hanne van Hauen Lewis ’85, four
children, one granddaughter, and siblings Ermond ’30 and Lillian Lewis Davis
’45.
Sarah Wells Littlefield, 90, from
Brewer, Maine, on February 5, 2007. B.S. in home economics and a member of
Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and the YWCA. From 1935 until 1945 she taught home
economics in Dexter, Falmouth, and Bangor, Maine. From 1945 until 1950 she
was a home demonstration agent in Cumberland County and had a weekly radio
program. She obtained her M.S. degree in 1952 from Iowa State and in 1953
she became an assistant professor of clothing and textiles in Pennsylvania.
She continued to work at the college level until 1963 when she opened the
Whatnot Shop in Orono. She was a member of All Souls Congregational Church
in Bangor. She is survived by a sister-in-law and nephews.
Eugene Cyril McCann, M.D., 89, from
Falmouth, Maine, on March 1, 2007. Attended from 1934 until 1935. Graduated
in 1942 with his M.D. from Columbia University. He was a veteran of World
War II serving in the Navy as a medical officer. He initially was assigned
to the polar exploration vessel The Bear of Oakland on Greenland patrol and
was subsequently reassigned to the destroyer tender U.S.S. Prairie and spent
the remainder of the war in the South Pacific. In 1951 he completed a year
of post-doctoral studies in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of
Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine. He served as chief of the
obstetrical and gynecological staff at Maine Medical Center from 1955 until
1968. He enjoyed boating on Casco Bay, time at camp, and vacationing in the
Bahamas. He is survived by six children, 1 grandchild, and one
great-grandchild.
Raymond “Mac” Powell McGinley, 90,
from East Barre, Vermont, on January 18, 2007. B.S. in pulp and paper and a
member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and played football. He was employed as
a service manager for James River Corporation in Old Town from 1960 until
1971. From 1971 until his retirement, he was employed as an engineer for the
James Sewall Company. He was a longtime Rotarian and was active in the
Episcopal Church. He is survived by six children including Rosemary McGinley
Adams ’70, Kevin McGinley ’76, and Kathleen McGinley Schaap ’76, nine
grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruthe Seavey McGinley
’38, died seven days after his death.
Ruthe Shirley
Seavey McGinley, 90, from East Barre, Vermont, on January 25, 2007. B.S.
in home economics and a member of the YWCA and played basketball. She was
employed as a home economics teacher at Potter Academy in Bridgton, Maine,
and later worked at Jordan Marsh in Boston. After raising her children, she
worked in the Old Town library and later served as food service director for
the Old Town school system. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, and knitting. She
was an active member of the Episcopal church, a life member of the Eastern
Star, and volunteered at the Vermont Quilt Festival for several years. She
is survived by six children including Rosemary McGinley Adams ’70, Kevin
McGinley ’76, and Kathleen McGinley Schaap ’76, nine grandchildren, 10
great-grandchildren, and three siblings including Harrison Seavey ’50. Her
husband, Raymond McGinley ’38, died seven days before her death.
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Dana Edgecomb Drew, 89, from Hartford,
Connecticut, on February 1, 2007. B.S. in agricultural economics and a
member of Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, Sophomore Owls, Senior Skulls, the honor
societies Alpha Zeta and Phi Kappa Phi, Pale Blue Key, and played baseball
three years and basketball and football all four years. M.Ed. in 1952. He
was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. He served as a teacher,
coach, principal, and superintendent of schools in Maine, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. Most recently he had retired as superintendent of schools in
Lebanon in 1976. He restored a 300-year-old house in Lebanon and built two
other homes. He was an accomplished wood carver, public speaker, ballroom
dancer, and reader of history. He was inducted into the University of Maine
Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and was the last athlete in Black Bear history
to be a starter on three athletic teams in the same year. During his first
year he participated in football, basketball, baseball, and indoor and
outdoor track. He was an active member of the Rotary, and VFW and was a Red
Sox fan. At his 50th Reunion he reunited with Virginia Maguire Doherty ’39
and they were married in 1989. He is survived by his wife, three children,
six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Louis “Lou” Tolman Harris, 90, from
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, on December 8, 2006. B.S. in agricultural economics
and farm management and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Although he
graduated in 1940 he wished to affiliate with the Class of 1939. He was a
veteran of World War II serving in the Merchant Marines. He was employed
with the Virginia Department of Highways, retiring as a computer specialist.
He enjoyed golf. He is survived by his wife, four children, nine
grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and sister Joanna Harris Morris
’35.
Elizabeth “Betty” Curtis Huntoon,
90, from Portland, Maine, on February 23, 2007. B.S. in home economics and a
member of the YWCA and Maine Outing Club. She was a full-time homemaker
raising two children. She volunteered at the Maine Medical Hospital, was on
the board of the Catherine Morrill Day Nursery School, and was active in the
Woodford Club Women’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed swimming and knitting. She is
survived by her husband of 66 years, two daughters including Martha Huntoon
Page ’74, and five grandchildren.
Priscilla “Pat” Day Haskell Libby, 89,
from Los Angeles, California, on March 1, 2007. B.A. in English and a member
of Campus board (society editor sophomore year; contributing editor junior
year; associate editor senior year), YWCA, Art’s Club, Liberal Club,
Contributor’s Club, International Relations Club, French Club, Der Deutsche
Verein, and the honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. While
raising six children she worked as an administrator for the Venice Chamber
of Commerce and the Marina Area Chamber of Commerce. She later worked in the
fields of public relations and health education for the American Cancer
Society and as an editor/proofreader for Security Pacific National Bank and
Bank of America. She enjoyed camping, backpacking, reading, running,
traveling, mountain climbing, music, and swimming. She was an active member
of the Sierra Club and as a climber had climbed all Southern California
peaks over 5,000 feet. She hiked the entire John Muir Trail and was a member
of the Great Old Broads for the Wilderness. She began distance running in
her 60s, competing in over 50 marathons and ultra-marathons as well as
completing one 50-mile race. Her favorite race was the Catalina Marathon,
which she ran 13 times, culminating with a first place finish at age 80. She
had traveled to all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and territories, and
all seven continents including Antarctica. Along with her granddaughter, she
participated in the First Annual U.S./Soviet Women’s Leadership Expedition.
She is survived by six children, 13 grandchildren, and 8
great-grandchildren.
Melvin “Mac” Almon McKenzie, 91, from
Tallahassee, Florida, on February 25, 2007. B.S. in mechanical engineering
and a member of Theta Chi fraternity, ROTC, Pale Blue Key Society, Glee
Club, Scabbard & Blade, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, “M” Club,
Intramural Athletic Association, played intramural basketball, football,
softball, hand-ball, tennis, varsity winter sports, and participated in
indoor and outdoor track all four years. He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Army Air Corps. He served as a B-17 pilot and navigator in
the 19th Bombardment Group and participated in the first ever trans-oceanic
mass flight of heavy bombers in 1941 from California to Hawaii for which he
was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1941 he was awarded the Air
Medal for navigating the trans-Pacific flight of the 19th to Clark Field in
the Philippines. He flew 22 combat missions in the Pacific and was awarded
the Sliver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Oak Leaf Cluster added to the Air
Medal, and a Bronze Star. Two-thirds of his unit were captured or killed
during a year of combat in the Philippines. From 1944 until 1945 he served
as the commander of the Bomber Test Group at Eglin Field overseeing delivery
testing on over a dozen new aircraft designs. In 1945 he graduated from the
Air Force Institute of Technology and headed the B-50 bomber and tanker
cargo system procurement offices at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He then
served during the Korean War in Japan where he flew air transport missions
in support of U.N. forces. His decorations also included the American
Defense Medal with Foreign Service Bar, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with
three Campaign Stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal,
National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, Philippines Defense Ribbon
with Combat Star, United Nations Service Medal with Korean Service Bar,
Command Pilot Wings, Navigator Wings, and Missileer Badge. His last military
assignment was working on the X-20 Dyna-Soar Project, a two-man reusable
space plane launched on a Titan II rocket, which provided early data for the
Space Shuttle Program. He retired from the Air Force in 1962 as a lieutenant
colonel and worked for Martin Aerospace in the Gemini space program before
retirement in 1988. Later in life his passion became swimming and he was a
successful competitor in AAU Master Swimming events. He is survived by five
children, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
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Ann Arlene Hart Dickens,
87, from Lincolnville, Maine, on December 15, 2006. B.S. in home economics
and a member of Chi Omega sorority. In 1944 she graduated from Massachusetts
General Hospital School of Nursing with a registered nurse degree. She was a
veteran of World War II serving two years in the Army Nurse Corps with the
221st General Hospital in England and France. She did graduate work at
Simmons College in public health and began employment as a public health
nurse for the State Bureau of Health and Welfare in Washington and Waldo
counties in Maine. She later worked as a secretary for the North Maine Woods
Corporation in Presque Isle. She was a member of the American Association of
University Women, Highland Avenue Methodist Church, Maine Nurses
Association, Friends of Maine State Parks, Hope Historical Society, Friends
of Bangor Library, Bangor Historical Society, and volunteered at Camden
Healthcare Center and as a Girl Scout leader. She enjoyed genealogy,
history, sports, gardening, and traveling. She is survived by three children
including Laurie Dickens McLean ’71 and Susan Dickens Burgess ’96, ’98G, six
grandchildren including Mark McLean ’01, Emily Burgess Parker ’02, ’03G and
Daniel Burgess ’05, three great-grandchildren, and brother Halver Hart ’50.
Paul Raymond
Gorham, 88, from Fredericton, New Brunswick,
Canada, on November 9, 2006. M.S. in botany. He obtained a Ph.D. from the
California Institute for Technology in Pasadena, California, and worked for
the Department of Agriculture in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For the next 24
years he was a research scientist with the National Research Council. He was
involved in pioneering studies of photosynthesis. In 1969 he moved to
Edmonton, Alberta, and was a professor of botany at the University of
Alberta. He served as chair from 1971 until 1979, retiring professor
emeritus in 1983. He helped found the Canadian Society of Plant
Physiologist, the Canadian Botanical Association, and the International
Association for Plant Physiology. He was a driving force behind the creation
of the 5-acre Kurimoto Japanese Garden. He was awarded the Canadian
Centennial Medal and the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal. He was
published in established journals, on the board of the Edmonton Art Gallery,
and on the board of trustees of the University of Alberta Devonian Botanic
Garden. He enjoyed skiing, gardening, photography, and supporting the arts.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn Woods Gorham ’40, three children and five
grandchildren.
Stephen “Steve”
Clark Hamlin, 85, from Orono, Maine, on January
28, 2007. Attended from 1938 until 1939. He was a graduate of King Point in
1944 and was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. He enjoyed
sailing and raising Shetland sheep dogs. He is survived by five children and
nine grandchildren.
Henry “Hank”
Lloyd Hathaway, 89, from Estero, Florida, on
September 20, 2006. Attended from 1936 until 1938 and a member of Phi Mu
Delta fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army Air
Corps from 1941 until 1946. He was awarded the Air Medal in recognition of
meritorious achievement in aerial flights in the Southwest Pacific from 1942
until 1943. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served
as a combat pilot with the Air Force. He served for 25 years in the Air
Force, retiring in 1966. He owned Falcon Flight Service in Gardner,
Massachusetts, and managed Gardner Municipal Airport. He also worked as a
realtor and was executive vice president for the Northern Worcester Board of
Realtors. He enjoyed flying. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, five
children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Erwin Lovett
Heald, 90, from Lincolnville, Maine, on November
11, 2006. B.S. in agronomy and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, Maine
Masque, and 4-H Club. During World War II he was employed at Colt’s Firearms
in Hartford, Connecticut. After the war he was employed with Malenar Machine
Shop in Holliston, Massachusetts. He later was employed with the U.S.
Department of Defense at the Army Natick Laboratories as a mechanical
engineer in Natick, Massachusetts. He was very mechanically inclined and
enjoyed working on Volkswagens and Crosley automobiles. He was a member of
the Masons, Eastern Star, and the United Christian Church in Lincolnville
Center. He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, two children, five
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Atwood “Woody”
Ora Smart, 89, from Hallowell, Maine, on March 13,
2007. B.A. in business administration and a member of Kappa Sigma
fraternity, Maine Masque, and played football for three years. He was a
veteran of World War II serving in the Navy from 1942 until 1946. After his
service he began employment with Sear & Roebuck, working in many locations
until his retirement in 1977 as a mid-Atlantic zone manager. After
retirement he worked as a consultant for Olympia Sports. He was an avid
golfer, skier, and photographer. He also enjoyed traveling in Alaska,
Hawaii, and Europe. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, two children
including Elizabeth Smart Vose ’67, three grandchildren, and one
great-grandson.
Donald “Don” Calvin
Smith,
88, from Presque Isle, Maine, on January 23, 2007. B.S. in agronomy and a
member of Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, track and cross-country teams, Sophomore
Owls, Senior Skulls, Pale Blue Key, Agricultural Club, Maine Athletic
Association, the honor society Alpha Zeta, and “M” Club. While at the
university he was New England Champion in track all four years and placed
second in the national AAU Track and Field Championships in 1940. Maine and
New England sports writers often called him the “Easton Express.” He took
over the operation of his grandfather’s potato farm in Easton, Maine, while
teaching math, agriculture, science, and coaching basketball at Easton High
School. From the late 1950s until his retirement he taught math at Presque
Isle High School, sometimes coaching track and ski teams. He was elected to
the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Running Hall of Fame, and the
University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame. He enjoyed hunting, fishing,
traveling, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, three sons including
Melbourne ’72, step children, and many grandchildren.
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Faulkner “Mont”
Earlmont Chase, 89, from Portland, Maine, on April
3, 2007. B.A. in economics and a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Maine
Masque, chorus, Arts Club, and played intramural sports including football
and track, and played varsity baseball three years. He was a veteran of
World War II serving in the Army from 1941 until 1945. In the early 1950s he
was employed as vice president of Forster Manufacturing and later worked as
a sales manager for companies in Maine, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. He
enjoyed tennis, golf, bowling, and horseshoes. He is survived by his wife of
66 years Carolinn Adams Chase ’44, two children, two grandsons, brothers
Gordon ’41 and Allan ’46, and daughters-in-law Janice Merrill Chase ’41 and
Winona Edminster Chase ’47.
Philip “Phil”
Goos, 86, from South Palm Beach, Florida, on
December 3, 2006. B.A. in mathematics and a member of the Mathematics Club
and on the Campus board. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the
Army. In 1946 he joined the firm Edward A. Viner and Company on Wall Street.
He later bought the company, which became a member of the New York Stock
Exchange, and he served as president and chairman until his retirement in
2005. He was a founding member of Brae Burn Country Club in Harrison, New
York, and High Ridge Country Club in Hypoluxo, New York. He is survived by
two daughters, four grandchildren, and two sisters including Celia Goos
Viner ’43.
Robert “Irv”
Mayes Irvine, 89, from Augusta, Maine, on January
25, 2007. B.S. in forestry and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity,
Forestry Club, Maine Outing Club, Scabbard and Blade, Maine Masque, was on
the track and football teams, and was active in intramural athletics all
four years. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army from 1941
until 1945. He was awarded four Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver
Star. In the early 1950s he and his wife owned and operated a country store
in Wardsboro, Vermont. He later became a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse
in Wardsboro and later principal in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He relocated to
the Boothbay, Maine-area and at the time of his retirement was principal at
the Southport School. He was a member of the Rotary, Second Congregational
Church in Newcastle, Maine; Retired Teachers Association, and a 50-year
member of the Masons. For 13 years he delivered Meals on Wheels and enjoyed
gardening and lobstering. He is survived by one son, two grandchildren, two
great-grandchildren, and sister Carol Irvine Adams ’44.
Juliet Spangler
Kellogg, 88, from Bangor, Maine, on February 8,
2007. M.A. in zoology. She graduated from Wheaton College in 1939. She was
employed as a researcher at Cold Spring Harbor Biological Lab, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute, Jackson Laboratory, Cornell University Biological
Labs, and the National Cancer Institute. During this time she worked with
four people who went on to win a Nobel Prize. Among some of the many
organizations she was involved with were: the Bangor Historical Society,
Junior League, Bangor Historic Preservation Commission, Shakespeare Club,
and played cello for 35 years with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. She was a
member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and enjoyed history, canoeing, and
traveling. She is survived by six children including Robert Kellogg ’83,
Juliet Kellogg Markowsky ’89G, four grandchildren including Gregory
Markowsky ’98, and two sisters including Mary Spangler Eddy ’46.
Robert John
Lovejoy, D.M.D., 89, from Farmington, Maine, on
March 17, 2007. Attended from 1937 until 1940 and a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1943. He was a
veteran of World War II serving in the Army as a dental officer from 1944
until 1946. He established his practice in Farmington and retired in 1986.
He served on the board of trustees for the Farmington Public Library and was
a life member of the Masons. He was active in the Appalachian Trail Club and
enjoyed clearing trails, assisting with building projects, hiking, and
spending weeks at the summit of Mount Washington at the weather observatory.
He is survived by two children including John ’78, five grandchildren, five
step grandchildren, and seven step great-grandchildren.
Homer Hollett
Oaksford, Jr., 84, from Spokane, Washington, on
March 2, 2002. Attended from 1937 until 1939 and a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity.
Edgar “Ed”
Fuller Sewell, 88, from Lenox, Massachusetts, on
January 6, 2007. B.S. in chemistry and a member of Alpha Chi Sigma chemical
fraternity. He was employed as an organic chemist at MIT in radar
development and later with Kimberly Clark as a research chemist. He retired
from General Electric in 1985. He was an active member of the First Baptist
Church of Pittsfield where he sang in the choir. He was a member of the
Masons, Berkshire Power Squadron, and Kiwanis. He enjoyed sailing his
22-foot sloop in Long Island Sound, golf, gardening, woodworking, and doing
crossword puzzles. He is survived by his wife, three children including
Edgar ’67 and Christine Sewell Stillson ’67, 10 grandchildren, and 13
great-grandchildren.
James “Jim” Kerr
Tweedie, Sr., 86, from Lamoine, Maine, on February
19, 2007. B.A. in business administration and a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II enlisting in 1942 and
serving in the Army as a cryptographer for the 6th Signal
Detachment. He fought in the battles and campaigns for Sicily,
Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, and Southern France. He was employed with AT&T and
New England Telephone for 25 years. His last position was as a general
internal auditor. He enjoyed traveling and spent time in Spain. He served on
the board of trustees of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital from 1980 until 1992
when he was appointed an honorary trustee for life. He was head of the
Lamoine planning board, and a member of the Masons and the Episcopal Church.
He is survived by two children and two grandchildren.
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Priscilla Emery
Thurlow Anderson, 86, from Phoenix, Arizona, on
October 20, 2006. B.S. in home economics and a member of Pi Beta Phi
sorority, Home Economics Club, Maine Radio Guild, Campus reporter,
and on the Prism board. She was employed as an administrative
assistant at Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston, Maine. She was a
resident of Buckfield, Maine, for more than 80 years, spending winters
recently in Arizona. She enjoyed traveling.
Gordon “Lefty”
Haley Bither, 87, from Houlton, Maine, on November
28, 2006. B.S. in education and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was a
veteran of World War II serving in the Air Force from 1942 until 1946. He
taught at Ricker Classical Institute and Ricker College from 1946 until 1958
and from 1958 until 1982 was employed in the insurance business with George
S. Gentle Company. He served on the board of SAD 29 for 12 years and on the
board of Houlton Housing for the Elderly for 25 years. He was a member of
the Elks, Monument Lodge, American Legion, Houlton Rotary, and Houlton
Community Golf Club. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and gardening. He was a
longtime member of the Houlton Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife
of 60 years and son Gordon ’69.
George Hill Buck,
87, from Orland and Orono, Maine, on February 27, 2007. Attended from 1938
until 1939. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army Air Corps
from 1941 until 1946. He was employed in the administration at St. Regis
Paper, retiring from Champion International in Bucksport. He enjoyed skiing
and hiking and spent many volunteer hours working on the trails in Acadia
National Park. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, three children
including Alison Buck ’75 and Jonathan ’85, and grandchildren.
Frederick Todd
Burpee II, 90, from Orono, Maine, on April 9,
2007. Attended from 1938 until 1941. He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Army with the 583rd Ambulance Company. His company
evacuated more than 14,000 wounded troops at Normandy and the Battle of the
Bulge. He was also in Northern France and the Central Europe theaters and
was awarded the Purple Heart. He worked for many years with his father
building homes in the Orono area and owned and operated F.T. Burpee Hardware
in Orono Village. He was employed for 10 years for the Farmer’s Home
Administration as a building inspector and assistant county supervisor
before his retirement in 1979. He enjoyed spending time at this camp on
Pushaw Lake. He served in the Kiwanis, was the first president of the Orono
Jaycees, was a member of the American Legion, and a charter member of the
Church of Universal Fellowship. He enjoyed sports and he established the F.T.
Burpee Good Sportsmanship Award given annually to a deserving athlete in the
junior class of Orono High School. He is survived by three children
including F. Todd ’76, six grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.
Cherrie Madeline
Thorne Kaifer, 86, from Baltimore, Maryland, on
December 27, 2006. B.S. in home economics and a member of Pi Beta Phi
sorority, Home Economics Club, All Maine Women, and the honor societies Phi
Kappa Phi and Omicron Nu. She was employed by Joseph Seagram as a chemist
from 1942 until 1946. She then became a full-time homemaker raising three
children. She was a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendents of
Maryland, and an active member of Arbutus Methodist Church serving on the
administrative board, council on ministries, finance committee, and with the
United Methodist Women. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts for 20 years as
a troop leader, the League of Women Voters of Baltimore for 40 years, and
local PTAs. She is survived by her husband, three daughters, and three
grandchildren.
Laurence “Larry”
Gilmore Leavitt, 86, from Orono, Maine, on
February 10, 2007. B.S. in chemical engineering, M.S. in chemical
engineering in 1947, and a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Maine
Outing Club, Scabbard & Blade, the honor society Alpha Chi Sigma, and Pack &
Pine. On May 25, 1942 he graduated, married, and was commissioned into the
Army as a second lieutenant. He was a veteran of World War II serving from
1942 until 1946. He was employed as a technical director for Diamond
International in Old Town for over 35 years. He was extremely active in his
community beginning in the 1950s with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and
was awarded the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s National Service Award. He
was active in the Boy Scouts for 71 years and was given the Silver Beaver
Award in 1962. In 1994 he and his wife were awarded the Block “M” Award from
the University of Maine Alumni Association for their valuable support to the
Class of 1942. He was a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus,
and volunteered with the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, Meals for Me, Eastern
Maine Medical Center Heart to Heart program, and was a Eucharistic minister
at St. Mary’s Parish in Orono. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking, camping,
cross-country skiing, and climbing Mt. Katahdin. He is survived by his wife
of 64 years Mary Cowin Leavitt ’42, three sons including James ’67 and Larry
’81, five grandchildren including Joseph Studholme ’04, and sister Lois
Leavitt Pelletier ’39.
Willis Edward
Libby, Jr., 85, from Wilmington, Vermont, on
January 25, 2007. B.S. in mechanical engineering and a member of Beta Theta
Pi fraternity. Although he graduated in 1949 he wished to affiliate with the
Class of 1942. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army from
1942 until 1946. In 1951 he obtained his master’s degree from the University
of Michigan. He was employed in the aerospace and computer industries in New
Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, some of that time with
Sperry Gyroscope Company responsible for the mechanical design of the tower
and antenna of air-search radar systems. He owned Deerfield Valley Supply in
Wilmington. He enjoyed sailing. He is survived by four children and eight
grandchildren.
Nello “Rip”
Frank Ripanti, 88, from Marblehead, Massachusetts,
on February 21, 2007. B.S. in chemical engineering and a member of the honor
society Alpha Chi Sigma. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the
Army Air Force as a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress. He participated in 35
missions over German-held territory and was awarded the Air Medal, three Oak
Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was employed as an
engineer with General Electric, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He is survived by a niece.
Roger “Curly”
Edward White, 85, from Ormond Beach, Florida, on
April 20, 2006. B.S. in engineering physics and a member of the Physics
Club, and the honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi. In 1942 he
joined the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and worked as a
design engineer on electronic countermeasures and radar during World War II.
After the war he moved into the field of microwave tubes and then founded
Roger White Electron Devices. His company was purchased by Litton Industries
and he became director of marketing. He later founded TUCOR in Wilton,
Connecticut, and then established Republic International and companies in
Pakistan, Malaysia, and South Africa. Throughout much of his career he also
worked intermittently as an operative for U.S. intelligence organizations.
For the decade prior to retirement, he operated Roger White Associates, a
consulting company. He was a Navy veteran serving from 1942 until 1954. He
was recently a contributor to the Library of Congress Veterans History
Project, sharing his U.S. Navy experiences in World War II, Korea, and
Vietnam. He volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps, a
not-for-profit organization of American businessmen and women devoted to
providing assistance to private enterprises in developing countries. He
wrote several books about his adventurous life and overseas exploits and
enjoyed traveling. He was a private pilot with over 5,000 hours. He is
survived by his wife, five children including Linda White ’75,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Shirley Gladys
Ashman Yih, 86, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June
17, 2006. B.A. in romance languages and a member of All Maine Hockey, “M”
Club, Spanish Club, French Club, Women’s Athletic Association Council, the
honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa, was president of Neai
Mathetai, played field hockey, basketball, and volleyball, and was class
valedictorian. From 1946 until 1948 she taught French at the University of
Iowa and until 1949 at Drury College. She received her M.A. in romance
languages from Middlebury College, Vermont, in 1948. She continued to pursue
her interest in languages often learning new languages in advance of planned
trips. She was a member of French conversation groups including the Ann
Arbor group and taught adult classes in continuing education at Pioneer High
School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She enjoyed swimming, skiing, and skating
well into her seventies, and had never given up swimming. She is survived by
two children and one granddaughter.
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Bruno Elmer Aho,
85, from Union, Maine, on March 3, 2007. B.S. in poultry husbandry and a
member of the Glee Club, and the baseball, football and track teams. He was
a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy stationed in the north
Atlantic and Pacific. He was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Swasey, a
destroyer escort. In 1954 he was employed at Sylvania and later with GTE in
Waldoboro. For most of his career he was a line supervisor and later a
troubleshooting expert dealing with quality control and production of
incandescent light bulb filaments. He traveled to facilities throughout the
United States and Costa Rica until his retirement in 1985. He enjoyed deer
hunting, fishing, golf, and was active in the Central Maine Seniors for a
number of years. He was a past member of the Rockland Golf Club and a
charter member of the Union Country Club. He is survived by his wife of 61
years, son Henry ’70 and son Ron ’75, and one grandson.
Iva Virginia
Henry Bennett, 86, from Belleview, Florida, on
December 13, 2006. B.A. in English. She was employed by Seagram’s in
Baltimore and later with Thatcher Glass in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. She
enjoyed horses and trained horses in Hollywood and Belleview, Florida. She
is survived by three brothers.
Walter “Red”
Herbert Foster, Jr., 87, from Holden, Maine, on
March 20, 2007. B.S. in poultry husbandry and a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity, Agricultural Club, and the honor society Alpha Zeta. He was a
veteran of World War II serving in the Army Air Corps from 1941 until 1946.
He trained bombardiers in Nevada and New Mexico. After his service he and
his brother formed a poultry farm in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. While
working the farm he also worked evening shifts at the local mill. After
leaving the poultry business he formed Sherwood & Foster, a woodworking
business in Old Town and became a real estate sales representative at Bangor
Real Estate, later joining J.F. Singleton as sales manager and chief
appraiser. He later became owner and chief appraiser of American Heritage
Real Estate and added a Coldwell Banker franchise. He held his real estate
license for 37 years and was a member of the State Board of Property Tax
Review and a former member of the Maine Real Estate Commission. He served on
many commissions and boards and taught pre-licensing courses for the Maine
Real Estate Commission and seminars at Husson College. He was a founding
member of the Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris
Fellow. He enjoyed gardening and reading. He is survived by his wife of of
30 years, five children including Walter ’77 and Katherine Foster Dall ’66,
grandchildren including Allison Dall Hall ’96 and Walter Foster ’93, and
great-grandchildren.
LeRoy Alexander
Ladner, Jr., 86, from Exeter, New
Hampshire, on December 6, 2006. B.A. in business administration and a member
of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in
the Army from 1943 until 1946. He served as CEO of the 64th
General Depot in India and was discharged a captain. He was employed with
Merrill Trust Company in Bangor in 1946 and left that position as executive
vice president in 1968 to join Exeter Banking Company. He retired as CEO and
chairman of the board in 1983. He was the former director of Development
Credit Corporation of Maine; Rotary Club of Bangor and Exeter, New
Hampshire; former treasurer of the University of Maine Alumni Association
and Orono High School; and was a corporator of Exeter Hospital. He enjoyed
winters in Florida and summers at camp in Kennebunk, Maine. He is survived
by his wife, two children, and sister Alyce Ladner Nagelin ’51.
Richard “Mac”
Douglas McKeen, 84, from Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, on April 25, 2004. B.S. in mechanical engineering and a member of
Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Maine
Christian Association, “M” Club, and played football and baseball for two
years and basketball for four years. He was a veteran of Word War II serving
in the U.S. Air Corps from 1945 until 1946. In 1949 he obtained his M.S.
degree from Ohio State University. He was employed as an engineer for his
entire career, from ceramics to nuclear, and was Western Electric Engineer
of the Year. He was the father of three children and seven grandchildren.
Edward “Ed”
Alfred Robinson, 87, from Story, Wyoming, on
December 21, 2005. B.S. in forestry and a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity, Senior Skull Society, “M” Club, Scabbard & Blade, and played
varsity football all four years. He was a veteran of World War II serving in
the Army and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart with Oak
Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, and three Bronze Campaign Stars. He retired as a
colonel in 1956. He then owned and operated Double Eagle Ranch in Story,
Wyoming. He was the father of two children.
Janice “Jan”
Melendy Thomas, 86, from Portland, Maine, on
January 20, 2007. B.A. in history and a member of Maine Christian
Association, Arts & Science Club, International Relations Club, Le Cercle
Francais, and Prism. She was employed for many years with John
Hancock Life Insurance in Boston and later in Portland. She was a long-time
member of the Woodford Congregational Church in Portland and the Eastern
Star. She is survived by cousins.
Gordon “Tool”
Kenneth Tooley, 86, from Brevard, North Carolina,
on December 29, 2006. B.S. in civil engineering and a member of Phi Mu Delta
fraternity, Sophomore Owls, Civil Club, and played baseball and football.
His career was spent working as an engineer for several national
corporations and he later owned and operated Horseshoe Valley Construction
Company. He served on the Translyvania hospital board and community planning
board. He is survived by his wife and was the father of five children.
Barbara “Barbie”
Muirhead Gowen Utman, 86, from Biddeford, Maine,
on December 6, 2006. B.A. in liberal arts and nursing and a member of Alpha
Omicron Pi sorority, Arts Club, YWCA, Women’s Forum, Le Cercle Francais, and
assistant editor of the Prism junior year. She was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Navy from 1943 until 1945. She was employed at Trull Nursing
Home in Biddeford and later taught pediatrics at the Maine Medical School of
Nursing in Portland. In 1968 she moved to North Dighton, Massachusetts, and
worked at Brockton Hospital School of Nursing as a pediatric instructor. In
1973 she moved to California and worked part-time as a school nurse. She was
a member of the Eastern Star and Biddeford-Saco Country Club. She enjoyed
cooking classes, reading, traveling, the Red Sox, and learning to square
dance. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, three daughters, and two
grandchildren.
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Barbara Ruth
Mitchell Brown, 82, from Bar Harbor, Maine, on
March 13, 2005. Attended from 1940 until 1942. She was employed as an office
manager in the hotel business. She enjoyed tailoring and making her own
clothes. She was a member of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church for more
than 70 years and was past worthy matron of the Eastern Star. She is
survived by two children including Howard ’81, ’84G, and two grandchildren.
Donald “Don”
Leslie Goodwin, 83, from Harrisonburg, Virginia,
on January 6, 2007. B.A. in history and government and a member of Phi Mu
Delta fraternity, Scabbard and Blade, and played basketball and football. He
was a veteran of World War II serving from 1943 until 1946 in the 36th
Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division in Germany. He began his
career as a teacher and baseball coach in Bucksport in 1946. In 1947 he
accepted a federal government position and served in several agencies over
the next 26 years, primarily with the U.S. Agency for International
Development. His major assignments were in Iran, Liberia, and Vietnam. He
was a Congressional Fellow in 1965-1966 and retired in 1974 with a Superior
Honor Award for his work with refugees in Southeast Asia. He then worked as
assistant director for disaster planning and training for the Red Cross in
the eastern operation field. He retired from the Red Cross in 1985. He
enjoyed hiking, bird watching, genealogy, and reading. He is survived by his
wife of 64 years, three children, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild,
and brothers Howard ’38, ’39G, and Robert ’41.
Richard Rockwood
Palmer, Jr., 84, from Leesburg, Florida, on
November 14, 2006. B.S. in mechanical engineering and a member of Phi Kappa
Sigma fraternity. He was a veteran of the Army Air Force. He was employed
with Shell Oil as a junior mechanical engineer and later with National
Aluminate Corporation as a field engineer. In 1958 he joined Oakite as a
technical sales representative in Iowa and the headquarter staff in 1967. He
later was promoted to the position of sales promotion manager. He enjoyed
gardening, golf, sports, and church. He was the father of two children and
four grandchildren.
Floyd Flynt
Smith, 84, from Greenville, South Carolina, died
on September 27, 2006, from cancer. Attended from 1940 until 1943 and a
member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and played intramural sports. He was
a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy from 1943 until 1946 aboard
the U.S.S. Deuel in the South Pacific fleet and the Korean War
serving from 1951 until 1953. He completed his education with a B.S. from
Worcester Polytechnic Institute in mechanical engineering. He was employed
with General Electric for 35 years. He was a member of Holy Trinity Anglican
Church for 35 years and served as treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He
enjoyed golf and bowling. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, six
children, 20 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
1945
Top
Kenneth “Ken”
Francis Vennett, 84, from Monroe, North Carolina,
on March 12, 2007. B.S. in education and a member of Sigma Nu fraternity,
varsity indoor and outdoor track teams, cross-country team, president of the
Men’s Senate, General Senate, Senior Skulls, Veteran’s Affairs Committee,
“M” Club, the honor society Kappa Delta Pi, and played intramural sports all
four years. Although he graduated in 1949 he wished to affiliate with the
Class of 1945. He was a veteran of World War II serving for three years in
the Army Air Corps. In 1951 he received his M.A. from the University of
Florida. He was a teacher and principal in the Hillsborough County, Florida,
school system for over 35 years. He was an executive board member of the
National Association of Secondary School Principals and represented the
entire Southeast, plus Texas, for 14 years. He was an avid golfer, active in
the Union County Community Theater, and a member of the Kiwanis. He is
survived by his wife, two children, two grandsons, and four
great-grandchildren.
Bryon Austin
Young, 84, from Sebring, Florida, on February 17,
2007. Attended from 1941 until 1943 and a member of Phi Eta Kappa
fraternity. He was employed as a potato broker and owned and operated a
hardware store in Fort Kent, Maine. He was a member of the Rotary Club,
school board, Chamber of Commerce, Maine Fair committee, a charter member of
the Fort Kent Golf Club, and a deacon at the Congregational Church in Fort
Kent. He moved to Sebring in 1986. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing,
gardening, and playing with his computer. He is survived by his wife of 60
years, daughter Gail Young Reich ’84, and sons George ’72, Robert ’73, and
Thomas ’77, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
1946
Top
Malcolm “Bud”
Edward Brown, 81, from Bangor, Maine, on March 23,
2007. B.A. in business administration and a member of Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity and played intramural sports. Although he graduated in 1948 he
wished to affiliate with the Class of 1946. He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Army Air Corps from 1944 until 1946. He was employed with
Merrill Trust Company as the branch manager of the Dover-Foxcroft branch,
later transferring to Bangor as a commercial loan officer. He retired in
1985. He was a member of the Kiwanis and Jaycees and as an Eagle Scout
continued his love of scouting as a committee member of the Katahdin Area
council. He enjoyed golf and was a lifelong fan of the Red Sox. He is
survived by five children including Steven ’72, James ’74, and Mark ’80,
nine grandchildren including Christopher Brown ’98, one great-grandchild,
and sister Margaret Brown Bunker ’45.
Richard Thomas
Cleaver, 83, from Latham, New York, on May 16,
2006. Attended from 1942 until 1943 and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Merchant
Marines. He was a partner in the distribution business, Burch Container. He
was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed woodworking,
landscaping, the outdoors, and motorcycling. He is survived by his wife of
58 years, three sons, five grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
John Joseph
Sabattus, 82, from Brewer and Calais, Maine, on
November 28, 2006. Attended from 1942 until 1943 and a member of Delta Tau
Delta fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Marines
from 1943 until 1946 and took part in the invasion of Okinawa. He was
employed for 33 years as an engineer for New England Telephone, working out
of Calais for eight years and Presque Isle for 25 years. He retired in 1985
and moved to Brewer. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, five
grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
1947
Top
Isabelle “Izzy”
Elaine Trefethen Flight, 78, from Rochester, New
York, on July 15, 2005. B.S. in home economics and a member of Phi Mu
sorority, Maine Christian Association, Home Economics Club, Archery Club,
Square Dance Club, orchestra, and the honor societies Omicron Nu and Phi
Kappa Phi. She obtained her M.S. in 1949 from Cornell University. In the
1950s she was employed with New York College of Home Economics as a food
technologist. After raising her children, she was employed as a sales
manager with Flight Pianos and Organs in New York. She is survived by two
sons and two grandchildren.
Elizabeth
“Kelley” Adele Kelso, 81, from Topsham, on
November 1, 2005. B.A. in physics and a member of Maine Christian
Association, Maine Outing Club, Women Student Government Association, Square
Dance Club, and played badminton and field hockey. In 1946 she was an
assistant professor of engineering graphics at the University of Maine, with
summer work as a metallurgical assistant, light machine operator, and
statistician. In 1957 she and two other colleagues published Creative
Problems for Basic Engineering Drawing.
Eulila Chase
Ludden, 91, from Alexandria, Virginia, on December
19, 2005. B.S. in education and a member of Chi Omega sorority, Education
Club, Maine Christian Association, and the honor society Kappa Delta Pi. She
was employed as a teacher in the Fairfax County public schools for many
years. In 1973 she obtained her M.Ed. from George Mason University. She is
survived by five nephews.
Elizabeth
“Betty” Madeline Ray, 81, from Polson, Montana, on
January 3, 2007. B.S. in home economics, M.Ed. in 1955, and a member of
Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, the Home Economics Club, Maine Christian
Association, “M” Club, and Women’s Athletic Association. She played
badminton, volleyball, basketball, and hockey all four years, and was
archery manager for two years. She obtained her Ph.D. in 1959 from Cornell
University. She was employed at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine, in
the early 1950s as a home economics teacher and in the 1960s as an associate
professor and research specialist at the University of Idaho. She was
employed for 26 years as head of the division of occupational and vocational
studies at Pennsylvania State University, retiring as professor emerita. She
authored Mission and Purposes of Home Economics Teacher Education as
well as more than three dozen articles, books, and research reports. She
enjoyed golf, gardening, bridge, and reading. She is survived by four
siblings.
1948
Top
Barbara Jean
Goodwin Abusamra, 80, from South Kingstown, Rhode
Island, on February 9, 2007. B.A. in music and a member of the orchestra and
Modern Dance Club. In the early 1950s she was a piano teacher at the
Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor and in the late 1950s moved to
Rhode Island where she taught piano and organ for 25 years. She was the
church organist at Kingston Congregational Church for 19 years and a member
of Peace Dale Congregational Church. She is survived by her husband, three
children, five grandchildren, and brothers Howard Goodwin ’38 and Robert
Goodwin ’41.
Marcia Smargon
Kornetsky, 78, from Newton, Massachusetts, died on
March 30, 2007, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. B.A. in
sociology. She obtained her MSW in 1968 from Boston University School of
Social Work and was employed as a case worker for Big Brothers Big Sisters
of South Middlesex. She is survived by her husband of 58 years Conan ’48,
’51G, two children, and three grandchildren.
Ellen Jean
Ambrose Scanlin, 81, from Dahlonega, Georgia, on
March 15, 2007. Attended from 1944 until 1945. She had been a resident of
Gainesville, Georgia, for many years and was a member of St. Michael’s
Catholic Church. Later she was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in
Dahlonega. She is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and
siblings James ’43, Elizabeth Ambrose Chaplin ’48, and Lee Ambrose Dougherty
’51.
Helen Elizabeth
Noyes Taylor, 80, from Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, on
December 21, 2006. B.S. in home economics and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi
sorority, Women’s Athletic Association Council, Maine Masque, Glee Club,
Home Economics Club, Maine Outing Club, “M” Club, Maine Christian
Association, Prism staff, Campus staff, the honor society
Sigma Mu Sigma, and played basketball for three years. After graduation she
was employed with the Maine Agricultural Extension Service in Dover-Foxcroft
as a home demonstration agent. She later was a substitute teacher at
Foxcroft Academy, taught adult education in Dover-Foxcroft, and worked as a
receptionist and bookkeeper at her husband’s medical practice. She
volunteered with the YMCA, was a devoted member of the Dover-Foxcroft
Congregational Church, and enjoyed downhill skiing, boating, swimming, and
church activities. She is survived by three children including Jeffrey ’67
and Susan Taylor Graham ’70, seven grandchildren, and seven
great-grandchildren.
1949
Top
Arline “Gert”
Gertrude Begert, 87, from Lewiston, Maine, on
January 27, 2007. B.S. in education and a member of the International
Relations Club, Education Club, Newman Club, and the honor society Pi Lambda
Theta Mu. During World War II she served as a civilian pilot and worked for
the State of Maine National Weather Service. In 1953 she obtained her
master’s degree from Cornell. She moved to New York and was employed as an
executive for Exxon as a petroleum economist. After retirement she lived in
London before settling in Amawalk, New York. She recently moved to Wilton,
Connecticut, to be closer to family.
Beatrice “Bea”
Young Carlin, 79, from Auburn, Maine, died on
February 14, 2007, from pulmonary fibrosis. B.A. in business administration
and a member of Maine Christian Association, Maine Outing Club, Hillel,
Women’s Forum, and assistant business manager of the Prism her junior
year. After graduation she was employed as an organizational expert through
a grant from MIT at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. In 1964 she moved to
the Washington, D.C. area. She enjoyed playing bridge, the theater,
politics, chess, and scrabble. She volunteered with Legal Services for the
Elderly, helping with consumer advocacy issues and tax preparations. She is
survived by her husband of 49 years, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
Jason “Jay” Cole,
78, from Wells, Maine, on January 22, 2007. B.S. in mechanical engineering
and a member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, was on the track team, ran
cross-country, and was a member of the “M” Club. He was a veteran of the
Korean War serving in the Air Force. He was employed as a sales engineer in
the construction industry. He was a member of the Shriners and Dorchester
Yacht Club. He enjoyed boating and fishing. He is survived by three children
and one grandson.
Bernard Kiernan
Cough, 79, from Bar Harbor, Maine, on March 24,
2007. B.A. in business administration and a member of the Maine Outing Club,
Maine Christian Association, and Newman Club. He was a veteran of the Navy
serving from 1945 until 1947. He was employed as a schoolteacher, television
repairman, salvage hauler, driver education teacher, county sheriff, and
bartender. He also was a successful hotel operator for 40 years, owned and
operated a furniture and appliance store, and started a sightseeing bus tour
company in Bar Harbor. He played competitive tennis and enjoyed sailing and
skiing. He served three terms on the Bar Harbor town council, was past
president of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, was a founding father of
the College of the Atlantic, past director and longtime member of the Maine
Innkeepers Association, past member of the Acadia National Park advisory
board, Mount Desert Island YWCA, and served on the board of directors of the
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, four
children including Richard ’77 and Stephen ’73, eight grandchildren, and
eight great-grandchildren.
Frederick “Fred”
Ingraham Glover, 71, from Ocala, Florida, on April
28, 1996. B.A. in business administration and a member of the “M” Club,
chorus, Maine Christian Association, Campus staff, Varsity Singers,
Scabbard & Blade, basketball assistant manager his sophomore year and
manager his junior year, and graduated a Distinguished Military Graduate. He
was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy from 1942 until 1946 and
was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the Army from 1949 until 1956. He
was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After his military service he
graduated from Emory University with a B.D. in theology and was a pastor
with the United Methodist Church for 28 years. He served on the Druid Hills
United Methodist Church Board, volunteered at local nursing homes, served as
the post chaplain for the V.F.W., and enjoyed playing golf and music.
Dorothy “Dolly”
Ann Averill Hawkes, 79, from Bangor, Maine, on
March 13, 2007. B.A. in medical technology and a member of Phi Mu sorority,
the German Club, and the honor society Deutcher Vereigh. M.S. in medical
technology in 1984. In the early 1950s she was employed at Eastern Maine
General Hospital as a medical technologist and for 37 years was supervisor
of blood transfusion services at Eastern Maine Medical Center. She retired
in 1995. She was a lifelong member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of
Bangor, serving as church treasurer, clerk, council member, and on the
archives/heritage committee. She was a member of the American Society of
Clinical Pathologists and taught many medical technology students. She
enjoyed rug hooking, watercolor painting, line dancing, gardening, and
summers at her cottage on Toddy Pond. She was the Class of 1949 secretary
and wrote the 1949 class notes for Maine Alumni Magazine for the past
23 years. In 1999 she won the Hilda Sterling Class Correspondent Award for
her dedicated service to her class and the University of Maine. She is
survived by three children: Donald ’72, Blaine ’89, and Lori Hawkes Edwards
’81 and five grandchildren.
Robert Herman
Land, 75, from Chicago, Illinois, on October 6,
1999. B.S. in engineering physics and a member of the honor societies Sigma
Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. He was a veteran of
World War II serving in the Army Signal Corps from 1943 until 1946. In 1957
he obtained his Ph.D. from M.I.T. in nuclear physics. In the early 1960s he
was employed as a physicist in nuclear research with Argonne National
Laboratory in Illinois where he remained into the 1980s.
Homer Charles
Michalaros, 82, from Portland, Maine, on February
24, 2007.B.A. in business administration and a member of Delta Tau Delta
fraternity. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army Air Corps
in the 345th Bomber Squadron and served in combat missions in the
Ploesti Oil Field air raids as a gunner on a B-24 Liberator. In the early
1960s he graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and was a
practicing attorney in Portland until the time of his death. He was a
lifelong member of the A.H.E.P.A. and a member of the Elks Club. He enjoyed
golf. He is survived by two sisters.
Walter “Readie”
Oliver Read, 86, from Orono, Maine, on February
22, 2007. Attended from 1945 until 1946. He was a veteran of World War II
serving in the Marines in Guadalcanal from 1942 until 1943 when he was
injured and discharged in 1944. He was employed as a carpenter and
millwright and enjoyed farming. His gardens grew bigger each year and he had
a small perennial flower business. He enjoyed fishing and fished almost
every brook, stream, and river in northern Maine. He is survived by three
children including Judith Read Sullivan ’69, three grandchildren, and four
great-grandchildren.
John “Johnny”
Fremont Scamman, 84, from West Brandywine,
Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2007. B.S. in engineering physics, ran
cross-country, a member of Physics Club, and the honor societies Tau Beta
Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. A veteran of World War II, he was an
electronic technician working on Liberty ships at Bath Iron Works in South
Portland, and as an electrician in Pearl Harbor from 1942 until 1944. From
1944 until 1946 he repaired ships’ communications at Pearl Harbor. He later
served in the Army Signal Corps until 1953. He was employed from 1950 until
1987 as an electrical engineer with General Electric and held five patents.
He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and traveling. He is survived by his wife of
56 years, two children, and three grandchildren.
Dana “Smitty”
Alme Smith, 81, from St. George, Maine, on March
5, 2007. B.S. in mechanical engineering and a member of the honor society
Kappa Phi Kappa and participated in intramural boxing. He graduated from
high school in 1943 and entered the Navy V-12 program at Bates College and
after two semesters was sent to the Yale V-12 program for six semesters of
mechanical engineering. He received his ensign’s commission at Yale in 1946.
As well as serving during World War II he also served during the Korean War
from 1952 until 1954 aboard the LST 1084 in Japan and Korea. In 1954 he
obtained his M.Ed. from the University of Maine. He began his educational
career as a classroom teacher at Dexter and Winslow high schools. In 1954 he
expanded his teaching role to include administrative duties and in 1962 he
became vice principal and a math teacher at Georges Valley High School. He
retired in 1985. He was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association and
a 60-year member of the American Legion. In 1984 he initiated what would
become a yearly newsletter for all Bates “V-12ers.” He was an honorary
member of the Class of 1945 at Bates College. He was a member of the Odd
Fellows, St. George Historical Society, and established the Marshall Point
Lighthouse Museum. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, four children
including Billie Smith Gaudette ’80G and Baxter ’77, and nine
grandchildren.
Barry Edward
Steele, 83, from Yarmouth, Maine, on March 9,
2007. B.A. in political science and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He
was a veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving from 1943 until 1946. He was
employed in real estate brokerage and development. He began employment with
Beecher Agency and eventually created Steele and Company. His developments
included Pillsbury Shores and several apartment complexes in Portland. He
was elected a lifetime member of the Portland Board of Realtors. He enjoyed
researching his genealogy, history-filled family trips, big band music,
skiing, and mowing with his tractor. He is survived by two daughters and one
grandchild.
John Warren
Wentworth, 81, from Grandville, Michigan, and
Lovell, Maine, on November 3, 2006. B.S. in electrical engineering and a
member of the Glee Club, Maine Christian Association, Good Will Chest
Committee, Student Union Fund Committee, the honor societies Tau Beta Pi and
Phi Kappa Phi, president of the Wesley Foundation, and class valedictorian.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army from 1944 until 1946.
He was employed for 35 years with RCA as: a broadcast equipment design
engineer, an engineering manager, corporate director of continuing
engineering education, and as manager of broadcast technical training. He
was associated with the most important advances in the field of color
television. More than 100 commercial products related to color television
were aided by his combination of engineering and administrative abilities.
He traveled throughout the world lecturing and conducting seminars on many
aspects of broadcast television technology. In 1953 he was awarded the RCA
Victor Award of Merit for outstanding service to the corporation and in 1955
he wrote Color Television Engineering. He was elected a Fellow of the
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in 1962, a Fellow of
International Electrical and Electronic Engineers in 1985, and was awarded
the University of Maine’s College of Engineering and Science Distinguished
Engineering and Science Award in 1981. He was a lay preacher at the
Methodist Church of Haddonfield, New Jersey, served as chairman of the
administrative board, and sang in the choir. He was a member of the
Haddonfield Methodist Church, Lovell United Church, Falmouth Congregational
Church, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He is survived by two children, three stepchildren, seven grandchildren, and
seven great-grandchildren.
1950
Top
William David
Betts, 79, from Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, on
January 12, 2007. B.A. in business administration. He was a veteran of World
War II serving in the Army from 1945 until 1947. After graduation he
returned to his home state of New York and began working for Household
Finance, later moving to McGregor-Doniger Sportswear. In 1966 he joined
Berkshire Hathaway where he remained for the next 30 years until overseas
competitors forced the textile mill out of business in the late 1980s. He
then oversaw the closing of the textile operation and conversion of the real
estate to other uses. He retired as president of the company’s real estate
subsidiary. He was a member of Junior Achievement, the Wamsutta Club, YMCA,
and taught graduate courses at Southeastern Massachusetts University. He is
survived by his wife of 56 years Mary Curtis Betts ’49, five children, and
12 grandchildren.
Charles
“Charlie” Adams Chadwick, 83, from Providence,
Rhode Island, on October 24, 2006. B.A. in public management and a member of
the Maine Christian Association. He was a veteran of World War II serving in
the Navy from 1944 until 1946. In the 1960s he was employed as a research
assistant and later as a product designer engineer for Builders Iron Foundry
Industries in West Warwick, Rhode Island. He was a member of the Providence
Engineering Society.
Irving “Red”
Leon Cushman, 79, from Winthrop, Maine, died on
February 19, 2007, from emphysema. B.S. in animal science and a member of
the Agriculture Club. He was employed with Ralston Purina, Clay Equipment,
Blue Seal Feeds, and New England serum before his retirement in 1982. He
enjoyed golf, gardening, motorcycle travel, bowling, horseshoes, reading,
and playing cards. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, two children
including Dale ’74, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Robert “Bob”
Louis Dwelley, 82, from Brunswick, Maine, on April
9, 2007. B.A. in history and political science and a member of Maine Masque,
Newman Club, Maine Christian Association, Maine Outing Club, French Club,
and Deutscher Verein. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy.
He was employed for 28 years with the Department of State Foreign Service.
He served in diplomatic missions in Europe, the Middle East, and South
American. After his formal retirement he continued to work for the
government for several years as a contractor. He was an active member of the
Middle East Institute and the America Foreign Service Association. He
enjoyed spending winters in Costa Rica.
George Atwood
Foster, 84, from Ipswich, Massachusetts, on
January 6, 2007. B.A. in business administration and a member of Sigma Chi
fraternity and the honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. He was
a veteran of World War II serving in the Army from 1943 until 1946. He was
one of only six men of his company to survive the Battle of the Bulge where
he was seriously wounded. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
After graduation he obtained his MBA from Harvard in 1952. He was employed
with A.C. Lawrence Leather in Boston and New Hampshire as chief financial
officer and controller and later as vice president and chief financial
officer for Milk Specialties in Dundee, Illinois. He retired at 65 and
returned to Ipswich. He was given the Greatest Generation Award in 2006 from
the Class of 1950 at reunion. He was an active member of the Methodist
Church for many years. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, four children
including George ’75, and eight grandchildren.
Alfred “Bud”
Kean Hobbs, 78, from New Ipswich, New Hampshire,
on January 25, 2007. B.S. in pulp and paper technology and a member of Beta
Theta Pi fraternity, Chemical Engineering Club, and played intramural
baseball. In 1953 he received a master’s degree from Lowell Technical
Institute in paper engineering. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving
in the Army from 1953 until 1955. He was employed with Crocker Burbank and
Company, Weyerhauser Company, and Crocker Technical Papers in technical
marketing for specialty industrial papers. He is survived by three
daughters, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Cleo Francis
King, 87, from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, on January
15, 2007. Attended in 1946. He was a veteran of World War II from 1941 until
1946. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal and was discharged a
major. He was employed from 1946 until 1982 with New York Life Insurance. He
was a member and past president of the Portland Rotary Club, Vermont
Jaycees, regional vice president of the New York State Association of Life
Underwriters, and trustee for St. Pascal’s Church in West Monroe, Louisiana.
He was an accomplished jazz pianist and played in various venues throughout
his life. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, four daughters, nine
grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
Edna Gertrude
Rankin Libby, 78, from Camden, Maine, on April 2,
2007. Attended from 1946 until 1947. |
