Deaths

This is a list of deaths reported to us since the previous issue. Full obituaries, usually written by the class secretaries, may appear in this or a later issue.

Arthur John Higgins '21 • Jan. 5 Howard Seymour Bissell '24 • Sept. 28, 1999 Warren Thatcher Hollis '24 • Oct. 21,1999 Roland West Taylor '24 • Nov. 22,1999 Edward Henry Yonkers '24 • Jan. 26,1999 Montgomery Hill Colladay '26 • Dec. 6,1999 Harold Stearns Simonds '28 • Dec. 23,1999 Edward Edson Abbott '29 • Nov. 2,1999 Robert Cornelius Waddell '29 • Aug. 3, 1999 Robert Owen Baumrucker '31 • April 24,1999 John Greer MacKechnie '31 • Nov. 26,1999 Joseph Power Merriam '3l • Oct. 16,1999 Charles Edwin Odegaard '32 • Nov. 14, 1999 William Hobart Sumner '32 • Sept. 10, 1999 Colver Gordon '33 • Dec. 23,1999 Charles Henry Irvin '33 • June 23, 1999 John Eugene Masten '33 • Nov. 12,1999 Walter Lowrie Snead '33 • Nov. 16, 1999 George Libman Engel '34 • Nov. 26,1999 Myron Albert Menchel '34 • Nov. 27,1999 Eugene George Burnkrant '35 • Nov. 4,1999 David Lowell Fox '36 • Dec. 1999 Victor Kiarsis '36 • Dec. 13,1999 Ambrose Benedict Doran '37 • Jan. 16 Thomas Daniel Nast '37 • Dec. 16,1999 John Albert Schilling '37 • Nov. 29,1999 Frederic Anderson Becker '38 • Jan. 11 Robert Hosmer Brew '38 • Oct. 30,1999 Ben Ames Williams '38 • Dec. 21,1999 Richard Clark Dunham '39 • unknown David Jaynes Dutcher '39 • Nov. 3, 1999 LeRoy Ellsworth Middleworth '39 • Jan. 1 Andrew Joseph Newman '39 • Dec. 27,1999 George Elliott Patterson Jr. '39 • Sept. 21,1999 Edward Roberts Richardson '39 • Nov. 16, 1999 Robert Wehmeyer '39 • Dec. 22,1999 John Dennis O'Shea '40 • Dec. 8, 1999 Vincent Roland Else '41 • Nov. 30,1999 Frank William Hartmann '43 • Dec. 3,1999 John Albert Puelicher '43 • Oct. 30,1999 Norman William Brown '45 • Oct. 3, 1999 David Crockett Campbell '45 • Nov. 15,1998 William Norwalk McKenzie '45 • Dec. 5,1999 Stephen Howard Hackett '46 • Sept. 13, 1999 Daniel Bremner Lunt '46 • Nov. 17,1999 Robert Poet '46 • Dec. 20,1999 Willard Waldo Prince '46 • Nov. 7,1999 Leslie Thornton '48 • Jan. 1 Frederick Young Briscoe '49 • Dec. 24,1999 Harold Myers Fitkin '50 • Nov. 18, 1999 Richard T. Anderson '51 • Nov. 10,1999 Andrew M. Drury '51 • Dec. 9,1999 Roger Jackson Coleman '52 • Nov. 16,1999 John Alan Blum '54 • Nov. 30,1999 James Arthur Greenwood '54 • Nov. 8,1999 Francis Timothy Downey Jr. '55 • Oct. 11,1999 James Creighton Parkes '57 • Dec. 13,1999 Joseph Ralph Palermo '58 • Dec. 5, 1999 William Gorsline Long '59 • Nov. 12,1999 Robert Meek Weston Jr. '59 • July 10,1999 Michael Alan Radasch '64 • Dec. 14, 1999 Jonathan Karl Lee '65 • Dec. 3,1999 Allen Horton McCook '67 • Nov. 17,1999 Thomas Vernon Foster '93 • Dec. 21,1999 C. DeanMaragos '96 • Nov. 17,1999 Lynn Shannon Proctor '99 • Oct. 30, 1999

1929

Edward Edson Abbott died November 2, 1999. He came from Franklin (Mass.) High School and majored in English. He earned his J.D. from George Washington University and his LL.M. from Georgetown. He worked for the Department of Justice from 1931 until 1940, then became an F.8.1, agent serving in Texas, Nebraska and California until retirement in 1965. He led many activities in Big Bear City, Calif., and published several volumes of poetry, ending with "Miss Me, But Let Me Go."

1931

Robert Owen Baumrucker died April 24, 1999, in the Nob Hill Care Center in San Francisco. His wife, Wilma, survives him. Bob came to Dartmouth from Oak Park (I11.) High School to major in English and become a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Alpha Delta Sigma. His activities included being secretariat of the Outing Club, a member of the business staff of Jack-O-Lantern, and downhill skiing. On March 9, 1928, he won the first slalom race ever run under internationally accepted rules. After separation from service as a lieutenant commander, his career in advertising and publications led him to San Jose, where, anticipating the growth of Silicon Valley, he established his own business. He resided with his wife in a penthouse in San Francisco. He kept in touch with classmates and other alumni in business and on vacations skiing, biking and fishing in the Northwest.

1933

Colver Gordon Jr. died December 23, 1999, in Manchester, N.H., after a long illness. He prepared for Dartmouth at Horace Mann School and was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He left Hanover after June 1931. He was in the public relations department of Shell Oil Co. and served as an executive with Raytheon Mfg. Co. and later with ITEK. In Newton, Mass., he was a chairman of Red Feather and president of the Boston chapter of the Systems and Procedures Association. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, and son Geoffrey.

William Burr Harris died July 11 1999. He came to Dartmouth from East High School in Columbus, Ohio, and was a member of Chi Phi (Heorot). He did not graduate with the class but transferred to Ohio State University, from whose school of medicine he graduated with an M.D. in 1937. He spent his career in general surgery in Columbus, with four years out for service as a major in WW II. His first wife, Rhea, predeceased him, and he is survived by his wife, Maxine, and daughters Shelley Anne, Marianne and Patricia Lee.

Walter Lowrie Snead died November 16, 1999. He came to Dartmouth from Evanston (I11.) High School, majored in history, participated in track and was a member of Psi Upsilon. After serving with General Mills and Union Starch & Refining Co., he purchased C.L. Dietz & Co., an Indianapolis leader in the grocery sales field, which he served as president until his retirement. He was active in community affairs and Dartmouth programs. He served three years in the Navy in WW II, seeing action as a lieutenant commander in the battle of Midway. He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth, and survived by his wife, Ruth, children Blair and Sarah and twin brother Thornton '33.

1936

Harry Coronis who died August 11,1999, was involved in so many community activities in his hometown Nashua, N.H., that one wonders how the town functions without him. All the usual institutions were on his official agenda, such as the bank, the local Red Cross, the United Way, the country club, Kiwanis, the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Masons and Shriners, the chamber of commerce and his local Greek Orthodox church. But who could guess that he would found something called the International Society for Hybrid Micro-Electronics, which reached out to the rest of the world with a message that at first only Harry could understand. Now people buy hi-flexible circuits everywhere thanks to his pioneering in this industry. But in his hometown he was known as "Mr. Nashua." His neighbors and classmates will miss him.

John Sullivan who died April 13, 1999, is missed by the town of Andover, Mass., and the class of '36. John was on the class executive committee for 10 years, and for another 10 served as chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education. He considered his most important public service strengthening the vitality of the public schaol system of Lawrence, Mass. This and his lengthy service as director and chairman of the Andover Historical Society gave him distinguished rank in his community. Banking was his main business, but weren't we all taught that making a living was just incidental? John was a credit to his College and his class. His life exemplified the best traditions of each.

1937

Jerome Whitman Cross died August 27, 1999, in Andover, Mass. He was born in Andover. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy before Dartmouth. Before retiring he owned and operated the Cross Coal Co. and the Andover Bookstore. He is survived by his wife, Ethel, and children Penelope, Jeremy, Peter, Christopher, Jonathan and Benjamin.

1938

Richard Conrad Jones died October 27, 1999, in the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He entered Dartmouth from Lebanon (N.H.) High School. At Dartmouth he majored in botany. He received his master's degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1940 and his Ph.D. from Washington State University in Pullman in 1948. Dick enjoyed a long career in academics at both the University of New Hampshire and at the State University of New York at New Paltz. In 1968 he moved to SUNY in Cortland, where he served as vice president and president, retiring in 1978. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a Cramer Research Fellow from Dartmouth and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of University Administrators and, from 1978-1980, was executive director of the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich. He is survived by son Richard III '77 and sister Pearle.

1944

David Turner Eckels died November 4, 1999, in his sleep at his home in Hanover from complications of cancer and heart disease. A native of Manitowoc, Wis., Dave came to Dartmouth in 1940. His studies cut short by WWII, he served in the Naval Supply Corps, following which he returned to the College to graduate in 1947. Married in 1948 to Patricia Wood, the couple moved to the West Coast, where Dave enjoyed a successful career in the frozen food business. In 1966 he returned to Hanover, assuming a position as a development officer of the College. He retired as director of stewardship and information resources in 1987. A dedicated volunteer, he successfully championed the cause of disabled accessibility on the campus and in the community. He will be remembered for his courage, his integrity, his candor and his zest for living. He is survived by his wife, Patti; sons Marc '73 and David, daughters Laurie and Ellen and 10 grandchildren.

Donald David Weir died December 3, 1998, at his home in Columbus, N.J. Don came to Dartmouth from Blair Academy. On campus he was active in intramural sports. In business he apparently enjoyed a lifelong career as a sales executive for the Allstate Insurance Co. Son Donald Jr. '70 received an M.B.A. from Tuck School in 1977. Don is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons Donald Jr. and David and daughter Bonnie.

1945

Harry Tyson Carter died October 23, 1999, in a Concord, Mass., nursing home after a long illness. He had retired some time ago to the family farm in Bethlehem, N.H., after a lengthy career in Washington, D.C. Harry came to Dartmouth from the Haverford School. He joined the Marine V-12 program in 1942 and was wounded on Guadalcanal. A postwar graduate of Harvard Law School, Harry early on became a legal assistant to Sen. Robert A. Taft. A decade of service in the executive branch included work with the Marshall Plan, the Defense Department, the Eisenhower White House and the U.S. Information Agency. After another 10 years in private practice, he served as consultant and special assistant to the undersecretary of state for management in the Nixon and Ford administrations. He was national finance co-chairman for George Bush's 1980 presidential campaign. Harry leaves his wife of 44 years, the former Elizabeth Ann Edge, sons Harry Jr. and Robert, daughter Elizabeth and three grandchildren.

Thomas Ernest Goss died June 13, 1999, of unspecified causes in a Cleveland, Ohio, nursing home where he had resided for a number of years. Alumni records indicate that Tom, a native of Cleveland, had spent most of his business career there in banking and industrial sales. He had been an active out door sman, a country club officer and a member of Ducks Unlimited and the National Skeet Association. He and his wife, the former Margaret Ann Richardson, deceased, are reported to have had two children, Katherine Ann and Thomas Jr.

George Brooks Kelley a lifelong resident of Cape Cod, died May 22, 1999, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a brief illness. A Navy V-12 student at Dartmouth, he served during WW II as a first officer on board the LST 833, where he participated in the invasion of Okinawa. After the war he became a partner in the family insurance agency in Hyannis, Mass., and a leader in community affairs. He was a past president of the Hyannis Board of Trade, a 50-year member of the Masonic Temple, and served leadership roles in the Rotary Club, the Cape Cod Council of Boy Scouts and the Hyannis Public Library. An enthusiastic sailor, he was also a builder of small craft and a past president of the Traditional Small Craft Association. Besides his wife, Ruth, he is survived by daughter Patricia, Norine and Betsy; sons Robert and Brian; and four grandchildren.

Thomas Andrew King a resident of Wayne, N.J. died July 1999 of lung cancer. He was a graduate of the Lawrenceville School prior to coming to Dartmouth. During WW II Tom enlisted in the Army Signal Corps and served in the Philippines as a first lieutenant until his discharge in August 1946. Tom's business career included an early start with Dun & Bradstreet, service as a district manager for the Nesde Cos. in New York City and Washington and a successful management position with the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Dartmouth ties run deep in Tom's family: his father was in the class of 1907 and his three brothers were members of the classes of 1931, 1934 and 1939. He leaves his wife, Mary, son Thomas and daughter Mary.

1946

Robert Poet died December 20, 1999, from coronary occlusion at his home in Fullerton, Calif. Bob came to Dartmouth from Barringer High School in Newark, N.J. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Sphinx. He lettered in track as a middle-distance runner and in football as an end. He majored in chemistry, graduating in 1947 after serving in the Navy during WW II. He served in the Dartmouth V-12 program, graduated from Cornell Midshipmen's School and the Miami Destroyer School and served in the Pacific aboard a destroyer escort. Bob's career was spent in the plastics industry, starting in sales at General Electric and retiring as an executive with BP Petroleum. In 1981 he was honored by the Society of the Plastics Industry as the Man of the Year in the West Coast District. He was active in the Orange County club programs and served as its Alumni Council representative for one term. He is survived by wife Liz, children Bob, Kevin, Jamie and Patricia and seven grandchildren.

1949

Frederick Y. Briscoe Jr. died December 24, 1999, in West Hartford, Conn. Fred came to Dartmouth from Framingham, Mass., via Vermont Academy. His time at Dartmouth was interrupted as he served as an Army infantry sergeant in Germany for 13 months. He was an economics major and member of Chi Phi. After graduation he worked as sales manager for Pan Am, received an industrial engineering degree from the University of Toronto and then spent most of his career in manufacturing engineering, eventually retiring as president of Newcomb Young & Cole of San Antonio, Texas. Fred's Dartmouth relatives included his father, Frederick Sr. '24, and uncle Charming Cox 'Ol. His wife, Jean Campbell, predeceased him. He is survived by children Sharon Strickland, Kim Leether, Frederick and Christopher.

John D. Kilmartin died October 3, 1999, in Providence, R.I. Jack was born in Providence and lived in Rumford, R.I., for 43 years. At the time of his death he was chairman of International Packaging Corp. of Pawtucket. At Dartmouth we all remember his ice hockey skills and his role as member of the first Dartmouth hockey team to reach the NCAA finals. He was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta and Dragon, as well as the class of '50 at Tuck School. In 1992 Jack was named "Man of the Year" by the Manufacturers, Jewelers and Silversmiths Association. He was an avid golfer, and member of the Point Judith Country Club. He is survived by his wife Margaret "Peg", daughter Nancy Mellor and sons John '75 and Paul. He was predeceased by daughter Kathleen. The class extends heartfelt sympathy to Peg and the children.

1950

Harold Myers Fitkin died November 18, 1999, in the Sylvania, Ohio, nursing home where he had lived for many years with Alzheimer's disease. Hal came to Dartmouth with his brother Glenn '50 from the Ottawa Hills High School of Toledo. He was a history major and a member of Beta, Green Key, the Undergraduate Council, the Judiciary Committee and Sphinx. An outstanding running back, he was named to the All-East team in 1948 and was later drafted by the Detroit Lions (which he declined). He graduated from the University of Toledo Law School in 1954 with a J.D., and was immediately drafted into the Army, where he served for two years in counter-intelligence in Europe, mostly in Germany. Hal founded and operated the Fitkin Stamping and Manufacturing Co., was a member of the board of Toledo Home Building and Savings Co., owned and operated the Motorway Truck Line and was a practicing attorney and realestate broker. He was married to the former Donna Knox, who is now deceased. In addition to Glenn, Hal is survived by sons Randall and Harold Jr., sister Harriet Hill and five grandchildren.

1952

Chuck Knudson, Jr. who died of a heart attack on the tennis court March 17, 1999, had a fantastic Dartmouth career as leader and first trumpet player of the Barbary Coast Orchestra. The psychology major was a Rufus Choate Scholar and graduated with highest distinction. He was a member of Handel Society and the Dartmouth band and joined Sigma Nu. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea after officers' training school in Quantico, Va. After living in Naples, Fla., for 20 years and traveling during those years as a consultant, he retired to play tennis and enjoy life. He is survived by his wife, Katy, and, from a previous marriage, children Karen Nossiter '79, Susan Shearer and Laura Knudson and Charles III and five grandchildren.

David Oestreicher who died October 1999 of a heart attack, was a fourth-generation journalist. He "failed retirement" from a job with Howard Golden, Brooklyn borough president, as speech writer and aide to return to journalism as associate editor for Town ifVillage. He enjoyed a long career with New YorkDaily News as national editor and had many other journalism jobs in Dallas, Kansas City and his beloved Manhattan. He covered many worldwide stories and became friendly with famous people, including Harry Truman, with whom he smoked cigars. He is survived by daughters Carol and Jill and niece Elizabeth '86. He was predeceased by brother Anthony '61.

1953

George Davies died April 16, 1999, of lung cancer in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Following graduation from the Tuck-Thayer program in 1954, he attended and graduated from Harvard Law School. He spent a considerable part of his professional career with Smith Barney in New York, retiring as a senior vice president in 1990. He also did consulting work for Zweig Glaser. At Dartmouth George was a member of DTD and Bones Gate and earned a varsity letter in crew. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, four children and two grandchildren. Son Patrick paid him this tribute: "He was a man of sound character that was so strong it did not falter even in his final hours. He was larger then life and his spirit will live on because he has touched so many lives."

Peter Gartland died June 23, 1999, of a heart attack at his home in South Kingstown, R.I. Following graduation from Dartmouth, Peter attended the University of Michigan Law School, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. After a tour in the U.S. Army, he joined tire Wall Street law firm of Donovan, Leisure Newton & Irvine in 1958. At the time of his death he was practicing his specialty of international trade law with Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam, & Roberts in N.Y.C. Peter appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court and contributed to NAFTA and to the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. At Dartmouth Peter majored in history and was a Phi Delt. He is survived by his friend, Suzanne See, three sons, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Eliot Robinson died February 25, 1999, of heart failure at South Shore Hospital. Eliot attended Tuck School, receiving his MBA in 1955. Following graduation from Tuck he served on a U.S. Navy destroyer and attained the rank of lieutenant. For the next eight years he served primarily as an investment banker with Smith Barney, with Wood, Strouthers & Winthrop, and with Moseley, Hallgarten & Estabrook, attaining the position of vice president at the latter two firms. He founded his own business, E.J.R. Consultants, specializing as an investment adviser in the Boston area for the last several years. Eliot served as a director of the Dartmouth Travel Bureau and Metropolitan Yacht Club and was a class agent and an interviewer for Dartmouth applicants. In his free time Eliot loved to fish and play tennis and was an avid coin collector. At Dartmouth Eliot majored in English and was the advertising manager for the Jack-O-Lantern. He is survived by son Douglas '79, daughter Pamela '80 and four grandchildren.

1958

Gordon T. Heald died October 30, 1998, in West Falmouth, Mass., after battling Lou Gehrig's disease. He entered the College from his home in Worcester after having prepped at Deerfield. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter Kimberly and son William survive.

Joseph R. Palermo died December 5, 1999, in Dedham, Mass. Joe entered the College from Lowell (Mass.) High School, where he was the valedictorian. He majored in engineering and was captain of the football team, a first team All-American at guard and recipient of the George "Bulger" Lowe Award as the outstanding player in New England in his senior year. Joe was a brother of Phi Gamma Delta and a member of Sphinx. He served on Green Key, was a member of the Undergraduate Council judiciary committee as a senior and was the student representative on the athletic council. He earned a master's degree in engineering from the Thayer School in 1959 and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School in 1966. Joe worked as an executive for the Norton Co. of Worcester, and for the past 20 years was the owner and president of Design Components Inc. in Franklin, Mass. His wife, Mary, daughters Robin, Jody '82, Karen and Kristin, along with seven grandchildren, survive.

1962

Jack Walter Stevens died February 5, 1999, from malignant lymphoma in San Francisco. Jack came to Dartmouth from Missoula (Mont.) Community High School. At Dartmouth Jack studied chemistry and was a member of Germania. At the time of our 25th Reunion Jack reported that he was a financial analyst with the Chevron Corp., "having changed career plans and obtained an M.B.A." Jack served with the U.S. Marine Corps and then settled in San Francisco. He enjoyed the Russian River and wine country north of his home and stated (we believe inaccurately): "I'm perfecting sloth to an art form." Jack is survived by his mother, Dorothy Anderson.

1975

C.Tristram "Tris" Coffin died August 1, 1999, in Atlanta, Ga. Tris came to Dartmouth from Pace Academy in Atlanta. His father, grandfather and two great uncles were Dartmouth graduates. At Dartmouth Tris was a member of Tabard. He was also a disc jockey for WDCR and a member of the Dartmouth Players and the Dartmouth Summer Repertory Company. He majored in psychology, took a Tucker fellowship and went on to obtain an M.A. in teaching from Emory. Tris devoted his professional life to the education field. He served Dartmouth as a class agent during the 1980s. Tris never married. His only survivor is brother David.

John Granville Dockum died December 25, 1998, of a heart attack in Kennewick, Wash. John came to Dartmouth from Viewmont High School. At Dartmouth he was a biology major and premed student. He served as managing editor of The Dartmouth. He was an elder in the Mormon Church and a member of Phi Chi medical fraternity. At graduation he described himself as a poet, hiker and journalist. John obtained his medical degree from the University of Nebraska. John married Lori in 1977. He became a family-practice physician and was practicing medicine in Kennewick, Wash., until his death. He was also active in enrollment activities for Dartmouth. John is survived by Lori and children Nanette, Nollie, Rikker, Bekka, Kira and Kaylee.