In Memoriam

Elwin F. Hussey ’43

Dec. 9, 2023, in Windsor, Maine, at 100. He served as an aviation electronics technician with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He returned to his home in Maine in 1946 to work at the family store, Hussey’s General Store in Windsor, where he would spend his career. He served as a town selectman and was elected to the state legislature for the 1949 and 1951 sessions. An avid collector, he had a barn full of 78 RPM records, phonographs, and radios. He also bought and sold books, especially about Maine, the military, and military history. He also had a pilot’s license, flying his small plane up and down the Atlantic coast and landing in local pastures. He leaves three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Rae Gale Backer ’44

Jan. 14, 2024, in Newtonville, Mass., at 99. After Colby, she worked as a fashion copywriter for Filene’s in Boston. She stopped working when she married and raised her family. When she did return to work, she spent 15 years at Brandeis University. She also enjoyed traveling around the world. She leaves three children and three granddaughters.

Alice Christmas Mason ’45

Jan. 4, 2024, in New York City, N.Y., at 100. Called the queen of Manhattan real estate, she was a successful broker, hostess of stately dinner parties in her home, and friend of politicians, movie stars, and journalists. Read her “Notable” obituary on the following page.

William T. Mason Jr. ’47

Feb. 1, 2023, in Norfolk, Va., at 96. He earned a law degree from Howard University in 1950 and then opened a law practice in Norfolk focusing on real estate law. At the recommendation of then-U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy, he became an assistant attorney general for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1963, the first Black American to hold that position. He served for 11 years before returning to private practice at Robison, Eichler, Zaleski & Mason in Norfolk, the first interracial law firm in the city. He also served as a cooperating attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and was the longest-serving member and past president of the Old Dominion Bar Association, which awarded him its lifetime achievement award. In 1969 he was appointed to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors and later joined the university’s Foundation Board, becoming its longest-serving member. He was also on Colby’s Board of Visitors from 1983 through 1995. The City of Norfolk issued a proclamation declaring him a hero in the Civil Rights Movement. Those left to carry forward his torch of public service include many lawyers, friends, and individuals who admire his example of professionalism and generosity.

Jane G. Rollins ’47

Dec. 26, 2022, in Glenville, N.Y., at 98. She earned a master’s in library science from Simmons College in 1948 and went on to a long career working in libraries, holding positions at Bard College, the Mount Vernon (N.Y.) Public Library, Skidmore College, and the New York State Library’s Division of Library Development, where she was a consultant and coordinator of the library’s interlibrary loan network, retiring in 1990. She enjoyed traveling, including an annual trip to Britain, and in retirement found time for antiquing, reading, and gardening. She leaves a cousin and many close friends.

Arline “Arnie” Kiessling Wills ’47

Sept. 1, 2023, in North Andover, Mass., at 98. She spent three years at Colby, marrying her high school sweetheart in 1946 and transferring to the University of New Hampshire, where they both graduated in 1947. They settled in Lynnfield, Mass., where they lived for 72 years, contributing to the town’s development. While raising her family, she worked as a greeter, typist, and occasional interior decorator for her husband, who developed land and built houses. She was active in community life; was a curious and insatiable international traveler who took several 200-km bike trips into her late 70s; was a contributing writer for International Travel News; and penned a nine-generation genealogy of the Wills family. She loved Colby and regaled her children with tales of the war years in Waterville and on Mayflower Hill, dressed them in Colby T-shirts, and kept in touch with lifelong friends. She leaves her husband of almost 77 years, Charles Wills, four children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Mildred Hammond Bauer ’48

March 13, 2023, in Londonderry, N.H., at 96. She obtained a master’s in social work from Boston University in 1955 and uplifted countless people as a psychiatric social worker for various organizations in the Northeast, retiring at age 65. A passionate advocate for children, peace, and the environment, she was a group facilitator for Parents Helping Parents, a member of the Baptist Peacemakers of Rhode Island, a founding member of Serious Effort for Nuclear Sanity and Education, and a support for Vietnam refugees. When she settled in Attleboro, Mass., later in life, she was active in the First Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and organizing women’s groups. She also was a member and secretary of the Attleboro Land Trust. Her hobbies included caning chairs, braiding rugs, and listening to classical music. Predeceased by her husband, Rev. Everett S. Bauer ’48, she leaves two children and four grandchildren.

Ronald M. Farkas ’48

Aug. 20, 2023, in La Jolla, Calif., at 97. He enrolled at Colby in 1942 as the United States entered World War II. He left after a year to train as an officer with the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific from 1943 to 1946 and then returning to finish his degree. In 1953 he and his wife established the Hope Chest, a women’s clothing store in Boston, eventually growing it to five stores. From their home in Massachusetts, they traveled widely and grew to love the gardens and beaches of Kauai, visiting with increasing frequency. He developed rental properties on Kauai, fulfilling a second career. Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Selma Farkas, two children, and three grandchildren.

Susan Lynch Henry ’48

March 22, 2023, in Aurora, Colo., at 96. Originally from Washington, D.C., she worked there for four years after Colby but eventually moved to Denver, where she worked in sales and married her first husband, John Henry. They enjoyed world travel and showed silky terriers at national dog shows. In 1963 she earned a master’s in education and English from the University of Colorado and taught in Denver public schools for 26 years. In retirement, she continued traveling and spent time with friends.

Evelyn Helfant Malkin ’48

April 30, 2023, in Cambridge, Mass., at 94. She left Colby in 1946 to get married. She earned a bachelor’s in 1969 from Boston University while raising five children; in 1974 she received an M.S.W. from Simmons College. She worked for nearly 30 years as an oncology social worker, mostly in pediatrics, at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she helped establish the Healing Garden. She spent summer weekends on Martha’s Vineyard; loved art, travel, museums, theater, friends, and food and wine; and enjoyed connections and conversation. She leaves her five children, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Cynthia Crook Lieck ’49

May 19, 2023, in Venice, Fla., at 95. She worked at the Hartford Courant until she married in 1951, when she moved to Virginia and worked at the American Red Cross. While raising her children, she worked as a librarian assistant and was a licensed amateur radio operator. Later, she relocated to Maryland and for 45 years was an avid boater, trawling around the Chesapeake Bay. She was a volunteer docent at the Naval Wax Museum and volunteered at other area organizations, receiving three county executive awards for volunteer of the year. She enjoyed gardening and participating in a writers group, watercolor club, and Bible study. Survivors include two daughters, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Ethel Quincy Ryan ’49

July 11, 2023, in Duxbury, Vt., at 95. She spent her working career as a nurse, starting in 1951 at Portland General Hospital and then working for two years at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. After her marriage in 1953, she moved to Vermont and was a happy homemaker until she returned to work in 1967 as a nurse for Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. She retired in 1998. She leaves her son, a granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters.

Robert M. Tonge Sr. ’49

Feb. 7, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at 98. He left Colby in December 1942 to serve with the Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II, returning to campus in 1945. After a few years in sales and marketing, he began his career in investments, working for Smith & Company for 20 years before starting his own business, R.M. Tonge Company, in 1975. He was a fixture on Main Street, Waterville, earning the nickname “Bowtie Bob” and strolling in his Hong Kong-tailored suits. He served as chair of the Unity College Board of Trustees for many years and was active with the Waterville Rotary Club. He leaves his three sons, Robert Jr. ’74, James ’75, and Richard ’80, and a clan of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leanne Shibles Eaton ’50

April 30, 2023, in Rockport, Maine, at 95. A homemaker and mother for many years, she earned her teaching certificate and established a career as a sixth-grade teacher in the Westbrook (Maine) school system. She retired in 1986 and moved permanently to her summer home in Southport, Maine, where she spent time gardening, fishing for mackerel, and boating. She was a lady Shriner and a volunteer at the historical society. She leaves her husband of 72 years, Robert, two sons, two grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.

Philip C. Lawson ’50

Jan. 25, 2024, in Berlin, N.H., at 99. Before coming to Colby, he served in the U.S. Air Corps as a flight engineer during World War II. Later, he had a successful career with Sears Roebuck and Co. as a retail division manager and operating superintendent, helping to strengthen the company’s brand recognition in New England. In retirement, he owned the Valley Ice Company in Bartlett, N.H., worked as a golf starter, welcomed visitors to Attitash Bear Peak Ski resorts, and started a tour guide business, Mountain Tales and Trails in the Washington Valley area. He was an avid fly fisherman, hunter, and skier who taught in the Mountaineers program at Attitash Mountain for 10 years. He leaves three children, including Warren Peter Lawson ’74, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Alan E. Silberman ’50

Sept. 21, 2023, in Stamford, Conn., at 95. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Starting in 1957, he joined the family business, Silberman’s of Stamford, becoming the third-generation president of the furniture and carpeting store. After liquidating the business in 1979, he continued with carpet retailing for another 40 years, earning the family nickname “the carpet king of Stamford.” He loved the outdoors, playing tennis, skiing all over the United States and Europe, biking, and avidly hiking, including most of the Appalachian Trail. He was a traveler and a voracious reader, especially of history, and he held a deep love of music, attending the Metropolitan Opera for more than 20 years. He served as president of the Men’s Club at Temple Beth El and was a Kiwanian for 35 years who earned a distinctive recognition in the Legion of Honor. He was predeceased by his son, Bobby Silberman ’03, in whose honor the family dedicated the Bobby Silberman Lounge in Colby’s Cotter Union in 2014. Those surviving include his wife, Mary C. Silberman, two daughters, Lauren and Alison Silberman ’00, and two grandchildren.

Harland H. Eastman ’51

Feb. 29, 2024, in Springvale, Maine, at 94. He earned a master’s from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts in 1952 and studied at the London School of Economics as a Rotary Foundation Scholar. He served two years with the U.S. Army before beginning his 24-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service in 1955, with assignments in France, Vietnam, Benin, Washington, D.C., England, Israel, and Morocco. He retired in 1979 and returned to Springvale, where he enjoyed a second career as an antiquarian book dealer. Passionate about Springvale and Sanford history, he published several photographic histories of the area, and in 2005 he founded the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society Museum, where he served as president and board chair. He served on the boards of several historical presentation societies as well as of Portland Landmarks, the American Legion Museum in Morocco, and the American School in Tangier. Survivors include two children, Eliza Eastman ’81 and Saïd Eastman ’90, and his wife, Mary Siegel ’90; and two grandchildren, including Abigail Eastman ’26.

Albert Stone ’51

Dec. 12, 2023, in Groton, Mass., at 95. He went to business school after Colby, earning his M.B.A. from Harvard in 1953. He spent the next three years in the U.S. Navy, serving as an ensign in the Korean War, stationed in Okinawa. In 1956 he joined his father at Sterilite Corporation and grew the business from a small, regional operation to the largest housewares manufacturing company in the country. Throughout his 67-year career at Sterilite, he assumed the broadest role possible, from product development and procurement through production and sales. A noted supporter of education and the arts, he held leadership positions on the boards of numerous nonprofits, including Lawrence Academy, Nashoba Community Hospital, and Applewild School, which honored him with its Founders Award in 2007. His philanthropy included funding the construction of a music center, library and senior center, and the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster. In 2000 Fitchburg State College awarded him an honorary degree. He served on Colby’s Board of Visitors 1994-1996 and was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1996, serving a three-year term. In 2001 he established the Colby Twentieth Century Alumni Scholarship Aid Fund. He enjoyed sailing, fly-fishing, horseback riding, gardening, and woodworking. He also found pleasure in raising animals and undertaking projects on his farm in Groton with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include five children; 14 grandchildren, including Peter Stone ’10, Thomas Stone ’17, Daniel Macdonald ’18, Benjamin Stone ’19, and Elizabeth Stone ’14; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Joan Kelby Cannell ’52

March 29, 2024, in South Portland, Maine, at 93. She worked a few different jobs before starting her family and settling in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She worked in the town’s school department for 17 years as one of the first special education teachers in the district. During that time, she earned her master’s in education at the University of Southern Maine. Her interests included tennis, golf, a garden club, and serving on the flower committee at her Congregational church. She enjoyed solitary walks and collected seashells in Maine and Florida, where she spent part of each winter in retirement. As a widow, she developed an interest in music and played the piano and keyboard at home and for residents at nursing facilities. She was one of a group of 10 Colby alumnae who kept up a round-robin correspondence for more than 50 years. Predeceased by her husband, Robert Cannell ’51, she leaves three children, including Joyce Cannell ’81, four grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Evangeline “Vangie” Sferes Getzen ’52

Jan. 29, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., at 93. After graduation, she worked in publishing at M.I.T., where she met her future husband, who took her to Raleigh, N.C., where he taught chemistry. From 1964 to 1967, they and their three children lived in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she taught English at an Afghan girls’ school, volunteered at a hospital, worked for the Red Cross, and was a den mother for the Cub Scouts. Back in Raleigh, she was a docent at the N.C. Museum of Art, earned a master’s in public affairs from North Carolina State University, and became director of the Women, Infants, and Children’s Program for the N.C. Department of Health Services. She traveled extensively and loved all creatures, especially Siamese cats. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Forrest, three children, and six grandchildren.

Marjorie Austin Kivell ’52

July 24, 2023, in Hanover, N.H., at 92. She worked as a secretary in New York City for a few years after graduating, married, and moved to California. When her marriage broke down, she returned to New York with two young children, where she worked as an administrator for a doctor and at two colleges and was very involved with her local Episcopal church. She remarried in the early 1970s and created a blended family. Driven by her faith, she became secretary for the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church of New York and joined the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, a national women’s group focused on prayer and spiritual growth. In retirement, she relocated to Pittsburgh, earned a master’s at Trinity Seminary in 1992, and taught at the seminary. When she moved to Hanover, N.H., in 2007 she led singing sessions, enjoyed bird watching, and managed the Attic Shop for many years. During this time, she converted to the Orthodox faith and spent her final years quietly and prayerfully. She leaves a daughter, two stepdaughters, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Joyce Root Laubach ’52

September 2023, in Painesville, Ohio, at 93. While raising her children, she worked as a teacher’s assistant in an open classroom in Mentor, Ohio, teaching reading, Spanish, science, and other classes. Later, she found a rewarding career as a residential housing manager at Breckenridge Village, during which time she also earned a social work degree. She volunteered with the women’s club, garden club, and Methodist church in Mentor and at the Holden Arboretum. In retirement, she traveled extensively and shared her love of gardening with her daughters and granddaughters. She leaves two daughters and four grandchildren.

Gerald R. Ramin ’52

April 6, 2023, in Boston, Mass., at 93. He owned several restaurants in the Boston area and on Cape Cod. In retirement, he studied and taught at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, enjoying the opportunity to share ideas with others of diverse backgrounds and the vitality of Harvard Square. He was well-traveled, enjoyed good dinners and wine with family and friends, and loved animals, many of which he rescued. He leaves three sons and five grandchildren.

Barbara “Bobbie” Studley Barnette ’53

July 21, 2022, in East Orleans, Mass., at 91. She lived for 40 years in California and was president of Barnette Industries, a maker of permanent survey markers. In the late 1990s, she returned to her roots on Cape Cod, where she continued her traveling adventures, including to New Zealand, the Straits of Magellan, and Indonesia for a diving trip. Together with her husband, Dean Barnette, she raised three children.

Barbara Squire Coleman ’53

Jan. 25, 2021, in Biddeford, Maine, at 89. She lived for several years in the 1960s in Rochester, N.Y., where she started her family, was an avid skier, and stayed involved with church, country club, and neighborhood activities. Her family summered in Maine and eventually lived there year round. Originally from Waterville, she came from a Colby family, following her parents, Russell ’25 and Muriel Thomas Squire ’27, to the College. Her brother, Russell Squire Jr. ’55, was also a graduate.

Joan Erskine Green ’53

July 17, 2023, in Essex, Vt., at 91. Known for her strong will, sharp wit, grace, and compassion, she was a curious world traveler with a passion for literature, an award-winning talent for needlepoint, and an immense love for her family. She taught English to schoolchildren in Baltimore, worked in an emergency room, volunteered as a patient advocate, was a hospice volunteer, and actively practiced the Episcopalian faith. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, and playing bridge; she was a harpist, tennis player, and visitor of the opera and ballet; and she was a Boston Globe crossword devotee. She leaves three children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Paul M. Joseph ’53

March 3, 2024, in Norwood, Mass., at 93. He earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Maine in 1956 and then served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War. He was a personnel management specialist for the U.S. Civil Service Commission, eventually becoming its regional coordinator for selective placement of the handicapped for New England. Predeceased by his brother Alfred M. Joseph ’54, he leaves three children.

Bruce E. McRoy ’53

Dec. 5, 2023, in Kingsport, Tenn., at 92. He served with the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and then spent eight years in the Army Reserves. He became a physical distribution manager, overseeing warehouse management for large companies such as J.C. Penney, Virginia Foods, and the Nash Finch Company. He was interested in American and Civil War history and in genealogy and was active in the Civil War Roundtable and the Nash County Historical Society. Predeceased by his brother, Robert McRoy ’55, and his first wife, Sandra Sivert McRoy ’55, he leaves two sons, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Donald R. White ’53

March 10, 2023, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at 92. While at Colby, he qualified for five Olympic skiing events but was called to service during the Korean War, where he was a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1955. He earned a B.S. in forestry and engineering from Oregon State University in 1958 and worked as a forester for Oregon and Idaho for many years. Later, he became an extension agent in forestry for the University of Idaho, serving three counties and retiring as professor emeritus in 1991. Together with his wife, he started Carrousel Arabian Horse Ranch in 1964, running a breeding operation that resulted in some of the finest Arabian horses in the country and winning three top-10 ribbons at the Canadian National Championships in 1968. They converted the ranch to a Christmas tree farm in 1980. He was a master craftsman who engineered and built anything he needed in his shop. He loved the wildlife on his farm, his Cessna airplane, his tractor, marlin fishing, and his boat. He leaves his wife, Peg, and a daughter.

Karl Dornish Jr. ’54

Aug. 24, 2023, in Winslow, Maine, at 90. He earned his M.B.A. from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in 1956 and established a career as a paper mill manager, focusing on labor relations. He worked for 25 years with SD Warren in Westbrook, Maine, fand or five years in Muskegon, Mich., before retiring from Sappi Paper Mill in Skowhegan, Maine, in the early 1990s. He continued in the labor field in retirement, serving on the Maine State Labor Board for many years. An avid supporter of Colby, he attended countless reunions, homecomings, athletic events, concerts, and Museum of Art exhibitions and talks. He served on several Alumni Council committees from 1989 to 1994, was president of his class 2004-09, and was the chief fundraiser for the Class of 1954 as a planned giving and annual fund agent. For his consistent dedication and support, he received the Colby Brick Award, the Ernest C. Marriner Distinguished Service Award, and the C Club Person of the Year Award. Together with his wife, he established the Ellsworth W. Millett Financial Aid Fund at Colby in 2009 in honor of his father-in-law, Ellsworth Millett, Class of 1925. He loved the outdoors and sports and could often be found on the water, on a mountain, in the woods, or on a tennis court, instilling his passion in his children and grandchildren. Predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Jane Millett Dornish ’55, he leaves three daughters, including Katherine Dornish DuGrenier ’81, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and two sisters.

Peter D. Fishbin ’54

Dec. 24, 2023, in Manhasset, N.Y., at 90. He worked as a construction superintendent with Ardmore Construction before entering the U.S. Army in 1957 and serving as travel coordinator in the anti-aircraft artillery. Later, he became owner and partner of Harris-Fishbin Corporation, a general contractor, in Great Neck, N.Y. Along with his wife, Terry Edson, he raised three children.

C. MacDonald “Don” Grout ’54

Oct. 19, 2023, in Watertown, N.Y., at 91. A member of the Air Force ROTC at Colby, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Air Force and served as an instructor pilot from 1954 to 1959. He worked for 33 years as a field geologist, specializing in exploration and mining geology, for St. Joseph Lead Company, first in Missouri and then in northern New York. He and his family spent summers on Sylvia Lake in New York, where he was a director and then president of the Sylvia Lake Association and cofounder of the Sylvia Lake Sailing Club. He was also cofounder and owner of Juniper Hill Ski Resort in Harrisville, N.Y., and was a member of the ski patrol and organizer of the youth ski racing program. In retirement, he was a substitute teacher and continued his love of the outdoors and nature through hiking, birding, and gardening as a master gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension. He was active with the Lake Placid Curling Club and was an avid reader who enjoyed book club meetings. Predeceased by his wife, Eleanor “Nori” Edmunds Grout ’56, and his sister Janet Grout Williams ’60, he leaves four daughters, including Emily Grout Sprague ’79; seven grandchildren; two great-grandsons; a sister; and extended family, including niblings Scott Edmunds ’00 and Meredith Edmunds Hood ’03.

Anthony “Tony” Jabar ’54

June 18, 2023, in Waterville, Maine, at 91. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, traveling throughout Europe and making lifelong friends. A standout basketball player at Waterville High School and Colby, he returned to Maine and became a high school baseball and basketball coach at Edward Little, Wilton Academy, where he was also physical education director, and Waterville High School. He earned a master’s from the University of Farmington in 1970 and began teaching history at Waterville Junior High, retiring in 1994. In retirement, he and his wife moved to Zephyrhills, Fla., where they enjoyed golfing, family visits, and entertaining in the neighborhood. He returned to Waterville to live out the final years of his life, dying two months before his wife of 69 years, Marlene Hurd Jabar ’54. Predeceased by his brothers Paul ’52, Herb ’52, and John ’52, he leaves five children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and three siblings, including Norman Jabar ’52 and Joseph Jabar ’68.

Marlene Hurd Jabar ’54

Aug. 21, 2023, in Waterville, Maine, at 90. An athlete and an educator, she began her career teaching physical education and health and coaching field hockey at Farmington (Maine) High School. When she returned to her hometown of Waterville, she substituted and then began teaching English at Waterville High School in 1973, creating a memorable and fun atmosphere with colleagues and students and initiating several programs, including Spirit Week and Friday afternoon seminars. She retired in 1992 and filled her days with tennis, golf, reading, decorating for the holidays, and following her grandchildren. Along with her husband, she moved to Zephyrhills, Fla., in 1996 and stayed busy with crafts, writing, and golfing. Predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Anthony “Tony” Jabar ’54, she leaves five children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and a sister.

Anna Lee Thomas Madsen ’54

Dec. 18, 2022, in Rochester, N.Y., at 90. She spent her career working with families and youth, first in the Baltimore area as a social worker for Upward Bound, as a Head Start coordinator, and as a library services coordinator at the Maryland State Department of Corrections. In 1977 she was promoted from assistant program director to program director of the Council on Alcoholism Rochester Area, using her skills as an organizer, drug and alcohol counselor, and trainer. She retired early due to a stroke that affected her speech. She leaves five children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Gerald L. Roy ’54

April 28, 2023, in Willow Street, Pa., at 90. He earned a master’s in chemistry from Brown University in 1956. He went on to a distinguished 41-year career with the Kerr Group, a prominent manufacturer and supplier of plastic packaging products, including child-resistant closures and tamper-evident closures for distilled spirits, food, and pharmaceutical markets. He led the company’s research and engineering team, retiring in 1997 as divisional vice president of research and materials. He had 14 patents issued in his name. In the 1960s and ’70s, he was a member of the industry’s “pioneer group” that worked with the FDA to draft and publish the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 that set requirements for child-resistant packaging. He leaves his wife of 67 years, Jeanne, four children, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Victor F. Scalise Jr. ’54

Sept. 15, 2023, in Seattle, Wash., at 91. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served as a photo reconnaissance officer during the Korean conflict. Following his discharge, he enrolled at Andover Newton Theological School and earned a master’s in pastoral care in 1963 and a doctorate in administration in 1972. He also attended the Program for Management Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business. He pastored the Baptist Church in Brookline, Mass., for 17 years and was one of the founders of the United Parish. He also served as president of New England Institute, Boston, and led its merger with Mount Ida College. The reverend doctor served 18 interim ministries in the Greater Boston area and worked as an on-call chaplain at Children’s Hospital in Boston for more than 40 years. Morehouse College inducted him into its Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers. He showed unwavering dedication to Colby, serving as president of the Alumni Council, class agent, and, most recently, class correspondent. He offered prayers and invocations for alumni gatherings and delivered sermons at the Boardman Service during many reunions. He was honored with a Colby Brick Award in 1984 and the Ernest C. Marriner Distinguished Service Award in 2004. He authored two books, a memoir and an inspirational book, Be a Yes I Can Person, and enjoyed traveling, baseball, and summers at Ocean Park, Maine. Predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth “Bette” Scalise Kilham ’46, he leaves his wife, Carolyn Fowler; three children, including Douglas Scalise ’86 and his wife, Jill Wertz Scalise ’88; two stepchildren; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Phyllis Bates Sewell ’54

Sept. 12, 2023, in Yakima, Wash., at 91. She was an accomplished organist who forwent a scholarship at a music conservatory to follow her father’s footsteps to Colby. After graduating, she was a homemaker and mother, church organist, and amateur genealogist. She moved from her beloved New England with her husband to Prescott, Ariz., New Zealand, and eventually back to Prescott, where she lived for many years. She was predeceased by her father, Raymond Bates, Class of 1922; her brother, Newton Bates ’50; and her husband, Gilbert Sewell ’53. Survivors include three children, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Joyce Whitham Spencer ’54

Dec. 18, 2023, in Golden, Colo., at 91. As the wife of a geologist, she moved up and down the East Coast and around the Rocky Mountain states for many years, raising her children and making a home wherever they went. They settled in Lakewood, Colo., in the early 1970s, and she began working in the Jefferson County School District, eventually becoming a secretary in the gifted and talented office. She enjoyed camping, rafting, canoeing, skiing, and boating in the Western mountains and desert, and she eagerly met her husband in places like Brazil and Hungary, where he traveled for business. In retirement, they took cruises and tours around the world and toured the U.S. and Canada in their truck camper. They also loved boating, hauling their boat to Lake Powell and the Gulf of Mexico and exploring from Florida to Texas. Predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Charles W. Spencer ’53, she leaves three children, four grandchildren, and a brother.

Eugenie “Jean” Hahlbohm Hampton ’55

June 14, 2023, in Yarmouth, Maine, at 83. After Colby, she worked for two years in personnel at New York Life Insurance and attended Newark State Teachers College in the summer of 1957. She would later become an educator, teaching grades two, three, and four in Peabody, Mass., for 28 years. A natural-born leader, she served as president of the Ipswich Country Club, was a member of the garden club and historical society in Topsfield, Mass., and was an engaged Colby alumna. In addition to serving on reunion committees and attending countless events on campus, she served on the Alumni Council from 1966 to 1972, chairing its Student Relations Committee. In 1970 she was elected vice chair of the Alumni Association and was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1972, serving until 1978. An enthusiastic alumni interviewer, she represented Colby at numerous “college nights” at high schools in the Boston suburbs, relying on her knowledge and charisma to encourage young people to consider attending Colby. In 1985 she was honored with a Colby Brick Award. Friends knew her as a gourmet cook and skilled crafter at knitting and rug-hooking. Predeceased by her daughter, Lauren Hampton Rice ’81, she leaves two sons, including Peter Hampton ’80, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two sisters, including Louise Hahlbohm Crane ’61.

Patricia Coffin Davis ’56

Oct. 19, 2023, in Plymouth, Mass., at 89. She lived for two years in France in the late 1950s while her husband was in the U.S. Army. They settled in Massachusetts, where she was a homemaker and mother until her sons left for college. She went to work for Brine Sporting Goods, Babson College, and a shoe manufacturing representative. In retirement, she moved full time to their family vacation home in North Falmouth, Mass., where she loved the beach and enjoyed swimming in the ocean. Predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John G. Davis ’55, she leaves two sons, two grandchildren, and a sister.

Walter S. Foster ’56

April 13, 2023, in Friendship, Maine, at 89. He received his master’s in zoology from the University of Maine in 1958, followed by three years serving with the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller. In the mid-1960s, while working on Cape Cod in commercial aquaculture, he developed an interest in shellfish science and worked in the field for the next 30 years. Returning to his family home in Friendship, he worked first as an independent contractor and later as an area biologist for the Maine Department of Marine Resources, retiring as director of industry services in 2000. He also started his own European oyster cultivation business, receiving the state’s first license to do so. He led an active civic life, serving as president of the Friendship Village Society, chair of the Friendship Planning Board, and president of the Roadside Cemetery, among other roles. He was a handyman, built simple electronic gadgets, learned ham radio in the 1980s, and taught himself to use GIS in the 1990s. He enjoyed photography, reading, and hiking on the Appalachian Trail. A fourth-generation Colby alumnus, he was predeceased by his great-grandfather, both grandfathers, and his father, Frank C. Foster, Class of 1916. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Carolyn, and his daughter, Lauren Foster Gosster ’90.

Marilyn “Lyn” Brooks Wey ’56

July 27, 2023, in Hingham, Mass., at 89. She married in 1956 and moved to several states while her husband served in the U.S. Air Force. Her family settled in 1972 in Hingham, where she started an interior design business and displayed her talents at decorator showcase events. She was also involved with Hingham’s garden club and its historical society while volunteering with hospice and as a trustee of Thayer Academy. She enjoyed attending Boston Symphony concerts, playing bridge, and participating in a book club. Summers she went sailing along the shores of Cape Cod and Maine, spending many years ashore at Boothbay Harbor, Maine. She was also active with her Episcopalian church, the Hingham Yacht Club, and the Cohasset Golf Club. Predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Henry “Harry” F. Wey III ’56, she leaves three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Janet Earley Forrester ’57

Aug. 20, 2023, in Bainbridge, Ga., at 88. A homemaker and a mother for many years, she became an educator, teaching for more than 30 years at Bainbridge High School. She later received a master’s in education from Georgia State University and an Ed.S. in science education from Valdosta State College. She was involved with the Georgia Retired Educators Association, Alpha Delta Kappa, and the First United Methodist Church in Bainbridge. She leaves four children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and three siblings.

Richard “Butch” T. Maguire ’57

Jan. 14, 2023, in Brunswick, Maine, at 92. In addition to being a Korean War veteran, dedicated father, lifelong learner, and self-taught handyman, he was a skillful teacher, spending the last 31 years of his career as an English teacher and chair of the department at Morse High School in Bath, Maine. For many years, he raised his family on a farm in Alna, Maine, raising his own cattle, pigs, and chickens and baking his own bread. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Mary Jo, six children, and 12 grandchildren.

Lydia Smith Nader ’57

Oct. 16, 2019, in Seminole, Fla., at 84. She raised her children in Salem, N.H., and enjoyed gardening and sewing and knitting clothes for them. She was also an avid reader, a competitive board game player, and skilled at electronics, painting rooms, and fixing whatever was broken. She moved to Florida and became active in the Largo Cracker Quilters, serving as membership chair and then president. She organized quilt shows and showed many of her own beautiful quilts. Predeceased by her sister Susan Smith Huebsch ’54, she leaves her husband of 60 years, Richard Nader ’56, four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her stepsister Susan Senkler McMullan ’63 has since passed.

Elaine Gorman Stott ’57

Jan. 16, 2023, in The Villages, Fla., at 87. Her early years as a mother and homemaker in Connecticut included volunteering at an elementary school, joining the PTA, and raising money for the American Heart Association. Later, in Florida, she worked as a secretary to the president of a bank and as an office manager. She was a practicing Catholic and an active community member, volunteering with organizations that promoted health, education, and animal welfare. The Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach recognized her for more than 2,000 hours of service. She enjoyed golfing, practiced generosity and kindness, and sported bright-pink lipstick and perfectly ironed outfits. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law.

Jean Baker Day ’58

March 10, 2023, in Lake Wales, Fla., at 87. She worked for seven years at Dartmouth Medical School doing cardiac research before stopping to care for her children. Later, she worked as a teacher’s aide in special education while pursuing a master’s in special education administration through Castleton University. Following her graduation, she worked in the Hartland (Vt.) School District until she retired in 1996. She was a longtime volunteer for the Hartland Public Library and a member of the First Congregational Church there. She leaves two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Elna “Ellie” Fortenbaugh de la Bandera ’58

July 11, 2023, in Monroe Township, N.J., at 87. Her life after Colby started with tours of duty with the Foreign Service in Argentina and Uruguay, working as an interpreter and a translator. She married and gave birth to her children in Montevideo, Uruguay, and returned to the United States to live. She worked for the CIA, as a secretary for a law firm in New Brunswick, N.J., and as a translator and test administrator for the State of New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. Throughout, she also worked as a freelance interpreter and translator. In 1991 she earned an M.A. in Spanish translation from Rutgers University and also obtained certifications to become an accredited translator. Together with her husband, Jorge L. de la Bandera, she raised two children.

Donald G. Kennedy ’58

Jan. 10, 2024, in Newton, Mass., at 87. He served with the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1963, spending a year in Greenland before returning and earning a master’s in teaching from Wesleyan University in 1965. He moved to Massachusetts and taught history at Weston High School, became an interim superintendent, and, in 1969, received a William Robertson Coe Fellowship to study American history at Stanford for eight weeks. He earned a doctorate in education from Harvard University in 1977. He would later serve as superintendent of schools in the Massachusetts towns of Duxbury and Maynard, retiring in 2000 and opening a nonprofit educational consulting firm. He traveled widely in Europe and subscribed to the Boston Symphony for more than four decades. Together with his wife, Jean, he raised two daughters.

Christopher M. Maginniss Jr. ’58

Nov. 18, 2023, in Potomac Falls, Va., at 86. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and was commissioned as an ensign in the Supply Corps in 1960. In his 23-year career in the Navy he rose to the rank of captain and served in various management, financial, and logistical positions at sea, overseas, and in the United States. His roles included advisor to the Vietnamese Navy for field logistic operations and a supply officer at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton at retirement. He earned an M.S. in economics from the Naval Postgraduate School, attended the Vietnamese Language School, and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, as well as other service medals. After the Navy, he became president of a community bank 1982-87, worked for 11 years at Microdyne Corporation, and then joined Trident Investment Group, which had interests in central Europe. He enjoyed international travel, attending “old people’s school” at George Mason University and the Smithsonian, playing bridge, and watching foreign films. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Eleanor “Ellie” Davis Maginniss ’61, two sons, three grandchildren, and a brother.

R. William “Bill” Rocknak ’58

Oct. 25, 2023, in Lincolnville, Maine, at 88. He harbored a lifelong love of all things vintage, notably automobiles, boats, and historic homes, laboriously restoring them and giving them new life. Classmates may remember the Ford Model Ts he owned during his Colby years. He joined the U.S. Army Reserves after college, was an admired and loved art teacher at Toms River (N.J.) North High School in the 1960s, and, in 1967, became a community first aid responder and ambulance driver. He brought his family to Maine in 1972 and restored their old farmhouse and cottage on Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, where he taught his kids to fish, ski, and snowmobile. One of his first jobs in Maine was as a vocational coordinator at the Maine State Prison, mentoring those soon to be released. He started Rocknak’s Yacht Sales in 1975, which he operated for more than 25 years. He was also a skilled artist and sculptor with a gentle soul and an innate desire to help others. He leaves his wife of 64 years, Lucinda “Cindy” Allerton Rocknak ’58; three children, including Stefanie “Steff” Rocknak ’88; three grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; and a beloved cat.

George A. Stetson II ’58

Jan. 28, 2023, in Centreville, Del., at 87. He left Colby to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. He earned a master’s from Boston University in 1963 and then became a teacher and coach, teaching history at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Del., for 35 years. He was a community youth hockey coach, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, and leader of hikes recounting the Battle of the Brandywine. He leaves three children, including Matthew Stetson ’88, and three grandchildren.

Alfred E. Tarr ’58

Nov. 3, 2022, in Richmond, Texas, at 87. A member of the Air Force ROTC as a Colby student, he had a commission in the Air Force when he graduated. He completed two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and eight Air Medals. Selected to attend the Air War College, he graduated with high honors and took command of an FB-111A squadron, the first navigator to assume command of a combat-ready squadron. For his leadership, he was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal. Later, he became base commander in Turkey, returned to Pease AFB to work in intelligence, and retired as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years. His second career was with Texas Instruments as a military marketing manager and National Semiconductor as a special products manager. He was an avid woodworker, jeweler, and gemologist who also loved gardening. He leaves his wife of 66 years, Norene, four children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Gregory Z. Thomajan ’58

July 20, 2023, in Boston, Mass., at 87. He proudly served for two years in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation, and in 1960 he entered the family business, the Boston-based men’s clothing store Zareh’s, founded by his father in 1933. At the helm of Zareh’s, he navigated the company through changing fashions, fads, and varying economic conditions, building an enduring brand. Customers could count on him for a game of backgammon, a shot of Scotch, an update on the Red Sox, and the opportunity to buy the “nicest suit and tie in Boston.” He sold the business in 2018 and worked part time until the Liberty Square location closed in 2020 during the pandemic. He was a serious backgammon player and was vice president of the New England Backgammon Club in the 1970s. Known for his beloved golden retrievers, he worked hard and played by the rules, taking the wins and losses as they came. Survivors include his wife, Andrea, three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Barbara Field West ’58

Feb. 26, 2023, in Bloomfield, Conn., at 86. She worked as a research assistant for a few years after Colby at the Harvard School of Public Health. She married, started a family, and relocated to Dallas, where she was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. She graduated from the Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 1972 and became an ordained deacon in 1975, one of the first women to do so, and served as chaplain at the Episcopal Parkland Hospital in Dallas. She returned to her home state of Connecticut in 1977 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1980, again one of the first women to do so. She ministered at the St. James Parish in Glastonbury for several years before ending her career at the Greater Hartford Regional Ministry. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, puzzling, and genealogy, and she loved traveling, particularly to France. She leaves two children, including Christopher West ’85, two grandsons, and a sister.

Marian Ludwig Woodsome ’58

Dec. 23, 2023, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, at 87. Social, fun-loving, and musical, she impacted the lives of elementary students in her career as a dedicated music teacher in Townsend, Mass. She also gave private piano and vocal lessons. As an adult, she sang in several choirs and choruses, studied opera with Miriam Casassa, and held numerous solo performances for various social groups. In 1980 she earned a master’s in education from Fitchburg State University. Survivors include her first husband and partner, John Ludwig ’58; three children, including Sarah Ludwig White ’84; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Adrienne Broggini Cassidy ’59

March 12, 2024, in North Andover, Mass., at 86. She worked for a year in the microbiology lab at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston before marrying and starting a family. Later, she taught in the Lawrence, Mass., public schools for many years and worked as an office manager for a dermatology practice. She spent summers at Seabrook Beach and, after she retired, in Sarasota, Fla. She enjoyed traveling across the United States and Europe; she developed friendships playing bridge. After 63 years in Lawrence, she moved to an assisted living facility in Andover. She leaves her husband, Chuck, a son, and two grandchildren.

Elizabeth “Betty Lou” Nyman Wright ’59

March 9, 2024, in Newport, R.I., at 86. She earned a master’s in deaf education in 1960 from Columbia University, where she met her future husband, Peter. With an ability to reinvent herself and nurture her interests at each stage of life, she worked first as a teacher for deaf children in New York City. In Indiana, she was executive director of the Youth Service Bureau in Crawfordsville, where she implemented support programs for underprivileged youth. Moving to Rhode Island in 1982, she was a real estate agent briefly and then returned to social services as executive director of Lucy’s Hearth in Middleton, serving homeless women and their children and leaving a legacy felt today. She was an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church, serving for more than 35 years. In retirement, she became a photographer, displaying her work in gallery shows locally. She loved the company of dogs, especially her beloved Harry, and found her greatest love in caring for her grandchildren. She leaves two children and four grandchildren.

Arthur D. Calfee ’60

Aug. 1, 2023, in Falmouth, Mass., at 85. He established a long career in insurance, beginning as a trainee claims adjustor for Boston Old Colony Insurance Company and then moving to L.C. Antonellis Insurance Agency in Falmouth, where he became senior partner in 1974. Six years later, he incorporated his own business, the Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency in Falmouth, and would go on to purchase two other area agencies. From 1979 to 1984, he volunteered as a commercial insurance instructor for SCORE at Cape Cod Community College, and he held many leadership roles in Falmouth, including the Kiwanis Club, Council for Civic Beautification, Hospital Foundation, First Congregational Church, and many others. He was also active with Boy Scout Troop 40, the yacht club, Cape Cod Sports Car Club, and the Cape Cod British Car Club. He received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and the Heritage Award from the Falmouth Historical Society in 2004. He leaves his wife, J. “Booje” Calfee, five children, and eight grandchildren.

John E. Clark ’60

Oct. 22, 2022, in Killingly, Conn., at 84. He enlisted in the Army following college, serving for three years and being chosen as platoon commander. He would serve another three years as a reservist, until 1966. His 52-year career teaching mathematics began in Katonah, N.Y., continued in South Bend, Ind., and concluded in New York, where he taught and coached at several prep schools, a public school, and the Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie. He was an avid gardener, a master of Yahtzee, a tennis player, and a reader of mystery books. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Eleanor, two children, three grandchildren, and a brother.

Robert G. Hartman ’60

Aug. 21, 2023, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., at 85. He established a career in apparel marketing and sales, working for 20 years with Sears, Roebuck and Co. in their Chicago headquarters and later as an independent sales rep. He served on his local school board and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, Ill. In his free time, he enjoyed traveling, gardening, playing bridge, and attending meals prepared by culinary arts students at an area college. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Suzanne “Sue” Hartman, two sons, two granddaughters, and a sister.

Philip R. Shea ’60

March 9, 2024, in Andover, Mass., at 85. He earned a law degree from Suffolk Law School in 1966 and became a founding partner of Shea, Dangora & Nelson in Billerica, Mass. A standout football player for the Mules, he harbored a lifelong love of sports, coming to Colby as an alumnus for games and passionately following Boston sports teams. He also loved skiing, taking his family to Sugarloaf Mountain for decades, and fishing, often traveling to Alaska for salmon runs. In retirement, he became a starter at the Red Tail Golf Course in Devens, Mass. Survivors include two children and two grandchildren.

Lee D. Zinman ’60

March 6, 2024, in Boynton Beach, Fla., at 85. In 1964 he earned a Pod.D. degree from the M.J. Lewi College of Podiatry, now the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He had a general practice in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., for 14 years before selling it in 1979 and establishing a surgical practice in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He was known as a doctor with a remarkable capacity for care and generosity who found joy in giving. He reveled in sailing his beloved sloop, Footloose, and listening to Jimmy Buffett. “May a favorable wind carry him on his way,” his family said. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Janet, four children, including James ’92, and nine grandchildren.

S. Frank D’Ercole ’61

Nov. 10, 2023, in Center Ossipee, N.H., at 83. He entered Cornell Law School after graduating from Colby but interrupted his studies with a tour with the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany, where he met his future wife, Christa. He returned to Cornell, earned his J.D. in 1968, and enjoyed a prosperous career at Robinson & Cole in Hartford, specializing in public and corporate finance, securities, and municipal law. He served on local, state, and national professional committees and boards and was recognized as one of the best private lawyers in the United States. An avid Colby sports enthusiast and a dedicated Colby alumnus, he served as president of his class, on the Alumni Council, and as class agent; was vice president of the Hartford Alumni Club; sponsored numerous Jan Plan internships; and established the D’Ercole Family Scholarship. He enjoyed skiing and golfing, gathering his family together, and laughing at good jokes. Survivors include his two children and their spouses, Michael ’92 and Jessica D’Ercole Stanton ’92 and Justin ’95 and Sarah Whitely D’Ercole ’94; four grandchildren, including Wesley Stanton ’24 and Elsa Stanton ’26; and a brother.

Richard H. Gibbs ’61

March 22, 2024, in Swampscott, Mass., at 84. He earned his law degree from the New England School of Law and then joined the family business, Gibbs Oil Company. Later, he founded or partnered with petroleum and gas companies, including Astroline Petroleum Company, Texport, Inc., and Telsen 21. He had a second home on Nantucket, where he spent extended time for three decades. His appreciation for fine wines and food fueled his travel bug, and his passion for the symphony, ballet, and theater was complemented by his ardent support of Boston sports teams. He also excelled at sports, especially golf, baseball, and skiing. He leaves his wife of 53 years, Yvonne, and a brother.

Janice Dukeshire Halliwell ’61

Sept. 11, 2023, in Bradenton, Fla., at 83. After Colby, she traveled through Europe and then moved to Groton, Conn., where she taught Spanish and French at Fitch Senior High School. She married in 1965 and had children, returning to teaching in 1977 in junior high schools in Groton. She shared her love of language and travel with her students, leading trips to Canada, France, Spain, and Australia. She also took Groton senior citizens on trips while continuing her education with summer studies in France and Spain. She was a gardener who became active in the garden club when she retired to Bradenton. An adoring mother and grandmother, she planned her children’s weddings and shared her love of the ocean, skiing, travel, and Jimmy Buffett with her grandchildren. She leaves her husband of 58 years, Thomas, two children, and four grandchildren.

Frances Maher Reinstein ’61

Oct. 13, 2023, in Woolwich, Maine, at 84. While raising her family, she taught high school English at Gardiner High School from 1963 to 1999. Survivors include two sons, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two sisters.

Carla A. Possinger Short ’61

Feb. 15, 2024, in Lewes, Del., at 84. After Colby, she worked in public relations at the DuPont Company and in the Office of the Delaware Insurance Commissioner, where she met her future husband, Bob Short, the commissioner. They lived on the family farm, growing corn, soybeans, and wheat and raising chickens for Perdue Farms. Suddenly widowed at 38, she stayed on the 500-acre farm and learned from her father-in-law how to run it in partnership with three generations of the Conaway family. Over the nearly four decades she spent on the farm, she earned accolades for her excellent management of the land and chickens. After winding down the poultry operation in 2014 and selling the farmhouse and outbuildings to a grand niece, she retired in Lewes to enjoy traveling, following the Washington Nationals, and playing canasta. Over the years, she volunteered with the Presbyterian Church, with Delaware Hospice, and as a court-appointed special advocate representing the interests of abused and neglected children. She also represented the State of Delaware on a variety of farm boards. She leaves a daughter and a brother.

Cynthia Knott Steinhauer ’61

July 31, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn., at 83. She worked for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals after graduating and then married and started a family. A woman of many talents and interests, she began painting, gardening, sewing, and quilting, developing an eye for utility and beauty that made her a marvelous quilter. Years later, she was one of very few volunteers entrusted with the care and repair of 18th-century garments at Colonial Williamsburg, where she relocated and was active in historic preservation activities. She loved wildlife, embodied a sense of whimsy and adventure, played a mean game of pool, and laughed easily and often. With declining health and advancing dementia, she moved to Minnesota to be near her son, staying active physically and socially as long as she could. She leaves her husband of 56 years, George Steinhauer, a son, three grandsons, and a sister.

William Barnett Jr. ’62

Nov. 11, 2022, in Westford, Mass., at 82. His long career in claims, risk management, and worker’s compensation began at Liberty Mutual in Boston, shifted to handling trucking cases for Transport Insurance, and ended at Omni Hotels as corporate director of claims and safety and security. Later, he worked as a private investigator. For 19 years he was a member of the Westford Recreation Commission, establishing a learn-to-swim program at local beaches. He also served Westford through its historical society, sportsmen’s club, land use committee, and Rotary Club. An avid fisherman, he was happiest fishing major rivers in the West and New England; he also sat on the board of Trout Unlimited. He leaves his wife of 53 years, Marjorie, three sons, and six grandchildren.

Diane Allen Bassett ’62

Feb. 10, 2023, in Brattleboro, Vt., at 82. She lived in Massachusetts for almost 20 years after graduating, raising her children and taking paralegal classes. In 1985 she returned to her hometown of Brattleboro, where she worked for many years as a legal assistant. An avid golfer, she belonged to the Brattleboro Country Club and also enjoyed reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She leaves her two children, a grandson, and her twin brother.

Robert Gary Davis ’62

Dec. 31, 2023, in Narragansett, R.I., at 83. He earned a master’s in counseling from Northeastern University and attended Andover Newton Seminary while serving as a minister to youth in West Boylston, Mass. He lived mostly in Marion, Mass., worked as a personnel manager and recruiter for various companies, and enjoyed fishing, the beach, singing, and books. He was also a doting dad to eight rescue dogs in his lifetime. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Geraldine, a daughter, and a sister.

Sandra J. Fullerton ’62

May 21, 2023, in San Rafael, Calif., at 83. She earned a master’s in elementary education from Central Connecticut State College in 1968 and, much later, a master’s in counseling from the University of San Francisco in 1990. Her career focused on teaching English as a second language to immigrants in the Bay Area. Her survivors are unknown.

Margaret “Margie” Brown York ’62

Dec. 19, 2022, in Greenwich, Conn., at 82. She earned a master’s in Spanish from Middlebury College and the University of Madrid in 1964. She was a lifelong educator, teaching Spanish in New Jersey and Connecticut schools until her daughter was born in 1970, when she started private lessons in Spanish, guitar, and sailing. Later, she worked with ESL students at Stamford’s Wright Tech and area high school. She was active with her church, especially the choir and Bible study. She sang in and played guitar with local groups, performing in nursing homes, parks, and community centers. She traveled in Europe and Latin America and befriended speakers of Spanish wherever she went. Survivors include her daughter and a brother.

Meridith Claus Beck ’63

Feb. 24, 2023, in Port Clinton, Ohio, at 82. Her lifelong mission of service to others and the environment began with the American Red Cross at military hospitals, including one year aboard the Navy hospital ship Repose in Vietnam. She served as director of the Ottawa County Red Cross from 1972 to 1975 and went into nursing, graduating from the Augustana Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in 1976 and the OBGYN Nurse Practitioner Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1980. She worked as a nurse practitioner for Toledo Planned Parenthood and the Ottawa County Health Department. Later, she owned and operated a much-loved bookstore in Port Clinton and sat on the public library board. For 10 years she served on the Catawba Island Park board, helping to plan and develop a nature preserve in Ottawa County. Survivors include two stepsons and six step-grandchildren.

Jean Eielson Bridgeman ’63

July 25, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz., at 80. In addition to homemaking and motherhood, she had many careers—teaching French, travel consulting, insurance sales, and sales management. She lived in several locations due to her husband’s Air Force assignments, finally settling in the Philadelphia area, where they operated their own Allstate Insurance office. An early retirement in Park City, Utah, allowed her to fulfill her lifelong passion for skiing and golf, and to spend time mountain biking and hiking. Later, she spent summers in the mountains of Show Low, Ariz., and winters in Mesa. She leaves her husband of 59 years, Andrew Bridgeman ’62, and two sons.

Janet Callahan Glennan ’63

Feb. 28, 2023, in Redding, Conn., at 81. She spent many years raising her children before embarking on a career in childhood education, working at Town & Country Montessori in Connecticut and eventually becoming its director. She was a faithful parishioner at Sacred Heart for more than 50 years, and she led teens and adults on their spiritual journeys. She leaves her husband of 63 years, Robert Glennan ’63, four children, 14 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Susan Senkler McMullan ’63

Jan. 2, 2024, in Temple, N.H., at 82. A lover of animals, horseback riding, travel, golf, and reading, she enjoyed a life well lived. Horseback riding was a lifelong passion; she was an avid fox hunter with Nashoba Valley Hunt, competing successfully in three-day events and sharing her knowledge of horses as a longtime 4H leader. She loved all genres of books, except science fiction, joined several book clubs, created clay pottery, and volunteered at a local food pantry. She also traveled throughout the United States, Europe, South America, the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand. She came to golf later in life and became a good player due to her athleticism. Her favorite courses were Northern Ireland’s Ardglass and Oregon’s Bandon Dunes. Predeceased by her stepsisters, Susan Smith Huebsch ’54 and Lydia Smith Nader ’57, she leaves her husband of 52 years, Joseph, and extended family, including niece Heidi Senkler Godbout ’88.

Doris Bergeron ’64

May 16, 2023, in Saco, Maine, at 81. She established a career in social work with Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, working in child welfare, with mothers in need, in adoption services, and finally as a senior manager in the department. Her hobbies included painting, creating art, reading, and watching and playing tennis. She also loved cocker spaniels, raising several over the years. She was a devout Catholic and longtime parishioner at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco. Survivors include her six siblings.

Janis Hillery Hirsch ’64

Feb. 11, 2023, in New York, N.Y., at 80. After several years in the Far East and California after Colby, she married and settled in New York City. She earned a master’s in remedial reading from City College of New York (CUNY) in 1977 but could not find teaching jobs in the city. Serendipitously, she started and built a career in media advertising instead. She was a lifelong skier, taking trips to Vermont, the Alps, and the Rocky Mountains; she also traveled throughout Western Europe. She spent summers at her home on Fire Island, and in Manhattan she enjoyed off-Broadway theater, small movie houses, the ballet, the Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, jogging in Central Park, and strolling through the Village, SOHO, and NOHO. Above all, reading was her ultimate passion. She leaves her husband of 51 years, Kennard.

Martha Farrington Huotari Mayo ’64

Feb. 5, 2024, in Bath, Maine, at 81. She began teaching English at Morse High School in Bath at 21, focusing on grammar and teaching poetry through folk music. She left Morse to raise her daughters but stayed involved filling in as an elementary school music teacher, teaching English for a year at the junior high, and tutoring homebound students. Following the death of her first husband, Ray Huotari, she began working at Bath Iron Works in the Workers’ Compensation Department as a certified rehabilitation counselor, helping injured workers. After 14 years at the shipyard, she became executive director of the Workers’ Compensation Coordinating Council. With her love of music and community, she led Christmas carol singalongs, organized variety shows, and started a youth choir at the Grace Episcopal Church. She was also involved with historic preservation organizations in her community, helped form Main Street Bath and served on its board, including as secretary, and was a board member of the Children’s Schoolhouse. Along with her second husband, Arthur Mayo, she owned a cottage on Squirrel Island, where she hosted family reunions and lobster bakes, greeted people off the ferry, and was active with the island’s historical society and chapel association. An avid reader, lifelong learner, and lifelong swimmer, she set a goal in retirement to swim a mile on her birthday each year. Survivors include two daughters and four grandchildren.

Heather Macdonald Shaughnessy ’64

Dec. 9, 2023, in Portland, Maine, at 80. Following the birth of her two children, she earned a master’s in education (as a single mother) from Fitchburg State University and began a lifelong career in social services. She worked for Child Protective Services in Florida, the state of Maine’s Department of Mental Health, a local Area Agency on Aging, and Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta as a social worker. While at Miles, she earned her M.S.W. at the University of New England. She took pride in her work as an on-call social worker at Miles and received the Van Winkle Excellence in Health Care Award in 1998 for her work there. After she retired, she worked as a private practice psychotherapist up until the week she died. She found joy in picnics, car rides with no particular destination, knitting sweaters, and oversized dogs. She leaves two sons and four grandchildren.

Charles B. White ’64

April 24, 2023, in Biddeford, Maine, at 81. A polio survivor who overcame many obstacles throughout his life, he earned two advanced degrees from Boston University, a master’s in 1968 and a doctorate in 1974. He worked as an assistant manager at his family’s truck dealership, an instructor in anthropology and history in Pennsylvania and Maine community colleges, and a project coordinator for engineering companies. He was an avid swimmer at his family cottage on Ossippee Lake and the local YMCA, and his hobbies included dowsing, target shooting, boating, and coaching youth baseball. He leaves his wife, Janet, two sons, and three grandchildren.

Peter S. Cross ’65

Jan. 30, 2024, in Brooklyn, N.Y., at 81. He earned a master’s in sociology and devoted his career to studying Alzheimer’s disease as a researcher at Columbia University. He was a sailor, cross-country runner, and hockey player known as a jokester and cynic. He leaves two children, two grandchildren, three brothers, and his ex-wife, Susan Curi Cross ’64.

Shirlee Clark Neil ’65

Sept. 9, 2023, in Southbury, Conn., at 80. She built on her Colby studies of French and Russian and earned a master’s in Russian language and literature from New York University in 1966. While raising her children, she worked part time translating Russian literature for a division of Harcourt-Brace-Jovanovich. Later, she became active in the Mormon church and realized her true calling was helping others through medicine. She enrolled in Pace University’s School of Nursing and earned a master’s in 1983, becoming a nurse practitioner. She worked for Kaiser-Permanente in White Plains, N.Y., provided medical care to the unhoused in Stamford, Conn., and ended her career at Liberation House in Stamford serving drug-addicted and alcohol-dependent populations. She leaves her husband of 58 years, William “Bill” Neil ’65, two children, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a sister.

Randolph “Randy” R. Roody ’65

July 6, 2023, in Peterborough, N.H., at 79. After Colby, he joined Sears Roebuck and Co.’s executive training program, which prepared him for a lifetime of work in sales and marketing. He married in 1967, and his honeymoon in Europe turned into a five-year stint in Germany, where he worked in insurance, investment, and electronic sales for American companies. He continued working in sales for electronics and technology firms in the United States, retiring from Teradyne Connection Systems. He served in the Army Reserves in Bath, Maine, and later in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Germany. He was active in an investment club, the Canoe Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the New Hampshire Germanic Association, and the Bedford (N.H.) Land Trust. When he moved to a life-care community in 2015, he volunteered as a counselor to small businesses. He also enjoyed bike trips along rivers in Germany, trails in the Netherlands, and roads in New Hampshire. He leaves his wife, Deborah, and extended family.

Ralph S. Record ’66

June 28, 2023, in Augusta, Maine, at 78. He started his longtime career in information technology in Boston and continued it when he moved to Maine in 1970. A highlight of his career was leading the Y2K transition for Maine’s power grid. He built his home and community in Readfield, where for 32 years he gathered friends and family as often as possible and kept extensive flower beds. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, watching his children play sports, and hosting foreign exchange students and teachers to broaden his worldview. When he retired, he built a new home in nearby Wayne, designed with his wife, Kathy, and maintained a vegetable patch that he tended with his beloved grandchildren. He also served on the board of the Cary Memorial Library and was a co-steward for the Kennebec Land Trust’s Gott Pasture Preserve. Predeceased by his father, Stuart Record ’34, he leaves his partner, Jane Giglio; three children, including Emily Record Lane ’98 and Bethany Record ’02; seven grandchildren; two brothers, including Duane Record ’65; and extended family, including nieces Leslie Record ’98 and Jennie Record ’99.

Elizabeth Hernberg Went ’66

Dec. 28, 2023, in Killingworth, Conn., at 79. She earned an M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut in 1968 and dedicated her life to social work, working for the Archdiocese of Hartford for 38 years. When she retired, she was director of professional services. In retirement, she volunteered with Forgotten Felines in Westbrook, Conn., and helped save the lives of countless cats while managing the “kitty line.” She leaves her son, David Went, two grandchildren, and two sisters.

Richard H. Zimmermann ’66

July 3, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa, at 79. He received his master’s in government from American University in 1970. He relocated to New Jersey to work for the Bergen County Record, reporting on politics and crime and beginning his lifelong pursuit of fighting for justice. Tired of the long hours, he moved his family to Iowa City, earned his J.D. from the University of Iowa in 1977, and opened his first law practice. He enjoyed a 40-year career practicing law in several cities across Iowa, developing a reputation as a fierce advocate with energy and passion. He was an avid skier, sailor, hunter, golfer, and cyclist, and he loved to cook with and for his family, who were his central focus. He leaves his wife, Nicole Sheldon, his two sons and her three daughters, three grandchildren, and three brothers.

James F. Bright, M.D. ’67

Jan. 29, 2024, in Breckenridge, Colo., at 78. He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve in 1971 and became a urologist in the Seacoast New Hampshire area for more than 25 years. He was dedicated to his patients and colleagues and served as the chief of surgery at Portsmouth Hospital. In retirement, he and his wife split their time between Lake Winnipesaukee and Breckenridge. He loved architecture and designed the home he lived in for the last 20 years. His deep love of skiing began at Colby and carried throughout his life. A friend said he was “Fred Astaire on skis.” He died of a heart attack while skiing at Breckenridge. He leaves his wife of 54 years, Betsy, two children, and four grandchildren.

Judith Kolligian ’67

Feb. 6, 2024, in Jamaica Plain, Mass., at 78. She joined VISTA after Colby, living first in New York City, then San Francisco, then back to the East Coast to settle in Beacon Hill, Mass. She dedicated her life to the service of others, working as a house manager for Fortune House, which supported adults with disabilities; in counseling at Somerville Mental Health; in early education and daycare for the City of Boston; and as director of a counseling program in the Mystic Housing Project in Somerville. In 1970 she earned her master’s in community counseling from Northeastern University. She sang with Joel Ockeghem’s group, the JP Renaissance Singers, was a limerick-writing specialist with the JP Women’s Dirty Limerick Society, and revived the organization Boston Climate Action Network. She also loved to travel. Survivors include two siblings and extended family.

M. Alan Crosby ’68

June 17, 2023, in Waterford, Vt., at 77. He earned a master’s in economics from the Whittemore School at the University of New Hampshire in 1972 and worked for St. Johnsbury Trucking Company as a director of revenue and accounting. Later, he worked for Casella Waste Management until retirement. He built his passive-solar house in Waterford and helped construct his mother’s house on Drake’s Island, Maine. Assorted other “vocations” included working as a farm hand, bartending, and helping run the Sugar Hill Inn. He had a lifelong love of baseball, ran track, was a fisherman, and enjoyed golf. He grew blueberries on his farm, gardened and canned his harvest, and loved weekends in Ogunquit, Maine, and winter days on a Florida beach. Survivors include his wife, Rose, her children, five grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and three siblings.

William C. Decas ’68

June 3, 2023, in Wareham, Mass., at 77. He earned a law degree from Boston University in 1971 and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar that same year. Starting in the early 1970s, he practiced law with his brother in the firm Decas, Murray, and Decas in Middleboro, Mass., and continued going into the office until the time of his death. He supported the University of Alabama and was a member of the Alabama Tide Pride Scholarship Fund. He was a locally well-known philanthropist who supported the Wareham and Middleboro communities and the Wareham Historical Society. He leaves two siblings.

Dorothy “Dolly” Evans Guillen ’68

Jan. 25, 2024, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., at 78. Passionate about languages, she earned a master’s in Spanish from Central Connecticut State University in 1978 and established a distinguished career teaching Spanish and touching the lives of countless students over two decades with her enthusiasm for and dedication to education. She was also a freelance interpreter and translator. She met her husband while studying abroad in Mexico City as a Colby student, and together they charted a course of adventure, living in seven states and two countries. She also traveled extensively with her family. She leaves her husband of 53 years, Pedro, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Judith P. Whipling ’68

Jan. 28, 2023, in Chester, N.H., at 76. She spent her early postgraduate years working as a research assistant in microbiology at Harvard University and the University of Vermont. After starting a family, she earned a degree in accounting from Northeastern University and worked for jewelers in Boston, including Descenza Diamonds Co., from which she retired. She was passionate about sailing, camping, canoeing, and skiing, which she shared with her daughters while supporting them in Girl Scouts, music boosters, and Rainbow for Girls. An avid reader, she also spun her own yarn, knit, and wove. She leaves two daughters and four grandchildren.

Raymond P. Gerbi Jr. ’69

April 23, 2023, in Brunswick, Maine, at 75. After Colby, he spent three years with the Defense Department in Washington, D.C., followed by 11 years working in New Hampshire’s state government, including as assistant superintendent of the state psychiatric hospital. This foray into healthcare led to his 28-year career at Concord Hospital, where he served as vice president of facilities and where a rooftop garden is named in his honor. After “retiring” to Brunswick, he became a healthcare facility consultant, volunteered as a tax preparer for Midcoast CA$H, and was active with the Pejepscot History Center, which honored him with its Richard O. Thompson Volunteer Service Award for his work as a trustee, officer, and “buildings and grounds guru.” He loved his Colby connections and played key roles in reunion planning, fundraising, and staying in touch through his loyal service as class correspondent. A true family man, he took his family on outdoor adventures, including hiking New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers and canoeing throughout Maine and New Hampshire. He leaves his wife of 53 years, Pam, two children, including Melissa Gerbi Doyle ’99, and six grandchildren.

R. Gordon MacNab ’69

Jan. 19, 2024, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, at 78. He received a law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1972 and went on to a career in law in Newfoundland, where he was born. Remembered for his kindness, generosity, and loyalty to family, he loved the peace and tranquility of the Gander River, golfing and skiing, and time on Hogan’s Pond creating memories with his children and grandchildren. He was also a wine enthusiast and a lifelong fan of the Cleveland Browns, LA Dodgers, and Detroit Red Wings. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Eileen, three children, and five grandchildren.

Charles E. Miller ’69

Aug. 4, 2023, in Scarborough, Maine, at 75. After Colby, he taught English and coached the debate team at Lawrence High School in Fairfield, Maine, taking his state champion team twice to the National Debate finals. While teaching, he earned a master’s in guidance and counseling from the University of Maine in 1973. He returned to UMaine and received his J.D. in 1979, the same year he began his career at Bernstein Shur. He served as the firm’s managing partner and then CEO from 2003 to 2013, practicing real estate and business law. A lion for social and legal justice, he volunteered for several organizations that provide free legal assistance, including Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Muskie Fund for Legal Justice. He also paved the way for many alumni from Colby to become lawyers. In 2009 he and his wife were jointly awarded the Edmund S. Muskie Access to Justice Award. He was a respected leader in Maine’s Jewish community, serving as president of Temple Beth El in Portland and the Jewish Community Alliance. He also volunteered with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, serving as board chair and as a director, and with various law organizations. In 2013 Husson University awarded him its Chesley H. Husson Sr. Award for dedication to higher education and the state of Maine. He leaves his wife of 54 years, Ellie, three children, six grandchildren, and a brother.

Catherine Gorham Wallace ’69

Dec. 15, 2023, in Gorham, Maine, at 76. Following the birth of her sons, she earned an M.S.Ed. from the University of Southern Maine and became a licensed marriage and family therapist. She operated a private counseling business for more than 30 years before retiring to manage her carcinoid cancer. She was a master gardener with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service and provided a safe haven for rescue dogs, cats, and other critters. Her barn was home to many barnyard creatures. She loved to travel, taking multiple trips around the globe, savoring beach time, food fests, and good friends. She leaves her husband, David Wallace, three sons, and two grandsons.

Alfred C. Dostie ’70

Aug. 30, 2023, in Rowlett, Texas, at 75. For nearly 30 years after Colby, he lived in Vermont and was devoted to providing an idyllic family experience for his children, nieces, and nephews, encouraging imaginative play and adventures. At the same time, he established a career in banking with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), working as an auditor, executive vice president, and chief loans review officer for banks in Burlington and Chittenden. In the late 1990s, he pursued a new adventure, establishing contracts with the Asian Development Bank and traveling to Russia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. He helped nascent governments initiate Western banking policies to enhance communication between East and West, believing the expansion of commercial and cultural exchanges were pathways to world peace. He returned to America and settled in Augusta, Maine, founding Maximus Consulting and forging contracts with regional financial institutions. He relocated to Rowlett and worked for the FDIC until he retired. He loved music, opera, ballet, and art; was an enthusiastic traveler, hiker, and dancer; and cherished his Franco-American heritage. He leaves his wife, Feruza, three children and their mother, and four grandchildren.

John D. MacLeod ’70

Dec. 15, 2023, in Englewood, Fla., at 76. He taught at North Yarmouth (Maine) Academy before embarking on a career in real estate and later in medical device sales. He loved everything boating and being on the water, including lobstering in Casco Bay and fishing virtually anywhere. Other pastimes included reading and listening to music. He leaves three children, two grandchildren, and a brother.

Todd H. Smith ’70

Dec. 21, 2023, in Wells, Maine, at 75. Following a short stint as a carpenter, he established a career in human resources, working primarily for Fairchild/National Semiconductor in South Portland, Maine. An integral part of the company’s IPO, he was able to take early retirement in 2000 and fully embraced it by becoming involved with Maine Youth Leadership, the Biddeford YMCA, and the Lovell Invasive Plant Prevention Committee. He also volunteered with hospice and the work crew at Goat Island Light Station in Cape Porpoise, Maine. An exercise buff, he participated in sprint triathlons, became a referee for the USA Triathlon, and completed the Patriot Half Ironman race twice, winning in his age group at 65. He enjoyed reading, annotating nonfiction books, and traveling to locales such as Kenya, Ecuador, Southeast Asia, Belize, and Mexico. His favorite place, however, was his camp on Kezar Lake, Maine. Predeceased by his brother, Craig Smith ’72, he leaves his wife, Sarah, two children, and two grandchildren.

William B. Ware ’70

Feb. 5, 2023, in Stonington, Conn., at 74. He earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine in 1974 and established a private surgical practice spanning 30 years, beginning in Aliquippa, Pa., and ending in Westerly, R.I. He recently retired in 2022. He was also a U.S. Air Force Medical Corps captain, honorably discharged in 1993. He belonged to the Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and he enjoyed birdwatching and was an avid outdoorsman. Survivors include his wife, Vickie, four children, and a brother.

Barbara Koertge Meldrum ’71

in North Syracuse, N.Y., at 74. She earned an associate’s degree in nursing from the University of Maine at Augusta in 1976, a bachelor’s in health education from the University of Maine at Farmington in 1985, and an M.S.W. from the University of New England in 1998. She worked as a school nurse and health education coordinator in the Dixfield, Maine, school district and later as a social work clinician for a home health agency. She leaves three sons and their father, her ex-husband, Peter Devine ’70.

Sarah L. Lucy ’72

July 14, 2023, in Portland, Maine, at 72. Following years as a world traveler, she earned an M.L.S. degree from East Carolina University in 1983. She loved children and worked as a school librarian in North Carolina, New Hampshire, and California, where she ended her library career at the Bishops School in La Jolla. She then turned her attention to her love of writing, working toward an M.F.A. at Columbia University. She returned to Maine in 2018, where she lived the remaining years of her life, some of them spent battling breast cancer. She enjoyed golfing and birding, and she shared poetry, travel, books, and the latest TV shows with her nieces and nephews, whom she loved. Predeceased by her parents, Robert Lucy Jr. ’47 and Barbara Lindsey Lucy ’48, she leaves three siblings and nine niblings.

Paul E. McGurren ’72

April 27, 2023, in Rockport, Maine, at 73. After 16 years in the restaurant business in Maine, he turned his avocation for fly- fishing into his vocation. A registered Maine guide, he was a skilled educator and instructor, avid conservationist, and gifted angler who was center of the mid-coast Maine’s fly-fishing community for more than 30 years. He led fly-fishing trips all over Maine, taught clinics and fly-tying classes, and wrote gear reviews for Fly Rod and Reel, Down East Magazine, and Free Press. As former president of the Georges River chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, he worked to preserve, protect, and restore trout and salmon fisheries and watersheds throughout Maine. His favorite places to fish were Grand Lake Stream, the Penobscot River above Bangor, and the St. George River. The last fish he caught—and one of the best—was a 33-inch Atlantic salmon on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick 10 days before he died. He leaves two daughters and three siblings.

Cheryl Booker Gorman ’74

Jan. 18, 2024, in New Hampshire, at 72. She earned an M.B.A. from Simmons College in 1976 and went on to a successful career in banking, where she held titles such as director of marketing, marketing vice president, and director of market research. She had her own consulting firm, Compass Consulting, and most recently was executive vice president at Harvard University Employees Credit Union. Altruistic and dynamic, she served on the board of Lifeworks, which helps families of people with disabilities. She also volunteered extensively with Colby as vice president of the Colby Club of Boston, an admissions interviewer, and a member of the Board of Visitors and later the Alumni Council. In 1999 she was awarded a Colby Brick. She enjoyed biking and rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge for 14 years, raising $66,000 for Dana-Farber. Living in Massachusetts, she also loved skiing, golfing, boating, and going to the beach with her family. Predeceased by her husband, Douglas Gorman ’73, she leaves her son, Robert ’08, and his wife, Jennifer Reilly ’08; her daughter, Katherine Gorman ’12; a grandson; a sister; and extended family.

Deborah Philbrook Belanger ’76

Dec. 13, 2023, in Falmouth, Maine, at 68. While raising her children, she earned a master’s in counseling from Salem State College in 1981. She enjoyed a long career in family counseling, mediation, and conflict resolution, leading with empathy and compassion. As a Red Cross crisis counselor, she traveled to New York after 9/11 and to Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing. She also spent years working with Seeds of Peace in the United States, Israel, and Jordan. Active and athletic, she played basketball and Ping-Pong, waterskied, and embraced all forms of exercise. She created community at every turn and was rewarded with deep, impactful relationships. Survivors include her husband, Scott Belanger ’76, four children, including Craig ’00, nine grandchildren, her father, and five siblings.

Pamela Gordon Brennan ’76

Nov. 7, 2023, in Wilmington, N.C., at 69. She earned an M.B.A. from New Hampshire College and worked in banking and as a job cost accountant. She married in 1997 and helped raise her husband’s two children. No further information is available.

F. Carl Mahoney ’78

Nov. 8, 2023, in Rockport, Maine, at 71. After high school, in 1970, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a medical corpsman during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Suffolk, England, and spent his limited time off exploring the English countryside atop Triumph motorcycles, hanging out around Cambridge University, and participating in the British folk music scene. He used the GI Bill to attend Colby and earned a master’s in psychology from Harvard University in 1986. After he married in 1986, he lived in Winchester, Mass., Atlanta, and Kansas City, Mo., and, following his divorce, Maine. A naturalist with a keen eye, he imparted a sense of wonder in his children, taking them hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and camping from Maine to the Rocky Mountains to the Everglades. With his daughter, he shared a passion for photography; with his son, he mastered the art of fly-fishing. He was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2017 and maintained a zest for life throughout treatments until the disease prevailed. He leaves his two children, Eric and Katharine, and his sister.

Ernestine Ochs Reisman ’79

Dec. 28, 2023, in Bangor, Maine, at 66. She majored in sociology and human development at Colby and became a special education teacher, executive director of several social service agencies, and the vice president for human resources at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Maine. Survivors include her husband, Jon Reisman ’77; two sons, Asher and Avram ’13; and a sister, Marianna Ochs Estabrooke ’71.

Janet Blau Cobb ’81

Nov. 7, 2023, in Shrewsbury, Mass., at 64. She worked as a software engineer in the early 1980s, for Digital Equipment Corporation and Semiconductor Engineering. At the time, she was one of a few women in the field. When she married and started a family, she redirected her energy and talents to mothering and community engagement, supporting the Junior League, Saint Agnes Guild, UMass Medical’s Children’s Medical Center, the DAR, and Saint Mary’s Parish and School. She is remembered for her pleasant persistence and her personification of the power of kindness, forgiveness, and unconditional love. She harbored a deep love of Hawaiian art, culture, and music; she developed a fulfilling practice of watercolor painting. Survivors include her husband, Daniel S. Cobb Sr., two children, and extended family.

Gary P. Smith ’81

Jan. 16, 2023, in Walpole, N.H., at 64. He owned Fort Apache Studios, where he managed artists such as Juliana Hatfield, Natalie Merchant, and Billy Bragg. See his “notable” obituary on the following page.

Andrea J. Brantner ’82

April 16, 2024, in Stamford, Conn., at 63. She studied law at Boston College and earned her J.D. in 1989. She also studied at Konan University in Kobe, Japan, and subsequently lived and worked for several years in Tokyo. Over the course of her career, she served as an associate at Milbank, LLP, counsel at the Boeing Company, and senior vice president and lead counsel at General Electric. She was well-traveled, including to Lucerne-in-Maine, where she spent summers near her hometown of Bangor. She was also an avid golfer and played regularly at the E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course in Stamford. An ardent supporter of Colby and her classmates, she served as president of her class and was instrumental in orchestrating many successful reunions. She was known for her strength, humor, tenacity, and heart. She leaves her parents, siblings, and extended family.

Daniel T. Crocker ’82

Sept. 18, 2023, in Hallowell, Maine, at 63. After Colby, he earned two master’s degrees, one in public administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the other in education (mathematics) from Walden University in Minneapolis. He started his diverse professional history as a game warden in Berkshire County, Mass., followed by service as a management analyst for the Maine Arts Commission; policy analyst for the Maine State Legislature; director of Independence Plus, a program offering supportive services such as yardwork and snowplowing to older adults in central Maine; and teacher of science, reading, and math at Hall-Dale Middle School in Hallowell. He was an avid reader, traveler, actor, musician, and baritone singer who loved dogs, history, vinyl records, and baseball. Survivors include his wife, Christy Gledhill Crocker ’84; three children, including Abigail Crocker St. Johns ’13 and Ben Crocker ’16, and two granddaughters.

Timothy D. Dean ’82

Jan. 20, 2023, in Mechanic Falls, Maine, at 62. He earned an M.B.A. from Bentley University in 1986. He spent his career in finance and accounting for various companies, including James D. Julia Auctioneers in Waterville and Superior Concrete in Auburn, where he worked at the time of his death. He was a dedicated Catholic, a Boston sports fan, and a collector with a penchant for antique milk bottles. He enjoyed regular hunting trips on the Allagash, camping, and year-round monthly dips in the ocean, completing his 73rd consecutive swim before his passing. He leaves his wife, Vickie, three children, and two siblings.

Jeffrey C. Moore ’83

Feb. 24, 2024, in Plainfield, N.H., at 62. As a Colby student, he was the editor and a writer for the Colby Echo, on the Oracle staff, and a member of the Jazz Band. He found professional fulfillment in assisting others through IT support, exhibiting innate kindness and technical prowess. He was also active with his community and involved with his church, serving as moderator for 15 years and touching the lives of many. In his leisure time, he enjoyed monthly poker nights, Frisbee with his dog, and a margarita in the evening light. Survivors include his wife, Annette Plummer Moore ’85; two daughters, including Julia Moore ’13 and her husband, Dan Hussey ’13; a granddaughter; two sisters; and his father.

Lanze J. Thompson ’85

March 14, 2024, in Powder Springs, Ga., at 62. After Colby, he earned an M.B.A. from Boston College and a doctorate in business from Pace University. He enjoyed more than 35 years of executive leadership at Fortune 500 companies such as Ford Motor Company, Alcoa, and Time Warner/CNN, overseeing national and international operations. His later contributions to Kennesaw State University and as CFO at Clark Atlanta University brought him the most fulfillment. He served on the boards of Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Global MindEd and published 17 books, the last one titled My Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death Trilogy, a reflection of his spiritual journey after a cancer diagnosis. He was passionate about social justice and established the Dr. Lanze J. Thompson Black Wounds Social Justice and DEI Award at Pace University. He was a Christian, an avid sports enthusiast, a tennis player, and a lover of travels to sunny climes. Survivors include his wife, Remilla, three children, a grandson, nine siblings, and his former wife and mother of his first child, Tanya Roberts Daniels ’84.

Peter B. Coley ’86

May 27, 2023, in Cambridge, Mass., at 60. His career path veered from his family’s legacy in medicine and science toward financial management; he most recently was a senior financial advisor at Citizens Investments Services. The legacy did, however, inform his interest in the promise of biopharmaceutical companies to harness the immune system. He was also a wildlife enthusiast and conservationist who guided bird-watching and fishing tours on his beloved Block Island, R.I., and supported organizations such as the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Charles River Conservancy. He founded Colby’s ski team and as an adult was an avid skier, downhill racer, and proud shareholder of Mad River Glen, Vt., where he was an instructor. He ran seven marathons, including five in Boston, raising funds for cancer research, and he participated in a 100-mile bike trek for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His hobbies included photography, writing, singing, sketching, and singing. And he loved watching old movies, his community garden, Bob Marley, Jeopardy!, and Christmas. He leaves his wife, Sandrine, a daughter, and two siblings.

Rebecca E. Binder ’87

July 28, 2023, in Allentown, Pa., at 57. A community leader who made a difference in people’s lives, she served as executive director of the Benco Family Foundation, where she spearheaded projects that improved access to dental care around the world, educated children in poor communities on dental health, and provided tuition for dental students of color. She was also a longtime member of the Swain School board of trustees and a past board member of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, Maternal and Family Health Services, and Keneseth Israel in Allentown. She earned a master’s from Columbia University’s Teachers College and taught American history and English as a Second Language at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, where she was also an associate director of admission in the mid-1990s. Her passions included international travel, sailing, skiing, the beach, and her family. People described her as indefatigable, fun, smart, giving, and a true woman of valor. She died from breast cancer, leaving her husband, Charles Cohen, and two children.

Llewellyn “Lew” W. Jensen ’88

Feb. 16, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine, at 60. He earned an M.B.A. from Northeastern University and went on to a career in banking, serving as a manager and an analyst at TD Bank in Lewiston for 11 years and as an analyst and electronic services team leader at Norway Savings Bank for nearly 10 years. He manifested his love of athletics through his children and family as a constant presence at their games. He leaves his wife, Denise, two children, and two siblings.

William E. Spears III ’89

Oct. 14, 2023, in Georgetown, Mass., at 56. Shortly after graduating from Colby, he began working at Ebsco Publishing in Ipswich, Mass., and continued working there for 34 years. His family said he was the first person to help others in need, possessed a sharp wit and sense of humor, and was a loving, humble man. He loved animals, time spent with his dogs, and answering trivia questions. He leaves his wife, Jeanine, his parents, and a sister.

Elizabeth “Beth” Kubik ’90

Oct. 15, 2022, in Cumberland, Maine, at 53. She was a clinical psychologist who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maine in 2002. She worked for the Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center before establishing a private practice, Kubik Behavioral Health, in Cumberland Foreside, Maine, and helping hundreds of people with anxiety disorders. An accomplished junior ski racer and member of Colby’s Alpine team, she continued skiing at Sugarloaf as an adult with her family. In 2022, Carrabassett Valley Academy named a new ski and snowboard training venue in her honor, the Beth Kubik Training Venue. Together with her husband, Tom Hanson, she raised a daughter, Elizabeth.

Willis T. Leadley ’91

May 2, 2023, in Scarborough, Maine, at 54. He had a meaningful and successful career in construction, working for companies such as Cianbro but also for himself in his companies Todd Marine Construction and G.L. Todd Construction. He had a passion for education and cofounded the Scarborough Education Foundation, serving as its first president. A true outdoorsman, he enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling. He also supported and coached for the Scarborough Soccer Club and Scarborough Youth Lacrosse. He leaves three children and their mother, his ex-wife and close friend Amey Knight ’91.

Mark A. Boles ’92

March 4, 2024, in Scituate, Mass., at 53. Following a career in marketing, advertising, and consulting, he fulfilled his dream by launching Intrinsic Provisions, an outdoor lifestyle brand and retail store. Passionate about preserving natural resources and increasing access to the outdoors—especially for people of color—he worked to build community around play and the outdoors. He loved being on the water, skiing, and bicycling. He was also a car guy who could identify the make and model of a car by the sound of its engine. Survivors include his wife, Cary Charlebois Boles ’97, three daughters, two siblings, and his former wife, Kate LaVigne ’95.

Scott J. Callan ’92

July 3, 2023, in Colchester, Conn., at 53. He transferred to Colby as a junior after studying at the University of Connecticut. After Colby, he studied his lifelong passion of film at Columbia University. He lived in New York and Connecticut, working as a project manager for several corporations and managing restaurants. He lived large and enjoyed cooking and trying new foods, gardening, traveling, and treasure hunting at antique stores and flea markets. He played tennis, rooted for the Red Sox and Patriots, and loved being outdoors by the ocean or fishing. Survivors include two children, his mother, and three siblings, including Tracy Callan Robillard ’93.

Marina N. Grande Campos ’94

Oct. 1, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 51. Building on her scholarship and internships as a Colby student, she became a global marketing and strategy executive in the telecommunications, consumer goods, and financial services industries, often focusing on Latin America, economic relief, and consumer empowerment. She amassed more than 20 years of experience across three continents in various roles, specializing in industry analysis and research on consumers’ preferences. She worked at Bear Stearns, the Union Bank of Switzerland, PepsiCo, and Teleperformance Knowledge Services (formerly Praxidia), rising from global head of CX Lab to senior director of global marketing. She was also a regional board member of Teleperformance, leading and providing mentorship for two women’s initiatives. Most recently, she was an investor with Venturas, a vacation rental business in Orlando, Fla. In 2000 she earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. She spoke six languages, traveled to more than 50 countries, and was a citizen of both the United States and Brazil, her native country. She volunteered at the University of Chicago and served on Colby’s Board of Trustees. Her interests included art history, travel, rollerblading, and music. Following a decline in her mental health, she returned to Brazil, where she ended her own life, leaving her husband, Rafael Campos, two daughters, her mother, and her brother.

Eduardo A. Ramirez ’94

Jan. 8, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif., at 53. He started his career in the financial industry in Boston, working for Fidelity Investments, State Street Bank, and US Bank. For the past 17 years, he worked for Dimensional Financial Advisors in Santa Monica. A devoted husband and loving father, he coached, refereed, and volunteered in his children’s sports and school and served as a board trustee at Saint Mark’s School. He played tennis and pickleball, followed Boston sports teams, and enjoyed film, music, reading, history, sketch comedy, and lively debate about virtually any topic. Survivors include his wife, Kara Gilligan Ramirez ’94; three children, including Bianca ’26; two sisters; and his father.

Anthony R. Moulton ’97

May 21, 2023, in Dover, N.H., at 49. He became a certified cardiac device specialist and worked as a sales manager for medical device companies in the Washington, D.C., area. He also volunteered for 16 years as director of operations and logistics for Project Pacer International. With his professional expertise and fluency in Spanish, he was an integral part of medical missions and patient care in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He was dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, and he ran 12 Boston Marathons for the Miles for Miracles program at Boston Children’s Hospital, raising more than $150,000. He died from brain cancer and left his parents, a brother, and two nieces, including Piper Moulton ’27.

David P. Famiglietti ’00

March 11, 2023, in Hartford, Conn., at 44. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in an East German school the year after Colby, a position that was extended for a second year. When he returned to the States, he started a career as a treasury professional, working in banks in areas such as cash management, file-based solutions, and online banking platforms. He died from appendiceal cancer and left his parents, a sister, and extended family.

Justin B. Ehrenwerth ’01

May 11, 2023, in New Orleans, La., at 44. After Colby, he spent a year as a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs and earned a master’s in philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford. He worked on the John Kerry campaign and, later, the Barack Obama campaign as he finished his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania, which he earned in 2009. He served as a lawyer in the U.S. Department of Commerce and, starting in 2009, as special assistant to President Obama. After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he led the government’s litigation efforts against the responsible parties. In 2016 he served as the inaugural executive director of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, and in 2017 he became director of the Water Institute of the Gulf in Baton Rouge, La., working tirelessly to restore Gulf ecosystems, advocating for wildlife and the surrounding communities. He rode with the Hermes Krewe for Mardi Gras, attended Jazz Fest in New Orleans religiously, and was a member of the Touro Synagogue. He had struggled with mental illness and died by suicide, his family reported. He leaves his wife, Dana Dupré ’01, their two sons, his father, and a sister.

Christian L. Resseguie ’05

July 8, 2022, in New York, N.Y., at 39. A double major in history and Japanese, he spent some of the happiest years of his life at Colby. He was a DJ at WMHB, taught guitar, participated in Mr. Colby, and was active in civil rights organizations on campus. After Colby, he taught in Japan for a year and starred as Peter Pan in a local theatrical production. He earned his law degree at Cardozo School of Law, passed the bar, and used his degree to fight for civil and social justice causes. He found a home in New York’s East Village, where he often played his guitar at Tompkins Square Park. He loved his cat, Onyx, marched in protests around New York, and was noted for his activism in The New Yorker and the New York Times. Survivors include his parents, Lee Resseguie and Janice Tate Resseguie, and a sister, Helen.

Corrie H. Shattenkirk ’05

June 10, 2023, in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., at 39. She was a certified nurse midwife, beginning her midwifery career at OneWorld Community Center in Omaha, Neb., where she was trained in centering pregnancy. She received an M.S. in midwifery from Columbia University in 2013 and worked at Open Door Family Health Center in Port Chester and Hudson River Healthcare in Poughkeepsie. She valued working in underserved communities, and in 2012 she worked at the Clinica De Familia in the Dominican Republic providing comprehensive services for HIV-positive patients. She cared deeply about women’s and reproductive rights, attending the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. She was an accomplished international traveler, lived simply, prepared creative meals, and possessed a unique sense of humor. She leaves her parents, two siblings, and extended family.

Valerie Coit Luckenbill ’08

Aug. 6, 2023, in Portland, Ore., at 37. She earned a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado, Denver, in 2010 and went on to work for Teach for America. She devoted her career to solving long-entrenched problems in Denver’s educational system at Johnson Elementary School and then as a founding staff member at University Prep, where she was director of scholar advancement. She also worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) assisting children facing hardships in Colorado and later in Oregon, where she moved in 2020 to raise her children. While pregnant with her second son in 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which eventually took her life. Survivors include her husband, James “Jamie” Luckenbill ’08; two sons, Owen and Graham; her mother; two siblings; and her dog, Ansel.

Bradford P. Mundy

Dec. 30, 2023, in Oakland, Maine, at 85. He came to Waterville in 1992 after a prolific career at Montana State University and became Colby’s Miselis Professor of Chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry. At Colby, he transformed the Chemistry Department into the national model for excellence in teaching and research. A dedicated teacher, he showed unwavering support for his students and mentored several research students, many of whom became professional chemists. The department established the Brad Mundy Memorial Lecture in his honor in 2024. Throughout his career, he received numerous teaching awards and was a prolific researcher, publishing more than 13 chemistry textbooks and more than 100 articles. He was also an exceptional artist with colored chalk, making three-dimensional molecules come alive on a two-dimensional chalkboard. He earned his B.S. from SUNY Albany and his Ph.D. from the University of Vermont. He retired from Colby in 2003 and turned his full attention to his home in Oakland, where food and flower gardens were a passion. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Margaret, three children, six grandchildren, and four siblings.

Patricia A. Onion

Nov. 12, 2023, in Cumberland Foreside, Maine, at 80. A professor of English, emerita, she came to Colby in 1974 and taught American literature for the next 34 years, also teaching the works of the Brontë sisters, Virginia Woolf, and Shakespeare. She introduced American Indian literature into the curriculum, invited Indigenous artists and writers to campus, spent a sabbatical on the Blackfeet reservation, and built relationships with Penobscot Nation storytellers. At various times, she served as chair, associate chair, or co-chair of the English Department. She earned her bachelor’s in English at Connecticut College and her master’s and doctorate from Harvard University. A prolific writer, she published collections of poetry, essays, play reviews, and a mystery novel, Exit the Water. She also produced and acted in local theater productions, marched for peace and women’s rights, presented lectures at local libraries, and worked in the local food bank. In her final years, she savored a weekly poetry workshop with her sister, children, and grandchildren. Surviving her are three children and their partners, five grandchildren, and two siblings.

Candice B. Parent

Oct. 27, 2023, in Augusta, Maine, at 52. Colby’s head volleyball coach for 26 years, she led the Mules to four consecutive 20-plus win seasons from 2002 to 2005 and earned a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament Final Eight in 2005. She was named NESCAC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and earned her 300th career victory at Colby in the 2012-13 season. She also coached and mentored youth in her community of Oakland, Maine, and was involved with the Messalonskee All Sports Boosters. Survivors include her husband, Mark Parent, five children, her parents, and two brothers.

Mary Kay Whitmore

July 21, 2023, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, at 78. For 40 years, she was an ardent supporter of Colby men’s basketball as the wife of former head coach Richard “Dick” Whitmore. She hosted team dinners at her home and attended games, welcoming players and alumni and investing in them with a true interest in their lives and families. In 2019 Colby alumni came together to name the head men’s basketball coach’s office in her honor: the Mary Kay Whitmore P’91 Head Coach Office in the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center. She worked at the Pine Tree 2 Basketball Camps, held at Colby, and as an educator with the Waterville Public Schools. She leaves her husband of 57 years, Richard Whitmore, four children, including Kevin Whitmore ’91, and seven grandchildren.