Our "In Memoriam" lists include the names of all members of the UMass family whose deaths have been reported to us by the alumni records office. In our online edition, we also reprint any obituaries that we have received.
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Class of 1967 - 1994, faculty, students
Stefan M. Dobrydnio ’67, 55, of Newington, died Monday (11-27-00) of cancer at the University of Connecticut Health Center at Farmington. Born in Greenfield, MA, May 31, 1945, he was the son of John and Helen (Parzych) Dobrydnio. He graduated in 1963 from Greenfield High School and received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He had been a Newington resident for 27 years. He entered the Army in 1967, and attended the Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, Baltimore, MD. He was stationed at the Pentagon until 1970. Dobrydnio was last employed by Star Silk and Woolen Co. in Hartford. Previously, he was employed by Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Co. in Hartford. Besides his mother of Greenfield, he leaves his wife, the former Bonnie Winegardner; two sons, David and Eric, both of Newington; two brothers, John of Springfield and Nyron of Greenfield, and a nephew. . .
(The Recorder 11/29/00)
Joseph C. Donbrowo Jr. ’67S, 53, of Athol, died July 21, 2000 at home following an illness. He was born in Gardner, September 10, 1946, the son of Joseph C. and Ida L. (Turner) Donbrowo. He was a lifelong resident of Athol and graduated from Athol High School in 1964. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts- Stockbridge in 1967. Donbrowo was employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 34 years and was a senior forestry park supervisor at Wachusett Mountain State Reservation for the past 12 years, retiring last year due to ill health. He was a member of the Central Mass. Post Card Association and collected post cards of Wachusett Mountain. He leaves his wife of 20 years, the former Sharon L. Stoico; a bother, John of Newbern, NC, five nieces and three grandnieces. . .
(Greenfield Recorder 7/24/00)
Charlotte (White) Potter ’67G, 80, of Montague, a former teacher, died Monday at home. She most recently taught English at Turners Falls High School, where she had been class advisor and guidance counselor in addition to having been involved with several extracurricular activities. She taught in Montague public schools for 24 years and retired in 1983. Born in Richmond, Maine, she lived in Montague since 1957. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1937, the University of Maine in 1941, and received a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1965. She was active in the First Congregational Church of Turners Falls and a member of its Women’s Fellowship and Friend in Council . She was also a member of the Turners Falls Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She leaves her husband of 57 years, W. Edwin Potter; a son, Noel M. of Utica, Mich.; a daughter, Nedine M. Campbell of Beverton, Ore.; a brother, Marshall White of Richmond; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
(Springfield Union News 5/30/00)
Donald J. Tudryn ’67, 55, a longtime city educator and coach, died Tuesday at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He taught in the mathematics department at Smith Vocational School for 30 years. He coached girls' varsity basketball there for 17 years, and boys' varsity for 33 years. Under his tutelage, the Smith boys' soccer team had a record-breaking 14-2-1 season and won the Briggs South League title. He also umpired high school baseball. He recently celebrated his 200th coaching career win. Born in Manchester, NH, he was raised in this city and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School and from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He leaves his wife, the former Janet Ledoux; two daughters, Wendy Rettinger of East Brunswick, NJ and Dawn Picaiacchio of Fishkill, NY; his mother, Elizabeth (Mayowski) Tudryn; a brother, Thomas of Chicopee; a sister, Betty Mongeau of Las Vegas; and three grandchildren. . .
(Springfield Union News 11/23/00)
Jean (Cramb) Lovell ’68G, 87, died peacefully at Thompson House on Sunday, July 2, 2000, after a lengthy illness. A resident of Chesterfield since 1946, Dr. Lovell was born in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 19, 1912, daughter of Dr. Arthur Benjamin and Lurah Loomis Cramb. She grew up in Kirksville, Mo., where she attended local schools. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Northeast Missouri State College, now Truman State University, in 1933, received a doctorate degree in osteopathy from Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery in 1937, and received a master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1968. In 1936 she was married to Dr. Lester H. Lovell and moved to Maine, and in 1940 they moved to Vermont. The marriage ended in divorce in 1971. She worked for many years at the School for International Training as registrar, foreign student advisor and student counselor. She was a charter member of the board of trustees of the Brattleboro Music Center. Survivors include three children, Jo Jean Normandeau of Dummerston, Vt., Michael Lovell of Chesterfield, NH, and M. Tamara Lovell of Ithaca, NY; four grandchildren; a sister, Helen Bondurant of Green River, Ariz.; and four nieces and nephews. . .
(Brattleboro Reformer 7/5/00)
Allen S. Portnoy ’68, 53, formerly of Marblehead, died May 26 at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness. He was the loving husband of Claudia Ippolito, and a devoted dad to Karina, Christina, Stephen and Sophie Portnoy. He was the son of the late Albert and Anita Portnoy of Marblehead and loving brother of Pauline Spirito of Lynn. He was a graduate of Marblehead High School, class of 1964; from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and New York University Law School. He was an active member of Temple Adas Emuno and court appointed defender for the indigent in New York City. He was a soccer dad for the Leonia Recreation Soccer Club and had an appreciation for the natural world around us. . .
(Ipswich Marblehead Reporter 6/1/00)
Kenneth Hayes ’69G, 65, a longtime University of Maine professor who also was active in Democratic politics died Tuesday. Kenneth Hayes, who lived in Veazie, left teaching in 1996 after suffering a heart attack. He had also been battling cancer. Hayes taught political science at the Orono campus for more than 30 years and was the author of three books on Maine politics. In the political sphere, he served a term in the State Senate and ran for Congress in 1988 in an unsuccessful bid to unseat one of his former students, Republican Olympia Snowe. Snowe, now in the U.S. Senate, said Hayes will be sorely missed. Another of his ex-students, Democratic U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, remembered Hayes as a professor, a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. A North Yarmouth native, Hayes received his bachelors' degree at Orono before earning a master's from Yale and a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was chairman of the Political Science Department from 1990 to 1994, was on the Faculty Senate from 1989 to 1992 and served a term as president of the University System faculty union. He was also active in the community, serving as chairman of the Veazie Town Council.
(Lewiston Sun-Journal 5/17/00)
Patricia Geiger ’70, died earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. She had been an instructor in early childhood education at Leslie College in Cambridge but, wanting to do what she had been teaching others to do, she left academia and accepted a position as a kindergarten teacher with the Brockton School Department. For the past 25 years she touched the lies of hundreds of children, setting them on the first steps of their educational journey with love, kindness, patience, understanding, and generosity. She will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known her.
(submitted by Betsey Geiger)
Jacqueline (Girouard) Gloutak ’70, ’74G, 61, of Southampton, a former Holyoke teacher, died Sunday, August 6, 2000, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. She was a French teacher at Holyoke High School from 1970 to 1997 and previously taught French in the Springfield public schools. She also had been a teller at the Easthampton Savings Bank. Born in Southampton, she graduated from Easthampton High School, attended Holyoke Community College, and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1970 and a master's degree from there in 1974. She was a communicant of Notre Dame Church. She was a longtime member of the American Association of Teachers of French, the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association, and the Holyoke and Massachusetts teachers associations. She leaves her husband, Ronald T. Gloutak; a son, Dr. Ronald T. Jr. of Agoura, CA; a daughter, Janet G. Swierzewski of Southampton; three brothers, Ronald J. Girouard of Minnesota and Robert Girouard and Andra L. Girouard, both of MA; two sisters, Yvette Coulter of Florida and Cecile Goral of Southampton; and five grandchildren. . .
(Hello Holyoke 8/9/00)
Teresa (Banfield) Miller ’70, 51, of Quincy, owner of Terri's Daycare in Quincy, died Tuesday at home after a brief illness. Born in Kew Gardens, NY. Mrs. Miller graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mrs. Miller owned and operated Terri's Daycare in Quincy for 20 years and was a former president and treasurer of the Quincy High School PTO She is survived by her husband, Richard E. of Quincy; three daughters, Janine E., Julie A. and Jill T. all of Quincy; a son, John R. of Quincy; a brother, Butch Banfield of Medford; and two half-sisters, Jane Labossier of Plymouth and Lisa Leonard of Marshfield. . .
(Boston Herald 6/2/00)
Cynthia A. Mills ’70, 51, formerly of Haverhill, MA, died Saturday at Genesis Regional Medical Center. Born and educated in Haverhill, Mrs. Mills graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. She was a teacher in Flint schools, working with children with learning disabilities. Ms. Mills was a member of the United Teachers of Flint, and while in Massachusetts was a member of Groveland Congregational Church. She leaves her mother, Dorothy A. Mills of Haverhill; brothers Warren Mills of Tempe, Ariz., and Robert Mills of Amesbury, MA; and several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. . .
(Lawrence Eagle-Tribune 7/12/00)
Pamela Power ’70, 52, a longtime resident of Dover, and a retired art teacher, died Wednesday at Massachusetts General Hospital after a lengthy illness. Born in Boston, Ms. Power graduated from Ursuline Academy in Dedham and in 1970 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She received a master's degree in art education from Massachusetts College of Art in 1982. For 25 years, she taught art at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Cambridge. She retired in 1996. Ms. Power also served for eight years as set designer for the Dover Foundation, a nonprofit community theater that awarded scholarships to Dover High School students. She also painted the sets. She enjoyed watercolor painting in her spare time. She leaves her husband, John Crowley of Dover; a daughter, Katherine Crowley of Dover; her father, Earl J. Power, and stepmother, Juanita Power, both of Hemet, CA; and two sister, Carol Bedard of Acton, ME, and Patricia Smith of Hemet. . .
(The Boston Globe 1/9/01)
Howard E. Hurley Jr. ’71, 58, of Falls Church, Va., formerly of Spencer, MA, died Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at his home following a battle with cancer. Mr. Hurley was born in Worcester, Ma., son of the late Howard E Hurley Sr. and Helen (Beauchamp) Hurley and Lived in Spencer before moving to Virginia in 1973. He was the husband of Marina G. (Iser) Hurley, to whom he was married for 32 years. Mr. Hurley worked as a consultant at SEMCOR, in Arlington, Va., for the past two years. He previously was a comptroller for the US Defense Department NAV-Air UAV division for 29 years. He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. Mr. Hurley graduated from David Prouty High School in Spencer in 1959, attended Holy Cross College in Worcester and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He graduated from Catholic University School of Law. Besides his wife, survivors include a son, Christopher D. Hurley of Cary, NC; a brother, John M. Hurley of Hudson; a granddaughter; and nieces and nephews. . .
(Nashua Telegraph 5/12/00)
Tobey C. Richards ’71, 52, of Jamestown, died May 6, 2000 at Kent County Hospital, Warwick. He was the husband of Carol P. Tomkiwicz Richards. Born in Boston, he was the son of Frank S. and J. Helen MacDonald Richards of Andover, MA. He lived in Jamestown for the past 25 years. Mr. Richards was a 1971 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He taught at the Coyle and Cassidy School in Taunton, MA. Besides his wife and parents, he leaves a son, Jacob Richards of Jamestown; two daughters, Kathryn Richards and Joanna Richards, both of Jamestown; and a sister, Kimberly Tremblay of Danvers, MA. . .
(Newport Daily News 5/9/900)
Donald Bragg ’72 - no obituary available
John T. Edwards ’72, 50, of Duxbury, a musician, died Tuesday at home after a long illness. Born in Boston, Mr. Edwards graduated from Archbishop Williams High School in 1967 and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Salemme of Duxbury; a son, Joseph Edwards of Duxbury; two daughters, Lauren and Kristi Edwards, both of Duxbury; four brothers, William A. Edwards of Milton, James P. Edwards of Quincy, Robert A Edwards of Green Harbor and Thomas Edwards of Miami Beach, FL; two sisters, Elizabeth Tufankjian of Scituate and Kathleen Harvey of Green Harbor, and eleven nieces and nephews. . .
(Quincy Patriot Ledger 10/6/99)
David R. Lapointe ’72S, ’75, 48, of Easthampton, died Thursday at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. He worked for the Pennock Co. of West Springfield for 20 years and was manager of the floral supply department. Born in Northampton, he graduated from Easthampton High School in 1970 and received a bachelors degree in agriculture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1974. He was a softball player and coached teams in the Easthampton Little League, Senior Youth Soccer League and the Easthampton Youth Basketball Association. He was also an avid golfer and outdoorsman. He leaves his wife, the former Jane M. McMahon; a son, Alex David at home; a daughter Amy Jane Lapointe of Easthampton; and a sister, Pauline E. Carrier of Chicopee. . .
(Springfield Union News 1/13/01)
Margaret E. Rice '72, 51, of Auburn, formerly of Amherst, died December 11 at home following a long struggle with breast cancer. Born in Rangoon, Burma, June 9, 1949, she was the daughter of William and Elisabeth (Reebes) Rice of Northampton. She attended Amherst schools, graduating from Amherst Regional High School in 1967. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts. She moved to Buckfield, Maine, in 1978, and to Auburn in 1986. Mrs. Rice worked for several years with visually and mentally handicapped preschool children in Belchertown and Williamstown. She later taught art at the Hebron Academy in Hebron, ME. She also worked as a freelance graphic artist in Maine. She was the Amherst representative to the American Field Service in the summer of 1966, during which she traveled to Turkey and lived with a local family in Gaziantep. Besides her parents, she leaves her husband, Peter Frewen; two daughters, Lydia Rice at St. Johns College in Annapolis, MD., and Cordelia Rice at Trinity College in Hartford, CT; four brothers, Thomas N. Rice and Bruce A. of Rochester, NY, Norman W. of Andover, and Richard C. of Dover, NH; and many nieces and nephews. . .
(Daily Hampshire Gazette 12/15/00)
Normand J. Godfroy ’74, 52, formerly of Westford, died July 9, 2000, at the home of his best friend and caregiver, Gary Holmes. He was born in Lowell on November 12, 1947, the son of the late Rosaire R. and Theresa (Brule) Godfroy. He was a graduate of Westford Academy and UMass Amherst and was past president of the Westford Academy Alumni Association. While living in Westford, he was a communicant of St. Catherine's Church. Godfroy was a sergeant in the US Army Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Mattawanakee Post 6539 of Forge Village. For several years, he owned and operated the Heads Up Barber Shop in Littleton. He also worked at the former Green Ridge Turkey Farm as a host, and more recently worked at the Comfort Inn in Bowie, MD, as assistant manager in sales and catering for five years. He is survived by a sister, Pauline Valcourt and her husband, Paul of Westford; a nephew, Mark N. Valcourt and his wife Kara of Westford; two nieces, Brenda A. Girard and her husband Shawn, and Janet M. Ricard and her husband Shawn, all of Westford; two grandnephews; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. . .
(Westford Eagle 7/20/00)
Patricia (Mekalian) Longtin ’74, 49, of Amesbury, died suddenly last week at her home. She was the wife of Leo E. Longtin. Born in Jacksonville, FL, on February 29, 1951, she was the daughter of Stephen and Joan (Ponossian) Mekalian of Salisbury. She attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School in 1968. She furthered her education by attending the University of Miami and later attended and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1974. Until her illness, Mrs. Longtin was recently employed as substitute teacher for the Lowell school system. In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by her brother, David B. Mekalian of Salisbury; her stepdaughter, Megan Longtin of Lowell; and an aunt, Geraldine Mekalian of Salisbury. . .
(Newburyport Daily News 7/18/00)
Jean H. McGann ’74
Robert L. Komosa ’75, 55, a former police officer, died Sunday at home. He was a 32-year member of the Springfield Police Department, retiring in May with the rank of sergeant. In 991, he received the Community Service Award from the Massachusetts Police Association. Born in Springfield, he as a graduate of the former Springfield Technical High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He lived in Longmeadow for the past 27 years and was a member of the Springfield Police Relief Association and the Springfield Police Golf League. He leaves his wife, the former Carolyn Wier; and a daughter, Jennifer Komosa of Agawam. . .
(Springfield Union-News 9/25/00)
Rachel A. Pemstein ’75, 46, of Midway, formerly of Worcester, Mass., an equine practitioner, died April 6 at home. She leaves her parents, Bernard and Zelda Pemstein of Key Biscayne, Fla.; a brother Alan Pemstein of Worcester; a sister, Debra Pemstein of Rhinebeck, NY; and nephews and nieces. She was born in Worcester and graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Pemstein worked at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee before establishing a private equine practice. She also owned the Equinox Farm. She was active the Association of American Equine Practitioners, the Woodford County Hunt Club, and the Thoroughbred Club of America. She was a consultant with the US Pony Club; a veterinarian to the Federation Equestrienne International Three Day Event; and a member of the Huff and Puff Ice Hockey League. . .
(Worcester Jewish Chronicle 4/27/00)
Carl Rowan ’76H, 75, a well-known commentator and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist died yesterday of natural causes. He died about 3 am at Washington Hospital Center. Mr. Rowan had suffered from several illnesses in recent years, including diabetes and heart problems. . . He wrote his last column last week. During a career that spanned more than a half-century, Mr. Rowan was a frequent quest on public affairs radio and televisions programs and served in the administrations of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He was born in Ravenscroft, Tenn., a dying coal mining town, in 1925, growing up poor during the Great Depression. He excelled in school and went on to college. He entered journalism after a stint as one of the first black commissioned officers in the Navy and worked as a copy editor at the Minneapolis Tribune. He returned to the South in the 1950s to report on the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision. Mr. Rowan's reporting on race relations led Kennedy to appoint him deputy secretary of state. Before returning to journalism, he also served as a delegate to the United Nations, ambassador to Finland, and director of the United States Informations Agency. Besides his son Carl, Mr. Rowan leaves his wife, Vivien; another son, Jeffrey; his daughter, Barbara; and four grandchildren.
(The Boston Globe 9/24/00)
Henry L. Southworth ’76, ’78G, 46, of Scituate, a division director for the state Department of Environmental Protection, died Saturday at Brigham and Women's Hospital after a long illness. Born in Brockton, he was raised in Easton and moved to Scituate 20 years ago. He graduated from Oliver Ames High School in 1972. He received a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in urban and regional management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Mr. Southworth enjoyed biking and skiing. His mother was the late Doris W. (Cressey) Southworth. He is survived by his wife, Joanna (Salvaggio) Southworth; a son, Matthew H. Southworth or Scituate; a daughter, Eleni T. Southworth of Scituate; his father, Richard H. of Germantown, Md.; a brother, Elliott; a sister, Phyllis A. Preston; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. . .
(Quincy Patriot Ledger 9/18/00)
Alvin H. Hueber ’77S, 45, of West Yarmouth, who worked recently for the town of Barnstable Park and Recreation Department, died at home Sept. 23. He was the son of Aldo Mae (Johnson) Hueber of West Yarmouth. Born in New Haven, CT, Mr. Hueber was raised and educated in Brookline and grew up on the site of this year's Ryder Cup, The Country Club. He graduated from Brookline High School and attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Stockbridge program. Mr. Hueber worked in landscaping for many years. He was recently employed by the town of Barnstable Park and Recreation Department. He enjoyed woodworking and landscape design. Besides his mother, he leaves two sisters, Deborah J. Robinson of Somerville, and Carey M. Michel of Grapevine, Texas; his fiancée, Betty Jodko of Hyannis; two nieces; and two nephews. . .
(Yarmouth Port Register 9/30/00)
Keith R. Hundley ’77, 45, a jazz musician who played with the group "Sounds of Swing," died Tuesday at Jordan Hospital, Plymouth. He played many instruments, including the flute, sax, and clarinet. He was a computer technician at John Hancock. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he lived in Newton and Brookline before moving to Framingham. Mr. Hundley graduated from Half Hollow High School in Long Island and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is survived by his wife, Binnie (Jetter) Hundley of Framingham; a daughter, Heather C. Bachman of Newton; his mother, Francine (Aiello) Hundley of Duxbury; two brothers, Kyle Hundley of Duxbury and Kirk Hundley of Southboro; two sisters, Lisa Hannahan of Pelham and Sabrine Nicholson of Wellesley; a granddaughter; two nephews and three nieces. . .
(Quincy Patriot Ledger 7/6/00)
Joseph R. Snopek ’78, 57, of Granby, a noted safety professional and engineer and a civic leader, died Saturday at Holyoke Hospital in Holyoke. He worked for Allied Resources Corp. in East Hartford, CT, as the technical services director, safety systems engineer and chief engineer. Previously, he worked as the director of corporate safety and loss prevention for the Travelers in Hartford, CT. He was a certified safety professional, a registered professional engineer and a Massachusetts certified safety specialist and safely manger for the World Safety Organization. He had lived in Granby since 1965. He leaves his wife, the former Virginia Piemonte; a son, Joseph R. Jr. of Ludlow; a daughter, Lynn S. Mercier of Enfield, CT; his father, Stanley of South Hadley; two brothers, Paul of Hampden and Michael of West Springfield; a sister, Hazel Snopek of South Hadley; and two grandchildren. . .
Wendy L. Klein ’80, 41, died Friday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born August 1, 1958, in Concord, MA, daughter of Ed and Pat Klein. She was a graduate of Foxboro High School, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the UMass Medical School. She completed her residency in internal medicine at UMass Medical Center hospitals. She worked for one year in Acton, MA, at the Health Stop, an outpatient clinic, and then with the Ridgewood Associates in Internal Medicine in Springfield since 1988. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Bianconi of Rockingham; one son, Kristopher Bianconi of Rockingham; one daughter, Julia of Rockingham; her parents of Rindge, NH; two brothers, John and Michael; and several nieces and nephews. . .
(Claremont Eagle-Times 5/1/00)
John F. Nedvins ’81 - no obituary available
Carl F. Miller Jr. ’82S, 38, died in a car accident, along with wife Kimberly G. (Balboni) Miller, 33, and their 22-month-old niece Elizabeth Marie Tracy of Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were lifelong residents of Avon. He was the son of Carl F. and Diane-Lee (O’Connell) Miller, and she was the daughter of Louis and Josephine (Simonelli) Balboni, all of Avon. Carl was a graduate of Norfolk Agricultural School in Walpole and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Stockbridge program. He was a corrections officer at Sousa-Baranoski Maximum Security Prison in Shirley for the past two years. He was also a call firefighter and a permanent intermittent police officer at the Avon Police department. In addition to his parents, he leaves two sisters, Kimberly M. Paoletti of Mashpee and Suzanne E. Miller of Colorado. He was the godson of Lynda M. Leonard of Brockton and the late Robert "Mickey" MacDonald. . .
(Brockton Enterprise 7/20/00)
Robert L. Belknap ’84, ’86G, 37, of Northampton, formerly of Hingham, a computer software engineer at Alysis Technologies in Holyoke, died Friday at New England Medical Center in Boston from complications of leukemia. Mr. Belknap previously worked at Amerinex Artificial Intelligence in Amherst. He was an avid mountain biker, hiker and skier and a strong advocate for women's rights and environmental issues. He was a graduate of Hingham High School and received a master's degree in computer science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is survived by his wife, Jane Lerner; two sons, Dylan and Cooper Belknap; a daughter, Madison Belknap; his parents, Louis S. and Judith (Leavitt) Belknap of Hingham; three brothers, David Belknap of Dedham, John Belknap of Braintree and Timothy Belknap of Northfield; a sister, Susan Weisenbeck of Hingham; and his maternal grandmother, Thelma Leavitt of East Bridgewater. . .
(Quincy Patriot Ledger 8/23/00)
Paul W. Sullivan ’86, 54, of 2 School St., died Thursday [12/4/00] at Cooley Dickinson Hospital after being struck by an automobile on Route 5 in Northampton. Police said he was riding his bicycle north on route 5 about a quarter of a mile south of the Inn at Northampton when he was struck by an automobile. Police are investigating the accident. He was a former mechanical engineer at Erving Paper Co. and was recently employed at Packaging Corp. of America. Born in Cambridge, he lived in Northampton for more than 25 years. He attended Arlington schools and had a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He leaves a son, Colin of the Florence section; and a sister, Marilyn Tennihan of Westwood.
(Springfield Union News, 12/16/00)
Meg Shatos ’87, 35, of Newton, formerly of Royalston, died Monday (12/18/00) in Massachusetts General Hospital, boston, following a lengthy fight with cancer. She was born in Athol, Oct. 3, 1965, the daughter of Ralph and Sandra (Francis) Shatos. She was raised in royalston. She graduated in 1983 from Athol High School and magna cum laude in 1987 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor's degree in accounting. She earned her master of business administration degree in 1995 from Harvard Business School. She enjoyed cooking, entertaining and staying fit. Besides her parents of Royalston, she leaves two sisters, Jacqueline Carroll and Marnie Farrell, both of Marlborough; her grandmothers, Florence Francis of North Adams and Pauline Shatos of Athol, and two nieces....
Colleen (Dawkins) Lavigne ’90, 35, of Lincoln, died September 12, 2000 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. She was born in Haverhill, MA September 13, 1964, the daughter of Frank P. Jr. and Maureen (Grant) Dawkins. She was a 1982 graduate of Haverhill (Mass.) High School. She was active in field and track and held the record of javelin throwing, which still stands. She also taught swimming. She was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she was a member of the field and track team. She lived in Haverhill, MA, before moving to Lincoln in 1986. She worked as a response manager for White Mountain Attractions of Lincoln. She also bred Golden Retrievers. She was an avid golfer and outdoors person. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, canoeing in the White Mountains. Family members include her husband Ronald Lavigne of Lincoln; two daughters, Erin Ethel Lavigne and Shauna Maureen Lavigne, both of Lincoln; her parents, Frank P. Jr. and Maureen (Grant) Dawkins of Haverhill, MA; a brother, Stephen P. Dawkins of Bradford, MA; two sisters, Cynthia (Mrs. Michael) Casey of Canton and Jolene (Mrs. Keith) St. Laurent of Bridgewater, MA; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Daniel W. Grant of Hampstead; two nieces, six nephews; many aunts, uncles and cousins. . . .
(Littleton, Courier 9/21/00)
Joann (Larkins) Albright ’94G, 49, of Guilford, died of pancreatic cancer on August 31, 2000, at home surrounded by her family . Joann was born July 4, 1951 in Portland, Oregon, daughter of Verna and Harry Larkins. Her parents and brothers Brad and Bruce Larkins were all able to be with her during her last living days, as were the rest of her family and many beloved friends. A very strong, intelligent and compassionate woman, these qualities were reflected in everything Joann accomplished in her life. She graduated from University of Oregon with her Baccalaureate in Nursing in 1978 and served as a nurse in the Brattleboro community in many different capacities since moving to Guilford in 1979. She worked at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital as a staff nurse in the Emergency Room as a supervisor of the Special Care Unit, and then for a private company as a home health nurse. In 1994, Joann became a Nurse Practitioner after obtaining her Master’s from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and for the last several years she worked alongside her husband, Dr. Albright, at Brattleboro Primary Care . She leaves her devoted husband David Albright, and their soon-to-be 14 year old son Alex, as well as her daughter, Teri Brooks (Fisher), stepdaughters Heidi Albright and Heather Cohen, and stepsons Eric Albright and Jason Cohen. In her last days she reflected that she loved her children equally, as if they all were her own. Her two grandchildren Adam Mcphail and Zachary Brooks didn't have nearly enough time with their wonderful grandmother. . .
(Brattleboro Reformer 9/1/00)
Jennifer Bragg Capobianco ’94, of Brighton, formerly of Fairfax, Virginia, wife of Jeffrey J. Capobianco, died on December 26, 2000. She was 29. The daughter of Robert V. Bragg and Donna Marie (Bragg) Poleman of Savannah, Georgia, she was born on July 8, 1971 in Washington, DC and was a resident of Fairfax, Virginia. She was a resident of Massachusetts for the past 10 years. Jennifer was a graduate of Oakton High School in Fairfax and received a degree in Environmental Science from UMass Amherst where she was also on the Crew Team. She was employed by Edgewater Technologies in Wakefield as a Software Developer. In addition to her husband she is also survived by her daughter, Eva Donna Capobianco; her parents Robert V. Bragg and Donna Marie (Bragg) Poleman; her brother Joseph R. Poleman of Savannah, Georgia...
(Daily Times Chronicle, 12/29/00)
Theodore Soldega ’94S
FACULTY
Andy B. Anderson, sociology, 59, of Leverett, died February 22 at home. He had taught in the Sociology Department for 25 years, receiving the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1984. He wrote a widely used textbook, "Handbook of Survey Research," that was first published in 1983. Before coming to the University, he taught for seven years at Purdue University, where he was the director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change. He was the principal investigator of the Gary Income Maintenance Experiment as a senior scientist for four years and as its acting research director for a summer. He received a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and a Ph.D. in sociology from Tulane University. He leaves his wife, Carolyn Anderson, associate professor of Communication; two daughters, MarJane Glazebrook of Edgewood, NM, and Jennifer Anderson-Tuttle of St. Bonafacius, Minn.; two step-daughters, Kisa Takesue of Philadelphia, PA; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. . .
Bernard B. Berger ’79H, civil engineering, 88, of Amherst, died December 8 at home. Born in New York City on August 21, 1912 , he was the son of the late Louis and Pauline (Margil) Berger. He was educated in sanitary engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He had lived in Amherst since 1966. For decades, Mr. Berger was recognized as a pre-eminent spokesman and global expert in the water supply and pollution field. Following initial work as a sanitary engineer in Kent County, Mich., Mr. Berger received a commission in the U.S. Public Health Service's Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center in Cincinatti. In 1966, he retired from the Public Health Service and moved to the University of Massachusetts, where he was director of civil engineering.
Paul H. Jennings ’60, plant and soil sciences, of Manhattan, Kansas, formerly of Pelham, MA, died December 25 at University Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a faculty member of the University of Massachusetts Department of Plant and Soil Sciences for 12 years before leaving in 1982 to become Head of the Horticulture Department at Kansas State University. At UMass, he conducted research on innovative production techniques for vegetable crops and on the physiology of low-temperature stress in plants. He had been honored as a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. He taught classes in the Stockbridge School as well as in the undergraduate and graduate curricula, including one of the first courses designed specifically for teaching Sustainable Agriculture. He was also active in the Faculty Senate, including service as Secretary for two years. He was born in Brockton, MA, in 1938, the son of James H. and Virginia (Caswell) Jennings. He received his BS Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He leaves his wife, Bette (Baker) of Manhattan, Kansas, and three children, Deborah Wainwright of Overland Park, Kansas, Diane Jennings of Manhattan, and David Jennings of Tempe, Arizona, as well as his parents, one sister, Constance Holmes of Maui, Hawaii, two brothers, James of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and Bill of California, and two grandchildren in Manhattan. . .
(submitted by William J. Bramlage)
Himy Kirshen, dean, school of business administration, 97, of Pleasant Hill, Calif., died January 24. During his 10-year deanship, Kirshen oversaw the school's growth from 15 faculty and 500 students in 1957 to 46 faculty and more than 1,100 students by 1967, when he retired. In 1958, the Board of Trustees approved the development of four departments, Accounting, General Business and Finance, Management and Marketing, and in 1963 masters programs in the departments were accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business. He also oversaw the building of the current site of the Isenberg School of Management in 1964 and the inauguration of the school's doctoral program in 1966, the first one at a public university in New England. In the early 1960s, the school developed the Junior Executive Training Program to give young executives from other countries an intensive 6-week exposure to U.S. business practices. In addition to his administrative work, he occasionally taught Business Law and the Honors Colloquium. After retiring from the University, he taught economics and law at the University of Santa Clara in California for 10 years. He received an undergraduate degree in economics from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., a law degree from Columbia University, and a doctorate in economics, political science and law from the University of Wisconsin. . . His wife of 50 years, Verona Bishop, died in 1976. He leaves a daughter, Joan Pelletier of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; a granddaughter, Catherine E. Pelletier of South Portland, Maine; two grandsons, Michael D. Pelletier of Roslindale and Bruce N. Pelletier of South Portland, Maine; a nephew, Norman Kirshen of Martinez, CA, and two great-grandchildren.
( The Campus Chronicle 2/2/01)
Jeanne E. Sherrow, leisure studies
David J. Van Blerkom, astronomy, 58, of Amherst, died February 16 at Bay State Medical Center. He had served the University since 1969, when he was hired as a research associate and lecturer. He was an assistant professor from 1970 to 1973 and an associate professor from 1973 to 1984, and he had been a full professor since 1984. Between 1980 and 1997, he chaired the Department of Astronomy. He received a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996 and an Honors Appreciation Award from the Honors Program in 1998. He received a BS with honors from City College in New York in 1963 and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1969. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Janet Kay Blerkom; two sons, Daniel and David; a daughter, Suzanne David; and a brother, Jonathan. . .
(The Campus Chronicle 2/23/01)
STUDENTS
Peter A. Jekanowski ’01, 20, of Hadley, died January 21 in Holyoke Hospital as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident earlier Sunday night. He was a junior at the Unviersity of Massachsetts at Amherst, in journalism and political science. He was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard. He leaves his parents, Peter and Sally (Opielowski) Jekanowski; his maternal grandmother, Stephanie Opeielowski; and four brothers, Gary of Roselle Park, NJ, Mar of McLean, Va., and Paul and Kevin, both of Hadley...
(Daily Hampshire Gazette 1/23/01)
Paul J. Olson ’01, 21, of Woburn, a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, died Friday of lymphoma at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mr. Olson was a lifelong resident of Woburn. He graduated from Woburn High School in 1997 and was a member of the golf team. He was a junior at UMass, where he studied biochemistry and was on the dean’s list. As a hobby, he loved to work on cars and worked at the Ayer Auto Facility of the Springfield Terminal Railroad. He leaves his parents, James F. and Catherine (McCann); a brother, Eric, a sister, Christine; his paternal grandmother, Gladys (Doucette); his maternal grandparents, John A. and Ellen (Hogan) McCann; and his friend Sarah Bramley, all of Woburn. . .
(The Boston Globe 12/25/00)
Peter J. Croci ’04, of Southborough, died Monday, August 14, 2000, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born in Framingham, he was the son of Paul and Doreen (Johnson) Croci of Southborough and the late Stephanie (Krumm) Croci. He was a graduate of Algonquin High School, class of 1999, and had finished his freshman year at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was very active in sports and was co-captain and pitcher for the Algonquin High School varsity baseball team that in 1999 went to Fenway Park to play in the state championship game. Besides his parents, he leaves his sister, Alisa Marie Croci of Southborough; maternal grandparents, Gerald and Dorothy Krumm of Vista, CA; aunts and uncles, Catherine Croci of Framingham, Edward and Joyce Croci of Milford, Christine and Al Adams of Billerica, Julie and Brian Tannenbaum of Woodland Hills, CA, Karen and Jim Hanlon, Brian Sinkus, all of Worcester, Gary Sinkus of Hubbardston; many cousins; and special friend, Jenn McCormack of Natick. . .
(Southborough GH Villager 8/25/00)
