Obituaries

Carol J. Van Pelt

Carol J. Van Pelt, 76, of Amherst, a retired clerk II in Physics and Astronomy, died June 25 in a nursing home in Nashua, N.H.

She served the University for more than 12 years before retiring in 1992.
Originally from Albany, N.Y., she had lived in Amherst for more than 40 years, part of that time employed at National Evaluation Systems and at Amherst College, in addition to the University.

An avid walker, she enjoyed hiking the beaches of Block Island, as well as Amherst-area trails.

She leaves a daughter, C. J. Churchill of Hollis, N.H.; a son, Steven Peene of Atlanta; a brother, two grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wayman Strother

Wayman Strother, 79, of Naples, Fla., a retired professor of Mathematics and Statistics and former head of the department, died June 21 at home.

He served the University for more than 30 years before retiring in 1989. During the 1960s, he headed his department for half a dozen years, overseeing the development of a doctoral program.

He had taught earlier at schools in Alabama and had been a principal in Collinsville, Ala. He headed the math department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and was Buckingham Research Professor there prior to coming to the University.

A recipient of bachelor's degrees in secondary education and mathematics from Jacksonville State College in Alabama, he received a master's degree from the University of Chicago and a doctorate from Tulane University, both in mathematics.

A genealogist, carpenter, and mechanical gadget enthusiast, his other interests included collecting music indigenous to Sand Mountain.

He leaves his wife of 28 years, Rosmarie Strother; a son Mark of Sumner, Wash.; a daughter, Lynn of Mount Vernon, N.H.; two brothers, a grandson; and three nephews.

Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Naples Inc., 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples FL 34105.

Anthony T. Szczepanek

Anthony T. Szczepanek, 85, of Ware, a retired janitor in Physical Plant, died July 1 in Life Care Center in Wilbraham.

He served the University for nine and a half years before retiring in 1978. He had worked earlier at Warren Pumps, Inc. in Warren.

Educated in Ware schools, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he served in the Asiatic Pacific theater.

He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Ware and a member of the Men's Guild.

He also was a member of the Weir River Social Club.

His wife, Witla Szczepanek, died in 1991.

He leaves three daughters, Jane Desjardins, Carol Ducey and Lucy Opata, all of Ware; a brother, seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mary's School, South and Charles streets, Ware, 01082; or Special Olympics of Western Massachusetts, Attn. Donations, 450 Maple St., Building 1, Danvers 01923.