Obituaries

Obituaries OBITUARIES

1937

Faith Haviland Duffy, on January 11 at the Duncaster Retirement Community in Bloomfield, Conn. A four-year Chaffee School student from West Hartford, Conn., Faith was voted “Senior Who Did the Most for Chaffee.” After graduation, Faith attended Smith College. In her youth, Faith was active in Girl Scouts and earned the Golden Eaglet award. She was married to David Everett Duffy for 68 years until his death in 2010. Predeceased by her siblings, Anne Haviland Taylor ’36, Phyllis Hildebrandt, and Girard Haviland, Faith was survived by her three children, Martha D. Ramsey, Marston “Sandy” Duffy, Kent Haviland Duffy, and their spouses; her two grandchildren; her two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life was held on January 24 at the Duncaster Retirement Community.

1942

Edward Perry Phillips, on April 4, 2019. A three-year student from Southport, Conn., Ned, as he was known, was active in the Nautical Club, Student Council, and several theater productions, and he served as president of the Glee Club. He was active in soccer, where he served as team captain; basketball; track; skiing; and club hockey. After graduation, Ned attended Trinity College before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he served with the 320th Engineers Division behind enemy lines in France and Belgium. Soon after his return from war, Ned married Dawn Louise Ives Brindle from New York City. Acting on his affinity for the theater, Ned moved with his young family to Skaneateles, N.Y., where he pursued acting roles in the summer stock theater. He continued working in theater at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City and later moved to, Los Angeles, Calif. where he embarked on a career in advertising. On a whim, the family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where they lived for four years on a stretch of beach in the tiny village of Waimanalo. According to the family obituary, that was “where Ned was happiest.” After working in advertising for The Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ned and his family returned to Southport, Conn., and he commuted daily to Madison Avenue in New York City. There, he enjoyed roles as an advertising executive with Family Circle Magazine and the New York Times organization. In the late 1960s Ned purchased land on the southeast side of Block Island that included a retail space on which he established The Glass Onion, a gift shop stocked with interesting items found on his many global travels. Block Island remained a special place for Ned throughout his life, especially on summer weekends away from the city. He later purchased the former Shamrock Hotel on a hill above the harbor and was inspired by his wife, Dawn, to establish a space there for artists and art galleries. Ned is remembered by his family for his sense of humor, his dedication to his family, and his love of adventure. Preceded in death by Dawn, his wife of 66 years in 2011, Ned was survived by his four children, Brook Phillips Lacour, Edward Perry Phillips Jr., Julie Phillips Warburton, and Jeffrey Taunter Phillips, and their spouses; his seven grandchildren; and his two great-grandchildren.

Arthur Wheeler Stemler, on December 1, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. A four-year student from Douglaston, N.Y., Art was involved in the French Club, Glee Club, rifle team, and Athletic Council, and he was cast in theater productions. He was active in football, basketball, baseball, and track, and he was captain of the wrestling team. Art earned a bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan University, where he was captain of the wrestling team. During World War II, Art served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, rising in rank to lieutenant. He enjoyed a lifelong career working in small businesses and finished his career as chief executive officer of Viking Cases, a company that manufactures custom shipping cases. He was a longtime member of the Suncoast Porsche Club and the BMW Club, and he was an instructor at High Performance Driving Schools for more than 20 years. Preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Beebe Stemler, Art was survived by his three children, Robert D. Stemler, Bruce S. Stemler, and Kimberly Stemler Strickland; his three grandchildren; his two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

1945

John Merrow Washburn Jr., on December 8, 2019, in Mystic, Conn. A four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Jack, as he was known, served on the Sophomore Reception Committee, the Executive Committee of the Endowment Fund, Student Council, the Junto Committee, the Advisory Committee, and as president of the Chess Club. He was involved in Military Drill and in theater productions. Jack was captain of the tennis team, earning two varsity letters, and was active in football and hockey. He earned the Lt. Martin Harold Johnson Memorial Prize at Commencement. Jack earned a bachelor’s degree at Williams College and a master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology before serving in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed a long and successful career at the Merrow Machine Company, a family-owned manufacturer of industrial sewing machines, where he served as president before retiring in 2005. Jack and his wife, Barbara, raised their two children and enjoyed travel, sailing, and spending time with family and friends on the coast at Groton Long Point, Conn. In 1995, they made their home on the Connecticut shoreline. Jack was a member of the Ram Island Yacht Club, Mason’s Island Yacht Club, Off Soundings Club, and Hartford Tennis Club, and he served on the board of directors of Hartford Steam Boiler and the YMCA of Hartford. He was a member of the John Metcalf Taylor Society. Jack is remembered by his family for his friendly nature and warm smile. He was survived by Barbara, his wife of 61 years; his two children, John “Jay” M. Washburn III ’77 and Sarah Washburn ’78, and their spouses; his five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, including Brad Washburn ’82. A celebration of John’s life was planned for a later date.

1948

David E. Gyger, on July 30, 2019, in Sydney, Australia. A four-year student from Portland, Maine, David was involved in the Glee Club and Choir, and he was cast in several school theater productions. He served in leadership roles as editor-in-chief of The Log, president of the Executive Committee of the Publications Association, a Loomis representative for the Hartford Tuberculosis Association, and president of the Stamp Club. He was active in track and lettered in soccer, and he earned the Andrew de Wolf Brass Prize at Commencement. David continued to pursue his interest and talent for journalistic writing at Amherst College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1952. He volunteered for military service and trained as a Morse Code operator. David’s desire to see the world was sparked by his military experience, and after communicating with Australian soldiers in Korea, he traveled to Melbourne, Australia, in 1956 to pursue a journalism ca-

reer. He spent seven years as editor of The Riverina Express in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, then joined the staff of The Australian in Canberra in 1966. There, he met Alison Jones, who was a student and English lecturer at the Australian National University. The two were married in 1967, and they relocated to Sydney. Exposed to the symphony and opera from an early age, David was a lifelong classical music aficionado and, beginning in 1971, served for four years as a Sydney-based music critic for The Australian — during the time of the opening of Sydney’s renowned opera house in 1973. He established himself as a respected music reviewer and critic. In 1978, David was invited by the Australian Opera to create a new in-house monthly news publication, but after two initial issues he parted ways with the organization and partnered with his wife to publish an independent opera newspaper. David and Alison published Opera Australia with comprehensive coverage of professional opera from across the country for three decades, ending its run in 2007. David was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the arts and the community in 2009, and he and Alison continued to enjoy international travel and opera performances. Even as he became limited in mobility, David enjoyed attending occasional concerts and opera performances until the last few months of his life. According to the family obituary, David “possessed a quirky sense of humor and a deeply ingrained sense of compassion, … [and] although, like many journalists, he had early ambitions to be a novelist, he found his true calling as a generous and articulate listener — responding to, reflecting on and encouraging the work of others.” David was survived by his wife, Alison; his three children, Elliott, Helen, and Andrew; and his three grandchildren. A memorial service was held in Macquarie Park Crematorium, North Ryde, Sydney, on August 3, 2019.

1949

Charles A. Steggerda, on March 1, 2019, following a brief illness. A four-year student from Windsor, Conn., Charles was involved in the Rifle Club, Radio Club, Darwin Club, Science Club, and Chess Club, and he earned a Rensselaer Medal at Commencement. He was active in soccer, tennis, skiing, and badminton. Charles earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his professional pursuits included specializing in the development of techniques and circuitry for the precision timing of events. In the late 1960s, Charles developed an event timer to detect single photons and time them accurately. It was used to measure the distance from the Earth to the moon with extraordinary precision after the NASA Apollo 11 astronauts left a retroreflector on the surface of the moon. In the 1970s, Charles developed circuitry used to make precision measurements of the differential progression of time as a function of altitude. Because of the possibility of variation with latitude, Charles traveled to Thule, Greenland, and to Christ Church, New Zealand, as well as to Patuxent Naval Air Station to carry out these measurements. His experiments helped confirm Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and enabled the existence of current GPS technology. In the 1980s, Charles extended his precision timing work with photons to allow a delayed random choice of aspects of the measurement, enabling an exquisite new test of the “spooky” features of quantum mechanics. Afterwards, Charles moved his research from the Physics Department of the University of Maryland to Honeywell, where he continued his work in the context of satellite and airborne laser ranging systems. Scottish dancing, hiking, and travel with his wife, Anne, were among Charles’s favorite pastimes. Predeceased by Anne, Charles was survived by his niece, Lynn Taylor; his nephew, Cyrus Taylor; and many friends. Funeral services were held at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Highland, Md., on March 7, 2019.

1952

Faith Eaton Dennis, on March 18, 2019, in Avon, Conn. A three-year Chaffee School student from Collinsville, Conn., where she was a lifelong resident, Faith was involved in the French Club, Glee Club, Chiel business staff, and school theater productions. She graduated from Canton High School and Bryant College and became the personal secretary for the lieutenant governor of Connecticut from 1975 until 1979. In 1993, Faith was inducted into the Connecticut State Hall of Fame for duckpin bowling. She was survived by her son, Leigh E. Dennis; her granddaughter, Sarah Dennis; her great-grandson, Taylor Dennis; and several nieces and nephews. An informal graveside service was held on April 19, 2019, at Village Cemetery in Collinsville.

George Brewer Thomas, on October 20, 2019, in North Canton, Ohio. A three-year student from West Hartford, Conn., George was involved in the Ski Club and Radio Club and was active in football, soccer, track, and hockey. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1956 from Earlham College, a master’s degree in divinity from Harvard University, and a master’s in business administration from Case Western Reserve University. George dedicated his life to helping others. He was an ordained minister of the Congregational Church; served as executive director of the Canton, Ohio, chapter of the American Red Cross; and was executive director of Stark County United Way. Committed to serving the community, George volunteered with numerous organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, and he served as commodore of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. His favorite pastimes included sailing and reading, and he was an avid marathon runner. He was a member of the John Metcalf Taylor Society. Preceded in death by his wife, Lois Eva (Farrell) Thomas, George was survived by his two children, Kristine Keppel and George Thomas, and their spouses; his four grandchildren; his two great-grandchildren; and several extended family members.

1955

Herbert C. Hallas, on December 30, 2019, in Farmingdale, N.Y. A four-year student from Windsor, Conn., Herb was active in the Press Club, Political Club, Glee Club, Chess Club, Foreign Policy Association, and Chapel and Assembly Committee, and he was on the Honor Roll for 1953–54. He earned varsity letters in football and baseball and was active in basketball. Herb earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where he played running back on the varsity football team. In 1958 he returned a punt against University of Pennsylvania for 94 yards, which, at the time of his passing, remained the Yale and Ivy League record for an individual punt return. Herb earned a master’s degree from Wesleyan University and a juris doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for excellent achievement in the study of constitutional law. After serving for six months in the U.S. Army, Herb worked as managing editor of The Windsor News-Weekly, a local news publication, and then as editor of TheConnecticut State Journal, a statewide monthly magazine covering state and local government and politics. In 1967, he began a 21-year career as a social studies teacher at Simsbury High School in Simsbury, Conn.

There, he created and developed the curriculum for courses in law, Russian studies, and contemporary issues, and he coached the freshman football team. In 1988, Herb and his family moved to Malone in northern New York state, where he taught U.S. history, government, and economics at Chateaugay High School. While there, Herb served as president of the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society. Admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1986 and New York in 1990, Herb practiced law until his retirement in 1999 and subsequent move to Farmingdale, N.Y., on Long Island. Herb’s proclivity for teaching, history, and the law came together in his writing. His five books included William Almon Wheeler: Political Star of the North Country, published by SUNY Press in 2013; Going Up South: Historical Gleanings from New York State’s North Country, published by Rivulet Ferry Press in 2016; Guardians of the Record: The Origins of Official Court Reporting and the Shorthand Writers Who Made It Possible, published by Rivulet Ferry Press in 2017; A History of Windsor: As Seen Through the Pages of The News-Weekly, published by Rivulet Ferry Press in 2018; and From A Through Z in Connecticut Courtrooms, a law text for high school students. In addition, Herb’s articles have been published in Franklin Historical Review, New York History Review, The New York History Blog, and his own blog. Herb was survived by his wife, Barbara Hallas; his son, Edmond Hallas, and Edmond’s spouse, Danielle Hallas; his brother, Henry C. Hallas ’59, and Henry’s spouse, Louise Hallas; his nieces, Katherine Hallas Stahl ’87 and Elizabeth M. Hallas ’90; and his three grandchildren.

1957

Charles L. Fidlar, on December 14, 2019, at his home in Norfolk, Conn., with family by his side. A four-year student from Windsor, Conn., Charles, who was a gifted musician and talented vocalist and violinist, was a student leader for several music-related organizations across campus. He served as concertmaster for the Combined Preparatory School Orchestra, president of the Glee Club, and music librarian of the Orchestra. He was involved in several musical productions and earned a Music Prize at Commencement. An athlete as well, Charles was active in football, wrestling, baseball, tennis, and track. After Commencement, he studied at Cornell University and New England Conservatory of Music, and he earned a doctorate in music conducting from Stanford University. He spent 17 years in the San Francisco Bay area before moving back to Norfolk, Conn. Charles enjoyed an extraordinary career and a number of professional accomplishments as a director and performer, including serving as founder and director of the West Bank Singers in West Hartford, music director for Gilbert and Sullivan principal comedian Martyn Green, choral director at Brown University, a member of the American Bach Soloists in San Francisco, and an assistant conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He also taught choral music for many years at Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted, Conn., where he shared his love of music with generations of young singers. According to the family obituary, “an enthusiasm for adventure truly defined Charles’s spirit,” in his work and his life. His adventurous experiences began at age 16, when he completed a cross-country bike ride through the western United States to Vancouver, Canada. He climbed California’s Mount Whitney in his 40s and drove solo cross-country a few times, and during his lifetime engaged in running, canoeing, rowing crew, boxing, playing squash, and “intense” badminton competitions. Charles is remembered for his “endlessly curious soul, … [his] passion for adventure, … and his admiration of persistence,” which he instilled into his children,

grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He remained connected to Loomis Chaffee throughout his life and served as a volunteer for his 50th and 60th reunions. In November 2016, Charles returned to the Island as a guest musician to conduct a masterclass with student vocalists in the Loomis Chaffee Chamber Singers. In a letter to the students following his visit, Charles wrote: “What is not so self-evident, when one is young, is how singing is a lifelong activity, an opportunity to encounter and create major artistic and philosophical cultural creations from the dawn of singing to the newest compositions, and to fall in love with the repertoire. Like any love, one has to ‘stick with it,’ so to speak.” He cherished the many friends he made on his life trajectory, including high school and college buddies. Charles married Marilyn Sharp Davidson ’57, who was his high school sweetheart. Charles was survived by Marilyn; his sister Karyl Fidlar Brod; his daughter Marilyn Fidlar Rodriguez and her husband, James; his son Will Fidlar; his step-daughter Elsa Davidson and her husband, Ali Bahrampour; his three grandchildren; his two great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends. A memorial service was held at Church of Christ Congregational in Norfolk on January 2.

1960

Former faculty member Bancroft Farrar Greene, on December 22, 2019, after several years of declining health. A two-year student from West Hartford, Conn., “Bank,” as he was known, was involved in Student Council, the Glee Club, the Loomistakes, the United Nations Model Assembly, the Foreign Policy Association, and the Northfield Religious Conference, and he served as president of Junto and co-editor of Loomiscellany. He made the Honor Roll in 1958–59 and was active in football, tennis, rifle, and wrestling. Bank earned a bachelor’s degree at Amherst College, a master’s degree in education from Yale University, and a master’s degree and doctorate from Union Presbytery Seminary in Richmond, Va. He became a certified pastoral counselor and lifelong educator, serving as headmaster at schools in Ohio, Louisiana, and Virginia. A cousin of former Head of School Fred Torrey, Bank taught history and served as assistant head of school at Loomis Chaffee from 1969 until 1974. A concern for children’s mental health and for the most vulnerable members of society inspired Bank’s dedicated involvement with organizations that supported children and families involved in substance abuse, and a prison ministry. He expressed an affinity for classical music and antique Ford automobiles, and throughout his life enjoyed summers in Jaffrey, N.H., “where his great-great-greatgrandfather was called to be the first settled minister in 1782,” according to the family obituary. Bank remained connected to Loomis Chaffee as a class agent and Reunion volunteer for many years and was a member of Common Good Society and John Metcalf Taylor Society. He is remembered as a “supportive and caring husband, a joyful, spirited father, … a grandfather who loved games, and a warm, loyal friend.” Bank was survived by his wife of 55 years, Susan Van der Eb Greene; his two sons, William Ainsworth Greene and Christiaan Van der Eb Greene, and their spouses; and his four grandchildren. A memorial service was held at the Brandermill Church, Midlothian, Va., on January 25.

1972

Donald D. Munro IV, on November 21, 2019, in the company of his family in Rockville, Md. A four-year student from Windsor Locks, Conn., Donald was involved in the Astronomy Club, Outward Bound Program, and rifle team. He was active in soccer. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College and a master’s degree from University of Maryland, Donald served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer. He settled in Germantown, Md., and became a group manager at BAE Systems technology company. He enjoyed genealogical study and took part in archaeological fieldwork at Ancestral Pueblo sites in New Mexico. Donald was survived by his wife, Young Nan Munro; his siblings, Cait Munro Upton and Andrew Munro ’77; and extended family members. A service was held on November 25, 2019, at Pumphreys Colonial Funeral Home followed by interment at Norbeck Memorial Park in Rockville, Md.

Former faculty

Oceanographic Research Institute in Massachusetts. Barbara lived intermittently on Vieques for 47 years and was a founding member of the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, where she worked to protect Mosquito Bay, the last surviving, largest, and most famous of Puerto Rico’s bio-luminescent bays. Barbara was survived by Jeffrey W. Baker, her husband of 65 years; her four children, Rebekah McGuire, Deborah A. Baker ’77, Jennifer D. Baker ’79, and Jonathan J. Baker ’84, and their spouses; her brother, John Bernache; and her 10 grandchildren.

Barbara Bernache-Baker

Barbara Bernache-Baker, on January 8, peacefully at her home on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Barbara taught biology at Loomis Chaffee from 1973 to 1990. Born in Hartford, Conn., Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College; master’s degrees from Wesleyan University and University of Leyden, Netherlands; and a doctorate from University of San Francisco. She carried out research for Harvard University at the Woods Hole

Donald Marshall Joffray Sr

Donald Marshall Joffray Sr., a keen mathematician, talented musician and craftsman, avid sportsman, and esteemed member of the Loomis Chaffee faculty and community, on February 21, in Old Lyme, Conn. Born in Richmond, Va., Don grew up in Longmeadow, Mass., and spent most of his adult life as a resident faculty on the Loomis Chaffee campus, where he paddled daily in the rivers and biked the Meadows. Don graduated from Wilbraham Academy in 1946 and earned a bachelor’s degree in math from Wesleyan University in 1950. He was a member of Wesleyan’s undefeated football team for two consecutive years and competed in basketball and track. He joined the Loomis Chaffee community

shortly after graduating from Wesleyan. He took time away to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a lieutenant junior grade on the destroyer ship USS Norris from 1952 until 1955. While in the Navy, he met the love of his life, Suzanne Clum. Don and Sue shared 64 years of marriage and raised three boys. Don was a major influence on his three sons’ lives and opened the doors to many of their interests. For 49 years as a member of the school community, “Joff,” as he was known on campus, was a respected and especially engaging math teacher, Darwin Club and Jazz Club advisor, dorm parent, and football, wrestling, and track coach. He enjoyed remaining in contact with his former students after Commencement and continuing to grow and learn from them as they experienced life as adults. Don’s former student, Steven H. Strogatz ’76, now a professor of applied mathematics at Cornell University, wrote The Calculus of Friendship: What a Teacher and Student Learned About Life While Corresponding About Math, published in 2009, which details Don and Steven’s 30-year correspondence on their shared love of calculus, and other life lessons learned. In the book’s forward Steven wrote, “… [W]hen I was just starting my career as a professor, … our correspondence began to flourish. The pattern was always the same: Mr. Joffray would write to ask for help with a problem that had stumped him, typically a question raised by one of his seniors in the most advanced math class at the school. When one of these letters arrived in the mail, I stopped whatever I was doing to see if I could help. For one thing, they posed fascinating little excursions off the beaten track of calculus. But maybe more importantly, they gave me a chance to explain math to someone who loved learning it, the best student any teacher could have, someone with perfect preparation and an evident sense of delight and gratitude.” Steven recently wrote, “Like many other [Loomis Chaffee] students, I will always cherish my memories of Mr. Joffray. He was a dear mentor, inspiration, and friend.” A lifelong learner, Don was a self-taught jazz musician, woodworker, and artist, and he was an avid birdwatcher and sailor. His woodworking projects included constructing nest boxes and osprey platforms that still are in use today, and he built a cabin over the water in Deer Isle, Maine. Don’s art projects included woodcarvings and illustrations of wildlife, many of which are on display in the homes of his family and friends. A true waterman, Don’s sporting pastimes included surfing, windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking on the waters of Long Island Sound, Hanalei Bay, and Penobscot Bay. In 1969, Don won the national championship in C-1 slalom canoeing and went on to compete in the World Championships in France, and his yacht-racing endeavors included a trans-Atlantic race with his father-in-law on the Kialoa. According to the family obituary, Don loved to “soar the thermals in his sailplane with the red-tailed hawks over western Connecticut.” He enjoyed teaching young people to sail during summers at West Hill Aquatic Camp. Don’s Math Department colleague Barry Moran shared this remembrance: “Don Joffray influenced me more than anyone else during my formative years of teaching. From the start, Joff ’s one-of-a-kind teaching style impressed and inspired me. In the classroom, he emphasized concepts and enhanced understanding with clear expositions, artistic diagrams, and even moments of theatrics. He was equally likely to display his unabashed love of good mathematics at the blackboard or at the Loomis Dining Hall lunch table. Simply put, Joff lived in a world that prompted and sometimes demanded mathematical description. Like a number of my colleagues, I have a folder full of treasured letters, written and illustrated by Joff, that describe mathematical problems inspired by events like a cross country ski jaunt, the flight of a snowy egret, or the momentary panic of a painter as his ladder slides down the side of a house. Whatever success I had in teaching was due in no small part to Don. I was fortunate to know him as a friend and mentor.” In 1999, Don and Sue retired by the coast in Old Lyme, Conn. They supported the local music scene for many years, spending Wednesday nights at the Mystic Steak Loft, where Don played jazz piano as a solo act and with local bands. Preceded in death by his son Donald Marshall Joffray Jr. ’75, Don was survived by his wife, Sue; his son Rexford Joffray ’76 and Rexford’s wife, Deborah; his son Jeffrey Joffray ’85 and Jeffrey’s wife, Jennifer; and his five grandchildren, including Jesse Joffray ’14 and Kalina Joffray ’15. A memorial service at Loomis Chaffee was planned for a later date. Gifts may be made in Don’s memory to the Donald Marshall Joffray Sr. Fund at Loomis Chaffee.

Gwendolyn Pierce

Gwendolyn Pierce, on January 30, after a six-year battle with cancer, in Carpinteria, Calif., with her husband by her side. Known as Wendy McAllister when she was a resident faculty member, admission associate, and parent at Loomis Chaffee from 1983 until 2001, Gwendolyn was a native of California, loved the water, and was a champion backstroke swimmer and water polo player in high school. Trained in modern and ballet dance, she channeled her talent and experience into choreography for school musicals, dance recitals, and fitness classes, and she performed in Disney parades. After high school, Gwendolyn earned a degree at Pasadena City College and continued her education at University of Southern California and University of Connecticut. After service in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, Gwendolyn settled in Connecticut, where she called Loomis Chaffee home for 19 years. She returned to California in 2001 to join the Cate School faculty in Carpinteria. According to those who knew her, Gwendolyn’s life and work were devoted to young people’s growth and education, and she was uniquely able to connect with teenagers by recognizing their individuality and treating them with kindness and respect. First at Loomis Chaffee and then at Cate School for 19 years, Gwendolyn immersed herself in the demands of boarding school life across her many roles, including as a school administrator, admissions faculty, dorm parent, academic advisor, choreographer, and fitness instructor. According to the family obituary, “Everything Gwendolyn touched — her succulent garden, a basket of goodies for a student’s birthday, the choreography for a flash mob — was infused with grace, meticulous attention to detail, and a desire to make life better.” Gwendolyn met Corey Welles in California, and the two were married in 2003. The couple shared an adventurous spirit and an affinity for the natural world. They enjoyed working together in their garden, which was known for its impressive collection of succulent plants and was featured in a Carpinteria garden tour. Gwendolyn was devoted to her family and enjoyed the time they were able to spend together. She especially delighted in the weddings of her two daughters. Gwendolyn was survived by her husband, Corey; her daughter

Rachel McAllister Sadler ’99 and Rachel’s husband, Henry; her daughter Lauren McAllister ’01 and Lauren’s husband, Paul Hendrick; her many loved ones; and her countless friends, current and former colleagues, current and former students, and alumni of both Loomis Chaffee and the Cate School. A celebration of Gwendolyn’s life took place on March 21 at the Cate School.

Walter Rabetz

Walter Rabetz, on November 4, 2019, unexpectedly from complications resulting from treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, after 25 years of living successfully with heart disease. Born in Europe during the Holocaust, Walter came to America at age 9 and quickly assimilated into the culture and learned to speak English. He attended Brooklyn College for two years, left to serve in the military, and then returned to earn his bachelor’s degree in economics. Inspired by Marilyn, his artist wife and partner of 57 years, Walter became an art photographer and earned a master’s degree in fine art from the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied with the renowned photography teachers Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind. Walter and Marilyn both taught in the Visual Arts Department at Loomis Chaffee for more than 37 years and remained connected to the school community in retirement, returning regularly to campus for alumni functions and arts receptions. Walter’s tenure at the school included teaching photography, printmaking, and ceramics, and he served as Visual Arts Department head and as co-director of the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery. As a resident faculty member, Walter was affiliated with Batchelder Hall for most of his years on the Island. A beloved teacher, Walter is as well-remembered for his intuitive and inspirational basketball coaching as he is for his art instruction. He coached boys JV basketball teams for 20 years and club basketball for many years afterwards. According to the family obituary, “Walter brought his whole self to teaching and basketball and art. He was an out-of-the-box thinker in life, in art, and in basketball. … He was a game coach in the truest sense as he could and would abandon all prepared plans for a game and respond to the moment — in the moment.” An extraordinarily creative artist, Walter’s work was recognized for its variety and uniqueness. His work has been shown in countless art exhibitions and has been printed in more than 30 books of photography and poetry, including many that he and Marilyn published together. Up until the last days of his life, Walter made photographs, was planning his next books, and wrote poetry. According to the family, “Walter truly loved Loomis Chaffee, its mission, and all it stood for.” He was survived by his wife, Marilyn: his daughter, Samantha Rabetz Healy ’89, and her husband, Patrick; his two granddaughters, Abigail and Eleanor; and his many former students, colleagues, and extended Loomis Chaffee family. Seth Beebe ’78 coached girls basketball at the same time as Walter coached boys, and he played alongside Walter in countless pickup games on campus. Seth says he continues to honor Walter’s basketball legacy as a coach and a lover of the game. At a memorial service held on November 14, 2019, at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., Seth said, “Walter was, in the 1980s and 1990s, the maestro of Erickson Gym at [The] Loomis Chaffee School, whether he was conducting his junior varsity boys basketball teams, orchestrating the frequent pickup games, or dissecting the action afterwards from the front row. The musical analogy even holds when it comes to the JV play calling, as Beethoven was not only a great composer, but an extremely effective half-court play for Walter’s teams. Walter loved to play mind games, trying to take full advantage of his opponents’ weaknesses. ‘Beethoven!’ would soon be followed by ‘Williston!’ The Williston team would be struck dumb by the fact that Loomis had a play especially designed for them. Of course, that was not the case, for the Williston play became the Choate play and then became the Deerfield play depending on that day’s opponents. There is a seminal book on basketball, Heaven is a Playground. If heaven is a playground (and I’d like to believe it is), then Walter has got next.” Three friends from the Class of 1972, Palmer Davis, Larry Richmond, and Laurence Waltman, spoke of the great impact Walter had on their learning and their lives when he began teaching at Loomis in 1970. Palmer, who was inspired by Walter to be an artist and teach photography himself, said, “[Walter] regarded his young photographers not as adolescents in need of molding, but as fully conscious human beings with something valuable to say. He freed us from fear and self-doubt so that we were able to really explore creatively. Walter wasn’t just teaching the art of photography. He was teaching the art of life. … [As an adult] I’ll never forget the day Walter came to speak at one of my classes in the International Center of Photography. As I watched my students being captivated by his poignant photographs, … [I] was back at Loomis, being enlightened by Walter’s exuberant presence — one we will always feel — in his photographs, his books, his writings, and in our hearts.” After Walter and Marilyn retired to Westchester, N.Y., Palmer, Larry, and Laurence regularly attended cultural events in and around the area with Walter and Marilyn, Laurence recounted at the memorial service. Together the group visited museums, art spaces, or events and then shared a meal while engaged in lively and enjoyable discussions about art, politics, and life. Laurence noted that Walter continued to expand his knowledge and experience in photography throughout his life and embraced smartphone technology and social media for composing, editing, and sharing his work. According to Laurence, Walter’s inspirational photos were “spiritual and poetic” and had the power to transport people. “Walter, we will forever miss your [art], your warmth, your passion, your love of life, your generosity, and your amazing, contagious smile,” Larry wrote in a letter to inform the school of Walter’s passing. “The Rabetzes dedicated their entire professional life to [The] Loomis Chaffee School and its students, and their impact was enormous. Words cannot express how profound an effect Walter had on my life. I was going in the wrong direction at the wrong time, but Walter took an interest in me. He believed in me from the day we met and throughout life’s journey. He never lost track and was always curious, insightful, caring, and funny whenever we talked or spent time together. [He] was a giant in the world of photography, … and a great ambassador for Loomis Chaffee.”

donation of plants and pies to the club’s annual sale. Preceded in death by her husband, Walter, Marilyn was survived by her four children, Walter B. Spencer III ’71, Mary L. Spencer, Sarah S. Spencer Strickland ’74, and Katherine M. Spencer Dono- van ’79, and their spouses; and her three grandchildren, including Au- gust S. Donovan ’18 and sophomore Cooper L. Donovan. The family held a private interment at the Old West Cemetery in Manchester, Conn.

Marilyn Eliza Lincoln Spencer

Marilyn Eliza Lincoln Spencer, on November 5, 2019, surrounded by her children. Marilyn was a graduate of Dexter High School and the Sister’s Hospital School of Nursing in Water- ville, Maine. Marilyn devoted her life to nurturing the people and natural world around her. She married Walter B. Spencer Jr. in 1952, and together they raised their family of four chil- dren. A cornerstone member of the Loomis Chaffee community for more than 25 years, Marilyn was responsi- ble for elevating the Health Center director position to the level of faculty, and during her tenure in the role, she was a tireless advocate for support- ing students’ physical and emotional well-being through education and therapy. She was a founding member of the Independent School Health Association. “As the daughter of flo- rists, Marilyn was possessed of a green thumb and was passionate about her garden as a source of enjoyment and for her own well-being,” according to the family obituary. She is remem- bered for keeping artful arrangements of fresh flowers in her indoor living spaces. In retirement, Marilyn nur- tured her love of art as a volunteer at the Portland Museum of Art and by spending time on her own painting. She devoted many volunteer hours in fundraising for the restoration of the historic McLellan House in Portland, Maine, through cookbook sales. A longtime member of the Longfellow Garden Club, Marilyn contributed to Portland beautification through the

Former Staff

Raymond Frost, on May 29, 2019, in Windsor, Conn. Raymond was born in Hartford to James M. and Emma Hoskins DeMay Frost. He worked in the Physical Plant as a custodial engineer for more than 30 years. Seth Beebe ’78 remembers him as “a gentle giant known for his prodigious strength.” Raymond was survived by members of his extended Frost and DeMay families. A me- morial service was held on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at Carmon Funeral Home in Windsor.

More News

The Alumni Office has learned of the passing of Jolyon Simeon Tucker ’43 on May 8, 2018; Jean M. Bishop Helliesen ’44 on February 16, 2020; S. Blaisdell Wight ’47 on July 3, 2019; Mary Faith Parker Donaldson ’49 on January 23, 2020; Alice Ford Ferraina ’53 on January 28, 2020; John Everton Davison ’58 on February 9, 2020; Harold A. Sykes III ’58 on July 13, 2019; David G. Ahern ’60 on February 5, 2020; Dwight M. Harris ’61 on January 2, 2020; Cynthia Mather Winter ’61 on February 10, 2018; Dennis A. Knurek ’63 on January 23, 2020; Jamie Lee Martin ’05 on January 26, 2020; John Michael Greiner ’09 on December 25, 2019; former Loomis Chaffee Trustee Mathew Bender IV on February 23, 2020; and former faculty member David Robert Lusby Simpson on January 24, 2020. More information, as available, will be printed in future editions.