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Obituaries

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Object Lesson

Object Lesson

1933

Ruth Loomis Havlick, on November 21, 2020, at age 105, in Cheshire, Conn. A two-year student from Windsor, Conn., Ruth was involved with the Junior Prom Committee, Chaffers, and Epilogue Board, and she served as secretary-treasurer of her class. She was active on the basketball team. Married to Roy W. Havlick, Ruth was a resident of Cheshire since 1950 and was a longtime member of many community groups, including the Cheshire Congregational Church and the Lady Fenwick Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution. She also volunteered for many years at Waterbury Hospital. An avid and accomplished knitter and seamstress, Ruth, who was known as “Nina” to her family, presented welcome gifts of hand-crafted baby blankets, hats, and sweaters to new infant arrivals and their parents. Ruth also excelled at baking and showed kindness to others with home-baked bread and sweet treats, including her specialty, lemon meringue pie. According to the family obituary, Ruth “was a firm believer in daily exercise to stay young and healthy, and she attributed her longevity to walking two miles every day, regardless of the New England weather.” Preceded in death by her husband, Roy, and her son Jonathan, Ruth was survived by her son Jeffrey Havlick and his wife, Kate Burke; her daughter-in-law Roberta Havlick; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Due to COVID-19, a private memorial service was planned for a later date.

1942

Robert L. Purinton, on August 5, 2020, in Northampton, Mass. A four-year student from Waterbury, Conn., Bob served as vice president of the Executive Committee of Endowment Fund, news editor of The Log, art editor of Loomiscellany, and chairman of the Founders Committee. He was involved in the French Club and Music Club and was cast in several theatrical productions. Bob was captain of the fencing team and was active in football, tennis, and soccer. Bob entered Loomis as a freshman at age 13, and upon graduation at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in World War II. After the end of the war, he attended Harvard College but left before graduating to pursue a dance career in New York City. He later moved to California, retired to Florida, and then moved north to Windsor, Conn., and then Northampton, Mass., to be closer to family. A self-taught knitter and sewer, Bob designed and created some of his own clothes. He was an avid traveler and an accomplished bridge player, and he remained active through his 80s and into his 90s by line-dancing and cycling. According to his niece, former Loomis faculty member Amanda Howe, Bob was “an inspiration and will be remembered for living life to the fullest.” He was preceded in death by his brothers, John Purinton ’37 and Charles Purinton ’39, and was survived by his nephew, Charlie Purinton ’67, and extended family members, including Erin Howe ’19.

1943

James Albert Evans, on January 1, peacefully, in Camden, Maine. A four-year student from Forest Hills, N.Y., Jim was involved in the Glee Club, Nautical Club, and Student Council, and was he cast in theatrical productions of Dead End and Pirates of Penzance. He was a sergeant in Military Drill and was active in hockey, baseball, skiing, and tennis and earned a varsity letter in football. Jim completed one semester at Yale University before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. While he was serving as a corporal in the Army’s 86th Infantry Division, Jim’s regiment went to Europe in 1945 and joined Patton’s troops in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Jim completed his bachelor’s degree in 1949 and earned a master’s degree in architecture in 1952 at Yale, where he had the privilege of learning from modernist architect Louis Kahn, whom Jim considered a mentor and an inspiration. After his training, Jim enjoyed a lifetime’s interest in the study and practice of professional architecture. Jim married Barbara Ann Grace in 1951, and the young family relocated to Switzerland in 1952 for his first job. After returning to New York and working for several architectural firms, Jim and his family settled in New Canaan, Conn., in 1957, when he opened his architecture practice, James Evans Associates. Known for the mid-century modern style of architecture, Jim’s firm designed numerous commercial and residential buildings in the Tri-State area, across the country, and around the world, for which the company developed a reputation for innovation and earned many accolades. His work has been catalogued in professional journals and websites pertaining to modernist architecture. In 1961, Jim designed and built his unique vision for a home — a “glass dream house” — in New Canaan, Conn., where the family lived until 1978. He and Barbara moved into Vantage Point Condominiums in 1978, another project of his design, that overlooked the water in Norwalk, Conn. Jim enjoyed working on architectural projects and did not officially retire until he was 90 years old, remaining a consultant to friends and family afterwards. After losing Barbara to illness, Jim married Ellen Sperry Fleming in 1990. Throughout his long life, Jim was an avid traveler, exploring the world and its cultures, which he especially enjoyed with the company of his family members. At the age of 94, he and his daughter Sarah traveled to Egypt and cruised the Nile. In addition to being a lifelong learner, Jim’s favorite pastimes included sailing and sail racing, downhill skiing, reading, astronomy, and keeping up with new technology, including computer-assisted drafting for architecture as well as smartphones and social media. Jim was known for “tinkering,” or perpetually fixing things. According to the family obituary, he was “enamored of duct tape and used it creatively to keep his aging appliances (and clothes) in working order. … [and] he attributed his longevity to viewing his glass as always ‘half full.’” He will be remembered for his “adaptable nature, positive spirit, perseverance, work ethic, humility, gratitude, thirst for adventure, and for his desire to keep learning and adapting to modern life.” Predeceased by his first wife, Barbara Grace, in 1988, Jim was survived by his second wife, Ellen Fleming Evans; his children, Juliette Evans Case, Sarah Evans Dwelley, and Peter Evans, and their spouses; his stepchildren, Ward Fleming, Candace Fleming French, and Tim Fleming; his six grandchildren, including Charles Evans ’11; and several extended family members. A memorial service was planned when COVID-19 health and safety allow.

1944

John Barbe, on December 20, 2020, peacefully in Athens, Ga. A one-year student from Scarsdale, N.Y., John was involved in the Concert Orchestra, Dance Band, and Delta Six, and was he president of the Jazz Club. He was active in football, basketball, and track. John served in the infantry and in U.S. Army band during World War II and later graduated from the Juilliard School of Music in 1950. In the 1950s he played saxophone and clarinet and wrote musical arrangements for big bands, most notably the Buddy Morrow Orchestra. In 1960, he married Millicent “Jane” Schneider, after which the couple moved to Atlanta and became part of a small but growing music business. John enjoyed a long professional music career as a composer,

arranger, and occasional performer in Atlanta, working at times with a variety of ensembles, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Joe South, an award-winning popular music artist of the 1970s. John composed hundreds of commercial jingles, including for Coca-Cola Company, Delta Airlines, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves, and James Brown’s Gold Platter Restaurant. He was a founding and lifetime member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy, serving that organization as a Grammy Awards judge for 20 years. In 2015, John and his wife were enshrined in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. John was an intellectual and a member of Mensa, who enjoyed studying his family’s genealogical history. According to the family obituary, he discovered more than “90 generations of ancestors, including eight emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne, William of Orange, and Harold ‘Blue Tooth’ Gormsson, a 10th-century Scandinavian ruler, as well as distant relatives that included Thomas Jefferson and Britney Spears.” John will be remembered for his intellect, sense of humor, and deep appreciation for music as well as his kindness and generosity. Preceded in death by his wife, Jane, and his brother, Stephen Barbe ’38, John was survived by his children, David Barbe and Shoshana Stubin, and their spouses; and his six grandchildren. An online memorial service for family and friends took place on January 6, and an in-person celebration of his life was planned for spring.

1945

Donald Spencer Barber, on December 9, 2020, peacefully at his home in Williston, Vt. A fouryear student from Windsor, Conn., Don made Honor Roll all four years at Loomis. He was involved in the Concert Orchestra, Darwin Club, and Advisory Committee, and he played in the pit orchestra for theatrical productions. Don was active in football, baseball, track, soccer, and tennis. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Amherst College and a medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Don began his medical internship at Maine General Hospital in Portland, Maine, in 1953 and then left to serve two years in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass., before returning to complete his residency at Maine General Hospital in 1956. With his first wife, Alice Tomkievich King of Bloomfield, Conn., whom he married in 1952, Don had four children. He married Ida Pike DeGoosh Barber, his second wife, in 1979 after Alice had passed away. Don enjoyed a long professional career in medicine, which he began as a general practitioner and evolved into specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics. He spent seven years in Billerica, Mass., then moved to the towns of Johnson and later Morrisville in Lamoille County, Vt. When he retired in 1986, Don had been an attending physician at Copley Hospital in Morrisville for more than 20 years. A talented musician, Don played violin with the Portland (Maine) Symphony and the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra. He played cello with the Cheshire (Connecticut) Symphony Orchestra and with a variety of string quartets and chamber ensembles through the years. Later in life, he enjoyed playing piano and duets with friends and family. His interests included researching family genealogy, and he wrote three book editions of The Connecticut Barbers, a Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas Barber of Windsor, Connecticut. Preceded in death by his first wife, Alice; his second wife, Ida; his son Thomas Barber; his sister, Elizabeth Barber Dougherty ’50; and his uncle, Ralph Spencer ’23, Don was survived by his brother Robert Barber ’48; his children Susan Barber Hackney, Robert Barber, and Penny Barber; his stepchildren, Eileen Degoosh Perkins and Anita DeGoosh; and his four grandchildren. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a celebration of Don’s life was planned for later in the spring or summer of 2021, and burial was planned in Windsor.

1946

Bruce Eliot Bidwell, on November 9, 2020. A three-year student from Hartford, Conn., Bruce was involved in the Darwin Club, Ping Pong Club, Chemistry Club, Rifle Club, and Debating Club, and he served on Senior Library Committee and the fire-fighting squad. He was active in soccer, hockey, track, and tennis. Bruce earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1950 as a member of the college’s “Great Middle Class,” so named because it was the largest in Harvard’s history due to the return of many World War II veterans. Bruce served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the USS Baltimore and was stationed with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. He was a member of the first U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School class in Newport, R.I. In 1954, he joined the family business, Bidwell Hardware Company on Main Street in Hartford, which was founded by his grandfather, Frederick Clark Bidwell in 1901. Bruce succeeded his father, Eliot Bidwell ’20, as company president in 1972 during a difficult economy. When the company closed in 1976, Bruce became a representative for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a marketing representative for companies developing construction product directories and trade shows. From 1989 to 1991, Bruce served as editor of The Connecticut Architect and Specifier, a trade publication that he co-founded. He married Jane Noss in 1954, and the couple raised a family of four children. The couple divorced in 1984. In 1991, Bruce married Roberta (Robin) Lockwood Roy, with whom he became a member of Hartford’s Center Church. The church became a major focus of their lives. With a background in construction and an interest in historic preservation, Bruce served as chairman of Center Church’s Property Committee for 30 years. The preservation needs of a 200-year-old church are many, and he took pride in his stewardship of the building as well as the relationships he forged among the contractors, tradespeople, and community. A descendant of John Biddell (Bidwell), one of the founders of Hartford, Bruce belonged to several organizations related to his interest in his family heritage and Hartford-area history, including the Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford, Ancient Burying Ground Association, Wintonbury Historical Society, and Connecticut Historical Society. He served as president of the Harvard Club of Northern Connecticut for a time, and for many years he interviewed prospective students as a member of Harvard’s Schools Committee. A lover of the outdoors, especially Connecticut’s beautiful waterways, Bruce enjoyed fly-fishing even when he didn’t catch a fish, according to the family obituary, and his passion inspired the outdoor pursuits of his family members. Encouraged by his son to record his memories, Bruce published Reflections - A Family Memoir when he was 90 years old in 2019. Bruce had the good fortune of being healthy throughout his long life, until just the last few weeks. Predeceased by his father, Eliot, and his brother, John Bidwell ’50, Bruce was survived by his wife, Robin; his children, Matthew E. Bidwell ’76, Christopher L. Bidwell, Julie R. Bidwell, and Jeremy N. Bidwell, and their spouses; his nine grandchildren; his great-granddaughter; and many extended family members. Due to the pandemic, plans for a memorial service at Center Church were planned for a later date.

Arline Louise Doxsee Herriot, on December 29, 2020, in Farm-

ington, Conn. Arline was secretary of the Athletic Association and editor of the yearbook. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in library science from Wellesley College. For many years, Arline served as head cataloger at the Raymond Library in East Hartford, Conn. Among her favorite pastimes, Arline enjoyed entertaining and socializing, including with other Chaffee School alumnae, with whom she remained friends through the decades. She was a regular contributor during the early days of the Chaffee Book Club. A devotee to arts and culture, Arline was a regular audience member at Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood, and other venues. A lifelong swimmer and sailor, Arline was eager to join any water-oriented activity. In her younger years, she skied and played tennis, and later, she practiced yoga well into her 80s. Arline enjoyed extensive travel experiences with family and friends that included visits to Great Britain, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and across the United States. She especially loved a visit to Kenya. Predeceased by her daughter, Debra Jane Grant Henault, and her sister, Eleanor Doxsee Britton ’45, Arline was survived by her brothers, Irwin Doxsee ’50 and Larry Doxsee ’52; her sons, Arnold Jay Grant and his wife, Eileen, and Robert William Grant and his partner, Christine Hart; her two granddaughters; her two great-grandsons; and many extended family members. A celebration of life was planned at a future date.

1947

Robert H. Wilson Jr., on October 14, 2020, peacefully at home in Sun City West, Ariz. A four-year student from Hartford, Conn., Bob was involved in the Concert Orchestra, Rifle Club, Bridge Club, Glee Club, Photography Club, Political Club, and Student Federalists. He served on the Editorial Board of Loomiscellany, the Athletic Council, and Halloween Night Patrol, and he was cast in a theater production of Trial by Jury. Bob was active in football, basketball, and baseball and earned a varsity letter in wrestling. After Loomis, Bob earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and worked for Aetna Insurance until his retirement in 1986. According to his son, Rob Wilson ’80, Bob always spoke well of his time at Loomis and was a frequent contributor to Loomis Chaffee organizations. He was survived by Nancy, his wife of 60 years; his children, Cynthia A. McCallum and Rob; and two grandchildren.

1949

Peter Bouse Cascio, on December 18, 2020, in Virginia Beach, Va. A three-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Peter was involved in the Reception Committee, Jazz Club, and Bridge Club and was on the Log Board. He was active in football, basketball, tennis, and skiing. Peter earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He interrupted his study at Harvard to join the Air National Guard and complete the U.S. Air Force pilots’ training program. Peter spent a year as a first officer with Trans World Airlines before returning to Harvard to complete his master’s degree. In 1957, Peter joined his father and began a 20year career working at the Peter Cascio Nursery in West Hartford. He returned to military service and spent four years as commander of the 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the Connecticut National Guard before he moved the family to Alabama in 1978 to attend the USAF Air War College. Peter also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Auburn University in Alabama. In 1981, Peter was selected as Air National Guard advisor to the director of Air Force Plans at the Pentagon, which involved moving his family to Arlington, Va., for five years. After more than 32 years of service in the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserves, Peter retired in 1986 with the rank of colonel. He then spent 21 years with the Army Corps of Engineers in Military Programs at Fort Belvoir, Va., and fully retired from service in 2008. He remained connected to Loomis Chaffee as a member of the John Metcalf Taylor Society. Predeceased by his wife, Barbara Ellis, and their son, Harlan, Peter was survived by his daughter, Anna Kate Cascio; his siblings, Joseph A. Cascio ’52, Anthony Lucian “Lu” Cascio ’53, and Joan Griswold; his two granddaughters; and many extended family members. Interment with honors, alongside his wife Barbara, at the Columbarium in Arlington National Cemetery was planned for a later date.

1950

Elizabeth Barber Dougherty, on October 13, 2016, in Newington, Conn. From Windsor, Conn., Betsy was active on the Athletics Association and played field hockey. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bates College and then earned her certification as a registered occupational therapist from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy and worked for the state of Connecticut as an occupational therapist for more than 40 years. Betsy was a volunteer for the American School for the Deaf and committed time to helping people with hearing disabilities in her home community. For more than 40 years, Betsy was a devout member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, where she was involved with the deaf ministry and library. Her community connections included the Newington Senior Center and the National Audubon Society. According to the family obituary, Betsy was a lifelong student who “valued education, enjoyed her family, her beloved pets, gardening, and teaching sign language.” Preceded in death by her husband, James Dougherty, and her brother, Donald Barber ’45, Betsy was survived by her children, Ronald Dougherty and Linda Dougherty; her brother, Robert Barber ’48; her granddaughter and great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held on October 18, 2016, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, and burial took place in Rose Hill Memorial Park in Rocky Hill, Conn.

James Henry McGrath III, on October 23, 2020, at his home in Charlottesville, Va. A two-year student from Baltimore, Md., Jim was involved in the Sportsman Club, Jazz Club, Ping Pong Club, Outing Club, and Barbell Club. A talented athlete, Jim lettered on the varsity football team and served as captain. He was active in basketball, track, and baseball. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia and a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University, and he was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Jim met his wife, Barbara, at General Electric, where he began his long and successful career in business. He subsequently held consulting and executive positions with McKinsey & Company, Pennwalt Corporation, and Siecor Corporation. Jim and Barbara raised their family in Paoli, Pa. Upon retirement, the couple moved to Charlottesville, Va., “a natural location” according to the family obituary, given that Jim and all of his children are University of Virginia graduates. There, Jim and Barbara enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren and traveled extensively. Jim was an active member of the Catholic Church throughout his life, notably at the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, and in retirement held leadership roles in the Charlottesville and University of Virginia communities. He was the co-founder, longtime president, and board member of the

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Virginia (formerly Jefferson Institute for Lifelong Learning), past president of the Charlottesville chapter of the University of Virginia Alumni Association, past president of his fraternity’s board of directors, past president of the Beacon Club (men’s dinner club), a past member of the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging board of directors, and a member of the University Village Home Owners Association board of directors. Jim was survived by Barbara, his wife of 59 years; his children, Jane McGrath Neal, Susan McGrath Smith, and James Henry McGrath IV, and their spouses; and his nine grandchildren. A private funeral mass was planned at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

1951

F. Donald Brigham Jr., on January 10, due to complications caused by COVID-19. A threeyear student from Darien, Conn., Don was involved in the Nautical Club and Bridge Club, and he served as president of Student Council, chairman of the Intramural Athletic Council, and president of the Athletic Council. He was an English exchange student from 1951 to 1952 with an International Schoolboy Fellowship. A talented athlete, Don played hockey and earned varsity letters in football and tennis, for which he was team co-captain. At Commencement, Don was awarded the Gwendolen Sedgwick Batchelder Prize for Industry, Loyalty, and Manliness. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University, where he played rugby, was a member of the Ivy Club, and nurtured his passion for the study of history during a semester abroad with the English-Speaking Union. He later traveled repeatedly to England, where he maintained long-established friendships from that time. After Princeton, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Upon returning to Connecticut, Don worked for Gulf Oil and reconnected with Kathleen “Kay” Johnson, whom he had known through friends in high school. Don married Kay in 1959. Don and Kay moved from Middletown to Ridgefield and finally settled in New Canaan, Conn., to raise their family of four children. In that time, Don became treasurer and then vice president of National Distillers and Chemical Corporation, which became known later as Quantum Chemical and where he enjoyed a long career until he retired in 1988. Don and Kay then relocated to Washington, Conn., where they had space for farm animals, family gatherings, and grandchildren. In retirement, Don worked with at-risk students through a Princeton mentoring program and enthusiastically participated in local politics. Groton Long Point remained a constant family gathering place as Don and Kay moved to Old Saybrook and then to Mystic, Conn. According to the family obituary, “Don never met a body of water he did not love. Be it in a stream in Vermont, a swimming pool in New Canaan or the rocky shoreline of Groton Long Point, it would only be a matter of time before he was submerging himself and taking a long stroke before inviting us all to join him. Some individuals make a big splash; others create ripples that reach people far beyond their immediate shore. Don made ripples, believing in the impact of repeated and intentional strokes, ones that always focused on another person’s needs and interests.” He was survived by Kay, his wife of 62 years; his children, Michael Brigham, Chris Brigham, Jean Chant, and Kathleen Brigham, and their spouses and partners; and his 12 grandchildren, who refer to him fondly as “Pedro.”

Owen Sims Garner, on October 12, 2020, at home in Copley, Ohio, after a long and determined battle with Parkinson’s disease. A two-year student from Hamden, Conn., Owen was involved in

the Outing Club, Ski Club, Jazz Club, and Stagehands Union, and he served as vice president and treasurer of the Radio Club and in the Special Projects Group. He was active in hockey and tennis. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in 1955 with an ROTC commission. He graduated in 1956 from U.S. Air Force Pilot Training School at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., and went on to fly B-25 bombers and KC-97 re-fueling airplanes during the Cold War. Owen spent his last 18 months on active duty at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. According to the family obituary, “His first son, Richard, was born while he sat at the end of the runway awaiting orders to take off for the ill-fated Cuban Missile Crisis.” After leaving active duty he remained on active reserve for 28 years as the Southern New England liaison officer for the Air Force Academy. During that time, Owen graduated from the USAF War College and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His civilian career was spent in management at the Southern New England Telephone Company, from which he retired after 25 years. Owen married Elizabeth “Libby” Dougherty, and the couple raised three children in their 64-year union. Among his many pastimes, Owen was an avid sailor. “It’s the same as flying, just slower,” he is remembered for saying. Upon retiring to Southport, N.C., which was close to his son, John, Owen returned to flying as a hobby. There, he served as an airport commissioner for the Cape Fear Regional Jet Port – Howie Franklin Field for 19 years. Owen was a lifelong ham radio operator, and from the age of 16 until shortly before his death, he made many friends across the airwaves. He and Libby relocated to Copley, Ohio, in 2019 to be close to their daughter, Sharon. As a resident of Concordia at Sumner in Copley, Owen became known as “The Piano Man” because he brought enjoyment to himself and others playing “oldies” tunes on the residence’s baby grand piano. Owen was survived by his wife, Libby; his sister, Betsey Garner Hendrick; his children, Richard, John, and Sharon, and their spouses; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren with others on the way. Owen was laid to rest in Whitneyville Cemetery in the Garner Family plot in Hamden, Conn. Due to COVID-19, endof-life ceremonies were planned for a later date.

1953

Thomas Melvin Reed, on November 11, 2020, peacefully at Seabury in Bloomfield, Conn. A four-year Honor Roll student from West Hartford, Conn., Tom was active with the Student Council, Senior Day Boy Committee, Senior Library Committee, Reportorial Board of The Log, Literary Board of Loomiscellany, Handbook Board, and Le Cercle Français. He was active in football and baseball and lettered in basketball. Tom was a member of Cum Laude Society. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in 1957 and began his 40-year career with Aetna Insurance Company in July of that same year. He retired as a manager in Underwriting in 1997. An avid sports enthusiast, Tom was a devoted fan of both the New York Giants football team and the New York Mets baseball team, and he coached youth sports for many years. A lifelong resident of West Hartford, Tom participated in civic and social activities there and was an active member in the Unitarian Society of Hartford. Golf, reading, socializing with neighbors, and travel — especially to Cape Cod — were among Tom’s favorite pastimes. He remained connected to Loomis Chaffee as a member of the Common Good Society. Tom is remembered for his sense of humor and for being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Predeceased by his son, Kenneth D. Reed, and his brother David S. Reed ’49, he was survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy DeWitt Reed; his brother Eugene Reed ’61; his daughter, Tricia Reed Tilley, and her husband, Ray; his three grandchildren; and several extended family members, including his niece, Elizabeth “Betsy” Reed ’86. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Life was planned for a future date.

1955

Robert Wallace Duff, on October 31, 2020, in Lancaster, Pa., with his family at his side. A two-year student from Hamden, Conn., Bob was president of the Glee Club and The Pelicans singing group; was cast in theatrical productions of The Mikado and Androcles and the Lion; served as secretary of Student Council, chairman of the Dance Committee, and treasurer of the Loomis Development Committee; was active in the Rifle Club; and played tennis. Bob earned the John Edmond Barss Memorial Prize at Commencement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Princeton University, where he continued his enjoyment of singing with vocal music groups that included the Tigertones and the Boomerangs. In 1973, Bob married Sandy Scheidel and, as a result, became stepfather to her four children. Bob spent his entire professional life with the Bethlehem Steel Corp., and his successful career included roles in New York City; Bethlehem, Pa.; Chesterton, Ind.; and Baltimore, Md. Upon his retirement in 1999, he and Sandy moved to Wilmington, N.C., where playing golf became one of Bob’s favorite pastimes. Later, the couple moved to Lancaster to be closer to their children and grandchildren. According to the family obituary, Bob lived a “full, loving, and generous life.” He was survived by his wife, Sandy; his sister, Julie Duff Moore; and his children and grandchildren. Eleanor Grubbs Hetrick, on November 11, 2020, with her family by her side in Phoenix, Ariz. Born in Hartford, Conn., to longtime Loomis Headmaster and Trustee Francis Grubbs and his wife, Frances, “Ellie,” as she was known, attended Chaffee from 1951 to 1953. She was involved in the Glee Club. She completed her high school education at Emma Willard College-Preparatory School and then earned a bachelor’s degree in child education at Vassar College. Ellie worked primarily as a teacher and educator of school-age children, most recently at Scottsdale Coronado High School, before retiring in 2013. Ellie married Charlie Rice in 1961, and the couple raised three sons, Tyler, Dan, and Jonathan Rice. Ellie later married George Hetrick in 1976, and together they welcomed a daughter, Jennifer. For more than 50 years, Ellie was an active member of Memorial Presbyterian Church of Phoenix, where she was an Elder, taught Sunday school, and, until very recently, played in the handbell ensemble. She was involved in Phoenix-area community theater productions, was an enthusiastic sports fan — especially of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team — and was an avid reader. According to the family obituary, Ellie will be most remembered for the ways “she modeled discipleship and strong family values. She loved life and loved her family immensely. She never forgot a birthday. She made it a priority to attend and encourage all of her children’s and grandchildren’s events. She celebrated everything with family and hosted many family gatherings. She loved and stayed in meaningful contact with family and her friends. She was loved and will be greatly missed.” Preceded in death by her parents, her two former husbands, Charlie and George, and by her son Dan, Ellie was survived by her brother, Denny; her children Tyler, Jonathan, and Jennifer and their spouses; her 10 grandchildren; her seven great- grandchildren; and many

extended family members. Due to COVID-19, a memorial service was planned for a later date.

Patricia Truitt Mayer, on October 19, 2020, at home in Webster, Texas, with her family by her side. A four-year student from Hartford, Conn., Patty was active in the Glee Club, Chaffers, and Political Club and served as manager of Chiel. While at Chaffee, she met Frederick Mayer ’54, and after a six-year courtship, Patty and Fred were married. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Smith College while he attended West Point. Their wedding took place on Fred’s graduation day in the Cadet Chapel at West Point. Throughout Fred’s 22-year military service, Patty relocated with the family’s two children more than 16 times to various postings across the United States and abroad, including in Korea and the United Kingdom. Patty embraced the many opportunities and challenges she faced as a military wife; in Korea she taught children to read English; bravely endured living in conflict areas far away from home; and became skilled in rifle shooting. In 1980, Patty started taking on professional roles outside the home when Fred retired from the U.S. Army, and the family relocated to Killeen, Texas. Her impressive resume from that time included roles as a senior partner in a home building firm, a newspaper editor, a printing business entrepreneur, and in public service on the City Council. Later, Patty worked at a male-dominated financial firm whose clientele was largely military service officers. She was recognized for her work and promoted to manage the firm’s offices in Fort Hood, Austin, and Clearlake, Texas. Patty and the family relocated to Houston in 1990 when Fred assumed a role at NASA, and she became involved with several community organizations in Houston. A talented seamstress, Patty was a founding member and served in leadership roles of a quilting guild in her Houston-area home of Lakeview. Her designs won awards at quilting competitions, and many of her quilts are on display at the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange. Patty’s many pastimes included reading books of all types, socializing, writing, quilting, hunting, fishing, traveling, and making beautiful homes for her family throughout their many moves. Patty is remembered by her family for being “a classy lady — beautiful, charming and intelligent,” who led an extraordinary life as a scholar, an “Army wife,” and a respected career woman. Patty was survived by Fred, her husband of 62 years; her children, Nina Olson and Mark Mayer; her three grandchildren; and many extended family members.

1957

Dorothy Elizabeth Hearn Pratt, on July 9, 2020, peacefully in Deer Isle, Maine. A four-year student from Hartford, Conn., Dorothy was a survivor of the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944. At Chaffee she was involved in the Constitution Revision Committee, Chaffers, and Glee Club, and she served as president of Student Council. She attended Connecticut College, Yale University, and Yale School of Art and Architecture. Committed to helping people, Dorothy founded art camps and alternative schools and was a beloved teacher, artist, and therapist. She was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and her home in Coventry, Conn., served as a zendo for the Living Dharma Center for many years. Dorothy was survived by her children, Alex Pratt and Nina Pratt Fleming ’85; her two grandchildren; her brother, Richard Hearn; her ex-spouse, Anthony Pratt; and many extended family members.

1959

William Calvin Bates, on October 29, 2020, in Avon, Conn. A four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Bill was active in the Press Club, Glee Club, Ski Club, Dance Committee, and Pelicans and was a reporter for The Log. A talented athlete, Bill was active in football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse and earned two varsity letters in soccer. After attending Dartmouth College, Bill was employed by wireless communications companies Bearcom and National Orders. A lifelong resident of West Hartford, Bob was a parishioner of St. John’s Church and was an admired lacrosse coach in youth sports in the town. His favorite pastimes included fishing, golf, reading newspapers, following the stock market, and watching golf and football on television. According to the family obituary, “Bill ‘Bunk’ will be most remembered for his kind nature, generosity of spirit, dry sense of humor, love of family, and passion for sports. … He was an excellent listener and a very gentle soul.” Preceded in death by his first wife, Ann Allen Sample Bates, Bill was survived by Carol G. Bates, his wife of more than 40 years; his sons, Jim and Sydney, and their spouses; his daughters, Katie and Carey; his sister, Susan B. Margraf; his eight grandchildren; many extended family members and friends; and George, his beloved pet Bichon Frise.

Jonathan S. Eliot, on August 30, 2020. A two-year student from Brewster, N.Y., Jon was involved in the Press Club and Senior Library Committee, served as treasurer of the Modern Jazz Club, and was a reporter for The Log. He was active in football, baseball, and rifle team. Jon enjoyed a long career as an insurance executive and was survived by his three sons and his four grandchildren.

1962

Vincent P. Dole III, on October 25, 2020, in Boynton Beach, Fla. A three-year student from Rye, N.Y., Vincent was involved in the Political Debating Club and Ski Club, and he was a reporter for The Log, editor of Handbook, and a member of the Loomiscellany staff. He served as captain of JV football and Allyn basketball and was active in tennis, lacrosse, and golf. He was an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Vincent was survived by his wife, Genevieve; his son Alexandre; and his siblings, Susan Dole and Bruce Dole.

1967

Stephen Charles Kerman, on April 24, 2020. A four-year student from Daytona Beach, Fla., Steve was involved in Student Council, the Dance Committee, and the Pirandello Society, and he was vice president of the Darwin Club. An outstanding athlete, Steve earned three varsity letters and captained the football team; lettered and earned a Fartlek Award in hockey; and earned the Charles R. Denny Memorial Trophy and three varsity letters in lacrosse. Steve attended University of North Carolina, Auburn, and Daytona Beach Community College. His work experiences included roles in construction and yacht sales before he enjoyed a 25-year career working at Jessup’s, a boutique jeweler in Daytona Beach. In the summer of 1969, Steve was part of the transportation crew and worked as a stagehand at the notable Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, N.Y. A lifelong sailing and sailboat-racing enthusiast, Steve joined many in his family who competed in regattas across waterways of the Southeast. He was a mainstay at the Halifax Sailing Association for decades and later competed in offshore sailing races, including the Daytona Beach to Bermuda TransAt and races from Key West to Cuba and Tampa to Fort Lauderdale, among others. Steve married Gaylyn in 1977. According to the family obituary, Gaylyn was the “one thing he loved more than sailing.” Preceded in death by his brother, David D. Kerman ’61, Steve was

survived by his wife, Gaylyn; his daughter, Sarah A. Kerman; and his brothers, Jeffry A. Kerman ’64 and Michael G. Kerman.

1989

Kristin Cuscela Siano, on January 18, in Rye, N.Y., after a long struggle with breast cancer. Originally from Dallas, Pa., Kristin went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University and a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University. An accomplished writer, Kristin served as press secretary to U.S. Representative Phil English. After several years in Washington, D.C., she built a corporate career in New York with J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Alliance Bernstein, and Guardian Insurance. She married Matthew Siano in January 2002, and they raised two children. After stepping away from work to raise her family, Kristin returned to school to earn her educational credentials and taught Englishas-a-second-language courses at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y., and Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y. In addition to being a voracious reader, Kristin’s favorite pastimes included watching her boys play baseball and working out at the gym. According to the family obituary, Kristin was a “devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, [who] will forever be remembered for her kindness, warmth, gracefulness, curiosity, humility, loyalty and sense of humor.” Preceded in death by her father, Frank Cuscela, Kristin was survived by her husband, Matthew; her sons, Michael and Alexander; her mother, Mary Lee Cusela; her sister, Susan Carlson; and many dear friends. A service in Kristin’s remembrance was held on January 30 at the Rye Presbyterian Church in Rye, N.Y. The family requests that donations in Kristin’s memory be made to Loomis Chaffee and directed to the Kristin Cuscela Siano Scholarship Fund.

More News

The school has learned of the passing of Frank Charles Infanger ’45 on January 27, 2021; Stephen L. Root ’46 on December 22, 2020; John Stewart Wilson ’48 on September 9, 2019; Beverly Sandbach Heminway ’49 on February 15, 2021; Sara S. King ’50 on February 10, 2021; George Dealy Edwards Sr. ’51 on January 4, 2021; Christopher Courtney Gates ’51 on January 30, 2021; Alden Geer Valentine ’51 on February 2, 2021; Mary Zane Hickcox ’52 on February 8, 2021; Lochlin Gates Syme ’52 on September 16, 2020; Earl Russell Sandstrom Jr. ’55 on April 8, 2020; Thomas Baburka ’71 on June 1, 2017; John C. Lancaster ’72 on January 27, 2021; Tracey Perrier McKenzie ’79 on January 30., 2021; David Lee Trares ’80 on December 23, 2019; Mark T. Wilson ’80 on January 27, 2021; Abigail Abbott ’85 on February 2, 2021; Jodi Gebeloff Churchill ’86 on July 29, 2019; Paul M. Hawryluk ’88 on December 16, 2020; and former faculty member Ann B. Palmer on February 10, 2021. More information, as available, will be printed in future issues.

George P. Shultz ’38

George P. Shultz ’38, one of Loomis Chaffee’s most distinguished and inspiring alumni, died on February 6. In his exceptional career as a statesman and policymaker, he served in four different presidential cabinet posts, including as 60th U.S. secretary of state to President Reagan from 1982 to 1989, for which he is perhaps most known. As secretary of state, he earned respect for his steadfast leadership and integrity in matters of diplomacy and is credited for helping usher in an end to the Cold War. Secretary Shultz turned 100 years old on December 13, 2020.

In the eight decades since he graduated from Loomis Chaffee, Secretary Shultz remained connected to the school through his attendance at alumni receptions and philanthropic giving to the school. His generosity included a return visit to campus in October 2107, when he spoke at an all-school convocation, sharing insights from his work serving U.S. presidents, his knowledge and opinions about issues at the forefront of public discourse,

and reflections on his time as a Loomis student. Recalling his Loomis years, Secretary Shultz told the audience he remembered working hard in a challenging curriculum. He added that playing on athletics teams at Loomis was a lesson in accountability. “In football, you catch the ball — touchdown! You miss the block, your runner gets creamed,” he said. Secretary Shultz held up a photo of his 1938 Loomis basketball team for the audience and said proudly, “We were 11 and 1,” the most successful record in school history up to that date. During his day-long visit on the Island, Secretary Shultz also met with members of the Shultz Fellowship, a student club inspired by his legacy that hosts regular, open conversations to encourage thoughtful dialogue among school community members with a variety of perspectives on matters of civic importance.

Associate Head for External Relations Nathan Follansbee shared a remembrance: “My first recollection of Secretary Shultz reflects his kindness and genuine warmth. We were all very excited that he would be attending our San Francisco reception, held that year at a club near Union Square. Due to a travel snafu for the head of school, I learned earlier in the day that I would be delivering remarks to the many guests. Secretary Shultz arrived just before we gathered the group in front of me so that I could update them on the school. He and I greeted each other briefly, and he settled into a chair within five feet of me, quadrupling the pressure that I already felt. During the question session, he both asked me about our curriculum and took the time to reflect humorously and thoughtfully on his own time at the school. Afterwards and before he departed, he congratulated me on my remarks with his wonderful smile. … During our conversations he was always incredibly sharp and fascinating, whether he was explaining his views on China and Russia, on climate change and the resulting migration that he envisioned, on our national political situation, and on the proliferation of nuclear weapons, or reminiscing about the presidents whom he served or the world leaders with whom he interacted. George Shultz was an amazing man, and we will all miss him.”

A two-year student from Englewood, N.J., George was involved in the Badminton Club, Table Tennis Club, and Student Council, and he served on the Mason Dorm and Senior Dance committees and was secretary of the Senior Class. He played football, basketball, and tennis. After Commencement, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University in 1942 and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed in the Pacific and attained the rank of captain. After his military service concluded in 1945, George resumed his study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), where he earned a doctorate in industrial economics.

From there, he embarked on an extensive and remarkable career in public service that included high-ranking U.S. governmental posts. Drawing on his knowledge and expertise in economics and public policy, Secretary Shultz’s government career intersected with numerous executive-level and enterprising business sector positions and influential and respected roles in higher education and academia.

His government and policy roles began in 1955, when he took a two-year leave of absence from his teaching job at M.I.T. to serve as a senior staff economist on President Eisenhower’s Council of Economic Advisors. He returned to government when he was appointed secretary of labor by President Nixon in 1969. In 1970, he became director of the Office of Management and Budget, and in 1972 he was named secretary of the treasury, a post he held for two years. During this period, Secretary Shultz also served as chairman of the Council on

Secretary Shultz converses with Head of School Sheila Culbert during an all-school convocation in 2017. Photo: Jessica Ravenelle Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher K. Norton ’76 with Secretary Shultz. Photo: Jessica Ravenelle

Top: Students in the Shultz Fellowship meet with Secretary Shultz and his wife, Charlotte, during a visit to campus in 2017. Bottom: School officials gather with the Shultzes in Sellers Hall: (back) Associate Head of School for External Relations Nathan Follansbee and then-Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher K. Norton ’76, and (front) Head of School Sheila Culbert, Secretary Shultz ’38, and Charlotte Shultz. Photos: Jessica Ravenelle

Economic Policy, negotiated a series of trade protocols with the Soviet Union, and represented the United States at the Tokyo meeting on the General Agreement on Trades and Tariffs. In the early 1980s, Secretary Shultz held two significant positions in the Reagan administration: chairman of the President’s Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981–82) and secretary of state (1982–89). In addition to playing a key foreign policy role towards the end of the Cold War, Secretary Shultz was instrumental in the development of strong relationships between the United States and the countries of the AsiaPacific region, including China, Japan, and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. His diplomatic legacy included the advancement of peace efforts in the Middle East and his history-making negotiations with the Soviet Union to reduce nuclear arsenals.

Respected for his economics scholarship and his business acumen, Secretary Schulz served as president, director, chief executive officer, and senior counselor of the Bechtel Group Inc., a global engineering and construction company, from 1974 to 1982. He served as advisor to many other business enterprises, including Gilead Sciences, Xyleco, Accretive Health, Femont Group, and Acuitus.

In addition to teaching economics at M.I.T., Secretary Shultz was a professor of industrial relations and later served as dean at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, where he taught for many years as a professor of international economics at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. In 2001, Secretary Schultz was named a Distinguished Fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, a global think tank, a position he retained until his death.

Secretary Shultz remained a strong advocate for nuclear arms control through diplomacy late into his life. He earned many international and domestic awards for his dedicated work— including the Medal of Freedom in 1989, the highest civilian honor in the United States. He was presented with honorary degrees from Notre Dame University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, and Williams College, among other institutions of higher education. Secretary Shultz authored many books, essays, and opinion pieces, and his writing inspired students of history, political science, business, and economics for decades. His most recent essay, “The 10 most important things I’ve learned about trust over my 100 years,” was published in The Washington Post on December 11, 2020, two days before his birthday. “Trust is the coin of the realm,” he wrote in the piece — a truism he liked to repeat publicly, including with the Loomis audience in 2017.

Secretary Shultz was predeceased by his first wife of nearly 50 years, Helena Maria O’Brien, and was survived by his second wife, Charlotte Mailliard Swig, whom he married in 1997. Secretary Shultz and Charlotte Shultz supported philanthropic organizations devoted to serving young people and advancing education, public health, the arts, and the fight against climate change. He was a member of Loomis’ Common Good Society and the John Metcalf Taylor Society. In addition to Charlotte, Secretary Shultz was survived by his five children, Margaret Ann Tilsworth, Kathleen Pratt Shultz Jorgensen, Peter Milton Shultz, Barbara Lennox Shultz White, and Alexander George Shultz; his 11 grandchildren; and his nine great-grandchildren.

The former U.S. secretary of state signs his book Learning from Experience for Cara Keogh ’18, who was a senior at the time. Photo: Jessica Ravenelle

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