In Memoriam

JANE ALLEN WATERS ’42 of Columbia, South Carolina, died Aug. 10, 2012. At Ripon, she participated in Kappa Delta/Delta Phi Sigma. Her husband served in the Army and they lived in Georgia, Virginia, Germany and Italy prior to their retirement in Columbia. Survivors include one son. Her husband, ROBERT L. WATERS SR. ’41, died in 1992.

FREDERICK W. ALLEN ’45 of Peoria, Illinois, died Jan. 24, 2021. At Ripon, he participated in Phi Kappa Pi. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and was trained as a pilot. He later was a pitcher with the Papermakers of Appleton, Wisconsin, a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. He then received a law degree from Northwestern University. He had a long career as a plaintiff’s attorney, eventually owning his own law firm. He was a member of numerous national and international professional organizations and held various leadership positions. He enjoyed golf, watching baseball, and was a member of the Elks Club for more than 70 years, the American Legion and community groups. Survivors include two daughters.

ANNETTE SOLWAY DHEIN ’46 of the town of Sevastopol, Wisconsin, died March 10, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in biology and participated in Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She taught English and biology in Edgar, Wisconsin, before her marriage, then lived in West Bend where she was a substitute teacher and was active in Immanuel United Church of Christ and various community organizations. She later lived in Sturgeon Bay and was a member of Hope United Church of Christ, PEO and the Door County Historical Society. She enjoyed knitting and cross stitch, playing bridge, reciting poems and telling stories. Survivors include one son and two daughters. Her husband, WILLARD DHEIN ’49, died in 2017.

MARY JANE “JANIE” KRAUS WEEKS ’46 of DeKalb, Illinois, died Nov. 7, 2010. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and English and participated in the College Days newspaper and Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi. She taught in Aurora East School District 131 for more than 40 years and received numerous recognitions for excellence in teaching. She lived in Cape Coral, Florida, from 1984 to 2005, and was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Good Council Church in Aurora, Illinois. Survivors include four daughters.

SAMUEL W. DOUGAN ’48 of Tucson, Arizona, died Jan. 21, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in history, was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi and was commissioned through ROTC. He later was a class agent and a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. He served in the Army during World War II. After earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he taught grades 8-12 for 34 years. He was recognized by the University of Arizona for leadership in their student-teaching program. He was involved in community theatre, the Tucson Stamp Club and related activities, team bowling, and showing Scottish terriers. He was an active member of St. Philip’s in the Hills Church and enjoyed traveling and physical fitness.

FRANCES H. HOCKENHULL RALFF ’49 of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, died May 11, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in biology and participated in Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She earned a degree in medical technology in Madison. She worked as a medical technician in Madison before becoming a bookkeeper for her husband, Rudy’s, real estate business. She was active in her United Methodist Church and worked as a church secretary until she retired at the age of 85. She enjoyed reading, sewing, needlework, attending church, baking and calligraphy. Survivors include two children.

CHARLOTTE KRAUS SCHARNO ’49 of Venice, Florida, died May 11, 2020. At Ripon, she majored in English and participated in Ver Adest and Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi. She taught and served as principal at numerous Catholic schools. She especially enjoyed teaching the fourth-grade level. She retired to Venice, Florida, from St. Louis in 1994 and was active in numerous community committees. Survivors include one son and two daughters. Her husband, RICHARD L. SCHARNO ’49, died in 2018.

CARLTON “SMOKEY” BLOCHWITZ ’51 of Avon Park, Florida, died Sept. 25, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in psychology and was involved in Ver Adest, football, ROTC and Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha. He later was a member of Partners in the Legacy. He studied law at Drake University. He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and in Korea. He enjoyed traveling in his motorhome during the summers, and tennis. Survivors include his wife, Carol; and children.

PETER H. ORVIS ’51 of Arlington, Virginia, died Aug. 13, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics and physics and participated in Ver Adest, athletics and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman. He received a master’s degree in system management from the University of Rochester. He had a career as a surface warfare officer. His duties included working on the staffs of the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, and the Chief of Naval Operations. He also taught at the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired at the rank of captain in 1974. After retirement, he worked for the company Survivors include his wife, Jean; one son and two daughters.

NANNETTE WEIMAR KEENAN ’51 of Franklin, Tennessee, died Oct. 30, 2020. After Ripon, she attended Northwestern University where she excelled in theater and landed the coveted position of assistant to the famed acting teacher Alvina Krause. She and her husband, Joseph Keenan, were active in theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and Murfreesboro, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. She also taught speech and theater at Middle Tennessee State University. She was a passionate professional actress and director, an avid gardener, and volunteer of many organizations and social causes, including the Church of the Resurrection Episcopal Church in Franklin. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

G. WILLIAM “BILL” CHAPMAN ’52 of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, died May 19, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in athletics and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega, and was commissioned through ROTC. He received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served two years as an officer in the Korean War. He was passionate about municipal law, represented numerous communities and was instrumental in the 1988 creation of the Lake Country Municipal Court, the first such joint court in Wisconsin. He also dedicated years of service to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. He was the longtime treasurer of the local YMCA and was key in the building of a new YMCA. He was recognized as Oconomowoc’s Citizen of the Year in 2000. Survivors include two sons.

BLANCHE BARTIZAL BABCOCK ’53 of Three Lakes, Wisconsin, died May 21. 2021. At Ripon, she majored in philosophy and psychology and participated in Ver Adest and Alpha Chi Omega/ Alpha Gamma Theta. She was a longtime benefactor and supporter of various Ripon College initiatives, was instrumental in the Babcock Family Endowed Scholarship and received the Medal of Merit in 2006. She received a master’s degree in education from the National School of Education and worked for many years as an elementary school teacher in Rondout, Illinois. She was active in her communities both in Illinois and Wisconsin. Survivors include one son and two daughters, including TIMOTHY BABCOCK ’82 and KATHERINE BABCOCK ’80; a daughterin-law, SARA OBERHAUSER BABCOCK ’83; and a grandson, PETER BABCOCK ’09. Her husband, THOMAS BABCOCK ’51, died in 2002.

KENNETH E. FENSKE ’53 of Waupun, Wisconsin, and formerly Germantown, Wisconsin, died Feb. 5, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in German and participated in Ver Adest, ROTC and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman. Pi. He played football, was co-captain his senior year and was on the All-Midwest Conference first team as a defensive end. He played golf and served as junior class president and fraternity treasurer. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany and was a manager for the Wisconsin Telephone Co., Chicago Decal Co. and 3M. For 40 years, he was an insurance consultant and received many industry honors. He was a member of Toastmasters, Kiwanis and Rotary, and enjoyed flying kites, swimming, fishing, golfing, reading, Bible studies, playing cards, photography, refinishing antique furniture and traveling. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; and two daughters.

EVERETT L. SCHWALBE JR. ’55 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, died Feb. 19, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in athletics and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 until retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. He owned a Standard service station with his brother, Glenn, in the early 1960s; managed the Ben Franklin store in downtown Brillion for several years; sold insurance; and was a supply chain manager for Speed Queen. He was a member of Holy Family Parish and Knights of Columbus and was a Boy Scout leader and a football coach. He enjoyed camping and doing handyman work. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

RAY G. BESING ’57 of San Antonio, Texas, died April 16, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy and was involved in athletics, Crimson, choir and Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi, and he served as president of the Student Body and chairman of the Student Court. He later was a trustee of the Alumni Board of Directors and a Partner in the Legacy. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012. He studied international law at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He practiced law for 40 years. He then taught a master’s course at the Faculty of Laws, University College London. He retired to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He enjoyed travelling, opera, charity work and the Dallas Cowboys. Survivors include four sons.

JAMES B. LANDWEHR ’56 of Glendale, Wisconsin, died May 8, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in English and participated in student government. He stayed active in several ways, including serving on class reunion committees and as Class Agent. He served in the Coast Guard and particularly enjoyed being stationed in Alaska. He worked for GM’s AC Spark Plug for the space program and First Wisconsin National Bank (now US Bank). He was involved in his children’s sports, coached boys’ and girls’ softball, and was a swim official for the swim clubs and high school swim teams. After retiring, he volunteered with the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, researching and lecturing on the History of the Great Lakes. Survivors include his wife, CAROLYN CALLAHAN LANDWEHR ’55; two sons and two daughters.

NANCY E. CONNER ’58 of Carlsbad, California, formerly a longtime resident of Oceanside, California, died March 3, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and participated in Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She received a degree in psychology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She worked as a senior aide to the head of the Art Institute of Chicago, then with Charles F. Murphy, head of a leading Chicago architectural firm. In 1975, she relocated to Oceanside, just north of San Diego. She worked with the president and CEO of Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, one of the largest poinsettia producers worldwide. She finished her career with the North County Transit District. She enjoyed genealogy and travelling to learn about her Irish and French heritage.

VICTOR G. WOESTE ‘59 of Eugene, Oregon, died March 1, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in WRPN radio, football, ROTC and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman. He later became a Partner in the Legacy.

STANLEY E. BALL ‘60 of Brighton, Michigan, died Feb. 15, 2020. At Ripon, he studied economics and was a member of Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha, He received a master’s degree in finance from Indiana University Bloomington. He worked at Ford Motor Credit Co. for 31 years in the commercial paper department, retiring as assistant treasurer in 1995. He and his wife then worked in fundraising for Send International, a mission agency, for eight years. He served on the Cornerstone EPC missions committee for 13 years. He was an avid baseball and Green Bay Packers fan. He enjoyed working with model trains, playing golf and the beach. Survivors include his wife, JUDITH PELINO BALL ’60; and three daughters.

COLDWELL SIDNEY “SID” JOHNSTON III ’60 of Scottsdale, Arizona, died Nov. 8, 2014. At Ripon, he studied economics and participated in Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi. He had a long career in banking that eventually took him and his family to Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent the majority of his life. He retired as a senior vice president at Bank of America in 1993. He loved animals and enjoyed the beach in San Diego, surf fishing, reading, tennis and watching football. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

GEORGENE KLANER KOBLENZ ’60 of Chicago, Illinois, died Dec. 5, 2020. At Ripon she studied biology and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She later was a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. She had worked as a funeral director for more than 60 years and was a longtime employee of Household Finance Corp.

DANIEL L. BENKA ’61 of Prince George, Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in football and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman. He was commissioned through ROTC and received the ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate recognition. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1987, including tours in Vietnam, three years in France and two years in South Korea. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. While serving, he received his master’s degree in economics from the Florida Institute of Technology. He then worked with the Department of Defense and Dominion Energy. He was a member of several community groups and served numerous high-level posts with the Jaycees. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; one son and one daughter; and a brother, JOHN BENKA ’60.

WILLIAM W. SOUTHERN ’61 of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, died June 12, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in psychology, participated in athletics and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the Army and completed a master’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University. He enjoyed walking his dog, taking trips with his wife, and attending local basketball games, tennis matches, track and cross country meets, and school events. Survivors include his wife, Marie; two sons and one daughter.

KENNETH P. DUNLAVY SR. ’62 of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, died April 9, 2021. At Ripon, he studied physical education and participated in athletics, ROTC and Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. He was named to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. He received a master’s degree from the College of Notre Dame. He served in the United States Marine Corps for 29 years, as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War and then a helicopter pilot, retiring as a colonel. He was a pilot for American Airlines for 28 years, retiring as a Boeing 777 captain. He enjoyed storytelling and coaching his sons in football. Survivors include his wife, STEPHANIE ROWLAND DUNLAVY ’65; three sons and two daughters; and nieces and nephews, including APRIL DUNLAVY ’03, KIRBIANNE DUNLAVY ’14 and JOHN DUNLAVY ’07.

DAVID J. GROTHE ’62 of Hayward, Wisconsin, died Jan. 26, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in history, participated in Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi and was commissioned through ROTC. He joined the Army as a second lieutenant, where he received paratrooper training. He had a varied career, working as a fry cook, chef, purchasing agent for a hotel, tax consultant, bookkeeper, and manager of a flight kitchen for an airline. He enjoyed boating and was a co-owner and vice president of Marina Del Sol. He lived in numerous places, including Wisconsin Rapids, Fort Benning, Georgia, Las Vegas, Hilo, Hawaii, and Corpus Christi, Texas.

DAVID R. LIVES ’62 of Fairfield, Ohio, died Jan. 23, 2021. At Ripon, he studied politics and government and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a material manager at several hospitals until retiring in 2008. He was a longtime resident of Forest Park where he was on various boards and committees, including serving on city council from 2001 to 2007 and 2011 to 2015. Survivors include one son and two daughters.

JACK L. FLAKER ’63 of Rothschild, Wisconsin, died April 28, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in physical education, participated in football and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega and was commissioned through ROTC. After his time serving in the U.S. Army, he was an accountant at Marathon Electric and then Able Distributing, both in Wausau. He enjoyed curling and was a member of the Wausau Curling Club. He also enjoyed travelling with this wife, visiting all 50 states and 67 countries. Survivors include his wife, Yvonne; and two daughters.

ANTHONY N. STEPHANIE ’63 of Cranberry, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 27, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in Lambda Delta Alpha/Delta Upsilon and football, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army, guarding missile sites during the Cold War. He then worked in the paint and wall coverings industry. He served as president of the National Decorating Products Association and Mid-American Decorating Stores. Survivors include his wife, Becky; one son and two daughters. His first wife, JULIE PAULSON STEPHANIE ’64, died in 1989.

JAMES L. UNDEM ’63 of Savannah, Georgia, died April 24, 2018. At Ripon, he studied economics, was a member of Sigma Chi/ Omega Sigma Chi, and was commissioned through ROTC. He received a master of business administration degree in marketing from Indiana University Bloomington. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea. He worked for Nixdorf Computer in the Chicago and Boston offices, then for many years in Houston, Texas. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed golf, softball, camping, fishing and music. Survivors include his former wife, Jan; one son and one daughter.

RICHARD L. MENSON ’65 of Dunwoody, Georgia, died May 17, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in history and economics, participated in the undefeated football team, and was commissioned through ROTC. He also was a graduate of Northwestern University Law School and George Washington University. He served his country as a JAG officer from 1965-1973, including 18 months in Vietnam. He joined Gardner, Carton and Douglas in Chicago, Illinois, and was a partner from 1977-1998. In 1998, he joined McGuireWoods as managing partner of the Chicago office. He retired in 2012. Survivors include his wife, Lynne Lemke Menson; and two daughters.

ROBERT C. “CHRIS” DOLLOFF ’69 of Belfast, Maine, died April 16, 2021. At Ripon, he studied chemistry and French and later became a Partner in the Legacy. He was an internationally award-winning creative chocolate chemist and expert in quality control at “The Chocolate Factory” (Merkins) in Mansfield, Massachusetts. He formulated the cocoa for the Oreo cookie and for Paul Newman’s chocolate products. He had a broad range of interests, including word games, anthropology, history and trivia. He enjoyed cats, complex woodworking projects, the culinary arts, caring for plants, genealogy and music; and he played the guitar and keyboard.

MELODY MOLAND KANTEN ’69 of Baldwin, Wisconsin, died Jan. 11, 2021. She received a degree in fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was an advertising executive for Colle & McAvoy Advertising Agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She loved animals, living on a farm, downhill and cross country skiing, scuba diving, kayaking and flying. She also enjoyed riding horses, bicycling, walking and creating objects out of wood. Survivors include her husband, Tom.

JOHN H. AINSLIE ’70 of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, died April 4, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in biology and was commissioned through ROTC. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked in the insurance industry for both American Family Insurance and the State of Wisconsin. After retiring in 2013, he enjoyed working in his garden, fly fishing, woodworking, singing with various community choirs, tai chi, traveling and studying geology. He volunteered for the Sun Prairie Food Pantry and delivered meals for The Colonial Club. He enjoyed learning and earned two master’s degrees. Survivors include his wife, CHRISTINE VANDERSLICE AINSLIE ’71; two sons; siblings, including WILLIAM AINSLIE ’79; and a niece, KYLIE AINSLIE ’11.

WILL ALDIS ’70, formerly known as William Porter, of Los Angeles, California, died Dec. 3, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in English and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi. He received a master’s degree in education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He was an actor, screenwriter and director, best known for “Back to School” (1986) with Rodney Dangerfield, “Stealing Home” (1988) with Jody Foster and Mark Harmon, “Avenging Angelo” (2002) with Sylvester Stallone and Madeleine Stowe, “Black Cadillac” (2003) with Randy Quaid; and the cult classic “Clifford” (1994) with Martin Short. His novels include Lily Wyatt, The Rascal Prince and Owen Nobody. He

taught screenwriting at the Art Institute of Santa Monica and was a passionate Chicago Cubs’ fan. Survivors include his wife, Miriam Flynn; one son and one daughter.

M. CHRISTINE GRUETT ROBILLARD ’71 of Simpsonville, South Carolina, died May 13, 2018. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and educational studies and participated in Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She taught at Oak Creek Elementary in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Pontiac Elementary in Columbia, South Carolina, and for 17 years at Fairforest Elementary School before her retirement. Survivors include her husband, Richard Robillard; one son and one daughter.

JOHN G. WINKLEPLECK ’73 of Naples, Florida, died Feb. 20, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and was a member of Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha. He later was a member of the 1851 Club. He received a master of business administration degree in finance from Cleveland State University. He spent his entire career in banking in Cleveland, at Central National Bank, Ameritrust and Key Bank, from which he retired. He was an avid golfer and loved racket sports, especially tennis, squash and paddle tennis. He was a member of Tavern Club and Mayfield Country Club, serving a term as president. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; and one daughter.

ROBERT M. MERRITT ’74 of Wilmington, Delaware, died Jan. 13, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in psychology and participated in athletics. He received master’s and Ph.D. degrees in applied social psychology from New York University. He retired from Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia as a project manager. Survivors include his wife, Maria; and two sons.

JAMES J. NAULT ’74 of White Stone, Virginia, died April 11, 2021. At Ripon, he studied chemistry and participated in Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega and the Beta, Beta, Beta honors society. He earned a Ph.D. in paper chemistry from the Institute of Paper Chemistry. He worked for more than 40 years in the pulp and paper industry, holding many technical and management positions, including positions at WestRock (formerly SmurfitStone Container Corp.). He enjoyed fishing, boating and oyster farming. Survivors include his wife, Janice; one daughter; and a nephew, KEITH KAISER ’97.

JON FASANELLI-CAWELTI ’75 of Muscatine, Iowa, died March 30, 2021. At Ripon College, he majored in history and art, played trumpet and participated in track and cross country. He continued to play trumpet later in several bands and orchestras in the Muscatine area. He received his bachelor’s master’s and MFA degrees from the University of Iowa School of Art, and served as a teaching assistant in the print department. He was an artist and printmaker who exhibited nationally and internationally and specialized in the art of 15th-century intaglio printmaking. He had a passion for history, music, and printmaking. Survivors include his wife, Diane Calzaretta; and two daughters.

GEORGE C. ANASTOS ’76 of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, died Feb. 6, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy. He received a master’s in divinity from Yale University in 1980. He pastored various churches, including the First Church of Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts, for several years. During that time, he also worked at Yankee Candle Co. in Deerfield as an employee relations manager, as well as being a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for the town’s Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Survivors include his wife, Ann; one son and two daughters. BIRGIT ABROMAITIS RETSON ’77 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died May 11, 2021. At Ripon, she majored in English and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She later was a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. She received a degree in nursing from George Mason University. Survivors include two sons, including PHILIP RETSON ’15, and one daughter.

STEPHEN C. SNYDER ’77 of Cameron, Wisconsin, died Jan. 31, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in biology, participated in the Wilder Field Station several times and began an interest in radio work. He received a degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He worked for more than 40 years as a forestry technician for Rusk County and as an announcer for WWIB Radio for 41 years. He enjoyed the outdoors and fishing, racquetball player, his faith, and performing as a keyboardist and singer.

GARY H. SCHUBERTH ’78 of Barrington, Illinois, died Jan. 25, 2021. At Ripon he majored in biology and participated in soccer and Sig Alpha Eps/Del Sig Psi. He graduated from Emory University in 1989 with a specialty degree in orthodontics. He founded Schuberth Orthodontics in Barrington, where he practiced for more than 30 years. He was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman and golfer. He enjoyed adventuring and spending time at his parents’ cabin in the Smoky Mountains, with his family on Kauai, and fishing in Lac Seul, Ontario. Gary is survived by his wife of nearly 39 years, Colleen; one son and two daughters.

JEFFREY P. GRIFO ’79 of Little Falls, New Jersey, died May 15, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics. He worked in New York City’s garment district before a long career as a caddie master for Maplewood Country Club and Crestmont Country Club in West Orange. He enjoyed golfing, travelling, cooking, and jazz and blues music. Survivors include his wife, Laura; and one daughter.

PATRICK J. TESTER ’81 of Texas died Jan. 29, 2021. He spent a year at Ripon and participated in Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau. He then joined his family in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Texas Christian University. He worked in education for more than 25 years in Austin, Denver and, primarily, the Dallas Independent School district, focusing on special education. After retiring from education in 2006, he worked as a Realtor. He was an active member of Lions Club International.

PETER W. JOCHIMSEN ’89 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died April 17, 2021. He had attended Ripon College and Kirkwood Community College. He worked for North Prairie Tile Works and made specialty tiles, some used in historical buildings. He enjoyed biking, camping and studying Gen. George Custer. He participated in the St. Paul Curling Club and Soo Line Community Garden. Survivors include his father, PETER R. JOCHIMSEN ’61 and his mother, Grace; and an uncle, WILLIAM G. JOCHIMSEN ’61.

ERIC R. PILSL ’93 of Wild Rose, Wisconsin, died Feb. 27, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in speech communication and played basketball. He received a master’s degree from Marquette University. He was employed as a pharmaceutical sales representative until his passion for working with youths led him to his teaching career at Parkside Middle School in Wautoma. He taught math and was a track coach. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, cooking and playing golf. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer; and two stepsons. MATTHEW R. “NIGEL” KENNY ’07 of Orland Park, Illinois, died Jan. 29, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in politics and government and participated in Student Senate, football and as president of Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He worked at Xtra Lease in Chicago and was a White Sox fan. He enjoyed political debates, yard work and motorcycles. Survivors include his wife, Kate; one son and one daughter.

FACULTY AND STAFF

JERRY BASKETT of Green Lake, Wisconsin, who had served as a chef at Ripon College, died March 15, 2021. He served in the Navy in Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. He honed his cooking skills in his ships’ galleys, earning both the rank of commissaryman second class, and the nickname “Biscuit” from his fellow sailors. After leaving the Navy, he settled in Ripon and Green Lake. He worked as a chef at Ripon College and the Green Lake Conference Center, and owned his own interior/exterior painting business. He enjoyed fishing. Survivors include his wife, Darlene; one son and three daughters.

MELVIN “HEZZY” BERNDT of Ripon, Wisconsin, a former maintenance worker at Ripon College, died Jan. 24, 2021. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946, He was a foreman at Admanco in Ripon for more than 25 years, and retired from the College. He was a member of V.F.W. Schultz-Klemp-Wentland Post 5278 and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

PETER CHOBANIAN of Ripon, Wisconsin, a librarian at Ripon College from 1962 to 1994, died April 4, 2021. He was an avid and lifelong student of the humanities, studying history, literature and the arts. From Italian operas to Broadway show tunes, he loved to sing. He also published his own short stories and poems. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

ELAINE M. REILLY of Ripon, Wisconsin, died May 25, 2021. She had been a bookkeeper at the Ripon College bookstore and also had worked as a teacher’s aide for the Ripon schools. She was a hospice volunteer for several years, a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Ripon and Zion United Methodist Church in Neshkoro, Wisconsin, and was active with several organizations within the churches. In her younger years, she enjoyed making crafts, traveling and camping. Survivors include five children.

VIDA VANDE SLUNT of Waupun, Wisconsin, a longtime staff member in academic support at Ripon College, died March 31, 2021. She worked at Ripon for 20 years, retiring in 2014 as administrative assistant for West Hall. She received the E.R. Nichols Campus Communicator Award in 2014. She was active in theatre productions all her life, including at Ripon College, Ripon Summer Players and Waupun Community Players. She enjoyed music, watching her children play hockey, traveling and cooking Lithuanian meals for family and friends. Survivors include her husband, Dennis Vande Slunt; and three sons, including ADAM VANDE SLUNT ’98 and MICHAEL VANDE SLUNT ’04.

A Packer or not? It’s a question of interpretation

A question and answer about a onetime Ripon College football standout recently was shared on packers.com. “No, they didn’t play for the Packers; But some of the stories are whoppers’’ ran April 1, 2021, answered by Packers team historian Cliff Christl.

“When I was in high school, I had a math teacher that claimed he played center for the Packers and was from Ripon College. I think he would have played early 1920s. His name was Dwight Kenyon. …

Your teacher never played for the Packers in a league game, but I’m all but certain he started at left guard against the Hibbing (Minn.) Miners in the Packers’ only exhibition game before the 1923 season. During Kenyon’s stay in Green Bay, the Green Bay Press-Gazette referred to him only as “Crow” (sic) Kenyon, a product of Ripon College. I can’t imagine it’s not the same guy as your teacher. The Packers used only 12 players against Hibbing and Kenyon was the only starter who was replaced. He left the game in the second quarter. Why and why he never played again, I can’t tell you. If I had three guesses, I’d say he didn’t play well and was cut, he was injured and Lambeau got rid of him so he didn’t have to pay him, or he simply quit. Playing pro football at the time wasn’t exactly a life of luxury. Plus, he probably would have made more money as a teacher. He was a good player at Ripon. He was team captain as a senior and weighed 235 pounds, which was big for that time.

Dwight “Kro” Kenyon ’24 did always say he had played for the Packers under Earl “Curly” Lambeau, and that was stated in his obituary in 1976.

At Ripon, Kenyon studied physics and mathematics. He entered school in 1913 but interrupted his studies to volunteer for service in the Army in France from 1917-1919 during World War I. He returned to Ripon, serving as an assistant coach because his playing eligibity had run out, and graduated in 1924.

The campus later wrote of him: “During his Ripon days, he was one of that great triumvirate of football linemen … who have long since placed in the Crimson hall of athletic fame. He was also an excellent singer and instrumentalist.”

In his long career in education, he was a teacher, coach, administrator and longtime county superintendent of schools in Ashland County, Wisconsin.

Ripon College in the news

•Ripon’s Plus Semester(s) Program received wide coverage in

January. Students enrolled in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters whose studies of certain classes were impacted by the pandemic were eligible to have their tuition waived for a ninth semester or fifth year.

•Ripon College senior Chan Myae Khine ’21, a native of Myanmar, was featured Feb. 18, 2021, in the Ripon Commonwealth Press. The article documented her concern for her family and home country after a military coup there earlier that week. The interview can be read at ripon.edu/Myanmar. On March 16, she did an interview on the same subject on WOSH Radio in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

•A touching article on milesplit.com, which ran Feb. 28, 2021, commemorated Eric R. Pilsl ’93 of Wild Rose, Wisconsin, who died suddenly Feb. 27 just hours before his stepson, Ashton

Schwartzman, ran a race in the adidas Indoor Nationals in Virginia

Beach, Virginia.

•Adam Sonntag ’08 started as city administrator of the City of Ripon in March. “Welcome (back) to Ripon, Adam Sonntag!” was published

March 10, 2021, in the Ripon Commonwealth Press.

•Leading up to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in March,

“Dairyland Dance: 20 players and coaches from Wisconsin in the

NCAA men’s basketball tournament” ran in the Wisconsin State

Journal/madison.com and other media outlets. The list included

Brad Soderberg ’84, assistant coach for the University of Virginia

Cavaliers. He started his college playing career at Ripon College, played under Dick Bennett ’65 at UW-Stevens Point and coached under Bennett at UW-Madison from 1995-2001.

•In March, news that Ripon College and Marian University in

Fond du Lac created a joint working group to consider a possible collaborative partnership was shared in several news media, including Ripon Commonwealth Press, KFIZ Radio and Inside

Higher Education.

•Vice President for Enrollment Jennifer Machacek was quoted March 21, 2021, on centralmarketingnews.com: “How has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Ripon College Enrollment and Recruitment?”

•On April 6, 2021, Inside Higher Education published “A Pandemic

Financial Success Story?” The focus is Endicott College in Beverly,

Massachusetts, but Ripon’s success financially and in enrollments during the pandemic is highlighted.

•Ripon’s on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic on April 6, 2021, received attention from area media, including the Ripon

Commonwealth Press and television stations WFRV and Fox 11.

•An exhibit by Director of Creative and Social Media Ric Damm, who also owns Ric Damm Photography, was featured in several area media outlets. The exhibit ran through May 31 at the Thrasher Opera

House in nearby Green Lake, Wisconsin.

•Paul Schoofs, professor emeritus of economics, continues to give interviews about current economic issues for area radio stations. Most recently, on April 23, 2021, he talked about how he sees further stimulus payments as unnecessary.