In Memoriam DAVID KOTH ’47 August 23, 2021, Virginia Beach, VA Mr. Koth attended Princeton University and Wesleyan University, and worked at Pingry twice. From 1956–1962, he taught math and coached soccer and track; he returned from 1963–1965 to assume the newly created position of Dean of Students and continue teaching math. Later in his career, he served as Headmaster of The Vail-Deane School, which was absorbed into the Wardlaw-Hartridge School. In 1993-94, he served as Interim Headmaster of Wardlaw-Hartridge. ROBERT HENRY “BOB” HORNING, JR. ’48 July 9, 2021, age 90, Wilmington, NC Mr. Horning attended Lehigh University, where he captained the baseball and basketball teams, ran track, and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and received his aviation training at Ft. Rucker, AL. A naturally adept aviator, he was quickly assigned to Korea, where he flew both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters near and around the DMZ. While transporting a General who was monitoring the cease-fire, his helicopter had a mechanical failure mid-flight. After Mr. Horning successfully performed a dead-stick landing, the General was transferred to another waiting helicopter, and Mr. Horning went back to his own, fixed it, and safely returned to base. Prior to leaving the service, Mr. Horning was promoted to First Lieutenant. He joined General Electric’s Marketing Department, where he ascended to Vice President of the Appliance Division. His duties for GE necessitated frequent travel to New York City—during one of those flights, he met flight attendant Joan Hoffmann, whom he married. Mr. Horning was awarded the distinction of Kentucky Colonel (1974), the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky, in recognition of an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to the community, state, and nation. He was inducted into Pingry’s Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the undefeated 1947 Track Team. After the loss of his wife Joan in 2015, Mr. Horning reconnected with long-time friend Marilyn McCoy Smith, whom he married on December 29, 2017. Mr. Horning was predeceased by his brother James ’51. In addition to Marilyn and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, survivors include Mr. Horning’s children, Avery Wilmeth and Kate Spencer (Mark), as well as 68
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grandchildren John Robert Spencer and Emma Spencer. JOHN W. THOMAS, JR. ’48 July 12, 2021, age 91, Basking Ridge, NJ Mr. Thomas graduated from Hamilton College with an A.B. in Political Science and Finance. He was also a dedicated Navy man, joining the U.S. Naval Reserve during his sophomore year in college under an indefinite term commitment because the U.S. was in the thick of the Korean conflict. Following graduation from Hamilton, he went directly to OCS in Newport, RI and then to Charleston, where he was instructed in mine warfare and legal matters as a defense counsel. Two years of active duty involved clearing mines in coastal waters of both North and South Korea; subsequent assignments sent him to Europe and the Middle East. Released to inactive duty, he remained in the Reserves for 19 years, during which he had three commands: two ships and inshore undersea warfare. His business career was devoted to Merrill Lynch, starting in the Broker Training program and advancing to Management. He concluded his time in the Home Office’s Equity Marketing Division, frequently traveling the country to train and support brokers’ public presentations. Mr. Thomas also coached Little League baseball in Harding. His most ambitious project involved a role in the design, construction, and fundraising for a freestanding library in Harding that has become a popular community center; he also served on the Library’s Board of Trustees. For 12 years, he was an EMT with the New Vernon Volunteer First Aid Squad. In addition, Mr. Thomas was an active Pingry alumnus, frequent campus visitor, and a valued source of information about his classmates for The Pingry Review. Survivors include his wife of nearly 59 years, Anne; sons Stuart P ’13, ’15 (Jane) and Philip ’88 (Gina); and grandchildren Katherine ’13, Emma ’15, and Willem. DONALD BERNARD KAISERMAN ’51 August 25, 2021, age 88, Henrico, VA Mr. Kaiserman graduated from Bucknell University and joined the U.S. Army flying choppers with the 80th Trans. Co. & 334th USARAL (U.S. Army Alaska) FLT DET at Ft. Riley in Kansas and Ft. Richardson in Alaska, where he met his love, Sylvia. He continued in the Reserves and National Guard until retiring as a Colonel from Army USAR TC. He spent his civilian career in marketing and sales with AT&T, NY Telephone, RCA Computer Systems,
and Electronic Data Systems prior to retiring from Periphonics as Executive Director of International Sales. He was proud of his affiliations with the Richmond Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Veteran Services, Commonwealth of Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans, and Virginia War Memorial Foundation. He was preceded in death by his sister Shirley Anne Fitzgerald. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia; daughters, Deborah A. Warren (Grant) and Holly K. Cash (Christopher); son, Michael (Heidi); and granddaughters, Kathryn A. Warren, Meghan L. Cash, Ana L. Kaiserman, and Madison L. Kaiserman. CHRISTIAN FREDERICK “FRED” MUELLER IV ’53 August 8, 2021, age 87, Naples, FL Mr. Mueller graduated from Dartmouth College. He was the great-grandson of the founder of the Mueller Pasta Company, and his early career was in the pasta industry, but in 1985, he started a new career in real estate with the Mueller Company Realtors. He earned the coveted CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation and enjoyed his work as a commercial realtor. Mr. Mueller also had a great love of plants and landscaping, and in his later years was a Master Gardener and certified horticulturist for the State of Florida. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Leah; daughters, Betsy Thomas (Robert) and Dr. Margaret Mueller; brother, John (Barbara); sister, Phyllis; five grandsons; and one great-grandson. DAVID K. McKOWN ’55 June 4, 2021, age 83, Concord, MA Mr. McKown graduated from Williams College and spent 52 years in the banking industry, starting at Chemical Bank and moving to the First National Bank of Boston, where he led many lending groups such as Corporate Finance, Loan Workout, Oil/Gas, and Real Estate. Following his retirement from BankBoston, Mr. McKown stayed busy into his 80s as a Senior Advisor to Eaton Vance Management. He also served on a number of corporate boards, including Equity Office Properties, POWDR, Global Petroleum, Safety Insurance Group, and Friends of Post Office Square. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Louisa (Okie); children Elizabeth Krauss (Eric) and Andrew (Renee); and four grandchildren, Will and Lulu Krauss, and Louise and Jay McKown.
