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 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.

KENNETH GRANTHAM ENGLER, JR. ’58 June 27, 2021, age 82, Hague, NY Mr. Engler graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, attended the Navy’s Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI, and was commissioned as an ensign at the Deep Sea Diving School in Washington, D.C. He was honorably discharged as a Lt. JG in 1965. Upon his return to New Jersey, he earned an M.B.A. at Rutgers University after joining his family’s map publishing firm, C.S. Hammond and Company, founded by his great-grandfather, Caleb Stillson Hammond. He was the firm’s corporate secretary, operations manager, and vice president of production. Mr. Engler retired upon the sale of Hammond, and he actively participated—often in the role of treasurer—in many local organizations, including the Lake George Association, the Northern Lake George Yacht Club, the Kiwanis Club of Ticonderoga, and the Forest Bay Association. He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Katherine. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Enid Groeneveld Engler; daughter Karen Bartlett (Judson); son Steven ’93 (Lisa); and four grandchildren, Julia and Kellan Bartlett, and Samuel and Elin Engler.

ALBERT SanGIULIANO, JR. ’58 July 8, 2021, age 80, Hanson, MA Mr. SanGiuliano graduated with a B.S. (Pre-Med) from Union College in Schenectady and worked in sales for Johnson & Johnson and then in the blood lab at Children’s Hospital Boston (now Boston Children’s Hospital). Survivors include his companion of 30 years, Gail Venti; four daughters: Judith Irvine, Patti Rae Barnes, Michelle SanGiuliano, and Suzanne Nielson; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister Patricia Lukko; and niece Christine Lukko Lundberg.

DR. ROBERT EISENHAUER, JR. ’64 June 28, 2020, age 73, Gettysburg, PA Dr. Eisenhauer worked as a teacher for the Gettysburg School District.

DR. JONATHAN RALPH STEINHART ’65 August 7, 2021, age 74, Spokane, WA Dr. Steinhart graduated from Amherst College, completed an M.A.T. at Harvard University, and obtained a medical degree from Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School and an M.P.H. from the University of Washington. Trained as both a family physician and an obstetrician/gynecologist, he joined the United States Public Health Service as a commissioned officer and retired with the rank of Captain in 2009. His longest term of duty was in Shiprock, NM where he lived and worked on the Navajo reservation for over 20 years, having served for a time as Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After retiring from the USPH, he moved to Spokane, where he worked as an urgent care physician, most recently with Concentra. Always active, he set records in track and field for both his Pingry and college teams. An Eagle Scout, he was an active leader for Troop 22 in Spokane. Both his parents and Dr. Steinhart had a long relationship with a mission community in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Many years ago, he and his family developed a supportive relationship with a young Haitian boy, Wilex Roger, who now teaches at the Union School in Port Au Prince. Dr. Steinhart married Ashley Shultz, Ph.D., of Spokane, in Durango, CO. Survivors include his sons Jordan and Andrew, and cousins Barbara Chester, Jim Steinhart, and Jack Pansegrau. Dr. Steinhart passed away while hiking near Moscow, ID.

PETER BURGDORFF ’69 December 26, 2020, age 69, Summit, NJ Together with his wife, Glynis, Mr. Burgdorff spent his retirement years fostering litters of puppies through St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ—a source of great joy to Peter, Glynis, and their five children.

DR. PHILLIP EUDAILEY GEAR, JR. ’69 December 20, 2020, Phoenix, AZ Dr. Gear was a retired pediatrician. He joined the Class of 1969 in Form I and was active in the Spanish Club, the Chess Club, Community Service, and Tennis. But his greatest talent was in music; he was in the Glee Club for three years and the Buttondowns during his Junior and Senior Years. In 2002, he was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis but was able to continue practicing medicine until 2019, when he retired. Survivors include his wife and three daughters.

ANDREW “TODD” CUNNINGHAM ’79 June 21, 2021, age 60, Long Beach Twp., NJ and New York City Mr. Cunningham earned an M.B.A. and spent his career in insurance, working for the Zurich Insurance Company. He and his family were very active in animal rescue. He was predeceased by his father, Gardner Cunningham. Survivors include his beloved wife Colleen; five loving children: Quinn, Clay, Kerry (Shane Chunko), Megan, and Alex; two cherished grandchildren, Tristan and Mason Chunko; his loving mother, Charlotte; and his devoted siblings, Gardner ’72, Kim, and Tracy.

JONATHAN E. “JON” SATZ ’83 August 25, 2021, age 56, Brandon, VT Mr. Satz earned his degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and owned Wood’s Market Garden in Brandon, where he lived and lovingly farmed with his family. Earlier in life, he began renting a farm in Hatfield, MA and learned the basics of what would become his passion—organic vegetable farming. In 1995, he detoured to Vershire, VT to manage the farm at The Mountain School. He longed for a chance to farm for himself again, so he returned to western Massachusetts. He became a NOFA-VT (Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont) inspector of organic farms and traveled the state of Vermont, meeting new farmers and certifying their land. Through his visits, his love of farming grew, along with his love of Vermont. In 1998, he stumbled upon Wood’s Market Garden in Brandon, which was for sale by owners Bob and Sally Wood. He purchased the farm in 1999 and became one of the most respected farmers in New England. Survivors include his wife, Courtney (Poremski) Satz, whom he married at the farm; two sons, Ezra and Emmett; mother, Susan Satz; sister, Constance “Connie” Satz; and brother, David (Hallie). Mr. Satz fought two different cancers in 10 years.

The editorial staff makes every effort to publish an obituary for and pay tribute to the accomplishments of alumni who have passed away, based on information available as of press time. If family members, classmates, or friends would like to submit tributes, please contact Greg Waxberg ‘96 at gwaxberg@pingry.org.