In Memoriam

We are saddened by the news that CHRIS PURVIS passed away on April 24, 2020. He is survived by his wife Lauren and their two sons. Chris was a Webb faculty member from 2008-11, teaching AP Psychology, Biology and Honors Chemistry. In 2011, the students selected him to be their baccalaureate speaker. After leaving Webb, Chris transitioned into consulting work before taking a job in Google's business operations and strategy division. 1937 We just learned that LUIS CARSCADEN died on November 9, 2015. We last saw Luis in 2011 when he visited campus with his son Bill. At that time, Luis was 91 years old. 1940 ROBERT LEARY passed away on April 16, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Margaret and his four children Charles, John, Allison and Barbara. At Webb, Robert played tennis and was a member of the glee club. He was known for performing chemistry experiments both in his own laboratory and the classroom. Robert attended Stanford University, where he studied experimental psychology. He began his professional career as a professor at University of Oregon where he received many grants to support his research. Before retirement, Robert invested in securities and real estate so that he could devote more time to photography, literature and art.

1942 GEORGE HALL died on September 6, 2020. He is survived by his three children, Wendy Read, Suzette Seagoe and Herb Hall, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. At Webb, George was a member of the tennis team, camera club and was an avid skier. He attended UC Berkeley briefly before leaving to serve in the Army Air Corps as a map maker for an aerial photography unit. After the war he earned a post-graduate MBA then went to work at Tubbs Cordage Company, a successful family rope manufacturer with roots in the gold rush. One of his passions was time spent at the Bohemian Club and Grove. He also enjoyed time at the Claremont Country Club, especially playing dominoes. George was a great conversationalist with a wonderful sense of humor.

1945 ROBERT “BOB” RICHARDS passed away on May 24, 2020. He is survived by his children Paul '76, John '78 and Beth, and his brother Benjamin '46. At Webb, Bob was an active student serving as chairman of the Honor Committee, president of Block W and editor of El Espejo. He earned many varsity letters and was captain of the football team in his senior year. One of his fondest Webb achievements was being named “Best All-Around Athlete.” Bob graduated from Pomona College and then earned his master’s degree from Claremont Graduate University. After graduation, he began his career as a teacher. For 25 years, he taught at Foothill Country Day School, helmed by Howell and Betty Webb. He retired to Sacramento and became involved in social justice activism through the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals & Peace Action. He traveled all over the nation attending seminars and rallies for issues that concerned him, and he cherished time with his children and grandchildren, hikes with his brother Benjamin and travels to the United Kingdom and Holy Land. His memory and health gradually faded due to Alzheimer's, but his spirit and enthusiasm remained fiercely present. He died amidst the COVID-19 crisis, but his daughter was able to visit him via FaceTime and in person near the end. 1947 ROLAND JOSLYN passed away on September 18, 2020 in Issaquah, WA, at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and children Gregory ’72, Daniel and Amy. At Webb, Roland was a member of the track and field team and well known as a fantastic piano player. He attended Pomona College, where he studied architecture and went on to attend Northrop Institute. HUGH VAUGHAN passed away on June 23, 2019. At Webb he was a member of the track team and worked on the Blue & Gold and El Espejo. Hugh attended Yale University and went on to start his own advertising agency, Jefferson Marketing & Advertising Inc. which he operated until his retirement.

1949 JOHN H. THATCHER JR. died peacefully at home in Hillsborough, NJ, on August 14, 2017. He graduated from Princeton University in 1953. An avid fisherman, John spent many summers fishing on Fishers Island, NY. His passion for preserving the island's clean waters and natural habitats spurred him to co-found The Fishers Island Conservancy in 1985 and serve as its president for many years. As president, he advocated for preservation and conservation of the island's clean water and ecosystems. A stroke, sustained while fishing on Fishers Island in 2005, prevented him from returning to his favorite island and fishing grounds. 1950 We just learned that JOHN KOHLER passed away on December 1, 2011. 1951 ROY PARKER died on February 2, 2020. He earned a B.S. from MIT and a M.Div. at Episcopal Divinity School. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1964 and the priesthood in 1967. He joined the Order of the Holy Cross and returned to the Diocese of Los Angeles to serve at the Santa Barbara monestary Mt. Calvary. Roy was also an accomplished calligrapher whose work is displayed in churches and homes throughout the Diocese of Los Angeles. 1952 ANDREW “ANDY” GRIFFIN died on February 29, 2020. He is survived by his sons Mark and Sherman and his siblings Sarah and Cyrus. At Webb, Andy was president of the camera and chess clubs in his senior year, as well as a photographer for the Blue & Gold and El Espejo. Andy graduated with a B.A. in history from UC Berkeley, where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity and coxswain for Cal crew. He served in the Merchant Marine and U.S. Army, based in both Fort Ord, Calif., and France. When he returned to San Francisco, he spent his entire career with the Bank of California, where he started as a teller and retired as Vice President of Loan Policy. 1953 CLEVE BAKER passed away peacefully on August 12, 2020. He is survived by his four children and brothers John '57 and Bruce. At Webb, Cleve was president of the student body, El Espejo editor, an Honor Committeeman and a member of the California Scholarship Federation. After Webb, he earned a B.S. in fresh water biology from Stanford University with a minor in East Asian studies before attending Stanford School of Medicine. After completing his medical degree, Cleve entered the Air Force and served as an officer and physician at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. He became a husband and family man after marrying his high school sweetheart, Deborah Dane. When they moved to Woodland, Calif. in 1966, their family grew to include four children. Cleve built a dermatology practice with the Woodland Clinic Medical Group that spanned 33 years. He loved caring for people and never begrudged the minutes spent with each and every patient. He was known for making house calls, visiting nursing homes and volunteering to support migrant health initiatives in Yolo County. He also held teaching positions as a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine and as a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UC Davis. Cleve actively participated in the restoration and preservation of historic Woodland through his work with the Yolo County Historical Society, Stroll Through History and the Woodland Opera House. 1956 We recently learned that WILLIAM “WIL” D. STRATHMANN died on February 11, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Randi, their two sons Bill and Joe, and his brother, Richard '59. At Webb, Wil received a varsity letter in football and was a member of the drama club. After graduating from Pomona College, he attended Harvard

Medical School. After completing his residency, Wil served in the Air Force before starting a private practice as a psychiatrist in Washington, D.C. In 1983 he joined the Baltimore Washington Institute for Psychoanalysis and served as the Co-Director of the Adult Psychotherapy Program for several years. Wil retired in Maine to begin his dream of living in a place filled with natural beauty. 1960 We just learned that STEPHAN “STEVE” COOK passed away on January 2, 2017. Steve received his B.A. from Colorado State University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Marquette University. He was a beloved English professor at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. During the last 15 years of his life, he suffered from Parkinson's disease. He is survied by his wife Terri and their son Ian.

PIETER SPEYER passed away on November 11, 2019. He is survived by his wife Catherine and daughter Danielle. At Webb, Pieter was a member of the California Scholarship Federation, the camera club and drama club. He also received B letters in soccer and track. After Webb, Pieter attended University of Redlands where he studied Spanish and Latin American civilization and earned his J.D. from Western California School of Law. He then journeyed to Spain, where he received a degree in international law from the University of Barcelona. He moved to La Jolla and set up his practice, where Pieter had an illustrious career as an immigration lawyer. In 2005 he began a successful weekend radio program where people could call in with immigration questions. He always credited his bilingual career to the Spanish classes at Webb with John Sumner. 1963 We recently learned that JAN JANSEN died on December 13, 2014. At Webb, Jan earned the nickname “Howdy” and was a member of the soccer and track teams. He also served as the circulation manager for the Blue and Gold. Jan attended Columbia University where he studied engineering before serving with the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. His classmates remember him as a happy, high energy guy, always with a smile on his face. 1967 WILLIAM “BILL” SCHOONMAKER passed away on March 22, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jill, and their children Emily and Jesse. At Webb, Bill was very active on campus: he was captain of both the football and rugby teams and president of his class and the student body. He was also a member of the Honor Committee, choir and the Blue & Gold. His classmates described him as “one of those individuals who improve a situation merely by being a part of it.” After Webb, he graduated from Amherst College and then earned a master’s degree in architecture from University of Washington. For over 30 years he had a successful career as an architect, helping his clients actualize their dream homes or helping design new and innovative spaces for his local community. Bill was also an active volunteer and philanthropist, serving as a trustee for the Durham Public Library and supporting a wide variety of causes including education, environmental conservation efforts and liberal political causes. 1976 DILIP RATAN passed away on May 15, 2020. He is survived by his mother Sheela, brothers Rajiv ’77 and Suneel ’81, and many nieces and nephews. At Webb, Dilip ran cross country and was a photographer for El Espejo and the Blue & Gold. Many may recall his pithy sense of humor, but he will also be remembered for being remarkably empathetic, often befriending classmates to help them integrate. After Webb, Dilip attended Wesleyan University before transferring to Cal State San Bernardino, where he earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry and biology. Dilip was a true scholar: he was brilliant in every sense of the word and studied philosophy, physics and chemistry even in his final days. His brother Raj described him as a “loving older brother who, when we were younger, provided much needed perspective and wisdom at critical times.” 1977 JEFF CALAMUSA died after a short illness on August 15, 2020. He is survived by his wife Erika Amato, his mother Linda Lou Bourque and his brother Alfred. At Webb, Jeff was a member of the soccer and football teams and the senior class president. He attended Cal State Fullerton, where he earned a B.S. in business administration, double majoring in management and finance. Although he had an excellent aptitude for business, his heart and soul were devoted to music, and in 1988, he decided to focus entirely on songwriting, playing bass guitar and producing. Going by the stage name Jeff Stacy, he had several bands over the years, but by far his most successful project was Velvet Chain. They regularly played the best venues in Los Angeles, including the Troubadour and House of Blues, and completed a successful U.S. tour before making their mark internationally on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This led to many more TV and film placements. Velvet Chain released five albums, all produced by Jeff, and was actually gearing up to put out a new album this year. 1980 We recently learned that JOHN CURTIS died on May 6, 2017. John was a day student and manager of the track team. He graduated from University

A celebration of life

of Redlands with a B.A. in economics and later worked for Transamerica Life Co. More recently he had some serious health issues and was living in an assisted living facility. His classmates recall that he was an avid follower of the stock market and did fairly well with his trading. DAVID DUKES passed away on November 3, 2020. He is survived by his son Robert, and siblings Richard ’78 and Pamela. David suffered greatly during the past four years after nearly drowning off the coast of Kauai in 2016. He was taken to Alvarado Hospital San Diego where he died peacefully with his sister by his side. At Webb David worked on the Blue & Gold and was a member of the prom committee. He received a B.A. from Oregon State University and an M.A. in health care administration from National University of San Diego. Before beginning a successful career in real estate, David worked for his father's health care company. He greatly enjoyed his time at Webb and credited his wonderful teachers, like former French teacher Jacques Pauwels, for making his experience so memorable.

MARTIN “MARTY” DWORSKY died on September 19, 2018. He is survived by his wife Tracy and two daughters. At Webb he played tennis and was editor of the school newspaper. He studied prelaw at UC Berkeley and then earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California. Many years ago, Marty had a medical procedure that never left him the same. He was not able to practice law again, nor could he drive. In spite of his situation, his classmates always found him in good humor, funny and warm. He was the definition of grace under adversity. CHARLES LIKAS passed away on January 26, 2019. At Webb, he was a member of the glee club and was in the fall play his senior year. After Webb, Charles attended University of Southern California where he studied international relations and psychology. He was well known for his love of Elvis. For several years he organized the West Coast Elvis Tribute in Napa Valley. 2011 LANDEN J. POWELL died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 7, 2020. He is survived by his parents Steve ’85 and Darla, brothers Collin ’08 and Garret ’11, uncle John ’83 and cousin Nicole Kjellander ’10. Landen earned his bachelor’s degree in molecular, cell and developmental biology from UCLA and worked as an IT manager at a San Diego medical clinic. He also oversaw the internet sales for Peter Rabbit Farms in Coachella, Calif. His many talents included electronic music production, art, poetry and a novel in process. He left a legacy of true gentleness, kindness and special memories for those who knew him.

Alumni Bookshelf

James E. Sullivan with William R. Ripley ’60 The Bad, The Ugly and The Good

In 1983, while Bill Ripley was studying at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey to become a pastor, he became pen pals with James E. Sullivan, who was serving a life sentence at Eastham Unit, a prison in the Texas Department of Corrections. This is a story of redemption and follows the 30-year friendship between Ripley and Sullivan. Available on Amazon.

John Scalzi ’87 The Last Emperox

This is the final volume in John Scalzi’s Interdependency trilogy series and a sequel to The Consuming Fire. It opened at #6 on The New York Times bestseller list for combined print and e-book fiction and #14 on the USA Today bestseller list. Scalzi has been a frequent speaker at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, a creative consultant for the TV series Stargate Universe, and in 2013 his book Redshirts won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Netflix also optioned his Old Man War book and used three of his stories for episodes in the animated series, Love, Death & Robots.

Jenn Louis ’89 The Chicken Soup Manifesto

“It’s like a documentary about chicken soups all over the world,” says Louis. Her previous books include Pasta by Hand and The Book of Greens. Louis, who is based in Portland, Ore., is known for using seasonal ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Signed copies available at jennlouis.com

Kate Wharmby Seldman ’93 For Those About to Rock: A Kid's Guide to 50 Legendary Musical Acts

This nonfiction book for kids aged 8-15 tells the inspiring stories of 50 celebrated popular musicians, including Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters, Run DMC, The Doors, Bjork, Black Flag, Blondie, and Jimi Hendrix, to name just a few. Based in Los Angeles, Seldman is a writer and a mother of two boys. She loves cats, heavy metal, and anything weird. This is her first book. Available at forthoseabouttorock. co.

Belinda Lei ’13 Not THAT Rich

Belinda Lei's debut YA novel follows the lives of a diverse group of private high schoolers in an affluent Southern Californian suburb. The dramatic and satire-filled storyline tackles classism, multiculturalism, and the high-pressure environment in today's college admissions process. Through this lens, Lei weaves together nuanced stories as her characters navigate the biggest challenge of all—being a teenager. If you enjoy Crazy Rich Asians, Gossip Girl, or Frankly in Love, this book is for you! Available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. Find out more at notthatrich.com.

The path ahead

Your future gift intentions today will support Webb’s success in the next 100 years.

The Class of 1967 have taken a particular interest in preserving and maintaining one of their favorite campus spaces – Iversen Park. Together, they are committed to transforming the space between Alamo and the Hutchison dorms into a multi-purpose gathering space to honor their memories of days spent learning under the magnificent oak trees that line the park.

Earlier this year, Charles “Chuck” Ensey ’67 and his wife Gloria made a commitment to endow the Iversen Park project space in the form of a charitable gift annuity.

Chuck says, “I realized that a gift annuity was a great idea that worked for me and for Webb, a true win-win situation! ...We set up the income for joint life, so even after I pass on, my wife will continue to get a monthly check for the rest of her life, and I was able to help our Class of 1967 fund an important class gift that we had been working on for years.”

Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) are just one example of creative giving strategies that donors use to support The Webb Schools and the Alf Museum, while also providing income for themselves, or their beneficiaries. CGAs are an excellent option to secure fixed income regardless of fluctuations in the market while supporting the schools and our mission for many years to come.

For more information on gifts that pay you income, contact Bob Fass (bfass@webb.org) or Danielle Gordon (dgordon@webb.org).