In Memory

PAST FACULTY AND PARENT OF ALUMNI

Nancy Snowberger Pleasants passed away on November 25, 2019, with her children, Dru and Tim, at her bedside in Ocean View. Nancy married E. Rogers Pleasants Jr. in 1971. Their marriage was strong, happy and full of love. With the marriage, Rogers’ children, Estee, Bruddy and John, joined Dru and Tim in Nancy’s heart.

Nancy was a lifelong Delawarean. She was born the youngest of six on June 19, 1926, to Louis and Elsie Snowberger. She graduated from A.I. Dupont High School in 1944. Although only 5 feet, 5 inches tall, she was the captain of the women’s basketball team. Nancy went on to earn her nursing diploma from The School of Nursing at Beebe Hospital in Lewes. A talented artist and seamstress extraordinaire, Nancy’s homes and wardrobe reflected her exquisite taste and style. Nancy was active in the Junior League of Wilmington for many years, making friendships that lasted a lifetime. She also worked as a preschool teacher, and later as the school nurse for Wilmington Friends School (1967-79). Nancy acted with kindness and grace throughout her life.

Nancy lived in Wawaset Park for 60 years. She and Rogers also had a home in Bethany Beach. They were wonderful and gracious hosts, making every occasion an elegant affair. Nancy is survived by children Tim Reed ’73 (Barbara), Dru Reed Mogge ’76, Estee Pleasants Lynch ’72 (John), and John (Jen) Pleasants, as well as eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, E. Rogers Jr., and his son E. Rogers (Bruddy) III; her sisters, Jane Chain, Ann Snowberger, Betsy Snowberger and Oakley Sargisson; and her brother, Robert Snowberger.

On February 16, 2020 Edythe Rapkin, born May 9, 1918, to Samuel & Reba Levick died of natural causes. With her husband of 44 years Lewis W. Rapkin, they raised three boys, Leslie ’60 and his wife Enid of Wimauma, FL, Fredrick ’65 and his wife Alice of Needham, MA, and Gordon ’72 and his wife Barbara of Wilton, CT. She had 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Edie was born, raised, and educated in Philadelphia. After attending the University of Pennsylvania, she attended business school, and used this education for 15 years in the business office at Wilmington Friends School. She always believed in education and enjoyed travel, swimming and needle work. She was most proud of her extended family and their many accomplishments.

1939

December 4, 2018, Sarah Eliason Englehart, 97, beloved wife of the late William Englehart, M.D.; devoted mother of William P. Englehart, Jr. (Pat), Susan E. Folckemmer (Steve), and James E. Englehart (Debbie); cherished grandmother of Christopher and Sarah Folckemmer, and Will, J.D., Andrew, Emilie, and Rebecca Englehart; also survived by three great- grandchildren.

1942

Bette Louise Johnson Good, 96 years old, of Glen Mills, PA, formerly of Wilmington, DE passed away peacefully on April 17, 2020, surrounded by the love of her family and her devoted caregivers. Bette was a nursing graduate of the old Wilmington Memorial Hospital. After her marriage to her husband Al in 1945, she worked at the Doylestown Hospital and later became a visiting nurse throughout Bucks County. Upon their return to Wilmington, Al began a long career at Hercules and Bette focused on raising their young family. Bette and Al were active in Aldersgate United Methodist Church, helping it grow from its original storefront location.

Bette carried on after the 1981 passing of Al, the love of her life. She moved to the Maris Grove retirement community in 2006, where she lived happily and made many new friends. She is survived by her children Jan Mariconda of Doylestown, PA, Cathy Sanger of Glen Allen, VA and David Good (Lori) of Collierville, TN; her five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Stella “Sis” Ward Sterner was born June 21, 1924, in Wilmington, DE, to Herbert H. Ward, Jr and Juliette Rice Ward. She died peacefully, surrounded by family, at her home in Jennersville, PA on March 31, 2020, at the age of 95. She is survived by her husband of 75 years, James F. Sterner; her brother John Ward ’49 of Chesapeake City, MD; her five daughters, Patricia Johnson (Glenn), Juliette Sterner, A. Tamasin Sterner, Ginger Hunter, and Amy Gould (Curtis); five grandchildren, Ward Johnson, Erika Hunter Hake, Evan Hunter, Benjamin Gould, and Lucas Gould; and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Herbert Ward III ’39. the University of Delaware, Class of 1945. Sis and Jim began married life in Troy, NY, where he completed his education. His career with the DuPont Company took them to Waynesboro, VA, East Greenwich, RI, Madison, NJ, and Kennett Square, PA. They retired near Chesapeake City, MD.

While living in Kennett Square, Sis enjoyed volunteering her time and talents with Bloodmobile, The Tick Tock Early Learning Center, Red Cross, and the Girl Scouts.While living near Chesapeake City, she volunteered at the Union Hospital Auxiliary and gift shop. She especially enjoyed her years volunteering at the Heron’s Nest Gift Shop at Jenner’s Pond.

Sis loved her family, sitting by a river or the ocean, cats, travel, a good steak, gardening, playing cards and bingo. She usually had a jigsaw puzzle on the table, and she was a whiz at crossword puzzles.

1947

Local artist and long-time Boothbay Harbor summer resident Patricia Ryan Zolper, 90, died March 30, 2020 at the Country House retirement community in Greenville, DE.

Pat’s passions included her family, art, early childhood development, her Catholic faith, reading and crossword puzzles. She was part of a generation of women who pioneered balancing career and family. Her achievements included raising five sons, serving in management positions in a pre-school and a hospital, and heading up multiple non-profit efforts through the years. She was a landscape painter who exhibited in Delaware and Maine and an ardent supporter of the arts. However, Pat always considered her greatest joy and accomplishment was raising her children.

She also was beloved and admired by a wide circle of people, from the staff where she kenneled her dog, to a young artist she mentored, to her 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was smart, strong, and social. She once knocked on the door of a stranger, a widow, to introduce herself; Pat had read about the woman and thought they could be good friends.

Born in Wilmington in 1929, Pat was graduated from Wilmington Friends School and Vassar College (1951). She started the Childhood Development Club at Vassar, which continues to this day. After graduation, she began working at DuPont, and met William Benjamin Zolper of Wilmington. They were married in 1953.

While managing a large family and household in Glen Rock, NJ, Pat received her master’s degree in learning disabilities from William Paterson College of NJ in 1978, and also earned a certificate to teach art K-12. Once her children were in school, she rejoined the workforce as the director of Friends Preschool in Ridgewood, NJ, and then as director of volunteer services at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton, New Jersey. She also served in numerous volunteer positions, including board president of Family Counseling of Ridgewood, and director of art division for the Junior League of Bergen County. Pat also started an extracurricular arts program in the Glen Rock school system.

After she and Ben retired, they moved back to Wilmington in 1989. Pat became a docent at the Delaware Arts Museum and also began painting with the Studio Group. She continued these activities nearly all her life. Ben died in 2014.

Pat is survived by her five sons: Ben (Sharon, three children, four grandchildren), of Beverly, Massachusetts, Tom (one child and partner Alexandra) of Baltimore, Maryland, Peter (Johanna, three children), of Fairfax Station, Virginia; John (Betsy, three children) of Vienna, Virginia; and Andy (Linda, five children) of St. Petersburg, Florida. John Abramo, Pat’s companion of four years at Country House, helped care for Pat when she became critically ill. John will miss her dearly, as will her whole family.

1948

Richard Paulett “Dixie” Sanger, age 89, passed away on April 20, 2020. Born in 1930, in Norwalk, CT. Sanger attended the old Alfred I. du Pont School in Talleyville and graduated from Wilmington Friends School with the class of 1948. At Friends, he edited the Whittier Miscellany literary magazine, and jumped center for the school’s state championship-winning basketball team. In 1952, he graduated with honors from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, where he edited The Cardinal, a literary magazine, and was president of his fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. On the hockey field at Friends, he met Maggie Marvel, Tatnall School’s formidable goalie. The romance blossomed, continued through college days, and in 1953, Margaret Marvel and Richard Sanger were married at Trinity Church in Wilmington. In time, the marriage produced three children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Sanger went to work as a reporter for Wilmington’s old Journal-Every Evening in the summer of 1952 and, with one interruption while he worked in Washington as a Congressional aide, spent the next 24 years with the Wilmington newspapers in various editorial assignments. In 1970, he was elected president of the News-Journal Corporation and editor-in-chief of the two newspapers it then published. He left the company in 1975 after a public disagreement with its owner, a du Pont family holding company, over the future of the newspaper business in Wilmington.

In 1976, Sanger founded TRIAD, the Trinity Alcohol and Drug program, as a ministry of Trinity Church. Still located at Trinity but now an independent agency, that program has become TRIAD Addiction Recovery Services, an important outpost in the community’s struggle to come to grips with the major public health crisis of our time. In recovery himself since 1975, Sanger was widely known around Alcoholics Anonymous as “Dixie,” a nickname coined when he pitched for Friends School’s baseball team.

Maggie Sanger had been selling residential real estate since the 1960’s, and after several years as TRIAD’s executive director, Dixie joined her in what became one of the first husband-and-wife real estate teams in Delaware. They worked for B. Gary Scott Realtors and successor organizations, including Prudential Preferred Properties and Prudential Fox & Roach. They spent the last years of their real-estate careers with Brandywine Fine Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Centreville.

Sanger has been a trustee of Wilmington University since 1971, and was a former alumni trustee of Wesleyan. He was a long-time chairman of Wilmington University’s Student and Alumni Affairs Committee. An incorporator of the old Greater Wilmington Development Council, he chaired that organization’s education committee for several years and was instrumental in assuring that Delaware Technical and Community College would have an urban campus as well as a suburban one.

Sanger was a former vestryman and senior warden of Trinity Church. He was a former chair of the Diocese of Delaware’s communications department, and first editor of Communion, the Diocesan news publication. For years, he was a member of the Diocesan department of ministries. In the 1980’s, Maggie and Dixie transferred their membership to Christ Church Christiana Hundred, where Dixie was a long-standing member of the Thursday morning Bible study group. In addition to Maggie, he is survived by three children: Christopher Dick Sanger ’74 (Jane Biggs Sanger ’79), Peter Marvel Sanger (Mary Jane Macintire), and Molly (Margaret) Sanger Carpenter (S. Preston Carpenter); seven grandchildren: Anne, Mary, Lucinda, Jackson and Andrew Sanger, Benjamin ’03 (Victoria Molnar), and Margaret Carpenter (Lamar Shafer); four great-granddaughters: Adella and Eloise Carpenter, and Coralis and Eliza Shafer. Dixie’s siblings, Capt. Frank M. Sanger, Jr. (USN), and Elisabeth Paulett Sanger (Mrs. William G. Moeckel), died some years ago.

Howard G. Seebach passed away from heart failure in this home at Heritage Estates, Livermore, CA, on January 23. He was 89 years old.

He was born in Germantown, PA, to Louis and Mildred Godfrey Seebach, the older brother of George Louis Seebach. Howard graduated from Wilmington Friends School, the University of Delaware and then Cornell University with a M.B.A. in 1960.

He served in the Army for six years and was honorably discharged as Captain and Commanding Officer of a Basic Training Unit in Fort Hood, TX. While in Germany, he served as 2nd Lieutenant, Company Commander, 510th Tank Battalion, 5th Corp. It was in Germany that he married his first wife and mother of his four children, Alma Stevens Seebach, who was an American teacher on the base. Howard later married Emilie Green in 1988 and enjoyed 24 years of marriage, until her death in 2012. Howard worked with the DuPont Company for over 30 years in sales and marketing leadership roles and, after he retired, produced Sales Meetings with his wife Emilie, as Seebach & Seebach. After retirement, Howard served as Pleasanton, CA Parks & Recreation Commissioner and later Civic Arts Commissioner. He was very active at Livermore Presbyterian Church, serving on Pastor nominating committees and in the Session.

Howard loved a stage, an audience, a good story and a good joke. He loved his family and his friends from all parts of his life. He loved an adventure. One of his favorite quotations was “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather to skid-in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, proclaiming, wow what a ride!”

Howard is predeceased by his brother George Louis Seebach, his second wife Emilie and her two daughters, Lisa Hector and Lori Tittle. He is survived by

his children Steven Seebach (Mary Jane), Cathy Seebach Rigl (Ted), Jayne Seebach vanDusen (Tad) and David Seebach ’83, and stepson Ron Green (Donna), his 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, as well as his first wife Alma Stevens Seebach Bergmann, 93, and, lastly, his rescue dog Gomer.

1949

Elizabeth (Liz) Fonda Wiltshire, 88, of Cherry Hill, NJ, passed away on April 4, 2020. Born on September 29, 1931, in Buffalo, NY, to the late John F. Fonda and Marion (Getman) Fonda. She was a graduate of Wilmington Friends School and Glassboro State College, recently attending her 70th class reunion at Wilmington Friends. She taught at Moorestown Friends School and later retired from the Public Ledger Building in Philadelphia.

Liz enjoyed crafts and was known for her beautiful handcrafted greeting cards and Christmas ornaments. She was an active alumnus of the Alpha Phi sorority and had served as a District Governor. She was the widow of the late Donald M. Wiltshire and Malcolm P. Parkhurst. Mother of Nancy Mathewson (Charles) of Plymouth, MA, Stephanie Laidig (Kent) of Elverson, PA, John Parkhurst of Mt. Holly, NJ, and Katharine Parkhurst of Bay Head, NJ. Stepmother of Brad Wiltshire (Lucy) of Willow Creek, CA, Sharon Logan (Jim) of Somers Point, NJ, Monica Lupinetti (Martin) of Haddonfield, NJ, and Anthony Wiltshire. Grandmother of Benjamin, Hannah, Andrew, Eli, Kristen, Christopher, Kristi, Ashley, Mya, Matteo, Allison, Zannah and Felicia. Great-grandmother of Harrison, Jonathan, Henry and Jacob.

Joan Porter Wideman,88, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, passed away on May 7, 2020. Joan was born November 9, 1931 to the late John F. Porter, Jr and Eloise Berlinger Porter in Wilmington, DE. She graduated from Wilmington Friends School and Briarcliff Manor College. Joan is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ronald Wideman. They have two sons: Ron Wideman, Jr. (Valerie) and Bruce Wideman (Florence); grandsons, Ron III, Ryan (Dora) and Brian (Stephanie); and two great-grandchildren. Her siblings are John F. Porter III ’52 and Gail P. Anderson ’56.

Joan spent her early life traveling the world with her husband Ron. She also had a tremendous love for all animals. Upon moving to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1963, she helped with the protection of sea turtle nests on the beaches. She was always ready to rescue any animals in need. Joan’s kind and generous spirit will Donnilea Ann Smith Marshall of West Barnstable, MA passed away at her home on February 22, 2017. She was 84 years old. Mrs. Marshall was predeceased in 2005 by her husband of 50 years, Richard Maynard Marshall III. She was born October 30, 1932 in Wilmington, DE, the only child of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Olivia Smith. Her childhood was spent in the Wilmington area where her father was a research scientist with the DuPont Company. At age twelve her family moved to Richland, WA due to her father’s wartime work with the Manhattan Project. She often spoke of the exciting experiences during the year spent out West, in particular traveling across country back to Wilmington by car decades before there were interstate highways with her mom and dad along with two dogs and a cat aboard.

She attended the Wilmington Friends School and then Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Cum Laude in 1952. She married Lieutenant R. Maynard Marshall, USN, in 1955 in Wilmington. Following her husband joining the Raytheon Company, the family moved to Massachusetts in 1959, which would be her home for the rest of her life. In the 1970s Mrs. Marshall became a professional interior designer, ultimately starting her own successful business. She received her American Society of Interior Designers certification and was active in that association. She enjoyed playing tennis and was an avid bridge player. In the 1980s she and her husband traveled widely in Europe. Retiring in 1994, they moved from their long-time home in Sudbury to West Barnstable on Cape Cod. With a second home in Scottsdale, Arizona, they spent many happy years driving with their dogs back and forth across country visiting places and friends along the way. They were active in their local neighborhood association and both served as president at various times. While at Syracuse, Mrs. Marshall had become a member of Kappa Kappa Gama and was active in the sorority all her life, including serving as president of her local chapter for several terms. Donnilea is survived by her daughter Susan of West Barnstable and son Peter of Phoenix, AZ.

Marcia Staats Lusardi, beloved mother, “Nana” and friend, entered into her eternal life Sunday, April 27, 2014 at her home after succumbing to end stage COPD. Marcy defied all odds with her illness for 8 great years and continued to amaze medical staff with her strength and resilience. Born July 21, 1931 in Wilmington, DE, she was a daughter of the late Ralph and Ethel (Lynch) Staats. Marcy grew up in Wilmington, DE and attended Wilmington Friends School, Lasell Junior College, MA and Thompson’s Private Business School, Wilmington. In 1953, Marcy married James P. Lusardi. The majority of the next forty years were committed to her husband and his career as a professor of English Literature. In 1967 they moved permanently to Easton and Lafayette College. Marcy’s executive secretary training served her well over the years working as a secretary, and volunteering for various organizations. An advocate for women’s rights, she became involved with Planned Parenthood of Easton in 1970. In 1972 she became the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Northampton County and held the position until she retired in 1983. She was active in the League of Women Voters not only of Easton but for the state and country as well. She remained active until her illness caused her to resign. Marcy had a great love of animals. She was an advocate and supporter for numerous animal protection organizations including ASPCA, Humane Society, World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, and Tiger Creek. Her favorite pastime was watching the birds and squirrels out her back door.

Marcy was a gifted pianist. Although instructed at an early age, she blossomed on her own mastering critical classical pieces and popular tunes by ear. Music gave her the most pleasure aside from her kitties, garden and house. Survivors: Her two daughters: C. Lynn Williams (Park) and Jill Marie Hahn (Jeffrey); grandchildren: Sarah, Tyler (Karissa), Carly and Kate; two great-grandchildren: Idalynn and Marcus; brother-in-law: Henry Truax; nephew: Michael Truax and his son Aiden and her cousin: Jimmy Lewis. She was predeceased by her husband Jimmy and her sister Carol Staats Truax ’52.

1950

Donald D. Haut passed away on March 2, 2020. He was loved and cherished by many people including: his wife Marlis Haut; his children, Donald Haut, Jr. (Tricia), Phillip Haut of Los Angeles, CA, Sarah Haut of Alexandria, VA and Gregory C. Fletcher (Susan); his grandchildren, Ian, Ainsley Haut of Concord, MA, Grace and Clara Fletcher of Seattle, WA.; his parents, Henry Nathaniel and Frances Sheridan Haut; and and also Karin Fletcher (Doug Miller) of Port Orchard, WA.

Regional Medical Center. He was born on May 5, 1931 in Des Moines, IA, the son of Margaret Lovejoy Pratt and Stuart W. Pratt. Bob was married to Joanne Owen Pratt on July 18, 1955 who predeceased him in 2001. Additionally, he was predeceased by a son, Steven W. Pratt.

Bob graduated from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA with a BS in Industrial Engineering. He began his career with DuPont in Wilmington, DE, followed by a transfer to North Carolina in 1975. In retirement Bob loved photography, writing, and Big Band music from the 30’s & 40’s. He hosted a popular radio show in the 1980s “Big Bands Saturday Night” on WHQR in Wilmington. He was active in The Music of Yesteryear group at the Senior Center and wrote the monthly newsletter from 1996 until 2010. Bob is survived by one daughter, Amy Pratt Stilley (Warren), of Danville, VA; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Ferguson (Matt), grandson, Jake Stilley, and greatgranddaughter, Cora Joy Ferguson.

1952

Henry Harper Silliman, Jr., born in June of 1934, died peacefully at home on April 17, 2020. He was the son of Mariana du Pont Silliman and Henry Harper Silliman, oldest brother of Doris (Silliman) Stockly ’53 (Holmes,) Eleanor (Silliman) Maroney ’58 (Ronald,) Mariana (Silliman) Richards ’59, (Robert,) John E. Silliman (Valerie,) and predeceased by his brother, Robert M. Silliman (Ann.)

He attended the Wilmington Friends School, graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, Class of 1952, Yale College Class of 1956. In August of 1955, he married Katrina Wells Winfield. Their five sons are Henry (Troy) Harper Silliman, III (Greer), Dr. Christopher C. Silliman (Lori), David du Pont Silliman (Ann,) Mark Winfield Silliman (Anna), Dunning Brewster Silliman (Susan). In time there were 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

In February of 1976, he married Marion Taggart Shipley and welcomed stepdaughter Mary Dupuy Shipley, William (Woody) Strawbridge Shipley, and later four more granddaughters.

Henry worked at the du Pont Co. for 37 years, first in Kinston, NC and Nashville, TN, in textile fiber plants, and lastly in Wilmington. He was a Trustee of the Tower Hill School, St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE, member of the Longwood Foundation, Community Housing, served several terms on the Christ Church Christiana Hundred Vestry. His favorite activity was his dedication to the Westover Wildcats, firstly as a team manager, often as the treasurer, lastly as a respected ump. He was thanked with a plaque reading:

Henry Harper Silliman, Jr. our sincerest thanks for many years of service always saying “I’ll do it”, making it fun for all creatures great and small, and especially for caring enough to give more then we can every repay. The Westover Wildcats

1953

William Stephen Abrams passed away on August 19, 2019. Funeral Home Services for William [were] provided by FullerSheffield Funeral of Austin, TX.

Ada “Dusty” Heimbach Logan of Norwood, MA, formerly of New London, NH died peacefully on April 1, 2019 surrounded by her children. A lifelong artist and textile conservation expert, Dusty found many ways to share her enthusiasm and talents including docent work at the Winterthur Museum; teaching Textile Arts at Pine Manor College; and serving as Acting Conservator of Textiles at the Isabella Stuart Gardener Museum where she spent 15 yrs. of her professional life. In “retirement” Dusty developed and taught courses in textile design and conservation at Colby Sawyer College and the Institute for Life Long Learning at Dartmouth College, where she also served in volunteer leadership. Additionally, she crafted and taught others to craft Nantucket baskets and tufted Turkish rugs. In the community Dusty was active in book groups and knitting circles, garden clubs and fundraisers. Dusty is survived by 3 children, 5 grandchildren and will be missed by all who have known her.

1957

Dr. Kenneth Michael Laughlin, who served the Rock Hill community as an ophthalmologist for more than 30 years, died Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House after a threeplus year-long battle with a chronic lung illness. Born May 15, 1939, he attended the Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington, DE, and was a 1957 graduate of the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. He graduated from Davidson College in 1961, where he excelled in soccer as center forward and was chosen for the All-South Team. He attended Tulane University Medical School from 1961-1965. After a one-year rotating internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, Dr. Laughlin returned to Tulane University Medical School and completed his three-year residency in ophthalmology from 1966 through the spring of 1969. In June, 1969, Dr. Laughlin entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam until he moved to Rock Hill in 1971, where he continued to practice ophthalmology until his retirement in August 2001.

Dr. Laughlin was a member of the American Medical Society, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and the South Carolina Society of Addiction Medicine. In addition, he served on committees for the Physician Advocacy and Assistance Program and the Recovering Professionals Program. He also served the Keystone Substance Abuse Center in Rock Hill as an examiner and board member, and on the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse Prevention. Dr. Laughlin is most noted for his work in founding and leading FAVOR South Carolina. FAVOR (Faces and Voices of Recovery) is a national organization dedicated to helping individuals recovering from substance abuse and working to remove the stigma of addiction. As a result of his efforts, Dr. Laughlin was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in June, 2012, by Governor Nikki Haley. The Order of the Palmetto, given for extraordinary lifetime service and achievements of national or statewide significance, is the highest civilian honor awarded to citizens of South Carolina. The Order of the Palmetto is a once in a lifetime achievement.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Muller Laughlin; his son, Scott Laughlin (Amy); daughter, Shelley Crocker (Clint); grandson, Daniel Crocker and granddaughter, Samantha Crocker; his sister, Jo Alice Kelly and a niece, Ashley Vitale.

1959

Elisabeth “Elisa” Stroud Poole, 78, daughter of Eleanor B. Stroud and Dr. Henry H. Stroud of Wilmington, DE, died March 28, 2020, in Greenville. Elisa was a 1959 graduate of Wilmington Friends School and received a B.A. in political science in 1963 from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. During high school, Elisa spent a summer in Japan with the first class of American Field Service students to travel to the country after World War II. She maintained contact with her Japanese family for almost 50 years.

Throughout her life, Elisa donated her time and considerable talents to her family, friends, and community, making an indelible mark on the state of Delaware and the people who knew her. Elisa was instrumental in creating Leadership Delaware, Read Aloud Delaware, and the Fund for Women at the Delaware Community Foundation. A gifted and dedicated leader, Elisa served as a 20-year director and board secretary of WHYY;

first chair of the Delaware Community Foundation; first female chair of the board of United Way of Delaware; board president of Planned Parenthood of Delaware and later a member of its Public Affairs Committee; president of the Visiting Nurses Association; and first female chair of the board of the Greenville Country Club. While President of the Junior League of Wilmington, Elisa successfully advocated for the establishment of Delaware’s Foster Care Review Board. Elisa’s service and accomplishments were celebrated with numerous awards, including the ACLU of Delaware’s Kandler Award, its highest honor. Elisa was honored for volunteerism by the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, and for her leadership in interfaith initiatives with the Community Builder Award from the Delaware Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Elisa served as the executive director of the Salvation Army’s Wee Care Day Care Center. A lifelong art lover and collector, Elisa and her husband, Richard E. Poole ’58, opened Aerie Art Gallery,first in Wilmington and then in Rehoboth Beach, in 2000. Elisa is survived by her children, Tina Poole Johnson (Nick), Kirsten Poole (Scott), and Edward Poole; eight beloved grandchildren, Hunter, Emmy, Eleanor, Zoe, Max, Jenny, Henry, and Rose; and her sister, Eileen Clark (Martin). Elisa’s high-school sweetheart and husband of 51 years, Richard, predeceased her in 2015.

1963

On SaturdayApril 11th, Charles William Jackson, a longtime resident of West Nyack, NY, passed away at home at the age of 74 from pneumonia. Charles was born in New Orleans and grew up in Wilmington, DE. He graduated from NYU with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. He worked as a nuclear engineer for over 30 years at Con Edison and Entergy until retiring. He met his wife Terese (Terri) of 41 years, while working at Con Edison.

Charles was a loving husband and father of three children. In his time off he enjoyed spending time with his family, two grandchildren and watching any ball game that was on television. He was predeceased by his parents Ann and Bill and a nephew Billy. He is survived by his wife Terese (Terri), three children Charles, Grace Ann (Alan), and Sean, as well as his grandchildren Evan and Logan. He is also survived by two sisters Elizabeth and Suzanne and many nieces and nephews.

1975 Carl Spalding “Chip” Gates

Written by Aunt Valerie (Carl’s sister-in- law):

“It is with great heartache and deep sorrow that I pass along to friends and family the news that my much-loved brother-in-law, Chip (Carl) Gates Jr. has lost his short, fierce battle with pancreatic cancer.

I don’t remember not knowing Chip; he and my little sister, Gretchen (Helmbreck) Gates ’75, began dating as classmates at Friends School and were married three weeks before Al and I wed more than 40 years ago. (I do remember the VW Beetle he disassembled and then reassembled as a teenager, perplexed by the leftover parts that lay scattered on the garage floor.)

Chip was one of the kindest, funniest, smartest and most joyful of men. An engineer, attorney and investment whiz, an enthusiastic golfer and gracious host, an adventurous traveler, he leaves behind a legacy of great love for his wife who was also his best friend, and his three charming and sweet sons, his kind parents and his fine cadre of brothers and his adorable sister. He also leaves a spirit of joy and optimism that infused every relationship in his life and a generosity of spirit that made the world a better place because he was in it. Myself, I will miss him forever.

I know that many of you knew him as well and I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope that your memories of him will inspire the kind of compassion, hospitality and the sense of fun that was [the] essence of his all too short life. Au revoir, mon beau frère. Je t’aimais bien.”

1983

San Antonio-based artist Katie Pell died December 23, 2019, of complications from cancer. Katie was born to Anthony and Elizabeth Pell in Wilmington, DE. She received her BFA degree in painting from Rhode Island School Design and later earned an MFA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Raised in Wilmington, DE Katie had resided in San Antonio since 1995, where she was a major voice in the local art community. Pell, a fiercely original artist, was described by fellow artist Kathie Armstrong as “a force to be reckoned with. She lived life the way she wanted to live, and she created artwork and she created dialogue. She wasn’t shy to say anything.” Her work appears in the permanent collections of the New Museum (NY), the San Antonio Museum of Art (TX), and the Linda Pace Foundation (TX), as well as public art commissions throughout San Antonio; in 2018, her work was exhibited at the Columbia Museum of Art, SC, in an exhibition titled Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell. Predeceased by her husband, Peter Zubiate, in 2017, she is survived by her daughter, Bygoe Zubiate, her parents, and her siblings Charlie Pell and Nicola.

1987 Scott Wallace Pearson

(Note sent from Scott’s parents Kathy and Mark)

“Kathy and I write in great sadness to inform you of the sudden unexpected death on Jan. 25th of our much-loved son, Scott Wallace Pearson. Scott died peacefully in his sleep after playing video games with his sons David (15) and Adam (13) at his home in Alameda, CA. Scott leaves his boys, his sister Willow Pearson ’88, his former wife, Kim Cusato MD and his parents Mark and Kathy. The cause of his death may have been related to his hypertension as he had no other known indications at the time of his passing.

Kathy and I adopted Scott in 1969 when he was 1 month old and several months later moved from Menlo Park, CA to our hometown of Toronto, Canada. Scott was a sweet happy boy growing up and knew the complete love of his extensive Canadian family, especially his grandparents Gram and Gramp Pearson and Grampa Brown and Granny Q. After acquiring our first cat, Smokey, we all moved to Maryland and then Delaware where Scott graduated from from high school at Wilmington Friends in 1987. He attended Stanford University and graduated in Political Science in1991. He worked as a Project Manager in several computer game startup companies before meeting Kim who he married in 2002. Scott devoted himself to their two boys both before and after his divorce in 2013, sharing custody of the boys and enjoying a full spectrum of sports with them - golf, skiing, baseball and soccer. Scott, David and Adam particularly loved games. Kathy and I moved from Scottsdale, AZ to Walnut Creek, CA this past April to be closer to Scott, his boys, and Willow. We are fortunate to have many happy family occasions in recent months including a wonderful Christmas dinner at Scott’s house and a recent nifty tour of a WWII submarine in San Francisco Bay. We will miss Scott terribly but are nevertheless grateful for the wonderful 50 years we had with him before his untimely passing.”

In the Theater...

5th Grade Musical Musicville

8th Grade Musical The Music Man

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LOWER SCHOOL ART SHOW Upper School Student-Run Production Almost, Maine

This year’s upper school student-run production was “Almost, Maine.” In the spring, the cast, along with other performing arts students and members of the English and performing arts faculty, had the exciting opportunity to speak with the playwright, Mr. Cariani, via Zoom and to ask him questions. It was a lovely coda to a terrific production!

101 School Road Wilmington, DE 19803 www.wilmingtonfriends.org

Join Us.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1249 Wilmington, DE

A super school in the light of a supermoon! (Photo Credit, Elisa Morris)