Obituaries | 1950-1959

NEWELL W. GILES JR., who was an internationally-recognized artist, died Dec. 22, 2004. He was 76. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he was a U.S. Army veteran. After working as an art director at several advertising agencies, he devoted his time to painting and teaching. He was best known for his oil and watercolor paintings of Greenwich, Conn., and of World War II aircraft scenes. His award-winning paintings are in many private and corporate collections. Survivors include his wife, Joan Seversen Giles, two sons, three grandchildren, and one brother.

RICHARD A. GRISCOM, a retired attorney, consultant, and dedicated public servant, died Jan. 12, 2011. He was 75. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received his degree with honors. After receiving his law degree from Harvard University, he did community development work in Central and South America and joined the Peace Corps, serving in Jamaica, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay, and El Salvador as deputy country director and director. He also coordinated Peace Corps training programs and worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Bolivia and Panama. He also worked with Haitian and Sudanese officials to develop refugee programs. In Papua New Guinea he developed training programs for government officials. After he stopped working overseas, he worked on a variety of issues in Galisteo, N.M., and served two stints as general counsel to the New Mexico Human Services Department. Among those who survive are his wife, Janice Felty Griscom; five children; five grandchildren; his brother, Dr. N. Thorne Griscom ’52; and his nephew, Matthew T. Griscom ’88.

ERNEST P. GOBEILLE JR., a retired manager with Travelers Insurance Company, died Jan. 2, 2012. He was 76. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he was a U.S. Army veteran. He spent 34 years with Travelers, after which he and his wife enjoyed camping, completing their goal of camping in every state except Hawaii. He also trained Australian Shepherds to be therapy dogs. Among those who survive are his wife, Janet Smith Gobeille, two daughters, four grandchildren, his sister and his stepbrothers.

ROBERT M. GIPSTEIN, M.D., a nephrologist who was an associate professor of clinical medicine at U.C.L.A., and who retired as chief of staff at Santa Monica Hospital, died Sept. 3, 2010, at age 75. A member of Gamma Psi, he majored in biology and received his degree with high honors and with distinction in creative writing after writing a novel for his honors thesis. He received his medical degree from Tufts University and served in the U.S. Army. Always devoted to ethical principles, he braved a potential court martial by refusing to execute a direct order to perform, on enlisted men, a particular experiment that he did not believe had been tested sufficiently. He published numerous research articles, and he lectured and presented at medical conferences worldwide. Divorced from Gwynne Zachs Gipstein, he is survived by his life partner, Joan L. Colwell, with whom he reunited at their 50th high school reunion, and one son, Jason Gipstein ’87.

WILLIAM R. GREINER, 75, who spent 42 years at the University of Buffalo as president, provost, and longtime law school faculty member, died Dec. 19, 2009. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received his degree with honors. He received master’s, law, and master’s in law degrees from Yale University. He joined the law faculty at the University of Buffalo in 1967 and rose through the faculty and administrative ranks, culminating with his appointment as the university’s president in 1991. He served until 2003, when he was named president emeritus by the SUNY Board of Trustees. During his 13 years as president he oversaw the construction of new buildings and the creation of an increasingly residential university. He tried to connect the university to the community and boost its economic impact on the region, and he focused on the creation of research centers and how to translate research into commercial applications. Among those who survive are his wife, Carol Morrissey Greiner, four children, and 13 grandchildren.

ALAN G. GORDON, 77, a physician and medical missionary, died May 7, 2010. He was the son of Donald C. Gordon ’19, M.D., and was a member of the John Wesley Club. He earned his M.D. from St. Paul University. He is survived by his wife, Alma Carita Daugherty Boughton; six daughters; 18 grandchildren; his brother, Gary D. Gordon ’50; and a cousin, William C. Gordon ’55.

FREDERICK W. GLASSBERG, a real estate and community developer, died Sept. 15, 2011. He was 77. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he received a law degree from New York University and an MBA from Loyola College. After practicing law in New York and in Washington, D.C., he joined the Rouse Company and Howard Research and Development Corporation concurrently as vice president. Later, he founded Crystal Hill Investments, a commercial real estate company. He also founded Dornbush Enterprises and served as director of development for the Columbia Foundation, as well as serving on community boards. He is survived by his wife, Leslie Kaplan Glassberg, three children, and six grandchildren.

ROBERT A. GEIGER, 73, who retired as manager of environmental affairs for Public Service Electric and Gas of New Jersey, died Mar. 9, 2006. A member of Delta Sigma, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in economics. He received a master’s degree from Columbia and served in the U.S. Army. Among those who survive are his wife, Eileen Flanagan Geiger, three children, five grandchildren, and a brother.

MITCHELL V. GREEN, a former manager for the Dennison Manufacturing Company, died Sept. 5, 2003 at age 72. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife, Sarah A. Green; his mother; two daughters; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

RICHARD E. FISCHER, 80, the retired president of Hunterdon Lumber & Building Supply in Annandale, N.J., died Mar. 12, 2011. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his degree with honors and served in the U.S. Air Force. Predeceased by his wife, Patricia, survivors include three children, four grandsons, and two stepchildren.