EDWARD B. FISCHER, a manager of information systems, who was associated with the General Electric Corporation in Schenectady, N.Y., for 35 years, died Mar. 19, 2003 at age 72. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to Sigma Xi. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. Predeceased by his wife, survivors include three children and three grandchildren.
DONALD C. FORD, an editor and academic publisher, and assistant director of admission at Wesleyan from 1954–1961, died Dec. 15, 2010. He was 80. A member of Eclectic, he received his degree with honors and served in the U.S. Army. He was the brother of the late Andrew E. Ford Jr. of the class of 1950. Before joining the administration at Wesleyan he was a research mathematician. In 1961 he moved to John Wiley and Sons, where he served as the first president of Hamilton Publishing Company, and published textbooks in mathematics, statistics, accounting, and business. An avid sailor, he was also a lifelong supporter of Wesleyan and was a member of the first class of inductees into the Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Diana Schafer Ford, two stepchildren, three grandchildren, a brother, and a large extended family.
F. ROBERT FEKETY JR., M.D., professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and a distinguished physician, teacher, author and medical researcher in infectious diseases, died Jan. 6, 2009. He was 79. A member of Sigma Nu, he received his degree with high distinction in chemistry and was elected both to Phi Beta Kappa and to Sigma Xi. He received his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine. After serving in the U.S. Public Health Service and teaching at Johns Hopkins University, he established and was chief of the infectious disease division of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he was on the faculty from 1967 to his retirement in 1995. He was a discoverer of the causes and treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis, which was and is a significant problem for hospitalized patients. The University of Michigan established the Fekety Lectureship in Infectious Diseases in 1992 and the Fekety Professorship in 2008, in recognition of his commitment to education, research, and patient care. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Baker Fekety, two daughters, and a sister.
HAROLD R. FRAY JR., 84, a retired minister, died Feb. 11, 2009. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he entered Wesleyan on the G.I. Bill of Rights and received his degree with honors and with distinction in history. He was a member of Chi Psi and received his master’s in divinity from Union Theological Seminary. His experiences liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp impelled him to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement and to participate in the protests against the Vietnam War. The author of three books, he also represented the United Church of Christ at the United Nations in New York City. After retiring in 1985, he started Adventure Tours, taking seniors on trips in the U.S. and abroad, and he continued his involvement with humanitarian groups. His first wife, Harriet Ann Steinmetz Fray, with whom he had six children, died in 1973, and he married Martha Belle Wheeler Grey Fray, the mother of two children, who survives. In addition to his wife and eight children, survivors include 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Harold (Hal) Raymond Fray, Jr., died Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at home in Green Valley, Ariz., under Hospice care with family around him. He was born February 6, 1925. After serving in World War II, he entered Wesleyan on the GI Bill of rights, majoring in history. Before graduating in 1950, he was married to Harriet Ann Steinmetz and their first child was born. Harold went on to Union Seminary in New York City. After he was ordained in the Congregational Church in Milford, Conn., he served churches in Utica, N.Y., Newton, Mass., and Seattle, Wash. He and Harriet had six children. After she died in 1973, he married Martha Belle Fray, who had two children. When Harold retired, he formed his own tour company called Adventure Tours and led trips throughout the U.S. and 43 foreign countries. He served as interim minister in Casper, Wyo., and Brookline, Mass. When he and Martha Belle moved to Green Valley, Ariz., in 1998, he became the New Member Development Minister for The Good Shepherd U.C.C., and promoted the sale of Just Coffee, a fair trade Mexican coffee farmers co-op. Before he died, he had his third book publishes, Sex Under the Steeple. The couple attended his 50th Class Reunion at Wesleyan. He remained a strong supporter of Wesleyan, believing he had received a first-rate liberal arts education. Harold told many people that he had 84 wonderful years and he was looking forward to his next ”Surprise“ journey! He has had a memorial service at Good Shepherd U.C.C. and another one will be in Seattle, Wash., in May or June. His blended family includes his wife, Martha Belle, of 35 years, eight children, thirteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
ROBERT H. FUNK ’57., a retired financial analyst for the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Group, died Apr. 28, 2012. He was 77. A member of Delta Sigma, he received an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He was an avid outdoorsman and active member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and he led major excursions for the club throughout the world. His wife, Pam Lewis, four children, eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren, two stepsons, and his sister survive
WILLIAM C. FICKERT JR., 75, who owned and operated his family’s insurance company, died May 23, 2012. He was a member of Gamma Psi and was associated with the William C. Fickert Agency, now the Fickert, Howard & Wragg Insurance Agency, Inc., for his entire career. He is survived by his wife, Susan Kinlock Fickert, four children, three stepsons, 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his sister.
JONATHAN A. FREEDMAN, 71, a sociology professor at Kennesaw (Ga.) State University, died June 29, 2007. A member of the John Wesley Club, he received a PhD from Brandeis University. He was the director of education and training at Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, N.Y., for many years, and also taught at Syracuse University and its medical school. At the time of his death he was also developing a new master’s program in sociological administration. He is survived by his wife, Jo Sanders Freedman, three sons, six grandchildren, and two brothers, as well as his Vietnamese extended family. (For more information, see the Syracuse Post Standard of July 2, 2007.)
DUNCAN G. FARRELL, the former director of the Society of Government Travel Professionals, died Dec. 29, 2007, at age 72. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho and received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. His long career in advertising and marketing included associations with Eastern Air Lines and with the Travel Industry Association of America. Among those who survive are his wife, June Martinick Farrell; three daughters, including Grace Farrell Roemer ’85; four grandchildren; and a son-in-law, Jon Roemer ’85.
JOHN B. FARESE JR., 75, a stockbroker for Salomon Smith Barney in New York City, died May 8, 2006. A member of Chi Psi, he received a master’s degree from Wesleyan and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He is survived by four children, six grandchildren, a sister, and his companion, Jeanette McAllister.
The Rev. DAVID J. ERNSBERGER, 75, a retired minister, author, and psychologist, died Dec. 28, 2005. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his degree with honors. He received theology degrees from Yale and Union Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Texas. Survivors include his wife, Colleen A. Wheeler; five children, including Paul Ernsberger ’78; eight grandchildren; and a sister.
