CLASS OF 1948 | 2014 | ISSUE 2

Catherine Cotins ’86 writes: “Arthur Cotins died peacefully surrounded by his family on July 28, 2011, at the age of 84. He was known as Jim by many of his friends and at Wesleyan his friends called him Tex. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carroll Cusick Cotins, son Arthur James Cotins, daughters Catherine Agnes Cotins ’86, and Elizabeth Cotins Low, and eight grandchildren. He had a truly wonderful life and his kind heart will be missed by all who knew him more than words can say. At Wes he was a proud member of Psi U fraternity and manager of the undefeated football team. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa.”

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WILLIAM N. HILL JR. ’48, M.D

WILLIAM N. HILL JR., M.D., a retired obstetrician and gynecologist, died Oct. 1, 2013. He was 86. The son of William N. Hill of the class of 1920 and the nephew of both Edward R. Hill of the class of 1920 and Kenneth M. Hill of the class of 1925, he was a member of Sigma Chi, received his degree with honors, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After receiving his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served from 1953–1955. He was in private practice as an obstetrician/gynecologist in Longmeadow, Mass., and Enfield, Conn., for 33 years. His wife, Bonnie Campbell Hill, died in 2005. He is survived by four children; seven grandchildren; three brothers, including Charles G. Hill ’46; and an extended family that includes his nephew, John N. Hill ’85

ROBERT S. WINCHESTER ’48

ROBERT S. WINCHESTER, 86, a retired management consultant in human resources and more recently a mental health counselor, died Feb. 16, 2011. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received master’s degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Arizona. He was a P-47 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and served in the Air National Guard during the Korean War. Also a tenor soloist, he sang with major choirs and symphony orchestras. He was the son of Harold P. Winchester of the class of 1914 and was predeceased by his first wife and a son. Survivors include his wife, Louise David Winchester, four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

DEAN P. WIKOFF ’48

DEAN P. WIKOFF, longtime manager of the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, N.Y., died Apr. 8, 2012, at age 85. He was a member of Sigma Nu and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. An accomplished swimmer and skier, he wrote poetry and was active in community affairs, which he continued after retiring to Florida, where he was also a real estate agent and banker. Predeceased by his three wives, among those who survive are four children and four grandchildren.

THOMAS H. ROBINSON ’48

THOMAS H. ROBINSON, 80, an attorney, died Nov. 25, 2004. He was a member of Sigma Chi, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received his degree with high honors. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, after which he received a law degree from Harvard. Among those who survive are his wife, Helene Bertrand, three sons, a daughter, and eight grandchildren.

FRANK R. RING JR. ’48

FRANK R. RING JR., the founder and president of the Applied Plastics Company, Inc., died Feb. 25, 2008. He was 82 and was a member of Eclectic. A leader in the fight against diabetes, and a diabetic himself for more than 70 years, he and his wife established the Frank R. Ring Jr. Fund at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, to support clinical programs for children with diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Jean McLaughlin Ring, three children, a brother and a sister.

JACK REYNOLDS ’48

JACK REYNOLDS, a radiologist and distinguished faculty member at the University of Texas, Health Science Center in Dallas (now Southwestern Medical Center), died Sept. 26, 2007, at age 84. A member of Sigma Nu, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in biology. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to Sigma Xi. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army and then received his medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. During his 48-year teaching career at the medical school, he earned many honors for his excellence in teaching, including being named a Piper Foundation professor, the Ashbel Smith Professorship, and having an endowed chair in radiology established in his name. A staff member at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, he was on duty in 1963 when President Kennedy was shot and brought to Parkland. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane Schermerhorn Reynolds, his son David Reynolds ’77, two grandsons, and his extended family.

FREDERICK A. RAGER JR. ’48

FREDERICK A. RAGER JR., who retired as senior vice president of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (a predecessor of J.P. Morgan Chase) after a 37-year career in corporate banking, died Jan. 14, 2004. He was 76. He was a member of Psi Upsilon and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Survivors include a brother, and a niece and nephew.

SALVATORE A. PETRONE ’48

SALVATORE A. PETRONE, a retired mathematics teacher and golf coach at Hamden, Conn., High School, died Oct. 16, 2009. He was 83. He was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II and received a master’s and a sixth-year certificate from Columbia University. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Sweeney Petrone, two children, five grandchildren, and two sisters.