VICTOR H. LANE III, a retired language teacher, died June 26, 2014, at age 80. A member of the John Wesley Club, he received a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and a PhD from New York University. He taught at Nebraska Wesleyan and the City University of New York, among other places. His wife, Caroline Warram Lane, and one son are among those who survive.
JOHN J. MILLER III, 79, professor emeritus of pediatrics at Stanford University and a noted leader in the study and treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, died Dec. 11, 2013. He was a member of Gamma Psi and received his medical degree from the University of Rochester. After completing a residency in pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco, he traveled to Australia as a National Institutes of Health post-doctoral fellow to pursue a PhD in immunology at the University of Melbourne. Upon completion of his PhD, he returned to California to fulfill military duties at the National Radiological Defense Laboratory and then began a 35-year career at Stanford Children’s Hospital and Stanford Medical School. During his tenure at Stanford, he conducted extensive research on childhood autoimmune diseases and the health care delivery and psychosocial outcomes for children with them. In 1967, he developed the Northern California Center for Children with Arthritis and Related Diseases at the Children’s Hospital at Stanford, which became an important West Coast center for study and treatment, and a valuable resource for patients and their families. After retiring from Stanford in 1997, he spent time mentoring young pediatricians and served as a consultant and visiting professor in London and in Mexico City. He was an avid outdoorsman and devoted theatergoer. Survivors include four sons; three grandchildren; his longtime companion, Mayo Marsh; his former wife, Anne Miller; two siblings; and a large extended family.
Sincere thanks for the response to my requests for information from classmates for this column. I was cheered when I received two from non-’55 members; one from George Anderson ’53 and the other from Don Ritt ’56, in addition to three e-mails from members of the Crucial Class!
George recalled the days when upon graduation, he, Don Fodaski ’54, and Len Stolba ’54 hitchhiked from Connecticut to Santa Monica and found both jobs and a great place to stay. He remarked that after many years he leads a wonderful life, having remarried after his first wife’s passing and now is the proud father of seven children and 17 grandchildren.
Don Ritt brought back memories from 2002 when we traveled to Ireland on an Alumni Tour. For me, most memorable was hearing the call for a doctor aboard the Aer Lingus flight to Shannon. As we deplaned, I saw Don and he told me he was the doctor who attended a woman having a diabetic attack. He also mentioned the chilling thought that he was given “command” of the flight and it was his decision to land as soon as possible or continue on to Ireland! In what I hope was a humorous vein, Don did have an idea of why notes from classmates become less and less frequent. He says, “Your classmates are in the early stages of dementia and are now 80-years-old plus. Seriously, when you get over 80, your ego does suffer and these guys are probably having such feelings.” He did suggest a positive approach and I will give it a try!
Dick Bauman brought us up to date after these many years. He retired from Liberty Mutual Insurance after 37 years and moved to Blacksburg, Va., home of Virginia Tech, in 1995. He took advantage of all the benefits a university town offers, such as auditing classes, theater, concerts, tennis, and more. He and Peg had four children and as he says, “Life has its joys and sorrows, and loss happens.” Their youngest son, Erik, contracted ALS and died in 2009. Peg passed away in 2008 from complications following back surgery. They had been married 52 years. Thanks to family and friends, he has kept on going and now, with a new relationship and a new knee replacement, he is looking forward to life again! He did conclude his most welcome note with a serious question: “Were we really the Crucial Class”?
Our noted traveler, Jim Shepard, and his wife, Sally-Jean, spent several days in Kiev and the Balkans last fall. Jim recently attended a local Wesleyan gathering “in a darkened back room of a hotel bar in San Francisco.” He remarked that 90 percent of the attendees were female whom he believed were aiming for graduate degrees. “I wondered where they get the money,” he wrote and then related when he was a freshman and he was called into the Dean’s office and told if he stopped selling evening sandwiches in the dorm his scholarship would be raised from $700 to $800. As he says, “that wouldn’t buy lattes at Downey House now.”
John Sheaff moans that he gave up skiing a few years back and thus hasn’t been able to take advantage of the “wonderful New England weather” this winter (and spring, I might add!) With only a few limitations on physical activities (no more leaping over tall buildings, he says), he has been doing well. While he hasn’t been on a bicycle in a year due to balance problems, he does say he might try again if and when spring does really come! And John, should you come to Vero Beach to visit Cheryl, bring your bike and we can ride together!
I’ve exchanged e-mails with Tom Nall and am happy to report that he’s mending well from heart surgery. As John Sheaff wrote, he’s gone back to his “old Kentucky Home” and hopefully, family and friends are with him during his recovery.
An update on my cycling: I finished 2013 with a new personal best, having logged 5,807 miles. Still feel strong and healthy and have ridden more than 1,600 miles to date (4/8/14). Marianne and I continue to enjoy the warmth of Florida but still miss the Midwest culture and old friends.
Hopefully, these Class Notes find you well and even in the mood to send a few e-mails this way.
DONALD J. BRAVERMAN | ybikedon@bellsouth.net
27A Stratford Ln. W., Boynton Beach, FL 33436; 561/654-3711
LEON M. ALWARD, 80, who retired as an international marketing manager with Advanced Micro Devices, died Apr. 24, 2013. A member of Gamma Psi, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include two nieces and many friends worldwide.
JOHN C. HOY, 79, the dean of admissions at Wesleyan in the 1960s who oversaw a radically new commitment to expanding racial, religious and economic diversity on campus, died July 9, 2013. Hoy, who also held an MALS degree from Wesleyan in 1961 and was the parent of two alumni from the classes of 2003 and 2005, was deeply involved with Wesleyan for nearly his entire adult life. As an undergraduate, he majored in history, competed on the swim team, and was a member of the Eclectic Society fraternity. He returned to his alma mater a year after graduating, as assistant director of admissions, a post he held until 1959. In 1960, he was appointed director of admissions at Lake Forest College in Illinois, and in 1962, he became dean of admissions at Swarthmore College. Hoy returned again to Wesleyan in 1964, serving as dean of admissions and freshmen, assistant to the president, and dean for special academic affairs. In the latter position, he was responsible for implementing new approaches to teacher education, international education, urban education, Upward Bound, and the development of new doctoral programs. In 1966, he traveled to several countries in Africa under the auspices of the African Scholarship Program of American Universities (ASPAU) to interview promising students, who would be given scholarships and placed in American schools. Above all, Hoy was committed to enhancing diversity on campus, and his efforts reverberated throughout the Northeast and nationally as other colleges followed Wesleyan’s lead. Writing in The Wesleyan University Alumnus in May 1965, he noted that though Wesleyan’s student body had included black students for generations, the number of minority and economically disadvantaged students applying to the school each year remained in the single digits. “We discovered that we had falsely expected these students to seek entrance to Wesleyan, although they probably had never had occasion to hear of the college and if they did would most certainly conclude they could never afford to come,” he wrote. The decision to recruit more minority and low-income students “meant we would have to visit schools never before solicited by Wesleyan representatives. It meant increased alumni awareness and participation in cities like New York, Detroit, and Chicago.”
“One of the greatest strengths of this college has always been and remains the extraordinary breadth of backgrounds represented on the campus: religious, racial, geographic, social, economic, and just plain diversity of opinion,” Hoy wrote. “Wesleyan is a stronger college for having maintained this tradition of excellence and diversity.” “Jack Hoy had a historic role in the story of modern Wesleyan,” said Steven Pfeiffer ’69, a student when Hoy oversaw admission and later chair of the Board at Wesleyan. “Jack set Wesleyan on a course of leadership in equal access and racial diversity in American higher education, from which it has not departed over the past almost half century. Under Jack’s leadership, Wesleyan was the first of the top tier colleges and universities to give African American students of talent and potential a fair shot at what private institutions of higher education like Wesleyan had to offer young Americans.” In 1969, Hoy left Wesleyan to serve as vice-chancellor of student affairs, and later as vice-chancellor of university and student affairs, at the University of California, Irvine. In 1987, he was appointed executive director of the New England Board of Higher Education, a position he held until 2001.
Hoy remained involved with Wesleyan, serving as a member of the Boston President’s Council from 1998-99, and as an Alumni Elected Trustee from 1998 to 2001.
He authored several books, including Choosing a College (1967); The Effective President (1976); and New England’s Vital Resource: The Labor Force (1982, co-authored with Melvin Bernstein).
In 1985, Wesleyan honored Hoy with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also was awarded honorary degrees from North Adams State College, Franklin Pierce College, Notre Dame College and Bryant College.
He is survived by his wife, Marie, as well as seven children, including Elizabeth Hoy ’03 and Peter Hoy ’05, and seven grandchildren.
JOHN E.P. BORDEN, who retired as vice president of operations at Gorton’s, a division of General Mills, died Apr. 16, 2013. He was 79. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with distinction in economics. After serving in the U.S. Army intelligence service, he received an MBA from Harvard University and joined General Mills. He served both as the selectman and as town moderator of Topsfield, Mass. Predeceased by his wife, Margaret Leith Borden, he is survived by two sons, including John E.P. Borden Jr. ’80; and grandchildren, including Adele Borden ’12.
FRANK B. WILLIAMS, who retired as special assistant to the president and associate professor of education at Gettysburg (Pa.) College, died Jan. 16, 2008. He was 74. A member of Eclectic, he received an MAT from Wesleyan and a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught for several years and then joined the staff at Swarthmore College as associate dean of admissions and director of financial aid. From 1966 to 1979 he was dean of students at Gettysburg College and served in several administrative and advisory capacities there. In 1981 he was appointed to a new position as dean of student life and educational services, and from 1990 until his retirement in 1995 he was special assistant to the president as well as associate professor of education. One son predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Suzanne Hermann Williams; three children, including Laurel Williams Wise ’95; five grandchildren; and his brother.
That old familiar phrase of “there’s good news and there’s bad news” applies to this rendition of Class Notes. First, the “Good News” is that there has been no notification of the passing of a classmate and the sadness that it entails. For this, we are all grateful. Now, for the “Bad News”: I think this may be the first time in my 50-plus years as your Class Secretary that nary a word has been received from members of the Crucial Class for inclusion in this edition of our alumni magazine. I know that I’ve raised the question concerning relevance of Class Notes previously what with the world of electronic communication seemingly taking over what we thought was the norm. I have read a line or two from Gail Clarke, George Edwards, and Brad Miter on my Facebook page but other than that, I do admit to being frustrated with the lack of e-mails or notes from you. I’ve wondered if stepping down as Class Secretary and letting someone new assume the role would inspire more communication that can be shared with all. What I’d appreciate most are your thoughts and comments. Hopefully, you’ll respond.
Now, on a more positive theme, I can report that Marianne and I continue to enjoy our lives here in Florida. We’re both in good health and have our fingers crossed that we will not witness a hurricane this season. The last time we huddled together in the recommended “safe area” was in 2005. There’s still a month to go before the Hurricane Season officially ends (end of November) and the outlook is good. As for taking advantage of the lack of real storms, I’ve racked up just under 4,800 miles on my bike (as of 10/22) and feel confident of reaching several more miles than the annual 5,000 mile target. I will admit as I begin to age I do take a nap after some rides and my knees sometimes call out in protest when we kick up the speed. Most of all, I feel blessed that I am able to continue this enjoyable activity and the social aspects that cycling with our local bike club affords.
Once again, let me wish you and your loved ones health and happiness in the days ahead.
DONALD J. BRAVERMAN
27A Stratford Ln. W., Boynton Beach, FL 33436; ybikedon@bellsouth.net; 561/654-3711
SWIATOSLAW TROFIMENKO, 75, a chemist, died Feb. 26, 2007. Born in the Western Ukraine, he came to Wesleyan on a scholarship and received his degree with honors and high distinction in chemistry. He was a member of the John Wesley Club and was elected to Sigma Xi. After receiving his PhD from Northwestern University, he completed postdoctoral studies at Columbia University and then joined the DuPont Company in 1959. While there, he discovered the polypyrazolylborate ligands, which he named Scorpionates. He published a book on this subject in 1999, and a sequel is scheduled for publication this year. The author of numerous scientific articles, and the holder of 36 patents, he retired in 1996 from DuPont and then joined the faculty of the University of Delaware as Honorary Scholar in the chemistry and biochemistry department. Survivors include his wife, Martha Babych Trofimenko; one daughter, Zoya Trofimenko ’85; and two grandchildren.
THOMAS M. TAYLOR JR., a railroad consultant and rail enthusiast, died Aug. 29, 2010, at age 78. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received a civil engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Predeceased by one son, he is survived by his wife, Glendora Boyce Taylor, two children, three grandchildren, two sisters, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Norman A. Clemens ’55.
