Author: Leslie Egbo

ROBERT R. MAYNARD, 83, an attorney who served the Bristol, Conn., community both civically and politically, and a retired judge of probate, died Dec. 23, 2008. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his law degree from the University of Virginia. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, where he received numerous awards for personal and professional distinction in the French theater of operations. He was appointed as honorary diplomatic consul for the French Government from 1989 to 1995. Among those who survive are his wife, Margaret Dwyer Maynard, four children, eight grandchildren, and six nephews.

His eldest son, Chris Maynard, sends this remembrance:

“Dad, known as ‘Duke’ from his war years, was one of the old guys at Delta Tau Delta. He and his roommate Hank McDonald shared some fun years together. Dad could have gone to another equally great school. But after the war he chose to come back to where his roots are here in Connecticut, and to Wesleyan.

“Dad always spoke very fondly of his time at Wesleyan?where he happened to meet Mom on a pre-arranged blind date when she came up one weekend from St. Raphael?s School of Nursing in New Haven. And many years later during the summer of 2007 they celebrated 55 years of happy marriage together.

“In between Dad created a great life dedicated to Mom and us four kids whom he loved very much, and to his career as a practicing lawyer and Probate Judge in Bristol. During those years he was very committed to his community of Bristol, civically, spiritually, and politically. He served as City of Bristol: Corporation Counsel, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, Chairman of the Board; Bristol Hospital, Chairman of the Board; Tunxis Community College, and as Trustee of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church where after years of service he was made a Papal Knight of Saint Gregory the Great in November 1972. There are many other volunteer roles too numerous to mention here.

“For many men, at age 65, retirement might have been a logical choice. Not for Dad. Dad was proud of his French heritage, and from 1989–1995 Dad was appointed an Agence Consulaire for the Government of France here in Connecticut. After his years as Agence Consulaire, his years of service to French foreign nationals living in Connecticut, and having spilled his blood just days after D-Day into the soil of France, by decree of the President of France, Jacques Chirac, Dad was made a Knight of the French National Order of Merit in April 1997.

“Most recently, in September 2008, to bring ?full circle? to his life he was given a Public Service Award by the State of Connecticut in honor of his patriotism and sacrifice to this country for his years of service during World War II when he was wounded and awarded many medals for bravery including the Purple Heart.

“What a life. Dad could have lived his life and practiced law anywhere. But he came back to the State of Connecticut, his home, to build the foundation of his new life? at Wesleyan. And he lived long enough to see his beloved Red Sox win the World Series not once, but twice.

“In closing, you should know that though he accomplished all the things I listed in this note, and more, his greatness as a man really came through in his love, kindness, generosity and gentleness that he shared with all of us? his family, his close friends, and the many other people whose lives he touched. Not only will we miss him, but Wesleyan too is losing a truly noble son of its own university family as well. ”

P. DAVID MUZZEY, D.M.D., a general dentist in Athol, Mass., for 46 years, died Jan. 2, 2008. He was 80. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his dental degree from Tufts University. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. An avid athlete, he was a longtime member and officer of the Petersham Curling Club. His wife, Carole Miller Muzzey, died in 1970. Survivors include five children, two granddaughters, and three sisters.

JOSEPH D. MILLERICK SR., M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist, died Oct. 22, 2010. He was 80 and was the son of Joseph M. Millerick of the class of 1928. After receiving his degree with honors, he graduated from New York Medical College and then entered the U.S. Navy, where he spent 20 years as a flight surgeon, a pilot, and later chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Upon retiring from the Navy, he became chief of the Ob/Gyn department at Hartford Hospital, where he worked until his retirement. His two wives, Judith Walker Millerick and Juanita Rentsch Millerick, predeceased him. Among those who survive are three children, five stepchildren, 14 grandchildren, and a sister and brother.

ROBERT L. MACOMBER JR., 82, who worked for Western Electric Company, now Lucent, for more than 28 years before starting his second career as a master clockmaker, died Feb. 9, 2010. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was an active community volunteer and restored the Yavapai County, Ariz., town clocks. Among those who survive are his wife, Jerry Griffith Macomber, five children, and nine grandchildren.

DONALD I. MATERN, M.D., a retired orthopedic surgeon, died June 5, 2010. He was 81. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his M.D. from Cornell. After practicing in California for 23 years, he moved to Arizona and continued to work with Cigna Health Care. Survivors include his wife, Marion Jasch Matern, four children, six grandchildren, and three siblings.

HOWARD MARSTON, who taught mathematics at the Principia School in St. Louis for 46 years, died Jan. 10, 2002. He was 75. A member of Delta Upsilon, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He received master’s degrees from Columbia University and from the University of Illinois. Among those who survive are his wife, Elizabeth Steele Marston, and three children.

DONNA L. MORAN-AMARANT, 55, a nutritionist who had just completed a master’s degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State University, died Sept. 8, 2005, of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. After attending Wesleyan as an Etherington Scholar, she received a bachelor’s degree in nutritional science from the University of Connecticut. She was a member of the Haddam (Conn.) Land Trust and was a past president and leader of her synagogue in Deep River. Among those who survive are her husband, George Amarant, their son, another son from her first marriage, her father and stepmother, four sisters, and many nieces and nephews.

STEPHEN E. MANTIN, 62, a playwright, short-story writer, and retired teacher, died Sept. 1, 2009. He received his degree cum laude and with honors from the College of Letters, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. His plays chronicled the life and changes in New York’s Lower East Side neighborhood, where he lived for 35 years. At times a special education teacher, a taxi driver, and a neighborhood basketball player, he was also a member of the Playwrights/Directors unit of the Actors Studio. Survivors include his wife, Kito, and four children.

JAN M. MYTELKA, 64, who retired as vice president of D.J. Mytelka & Associates, Inc., and who also had been a marketing, finance, and operations consultant to the Peace Corps in Colombia, died Aug. 18, 2009. He was a member of Chi Psi and received an MBA from Columbia University. Earlier, he had attended Brandeis University. He is survived by his wife, Tammy L. Mytelka, two sons, a brother, and a sister.

The Rev. RICHARD S. McCONNELL ’55, a Presbyterian pastor, died Nov. 15, 2012, at age 79. He was a member of Eclectic. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he received his degree with high honors and with high distinction in English. He also received a bachelor’s degree in divinity from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a doctorate of theology from the University of Basel (Switzerland). He served as pastor of the Clarence (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church for 16 years. His wife, Lynette Giffen McConnell; three children, including Timothy S. McConnell ’89; four grandchildren; and three siblings survive.