Author: Natalie Robichaud ’14

JOHN H. UNDERHILL JR., 84, who spent his career in the insurance industry, first with John Hancock and later with Deland Gibson Insurance Associates in Wellesley, Mass., died Apr. 22, 2010. A member of Eclectic, he was the son of John H. Underhill of the class of 1918 and the nephew of Frank T. Underhill of the class of 1917. Cousins included Frank H. Underhill and Donald P. Underhill of the classes of 1918 and 1921 respectively. He served both in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves. Among those who survive are his wife, Rebecca Stout Underhill; two sons; two grandchildren; a niece, Carolyn Taylor Casey ’78; and a cousin, the Rev. William D. Underhill ’53.

GERALD TSAI, 79, a fund manager and financier who pioneered the creation of performance–oriented mutual funds, died July 9, 2008. After spending one semester at Wesleyan, he transferred to Boston University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. He started Fidelity Investments’ first aggressive growth fund, and from that first success he established other funds, which he sold or out of which he created conglomerates. He was the chief executive of Primerica and was one of the founders of what eventually became Citigroup. Three children and five grandchildren survive.

SHELDON F. SMITH, who retired as director of social work at the Southbury (Conn.) Training School, died May 10, 2011. He was 87. He was 87 and received his master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut. He also consulted for Yale University and its Institute for the Aging. Predeceased by his wife, Barbara J. Smith, he is survived by four children, three grandchildren, his sister and brother, and a large extended family.

WILLIAM F. SPRENGER, 86, a social worker who had been managing director of community services for United Way of Central Maryland, died Mar. 23, 2011. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and received his master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and later in the Naval Reserve. In 1976 he was named Social Worker of the Year by the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. At United Way, he supervised new projects such as the funding for sickle cell anemia programs and the organization of PUSH, Project Urban Self-Help. Survivors include his wife, Johanna Walti Sprenger, and two children.

WHEELER SMITH, who retired as director of government relations at CIGNA (Connecticut General Life Insurance Company), with which he was associated for 35 years, died Sept. 26, 2008, at age 80. He was a member of Psi Upsilon. After retiring from CIGNA, he continued his work at the Citizens’ Committee for Effective Government in Hartford. He is survived by his wife, Claire Coope Smith; six children; 17 grandchildren; his brother, Donald S. Smith ’39; and his sister.

EDWARD W. ROBERTS, D.D.S., who practiced dentistry in New Jersey, died Jan. 28, 2006. He was 82. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was the brother of the late Charles Y. Roberts ’44. He is survived by his wife, Janet Mapletoft Roberts; two sons, Charles E. Roberts ’73 and Thomas B. Roberts ’77; a daughter; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

ROBERT F. QUIMBY, a retired attorney and vice president of the Bank of Boston, died July 30, 2011. He was 88. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his degree with high distinction in government and received his law degree from Harvard University. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Muriel Smith Quimby, three children, five grandchildren, and a large extended family.

H. GILLIS MURRAY, 87, the owner of the Bennett Machine and Tool Company in Syracuse, N.Y., died Jan. 11, 2007. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the US Navy. He was an active community leader. Survivors include his wife, Letty Meachem Murray, four children, three grandchildren, and a brother.

JOSEPH G. LYNCH, an attorney and devoted Wesleyan alumnus, who in 2004 received the Raymond E. Baldwin Medal, Wesleyan’s highest honor awarded by the alumni body for extraordinary service to the University and to the public, died Sept. 10, 2012. He was 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in government after serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and earning three Purple Hearts. He served during the 80th Congress as administrative assistant to Connecticut’s U.S. Senator, Raymond E. Baldwin of the class of 1916, a former Governor of the State of Connecticut, a Trustee of the University, and the person for whom the Baldwin Medal is named. In 1951 he received his law degree from Harvard University and joined the law firm of Halloran, Sage, Phelon & Haggarty, where he remained throughout his 60-year career. He became a noted trial attorney, concentrating in the fields of aviation law, product liability, probate, and education law. Legal counsel to the University for many years, he was also town counsel and Judge of Probate for the town of Portland, Conn. He was a member of the board of directors of the New England Air Museum, the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, and the Rockfall Foundation, and was vice chairman of the State of Connecticut Insurance and Risk Management Board. In 2003 he received the Secretary of State Public Service Award. He was a Life Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. A loyal supporter of the University’s football program, he missed only one Wesleyan football game, home or away, from the early 1950s into the 21st century, and in 1999 the University named him Fan of the Century. Predeceased by his wife, Vicky Hamilton Lynch, four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive.

JOHN C. KENYON, a retired marketing manager for Aetna Life Insurance Company, died July 6, 2010, at age 87. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II as a B-24 pilot. Forced to bail out with his crew after being shot down, he was liberated by General Patton after being taken as a prisoner of war. His entire 34-year career was spent with Aetna, now CIGNA. Among those who survive are his wife, Bernice (Kim) Jalbert Kenyon, three children, and six grandchildren.