Obituaries | 1940-1949

ARTHUR H. COTINS, the manager of international operations for the Eaton Corporation, died July 28, 2011, at age 84. A member of Psi Upsilon, he received his degree with high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was also the manager of the undefeated football teams of 1945-1948. He received a master’s degree from Columbia University after serving in the U.S. Maritime Service during World War II. An avid traveler and gardener, he worked tirelessly on his and his wife’s 1719 home, which is slated to become a museum. Among those who survive are his wife, Carroll Cusick Cotins; one son; two daughters, including Catherine A. Cotins ’86; and eight grandchildren.

WILLIAM A. SUTTON, an attorney who retired as division counsel for Olin Corporation, died Feb. 2, 2014, at age 90. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his degree with honors. He was the son of Joseph A. Sutton of the class of 1915, and the grandson of William H. Sutton of the class of 1857. He was also the nephew of Howard A. Sutton of the class of 1895, of Isaac C. Sutton of the class of 1900, and of Henry C. Sutton of the class of 1907, as well as the cousin of James A. Sutton of the class of 1935. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe in World War II, decoding messages in the Signal Corps, and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. A graduate of Columbia University Law School, he joined Olin in 1959 after working for several other companies. During his career with Olin he spent eight years on a special fuel energy project based in Little Rock, Ark. He later settled in Stamford, Conn., where he became a community volunteer after retiring from Olin in 1986. Predeceased by his wife, Cleve Simpson Sutton, survivors include four children, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and his sister survive.

VINCENT A. SUPRYNOWICZ, 90, a retired professor of electrical engineering at the University of Connecticut, died Jan. 23, 2014. He was elected to Sigma Xi, received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State University, and received his PhD from Yale University. His wife, Wilma Higginbotham Suprynowicz, survives, as do his three children, including Vincent Suprynowicz Jr. ’72, and a nephew, Frank Suprynowicz ’78.

SEYMOUR I. KUMMER, M.D., a family physician in Rockville, Conn., for more than 50 years, died Apr. 2, 2014. He was 87. After receiving his degree with honors, he received his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College. In addition to his medical practice, he had been active in professional organizations. His first wife, Ruth Lavitt Kummer, died. Among those who survive are his wife of 30 years, Joan Hyde Kummer; three children, including Bart A. Kummer ’75, M.D., and Merle E. Kummer ’76; and a nephew, Daniel M. Kummer ’81. His brother, Howard K. Kummer ’53, predeceased him.

JOHN A. YOUNG, 94, a retired professor of chemistry, died Feb. 17, 2014. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with high distinction in chemistry and was elected to Sigma Xi. He received a master’s degree from Wesleyan and a PhD from the University of Florida. After working for General Electric Labs he pursued his true calling as a professor of chemistry. He first taught at the University of Florida, later at the University of Denver, and finally at the Universidad Autonóma de Guadalajara. He was an accomplished classical pianist until a chemical explosion destroyed the thumb and index finger of his right hand, but he continued to play tennis and to hike. His wife, Helen Chamberlain Young, and his son, Roger A. Young ’65, predeceased him. Survivors include two daughters, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

RAYNOR L. DUNCOMBE, professor emeritus of aerospace science at the University of Texas at Austin, and an astronomer and former director of the National Almanac Office, died July 12, 2013. He was 96. A member of Sigma Nu, he was elected to Sigma Xi. He received a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Iowa and later a PhD in astronomy from Yale University. He was a member of the NASA space science steering committee, having worked on the Vanguard, Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects, and was instrumental in determining the orbit of Sputnik when it was launched. A member of the Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry team, he was the past executive editor of Celestial Mechanics. He was a fellow of various astronomy associations and received numerous awards. He was as comfortable reciting poetry as he was discussing the universe. Also a singer and musician, he was skilled at plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work, and had learned to fly a plane. He was predeceased by his first wife, Avis Bailey Duncombe and by his second wife, Julena Steinheider Duncombe. He is survived by one son, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

EDWARD L. STRATTON, 88, a manager who worked in sales, marketing, and education at IBM for 37 years, died June 29, 2013. A member of Sigma Nu, he received his degree with honors and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was also active in community organizations. Among those who survive are his wife, Anne (Nancy) Stratton, four children, 13 grandchildren, his sister, and a large extended family.

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 L. WUERTZ, M.D., an internal medicine specialist for almost 40 years, died Sept. 14, 2012, at age 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving his medical degree from Temple University, he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve during and after his medical training. In addition to his private practice, he worked part-time for the DuPont Company. His wife, Joan Norris Wuertz, survives, as do two children, three stepchildren, and eight grandchildren.

DUDLEY H. MANCHESTER JR., who taught English at Hartford Public High School for 34 years, died Aug. 9, 2013. He was 87. The son of Dudley H. Manchester of the class of 1919, the grandson of George E. Manchester of the class of 1889, and the nephew of Edward W. Manchester of the class of 1926, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in English. In 1947 he received his master’s from Wesleyan, and later a second master’s in English from the University of Michigan in 1953. An avid outdoorsman, he also wrote poetry and enjoyed photography. He is survived by his wife, Arlene Dippe Manchester, three children, two grandchildren, and his sister.