Obituaries | 1940-1949

CHARLES J. VAN TASSEL JR., M.D., a urologist and medical educator, died Jan. 4, 2012, at age 89. He was a member of Psi Upsilon and received his medical degree from Indiana University. After serving in the U.S. Army, he began a 45-year practice of urology in Indianapolis. He was the recipient of many awards from the American Medical Association and from Indiana University for his dedication to medical education and the mentoring of young physicians. His wife, Marjorie Jane Little Van Tassel, and his daughter predeceased him. Among those who survive are his son, James W. Van Tassel ’68, M.D.; six grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.

CHARLES M. STONE, 90, the retired president of the Stone Agency, Inc., died Jan. 21, 2013. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and a longtime Class Secretary. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II he returned to Wesleyan and received his degree in 1946. He spent 20 years in the insurance business at his agency, was a charter member of the Guilford (Conn.) VFW, and was a member of the Rotary Club with 56 years of perfect attendance. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Fiero Stone; five children, eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Charles E. Fiero Jr. ’50; and a nephew, Christopher Brown ’04.

DAVID M. SHEA, a legal scholar and former Connecticut State Supreme Court Justice, died July 22, 2003 at age 81. He received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After receiving a law degree from Yale Law School, he practiced law in Hartford, Conn., until being nominated to the state Supreme Court in 1981. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Sasseen Shea, eight children, and 11 grandchildren.

ROBERT F. SCHUMANN, chairperson emeritus of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy and owner of the Schumann-Van Atta Buick in Binghamton, N.Y., died Dec. 8, 2011, at age 90. He received an honorary doctor of humane letters from Wesleyan in 2004. The Robert F. Schumann Program Fund and the Robert F. Schumann Chair in Environmental Studies are named for him. A member of Chi Psi, he worked for United Airlines and later obtained his own Buick dealership in Binghamton, N.Y., where he lived for 50 years and served on many community boards. He spent every summer of his life and the last 10 years at his family’s home in Madison, Conn., where he served on the board of the Florence Griswold Museum and was involved in environmental causes. A passionate birder from childhood, he had been on the boards of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He served on the board and was president of the Schumann Foundation, which was created by his parents in 1962. It is now known as The Schumann Media Center. He received an honorary doctor of humane letters from Wesleyan in 2004. The Robert F. Schumann Program Fund and the Robert F. Schumann Chair in Environmental Studies are named for him. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Hotchkiss Schumann and their combined families, which include three sons, five daughters, seven grandchildren, two great-granddaughters, and his brother.

MORRIS RINGER, M.D., a retired physician who specialized in internal medicine, died Dec. 14, 2008. He was 85. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he received his medical degree from Western Reserve University and served in the U.S. Navy. Among those who survive are his wife, Estelle Kaufman Ringer, three children, 10 grandchildren, and a sister.

CHARLES F. NICKENIG, who was associated with Newsweek magazine for 30 years, died Apr. 9, 2003 at age 82. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Joan Flynn Nickenig, two sons, two granddaughters, and a sister.

DURAND R. MILLER JR, 85, a retired insurance executive, died Feb. 20, 2008. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the U S. Marine Corps during World War II and again during the Korean War. Predeceased by his brother, Burton F. Miller ’46, among those who survive are two children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a sister, and his long-time companion, Renee Terpening.

WILLIAM C. MAXWELL, the retired head of the Spanish Department at Tabor Academy, died Aug. 11, 2009, at age 87. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. In addition to his love of sailing, he was also the organist at Tabor Academy and at the First Congregational Church in Marion, Mass., for more than 40 years. His wife, June Cook Maxwell, predeceased him. He is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

KENNETH D. KITTLESON, M.D., 86, who practiced internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for more than 35 years, died Oct. 28, 2009. He received his degree with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from Columbia University. A talented musician, he played violin in the Evanston (Ill.) Symphony Orchestra, as well as jazz piano, and after retirement volunteered at a free medical clinic in Chicago. Among those who survive are his wife, Shirley Kittleson, two children, and four grandchildren.

FRANK W. KILBURN JR., 84, an attorney with Kilburn, Casey, Gosinak & Coombs in Boston, died Dec. 27, 2004. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he received his law degree from Boston University and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Brenda O’Brien Kilburn, and two children.