Obituaries | 1940-1949

John Ritchie Jr. ’43 passed away on Nov. 8, 2018. A full obituary can be found here.

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dr. Lester J. Schnell Jr. ’44. on November 1, 2018. He was born on Aug. 15, 1922 in New York City. Dr. Schnell was a Garden City resident since 1956. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

Dr. Schnell grew up in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., and Candlewood Isle, Conn. He was an accomplished sailor and athlete. He was president of his senior class at A.B. Davis High School, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He received his BA degree from Wesleyan University and was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. His subject concentration was chemistry and Latin.  He graduated from Cornell Medical University in 1947.  He completed his residency at The Brooklyn Hospital in 1947-1951.

During the Korean War he served honorably as a Captain in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. During this time, he and his wife, Catherine, were recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to serve overseas as physicians on the island of Saipan.

In 1956, he moved to Garden City and practiced obstetrics/gynecology at Nassau Hospital, now Winthrop Hospital, in Mineola, N.Y. He was a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a Garden City resident Dr. Schnell was actively involved in Garden City baseball, the Garden City High School Men’s Association, the Garden City Retired Men’s Club, and the Cherry Valley Club.  He was an avid supporter of Garden City High School sports and could be seen at almost every home and away baseball, basketball and football game. He enjoyed bridge, gardening, golf, tennis, reading, swimming at the beach, classic cars and boats, and attending the theatre. He was a long time Yankees and Jets fan.

He was the beloved husband of the late Catherine Lund Schnell and the late Marge Rix Schnell.

He was the father of Lisa (Schnell) Murphy, Richard Schnell and Nan (Schnell) Kiyonaga, as well as a grandfather of 14, and the great-grandfather of three.

Military burial will be at Calverton National Cemetery at a future date.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Winthrop Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Winthrop Hospital Development Office, 200 Old Country Rd, Suite 570, Mineola, NY  11501.

We thank Dr. Schnell’s daughter for this heartfelt obituary.

Ronald A. McLean Jr. ’47 passed away on Jan. 31, 2018. A full obituary can be found here.

Paul A. Seitz ’42 passed away onDec. 17, 2017. A full obituary can be found here.

Samuel G. Dodd ’42 passed away on Oct. 8, 2017. A full obituary can be found here.

James E. Riley died on Jan. 29, 2018. At Wesleyan, he majored in government then earned an LLB from Yale University. Before retiring, he was the senior vice president, secretary, and general counsel of the Electronic Industries Association.

George Withey Jr., a former assistant VP for business affairs at Wesleyan, died on June 8, 2017 at age 93. After he transferred from Wesleyan, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy. He received a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Syracuse University. George and his wife, Nancy Roe Withey, had a very interesting life together for 73 years. A favorite memory for son Bob ’72 was marching with his parents during Reunion in 2010 beside fellow World War II alumni up High Street past Eclectic House where George lived as a student and North College where he worked.

We thank the son of Mr. Withey for this information.

Norman Pyle, 92, who retired as senior vice president and head of the quality assurance department at First Interstate Bank in Portland, Ore., died Dec. 5, 2017. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with honors and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his retirement he spent several years as a part-time executive and volunteer for United Way. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Wohlfahrt Pyle, five children, and six grandchildren.

Robert P. Foster Jr., a retired senior consultant for Prudential Financial, Inc., died Oct. 12, 2017, at age 93. He was the grandson of Addison B. Poland of the class of 1872, the son of Robert P. Foster of the class of 1921, and the nephew of John S. Foster of the class of 1922. A member of Eclectic, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1947 he joined the Prudential Insurance Company as an analyst and rose through the ranks, retiring in 1985 as an adviser to the president on special projects. He was involved in civic affairs and enjoyed travel. Among those who survive are his wife, Sally Ann Bianchi Foster; three children; seven grandchildren; a cousin, John S. Foster ’58; and a large extended family.

Leonard S. Halpert, a retired attorney and executive who endowed the Hugo L. Black Lecture on Freedom of Expression at Wesleyan, died Oct. 5, 2017. He was 94. A member of the John Wesley Club, he left the university after his junior year to join the U.S. Army Air Forces and then received his degree in physics with honors in 1946. In 1948 he received a law degree from Columbia University. From 1957 to 1988 he worked for the Cocoline Chocolate Company, becoming the company’s president in 1961. After the company conveyed its right to use the name to the Dan Bell Chocolate Company, he continued as president and CEO. In 1982, he was named the company’s vice chairman, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. During the 1960s he became actively involved with the French winery Domaine Gerin and started a wine importing business, which he sold in 2006. An active alumnus, he endowed the Hugo L. Black Lecture on Freedom of Expression. Offered annually, it brings to the Wesleyan campus distinguished public figures and scholars with experience and expertise in matters related to the First Amendment and freedom of expression. He was also an active member of several neighborhood organizations in the downtown Boston area. Survivors include his wife, Selma Rutenberg, M.D., and his daughter, Margaret Dara Halpert.