Obituaries | 1940-1949

THEODORE NELSON JR., the founder of Reddington Counters, Inc., died May 30, 2017, at age 99. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. He was the 1940 class agent for many years, maintaining updates about his classmates. The founder and CEO of Reddington Counters, he was instrumental in the design and sales of mechanical and digital numerical counters found world-wide, especially on gasoline pumps. An avid tennis player, he won many gold medals in senior competition. He was also involved in the protection and preservation of a beach in Rhode Island, and in 1983 received the Henry M. Morris Memorial Trophy for outstanding citizenship, leadership and service to the Weekapaug community. His wife, Mary Smith Nelson, to whom he had been married for 75 years, died in 2017. Survivors include four children; seven grandchildren, including Jaime Nelson El Helw ’98; and 13 great-grandchildren.

JOHN F. SNOW SR., a former English teacher, died Feb. 23, 2017, at age 92. He was the son of the late Professor of English emeritus Charles Wilbert Snow, and the brother of Charles W. Snow of the class of 1947 and of Nicholas Snow of the class of 1949. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he left college to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war he completed his degree in English at UCLA and returned to his family’s summer home in Maine, where he worked at a cement plant and as a lobsterman. In 1967 he entered graduate school and received an MAT from Wesleyan in 1968. He then taught high school English in Middletown for 11 years. Predeceased by his second wife, Lyn Seagraves Sampson, he is survived by five children, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his youngest brother, three stepchildren, and a niece, Caitlin S. Clark ’03.

DAVID L. PIERCE, a public relations executive, died Mar. 16, 2017. He was 89. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Korean War. After the war he received a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia University School of Journalism. He co-founded Pierce Brown Associates, a public relations firm in Rochester, N.Y. He also played Dixieland jazz trombone. Survivors include his wife, Elaine Smith Pierce, three children, and six grandchildren.

THEODORE B. PATCHEN JR., a retired executive with Travelers Insurance, died Feb. 19, 2017, at age 94. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho. As a U.S. Army Air Corps captain and navigator during World War II, he and his crew were shot down and captured. He remained a prisoner of war until liberated at the end of the war. He worked for Travelers for more than 30 years. Among those who survive are his wife, Constance Butwell Patchen, two daughters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

ROGER E. KNAPPE, a pharmaceutical chemist, died Mar. 17, 2017. He was 89. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. After serving in the Pacific, he returned to his career as a pharmaceutical chemist and worked for American Cyanamid for more than 40 years. He was also an avid sailor. Predeceased by his wife, Margaret Gallagher Knappe, survivors include five sons, seven grandchildren, and his sister.

SETH S. FAISON SR., a retired insurance executive and former chairman of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, died Mar. 7, 2017, at age 93. He was the brother of John W. Faison of the class of 1941. A member of Eclectic, he received his degree with distinction and with honors in government. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. Born and raised in Brooklyn Heights, New York City, he was an avid supporter of the borough. As chair of the Brooklyn Academy of Music for six years, he helped to transform it into a center for theater and dance. He served on two dozen other boards and associations and won numerous awards for his trusteeship. An executive for 32 years at Johnson & Higgins, an insurance brokerage in lower Manhattan, he walked the Brooklyn Bridge to work. His first wife, Susan Tyler Faison, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Sara R. Faison; four children, including Seth S. Faison Jr. ’81 and Sarah Faison ’84; two stepdaughters; and 10 grandchildren.

PAUL R. MOSHER, a former financial journalist, died Mar. 5, 2017, at age 95. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and received a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He wrote for the Journal of Commerce, The New York Herald-Tribune, and several public relations firms. He was also an active board member of the New York Financial Writers Association, the Overseas Press Club, and the Overseas Yacht Club, and he was active in community organizations. Survivors include his wife, Grace Ann Tucker Mosher; his son; his daughter, Caroline Gadaleta ’91; two granddaughters and a niece and nephew.

ROBERT A LEWIS, a retired U.S. Department of State officer, died Oct. 12, 2016. He was 95. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He was stationed in U.S. Foreign Service offices in Greece, France, Korea, and Vietnam, among others, before he retired as a consul general. He received the Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State. Predeceased by his wife, Irene Boggs Lewis, his son, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his longtime companion, Janet Burns, survive.

ALBERT I. PRINCE JR., a psychologist who retired as chairman of the department of psychology at Marietta College, died Nov. 26, 2016, at age 91. He was the son of Albert I. Prince Sr., of the class of 1915. A member of Sigma Nu, he served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific as a paratrooper and as part of the occupying forces in Japan. After receiving a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and a PhD from the University of Connecticut, he taught at Stetson University, the University of Denver, Evansville University, and at Marietta College where he served as department chair until his retirement in 1990. Predeceased by one son, among those who survive are his wife, Anna Thornhill Prince, two sons, and eight grandchildren.

ROBERT A. TUCKER, a retired senior financial officer with Beneficial Financial Management who also bred harness racehorses, died Oct. 23, 2016. He was 90. A member of Sigma Chi, he received a master’s degree in finance and economics from Brown University. During World War II he was a Naval air cadet in the Navy V-5 program. He started his professional career at Bankers Trust in New York, as a security analyst in the investment research division. In 1954 he joined Beneficial Management Corporation, and in 1969 became chief financial officer and first vice president, and a member of the executive committee. He retired in 1985 after 31 years of service. He was also a trustee of numerous charitable and educational organizations. In 1965 he started Stonegate Standardbred Farm, a prominent breeding and boarding facility of harness racing horses. A number of his horses have been recognized nationally. His wife, Lauren Bergheim Tucker, survives, as do six children, 14 grandchildren, four great-grandsons, and his sister. One son and one granddaughter predeceased him.