Obituaries | 1950-1959

JAMES E. McKEON, a chemist and technology consultant, died Nov. 13, 2016, at age 87. He received his degree with high distinction in chemistry and was elected to Sigma Xi. After receiving a master’s degree from Wesleyan, he received a PhD in organic chemistry from Yale University. He joined Union Carbide as a research chemist in 1959 and became vice president of the specialty chemicals division in 1984, after a long career there in research and development. The holder of U.S. and foreign patents,, he published numerous articles in scientific publications. After his distinguished career at Union Carbide, he began his own technology consulting business, Baseline Technologies. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, the New York Academy of Science, and was very active politically, having served as Selectman for the town of New Fairfield (Conn.) in 2005. Among those who survive are his wife, BettyLou McKeon, four sons, 12 grandchildren, two siblings, three stepsons, and many nieces and nephews. Other survivors include his stepdaughter-in-law, Jacquelyn M. Roberts ’82, and his step-granddaughter, Simone Roberts-Payne ’20. His first wife, Patricia Tuttle McKeon, and two brothers predeceased him.

ROBERT GARDNER, an honored science teacher and administrator, who wrote numerous science books for children, died Apr. 3, 2017. He was 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Sigma Xi. He also received a master’s degree from Trinity College and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Wesleyan in 1963. From 1957 to 1979 he was granted National Science Foundation and Department of Energy stipends for summer study at Wesleyan University, Bowdoin College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Providence College. While on sabbatical in 1983-1984, he was a Klingenstein Fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University. He taught science and coached football and baseball at the Salisbury School from 1952 to 1989, and chaired the school’s science department from 1959 to 1989. He also served as the Salisbury Summer School’s Director of Admissions from 1976 to 1987. The physics lab at the school bears his name, as does an annually awarded athletic medal. While on leave from the school, he worked as a staff developer at the Education Development Center’s Elementary Science Study (ESS) and the Physical Science Group (PSG), where he was involved in the development and writing of ESS science units and the development, writing, and pilot teaching of Introduction to Physical Science and Physical Science II. After retiring from teaching in 1989, he moved to Cape Cod where he pursued a second career as an author of science books for children of all ages. During his lifetime, he wrote or co-authored over 200 books. In 2010 he received a lifetime achievement award for hands-on science writing. Bob was an inveterate cyclist who spent many hours exploring Cape Cod’s bike trails, and walking them in cold weather. He was well known for the many ways he volunteered: driving the Eastham Council on Aging’s shopping van weekly; taking people to medical appointments for FISH and Roads to Recovery; serving on and presiding over various boards at the Eastham COA, Eastham Library, the Eastham Water Advisory Board and the Eastham Forum, where he served as their newsletter editor for a number of years. In 2001 he was named Senior Citizen of the Year by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. Predeceased by his wife, Natalie Sanford Gardner, in 2000, he is survived by his wife, Patsy; a son, John T. Gardner ’74; a daughter; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters; and several nephews and nieces.

CHARLES F. WALDEN, who worked for Phillips Petroleum, died Apr. 14, 2017, at age 88. He was the son of Donald M. Walden of the class of 1916. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. A 25-year employee of Phillips, he was active in his community. His wife, Sally Lacock Walden, survives, as do five children, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

FRANK L. GRUSKAY, a longtime pediatrician in the New Haven, Conn., area, died Dec. 18, 2016. He was 87. A member of the John Wesley Club, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in biology. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to Sigma Xi. After receiving his medical degree from Yale University, he completed a residency in pediatrics and also served in the U.S. Army for two years. Moving to New Haven, he entered private practice and in 1961 co-founded the Milford Pediatric Group, where he continued to work for 55 years. A man of many interests, his kind and gentle manner drew his patients to him. His wife of 61 years, Bette Gordon Gruskay, died in 2013, and his daughter, Susan G. Warford ’80, died in April 2016. Among those who survive are two children; two sons-in-law; six grandchildren; his brother, Robert H. Gruskay ’54; a niece, Holly D. Gruskay ’83; and his companion, Gilda Lender.

HAROLD H. SHIVELY JR., M.D., a cardiologist, died Jan. 4, 2017, at age 79. He was the nephew of Kenneth E. Steele of the class of 1927. A member of Eclectic, he received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and served in the U.S. Army. After 10 years of active military duty, he relocated to La Jolla, Calif., where he practiced cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital. He continued his military career in the Army reserves for 25 years, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. A private pilot and instructor, he also enjoyed playing baseball as well as the trumpet. Survivors include his wife, Carol Steele; three children; 12 grandchildren; and a niece, Anne Hege ’98.

DAVID G. DAVIS, a retired educator, died May 6, 2016, at age 79. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he received a master’s degree from the University of Washington. Among those who survive are five children.

DAVID W. RALSTON, an attorney, entrepreneur, and orchardist, died Jan. 10, 2017. He was 81. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received his degree with distinction in government. After receiving his law degree from Columbia University he worked for the Small Business Administration and then joined a private practice of law. In 1970 he formed Ralston and Mannion. For most of his married life, he lived in Reston, Va., where he was a community leader, serving for many years on the board of the Reston Community Association, and on the board of the Fellowship Square Foundation, a Reston nonprofit that owns and manages retirement communities in the Reston area. He was also an entrepreneur and was instrumental in founding a local bank and a savings and loan association. Additionally, he was a restaurateur, a real estate developer, and finally an orchardist, with an apple and peach orchard in West Virginia. His wife, Bridget Ryan Ralston, survives, as do three sons; four grandchildren; Diana Ralston, the mother of two of his grandchildren; his brother, Peter A. Ralston ’58; and a large extended family.

JOHN L. PEAKES, an actor who co-founded the BoarsHead Theater in Lansing, Mich., died Jan. 26, 2017. He was 83. A member of Alpha Tau Omega, he served in the U.S. Navy after graduation. On leave from the Navy, he attended a few plays in New York City and realized that the theater was his prime interest. After his discharge, he attended the Boston Conservatory while teaching at Plymouth Academy, but moved to New York City, where he worked in theater. He then went to Tufts University, where he acted in and directed many productions, and received a master’s degree. After a short time at the University of Iowa, he and several friends moved to Michigan and ran two small regional theaters. In 1976 they moved to the newly built BoarsHead Theater, where he remained until his retirement in 2003. In retirement, he moved to the Philadelphia area and continued to perform there. Predeceased by one son, among those who survive are his wife, Judith Peakes; his former wife, Constance Brown Peakes; one son; two grandsons; two stepchildren; his sister; and several nieces and nephews, including Eli U. Kendall ’11.

LARRY SHAPIRO, the retired head of American Paper & Supply Company, died Sept. 5, 2016, at age 81. He was the brother of P. Peter Sheppe of the class of 1953. A member of Eclectic, he served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator in London. He headed American Paper & Supply for more than 45 years. An avid sports fan, he was also a voracious reader. He is survived by his wife, Diana Richman Shapiro, two children, and one grandson.

RICHARD P. BURRAGE, a utilities executive, died Mar. 24, 2016. He was 82. A member of Delta Tau Delta, after graduation he joined the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, which later became Verizon, and spent his entire career there. In 1956 he was drafted and spent two years in the U.S. Army. Upon rejoining C&P, he became assistant vice president, engineering, for the mid-Atlantic region. He retired in 1990. A passionate reader, he spent much time volunteering for his local library, as well as for the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, where he served in multiple capacities through the years. Survivors include his wife, Suzanne Fuller Burrage, two children, including Gregg R. Burrage ’82, and four grandchildren.