John M. Williamson, a retired packaging engineer at Eastman Kodak, died Jul. 31, 2016. He was 85. A member of Gamma Psi, he was a U.S. Army veteran. His wife, Joanne Siegenthaler Williamson, survives, as do three children and seven grandchildren.
D.J. Harry Webb, an attorney in New Britain, Conn., died Dec. 18, 2017, at age 88. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Connecticut. He also received a master’s degree in tax law from New York University. He was a partner and founder of several law firms, and was active in the community, serving as pro bono legal counsel for the Jerome Home Arbor Rose, where a library is dedicated in his name. Among those who survive are his wife, Sylvia Webb, four children, 10 grandchildren, and his former wife, Laurine Hoaglund Webb.
Dean W. Egly, 88, a retired financial executive, died Mar. 26, 2017. He was a member of Delta Upsilon and received an MBA from New York University. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Navy, after which he joined Morgan Guaranty Trust Company. He retired from J.P. Morgan, its successor company, as an executive vice president. Survivors include his life partner, Charles Hailey.
Edgar B. Moore, a professor of history at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, for 45 years and a member of the town’s City Council, died Oct. 16, 2017, at age 89. He was the grandnephew of Robert M. Moore of the class of 1892 and the son of Robert M. Moore of the class of 1920. A member of the John Wesley Club, he received a bachelor of divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary. He also received a master’s degree in sacred theology and later a PhD from St. Andrews University in Scotland. After coming to Baldwin Wallace as chaplain, he moved to the history department and rose to become department chair. During his tenure he helped to broaden the scope of the department’s course offerings, introducing a course on African history and then one on women in history, especially during the 19thand 20thcenturies. His interest in politics, which stemmed from his PhD thesis, led him to his position on the city council. He was also an avid genealogist. His wife, Gracelouise Sims Moore survives, as do three children, six grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and his sister.
Robert S. Fithian, a retired territorial marketing manager for Sears, died Jun. 28, 2017. He was 89. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Joan Beck Fithian, two children, and two grandchildren.
CHARLES A. HOYT, a professor of English literature, died June 19, 2017, at age 85. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and received his degree with honors and with distinction in musicology. He received an MAT from Wesleyan in 1955, and an MA and PhD from Columbia University. A specialist in the Romantic movement and Shakespeare, he was also interested in the study of the occult and was the author of a textbook on witchcraft. He was an accomplished jazz pianist. Among those who survive are five sons, including Samuel W. Hoyt ’99 and John T. Hoyt ’03; and eight grandchildren.
MILTON W. DOUGLASS, 80, a systems engineer at IBM, died Jan. 17, 2017. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho. The founder of the Carying Place in Cary, N.C., he was also active in other local endeavors. Survivors include his wife, Patsy O’Neal Douglass, four children, three grandchildren, and his sister.
CAREY CONGDON, a sales representative in the publishing industry, died Aug. 2, 2017. He was 86. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he served for three years in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to attending Wesleyan. He began a career in graphic arts as a sales representative for Mead Papers and then joined the Maple-Vail Books Manufacturing Group, retiring in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret Del Borrello Congdon.
JOHN A. BRUCE, a healthcare executive, died Aug. 24, 2017, at age 82. He received his degree with honors and was a member of Alpha Chi Rho. He also received a theology degree from the General Theological Seminary and, after serving as an Episcopal clergyman, received a PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1972. In 1975 he moved to Oregon and served as executive director of the E.C. Brown Foundation and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in the School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, until retiring in 1998. His wife, Judith Bruce, three children, three stepchildren, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren survive.
H. BARRETT PENNELL JR., 82, a journalist and advertising executive, died July 19, 2016. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and served in the U.S. Army. At Wesleyan he hosted a classical music radio show, wrote for the Argus, and edited the yearbook. An avid photographer, he was a newspaper reporter and then worked at Curtis Publishing and TV Guide, where he was head of advertising promotion. His work was published in magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post. After his retirement, he was an active community volunteer. Among those who survive are his wife, Janet Davidson Pennell, and two daughters.
