Obituaries | 1950-1959

RICHARD N. LUCAS, M.D., a retired U.S. Air Force physician, died June 25, 2016, at age 87. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received his medical degree from New York University. After spending 20 years with the U.S. Air Force as a pathologist, where he served in Texas, Colorado, Washington, D.C., and Germany, his last post was in Fairfield, Calif., where he also worked as a pathologist prior to his retirement. Survivors include his wife, Joan Britten Lucas, four children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

REUBEN K (“Ken”) KENIGSBERG, M.D., a pediatric surgeon, died Sept. 27, 2016, at age 87. The brother of Nathaniel Kenigsberg, M.D., of the class of 1934, he received his degree with high distinction in biology, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to Sigma Xi. After receiving his medical degree from Harvard University, he served in the U. S. Army Medical Corps. A pediatric surgeon in private practice for 40 years, he was chief of pediatric surgery at North Shore University Hospital. He performed one of the first successful separations of conjoined twins in the United States, and he received a patent for a gastroesophageal reflux diagnostic tool. He also researched the causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and treatments for Crohn’s disease; and he initiated the push for legislation mandating the installation of safety glass throughout New York State. A poet and a lover of the outdoors, he enjoyed skiing, diving, sailing, bird-watching, and fly fishing. During the Yom Kippur War in Israel in 1973, he volunteered in the Israeli medical corps. Among those who survive are his wife, Abby Bogin Kenigsberg; three sons, including Matthew B. Kenigsberg ’89; seven grandchildren; a nephew, Richard Lopatin ’70, M.D.; a nephew, Daniel Kenigsberg ’74, M.D.; a great-niece, Rebecca A. Lopatin ’01; a great-niece, Alison M. Lopatin ’03; and a large extended family.

JAMES MUTRIE JR., the former Capitol bureau chief of the New Haven Register, died Oct. 26, 2016. He was 89. A U.S. Army veteran, he received his degree with honors. After working for a few years in Albany, N.Y., he and his family returned to Connecticut when he was hired as a journalist by the New Haven Register. He ultimately became the Capitol Bureau Chief in Hartford, a position he held for many years until his retirement after more than 30 years with the newspaper. He was well known in state political and journalism circles as the Dean of the Capitol Press Corps. Predeceased by his wife, Rose Marie Weller Mutrie, and by his son, survivors include his daughter and her husband, his daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, his sister, and a large extended family.

RAYMOND H. BATEMAN, a former New Jersey state senator, acting governor, and community college advocate, died June 25, 2016, at age 88. The son of Charles P. Bateman Sr. of the class of 1921 and of Charles P. Bateman Jr. of the class of 1948, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and received his degree with honors and with distinction in government. He served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Japan. After graduating he attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. From 1951 through 1954 he was the associate editor of Forbes magazine and served as an assistant to then-State Senator Malcolm S. Forbes. He served as the executive director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee from 1954 through 1958. In 1958 he was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly and became majority leader in 1965. In 1967, he was elected to the New Jersey State Senate and became the Senate President in 1969. He was also the Acting Governor for a period during that time. In 1977, he became the Republican nominee for Governor. He co-authored the legislation that established New Jersey’s county-based community college system. As Senate President, he also chaired a study commission that ultimately established the Delaware and Raritan Canal as a state park, today’s most utilized park in New Jersey. In the 1960s, he established Bateman & Associates, which he ran as an advertising and public relations agency in Somerville until it was sold in 1977. In 1978, he started Public Affairs Consultants, a government advisory service for corporate and foundation management, where he continued to work for the remainder of his life.
In 1978, he was appointed to the Somerset County College (now Raritan Valley Community College) Board of Trustees as Vice Chairman. Soon after he became the Chairman, serving for 26 years until 2005, when he became a Trustee. During his tenure as Chairman, Ray spearheaded the growth and expansion of Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). He was instrumental in persuading the Governor to increase State funding to community colleges by $48 million. He was also co-chair of New Jersey’s community colleges “Team for Tomorrow,” a committee that advocated for tuition aid grants for community college students, and a $200 million increase in the Chapter XII community college construction and building renovation fund. In 2003 he received national recognition with the Association of Community College Trustees 2003 M. Dale Ensign Trustee Award for his leadership role in advancing RVCC and community colleges throughout New Jersey. In 2014, in honor of his contributions, RVCC dedicated the Ray Bateman Student Center for Student Life and Leadership. In 1994 he was appointed as chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. He was also a Visiting Professor at Rutgers University from 1979 through 2000. He had a large following as a columnist for the Courier-News, where he always wrote honestly and fearlessly. His columns ranged from such topics as politics, the environment and Rutgers, to Maine, sports, dogs and family. He also wrote for Forbes’ publications and the Somerset Messenger Gazette. Predeceased by his wife, Joan Speer Bateman, one son and one daughter, survivors include four children, three daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, 12 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and his friend and companion, Nancy Maulding.

TERRY M. SMITH, 79, a retired coach and athletic director, died July 10, 2016. He was a member of Chi Psi and received a master’s degree in teaching from Vanderbilt University. He was a teacher and the head athletic director at Croton-Harmon High School in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. Among those who survive are his wife, Maureen Jordan Smith; his daughters, Nicole Padgett ’97 and Adrienne J. Smith ’00; and a son.

DAVID W. BENTLEY, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and geriatrician, died Jan. 8, 2016, at age 78. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received his medical degree from the University of Rochester. For many years he was on the medical faculty of the University of Rochester, as well as head of the infectious disease department of Monroe Community Hospital. He later moved to St. Louis, where he joined the medical faculty of St. Louis University in geriatrics, as well as working at the local VA hospital. Later retiring to Valparaiso, Indiana, he volunteered with many organizations. Survivors include his wife, Christine Palermo Bentley, two children, five grandchildren, and two sisters.

PETER C. VAN VOORHEES, 81, a banker and former assistant development officer at Wesleyan, died Apr. 28, 2016. He was a member of Delta Sigma and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont. After working in sales at MacMillan Company, he joined the development office at Wesleyan, later moving into banking as a trust officer. He then spent the major part of his career in Philadelphia with First Pennsylvania Bank. While in Middletown, he and his family were active in the Oddfellows Playhouse, and he was an avid fan of Wesleyan football. He is survived by his wife, Susan Thomas Van Voorhees, two children, and three grandchildren.

FRANK O. AVANTAGGIO JR., M.D., a retired surgeon, died Feb. 8, 2015. He was 80. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he received his degree with honors and was elected to Sigma Xi. He spent a year in Holland as a Fulbright Scholar and then received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. After surgical training at the Maine Medical Center, he served in the U.S. Air Force for two years and then returned to Damariscotta to practice surgery for the next 26 years. A lifelong bibliophile, he volunteered at a used bookshop. He was also an avid gardener. Predeceased by a son, he is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary McFarland Avantaggio. He is also survived by four sons; one daughter, Andrea Avantaggio ’87; eight grandchildren; two sisters; and his former wife, LaDeana.

WALLACE E. CARROLL, M.D., a pathologist, died Mar. 23, 2016, at age 82. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania after a year in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. Drafted into the U.S. Army, he was in charge of the laboratory and blood bank at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for two years. At Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif., he worked as a pathologist, in addition to being in charge of the school of medical technology, the blood bank, and infectious disease control. For many years, he and his cousin worked on an invention that would revolutionize assessment of blood coagulation. He also ran 16 marathons, including Boston twice. Among those who survive are his wife, Maria Luisa Lahusen Carroll, four children, 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his brother, and his cousin.

JAMES A. STEVENS, a retired Stanley Works vice president, died Jan. 19, 2015. He was 87 and was the son of Lucian H. Stevens of the class of 1920. A member of Psi Upsilon, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and again during the Korean War. He began his career at the Stanley Works, where he remained for more than 40 years, retiring as vice president of architectural sales, hardware division. He was also active in industry associations. Survivors include his wife, Suzann Stephan Stevens, two children, and four grandchildren.