Obituaries | 1950-1959

WILLIAM C. ACKERLY, M.D., 87, a retired psychiatrist, died May 23, 2016. He was the son of Samuel S. Ackerly of the class of 1918 and the grandson of Clifford P. Clark of the class of 1895.  A member of Sigma Chi, he received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a U.S. Army veteran. After moving to Cambridge, Mass., he opened a private practice and was also the director of the Somerville Guidance Center. Always a lover of the outdoors, in 1965 he and his wife bought a house in Lyme Center, N.H., that was a few yards off the Appalachian Trail. There they offered respite to several thousand hikers, who stopped for water and other treats. He was known as “The Ice Cream Man” because he offered hikers ice cream cones. A man who loved good conversation, he enjoyed talking with the many hikers who came though each year. His wife, Frances Dickinson Ackerly, died in 2011. He is survived by one daughter, Susan A. Colfer ’88; three sons; five grandchildren; and three sisters..

Eugene D. Jacobson ’51, M.D., a retired professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, died August 14, 2015. He was 5.

John Clifford Allen Jr., age 81 of Woodruff, WI died on Sunday, April 3rd at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, WI. John was born on December 12, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of John Sr. and Kathleen (nee Edwards) Allen. Before moving to the Northwoods 27 years ago, John had been an influential and active member of the transportation industry as he was Co-founder and former Executive Vice President of ITOFCA and also served as former President of the Chicago Traffic Club.
John was the former owner and pianist at Ma Bailey’s Supper Club. Music was a very important part of John’s life; he was a former member of several bands including the Mad Monks of Melody and Toe Jammerz, a 50-year member of SPEBSQSA (International Barbershop Society), 2-time President and member of International Championship Chorus West Towns (Lombard Chapter of SPEBSQSA), former President of the Lakeland Performing Arts Association, and member of the Campanile Chorus and Aurora Borealis Chorus.
John was the Woodruff representative and Chairman of the Greater Minocqua Chamber of Commerce Room Tax Commission. John was also an active member and Treasurer of Community Presbyterian Church of Lac du Flambeau, WI.
He is survived by his wife; Judith Allen and by Sons: John (Graciela) Allen; Jeffrey (Kim) Allen and Jon (fiancé Jolene) Wayland and Daughters: Julie (Monty) Ruff and Janet (Scott) Paintin and by Grandchildren: Gigi and John Allen; Monty and Cailin Ruff; Ashley, Brittany and Justin Allen; Matthew and Amanda Paintin; Dylan Wayland; Sky, Darren and Devin Risingsun and by his Sister; Suzi (Richard) Wertz.

Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, May 19th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the Community Presbyterian Church of Lac du Flambeau, WI with Memorial Services at 3:00 PM and a reception following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Presbyterian Church of Lac du Flambeau in memory of John Clifford Allen Jr.

Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com.

Professor Emeritus Edgar Milan Palmer, 80, of East Lansing, MI, died in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital on April 17, 2015 surrounded by his wife and daughters.

Born on May 17, 1934 in Hartford CT, he was the eldest of three sons of the late Florence Wyman Palmer and Milan Henry Palmer.

Dr. Palmer graduated with honors from Wesleyan University in 1956. In 1955 he quarterbacked the Cardinals to lopsided wins over archrivals Amherst and Williams. From 1956 to 1960, he worked at the United Aircraft Research Laboratories in East Hartford, CT, where he was in charge of helicopter performance simulation programs for Sikorsky Aircraft. At the same time he earned an M.S. in mathematics from Trinity College.

In 1960 he returned to graduate school in the doctoral program in mathematics at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1965 with a Ph. D. After a post-doctoral year at University College London, he joined the faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Michigan State University in 1967.

Over the next 35 years he wrote two books and over 70 research papers on his specialty, Combinatorics and Graph Theory. He loved teaching and enjoyed mathematics most when it was a group enterprise. Much of his work was done in collaboration with others. He had Erdös number 1.  He was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, an editor and reviewer for several mathematics journals, lectured at many conferences and colloquia, had 7 doctoral students of his own and advised many others. He spent sabbatical leaves at Oxford (1973-1974) and Cambridge and Essex Universities (1980). He served as Associate Chair of the math department in 1997-1999.

Ed made many trips to Alaska for mathematics conferences, lectures and consulting. He and his wife, Jane, backpacked in Denali, kayaked in Prince William Sound and served as volunteers in peregrine falcon studies for Alaska Fish and Game, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the U.S Air Force.  After retirement, his favorite activity was canoeing with Jane and grandsons in the UP in the wetlands of the Hiawatha National Forest this side of Paradise.

When his daughters were children, Ed provided piano accompaniment for their Suzuki violin recitals.  In his later years, he was an enthusiastic member of the PT Strummers Ukulele ensemble and accompanied his daughters and grandsons in family jam sessions.   Ed recently wrote the following to his daughter, Amy, “Life is quite a struggle sometimes.  Music and laughter ease the way and make it joyful.  Singing is terrific medicine.  Lyrics are important and fun.”

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Jane Byrne Palmer; daughters, Amelia (Amy) Byrne Palmer Hansen (Chris Hansen) of Portland, OR, and Angela Goodrich Palmer (Julian Fischer) of Anchorage, AK; grandsons, Jeremy Palmer Hansen and Andrew Palmer Hansen of Portland, OR; Benjamin Palmer Fischer and Kyle Byrne Fischer of Anchorage, AK; brother John G. Palmer, and sister-in-law Diana Palmer of Winston-Salem, NC, brother Charles W. Palmer (Nancy) of Spokane WA, and sister-in-law Mary Lou Rischar (Jim) of Vancouver, WA.

Celebration of Life to be held at 2pm on Sunday, May 3rd, Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823

Arrangements entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, MI.  Please visit http://www.mi-cremation.com/ to sign on-line guest book.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to:  The Richard E. Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o MSU Department of Mathematics, College of Natural Science 619 Red Cedar Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, 517.432.9738  http://www.math.msu.edu/alumni/phillips_scholarship/default.aspx; ; The Renucci Hospitality House 290 Ransom Street NE?Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 ?(616) 391-1790 http://give.spectrumhealth.org/get-involved/volunteer/renucci; The National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/

Dr. Donald Errante calmly and peacefully passed away at home on March 31, 2016. Born on July 19, 1935 in Brooklyn, and a Marin resident for 50 years, Don was a devoted husband, father, physician, and friend to the many people with whom he came in contact. Don entered Wesleyan University at the tender age of 16. A life-long lover of music, he relieved the stress of a demanding pre-med program by joining the marching band where his vigorous enthusiasm resulted in his breaking the bass drum he was playing. He was, despite this indiscretion, awarded a degree. Don’s medical training was at the University of Rochester, followed by internship and residency in the Bronx where he developed his specialty in pediatrics. His military service followed beginning in 1963. Stationed in Livorno, Italy, Don was the only pediatrician at the sprawling military base, caring for more than 1,000 children. While in Italy, Don reveled in his Italian heritage, studying the language and refining his grandmother’s inspired love for fine Italian cuisine. It was also in Italy that his life-long love of fast cars was nurtured. In 1965 Don completed his military service and returned to the Bronx (Albert Einstein-Jacobi Medical Center) to undertake a one-year fellowship in psychiatry for pediatricians before moving to Mill Valley with his first wife, Eleanor and the first two of his three children (Valaine and Arien). Their third child (Elida) was born after they settled in California. The Errante family readily took to their new life and it was in Marin that Don began what became a treasured leisure activity of cycling. Soon Don and his cycling friends were exploring the area, including riding 100 and at one point, 200 miles in a day. From 1966-1974 Don served as the principal pediatrician with a multidisciplinary team for a federally funded project for children and youth based at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. In 1974 he joined what was then the original Marin County Pediatric practice of Dr. William Ball that included Dr. Stephen Kent and later Dr. George Monteverdi. Don was a consummate physician, and was concerned with treating the entire patient; body, mind, and spirit. Believing in the importance of psychological as well as physical health, Don developed a subspecialty and opened a behavioral and developmental private pediatric practice. Don was an uncommonly generous and caring person who was utterly devoted to his patients. In 1985, Don married his second wife Lois and settled into life in Larkspur. Travel was of great interest to the couple, and their life was filled with many exotic adventures including numerous visits throughout Europe, trips to India, Peru, and a cycling tour of Vietnam. Also, a lover of music of all styles, Don, who played piano in his younger years, was a long-time subscriber to the San Francisco opera. Don lived with Parkinson’s disease for many years. Rather than succumbing, he became active in the Parkinson’s community and made many new friends. He was especially active in the PD Dance movement and continued his cycling as long as possible. Don is survived by his wife Lois, his children Valaine, Arien, and Elida, stepchildren Glenn and Dan Young, grandchildren, Scott Young, Mitchell Young, and Allison, his brother Gerard, and his former wife Eleanor. A memorial service is being planned for Donald at the St. Vincent’s School for Boys in San Rafael on Saturday, May 7, at 2:30. This is an especially fitting setting as it was at the St. Vincent’s School for Boys that Don spent 30 years caring for the boys there, following his life-long penchant for aiding those in less fortunate circumstances. Don will be long remembered for the many lives he touched by his generosity, compassion, adventurous spirit, intellectual curiosity and infectious sense of humor. A memorial donation may be made in Don’s name to the Parkinson’s Dance Program (checks made out to Marin Dance Theater with PDP in the memo line).

Paul James Stoll was born in Grass Valley, California in 1932. He moved to Berkeley in 1934 with his Mother and sister. In Berkeley he attended local schools thru the 121th grade. Looking east for college, he decided on Wesleyan (in Connecticut) for his 4 year undergraduate degree, then switched to MIT for further study. Paul caught the eye of various firms looking for new talent in the fields of physics and electronics and biochemistry and was then sponsored for additional degrees in those fields, and subsequently was hired by such companies here on the west coast. For the most part he lived and worked in the Los Angelos area. There he met and married Nancy Vale. He was always ready to encourage education and supported learning through many venues. Though retired, he continued with projects in the fields of his lifetime endeavors. His other great love was for the natural grandure of the mountains and for skiing which he purued whenever possible. It was during this activity that Jim met his death recently on a slope near Bozeman Montana. While at a conference there he took time off for the ski trails. Somehow he veered from the run and smashed fatally into a small grove of trees. He leaves his wife, Nancy, his son Kevin, his sister, and his special friend, Michelle. They and a host of associates and friends will miss him greatly.

Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Mar. 20, 2016 – See more here.

Dr. Richard Marshall was born July 30, 1933 in Long Beach, New York and grew up in New York City. He received his B.A. from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his M.D. degree from Yale University. After an internship in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Marshall worked in the laboratory of Nobel Prize winner Marshall Nirenberg at the National Institutes of Health. In 2009 Dr. Marshall was awarded the NIH Molecular Biology medal for his contributions to deciphering the genetic code of the mechanism of protein synthesis. During his long career, Dr. Marshall served as the Director of Neonatology at Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO and at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, N.J. He is the author of numerous articles on genetics and pediatrics.

Dr. Marshall is survived by his wife of 57 years, Judith, his children Linda and Katherine (Noah Pinko) and his grandchildren, David, Eitan, Michael and Eleanor. He is also survived by his brother, Donald Marshall.

Dr. Marshall will be lovingly remembered for his outgoing and caring personality and his wide interests in literature, the arts, sports and people. Funeral services were private. Memorials may be made to Congregation Beth Shalom or Wesleyan University in memory of Carl Schorske.

Arthur Aldrich Dexter, 1932 – 2016. On the afternoon of Jan. 25, 2016, Arthur Aldrich Dexter passed away after living a rich and happy life of 83 years. Arthur was born on March 22, 1932, in Camden, the son of Robert and Dorothy Aldrich Dexter.He attended elementary schools in Camden and Waterville, and graduated from Waterville High School with honors in 1950 where he played football, basketball and captained the baseball team. After high school he attended, and graduated from, Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.In 1954, Arthur began his teaching and coaching career at Kents Hill School where he was also Dean of Boys and Assistant to the Headmaster. In 1965 he became teacher, coach and Dean of Boys at Gould Academy in Bethel. In 1967, he was appointed headmaster at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, where he retired in 1984.Arthur was predeceased by his parents; and first wife, Georgene Duckworth Dexter.He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Newcastle; his daughter, Margaret (Meg) Dexter of Arundel; grandchildren, Matthew Swift of South Boston and Emma Swift of Brewer; son, Mark and his wife Gayle; grandchildren, Kathryn and Thomas Dexter of Spokane, Wash.; stepson, Scott Stevenson; and stepdaughter, Sarah Matel and her husband James, and their children Seward and Teddy, all of Round Pond. He is also survived by a brother, Stuart and wife Shirley of Orono; and several nephews and a niece.A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at the Lincoln Academy Gymnasium on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at 1 p.m., with a reception immediately following in the school’s dining commons. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. A full obituary can be viewed, and condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.comIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle P.O. Box 243 Newcastle, ME 04553, or: Lincoln Academy Office of Development 81 Academy Hill Newcastle, ME 04553

STEPHEN MAY (Age 84) July 30, 1931 – March 31, 2016 Independent art historian, writer and lecturer, passed away March 31, 2016 at Georgetown Hospital. The cause of death was complications following surgery in early February. Born in Rochester, NY, July 30, 1931 to University of Rochester professor Arthur J. May and Hilda Jones May, he graduated from the Harley School in Rochester, and earned a BA, Phi Beta Kappa, from Wesleyan University in 1953. After graduation and a cross-country road trip with two classmates, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. In his downtime while stationed at Fort Meade, MD, he observed the U.S. House and Senate in session, an experience that inspired his first career in politics and government. He received his JD from Georgetown Law School in 1961. After the Army he joined the staff of U.S. Rep. Kenneth B. Keating (NY), and later served as Keating”s Executive Assistant in the Senate. Back in New York, May was a member of the Rochester City Council, 1966 – 1973, and the city”s 62nd Mayor, 1970 – 1973. In state politics in the 1970s, he was Chairman of the New York State Board of Elections. In 1981 he returned to Washington as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development until 1988. Upon retiring from government, Mr. May pursued a life-long interest and built a rewarding second career writing and lecturing about art. His passion was American painting and sculpture, especially Modern-ism, but his interests broadened to include European art; sport; art movements; architecture; museums; contemporary art, and the preservation of artist homes and studios. He reveled in the opportunity to share overlooked and underappreciated talent with his audience. His articles appeared in dozens of regional and national publications. He led art tours and lectured in museums, historical societies, senior residences, and other venues around the country. His work was infused with admiration for artists and their role in society. Mr. May divided his time between his home in the District and a farm in Union, Maine that his parents purchased in 1926. The Maine property, which includes a 19th century farmhouse, continues to be the favorite gathering place for the May family. Steve loved his life. He will be remembered as a gentleman, and for his civility, charm, optimism, wit, physical stamina, keen interest in politics, and especially for his enthusiasm for his work. He was predeceased by his brother, Christopher May, in October, 2015. In addition to his brother”s wife and children and their families, he leaves behind his wife, Kathryn B. Wilson, whom he married in 2007. Their marriage was the first for both bride (56) and groom (75), and they were touched when, following the wedding announcement, they received a flood of well-wishes from friends and strangers alike-many senior single people-who were inspired in hope for themselves and late-blooming relationships. Indeed, the nine-year marriage was one of happiness and devotion. Interment of ashes will occur in a private ceremony in Maine this summer. For more information and to add remembrances for his wife, go to www.ilasting.com/stephenmay.php. Direct written notes to Katie Wilson, 4101 Cathedral Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016. In lieu of flowers, send donations to: The Harley School, Rochester, NY; The Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME; or the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.In lieu of flowers, send donations to: The Harley School, Rochester, NY; The Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME; or the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.

Philip Throop Church, 84, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2015. He lived in Fayetteville, NY for 49 years. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Patricia; children, Peter (Barbara) Church, Susan (Curt) Andersson, and Daniel (Sheri) Church; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Katharine Cutler and Elizabeth Cernan. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Robert Church.

Phil was born in Winchester, CT to Russell and Margaret (Throop) Church, and was raised on several chicken farms, including Keewaydin Farm in Darien, CT. He tended chickens for his father from a very early age.

He met Pat in high school in Middletown, CT when she invited him to a Sadie Hawkins dance; he was a junior and she was a freshman.

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi from Wesleyan University in 1953 with B.A. in Mathematics. He received an M.A. in Mathematics from Harvard University in 1954, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1959.

He joined the faculty of Syracuse University in 1958. He was named the Francis H. Root Professor of Mathematics at Syracuse University in 1976. His research interests were singularity theory, global analysis, topology, and nonlinear elliptic differential equations. He published 51 research papers during his career. He was also a Danforth Fellow (1953-57); a member of the Institute for Defense Analyses in Princeton, NJ (1962-63); a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ (1962; 1965-66); an NSF Senior Postdoctoral Fellow (1965-66); a visiting fellow at Princeton University (Spring 1976); and a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Alberta (Fall 1986). He served on many committees during his 43 years at Syracuse University. He also served as an editor and on several committees for the American Mathematical Society over the years. He was named Scholar/Teacher of the Year at Syracuse University in 1989. In 2002 Syracuse University created the Philip T. Church Postdoctoral Fellow program.

Philip lived his life with integrity, always striving to do the right thing. He was a problem-solver and thinker and would work tirelessly to find the best solution, whether it was purchasing a car or writing a paper. He took his health seriously and worked hard to stay strong and vibrant. He was a true night owl; he did his best thinking in the weehours walking around the neighborhood or sitting at the kitchen table. He loved opera, musicals, and classic movies. He was a unique and wonderful man. His values and presence will be remembered by everyone he touched throughout the years.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. A service will follow the calling hours.

Contributions: may be made to Syracuse University, Math Department, 900 S. Crouse Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244.

For a guest book, please visit: www.SCHEPPFAMILY.com.