PETER E. de JANOSI, an economist and the retired director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, died Feb. 16, 2011. He was 82. After receiving his degree with honors, he received master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. He was a member of Sigma Nu and was a New School for Social Research Board member. Survivors include his wife, Monica Reis de Janosi, and three children.
LLOYD E. PORTER, 76, a pharmacist for more than 50 years, died Sept. 14, 2011. He received his pharmaceutical degree from Ohio State University and was associated with the Rite-Aid Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Lyons Porter, two children, a granddaughter, and a sister.
P. MICHAEL PHELPS, 77, a retired securities attorney, died Feb. 10, 2011. He was a member of Psi Upsilon, received his degree with high honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving a law degree from Harvard University, he practiced law privately before spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He later became a securities attorney for several divisions of American Home Products, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, and March and McLennan. The majority of his career was with Morton International. He was actively involved in the American Society of Corporate Secretaries through his career, including serving as president of the national organization. He is survived by his wife, Laura Pepe Phelps, three stepchildren, two grandchildren, and a brother.
WILLIAM T. PRYCE, a Foreign Service officer who served as ambassador to Honduras and as senior director for Latin America at the National Security Council, died July 11, 2006 at age 73. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in economics. He received a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, after which he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy and then entered the Foreign Service. His posts included Mexico, the Soviet Union, and, Bolivia. In addition, he worked closely on developing and implementing U.S. policies toward Panama and Nicaragua. At the National Security Council, he was also involved in the resolution of the civil war in El Salvador. He retired in 1966 but continued to be involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement and other free-trade issues as vice president and head of Washington operations of the Council of the Americas. Among those who survive are his wife, Joan MacClurg Pryce; two sons, Jeffrey F. Pryce ’82 and Scott F. Pryce ’87; a daughter; five grandchildren; and a sister.
HECTOR F. PHELPS JR., an analyst and underwriter at The Hartford Insurance Group for 30 years, who was also an accomplished artist, singer, actor, director, and writer, died Nov. 18, 2010, at age 79. He received his degree with honors and with distinction in theater. A member of Gamma Psi, he served in the U.S. Army. He performed with the Simsbury (Conn.) Light Opera Company, was a soloist with the Hartford Choral Club, a member of the Mark Twain Masquers, and in 1971 helped to found the Trinity Episcopal Church theater group. He donated his extensive theater and film library to Wesleyan. Survivors include an aunt, several cousins, and many friends.
LEON S. OLSON, 70, a retired human resources executive, died June 29, 2003. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Marines. Survivors include his wife, Joan, three children, and two grandchildren.
KENNETH G. ORVIS, 74, an attorney, died June 9, 2005. He was a member of Sigma Nu and received a law degree from Cornell University. A member of the law firm of Orvis and Orvis in Albany, N.Y., he later became counsel for the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services and did pro bono representation of court-appointed clients. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Comly Orvis, three children, six grandchildren, and a large extended family.
ROBERT S. NICKOLOFF, an attorney and venture capitalist who was instrumental in starting several television stations in Minnesota, died June 22, 2007. He was 78. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his law degree from the University of Michigan and served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was involved in numerous organizations and companies throughout Minnesota. Survivors include his wife, Anne Nickerson Nickoloff, three children, nine grandchildren, and a sister. (For more information, see the Pioneer Press of June 23, 2007.)
JOHN M. NELSON ’53, the retired chairman of the board of the TJX Companies, Inc, and a former Wesleyan trustee, died Jan. 21, 2013. He was 81. The son of Martin H. Nelson of the class of 1926 and the nephew of John D. Nelson of the class of 1931, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and received his degree with honors. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he received an MBA from Harvard University. He joined the Norton Company as a sales trainee and rose through the ranks, becoming Chairman and CEO in 1988. After the company was acquired by Saint Gobain, he joined the Wyman Gordon Company, the second largest manufacturing firm in Worcester, Mass. In 1995 he became chairman of the board of the TJX Companies, after which the company acquired the Marshalls stores and started its European expansion.
He volunteered extensively in the Worcester community, served on many boards, and won numerous awards for his service. The recipient of several honorary degrees, he was also a co-founder and chairman of Commonwealth National Bank. He was a trustee of the University from 1978 to 1981, and he had also been chairman of the Alumni Council. In 1988 he received Wesleyan’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Among those who survive are his wife, Linda Nelson; his daughter, Murrey E. Nelson ’81; his son; two stepdaughters; and six grandchildren. retired statistician with Uniroyal, died Nov. 15, 2012, at age 91. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After his retirement he became an active community volunteer. Predeceased by his wife, Betty McFarland Norton, five children, eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a sister survive.
PETER D. NIXON, a retired manufacturer’s representative, died Dec. 13, 2009. He was 76. A member of Chi Psi, he received his MBA degree from Northeastern University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was also an enthusiastic basketball player and coach. He is survived by one son; his friend and companion, Alyce Carella; his former wife; his brother, David L. Nixon ’53; and many nieces and nephews.
