JOHN K. KNIGHT, 72, a retired computer systems manager with Toyota Tsusho America, died June 6, 2006. He was a member of Sigma Nu and earned a master’s degree from Columbia. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He is survived by his wife, Caroline Maury Knight, three children, four grandchildren, and a sister.
LAWRENCE L. JONES III, 77, an attorney, land developer, and nationally recognized professional magician and performer, died Aug. 24, 2003. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received a law degree from the University of Virginia. He retired as an attorney with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs in Louisville, Ky. During the 1960s he performed on television shows and later opened a magic performance theater in Louisville. Among those who survive are his wife, Deede, six children, eight grandchildren, and a sister.
J. EVAN JENKINS II, a retired editor at the New York Times who was an authority on linguistic dilemmas, died Nov. 30, 2007. He was 72. A member of Eclectic, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in English. He was the grandson of John Evan Jenkins of the class of 1891 and of Katherine Jenkins Mitchell of the class of 1888, the nephew of Mitchell Jenkins of the class of 1918, the son of Hugh C. Jenkins of the class of 1920, and the brother of the late Hugh C. Jenkins Jr. ’50. After working at other newspapers, he joined theTimes in 1966 as a copy editor, retiring in 1991 as deputy news editor. He then became senior editor at the Racing Times and from 1997 to 2003 was editor-in-residence at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. At the time of his death he was the consulting editor for the Columbia Journalism Review, where he wrote a column that became the basis for his book, That or Which, and Why: A Usage Guide for Thoughtful Writers and Editors, which was published this year. Survivors include his wife, Diane Gauthey Jenkins; four children, including Anne Jenkins ’83; and six grandchildren.
EUGENE L. JACOBS, M.D. ,a psychiatrist in private practice in Manhattan, New York City, died Sept. 17, 2011, at age 78. A member of Delta Sigma, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in biology, and was elected to Sigma Xi. He received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center and was also affiliated with Beth Israel Hospital. After retiring from practice, he pursued his lifelong interests in art and antiques. Among those who survive are his wife, Vera Vento; two daughters, Hilary Jacobs Hendel ’85 and Amanda Jacobs Wolf ’87; four grandchildren; and a niece, Makaela J. Kingsley ’98.
Obituary for Dr. Eugene Leslie Jacobs
Jacobs, Eugene Leslie, MD (Class of ’55) died September 17th after a long illness. He was 78 years old. A native New Yorker, he was raised in Forest Hills, Queens before moving permanently to Manhattan. An alumnus of Wesleyan University and Downstate Medical Center, he had a private practice in psychiatry and was affiliated with Beth Israel Hospital until his retirement in 1989. Since that time, he pursued his life-long interests in art and antiques. He loved to cook, paint, travel and most of all laugh with his beloved wife of 22 years, Vera Vento. In addition to his wife Vera, he is survived by his daughters, Hilary Jacobs Hendel (’85) and Amanda Jacobs Wolf (’87), and four grandchildren. He loved Wesleyan always.
HAROLD W. JUHRE, a New York State budget official for 35 years, died Feb. 27, 2009. He was 76. A member of the John Wesley Club, he received a master’s degree in public administration and served in the U.S. Army. He was a fellow of the American Society for Public Administration and retired as deputy chief budget examiner for New York State. He is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and his brother.
DAVID A. KENDALL, 79, a chemist and consultant, who retired as a director of technology and product development for Arthur D. Little, died Apr. 5, 2010. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho. During his long career at ADL he specialized in flavor and odor chemistry, and was noted for his expertise in odor analysis of diesel exhaust. He was the subject of a 1988 Wall Street Journal profile entitled “A Flavor Analyst Should Never Ask What’s For Lunch.” His former wife, Jean Boothby Kendall, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Nancy F. Smith; three daughters, including Sarah Kendall Bayles ’77; four grandchildren, including Eleonore Bayles ’14; a sister; and a large extended family.
BARRY C. HIBBEN, 76, a prominent conservationist in Marin County, Calif., died Feb. 16,2005, after a 10-year struggle with leukemia. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he served in the U.S. Army, attending the Army Language School in Monterey and graduating as a Russian interpreter and translator. A stockbroker, he was associated with the San Francisco office of Dean Witter for 27 years. He co-founded the Southern Marin Land Trust and the Richardson’s Bay Maritime Association, serving on both as president as well as director. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Benjes Hibben, two brothers, and a sister.
H. STANLEY HART II, an author, bookseller, and real estate broker, died May 15, 2010. He was 80. A member of Psi Upsilon, he was the grandson of Francis B. Upham of the class of 1885, the nephew of Francis B. Upham Jr. of the class of 1915, and the cousin of the late Francis B. Upham III ’45 and the late Hayward Upham ’50. He served in the U.S. Air Force. A trade editor for Little, Brown & Co. for several years, he persuaded many well-known authors to publish their work with the company. He later opened The Red Cat, a bookstore in West Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard. In the late 1970s he left the business side of publishing to write his own books, many of which dealt with his own life and with life on the Vineyard, and since 1993 had been a real estate broker. Survivors include two daughters, three sons, and a nephew, Wesley A. Look ’02.
MARVIN HAGEL, a teacher and coach who was the first athletic director at Middlesex Community College when it opened in 1967, died Feb. 22, 2011, three days short of his 82nd birthday. He was a U.S. Army veteran and received a master’s degree from Trinity College. Survivors include his brother and several nieces and nephews.
PETER L. HILLYER, a writer, died Feb. 4, 2011, at age 81. A member of Psi Upsilon, he was the stepson of Harold Whiteley of the class of 1922. After graduation he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then worked as a journalist until he joined IBM in 1960, where he spent more than 25 years writing executive speeches and articles. When he retired he continued to write as a freelancer and also wrote speeches for high-profile executives. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Hillyer; two sons, including Clayton Hillyer ’79; a daughter; two stepdaughters; 11 grandchildren; a sister, and his brother, Richard Whiteley ’62.
