Obituaries | 1950-1959

RIDGELY W. HARRISON JR., the retired president of the Minwax Company, Inc., died Aug. 25, 2006. He was 79. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he served in the U.S. Army. His entire career was spent with the family business, Minwax, which makes wax and finishes for household floors, until he sold it 26 years ago. During the 1990s, his photograph inspired a multi-million dollar Tanqueray gin advertising campaign, which created the persona of “Mr. Jenkins.” Survivors include his current wife, Mai Hallingby Harrison, three sons, eight grandchildren, and a sister.

MARK H. HALLER ’51, a professor of history and criminal justice, died Sept. 22, 2012, at age 83. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he received his degree with high honors and with high distinction in English. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving his master’s degree from the University of Maryland and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin, he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago, leaving in 1968 to join the faculty of Temple University as a specialist in urban history. At Temple, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Department of Criminal Justice with a research emphasis, for the enhancement of Temple’s standing as a research institution, and for the effectiveness of faculty governance.

He was the author of numerous books and papers, and he lectured widely. His many interests included competitive tennis, travel, opera, and politics. He is survived by two brothers, several nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and a grandniece.

WILLIAM J. HAYLES, 81, a professor of chemistry at the Rochester Institute of Technology for 32 years and later a scientist at Bell Labs, died July 6, 2008. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he was a member of Sigma Chi and received his degree with honors. In 1959 he received a doctorate from Iowa State University. He is survived by four children, four grandchildren, and one great–grandchild.

E. GORDON HAMILTON ’55, a retired insurance executive, died Nov. 19, 2012. He was 78. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he worked at CIGNA for most of his 42-year career. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Hamilton, three children, three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and his brother.

KENNETH D. HUSZAR, a journalist and later senior vice president of the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, died June 19, 2012. He was 75. A member of Chi Psi, he received his degree with honors and served in the U.S. Army.  He studied at Berlin University on a Fulbright Scholarship and in 1962 received a diploma from the Bologna campus of the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. During his long career in journalism and public relations he was a reporter for The Plain Dealer and for the West German magazine Stern, a foreign correspondent for Newsweek, and an account manager at Burson-Marsteller, where he counseled, among other clients, the Reagan Administration and the Argentine government. In the course of his career, he traveled widely, was a speechwriter for David Rockefeller, interviewed Yassir Arafat, and accompanied New York City Mayor David Dinkins on a trip to Japan. His sister, Janet Thompkins, and several cousins, including Ted W. Hussar, survive.

ROBERT W. HUNT, a credit manager with Harvey Industries, died Aug. 2, 2009, at age 75. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he served in the U.S. Navy. He was predeceased by his wife, Roberta Young Hunt. Survivors include three children, three grandchildren, and his sister.

JOHN H. HOBBS, a pioneer in the investment management industry, a philanthropist avid in his support of education and civil rights, and a former Wesleyan trustee, died Jan. 3, 2010, at age 73. A member of Eclectic and a U.S. Air Force veteran, he received his bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Harvard University. In 1969 he co-founded Jennison Associates, one of Wall Street’s first independent institutional investment management firms, and in 1976 was named president and CEO. In 1994 he became chairman of Jennison, which is now a subsidiary of Prudential Financial. He retired in 2003. After the death of his wife in 2008, he returned to work and was most recently the vice chairman of Madison Asset Management Group, LLC. A tireless supporter of education, he served on numerous boards and was also the chairman of the board of Common Cents, a non-profit organization that creates and manages service-learning programs for young people, one of whose divisions is Penny Harvest, the largest child philanthropy program in the U.S. He served on the Wesleyan Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2004 and was elected trustee emeritus. Predeceased by his wife, Elisabeth Atwater Hobbs, he is survived by three children, including Margaret M. Hobbs ’89, two sisters, and a large extended family.

FREEMAN R. HATHAWAY JR., a technical writer for Hewlett-Packard who combined his English major with electronics training he received in the U.S. Army Reserves, died May 17, 2011. He was 77. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he attended Harvard Business School. Among those who survive are his wife, Wynne Berckmueller Hathaway; two children, including Heather A. Hathaway ’86; two grandchildren; a sister; and two cousins, Charles G. Hill ’46, and John N. Hill ’85.

PHILIP H. HEDGES, 74, a retired partner at the New York law firm of White & Case, died Dec. 30, 2007. A member of Sigma Nu, he received his degree with honors. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago and specialized in corporate real estate. Survivors include his wife, Edith Nyman Hedges, three children, seven grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

BRUCE D. HALE, 73, who retired as vice president of the Rust Tractor Company in New Mexico, died Feb. 24, 2007. A member of Psi Upsilon, he received his degree with honors. Survivors include his wife, Connie Gunderson Hale, four children, and eight grandchildren.