Obituaries | 1950-1959

NORMAN H. BERRY JR., 75, a manufacturer of automotive ignition system components and the designer of an innovative sparkplug wire, died Feb. 1, 2006. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and received an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. A member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, he founded LGM, Ltd., a supplier of ignition systems, with his wife, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Cherie Killian Berry, in 1985. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, two step-daughters, and a brother.

HARRY M. BECK, a retired vice president of the Bank of California, died Oct. 13, 2011, at age 86. A member of Sigma Chi, prior to attending Wesleyan he served in the Naval Pilot Training Program and the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Frances Carran Beck, three children, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. One son predeceased him.

GIAN L. BERCHIELLI, a retired elementary school educator and U.S. Navy officer, died Sept. 11, 2007, at age 78. A member of Sigma Nu, he served four years of active duty and then spent 30 years in the Reserves. After leaving active duty he received a master’s degree and later a PhD from the University of Florida. He was a classroom teacher, a school principal, and an award-winning administrator. A leader in many civic and professional organizations, he was honored as the Florida Educator of the Year. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Renalducci Berchielli, two daughters, and five grandchildren.

GORDON R. BRYAN JR., a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy, died Jan. 28, 2003 at age 74. A member of Sigma Nu, he received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. During his military career, he served on a destroyer and five submarines, two of which he commanded. After retiring from the Navy, he became a consultant for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He is survived by his wife, Judith H. Bryan, two sons, four stepchildren, and three grandchildren.

GEORGE D. BRODIGAN, an attorney who specialized in mediation and arbitration, died Sept. 14, 2010, at age 83. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, he received his degree from Wesleyan and then re-entered the Marine Corps as an officer during the Korean War. He established his own law firm after working in the law department at the Travelers Insurance Company, and he was a Supreme Court Judge on an interim basis from 1985 to 1986. From 1991 to recent years he represented various companies in the field of mediation and arbitration. One son, Christopher C. Brodigan ’80, predeceased him, as did one brother, Francis F. Brodigan Jr. ’51. He is survived by his former wife, Shirley Walker Brodigan, two children, four grandchildren, and his brother, Charles T. Brodigan ’54.

CHARLES D. BECK JR., 83, an educator who was the Colorado facilitator for the National Diffusion Network and president of the Education Diffusion Group, died June 3, 2010. He was a member of Sigma Nu and received master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Denver. Among those who survive are his wife, Barbara Kennedy Beck, three children, five grandchildren, and his former wife, Carol Beck Nanney.

EDWIN P. BROWN, a retired advertising executive, died Sept. 6, 2006. He was 77. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he served in the US Army during the Korean War. Among those who survive are his wife of many years, Alice Brown Elgin, three children, two grandsons, and a brother.

CHARLES E. BILLINGS, an internationally recognized expert in aviation medicine and human factors engineering, died Aug. 30, 2010. He was 81. He was a member of the John Wesley Club and received his medical degree from New York University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he attended the School of Aviation Medicine, he studied aviation and occupational medicine at Ohio State University, from which he received a master’s degree. He taught at OSU for 15 years and then joined NASA, retiring as a Fellow and Chief Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center. He returned to OSU as Emeritus Professor and until the time of his death worked in cognitive systems engineering and human factors research. His wife, Lillian Wilson Billings, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his daughter, two grandsons, two great-grandsons, and his brother.

RALPH M. BEMIS, a retired insurance broker, died Dec. 19, 2007. He was 82. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was active in community organizations. His wife, Jane Savard Bemis, predeceased him. Among those who survive are four children, eight grandchildren, and his brother.

JOHN R. BELLOBUONO, M.D., 79, a retired physician, died May 10, 2008. A member of Eclectic, he received his medical degree from the University of Liège (Belgium) Medical School. After practicing medicine in Middletown, Conn., he moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., where he continued his private practice and also worked at the Fort Huachuca Army Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Annette Chapelier Bellobuono, two children, four grandchildren, and his sister.