Obituaries | 1980-1989

MELISSA J. BATTER, 45, a chaplain for California homeless and prison ministries, died Apr. 24, 2008. Survivors include her partner, Margaret Freel, her mother, two brothers and their families, and a stepfather and stepmother.

RICHARD Q. BENSON, 47, died Sept. 16, 2008. An economics major, he had worked in sales. Among those who survive are his parents, two brothers, four sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

MICHAEL J. AUGER, an attorney and principal of the Law Offices of Michael J. Auger in Farmington, Conn., died Oct. 26, 2010. He was 51. A member of Chi Psi, he received his law degree from Western New England College. He was an avid sports fan and coached his children’s teams. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Ostroski Auger, his parents, his son and daughter, three sisters, and an extended family.

RICHARD B. DREYFUS, 46, an attorney and international counsel with the Apache Corp., died Mar. 12, 2005 of colon and liver cancer. A student in the College of Letters, he received his degree cum laude. He received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and worked in varied aspects of the oil and gas industry. He was also a tireless supporter of Wesleyan in his community and on his travels. Survivors include his wife, Helen Bagot Dreyfus, two sons, his parents, and a brother