Obituaries

JULIUS J. FORD, an attorney, co-founder of the Harriet Project, and a tireless community and political activist, died Oct. 8, 2009. He was 41. After receiving his degree he worked as a social worker before entering the Boston College Law School, where he received his law degree. He then launched the Harriet Project, an intergenerational, interracial gathering that promotes critical thinking, artistic freedom, and healthy living practices for disenfranchised youth and their communities. At the time of his death he also worked for the Western Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities, a private agency that provides preventative healthcare for youth and others. Among those who survive are his wife, Debora Ferreira, two sons, his father and stepmother, his sister, and a large extended family.

RACHEL MELCHIOR HENDERSON FALLS, the national hotline director for the National Abortion Federation in Washington, D.C., died of brain cancer Aug. 24, 2008, at age 40. She received an MFA from the University of Iowa, worked as a stage manager, lighting designer, and dramaturg, and taught in the theater departments at the University of Iowa and the International School in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 1989, she was an inspiration to many through public speaking and counseling for brain cancer patients and their families. Several awards have been created in her honor. She is survived by her husband, William Falls, whom she married in 2001, her mother, three sisters, including Mary Hannah Henderson ’95, her stepmother, three nieces and nephews, and her cousin, Wesleyan Professor of English, Emerita, Gertrude R. Hughes.

BETSY BURTON, 38, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at The Wright Institute in Oakland, Calif., died Dec. 17, 2006. She had battled manic depressive illness for some years and committed suicide. An outstanding athlete and vice president of the senior class, she was also a resident adviser at Wesleyan and played #1 singles in both squash and tennis. She received the Jones Award as the top player in both tennis and squash. Throughout her short career she worked with children in a variety of settings. Predeceased by her father, Michael B. Burton ’65, she is survived by her mother, Linda S. Burton; two sisters, including Carly Burton ’97; her paternal grandmother; her brother-in-law; a niece and nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

DAVID L. HARRIS, a government major, died July 31, 2008, in a hiking accident in Oregon. He was 21. During the fall semester of his senior year he studied in India. While at Wesleyan, he volunteered with the Traverse Square tutoring program and enjoyed playing and learning music. Among those who survive are his mother, father, and brother.

TADD GERO, 22, a reporter and writer who often performed stories that he h ad written, sometimes accompanied by live music, died Aug. 17, 2009, of pneumonia. At Wesleyan he was a theater major and reported for the Argus. He had been living in a community of artists in Philadelphia and working at Urban Outfitters. Among those who survive are his mother, Felissa Rose Gero,

NOAH L. SIMRING, a talented musician who had been on leave from Wesleyan for two years, died July 29, 2006, his 21st birthday. Described as multi-talented and highly creative by family and friends, he is survived by his parents and a sister.

BRENDAN R. O’REILLY died Sept. 5, 2005, of injuries sustained in a biking accident in Prescott, Ariz. He was 20. At Wesleyan he studied chemistry and French and was the recipient of the CRC Award for outstanding work in chemistry during his freshman year. Survivors include his parents, Brian and Gail O’Reilly, a brother, and a sister.

TERENCE B. LEARY, 19, died unexpectedly Nov. 4, 2003. He was a member of Psi Upsilon. Among his extracurricular activities, he was a pitcher for the Wesleyan baseball team. Survivors include his parents, a brother, his paternal grandparents, his maternal grandmother, and a large extended family.

LILLY J. M. NGUYEN, 29, a biology major who was in the process of applying to medical school, was killed on Nov. 21, 2010, the innocent victim of a domestic dispute between her sister and her sister’s boyfriend, both of whom died. She was working at Tufts University School of Medicine as a research technician. Among those who survive are her parents, one sister, and several nieces and nephews.

AARON K. THALER, a social services case manager and avid musician, died of a brain tumor on Apr. 24, 2011. He was 28. Despite being diagnosed with a brain tumor during his junior year abroad in South Africa, and all the treatments that followed, he managed to travel to Africa, Israel, South America, and all over America with his family and friends. Within weeks following major surgery in 2009, he hiked to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. As a case manager, he assisted clients disabled by HIV/AIDS. He is survived by his parents, his brother, his paternal grandfather, and a large extended family.