Obituaries

RICHARD H. RUSH, an author and lecturer, died May 4, 2011, at age 96. After attending Wesleyan he finished his degree at Dartmouth College, and received advanced degrees from Dartmouth and from Harvard University. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. During the Truman Administration he was chairman of the National Security Resources Board. He was a pioneer in the field of investing in art and antiques, classic cars, and collectibles, and he is often credited with coining the term “collectibles.” The author of more than a dozen books and many hundreds of articles about investment and the arts, he and his wife restored a historic Palladian villa, the Villa Cornaro, in Italy. He was also a benefactor of Edison State College in Fort Myers, Fla., where the library is named in his honor. Survivors include his wife, Julia Halloran Rush, one daughter, and a granddaughter.

Mr. Adam J. Rumoshosky, 92, husband of Marguerite P. Rumoshosky, passed away, Wednesday, May 2, 2007, in Clemson S.C.

Born in North Creek, NY, he was the son of the late Joseph F. and Agata Suchnat Rumoshosky. A veteran of WWII, he served as a Russian interpreter while a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during secret submarine missions in the Pacific, including duty on Soviet submarines. After the war, he worked as the director of marketing for the American Petroleum Institute and as the foreign news editor for Platt’s Oilgram.

Mr. Rumoshosky served on Lady Bird Johnson’s National Beautification Committee and on the board of Discover America, working with President Johnson. Locally, he volunteered his time for the Oconee County Friends of the Library, the Northside Elementary School homework program, the Port Santorini Association Newsletter, the Seneca Chamber of Commerce and the Seneca Koffee Club. He was also the founding chairman and board member of Keep Oconee Beautiful Association.

Surviving along with his wife are a son, Tim Rumoshosky ’7o of New River, Ariz.; two daughters, Jill Werner of Wichita, Kans., Beth Minasi of Washingtonville, N.Y. and three grandchildren.

DOUGLAS M. ROBINS, an administrator at the Franklin Institute, died Dec. 12, 2004. He was 89. The grandson of Joseph E. Robins of the class of 1868, the son of George D. Robins of the class of 1898, the son-in-law of Edmund W. Frain of the class of 1898, the cousin of Frank D. Robins ’34 and of J. Knox Robins ’52, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include a cousin, Douglas H. Robins ’66.

HERBERT W. OWEN, who was president and chairman of the board of the Chatfield Paper Company, died Aug. 27, 2011. He was 96. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In his early years he was known as a model airplane builder, and he pioneered the use of microfilm for model airplane wing construction. Predeceased by his wife, Alice Freyberg Owen, his sister and several nieces and nephews survive.

STEPHEN J. O’BRIEN, 90, an attorney and professor of law at Fairfield University, died June 2, 2005. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received his degree with high honors and with high distinction in economics. After receiving a law degree from Yale, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II and remaining a member of the Reserves until 1961. He is survived by Virginia Lee O’Brien, their six children, and four grandchildren.

WILLYS M. MONROE, M.D., a retired pathologist and leader in the field of blood banking, died Mar. 18, 2005. He was 89. A member of Chi Psi, he received his medical degree from Yale University. He served in the U.S. Public Health Service for 15 years and later returned to active duty several times. As chairman of the department of pathology at Richmond (Va.) Memorial Hospital, he established a blood bank, trained laboratory technicians, and taught pathology at several universities. Active in educational and community organizations, he received a Service Award from Wesleyan in 1992. Predeceased by his first wife, Janet MacLean Monroe, he is survived by his wife, Dr. Louise Wilkes Robertson, two children, two grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

JAMES S. MACGREGOR JR., the retired owner of Mar-Mac Tools in Essex, Conn., died June 3, 2011. He was 98. A devoted alumnus of the university, he was a member of Eclectic and was the brother of the late Rob Roy Macgregor ’36, who died four months earlier (see obituary in this column). He was employed for many years by the Raybestos Manhattan Company before founding his own company. He was also an avid sailor and lover of the outdoors. His wife of 72 years, Emilie Waker Macgregor, survives, as do four children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

FRANK V. MCCONKEY JR., who was the historian of the York County, Penna., agricultural fair, the oldest fair in the United States, died Jan. 11, 2003 at age 87. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was an accountant. Among those who survive is his wife, Yvonne Harriau McConkey.

CHARLES G. LINCOLN II, an actuary who was a pioneer in computer programming, died Sept. 26, 2006 at age 91. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in math. He was elected to Sigma Xi and to Phi Beta Kappa. During World War II he taught in the U.S. Navy V-12 program at Wesleyan. After his retirement from the Travelers Insurance Company, he was an active community volunteer. Among those who survive are his wife, Barbara Waite Lincoln; three sons, including Jeffrey C. Lincoln ’68; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

A. STEPHEN LASALA, 95, a real estate and construction executive, died Feb. 27, 2011. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and received his law degree from Fordham University. His wife, Helen Romagnoli LaSala, survives, as do three children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.