Obituaries

JOHN C. HOY, 79, the dean of admissions at Wesleyan in the 1960s who oversaw a radically new commitment to expanding racial, religious and economic diversity on campus, died July 9, 2013. Hoy, who also held an MALS degree from Wesleyan in 1961 and was the parent of two alumni from the classes of 2003 and 2005, was deeply involved with Wesleyan for nearly his entire adult life. As an undergraduate, he majored in history, competed on the swim team, and was a member of the Eclectic Society fraternity. He returned to his alma mater a year after graduating, as assistant director of admissions, a post he held until 1959. In 1960, he was appointed director of admissions at Lake Forest College in Illinois, and in 1962, he became dean of admissions at Swarthmore College. Hoy returned again to Wesleyan in 1964, serving as dean of admissions and freshmen, assistant to the president, and dean for special academic affairs. In the latter position, he was responsible for implementing new approaches to teacher education, international education, urban education, Upward Bound, and the development of new doctoral programs. In 1966, he traveled to several countries in Africa under the auspices of the African Scholarship Program of American Universities (ASPAU) to interview promising students, who would be given scholarships and placed in American schools. Above all, Hoy was committed to enhancing diversity on campus, and his efforts reverberated throughout the Northeast and nationally as other colleges followed Wesleyan’s lead. Writing in The Wesleyan University Alumnus in May 1965, he noted that though Wesleyan’s student body had included black students for generations, the number of minority and economically disadvantaged students applying to the school each year remained in the single digits. “We discovered that we had falsely expected these students to seek entrance to Wesleyan, although they probably had never had occasion to hear of the college and if they did would most certainly conclude they could never afford to come,” he wrote. The decision to recruit more minority and low-income students “meant we would have to visit schools never before solicited by Wesleyan representatives. It meant increased alumni awareness and participation in cities like New York, Detroit, and Chicago.”

“One of the greatest strengths of this college has always been and remains the extraordinary breadth of backgrounds represented on the campus: religious, racial, geographic, social, economic, and just plain diversity of opinion,” Hoy wrote. “Wesleyan is a stronger college for having maintained this tradition of excellence and diversity.” “Jack Hoy had a historic role in the story of modern Wesleyan,” said Steven Pfeiffer ’69, a student when Hoy oversaw admission and later chair of the Board at Wesleyan. “Jack set Wesleyan on a course of leadership in equal access and racial diversity in American higher education, from which it has not departed over the past almost half century. Under Jack’s leadership, Wesleyan was the first of the top tier colleges and universities to give African American students of talent and potential a fair shot at what private institutions of higher education like Wesleyan had to offer young Americans.” In 1969, Hoy left Wesleyan to serve as vice-chancellor of student affairs, and later as vice-chancellor of university and student affairs, at the University of California, Irvine. In 1987, he was appointed executive director of the New England Board of Higher Education, a position he held until 2001.

Hoy remained involved with Wesleyan, serving as a member of the Boston President’s Council from 1998-99, and as an Alumni Elected Trustee from 1998 to 2001.

He authored several books, including Choosing a College (1967); The Effective President (1976); and New England’s Vital Resource: The Labor Force (1982, co-authored with Melvin Bernstein).

In 1985, Wesleyan honored Hoy with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also was awarded honorary degrees from North Adams State College, Franklin Pierce College, Notre Dame College and Bryant College.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, as well as seven children, including Elizabeth Hoy ’03 and Peter Hoy ’05, and seven grandchildren.

JOHN E.P. BORDEN, who retired as vice president of operations at Gorton’s, a division of General Mills, died Apr. 16, 2013. He was 79. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with distinction in economics. After serving in the U.S. Army intelligence service, he received an MBA from Harvard University and joined General Mills. He served both as the selectman and as town moderator of Topsfield, Mass. Predeceased by his wife, Margaret Leith Borden, he is survived by two sons, including John E.P. Borden Jr. ’80; and grandchildren, including Adele Borden ’12.

BRUCE M. WHITTLES, a sales executive and video producer, died June 26, 2013, at age 80. The son of Lee J. Whittles of the class of 1919, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. Fluent in Spanish, he worked for Colt Firearms and Heublein in international sales. He also started a video production business. Among those who survive are his twin brother, Douglas P. Whittles ’54, three children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

HARRISON T. STEEGE, M.D., 79, a retired specialist in internal medicine, died Nov. 30, 2011. A member of Chi Psi, he was the son of Edgar H. Steege of the class of 1930. He received his medical degree from Temple University, served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, and then practiced medicine in Paoli, Penna., for 33 years. He was an avid participant in choruses, as well as a birder and a sailor. Predeceased by his first wife, Delite Fox Steege, survivors include his wife, Christine Dittmer Oates Steege; four children; two stepchildren; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; his brother; and a cousin, the Honorable Peter O. Steege ’55.

EDWIN R. KEYES, a former U.S. Marine Corps pilot and insurance executive, died June 17, 2012, at age 80. He was a member of Sigma Chi. While in the Marines, he served for 12 years as a fighter jet and helicopter pilot. After retiring from the Marines he received his CLU designation and worked with John Hancock Life Insurance, both in North Carolina and in California. When he retired from John Hancock he opened a sporting goods store, which he ran until 1991. His wife, Elizabeth Henderson Keyes, predeceased him. Among those who survive are five children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

JOHN W. GOULD, 83, a retired real estate banker, died Mar. 10, 2013. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and served in the military, after which he began a long career in banking. In 2000, he moved to Essex, Conn., where he was involved with the community. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Betham Gould; his son; two daughters; a granddaughter; his sister; his brother-in-law, George A. Lewis ’53; and several nieces and nephews, including Peter W. Lewis ’78.

JOHN C. WILLIAMS, an attorney who specialized in trusts and estates, died Nov. 30, 2012. He was 82. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received his degree with honors. After receiving his law degree from Yale University, he joined the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin, from which he retired as partner. He served many years on the Village Board of Northbrook, Ill., including a four-year term as president. Predeceased by his first wife, Helen Gilbert Williams, his wife, the Honorable Virginia Blankenbaker survives, as do his three daughters, five stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a large extended family.

WILLIAM I. SCHAPIRO, 82, a retired attorney, died Mar. 1, 2013. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received his degree with high honors and with distinction in government. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and received his law degree from Harvard University. His wife, Susan R. Schapiro, and a son predeceased him. Survivors include three children, five grandchildren, his brother, and a niece, Amy Schapiro ’85.

JOHN A. ROBINSON, the retired president of the eastern division of the Longview Fibre Box Company, died June 11, 2013. He was 88 and was the brother of the late William C. Robinson of the class of 1944. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he was elected to Wesleyan’s Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the only undefeated and untied football team. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and was part of the V-12 program. After receiving his degree from Wesleyan, he attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard University Business School. He started with Longview as a factory worker and rose through sales to management. An avid athlete and volunteer tennis coach, his retirement project was the establishment of Flyway Farm, raising and racing harness horses. His wife, Dorothy Spencer Robinson, survives, as do six children; 17 grandchildren, including Anna N. Watson ’00; three great-grandchildren; his sister; and many nieces and nephews.

WILLIAM G. COMISKEY, an attorney and former Connecticut State Representative, died Dec. 26, 2011. He was 86. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, after receiving his degree with honors and with distinction in psychology, he received his law degree from the University of Connecticut. In addition to practicing law for 39 years, he served as corporation counsel for the city of Meriden, Conn. Among those who survive are his stepson and grandson.