Obituaries

CHARLES L. STEVENS JR., who retired as an attorney for United States Steel Corporation, died Dec. 15, 2011. He was 84 and was a U.S. Navy veteran. A member of Eclectic, he received his degree with honors. After receiving his law degree from Harvard Law School, he spent most of his working life with U.S. Steel. He was married for 39 years to Nancy Jones Stevens. Among those who survive are five children, eight grandchildren, his sister, and his companion of 20 years, Connie Lambert.

ROBERT L. STEARNS, professor emeritus of physics at Vassar College and a pioneer in the field of hyper–nuclear physics, died July 13, 2009. He was 82. The son of Carl L. Stearns of the class of 1917, who taught astronomy at Wesleyan for many years, he was a member of Phi Nu Theta (Eclectic). He received his degree with honors and with distinction in physics, and was elected to Sigma Xi. He received both a master’s degree and a PhD from the Case Institute of Technology. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. In 1958 he joined the physics faculty at Vassar College and served as chairman of the physics and astronomy department, as well as dean of freshmen, before retiring as professor emeritus in 1993. He was the author of four books and numerous scientific articles. During the years 1957 to 1994, much of his research was done at Brookhaven National Laboratory; he was also a visiting scientist at CERN, the European nuclear physics laboratory, and at the Los Alamos (N.M.) National Laboratory. After 1980 his research shifted to pioneering work in the field of hyper–nuclear physics at Brookhaven, in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Among those who survive are his wife, Frances Fowler Stearns; two sons, including Marshall Edward Stearns ’82; four grandchildren; and two sisters, Doris Stearns Swain, who is married to J.B. Swain V ’54, and Elva S. Creeger MA ’53, PhD ’74, wife of Professor Emeritus of English George R. Creeger.

JOSEPH D. SHAKESPEARE JR., an insurance executive with Aetna Life and Casualty for 38 years, died July 24, 2011, at age 83. He was a member of Chi Psi and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1980 the Insurance Information Institute honored him as Insurance Man of the Year. Among those who survive are his wife, Mary Ann Shakespeare, three sons, five grandsons, a stepdaughter, two step-grandsons, and his sister.

FREDERIC C. SCHNEEBERGER III, 76, owner of Schneeberger and Associates, died Feb. 22, 2005. He was a member of Chi Psi and served in the U.S. Army. An executive in the radiography and nondestructive testing equipment business, he was also an associate professor in the engineering technology program at Parks College of St. Louis University, where he won several awards. Predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Donovan Schneeberger, and by his brothers, Alan C. Schneeberger ’53 and Jon T. Schneeberger ’61, survivors include four children, 11 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and a cousin.

Wilson A. Seibert, Jr., long-time resident of Chatham, MA and Naples, FL, died on April 20.

Wilson was the loving husband of Susan for 52 years. He was the beloved father of four children – Dena, Sara, Susan and Andrew – and four grandchildren.

Born in Brooklyn, Wilson was a World War II veteran and purple heart recipient. He graduated with honors from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in 1950, where he was a member of DKE and Skull and Serpents, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1985 in recognition of outstanding achievement and service.

Mr. Seibert led creative teams at top advertising firms. He worked for J. Walter Thompson based in NYC for 33 years, rising from copy “cub” to Executive Vice President and Worldwide Creative Director. In 1982 he moved to Arnold & Company in Boston, retiring as Vice Chairman, Creative Services.

Mr. Seibert wrote with wit and wisdom, and his slogans and campaigns helped build the brands of America’s top companies. He volunteered his advertising skills, too, winning a Distinguished Public Service Award for his work with the American Lung Association (“It’s a Matter of Life and Breath”) and the Smithsonian Institution’s Public Service Award for his work with the United States Marine Corps (“The Marine’s Are Looking for A Few Good Men”, “The Few, the Proud, the Marines” and “We Don’t Promise You a Rose Garden”).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 1856, Merrifield, VA 22116-8056.

EVERETT P. SKILLINGS, who retired as vice president and senior credit officer at Maine National Bank, died Jan. 26, 2005 at age 75. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he served in the U.S. Air Force. Among those who survive are his wife, Lois Ann Skillings, a daughter, and an extended family.

EDWARD A. SORENSEN, M.D., a psychiatrist in the Albany, N.Y., area for 40 years, died Mar. 1, 2006. He was 68. A member of Chi Psi, he received his medical degree from Albany Medical College and served in the U.S. Army. He was a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Among those who survive are his wife, Linda Bowen Sorensen, three children, five grandchildren, a brother, and two sisters.

BURTON H. SCHELLENBACH, 76, a communications and publishing consultant, died May 28, 2010. He was a U.S. Army veteran and most recently worked for the Episcopal Church. He is survived by his wife, the Rev. Dr. Susan Schaeffer, three children, one grandchild, and two brothers.

PRESTON E. SMITH, 66, an industrial psychologist who worked in international market research for IBM for 30 years, died Sept. 23, 2009. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received both a master’s and a PhD from Columbia University. Among those who survive are his wife, Ellen Mara Smith; his children, including Matthew P. Smith ’06; and a large extended family.

FRED W. SHEARER, 71, who retired as a computer scientist at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, died July 23, 2007. A member of the John Wesley Club, he served in the U.S. Air Force. His wife, Lue Haggardt Shearer, died in 1998. Survivors include three children, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a brother and sister.