Obituaries

NORMA B. BOURDEAU, 69, who retired as a visiting lecturer at Frostburg State University, died Feb. 7, 2010. She matriculated at Wesleyan 14 years after graduating from high school in New Jersey, and after receiving her degree worked for the Travelers Insurance Company, where she was the assistant director of training. She also taught writing courses part–time. In 1994, she received a master’s degree in theology from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., and then joined the faculty at Frostburg. She also lectured on various aspects of the Underground Railroad and in 2003 led the reorganization of the Allegany Branch of the NAACP, serving as its president. Among those who survive are her husband, Ray Bourdeau, five stepchildren, her daughter–in–law, two grandchildren, and numerous cousins.

ROBERT B. BUSSEY, owner of Bridgham & Cook, Ltd., and the former headmaster of Miss Hall’s School, died Aug. 19, 2012. He was 68. A member of Psi Upsilon, he received a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. After teaching at The Pomfret School and The American School in Switzerland, he was appointed as headmaster at Miss Hall’s, the youngest boarding school headmaster in the country at that time. He left Miss Hall’s after eight years, and he and his brother opened Bridgham & Cook, Ltd., a purveyor of British goods, in Freeport, Maine. Survivors include his wife of 23 years, Anne Norment Bussey, two children from his previous marriages to Karen Back Bussey and Lisa S. Bussey, three grandchildren, three brothers and sisters, and a large extended family.

MICHAEL B. BURTON, 60, died Jan. 29, 2005, nine days after suffering a cardiac arrest. The son of the late Jackson K. Burton ’36, he was a member of Commons Club and had received a master’s degree in business administration from Iona College. A marketing executive, he was the executive vice president for finance and administration of Advantage International, a sports marketing firm, until it became Octagon in 1999, after which he continued as executive vice president of the Connecticut office. An accomplished athlete and the winner of four national platform tennis championships, he was twice ranked the number one tennis player in the New England Division of the USTA. Survivors include his wife, Linda Setapen Burton; three daughters, Betsy Burton ’90, Carly Burton ’97, and Amy Burton; two grandchildren; his mother; four brothers, including Leslie M. Burton ’72 and Steven B. Burton ’74; one sister; his uncle, Rollin B. Burton Jr. ’49, and twelve nieces and nephews, including Matthew Burton ’04.

GEORGE T. BRUBAKER, a founding partner of the law firm of Hartman, Underhill, & Brubaker, LLP, died of cancer on Aug. 1, 2006. He was 64. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and a history major as an undergraduate, he received his bachelor’s degree with honors. He attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, earning his doctorate of jurisprudence, magna cum laude. He held a federal clerkship before returning to Lancaster, Pa., where he served in the office of the District Attorney and then entered into private practice. He developed a special expertise in municipal and school law and was active in his firm until his death. He is survived by his wife, Margot Lasher Brubaker, a daughter, a son, Theodore Brubaker ’93, and two grandsons.

ROBERT C. BURNS, M.D., 75, a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice who practiced medicine in Akron, Ohio, for more than 30 years, died Mar. 17, 2011. A member of Eclectic, he received his medical degree from Albany Medical College and served in the U.S. Public Health Service. At Wesleyan he was class president and co-captain of the football team. Predeceased by a son, he is survived by his wife, Sonda D. Burns, three children, seven grandchildren, and his brother.

ROBERT S. “Bob” BURNETT, one of the original folk-singing group The Highwaymen, and an attorney and banker, died Dec. 7, 2011, at age 71. A member of EQV, he received his degree with honors. At Wesleyan, he and three of his fraternity brothers formed The Highwaymen and recorded the song “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” which was a gold-record phenomenon in 1961. After graduation he joined the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge from the Army he lived and sang with the Highwaymen in Greenwich Village at the height of the folk-singing era. He then attended Harvard Law School, receiving his degree in 1967, and joined the firm of Edwards & Angell. He later worked as a senior vice president in the trust departments of the Hospital Trust National Bank, Fleet, Bank Boston, and, more recently, Bank of America. He was an active member of both the Probate & Trust Committee of the Rhode Island Bar and the Estate Planning Council of Rhode Island. An active community volunteer, he served as the chairman of the board of Moses Brown School, was on the board of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Cancer Society, and sat on and advised numerous non-profit boards. He was also an avid sailor and athlete, in addition to continuing to sing. In 1990 the original Highwaymen began to perform together again, reviving the sounds of the 1960s, and did so for 20 years. Among those who survive are his wife, Kathleen Cullis Burnett, three children, nine grandchildren, two brothers, and a large extended family.

STEVEN B. BUTTNER, a management consultant and former dean at Wesleyan, died Aug. 1, 2012. He was 72. A member of EQV, and an active participant in the fraternity for all his years, he received a master’s in Russian Studies from the University of Wisconsin and was a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University in Eastern European and Russian Medieval History. After teaching at Queens College, he joined the administration at Wesleyan, where he was a lecturer in History and Dean of the Class of 1974. See Faculty and Administration.

HOWARD F. BOWLES JR., 68, a retired airline pilot, died June 22, 2008. A member of Kappa Nu Kappa, he served in the U.S. Air Force for six years, attaining the rank of captain. He was a Vietnam War veteran and participated in Operation Ranch Hand. After leaving the Air Force, he joined Pan American Airways. After retiring, he dedicated much of his life to volunteer work in his community. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Binsacca Bowles; his daughter, Abby Bowles ’96; and his son-in-law, Stephen Vopelak.

PHYLLIS R. BRUCE, an accomplished musician, writer, and administrator, died Nov. 8, 2010. She was 69. After receiving an associate’s degree from Mattatuck Community College, she earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in American studies from Wesleyan. As a performer and scholar, she is best known for her work with the songs of American women, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. She is the author of several short articles in the Grove Dictionary of American Music. Her master’s thesis was on the life and work of composer Carrie Jacobs Bond. For many years she worked on a biography of Mrs. Bond, left unfinished at the time of her passing. She was also well-known for her performances of the music of her husband, Wesleyan Professor of Music and American Studies Neely Bruce. She sang in major premieres of works by many American composers. The late John Cage considered her performance of his Song Books definitive. She was the associate director of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Wesleyan from 1976 to 1984, and she also worked in real estate and property management. Since 1997 she served as co-director of music at South Congregational Church in Middletown and with her husband wrote a series of three church musicals. Among those who survive are her husband, seven children, 12 grandchildren, her mother, four sisters, a brother, and a large extended family.

JOSEPH A. BOUGHTON, the purchasing manager at Lord Corporation (formerly Hughson Chemicals), died May 18, 2010. He was 76. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. He was a devotee of jazz music and produced more than 25 CDs with various musicians. Survivors include his wife, Emily Richardson Boughton, four children, and eight grandchildren.