Mark Smuckler, a PhD student in organic chemistry at UCLA, died April 30, 2008. He was 38. A chemistry major at Wesleyan, he worked for DuPont in Boston before returning to his studies in 1994. He lived in Los Angeles for 12 years, where he was able to indulge his passions for music and film. Survivors include his parents and sister, Abby Smuckler ’89.
RICHARD B. DREYFUS, 46, an attorney and international counsel with the Apache Corp., died Mar. 12, 2005 of colon and liver cancer. A student in the College of Letters, he received his degree cum laude. He received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and worked in varied aspects of the oil and gas industry. He was also a tireless supporter of Wesleyan in his community and on his travels. Survivors include his wife, Helen Bagot Dreyfus, two sons, his parents, and a brother
DUNCAN H. FRASER, an author and newspaper publisher who also owned an advertising agency, died Feb. 17, 2008, at age 82. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He had a lifelong interest in printing, publishing, and the communication arts, beginning at age 12 when he printed and published his own newspaper. In southeastern Connecticut and in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, he was known for his editorials and newspaper public service campaigns, which won several awards. He was also the author of a weekly humor column. Predeceased by his first wife, Elaine Hansen Fraser, he is survived by his wife, Eleanor Turnbull Fraser, a daughter, two grandchildren, and a brother.
RICHARD A. FOXALL, 86, who retired as a teacher in the Wethersfield, Conn., schools, died Nov. 20, 2009. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and later received a master’s from the University of Hartford. Among those who survive are his wife, Jane Tangarone Foxall; three children, including Michael R. Foxall ’77; and six grandchildren.
HARRY F. FORBES, a retired business executive, died Sept. 20, 2008. He was 83. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he was the brother of the late Duncan P. Forbes Jr. ’48 and of the late Daniel L. Taylor ’51. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. He was associated with the Gunite Foundry, founded in 1854 by his great–great–great–grandfather, for many years before moving to Michigan to join his son in business. An avid golfer, he held the low amateur course record of 63 at the Rockford Country Club, and more recently, he wrote a novel about his World War II experiences in the South Pacific. His wife, Audrey Harrison Forbes, predeceased him. Among those who survive are three sons, including Gregory H. Forbes ’71; several grandchildren; a brother, George R. Forbes ’49; and a nephew, George R. Forbes Jr. ’71.
CHARLES G. DIBBLE, a retired attorney, died Sept. 9, 2005, at age 80. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he was the son of Lavern C. Dibble ’21 and the brother of the late Vernon K. Dibble ’54. He received his degree with honors and received his law degree from Harvard. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. His law career included labor and management negotiating, and he served in numerous community capacities, including as mayor of Carpinteria, Calif. Survivors include his wife, Carol Meeker Dibble, five children, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, several siblings, and a nephew, Timothy Dibble ’86.
JOHN D. COWAN, 86, who retired as an assistant vice president of Aetna Life and Casualty, died July 13, 2010. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he received his degree with honors. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army Air Forces in Asia. Survivors include his wife, Elinor Chapin Cowan, three children, and eight grandchildren.
EDWARD J. COSGROVE, a public relations and personnel executive with the Southern New England Telephone Company for 33 years, died Sept. 2, 2006. He was 82. He was a member of Eclectic and received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was elected to three terms as a town selectman in Guilford, Conn., and served on community and political boards. Among those who survive are his wife, Constance Landry Cosgrove; five sons, including Sean E. Cosgrove ’79 and his wife, Georgia M. Cosgrove ’78; a daughter; seven grandchildren; and a brother and sister.
ARNOLD W. CAWLEY, 81, a retired teacher and a business owner, died Oct. 16, 2006. The son of Frank B. Cawley ’14, he was a member of Psi Upsilon and graduated with honors. He served in the US Army during World War II. He earned his MAT from Harvard and, in 1959, an MA from Wesleyan and taught high school English, primarily in the Middletown and West Hartford districts, until his retirement in 1979. Additionally, he and his wife had owned and operated the Cawley Christmas Tree Farm for many years. His survivors include his wife, Sarah Leland Cawley, four sons, a daughter, 13 grandchildren, his stepmother and his brother-in-law of Roger B. Leland ’51.
ROLLIN B. “Jim” BURTON JR., a retired salesman with Archer Daniels Midland/Union Bag & Paper Company, died May 7, 2012. He was 90. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he was the brother-in-law of Jackson K. Burton of the class of 1936. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. An outstanding athlete and a member of Wesleyan’s Athletics Hall of Fame, in 1948 he was the 69th player picked in the NFL draft. Survivors include his wife, Joanne “Fifi” Burton; five children; six grandchildren; and a large extended family, including cousins Lex Burton ’73 and Steven Burton ’74.
