ROBERT E. KILLHEFFER, who retired as a Yale University librarian, died Oct. 2, 2016. He was 72. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he received his degree cum laude and with honors in letters. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. After receiving master’s degrees in history and in library science, he went on to a career than spanned more than 35 years at the Yale University libraries as a catalogue librarian and team cataloguer, manager, and mentor to many. He made significant professional contributions throughout his career, supporting the organization of the Yale Library collection, participating actively in the American Library Association, and serving as a liaison between Yale’s Sterling Library and the Library of Congress. He also collected rare books and special editions. After his retirement from Yale he volunteered as a cataloguer in the Hamden, Conn., library. Survivors include his wife, Anne Blankenbaker; four children from a previous marriage; eight grandchildren; and his sister and brother.

WILLIAM A. HAUSER, an outdoorsman and musician, died Oct. 21, 2016. He was 72. A member of Eclectic, he received a master’s degree in Slavonic and Eastern European Studies from the University of London. During the Vietnam War he served in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany as a Russian interpreter. In addition to his love of the outdoors, he played the trumpet, sang, and acted in numerous community productions. A former Outward Bound instructor, he volunteered for the Forest Service and fought fires; he also volunteered for the annual loon count in Minnesota. His wife, Sharon Angel Magliulo, survives, as do a stepson, his sister, and several nieces and nephews.

WILLIAM B. GROSSMAN JR., a Methodist minister, died Oct. 22, 2016, at age 75. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received master’s and doctoral degrees in divinity from Drew University. He served as pastor of many Methodist churches in upstate New York, and returned from retirement to become interim pastor of several churches. Active in Rotary International, he was a member for 48 continuous years and was a former district governor. He also played the trombone in community bands. Survivors include his wife, Laura Allene Stewart, three children, two stepdaughters, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three siblings, and a large extended family.

CARL F. SYRIALA, a aquaculture specialist, died Nov. 12, 2016. He was 78. He was a member of Chi Psi and received an MBA from the University of Chicago. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and working at New England Merchants Bank, he returned to Cape Cod, where he was born, and founded Finn Farms in West Barnstable, digging steamers and quahogs, and raising oysters. He was also the treasurer of the West Barnstable Fire Department. Among those who survive are his brother, two nephews, and his close friend, Helen Ranta.

RICHARD H. HUDDLESTON, a former director of development at Wesleyan, and an executive in nonprofit educational institutions, died Jan. 5, 2017, at age 78. He was a member of Eclectic and received his degree with honors. An American Field Service Exchange student in Athens, Greece, he was also a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Florence, Italy, and an Italian History Research Scholar in Rome, Italy. He received master’s and PhD degrees in European history from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked at the University of North Carolina and at New College before returning to Wesleyan, where he directed annual giving and then development. Serving Wesleyan both as a volunteer and as an employee, he was secretary for his class for many years, co-class agent, and Reunion co-chair. In addition to his 22 years at Wesleyan, his professional career was solely in the nonprofit world, with service to such organizations as Winrock International, a Rockefeller international agricultural research and development foundation, as well as World Learning, and Save the Children. Survivors include his wife, Lindsey Hall Huddleston, and two children, including Michael A. Huddleston ’90.

HAROLD H. SHIVELY JR., M.D., a cardiologist, died Jan. 4, 2017, at age 79. He was the nephew of Kenneth E. Steele of the class of 1927. A member of Eclectic, he received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and served in the U.S. Army. After 10 years of active military duty, he relocated to La Jolla, Calif., where he practiced cardiology at Scripps Memorial Hospital. He continued his military career in the Army reserves for 25 years, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. A private pilot and instructor, he also enjoyed playing baseball as well as the trumpet. Survivors include his wife, Carol Steele; three children; 12 grandchildren; and a niece, Anne Hege ’98.

DAVID G. DAVIS, a retired educator, died May 6, 2016, at age 79. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he received a master’s degree from the University of Washington. Among those who survive are five children.

DAVID W. RALSTON, an attorney, entrepreneur, and orchardist, died Jan. 10, 2017. He was 81. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received his degree with distinction in government. After receiving his law degree from Columbia University he worked for the Small Business Administration and then joined a private practice of law. In 1970 he formed Ralston and Mannion. For most of his married life, he lived in Reston, Va., where he was a community leader, serving for many years on the board of the Reston Community Association, and on the board of the Fellowship Square Foundation, a Reston nonprofit that owns and manages retirement communities in the Reston area. He was also an entrepreneur and was instrumental in founding a local bank and a savings and loan association. Additionally, he was a restaurateur, a real estate developer, and finally an orchardist, with an apple and peach orchard in West Virginia. His wife, Bridget Ryan Ralston, survives, as do three sons; four grandchildren; Diana Ralston, the mother of two of his grandchildren; his brother, Peter A. Ralston ’58; and a large extended family.

JOHN L. PEAKES, an actor who co-founded the BoarsHead Theater in Lansing, Mich., died Jan. 26, 2017. He was 83. A member of Alpha Tau Omega, he served in the U.S. Navy after graduation. On leave from the Navy, he attended a few plays in New York City and realized that the theater was his prime interest. After his discharge, he attended the Boston Conservatory while teaching at Plymouth Academy, but moved to New York City, where he worked in theater. He then went to Tufts University, where he acted in and directed many productions, and received a master’s degree. After a short time at the University of Iowa, he and several friends moved to Michigan and ran two small regional theaters. In 1976 they moved to the newly built BoarsHead Theater, where he remained until his retirement in 2003. In retirement, he moved to the Philadelphia area and continued to perform there. Predeceased by one son, among those who survive are his wife, Judith Peakes; his former wife, Constance Brown Peakes; one son; two grandsons; two stepchildren; his sister; and several nieces and nephews, including Eli U. Kendall ’11.

LARRY SHAPIRO, the retired head of American Paper & Supply Company, died Sept. 5, 2016, at age 81. He was the brother of P. Peter Sheppe of the class of 1953. A member of Eclectic, he served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator in London. He headed American Paper & Supply for more than 45 years. An avid sports fan, he was also a voracious reader. He is survived by his wife, Diana Richman Shapiro, two children, and one grandson.