Categories Obituaries, Obituaries | 1940-1949Posted on

Eugene “Gene” F. Loveland ’43, P’68

Eugene “Gene” F. Gene Loveland ’43, P’68, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 6, 2025.

Gene was born in Anderson, Indiana, in 1920. An only child, his life was emblematic of the Greatest Generation. He grew up during the Depression and came of age during World War II.  He was tested and emerged with optimism and purpose; he was committed to his family, his country, and to causes larger than himself. 

Gene was a member of the Class of 1943.  He joined Chi Psi fraternity and made a name for himself as a sprinter in 220 and 440-yard dashes.  In March of his senior year, he was called to active duty with the U.S. Naval Air Corps.  He served as a fighter pilot on board the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific Theater and earned the Distinguish Flying Cross and two air medals.

In the spring of 1946, Gene returned to Wesleyan with his bride Joan (King) to complete his final semester.  After graduating, he joined the Shell Oil Company as a sales trainee in aviation sales.  His career with Shell encompassed sixteen assignments and ten moves (including two years in London) and culminated in 1968 with a promotion to vice president.  His last assignment brought him to Houston in 1971, and it was to be his home for the last half century of his life.

Following retirement from Shell, Mr. Loveland spent eight years as president of Transworld Oil USA, Inc. The company, formerly known as T.W. Oil Inc., is a holding company for businesses providing services to the oil, gas and energy industries. Mr. Loveland joined the company as president in 1981 and served as chairman and chief executive officer from 1983 to 1989.

Gene’s volunteer and civic activities—from which it seemed he never retired—read like yet another career.  An energetic and sought-after organizer and fundraiser, he was president of the Houston Ballet Foundation for four years (chairman for one); president of the International Contemporary Music Exchange; a member of the executive committees of the United Way and the Houston International Festival; a trustee of the Houston Support Center, the British American Educational Foundation, and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston; chairman of the development committee of the Fay School; chairman of the Greater Houston Ice Skating Council; commander of the Texas Commandery of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem; Honorary Counsel General of the Republic of Malta; and vice dean of the Houston Consular Corps.  A founding member of the Wortham Theater Foundation, Gene personally raised $21 million of the $74 million secured in private funds to build and give the City of Houston a new opera house and adjoining theater for the performing arts.  The Texas chapter of the National Society for Fund Raising Executives awarded Gene its 1980 Fund Raiser of the Year Award.

Gene and Joan were married for 69 years.  They had four sons—Jeffrey ’68 (Sara), Peter (Kathy), David (Susan), and Mark (Jamie)—and a daughter, Laurie Daniel (Dan). Affectionately called Papa Gene and Gogo, they were blessed with 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Always a great storyteller, he wrote a 130-page book of “Papa Gene Stories,” with recollections of his boyhood, his service during the War, his career, and his many adventures with notable characters around the world. In the book’s forward he wrote, “Through some of the stories and experiences, I hope the reader will have a view of the 20th century and what my generation refers to as, ‘the good old days’.”  His legacy will live on in the City of Houston and across the United States through the generations of family and friends who loved him.

Categories Obituaries, Obituaries | 1940-1949Posted on

John A. Benson Jr. ’43

John A. Benson Jr. ’43 passed away on September 16, 2025. Obituaries can be found here, here, and following:

JOHN ALEXANDER BENSON Jr., MD  1921 – 2025

John Alexander Benson Jr., MD, a 1943 graduate of Wesleyan, died September 16, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. He was born July 23, 1921, in Manchester, Connecticut, and raised in a tight-knit family in Windsor, Connecticut. His parents instilled in him a lifelong love of education, which he imbued in his children and students. He often credited The Loomis School, a boys’ prep school where he was a day student, with instilling in him the joy of learning.

John had a long and distinguished career in medicine. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, he completed residency and fellowship at the Brigham and Massachusetts General Hospitals and the Mayo Clinic. In 1959 he joined the faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of Oregon Medical School (later renamed Oregon Health & Science University) as Professor of Medicine and became the first head of the Division of Gastroenterology.

John was appointed the first President of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in 1975 and President-Emeritus in 1991. His emphasis on setting standards in graduate medical education strengthened the medical profession, enhanced the humanistic qualities of physicians, improved the competency certification process through continued research, and led the establishment of gerontology as a recognized subspecialty.

Prior to the ABIM presidency, Dr. Benson served as ABIM Secretary-Treasurer and as Chair of the ABIM Subspecialty Board of Gastroenterology. Among his appointments and awards, he was President of the American Gastroenterological Association, a Master of the American College of Physicians (receiving ACP’s John Phillips Award in 2000), and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. For the latter, he co-led the 1999 report on medical marijuana, Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. In 2010 he shared the Abraham Flexner Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. He authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, invited articles and editorials.

 After ABIM, John served as Interim Dean of the OHSU School of Medicine (1991-93) and then as Dean Emeritus and Senior Scholar in the OHSU Center for Ethics in Healthcare. He was recognized with the annual Mentor Award in 2000 by the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon. In 2003, when his wife, Virginia Tilden, PhD, RN, was recruited as Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha NE, John accepted appointments in medicine as Assistant Dean and Professor in the College of Medicine, where he focused on teaching, curriculum development, health care reform, and leading the University’s 10-year reaccreditation. On return to Portland in 2011, he continued professional activities through service to academic journals, The Foundation for Medical Excellence, and OHSU’s interprofessional education initiative.

Dr. Benson will be remembered for his practice and teaching of humanism and excellence, his love of family, and the values he modeled of service and integrity. He is survived by his wife, four children, two stepchildren, and seven grandchildren.

Categories Class Notes, GraduatePosted on

GRADUATES | 2023 | FALL ISSUE

While Bob Stepno MA ’83, MALS ’88, did not get to his double reunion in June, the former Hartford Courant education editor and journalism professor did invoke his Wesleyan studies while marking the 10th anniversary of his retirement from southwestern Virginia’s Radford University.

Bob, who once studied with ethnomusicologists Mark Slobin and David McAllester, gave a public lecture/concert at Radford’s university library, titled Dr. Bob’s Four-String Obession, playing and discussing a dozen mandolin and ukulele-family instruments. He did not bring his five-string banjo but reminisced about playing it as part of his last journalism lecture in 2013.

Since retirement, he has collected 13 ribbons (one of them blue) at old-time music conventions in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, playing various instruments, and reported considerable “pandemic woodshedding” in the past three years on his first fiddle, acquired at age 70. Radford’s mayor, David Horton, attended and live streamed part of the modest event. 

For those who might remember Bob, he received his MA in anthropology and music and performed in the Clean and Sober String Band with classmates. Bob went on to write for magazines, get his PhD from the schools of journalism and information science at UNC Chapel Hill, and taught at several colleges before retiring from Radford.

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2020sPosted on

CLASS OF 2025 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

Hello, Class of 2025!

Welcome to your section of the Class Notes! If you have any updates to share, please email classnotes@wesleyan.edu. And, if any of you would like to become your Class of ’25 secretary, please reach out. It’s a commitment of twice a year and a great way to keep in touch with classmates as you launch into your lives post Wes.

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2020sPosted on

CLASS OF 2023 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

Dear Class of 2023,

I’m so delighted to share with you all the lovely notes from our peers. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since we graduated. Whether you’ve moved to a new city, started grad school, or are still figuring out what post-Wes life looks like, it’s heartening to see that there are still threads connecting us all.

Briana Rodriguez-Castillowrites from Denver, where she’s been working as a substitute teacher and speech and debate coach. This summer she’s starting a dual master’s program in public health and social work at Columbia University, while her husband begins law school at the University of San Diego. Running all the way from high school, the two married shortly after graduation in a joyful celebration that also doubled as a mini-Wes reunion. Congratulations!

A group photo with fellow Wes alums and student at Briana’s wedding reception. From left to right: Zain Punjwani ’26, Rebecca (Becca) Dowd, Tessa Ury ’22, Carlotta (Lottie) Gidal, Briana Rodriguez-Castillo, Harry Bagenstos ’22, and Akaash Kapoor ’24.
Quin’s Marshall

Quin Steinmetz is based in Chicago, taking classes part time to prepare for a biomedical visualization program at University of Illinois Chicago. In addition to being a caregiver for elderly and physically disabled patients, Quin has also recently adopted a “super cute but pesky” cat named Marshall, who always brings over his feather wand toy each night as a gift.


Justin Nguyen is soaking in the culture and charm of Baltimore. He’s been exploring the city’s diverse and walkable neighborhoods, visiting arts and historical sites, and sampling standout eats—his must-try list includes Ekiben, Charmery, and Cypriana. Reflecting on his time away from Wes, Justin writes: “I’ve grown to appreciate the moments we spend at this present stage of our life. I hope that here, and in the future, I’m working toward a better future—one that positively impacts everyone around me. Take care.”

Dr. Silkfingers Will See You Now, an original musical written and coproduced by Scarlett Long, premiered at the Summer 2025 One-Act Festival in New York City. The queer, time-bending musical follows “Charlotte,” a spiraling college student who escaped into a surreal Victorian clinic, where she was diagnosed with hysteria and treated by the enigmatic masc lesbian physician, Dr. Silkfingers. The production featured Wesleyan alums and current students in the cast and creative team, including April Schwartz ’24, Noah King ’25, Liang Liang ’26, Kiera Moran ’24, Emma Bella Bass-Lawrence ’24, and Orlando Osgood ’26. “It felt like a mini-Wes reunion every rehearsal,” Scarlett said. “The show wouldn’t have happened without this brilliant crew.”

A photo from the musical, featuring Scarlett Long and Dr. Silkfingers.

A heartfelt reflection from Andrew Carroll, on behalf of the Rock Lobster Crew, a group of 20 alums from the Class of 2023 who recently reunited at Cape Cod: “When I first got the email about sending in a class note, I wasn’t sure I’d write anything. Nothing I could think of felt like an accurate reflection of what life has really been like two years postgraduation. But then the stars aligned [after the reunion].

“What I realized—maybe not even until I got home—is that every single one of us is in a completely different stage of life. Some of us love our jobs, some of us don’t, and some have even changed careers. Some are heading to med school, others are still in school—but all of us are just figuring it out as we go. Maybe that’s the whole point.

“What mattered most that weekend was that we made the time to be together. People traveled from all over the East Coast just for a few days, and once we were all in the same place, nothing else really mattered—just the joy of being in each other’s company, some cold drinks, and games on the beach.

“Everyone’s on their own path, but we can still carve out moments to reconnect—sharing stories about the ‘good old days’ and all the great things going on in our lives today. I think that’s the beauty of life.

“I can’t speak for everyone in the photo, and I’ll probably send this around and get a few laughs—some might even tell me not to submit it. But I’m willing to bet that 20 years from now, we’ll look at the photo (and maybe this note) and remember that weekend on the Cape. We’ll remember what it felt like to be young, uncertain about the future, and surrounded by the people who knew us before we had any idea what life after college would be like.”

The Rock Lobster Crew forming a human pyramid during their reunion at Cape Cod this summer. From the top row, left to right: Leah Ewers, Daniella Milovanov, Liv Lai, Audrey Lavey; Kate Balicki, Lois Schwartz, Danielle Slazas, Grace Devanny, Erin Trotta, Gil Horst, Diana Schwartz, Caroline Simpson; Kellen Fitzgerald, Mike Dunderdale, Harry LeGoullon, Andrew Carroll, Liam Devanny, Jake Lundberg, Sam Keenan, and Andrew Pratt.

At last, from me (Arthur Chen): Over the past year, I’ve worked on farms across Australia on working holiday, met people from all over the world, and, most recently, have been pursuing my culinary interests. I’m currently based in Melbourne, working at a super hip and delicious spot called Very Good Falafel, which really does live up to the name.

Like many of you have shared, it feels strange to realize it’s been two years since we graduated. Being away from those precious college days feels surreal and distant at times, but I also see how we’re growing into ourselves. Maybe we still don’t quite know what we’re doing, but we’ve come to appreciate the richness of experiencing so many different lifestyles and learning to embrace the unknown as part of the process of self-discovery.

Reading all your updates has been deeply meaningful. It reminds me that even though we’re scattered across the world—living different lives, chasing different dreams—we’re still connected in subtle but powerful ways. That’s the Wesleyan experience. It stays with us, even after we’ve moved on. Thank you to everyone who submitted an update—keep them coming!

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2020sPosted on

CLASS OF 2022 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

The Class of 2022, as always, is making big moves and embarking on sensational adventures.

First up, we’ve got some wonderful news in the arts world from one of our class members!

This year, Esmé Maria Ng began a new position as the company management fellow at Wicked Broadway. They also brought Area D, a Palestinian pop musical, to Ars Nova for the 2025 ANT Fest, where it played to a sold-out house. You can stream the show here: https://supra.arsnovanyc.com/. They’ve also continued their playwriting practice and were selected for the Moxie Incubator this year, which culminated in a public presentation of their play, i know why iris chang died, at IRT Theater in September. Their short play, THE JADE RABBIT IS CRASHING OUT OVER EL*N M*SK, was also featured in two LGBTQ+ centered festivals—Cosmic Cherry Festival and T4T Theater Fest. Later this year, Esmé will return to Breaking the Binary Theatre Company in a new position as line producer at the fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theater Festival. You can always find out more about what Esmé’s up to by checking their website: https://www.esmemariang.com/ or their Instagram: @esmemariang.

Next up, we’ve got an exciting move coming up for a member of Wesleyan’s most phenomenal class.

After three years in New York working in mergers and acquisitions consulting for NERA, Thompson Knuth will be moving to Stockholm! He’ll be looking to continue his career in data analytics across a wide range of fields and reports already receiving some great advice from Wes alums in Sweden.

Last, but not least, we’ve got some stellar academia-related updates!

After completing three years of educational advocacy work for students in foster care at the New York Foundling nonprofit, Sela Adegbile will be pursuing her JD at the University of Michigan Law School this fall and is excited to move to Ann Arbor, where she aims to further develop her advocacy skills on behalf of young people.

Keanu Bryan will be starting graduate school this coming spring, pursuing her master’s in public health with a concentration in community health sciences.

And while William Woodhams “regrets not going to more Sunday Argus meetings,” he reports “that everything has a way of working out,” as he will be starting his second year at Berkeley Journalism School this fall.

Hyped to be y’all’s new class secretary and can’t wait to hear more updates on what everyone’s up to! A bit of info about me: I was an English and government major at Wesleyan with a REES minor, and I’m now working as a paralegal in Washington, D.C.

And while we are all extremely fortunate to be moving forward with our lives postgraduation, I’m very sorry to report the devastating news that Belle Brown died by suicide in March of this year. If you knew Belle and would like to send in a remembrance for our next class note, reach out. Also, if you or a loved one is in need of support, call or text 988. You can find more resources at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention.

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2020sPosted on

CLASS OF 2021 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

Greetings, Class of 2021!

Langston Morrison recently graduated from Fordham Law School with a concentration in international, foreign, and comparative law. Langston is also the vice president of a nonprofit called Abóbë Cultural Institute and Learning Center; is a certified human rights consultant with the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights; and is the author of a book on language learning called The Economics of Language Learning. Since graduating from law school, he has been studying for the bar exam and will go onto practicing law at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Andrei Pinkus writes, “In 2024–2025, I traveled to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, and New Zealand. I earned my PADI Divemaster certification in Koh Tao, Thailand, and made unforgettable friends and memories along the way. Now, I’m settled back into the D.C. area working in the environmental field, so reach out to me at andrei.pinkus@gmail.com if you want to connect or grab a bite!” 

Andrei taking a dive

Kaya Gayon Yang decided to move to Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, where she will be a grade four homeroom teacher at English School Mongolia. If anyone visits Mongolia, please let Kaya know! Kaya can be reached by gyang01@wesleyan.edu.

As for me, I graduated from University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in May. I will be moving to New York City to start a career in litigation. Please let me know if you are around. I am always happy to catch up with Wes alumni.   

Thank you for reading! May you stay well and enjoy the rest of 2025. 

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2020sPosted on

CLASS OF 2020 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

Saam Niami currently lives in New York and works as an arts and culture writer for publications such as The New York Times,New York Magazine, and Interview Magazine. Last year he founded Ward Gallery, a curatorial project dedicated to young New York artists, from emerging to museum represented, across all mediums.

From Luke Forsthoefel: “After five great years in Boston, I’m moving out to the Bay Area with my partner, Ava, and our cat, Aflie! I will be starting business school at Stanford GSB in September 2025 as a member of the Class of 2027, while Ava will continue her data science job in tech. We are both very excited about moving to California and this new chapter ahead. I’m always excited to connect with Wes alums, so let me know if you’re in the area!”

Emmy Hughes received her PhD in planetary geology in June from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. She’ll stay on at Georgia Tech for the next year or so, working on Mars analogue science! Congrats, Emmy!

From Huiqin Hu: “Five years after graduating, I’ve lived in New York City, San Francisco, Nairobi, [and] Bali. And I’m currently studying Taiji and Qigong in Wudang Mountain, China.”

Sawyer Tennant just graduated from Boston University with an MFA in creative writing (fiction), where he was awarded a Leslie D. Epstein Global Fellowship to write abroad in Istanbul this fall. Congrats, Sawyer!

Lars Babbott-Ward is now the proud dad to a bearded dragon named Banjo and an axolotl named Silly. Teaching elementary music, hosting open mics, and coaching high school rowing has been filling most of their days with laughter and community. “Sending love to all and show up where you can for each other.” <3

Happy five-years postgrad to all, and thank you to those who submitted updates! I am still chugging along in Chicago, enjoying all the Midwest has to offer. Roll cards and let me know if you’re ever in town!

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 2010sPosted on

CLASS OF 2019 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

Hello everyone! Here are some updates from our peers:

Nikolas Ortega is relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area (again) to pursue his MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he’ll concentrate on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and ethical technology deployment. Niko looks forward to connecting with fellow Wesleyan alumni in the Bay Area and helping strengthen our local community through events and gatherings. If you’re in the area or would like to reconnect, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Nicky Yeager is a biology department administrator at NYU and is beginning the interdisciplinary NYU Gallatin MA program to study writing, film, and American studies. They contribute journalism to the Cleveland Review of Books, the Texas Observer, and The Indypendent.

As for me, I recently started a new position as a policy analyst at the New York City Council, where I conduct policy research and analysis on issues related to housing, homelessness, and general welfare.

A huge thank you to all who contributed! And to everyone else, be on the lookout for an email from me about the next issue.