WILLIAM J. HAYLES, 81, a professor of chemistry at the Rochester Institute of Technology for 32 years and later a scientist at Bell Labs, died July 6, 2008. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he was a member of Sigma Chi and received his degree with honors. In 1959 he received a doctorate from Iowa State University. He is survived by four children, four grandchildren, and one great–grandchild.
WILLIAM H. GINN JR., a U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General who retired and became an international business consultant, died June 1, 2010, at age 81. A member of Eclectic, he received his bachelor’s from Florida State University and an MBA from Harvard. He was the son of William H. Ginn of the class of 1920 and the brother of the late John M. Ginn ’52. During his long career in the Air Force, he commanded U.S. forces in Turkey and Japan, and received numerous decorations and honors. His wife, Anita Besore Ginn, survives, as do three children and five grandchildren.
NEWELL W. GILES JR., who was an internationally-recognized artist, died Dec. 22, 2004. He was 76. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he was a U.S. Army veteran. After working as an art director at several advertising agencies, he devoted his time to painting and teaching. He was best known for his oil and watercolor paintings of Greenwich, Conn., and of World War II aircraft scenes. His award-winning paintings are in many private and corporate collections. Survivors include his wife, Joan Seversen Giles, two sons, three grandchildren, and one brother.
HAROLD R. FRAY JR., 84, a retired minister, died Feb. 11, 2009. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he entered Wesleyan on the G.I. Bill of Rights and received his degree with honors and with distinction in history. He was a member of Chi Psi and received his master’s in divinity from Union Theological Seminary. His experiences liberating the Buchenwald concentration camp impelled him to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement and to participate in the protests against the Vietnam War. The author of three books, he also represented the United Church of Christ at the United Nations in New York City. After retiring in 1985, he started Adventure Tours, taking seniors on trips in the U.S. and abroad, and he continued his involvement with humanitarian groups. His first wife, Harriet Ann Steinmetz Fray, with whom he had six children, died in 1973, and he married Martha Belle Wheeler Grey Fray, the mother of two children, who survives. In addition to his wife and eight children, survivors include 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Harold (Hal) Raymond Fray, Jr., died Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at home in Green Valley, Ariz., under Hospice care with family around him. He was born February 6, 1925. After serving in World War II, he entered Wesleyan on the GI Bill of rights, majoring in history. Before graduating in 1950, he was married to Harriet Ann Steinmetz and their first child was born. Harold went on to Union Seminary in New York City. After he was ordained in the Congregational Church in Milford, Conn., he served churches in Utica, N.Y., Newton, Mass., and Seattle, Wash. He and Harriet had six children. After she died in 1973, he married Martha Belle Fray, who had two children. When Harold retired, he formed his own tour company called Adventure Tours and led trips throughout the U.S. and 43 foreign countries. He served as interim minister in Casper, Wyo., and Brookline, Mass. When he and Martha Belle moved to Green Valley, Ariz., in 1998, he became the New Member Development Minister for The Good Shepherd U.C.C., and promoted the sale of Just Coffee, a fair trade Mexican coffee farmers co-op. Before he died, he had his third book publishes, Sex Under the Steeple. The couple attended his 50th Class Reunion at Wesleyan. He remained a strong supporter of Wesleyan, believing he had received a first-rate liberal arts education. Harold told many people that he had 84 wonderful years and he was looking forward to his next ”Surprise“ journey! He has had a memorial service at Good Shepherd U.C.C. and another one will be in Seattle, Wash., in May or June. His blended family includes his wife, Martha Belle, of 35 years, eight children, thirteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
LEE (LIBERATO) CASSELLA ’50, D.D.S, a specialist in oral surgery, died Mar. 11, 2013. He was 88. A member of Sigma Chi, he received his degree with honors and received his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After 13 years of practicing general dentistry, he returned to the University of Pennsylvania and received postgraduate training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He practiced oral surgery in Hamden, Conn, until his retirement in 1987.
He was a member and officer of numerous professional boards, and was a Fellow of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. His first wife, Rita Rose Ives Cassella, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Joan Jansen Cassella; four children; five stepchildren; five grandchildren, including Luci Lee Cassella ’11; and 13 step-grandchildren.
EDWIN P. BROWN, a retired advertising executive, died Sept. 6, 2006. He was 77. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he served in the US Army during the Korean War. Among those who survive are his wife of many years, Alice Brown Elgin, three children, two grandsons, and a brother.
REGINALD P. BRIGGS, a geologist and author, died Apr. 29, 2009. He was 80. A member of the John Wesley Club, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. A founder of the Geological Society of Puerto Rico, where he had worked for a number of years, he was active in professional organizations. Among those who survive are his wife, Rita Ferris Briggs, three children, and several grandchildren.
CHARLES E. BILLINGS, an internationally recognized expert in aviation medicine and human factors engineering, died Aug. 30, 2010. He was 81. He was a member of the John Wesley Club and received his medical degree from New York University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, where he attended the School of Aviation Medicine, he studied aviation and occupational medicine at Ohio State University, from which he received a master’s degree. He taught at OSU for 15 years and then joined NASA, retiring as a Fellow and Chief Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center. He returned to OSU as Emeritus Professor and until the time of his death worked in cognitive systems engineering and human factors research. His wife, Lillian Wilson Billings, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his daughter, two grandsons, two great-grandsons, and his brother.
RALPH M. BEMIS, a retired insurance broker, died Dec. 19, 2007. He was 82. A member of Chi Psi, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He was active in community organizations. His wife, Jane Savard Bemis, predeceased him. Among those who survive are four children, eight grandchildren, and his brother.
JOHN R. BELLOBUONO, M.D., 79, a retired physician, died May 10, 2008. A member of Eclectic, he received his medical degree from the University of Liège (Belgium) Medical School. After practicing medicine in Middletown, Conn., he moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., where he continued his private practice and also worked at the Fort Huachuca Army Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Annette Chapelier Bellobuono, two children, four grandchildren, and his sister.
