Tag: 1952

WILLIAM D. ROWE, formerly president of Rowe Research & Engineering Associates, died May 16, 2012. He was 82. A member of Sigma Chi, he received an M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from the University of Buffalo, and a Ph.D. in business administration from American University. He also received a diploma in theological studies from Virginia Theological Seminary. A self-employed consultant, he taught risk analysis at American University, worked at MITRE Corporation and Westinghouse, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Radiation Programs at the EPA. He was an accomplished musician and the author of books and articles on energy risk management. He is survived by four children, including Dr. William D. Rowe Jr. ’80; six grandchildren; his brother; his daughter-in-law, Teresa A. Kosciuk-Rowe ’81, M.D; and his stepdaughter, Alexandra S. Terninko ’92.

OLIVER L. ROBINSON, retired vice president of the Community National Bank in Michigan, died Jan. 13, 2006. He was 77. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he received his degree with honors and with distinction in economics, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a master’s from Yale and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Survivors include his wife, Joan White Robinson, eight children, 14 grandchildren; and his mother-in-law.

J. KNOX ROBINS, 74, a retired executive in the travel and tourism industry, died Sept. 30, 2004. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and served in the U.S. Air Force. The great-grandson of Joseph E. Robins of the class of 1868, the grand-nephew of George D. Robins of the class of 1898, the nephew of Frank D. Robins of the class of 1934, and the cousin of the late Douglas M. Robins ’37, survivors include his wife, Mary Sheldon Robins, two children, and a cousin, Douglas H. Robins ’66.

ROBERT RANDLES, M.D., 76, an internist and cardiologist, died Dec. 4, 2006. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received a medical degree from Albany Medical College. A U.S. Navy veteran, he practiced medicine and was a medical administrator in the Albany, N.Y., area for 38 years. Among those who survive are his wife, Jeanne Fausel Randles; five children, including Mark S. Randles ’84; and 10 grandchildren.

DAVID L. MOORE, who retired after a 37-year career with Moog, Inc., died Dec. 31, 2011. He was 81. He was a member of Eclectic and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. The son of Raymond L. Moore of the class of 1912 and the nephew of Alfred D. Moore of the class of 1910, he was also the brother of the late John N. Moore of the class of ’41. Among those who survive are his wife, Anne Ingalls Moore, three children, six grandchildren, and his sister.

CLYDE D. MCKEE JR., a professor of political science at Trinity College for 44 years, died May 24, 2011. He was 81. A member of Beta Theta Pi, and a stepson of William E. Bray of the class of 1919, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He received an MAT from Wesleyan, and a master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. An authority on local government in America, he published numerous articles and contributed to various publications. For more than 30 years he served on the faculty of the New England Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy. He was also involved in various civic and political activities in Old Saybrook, Conn. Among those who survive are his wife, Mary Gwudz McKee, six children, 11 grandchildren, two siblings, and a niece, Kathryn Flynn ’77.

ROBERT R. MAYNARD, 83, an attorney who served the Bristol, Conn., community both civically and politically, and a retired judge of probate, died Dec. 23, 2008. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his law degree from the University of Virginia. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, where he received numerous awards for personal and professional distinction in the French theater of operations. He was appointed as honorary diplomatic consul for the French Government from 1989 to 1995. Among those who survive are his wife, Margaret Dwyer Maynard, four children, eight grandchildren, and six nephews.

His eldest son, Chris Maynard, sends this remembrance:

“Dad, known as ‘Duke’ from his war years, was one of the old guys at Delta Tau Delta. He and his roommate Hank McDonald shared some fun years together. Dad could have gone to another equally great school. But after the war he chose to come back to where his roots are here in Connecticut, and to Wesleyan.

“Dad always spoke very fondly of his time at Wesleyan?where he happened to meet Mom on a pre-arranged blind date when she came up one weekend from St. Raphael?s School of Nursing in New Haven. And many years later during the summer of 2007 they celebrated 55 years of happy marriage together.

“In between Dad created a great life dedicated to Mom and us four kids whom he loved very much, and to his career as a practicing lawyer and Probate Judge in Bristol. During those years he was very committed to his community of Bristol, civically, spiritually, and politically. He served as City of Bristol: Corporation Counsel, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, Chairman of the Board; Bristol Hospital, Chairman of the Board; Tunxis Community College, and as Trustee of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church where after years of service he was made a Papal Knight of Saint Gregory the Great in November 1972. There are many other volunteer roles too numerous to mention here.

“For many men, at age 65, retirement might have been a logical choice. Not for Dad. Dad was proud of his French heritage, and from 1989–1995 Dad was appointed an Agence Consulaire for the Government of France here in Connecticut. After his years as Agence Consulaire, his years of service to French foreign nationals living in Connecticut, and having spilled his blood just days after D-Day into the soil of France, by decree of the President of France, Jacques Chirac, Dad was made a Knight of the French National Order of Merit in April 1997.

“Most recently, in September 2008, to bring ?full circle? to his life he was given a Public Service Award by the State of Connecticut in honor of his patriotism and sacrifice to this country for his years of service during World War II when he was wounded and awarded many medals for bravery including the Purple Heart.

“What a life. Dad could have lived his life and practiced law anywhere. But he came back to the State of Connecticut, his home, to build the foundation of his new life? at Wesleyan. And he lived long enough to see his beloved Red Sox win the World Series not once, but twice.

“In closing, you should know that though he accomplished all the things I listed in this note, and more, his greatness as a man really came through in his love, kindness, generosity and gentleness that he shared with all of us? his family, his close friends, and the many other people whose lives he touched. Not only will we miss him, but Wesleyan too is losing a truly noble son of its own university family as well. ”

ROBERT LESCHER ’52, an editor and literary agent who founded Lescher & Lescher Ltd, died Nov. 28, 2012, at age 83. He was a member of Sigma Chi and began his career with Henry Holt & Company, where he became editor-in-chief before he was 25. At Holt, he worked with a wide array of distinguished 20th-century authors.

He began his own agency in 1965 and was known for his aesthetic insight and painstaking attentiveness to writers. Robert Frost, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Alice B. Toklas, Calvin Trillin, Frances FitzGerald, Benjamin Spock, Paula Fox, Madeleine L’Engle, Andrew Wyeth, and Georgia O’Keeffe were among his clients. In working with Alice B. Toklas on her memoir, he developed an interest in food and wine that led to his representing such writers as Robert M. Parker, Marcella Hazan, and M.F.K. Fisher. Survivors include his wife, Susan Corridan, three daughters, a granddaughter, and two sisters.

ROBERT B. PORTER, 72, died Feb. 23, 2002. A member of Eclectic and the brother of the late Alexander B. Porter ’49, he attended Dartmouth College and Wesleyan before receiving a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. He also attended the University of Virginia Law School. He is survived by two children, four grandchildren, a sister, and his former wife, Monica Ballard Porter.

FRANK A. KENDALL, who retired as the co-owner of Roos-Frick, Inc., a construction company in Minneapolis, died June 26, 2006 at age 76. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with honors. After serving in the Korean War, he received a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University. Predeceased by his wife, Martha McIlhany Kendall, among those who survive are his close friend, Ethel Lewis; three children; eight grandchildren; two sisters; a brother-in-law, William H. Wubbenhorst Jr. ’50; and a nephew, Jeffrey K. Wubbenhorst ’78.