Tag: 1952

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.

JOHN M. KEABLES, 81, a retired high school science teacher, died Oct. 5, 2011. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and his master’s from the University of Denver. Predeceased by his wife, Barbara Boettcher Keables, four children and nine grandchildren survive.

DAVID A. KENDALL, 79, a chemist and consultant, who retired as a director of technology and product development for Arthur D. Little, died Apr. 5, 2010. He was a member of Alpha Chi Rho. During his long career at ADL he specialized in flavor and odor chemistry, and was noted for his expertise in odor analysis of diesel exhaust. He was the subject of a 1988 Wall Street Journal profile entitled “A Flavor Analyst Should Never Ask What’s For Lunch.” His former wife, Jean Boothby Kendall, predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Nancy F. Smith; three daughters, including Sarah Kendall Bayles ’77; four grandchildren, including Eleonore Bayles ’14; a sister; and a large extended family.

BARRY C. HIBBEN, 76, a prominent conservationist in Marin County, Calif., died Feb. 16,2005, after a 10-year struggle with leukemia. A member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, he served in the U.S. Army, attending the Army Language School in Monterey and graduating as a Russian interpreter and translator. A stockbroker, he was associated with the San Francisco office of Dean Witter for 27 years. He co-founded the Southern Marin Land Trust and the Richardson’s Bay Maritime Association, serving on both as president as well as director. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Benjes Hibben, two brothers, and a sister.

H. STANLEY HART II, an author, bookseller, and real estate broker, died May 15, 2010. He was 80. A member of Psi Upsilon, he was the grandson of Francis B. Upham of the class of 1885, the nephew of Francis B. Upham Jr. of the class of 1915, and the cousin of the late Francis B. Upham III ’45 and the late Hayward Upham ’50. He served in the U.S. Air Force. A trade editor for Little, Brown & Co. for several years, he persuaded many well-known authors to publish their work with the company. He later opened The Red Cat, a bookstore in West Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard. In the late 1970s he left the business side of publishing to write his own books, many of which dealt with his own life and with life on the Vineyard, and since 1993 had been a real estate broker. Survivors include two daughters, three sons, and a nephew, Wesley A. Look ’02.

MARVIN HAGEL, a teacher and coach who was the first athletic director at Middlesex Community College when it opened in 1967, died Feb. 22, 2011, three days short of his 82nd birthday. He was a U.S. Army veteran and received a master’s degree from Trinity College. Survivors include his brother and several nieces and nephews.

JOHN M. GINN, who was associated with International Business Machines for 35 years, died Dec. 29, 2003, at age 73. A member of Eclectic, he was the son of William H. Ginn of the class of 1920. He served in U.S. Navy intelligence for three years. He also wrote for, and performed with, the Connecticut Playmakers. Among those who survive are his three children; a brother, Lt. Gen. William H. Ginn Jr. ’50 USAF, Ret.; and several nieces and nephews.