Tag: 1955

JOHN C. HOY, 79, the dean of admissions at Wesleyan in the 1960s who oversaw a radically new commitment to expanding racial, religious and economic diversity on campus, died July 9, 2013. Hoy, who also held an MALS degree from Wesleyan in 1961 and was the parent of two alumni from the classes of 2003 and 2005, was deeply involved with Wesleyan for nearly his entire adult life. As an undergraduate, he majored in history, competed on the swim team, and was a member of the Eclectic Society fraternity. He returned to his alma mater a year after graduating, as assistant director of admissions, a post he held until 1959. In 1960, he was appointed director of admissions at Lake Forest College in Illinois, and in 1962, he became dean of admissions at Swarthmore College. Hoy returned again to Wesleyan in 1964, serving as dean of admissions and freshmen, assistant to the president, and dean for special academic affairs. In the latter position, he was responsible for implementing new approaches to teacher education, international education, urban education, Upward Bound, and the development of new doctoral programs. In 1966, he traveled to several countries in Africa under the auspices of the African Scholarship Program of American Universities (ASPAU) to interview promising students, who would be given scholarships and placed in American schools. Above all, Hoy was committed to enhancing diversity on campus, and his efforts reverberated throughout the Northeast and nationally as other colleges followed Wesleyan’s lead. Writing in The Wesleyan University Alumnus in May 1965, he noted that though Wesleyan’s student body had included black students for generations, the number of minority and economically disadvantaged students applying to the school each year remained in the single digits. “We discovered that we had falsely expected these students to seek entrance to Wesleyan, although they probably had never had occasion to hear of the college and if they did would most certainly conclude they could never afford to come,” he wrote. The decision to recruit more minority and low-income students “meant we would have to visit schools never before solicited by Wesleyan representatives. It meant increased alumni awareness and participation in cities like New York, Detroit, and Chicago.”

“One of the greatest strengths of this college has always been and remains the extraordinary breadth of backgrounds represented on the campus: religious, racial, geographic, social, economic, and just plain diversity of opinion,” Hoy wrote. “Wesleyan is a stronger college for having maintained this tradition of excellence and diversity.” “Jack Hoy had a historic role in the story of modern Wesleyan,” said Steven Pfeiffer ’69, a student when Hoy oversaw admission and later chair of the Board at Wesleyan. “Jack set Wesleyan on a course of leadership in equal access and racial diversity in American higher education, from which it has not departed over the past almost half century. Under Jack’s leadership, Wesleyan was the first of the top tier colleges and universities to give African American students of talent and potential a fair shot at what private institutions of higher education like Wesleyan had to offer young Americans.” In 1969, Hoy left Wesleyan to serve as vice-chancellor of student affairs, and later as vice-chancellor of university and student affairs, at the University of California, Irvine. In 1987, he was appointed executive director of the New England Board of Higher Education, a position he held until 2001.

Hoy remained involved with Wesleyan, serving as a member of the Boston President’s Council from 1998-99, and as an Alumni Elected Trustee from 1998 to 2001.

He authored several books, including Choosing a College (1967); The Effective President (1976); and New England’s Vital Resource: The Labor Force (1982, co-authored with Melvin Bernstein).

In 1985, Wesleyan honored Hoy with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also was awarded honorary degrees from North Adams State College, Franklin Pierce College, Notre Dame College and Bryant College.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, as well as seven children, including Elizabeth Hoy ’03 and Peter Hoy ’05, and seven grandchildren.

JOHN E.P. BORDEN, who retired as vice president of operations at Gorton’s, a division of General Mills, died Apr. 16, 2013. He was 79. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree with distinction in economics. After serving in the U.S. Army intelligence service, he received an MBA from Harvard University and joined General Mills. He served both as the selectman and as town moderator of Topsfield, Mass. Predeceased by his wife, Margaret Leith Borden, he is survived by two sons, including John E.P. Borden Jr. ’80; and grandchildren, including Adele Borden ’12.

FRANK B. WILLIAMS, who retired as special assistant to the president and associate professor of education at Gettysburg (Pa.) College, died Jan. 16, 2008. He was 74. A member of Eclectic, he received an MAT from Wesleyan and a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught for several years and then joined the staff at Swarthmore College as associate dean of admissions and director of financial aid. From 1966 to 1979 he was dean of students at Gettysburg College and served in several administrative and advisory capacities there. In 1981 he was appointed to a new position as dean of student life and educational services, and from 1990 until his retirement in 1995 he was special assistant to the president as well as associate professor of education. One son predeceased him. Among those who survive are his wife, Suzanne Hermann Williams; three children, including Laurel Williams Wise ’95; five grandchildren; and his brother.

SWIATOSLAW TROFIMENKO, 75, a chemist, died Feb. 26, 2007. Born in the Western Ukraine, he came to Wesleyan on a scholarship and received his degree with honors and high distinction in chemistry. He was a member of the John Wesley Club and was elected to Sigma Xi. After receiving his PhD from Northwestern University, he completed postdoctoral studies at Columbia University and then joined the DuPont Company in 1959. While there, he discovered the polypyrazolylborate ligands, which he named Scorpionates. He published a book on this subject in 1999, and a sequel is scheduled for publication this year. The author of numerous scientific articles, and the holder of 36 patents, he retired in 1996 from DuPont and then joined the faculty of the University of Delaware as Honorary Scholar in the chemistry and biochemistry department. Survivors include his wife, Martha Babych Trofimenko; one daughter, Zoya Trofimenko ’85; and two grandchildren.

THOMAS M. TAYLOR JR., a railroad consultant and rail enthusiast, died Aug. 29, 2010, at age 78. He was a member of Sigma Chi and received a civil engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Predeceased by one son, he is survived by his wife, Glendora Boyce Taylor, two children, three grandchildren, two sisters, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Norman A. Clemens ’55.

CARL B. SWANSON, 85, who retired as a quality control representative for Pratt & Whitney, where he spent his entire career, died Dec. 25, 2011. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. There are no immediate survivors.

P. MICHAEL PHELPS, 77, a retired securities attorney, died Feb. 10, 2011. He was a member of Psi Upsilon, received his degree with high honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving a law degree from Harvard University, he practiced law privately before spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He later became a securities attorney for several divisions of American Home Products, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, and March and McLennan. The majority of his career was with Morton International. He was actively involved in the American Society of Corporate Secretaries through his career, including serving as president of the national organization. He is survived by his wife, Laura Pepe Phelps, three stepchildren, two grandchildren, and a brother.

PETER D. NIXON, a retired manufacturer’s representative, died Dec. 13, 2009. He was 76. A member of Chi Psi, he received his MBA degree from Northeastern University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was also an enthusiastic basketball player and coach. He is survived by one son; his friend and companion, Alyce Carella; his former wife; his brother, David L. Nixon ’53; and many nieces and nephews.

The Rev. RICHARD S. McCONNELL ’55, a Presbyterian pastor, died Nov. 15, 2012, at age 79. He was a member of Eclectic. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, he received his degree with high honors and with high distinction in English. He also received a bachelor’s degree in divinity from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a doctorate of theology from the University of Basel (Switzerland). He served as pastor of the Clarence (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church for 16 years. His wife, Lynette Giffen McConnell; three children, including Timothy S. McConnell ’89; four grandchildren; and three siblings survive.