Tag: 1964

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

GEORGE L. SMITH JR. ’64, M.D.

GEORGE L. SMITH JR., M.D., a cardiologist, co-owner of the restaurant John Ash and Co., and one of the founders of Viking River Cruises, died Apr. 15, 2014. He was 71. A member of the Commons Club, he received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee. He served in the U.S. Army medical corps in Vietnam before completing his training with a cardiology fellowship in San Francisco. He settled in Santa Rosa, Calif., in 1975, when heart patients had to travel to San Francisco for surgery, and he worked to make heart surgery available in Santa Rosa. A founding member of Cardiology Associates in Santa Rosa and of Northern California Medical Associates, he retired from full-time clinical work two years ago but remained involved in medical administration, teaching residents and system reorganization at Sutter Hospital. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and chair of the political action committee, as well as a member of the Board of Overseers at the Hoover Institution. He was a founder of the Sonoma Country Day School. Dr. Nancy Doyle, from whom he was divorced but with whom he remained close, survives, as do his two children, two sisters, and a brother.

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

CLASS OF 1964 | 2014 | ISSUE 2

I have been working on our class 50th Reunion committee and would like to acknowledge those classmates who have spent months working on the Reunion with e-mails, conference calls, idea sessions, and many hours reflecting on how quickly the time has elapsed.

We have been led by three co-chairs, Frank Judson, Steve Oleskey, and Bill White. Frank has been awesome in leading our conference calls and you can see that as a physician in the field of infectious disease, he has learned to share his ideas and opinions particularly in being a leader in his medical community in Colorado dealing with the HIV epidemic. Success has been realized with HIV treatment and protocols, and I can see where Frank Judson has been a contributor.

Steve has complemented Frank’s leadership with his attention to detail and his attorney training to lend concise suggestions and keep the committee on course. Bill adds his organizing skill to our leaders and his commitment to seeing the Reunion achieve success serving classmates who find their way back to Wesleyan.

Others involved with the committee include Steve Baker, Clark Lambert, Edgie Russell, Bill Medd, Nick Puner, David Skaggs, and Don Ware. I was editor for the class book, which will be available at the Reunion, but I contacted Peter Sipples many months ago and he did most of the work putting things together. He lives in the Connecticut area and his availability has been invaluable in reviewing all the elements displayed in the publication.

Michael Palmer was a member of our crew but his untimely death was an unwelcome reminder of our vulnerability. I have communicated with Michael over the years and we were pointing to the 50th Reunion as a significant milestone. He will be sorely missed.

Fred Motz missed the opportunity to submit to the 50th Reunion book, because we had an incorrect e-mail address for him. He sent what he would have submitted—which we’ve excerpted below. (The full version is on the Class Notes web site: classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu). He also adds, “I was only at my Reunion for one night but I very much enjoyed walking around the campus and seeing my friends who were there.

“The past 50 years: I went directly from Wesleyan to the University of Virginia Law School from which I graduated in 1967. In 1968 I clerked for a judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. In September of that year Diana Gribbon (whom I met at UVA) and I were married, and she has put up with me ever since. We have two wonderful children and two grandchildren, who brighten our lives. After unsuccessfully trying to become a Marine, I joined a law firm in Baltimore, then became an Assistant United States Attorney, and later rejoined the same law firm. In 1981 I was appointed as the United States Attorney in Maryland, and in 1985 I was appointed as a United States District Judge by President Reagan. I have served as a District Judge since that time, and I have enjoyed every minute of the job. Longevity has provided the opportunity to be on several national committees and to try many interesting and complex cases…

“Memories of Wesleyan: Being a member of a talented and fun-loving team that put Wesleyan on the lacrosse map. Listening to Ray Charles in the Harriman Hall room I shared with Dick Colton and Gary Cook. Friendships—and attempting to develop the capacity to be alone. … Observing how old the members of the class of 1914 appeared when they led the reunion parade. Being grateful not so much for knowledge that was imparted to me but for being taught to try to ask good questions.”

TED MANOS, M.D. | ted_manos@yahoo.com

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

MICHAEL S. PALMER ’64, M.D.

MICHAEL S. PALMER, M.D., a physician and best-selling novelist who helped popularize the genre of medical thrillers, died Oct. 29, 2013. He was 71. A member of Beta Theta Pi, he received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and served in the U.S. Public Health Service. He served as a clinical instructor in medicine at Tufts University and was on the faculties of Harvard Medical School and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. At the time of his death he was an associate director emeritus of Physician Health Services. His debut book, The Sisterhood, sold millions of copies worldwide and is still in print today. He wrote 19 more New York Times best-selling novels that have been translated in 35 foreign countries. Extreme Measures, his fourth novel, was made into a movie in 1996. He was an accomplished bridge player, adventurous traveler, and a musician. Survivors include his companion, Robin Broady; three children, including Matthew A. Palmer ’88; four grandchildren; and two sisters.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

PHILLIP L. MARTH ’64

PHILLIP L. MARTH, 72, an educator who taught in public schools for 30 years, died Mar. 16, 2013. He was a member of Gamma Psi and received a master’s degree from the University of Hartford. An expert gardener and amateur hybridizer of miniature roses, daylilies and canna lilies, he was an active member and past president of the Central Florida Daylily Society and member of the Connecticut Daylily Society. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Trudy Foster Marth, one daughter, one son, a granddaughter, three brothers, and many nieces and nephews.

Categories Class Notes | 1960sPosted on

Class of 1964 | 2014 | Issue 1

The heat and humidity finally broke here in central Florida and the cool dry breeze felt good to this old Brooklynite. November also brought the undefeated Wesleyan football team facing Williams at Homecoming. The Cardinals were looking to capture their first Little Three football championship since 1970. I watched the game over the Internet and was delighted with our 16–14 triumph.

Wesleyan’s accomplishment came on the heels of the Boston Red Sox victory at the World Series, as the Sox clinched the crown at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918. I was thinking of Michael Palmer and his passion for the Sox at the end of the game. I was devastated to learn that he passed away from a stroke and heart attack on the evening of October 30th in New York City as the last out was recorded. He will truly be missed.

Russ Messing has just finished and self-published his first book of poetry, A Convergence of Unanticipated Consequences. I quote from his e-mail: “I am quite proud of and happy with it. I will soon start on my next book. Having been a ‘secret’ writer for many, many years, I finally decided to come out of my dark room and take the plunge into the light. It was a humbling and exciting experience. I love the focus, the whimsy, the challenge, the hard work, and the finished product.” It is available on Amazon.

David Skaggs reports that after leaving Congress in 1999, he worked in DC for several years on democracy-building, political reform, and civic education issues. David and wife Laura moved back to Colorado in 2006, sharing a small farm north of Niwot with a Scottish Highland cow, several chickens, and assorted vermin. The intervening years have included a stint as head of Colorado’s department of higher ed. for Gov. Ritter and, now, teaching and practicing law and co-chairing the Office of Congressional Ethics. He hopes to see a bunch from ’64 at Reunion in May.

Allen Ames has been retired for a few years and lives in Clinton, Conn. He still boats (now with a 31-foot trawler) and sings in a local church choir.

David Townsend communicated that he is happily retired in Chattanooga, Tenn., with wife Gale and their two Shelties. After having both hips replaced, his athletic activities center around swimming and bicycling. They have made several bike tours with Vermont Bicycling Tours and the last one touring the vineyards in California. They have also done the Dolomites, Hungary, and Slovakia, and Costa Rica. Last year he reestablished contact with Paul Eschholz and visited him at his home in Naples, Fla. It had been over 25 years since they last contacted each other.

TED MANOS, M.D.
ted_manos@yahoo.com

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

PRESTON E. SMITH ’64

PRESTON E. SMITH, 66, an industrial psychologist who worked in international market research for IBM for 30 years, died Sept. 23, 2009. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received both a master’s and a PhD from Columbia University. Among those who survive are his wife, Ellen Mara Smith; his children, including Matthew P. Smith ’06; and a large extended family.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

TIMOTHY W. RUEFLI ’ 64

TIMOTHY W. RUEFLI, professor of management at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and a specialist in management information systems, died June 19, 2010. He was 67. A member of Delta Tau Delta, he received his degree cum laude. After receiving his master’s and doctoral degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, he worked with the Rand Corporation for the U.S. Air Force and then joined the Texas faculty in 1968. His research and teaching included high technology strategic management, information systems, management science, and microeconomics. An award-winning professor, in the 1980s he advanced the use of an integrated computer and telecommunication system at the university, and was a leader in establishing the MBA concentration in management information systems. Among those who survive are his wife, Mary Jane Connelly Ruefli, five children, and five grandchildren.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

ROBERT HIRSCHFELD ’64

ROBERT HIRSCHFELD, an actor and writer, died Dec. 4, 2009. He was 67. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he received his degree cum laude and received a master’s degree from the University of California. Survivors include his wife, Nancy White.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

THEODORE G. HANSEN ’64

THEODORE G. HANSEN, owner of several transportation and storage companies, died Jan. 14, 2003 at age 60. He was a member of Chi Psi and received a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University. Among those who survive are his mother, June Burke Hansen, a brother, two sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

PAUL D. FLEISCHAUER ’64

PAUL D. FLEISCHAUER, who retired as principal scientist and director of the Aerospace Corporation after a 35-year career there, died Oct. 7, 2009, at age 67. He was a member of Chi Psi and received his PhD from the University of Southern California. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Awane Fleischauer, two children, and two nephews.