Their Light Lives On

Margaret Stenstrom Richards ’45

A Minnesota Museum of Art employee with a background in and passion for architecture and Asian art history, Margaret died May 4, 2019.

Peggy studied and spoke French and Swedish, and was an accomplished ballet dancer and an excellent cook. A nature lover, Peggy enjoyed gardening, cross country skiing, and boating with her beloved golden retrievers on Lake Superior.

Helen Hollingsworth Hartman ’46

Helen, a homemaker and loving mother of five, died June 22, 2019.

An English literature major at Swarthmore, Helen was raised in Clifton, N.J., and spent summers in Seaside Park on the Jersey Shore. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, and caring for her family, and in later years loved to read and play games on her iPad.

Jane Topping Hoar ’47

Jane, an herbarium curator, mother of four, and widow of Verne Hoar Jr. ’46, died Jan. 3, 2019.

A varsity badminton player and former class secretary, Jane was “that rare combination of executive efficiency and smooth femininity,” friends wrote in the 1947 Halcyon, for which Jane also served as editor.

Marie Failla Campbell ’48

A psychology major at Swarthmore, Marie died Nov. 22, 2015.

“Understanding and considerate, she gets along with anyone and everyone,” friends wrote in the 1948 Halcyon. “A fascinated spectator of life in general.”

Morton Gollub ’49

Morton, a physician and loving father of two, died March 30, 2014.

A biology major at Swarthmore, Morton received an M.D. at Chicago Medical School, focusing on internal medicine.

Elizabeth Disney Baker ’49

An avid traveler who loved architecture, interior design, and art, Elizabeth died July 6, 2019.

Beth received a master’s in English literature from the University of Oklahoma and taught classes while raising her six children. With husband Donald, she took her entire family on trips to Finland, England, and Ireland, and on road trips across America and Europe in their beloved Volkswagen vans.

Richard Curtin ’50

Richard, a surgeon and lung association volunteer, died June 19, 2019.

An Army veteran of World War II, Dick attended Swarthmore and Harvard Medical School with help of the GI Bill, eventually serving as chief of surgery at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire. A 10-year representative to the national board of the American Lung Association, Dick also served a term as president of the New Hampshire Lung Association, and in 1986 received the Robert B. Kerr Award, the state organization’s highest honor.

Priscilla Peirce deVeer ’50

Priscilla, a devoted Quaker with a passion for gardening and the environment, died May 17, 2019.

A flower show judge for the state of New York, Priscilla served on the Environmental Education committee of the New York State Garden Club, and was instrumental in persuading the New York State Thruway to plant vast expanses of perennial wildflowers. She was also an editor of Stewards of the Land: A Survey of Landscape Architecture and Design in America and served as board chair of Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland.

Millard Beatty Jr. ’50

A World War II veteran and father of two, Millard died Dec. 1, 2018.

Millard served in the Army’s 623rd Quartermaster Railhead Company, stationed in the Philippines and Japan, and received two Bronze Stars for his service.

Louis Howard ’50

An applied mathematician and professor emeritus at MIT and Florida State, Louis died June 28, 2015.

Louis made fundamental contributions to a broad range of subjects, including hydrodynamic stability and geophysical flows. A generous collaborator and mentor, Louis published widely with colleagues, postdocs, and students, and he continued his research long after retirement, with his final paper appearing posthumously in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

James Hayes ’50

James, a paper industry executive and an independent bookstore owner, died July 24, 2019.

A World War II Navy veteran, Jim attended Swarthmore on the GI Bill, working part time at Scott Paper. He later rose to become president of Parsons & Whittemore, where he had a hand in building paper mills and recycling plants in the U.S. and abroad. Upon retirement, he and wife Libby bought a small bookstore on Sanibel Island, Fla., which they ran with help from their daughter and son-in-law.

William Saul Jr. ’51

A geography teacher who became a middle school guidance counselor, William died July 2, 2019.

Bill served in the Army Air Forces in World War II before entering Swarthmore and meeting his future wife, Jacqueline Smythe Saul ’51. He enjoyed gardening, bridge, golf, history books, and bowling, and was forever loyal to the Philadelphia Phillies, Buffalo Bills, and Buffalo Sabres.

David Wesson ’51

David, an economics major who met wife Anita Dabrohua Wesson ’51 during his first week at Swarthmore, died June 3, 2019.

A Navy veteran of the Korean War, Dave worked for 34 years at Western Electric, then volunteered with Crisis Control Ministry in retirement. A multitalented musician, Dave was a longstanding member of his church choir, played French horn in the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Symphony Orchestra in the late 1950s and early 1960s, served as keyboardist in a jazz band, and accompanied family sing-alongs with his Italian accordion.

Paul Gaston ’52

Paul, a civil rights activist and noted historian of the American South, died June 14, 2019.

A history professor emeritus, Paul joined the University of Virginia in 1957 and taught generations of students for 40 years. He was instrumental in the forming of the Carter G. Woodson Institute of African-American and African Studies, in bringing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to speak at the university in 1963, and in the desegregation of Charlottesville and UVa during the civil rights movement. For his efforts, Paul was recognized with the City of Charlottesville’s Bridge Builders Award in 2005 and the Charlottesville-Albemarle NAACP’s Legendary Civil Rights Activist Award in 2008, among other honors.

Barbara Jackson Hazard ’53

An artist whose brilliantly colorful paintings, quilts, and needlepoint had been shown in the U.S. and Russia, Barbara died July 28, 2019.

Barbara traveled to Russia in the 1980s as an anti-nuclear activist and befriended many unofficial artists in St. Petersburg, learning the Russian language. She published books of her poetry and drawings, as well as a memoir of her association with the Russian artists during Glasnost.

Russell Snyder ’54

A pioneering pediatric neurologist known for his wise and witty “Snyderisms,” Russell died May 22, 2019.

Russ joined the University of New Mexico Medical School in 1967 as the first pediatric neurologist in the state. He was an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for 36 years, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Child Neurology Society in 2010 for his contributions to research, ethics, and medical textbooks and for his constructive leadership.

“He was patient and perceptive and always ready to do the right thing,” loved ones wrote in a tribute. “He showed unfailing fairness, insight, kindness, and common sense in both his work and family life.”

Frances Leland ’54

A chemistry professor emerita, Frances died July 3, 2019.

Frances received a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and later taught at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill.

William Bosbyshell ’55

An ordained priest who dedicated his life to the Episcopal Church, William died May 10, 2019.

Bill graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 1958 and received a Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1970. A member of Clearwater (Fla.) Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Bill enjoyed playing bridge, sailing, and vacationing in the mountains of North Carolina.

Susan Lepper ’55

A noted economist, Susan died May 14, 2019.

Susan received an economics Ph.D. from Yale and served in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Economic Policy.

Carol Getz Tucker ’56

An educator who founded a school that helps students overcome learning obstacles, Carol died June 20, 2019.

Carol received a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr and worked as a high school teacher and private tutor, including for artist Jamie Wyeth. In 1972, inspired by her talent for helping children learn, Carol started The Concept School in Westtown, Pa., where she devoted the rest of her life as a teacher, school director, and board member.

Sara Coxe Levi ’57

Sara, a lawyer who, at the time, was one of the few female attorneys to appear in court in rural upstate New York, died July 22, 2019.

A psychology major at Swarthmore, Sara continued her education at the University of Kansas and later earned a J.D. from Syracuse. She worked with the private firm Foley & Frye and the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York before opening her own estate law practice.

Louis Rowley ’57

A beloved Methodist pastor and active community volunteer, Louis died May 19, 2019.

After Swarthmore, “Reverend Lou” attended Drew University Theological School, then led churches in Astoria and Mount Vernon, N.Y. A firm believer in community involvement, Lou worked with the Martin de Porres Center, Rotary Club, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, and many other organizations.

“Reverend Lou was the quintessential pastor,” his loved ones wrote, “a great communicator and preacher, supportive leader, empathetic counselor and friend to his flock.”

Richard Kersey ’58

Richard, a professional in the petrochemical and water treatment industries who loved to travel the world, died July 12, 2019.

Dick studied chemistry at Swarthmore before enlisting in the Army, where he served as a sergeant with an explosive ordnance disposal unit. Prior to his 2010 retirement, Dick owned Orenda Technologies, producing and selling treatment products to the pool industry, and served two terms on the Water Commission in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Paul Corddry ’58

A successful businessman and former member of Swarthmore’s Board of Managers, Paul died July 1, 2019.

Paul received an MBA from the University of Chicago and served as president of Ore-Ida Foods from 1977 to 1986 and then as senior vice president of the H.J. Heinz Co. in Europe until his retirement in 1992. An avid art collector, he and wife Charlotte enjoyed finding unique pieces, attending auctions, working with galleries, and meeting artists, and in 2016, they donated a significant portion of their collection to the Baker Museum at Artis-Naples in Florida.

Mary Stuart Gaskill ’61

A psychology major who ultimately graduated from George Washington University, Mary died May 25, 2019.

Mary was born to two veteran war correspondents and schooled in England and Switzerland. She was passionate about green politics and social justice, and found friendship, guidance, and inspiration throughout her life through members of her community garden.

Stephen Livernash ’63

Stephen, a longtime projectionist at the Harvard Film Archive and the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, died May 14, 2019.

Steve received a master’s in cinema studies from New York University, then sought a position with the Boston projectionists union; his career took him to nearly every movie theater in the Boston area. In retirement, Steve enjoyed vacationing at his family’s cottage in Maine and attending concerts presented by the Boston Early Music Festival.

“Steve was blessed with a prodigious memory, wide-ranging interests, a generous heart, and a salty personality,” loved ones wrote. “Though fiercely independent and inclined toward solitude, he rarely declined a dinner or party invite.”

Richard Kittredge ’63

Richard, a pioneer in the computer-assisted translation of language, died April 1, 2019.

Dick loved his time at Swarthmore, developing lifelong friendships and playing on the lacrosse team, serving as co-captain senior year. He later earned a Ph.D. from Penn and became a linguistics professor at the University of Montreal. In 1989, Dick co-founded CoGenTex, one of the first research and development startups for computer-generated language. His many hobbies included genealogy, ingenious home repairs, nature conservancy, traveling, bird-watching, and music. Those who knew him will greatly miss his intelligence, his kindness, his deep affection, and his love of life.

Joy Kolehmainen Reynolds ’66

Joy, who spent 30 years as an industrial relations specialist with the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Management Relations, died June 16, 2019.

A political science major at Swarthmore, Joy made such an impression that the department chair recommended her for a Labor position previously held by a lawyer. Fluent in Finnish, the language of her grandparents, Joy was also a talented cook and jewelry maker, a passionate letter-to-the-editor writer, and a voracious reader.

“Joy’s name reflected her outlook on life,” loved ones wrote. “She found joy in the simple things, in her generosity toward others with time, interest and gifts, and in truly making the effort to genuinely know people.”

Frank Ackerman ’67

An environmentalist, prolific writer, and critic of mainstream economic theory, Frank died July 15, 2019.

Frank earned an economics Ph.D. from Harvard University and co-founded Dollars & Sense, a progressive economics magazine, early in his career. Through his work with the Tellus Institute, the Global Development and Environment Institute, Stockholm Environment Institute, and Synapse Energy Economics, he advised government agencies and NGOs on energy, waste management, and climate policy initiatives. He was also a longtime trumpet player in the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band.

Sherman Kreiner ’74

Sherman, a community economic development practitioner and Philly sports “Phanatic,” died July 1, 2019.

Following a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Sherman worked tirelessly for democracy and social justice through PACE, the Crocus Investment Fund, the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp., Sholem Aleichem Community, and numerous volunteer organizations. He was the father of two children with wife Cindy Coker ’75, whom he met at Swarthmore.

Jonathan Wolfe ’74

A former grocery industry executive in Canada, Jonathan died Feb. 14, 2018.

Jonathan, as president, oversaw the sale of publicly traded Oshawa Group Limited to Sobeys in 1998. Upon completion of the sale, he left the organization and eventually formed High Wycombe Capital, a venture capital fund.

George Roache Jr. ’74

An Air Force veteran and former Swarthmore class president, George died in May 2019.

George served in many roles over his varied career, including corporate executive, academic, journalist, public official, and deputy director of a homeless shelter for U.S. military veterans in Philadelphia. “Confident, articulate, and professional, he handled himself with aplomb,” a friend wrote in a tribute.

Armanda Squadrilli ’78

Armanda, a successful New York real estate broker, died May 5, 2018.

Wrote her loved ones: “Beloved daughter, sister, aunt, partner, friend, and devoted mom to each of her pooches, [Armanda] will be painfully missed by all who knew and loved her.”

Paul Malik ’82

A career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, having served for 23 years in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, Paul died July 23, 2019.

Paul, who spoke Arabic, French, and Greek, pursued graduate studies at Georgetown University. He served as U.S. consul general in Dubai from 2015 to 2018 and, most recently, had been the charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

Patricia McGinley Balsamini ’87

Patricia, a compassionate health care fundraiser, died July 13, 2019.

Tricia earned a master’s in nonprofit management from The New School and rose to become vice president for development at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., spearheading fundraising for the hospital’s historic campuswise expansion. She was a voracious reader, a patron of the arts, and an avid runner, kickboxer, and spinner.

“Known for her quick wit, attention to detail, and commitment to those she loved,” her family wrote, “Tricia had a zest for life that resonated with everyone she met.”

Arthur Stewart ’10

Arthur, an economics major at Swarthmore, died July 17, 2019.

A lifetime resident of Piscataway, N.J., Arthur was employed by MetLife in Bridgewater.

Francis Cahill NV

Francis, who followed his Navy service with a career in sales and a devotion to helping the less fortunate, died Jan. 22, 2018.

A caring husband and father of seven, Frank was also a well-known automobile salesman in his hometown. He was a longtime communicant at Holy Family Church in Rockland, Mass., and an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.