In Memoriam: Fall/Winter 2015

Elsie Cates Shirley ’39 of Boylston, N.Y., died Nov. 2, 2014. Prior to her retirement, she taught in the Sandy Creek Central School District.

Oswald Kopp ’40 of Lincoln, Neb., died May 22, 2013. He earned a doctorate from Columbia University and was a professor and principal of the laboratory school at SUNY Potsdam. He then held a one-year position with the National Education Association before taking a position as assistant superintendent in Orchard Park, N.Y. In 1961, Ozzie became department chair of elementary and secondary education at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He was predeceased by his wife, Marie Hildenbrand Kopp ’40, and is survived by a daughter, a granddaughter and a great-grandson.

Jean McGivney Leonard ’46 of Henderson, N.Y., died March 8, 2015. She and her family built and operated Len Mar Greens Golf Course in Pulaski for many years. She is survived by five children, 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Willard Allen ’47, Emeritus Professor of Industrial Arts of Winter Haven, Fla., died June 30, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Will earned a master’s degree from Penn State and a doctorate from Indiana University. He began his teaching career at Beaver River High School in Beaver Falls, N.Y., and moved into higher education in 1951 at Ball State University. In 1953, Will returned to Oswego where he taught industrial arts from 1953 until his retirement in 1985. Will is survived by his wife, Lois; three sons, Steven, Robert and Richard; five grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

Donald Dockstader ’47 of Englewood, Fla., died July 15, 2015. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Donald earned a master’s degree at Cornell University. He taught in the Gloversville (N.Y.) School District for 31½ years and taught part-time at Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown, N.Y. Surviving are four children and 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Betty Reed Dowdle ’47 of Oswego died July 10, 2015. Betty taught for in the Oswego City School District in the Oak Hill School, the Mitchell Street School, Kingsford Park School and Leighton Elementary School. During the summer, Betty taught reading at SUNY Oswego in the graduate program for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, William ’53. Surviving are three children and four grandchildren.

Virginia Hafner Lyon ’48 of Seekonk, Mass., died May 21, 2015. Virginia was a former member of the Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors, and, along with her late husband, Floyd, was a longtime supporter of SUNY Oswego.

Donald Goewey ’50 M’57 of Oswego died June 21, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Don earned a master’s degree at Colgate University and completed doctoral studies at Syracuse University. He taught in Utica, Fulton, Morrisville and Red Creek before coming to Oswego in 1959. He taught at Kingsford Park School before being appointed principal at Riley Elementary in 1966, where he served for 20 years until his retirement. He is survived by seven children, Donna ’72, Denise, Donald, Deanna, David, Dean ’85 M’88 CAS’94 and Dorrie, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Patricia McConnell Pritchard ’51 of Oswego died July 13, 2015. She was a teacher in the Hannibal Central School District until her retirement. Surviving are her children, including Marla Berlin ’85 and Tricia Caroccio ’95, 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Claire Tormay Taber ’51 of Liverpool, N.Y., died May 30, 2015. She taught for more than 30 years in the Syracuse City School District. Claire is survived by a son, Richard, and four grandchildren, including Richard ’12.

Stanley Roberts ’52 of McDonough, N.Y., died on Aug. 10, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He taught in Van Etten, N.Y., at Oneida County BOCES and at Oriskany (N.Y.) High School. Surviving are two sons and many grandchildren.

John McDonough ’53 of Baldwinsville, N.Y., died May 21, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army following his graduation from Oswego. John earned a law degree at Syracuse University in 1958. He was a Workers’ Compensation defense attorney for many years. He also served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Syracuse, and from 1964 to 1967, as Salina Town Justice. John is survived by his wife, Bertha Cornwell McDonough ’52; children, John, Kevin ’78, Anne Gavin ’83, Catherine, Eileen and Brendan; seven grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Terence Trudeau ’53 of Snyder, N.Y., died June 23, 2015. He received a master’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a doctorate from Bowling Green State University. He was an industrial arts professor at Buffalo State for 24 years, retiring in 1985. Terence started his own company, Powerlab, after his retirement. The company designed and manufactured instrumental laboratory equipment until it closed in 2005. He is survived by two daughters.

Bernard Wray ’54 of Rome, N.Y., died Aug. 1, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army. Bernie taught industrial arts technology at the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School in Westchester County, and in the Binghamton City School District. Surviving are his wife, Joanne, five children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Bernie was predeceased by a brother, David Wray ’50.

Lillian Tutino Pettigrass ’55 of Fleming, N.Y., died Aug. 6, 2015. She is survived by five children, nine grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

Richard Allen ’57 of Middletown, N.J., died June 13, 2015. He served with the U.S. Navy. Richard taught industrial arts technology at Red Bank (N.J.) Regional High School for 36 years, retiring in 1993. He is survived by five children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Robert Costigan ’57 of Penn Yan, N.Y., died Jan. 17, 2015. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Bob was an industrial arts teacher at East High School in Rochester, N.Y., for many years. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Ross, three daughters and three grandsons.

Peter Schieffer ’62 of Sayville, N.Y., died July 6, 2015. Pete worked as a teacher for 38 years, retiring from the West Islip Union Free School District. Surviving are his wife, Karol Harding Schieffer ’63; daughters, Susan and Sharon; and two granddaughters.

Richard Helmer ’63 of Myakka City, Fla., died April 4, 2015. Dick taught industrial arts technology for 15 years and then worked as a supervisor for a furniture manufacturer. He is survived by his wife, Patricia.

Audrey “Pat” Brannen Pickens ’63 of Sag Harbor, N.Y., died Aug. 1, 2015.

Ruth Tarnacki Spiegel ’63 of Syracuse, N.Y., died July 24, 2015. She worked in the Syracuse City School District before and after she raised her children. She is survived by a daughter, Catherine Maestri ’91, and her husband, Richard; a son, Edward ’99, and his wife, Melinda Winans Spiegel ’99; and six grandchildren.

Margaret O’Donnell ’64 of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., died June 14, 2015. She was a teacher in the Syracuse City School District for many years, retiring in 1989. Margaret is survived by 10 nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law, David Clancy ’52.

Richard Broekhuizen ’65 of Plantation, Fla., and Franklin, N.C., died June 16, 2015. He taught for 38 years at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Mason Broekhuizen ’64; a daughter, Kristi Duchon; and two grandchildren.

Francis Maunder ’65 of Parish, N.Y., died Aug. 16, 2015. He taught in the Camden Central School District and for 30 years in the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District, retiring in 1998. He also taught computer science at SUNY Oswego. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Wells Maunder ’66, four sons, two daughters and five grandchildren.

John Quimby ’66 of Rhinebeck, N.Y., died July 4, 2015. Following graduation and one year of teaching driver education at Red Hook High School, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served with the Army Corps of Engineers and Military Intelligence in Vietnam. John earned a master’s degree and a Professional Certification in School Administration and School Counseling at SUNY Albany. He worked for more than 30 years in the Hyde Park Central School District, first as an industrial arts technology teacher, then 10 years as a school counselor. John retired in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, four children and nine grandchildren.

Lynn Saunders ’66 of Jacksonville, Ill., died June 20, 2015. He received a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and pursued a doctoral degree at Ohio University. Lynn began his career in education at MacMurray College, where he taught from 1967 to 1972. After working in sales for WJIL Radio in Jacksonville, he moved to Florida, where he owned and operated a restaurant in Daytona Beach. In 1981, he returned to Jacksonville, where he taught at Illinois College until his retirement in 2000. Lynn is survived by his wife, Susan Szymanski ’66; three children, Scott, Colleen and Mark; and eight grandchildren.

Jon Whalen ’66 of Auburn, N.Y., died July 12, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army in Germany during the height of the Cold War. Jon taught in Fulton for four years then at Manhasset High School until his retirement in 1993. After his retirement, he and his son, Bernard, an NYPD lieutenant, co-authored two books. He is survived by three sons, five grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and his companion, Janet Wiegand.

Sister James Denis (Theresa) Herold ’67 of Syracuse, N.Y., died July 24, 2015. She was a Sister of St. Francis for 62 years. She was an educator in schools in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Ohio. She was the director of the Volunteer Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital for eight years, and a secretary for Catholic Charities in Syracuse for 11 years. Surviving are three brothers, two sisters, several nieces and nephews, and the Sisters of St. Francis.

Michael Kulak ’70 of Syracuse, N.Y., died Aug. 1, 2015. He formerly taught in the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District for more than 10 years. He was an educational consultant for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Surviving are his son, Andrew; his mother, Marge Kulak; three sisters and two brothers.

Richard Spadaro ’70 of Altamont, N.Y., died April 28, 2015. He taught industrial arts technology at North Colonie Shaker High School before opening his own business, Dick Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions. Dick is survived by his mother, Betty Spadaro.

Peggy DeVey Marsh Bailey ’71 of Syracuse, N.Y. died Aug. 13, 2015. She was an administrative assistant for many years. Peggy is survived by two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Winston Harrell ’71 of Groveport, Ohio, died Aug. 5, 2015. He received a master’s degree from the University of Kansas. Winston was a social worker in the mental health department of the Veteran’s Administration for 35 years. He is survived by a son, Winston.

Richard Magde ’71 of Geneva, N.Y., died May 8, 2014. He taught industrial arts technology at Penfield High School for 11 years, retiring in 1982. Dick purchased a farm that he worked on part-time while he was teaching. Following his retirement, he worked on his farm full time. Dick was a member of the National Guard. He is survived by his wife, Merna, four stepchildren and eight step-grandchildren.

Jeremiah O’Neil ’72 of Pulaski, N.Y., died Aug. 16, 2015. Following graduation, Jerry was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he was a counter-intelligence coordinator/agent for the 82nd Airborne Division in N.C. He worked for the Oswego County Department of Social Services from 1976 to 1978. He taught math at Sandy Creek High School from 1978 until his retirement in 2012. Jerry is survived by his wife, Sandra; a daughter, Courtney O’Neil ’13; and a son, Jeremiah.

Keith Johnson ’74 of Watertown, N.Y., died Aug. 4, 2015. He worked as a salesman for Viking-Cives, Phillips Cable, Sam’s Club and Aflac Insurance. He is survived by his father, Richard; a daughter, Sara; his companion, Linda Rohde; and a brother, Richard.

Roberta “Bobbi” McKenna Brabant ’75 of Roanoke, Va., died July 9, 2015. She received a master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University in 1978. She was a social worker for the New York State Mental Health Department, and had a private practice in Watertown for 12 years. She worked for Fresenius Dialysis Center in Roanoke for 20 years. Bobbi is survived by her husband, Joseph, and a son, Jeffrey.

Mary Jean Fortino Church ’75 M’80 of Oswego died June 13, 2015. Jean was a reading teacher in the Oswego City School District from 1975 until her retirement in 2005. She is survived by her husband, Michael ’79; her sons, Michael and Christopher ’08; her brother, Francis ’74; and her sister, Anne Marie Rubin ’74, and brother-in-law, Gary Rubin ’74.

Richard Ziobro ’75 of Peachtree City, Ga., died June 10, 2015. He received a master’s degree from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Rich worked for Osmose Inc. of Buffalo and was serving as vice president of research in their Griffin, Ga., office. Rich is survived by his wife, Sue Nelson, and his brother, Kenneth.

John Fassett ’76 of Rodman, N.Y., died June 30, 2015. He worked as a meat cutter at his family’s business, Fassett’s Meat Market, and other stores for many years. John is survived by a daughter, Joanna Loomis, and a son, Jaryn.

Linda MacDougal-Spross ’76 of Macedon, N.Y., died Jan. 18, 2013. She taught in the Rochester City School District. Surviving are her husband, Terence; son, Bryantt; and daughter, Shenandoah.

Robert Tompkins ’76 of Syracuse died Aug. 21, 2015. Bob retired from the Public Employees Federation in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Varacalli-Tompkins ’77; son, Brian; and daughter, Sanela Delic.

Roger Merrithew ’77 of San Luis Obispo, Calif., died Dec. 7, 2014. He retired after a long career as a social worker. Surviving are his wife, Joanne, and sons, Justin and Ryan.

David Ball ’78 of West End, N.C., died Feb. 9, 2015.

Brian Hall ’86 of Cambridge, N.Y., died Aug. 23, 2015. He was employed in quality control at General Electric after a 26-year career with Kent Industries. Surviving are his wife, Pam; son, Brian; and daughter, Carly.

Kathleen Byrne Gramet CAS’87 of Syracuse and Pawleys Island, S.C., died June 3, 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Brockport, a master’s degree at Niagara University and an Ed.D. at Columbia University. Kathy worked in the North Syracuse Central School District as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent for instruction and superintendent of schools. She is survived by her husband, Alan; a daughter, Jennifer Zaborsky; a son, Sam; and three grandchildren.

Rev. Ralph Locke ’88 of Geneva, N.Y., died June 25, 2015. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Ralph earned an associate’s degree at Finger Lakes Community College. He worked for the City of Geneva Water Department for 23 years, retiring in 1986. Ralph earned a master’s of divinity degree at Bexely Hall Divinity School in Rochester, ordained into the Diaconate in 1992 and ordained into the Priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 1983. He served as Vicar of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Grace Willowdale Episcopal Church, Christ Episcopal Church and the Church of the Epiphany until his retirement. Ralph is survived by his wife, Nancy, four children and five grandchildren.

Michael “Mick” DeLapp ’90 of Bridgeport, N.Y., died July 19, 2015. He earned an associate’s degree at Onondaga Community College. Mick worked as an office service coordinator for Carrols Corporation for 16 years. Surviving are his wife, Norma, and his daughter, Hannah.

Thomas Ebdon ’94 of Virginia Beach, Va., died July 5, 2015. He is survived by a son, Joshua, and his sister, Debbie Cauley.

Benjamin Chernoff ’96 M’98 of Marcellus, N.Y., died July 7, 2015. He is survived by a daughter, Delia; a stepson, Tyler; his parents, Charles and Barbara; and two siblings.

Karen Sherman Farnham ’97 of Hannibal, N.Y., died Aug. 4, 2015. She earned an associate’s degree at Onondaga Community College. Karen was employed by the American Legion Post 1552 for many years. Surviving are her husband, William; three daughters, Alicia Mooney-Flynt ’91, Robin Cuzzupoli and Elizabeth Mooney ’05; two stepchildren and 12 grandchildren.

Daniel Dolecki ’99 of Salamanca, N.Y., died July 20, 2015. He was employed at Dr. Green Lawn since 2010. D.J. is survived by his parents, Daniel and Diane; a daughter, Madelyn; and four siblings.

Ram Chaudhari, Professor Emeritus of Physics, died June 20, 2015. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Agra University (now Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University) in India and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in 1964. He completed post-doctoral research at the Royal Military College of Canada before joining the faculty at SUNY Oswego in 1966, where he taught physics until his retirement in 1998. Ram is survived by his wife, Raj, three sons, a daughter, seven grandsons and five great-grandchildren.

Thomas Seawell, Professor Emeritus of Art, died Aug. 28, 2015. He was a graduate of Washington University and Texas Christian University. He taught in Oswego’s art department from 1963, when he was hired to establish a printmaking program, until his retirement in 1992. From 1992 until 2014, he taught screen printing and beginning printmaking classes as an adjunct instructor at Texas A&M University – Commerce. Thom is survived by his wife, Barbara Frey, and four sons.

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