In Memoriam: 1970s

Notices sorted by graduation date

David Alan Franz (Grad ’70) of Hughesville, Pa., died April 21, 2009. He taught chemistry at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., for 35 years, and was department chair for many years. Mr. Franz helped design the Heim Biology and Chemistry Building and was named the Frank and Helen Lowry Professor in 1998 in recognition of his teaching, community service and professional development. He received the Constance Cupp Plankenhorn Senior Faculty Teaching Award and, as professor emeritus, received the Joseph Priestley Service Award from the Susquehanna Valley section of the American Chemical Society in honor of his outstanding community involvement and outreach activities.

Elizabeth Joy Beninati (Nurs ’71 A/M) of Elmira, N.Y., died April 3, 2009. She taught nursing at Northwestern University in Chicago and worked for the city of Chicago’s Department of Health as a public health nurse. Ms. Beninati also worked as a nurse for Elmhurst Clinic in Elmhurst, Ill.

Karen Adams (Grad ’72, Educ ’73) of Mount Pleasant, Mich., died April 7, 2009. She was dean of the College of Education at Tennessee Tech before becoming dean of education, health and human services at Western Kentucky University. Since 2003, she had been the dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University. She was president of the Michigan Education Deans’ Council, a member of Art Reach, advisory board member at MidMichigan Health Park and belonged to many other academic and educational groups. Ms. Adams also co-hosted a show on public radio with Sue Ann Martin called Children’s Books: The Dean’s List.

H. Jay Rubenstein (Engr ’72) of Bloomington, Ind., died May 31, 2009. He taught biomedical engineering in Cologne, Germany; and Long Island, N.Y., before moving to Louisville, Ky. in 1975. There he founded Suburban Orthotics Services, which provides orthopedic bracing. He later went to work for the U.S. Navy.

Robert M. Simms (Grad ’72, ’80 A/M) of Troy, N.Y., died April 15, 2009. He was an economist for the Ford Motor Co. and a trombonist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1970. Subsequently, he studied in Athens and taught classics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1978, he began a career teaching Latin, ancient history and Greek at Emma Willard School in Troy, N.Y.

Philip R. Cerpanya (Col ’73) of Dallas died April 24, 2009. He worked for Bainbridge Capital Funding and Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
Connie L. Crittenden (Educ ’74) of Mathews, Va., died April 1, 2009. She taught school for 30 years, 26 of those in Mathews.

Clyde C. Rouse Jr. (Col ’74) of Mobile, Ala., died June 2, 2009. He served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps until 1985. He then served as the clinical director and associate medical director at Chicago Read Mental Health Center until 1997. Dr. Rouse went on to serve as the medical director of the Baldwin County Mental Health Center and engaged in the private practice of psychiatry in Mobile and Baldwin counties.

I. Bruce Maltz (Col ’75 L/M) of Denver died May 13, 2009. He was a commercial real estate property developer in Colorado and Hawaii. Survivors include a son, Taylor M. Maltz (Col ’08).

Jeffrey B. Wood (Engr ’75 L/M) of Richland, Wash., died May 1, 2009. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1963. Mr. Wood worked at the Babcock & Wilcox Co. in Lynchburg, Va., for 20 years. Then he worked for Portland General Electric, Illinois Power, United States Enrichment Corp. in Ohio and Fluor Hanford in Washington state.

Thomas Edward Nachazel (Com ’76 L/M) of Corona Del Mar, Calif., died March 9, 2009. He worked for Hewlett-Packard and iGetNet.

Alma Gaynelle Whitlock (Educ ’76 L/M) of Richmond, Va., died April 19, 2009. She began her career in education as an elementary school teacher, counselor and supervisor of counseling in Henrico County. She became an assistant professor at the University of Georgia and was later an associate professor at Virginia State University. She retired as associate dean of education and a professor emerita at Virginia Commonwealth University. After retiring, she served as VCU’s director of the Center for School-Community Collaboration and interim division chairman for health, physical education and recreation. She was a member of the Curry School of Education Foundation board for many years, serving as president from 1984 to 1986. Survivors include her husband, G. Swift Williams Jr. (Educ ’67 L/M).

Virginia Bright Counts (Educ ’77) of Lebanon, Va., died April 25, 2009. She taught school in Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell, Va., counties for 33 years.

Peter W. Hursh (Law ’77 L/M) of Los Angeles died June 24, 2009. He practiced law with Satterlee & Stephens in New York City before joining Towers Perrin as a benefits and compensation consultant. Over his 22-year career at Towers Perrin, he was market manager for the firm’s Cincinnati office and managing director for the firm’s western U.S. region. He served as a member on Towers Perrin’s board of trustees and chairman of its audit committee. Later, he co-founded and was managing director of ECG Advisors. He lectured at many universities, including the University of Virginia School of Law; the University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management; the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business; and the University of California, Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business.

David Higginson Weekes (Col ’77) of Issaquah, Wash., died March 13, 2009. For 22 years, he worked at the Nature Conservancy in numerous areas, including Florida, Ohio and Washington, where he had served as state director for the past eight years. Mr. Weekes provided guidance to the conservancy’s China program and helped launch the organization’s marine program. Survivors include his wife, Anne A. Weekes (Col ’78).

Donald Holston Schmitt (Com ’79, GSBA ’84 L/M) of Greenville, Del., died June 4, 2009. His career in loyalty marketing included work on frequent flyer and rewards programs for American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Brierley+Partners in Dallas and Bass Hotels and Resorts in Atlanta. In 1999, Mr. Schmitt joined First USA to focus on the emerging business of credit card loyalty programs and provided leadership as the bank merged with Bank One and most recently with Chase.