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An appreciation: Glen Tetley ’46

 

Clay H. Myers ’35, of Crystal River, Fla., died Dec. 25 at the age of 94. He was an Air Force veteran (1933–61) and achieved the rank of master sergeant. He served in World War II and the Korean War. A photographer during his college years and thereafter, he contributed pictures to the Lancaster Sunday News and some of his photos are displayed in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He is survived by four cousins, including J. Keiper Groff ’48; two nieces; and a nephew.

Francis J. Kalaman, M.D., ’37, of Norwalk, Conn., died Jan. 25 at the age of 93. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he immigrated to the States with his parents when he was eight. A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, he served as a physician in the Army medical corps during World War II as division surgeon, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He received four battle participation stars and the Bronze Star Medal. After the war, he established a private practice in Norwalk, leaving in 1964 to become health director of the city of Norwalk. A member of Alpha Sigma Phi, he is survived by his wife of 72 years, Florence; a daughter; two sons; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Donald B. Witmer, M.D., ’40, of Lancaster, died Jan. 23 at the age of 88. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and began practicing medicine as a member of the Army Medical Corps. He spent more than a year in the China-India-Burma Theater during World War II. He operated a family practice in Lancaster’s Willow Street area from 1947 until his retirement in 1985. He also served on the staff at the Lancaster General Hospital and acted as deputy coroner for Southern Lancaster County. He is survived by a daughter, two sons, and three grandchildren.

William Bevan, Ph.D., ’42, of Durham, N.C., died Feb. 19. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University. He was in active duty with the Navy from 1944 to 1946 and remained in the reserves for 26 years. Early in his career, he taught at Emory University and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Oslo. He then chaired Kansas State University’s psychology department and served as both dean of arts and sciences and vice president for academic affairs. Next he moved to Johns Hopkins University as vice president and provost. In 1974 he was appointed the William Preston Few professor of psychology at Duke University and served as provost of Duke University from 1979 to 1983, during which time he initiated the Talent Identification Program. On leave from Duke, he became vice president and director of the Health Program at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1984 and remained at the foundation until his retirement in 1991. He received seven honorary doctoral degrees and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Duke University and F&M. He was the author or co-author of 180 research papers and essays. A member of Alpha Sigma Phi, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy; three sons; nine grandchildren; and a brother.

Warren Hamscher, D.D.S., ’42, of Emmaus, Pa., died Jan. 28 at the age of 86. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, he had a dental practice in Emmaus for 34 years, retiring in 1984. A World War II veteran, he served in the Marines. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanne; four daughters; a son; seven grandchildren; and a sister.

Richard R. Mast, D.D.S., ’42, of Lancaster, died Feb. 10 at the age of 86. A graduate of Temple University Dental School, he served as a dental officer during World War II, assigned to the Marines in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He received a Presidential Unit Citation with the 6th Marine Division. A founding member of the Dental Associates of Lancaster, he was in practice for 45 years. Surviving are three daughters, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.

Elliot L. Kaplan, M.D., ’43, of Newark, N.J., died Jan. 2. He was 83. A graduate of NYU Medical School, he practiced internal medicine for 53 years. He was affiliated with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and was on staff at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, where he was a clinical instructor. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Irma; five children; and four granddaughters.

Harold “Cam” Todd ’43, of Lyme, Conn., died Jan 6. He was 85. A World War II Navy veteran, he served aboard the destroyer escort USS Micka and eventually commanded a sub chaser. He served in the South Pacific for more than two years. He started and ran his own microscope business, Harold Todd Instruments, for almost 50 years. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. Survivors include two daughters, two sons, a stepdaughter, a stepson, 18 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Rabbi M. David Weiss, Ph.D., ’45, of Modi’in, Israel, died Dec. 18 at the age of 79. An Air Force veteran, he earned a master of Hebrew literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained a Rabbi. After serving in pulpits and an administrative position in greater Boston, he immigrated to Israel in 1970 and served as Rabbi of the first Conservative Congregation in Tel Aviv. Moved by the trauma of the Yom Kippur War, he returned to the United States and earned an M.S. in clinical psychology and a Ph.D. in family therapy. Upon his return to Israel, he established a private practice and worked as a part-time psychologist in the Ministry of Health. He is survived by his wife, Sivanne; four children; and grandchildren.

H. Carl Wasson, M.D., ’46, of Huntington, W.Va., died Feb. 5 at the age of 81. He received his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and did four years of surgical training at Akron (Ohio) General Hospital. He had 17 years of service with the Navy and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. In 1956 he moved to Huntington, where he was in private practice for 31 years. He was the past president of the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and served as chief of surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital and Cabell Huntington Hospital. A member of Phi Kappa Psi, he is survived by his wife, Anne; five daughters; a son; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister; and a brother.

Louis Weisman ’46, of Lancaster, died Jan. 6 at the age of 84. A veteran of World War II, he served three years in the Army as an MP. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1950 and opened a practice in Lancaster in 1951. He practiced for 50 years, retiring in 2001. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gwen; three daughters; three grandchildren; and five brothers.

Paul S. Zimmerman ’46, of Reinholds, Pa., died Jan. 13. He was 82. A chemist, he was chief of the Water Supply Section of the Department of Environmental Resources in Harrisburg. A World War II veteran, he was an ensign in the Navy. Surviving are three daughters, two grandsons, and two brothers.

Robert L. Banta ’49 (Acad. ’43), of Lancaster, died Feb. 27 at the age of 83. He served as president of Banta Tile and Marble Company from 1961 to 1993, retiring in May 1993. A World War II veteran of the Army’s 24th Cavalry, he served in Europe in five battle campaigns and received the Purple Heart. He was a Sigma Pi member. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Theresa; a daughter; two sons; three stepdaughters; a stepson; three grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and a sister.

John S. Coady Jr. ’50, of Rapid City, S.D., died Feb 14 at the age of 80. He served in the Navy from 1944 until 1947 and in the Air Force from 1950 until 1974, retiring as a colonel. During the Vietnam War he and his B-52 crew flew many missions. He was later assigned to Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where he was named chief of bombing and navigation for the entire Command. After retiring from the Air Force, he owned and operated a campground, owned and operated a cattle ranch in the Black Hills, and did financial planning. He was a Phi Kappa Psi member. Survivors include two sons, four grandchildren, a sister, and two brothers.

Clarence C. Freeman ’51, of Elizabethtown, Pa., died Feb. 19 at the age of 83. He spent most of his working career in the field of finance and retired from the Sensenich Propeller Company. Earlier he had worked for Federal Mogul as its chief financial officer. He was an active community member and belonged to numerous organizations. He served in the Army during World War II. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Virginia; three daughters; three grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and a sister.

Mervin G. Holland Jr. ’51, of Camp Hill, Pa., died Jan. 5. He was 79. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he was a Navy veteran of World War II. He served 45 years in the insurance industry, starting his career at Laird-Hagee Agency in Harrisburg. He joined Millers Mutual Insurance Company in 1967 and served as president and CEO from 1972 to 1994. When he retired, the company enjoyed record capitalization and received the highest ratings from the financial rating agencies. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he is survived by a son.

Frederick R. Shaffer ’52, of Somerset, Pa., died Feb. 24. He was 76. He was a pharmacist and owner of Findley’s Pharmacy. An Army veteran, he was past president of the Somerset Rotary Club. A member of Phi Sigma Kappa, he is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy; a daughter; two sons; and eight grandchildren.

George F. Gaerttner III ’53, of Lynchburg, Va., died Aug. 26. He was 75. A Marine Corps Korean War veteran, he was a retired electronics engineer with Babcock and Wilcox. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau. He is survived by a sister and brother.

Kenneth F. King, Ph.D., ’54, of Landenberg, Pa., died Jan. 22 at the age of 78. He served in the Navy and received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Brown University. An organic chemist in the field of elastomer polymers, he worked at DuPont from 1958 to 1986 and later as a consultant for several companies. He obtained 13 patents and was a member emeritus of the American Chemical Society. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Ann; a daughter; two stepchildren; a granddaughter; five great-grandchildren; and a sister.

Thomas L. McFalls, Ed.D., ’54, of Newark, Del., died Feb. 13 at the age of 74. For the past 15 years he was the owner of Thomas L. McFalls & Associates, a fundraising and consulting firm. He received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts. An accomplished tennis player, he was also inducted into the F&M Sports Hall of Fame for being a part of the 1952 national soccer championship team and was a member of Chi Phi. Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Catherine; four daughters; a son; 13 grandchildren; and a sister.

Henry Weed ’54, of Yardley, Pa, died Dec. 30 at the age of 74. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi. He is survived by his wife, Joyce.

William P. Babik Sr. ’56, of Somerset, N.J., died Jan. 3. He received his master’s degree from Utah State University. He had a private practice in psychology in Piscataway from 1968 until his death. He also served as a consultant to attorneys, N.J. correctional facilities, and the federal courts. Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Marie; a daughter; and a son.

Richard W. Rogers, Esq., ’57 of Norristown, Pa., died Jan. 16. He was 71. For more than 40 years, he practiced law, first with Wistler Pearlstine, Talone & Gerber and later with his own firms, Rogers & Smith; Rogers, King & Cole; and recently, Rogers, Page & Associates. A graduate of Dickinson School of Law, he was a Navy veteran. He was active with several professional and community groups. He was a member of Pi Lambda Phi. Survivors include his wife, E. Sloan; a daughter; two sons; two stepsons; four grandchildren; a sister; and five brothers.

Richard J. Manfre, Esq., ’60, of Saddle River, N.J., died Jan. 18. He was 68. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and a law degree from Rutgers University Law School. He began his legal career as a Passaic County Prosecutor and went on to establish his own practice, first in Passaic County and then for more than 30 years in Bergen County. He provided pro-bono services his entire career to young people who needed guidance and intervention. A member of Sigma Pi, he is survived by his wife of 43 years, Marilyn.

Frank M. Rocco, D.D.S., ’60, of Lancaster, Pa., died Feb. 26. A graduate of Temple University Dental School, he was a self-employed dentist, practicing in Landisville from 1967 to 2007. He served as a captain in the Air Force Dental Corps. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Suzanne; a daughter; a son; and four grandchildren.

Theodore C. Sharpe ’60, of Moscow, Idaho, died Feb. 10 at the age of 68. At F&M, he played varsity football and lacrosse. He was in the ROTC program and entered the Air Force upon graduation. He spent several years in pilot training schools, completing his B-52 training in Texas and helicopter training in Florida. From 1968 to 1969, he served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot, earning three Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal. Later, he was stationed in North Dakota and earned a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota. He then operated several rental properties and a petroleum-distribution business. He retired in 1998 from the Air Force Reserves as a colonel. He is survived by his former wife, Carole; a daughter; a son; and five grandchildren.

Charlie Bump ’61 died Dec. 20. He was a Delta Sigma Phi member.
John H. Kooser Jr. ’61, of North Huntington, Pa., died Feb. 10 at the age of 68. He became the executive director of the McKeesport Housing Authority in 1972, after beginning his career in 1961 as a manager with the Pittsburgh Housing Authority. He was also an avid amateur historian. A member of Phi Kappa Psi, he is survived by his wife, Peggy; a daughter; a son; three stepsons; four grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and a sister.

Robert K. Shadduck ’63, of New Castle, Del., died Feb. 26 at the age of 66. He started at Delaware Trust as a customer service representative and moved up to commercial loan officer and vice president. Following that, he worked at WSFS and then became vice president at PNC Bank. He also served as vice president and co-owner of ReMax Associates in Newark and Wilmington, winning numerous awards. A member of Lambda Chi Alpha, he is survived by his wife, Mary Beth; two daughters; a son; granddaughter; and a brother.

Rudolph H. Vogel ’63, of East Windsor, N.J., died Dec. 17 at the age of 65. He worked for 25 years as a marketing manager for Atofina Chemical Co., which later became Total Petro Chemical Co. He also worked at FMC in Princeton. He served with the 112th Field Artillery, part of the 50th Armored Division. He is survived by wife, Sharon; a son; and three grandchildren.

Mitchell C. Gibbons-Neff ’63, of Chestertown, Md., died Feb. 14 at the age of 65. A Harvard Business School graduate, he served as president of Sparkman and Stephens, a naval architecture and yacht brokerage firm in New York, for several years. A Navy officer during the Vietnam War, he was assigned to the Swift Boat Base at Danang in Cameron Bay, where he conducted more than 100 gunboat missions. A world-class sailor, he was considered a legend in sailing circles and participated in 20 Newport-to-Bermuda races. A member of Sigma Phi, he is survived by his former wife, Suzanne; two sons; his father; and three brothers.

Steven D. Greiner ’65, of Washington, D.C., died Oct. 2 at the age of 63. A member of Delta Sigma Phi at F&M, he received advanced degrees from George Washington University and the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the Army with the 902nd Military Intelligence. He worked as a senior research analyst for Anteon Corp. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; a son; and two grandchildren.

E. Karl Eric Strandberg ’65, of Lafayette Hill, Pa., died Aug. 25. He was 63. He was a Lambda Chi Alpha member.
Edward B. Jakubowics ’71, of Newark, N.J., died Feb. 9. After graduation, he lived in Pensacola, Fla., Randolph, N.J., and Fair Haven, N.J. For the past 16 years, he was vice president of finance and administration at the Wall Street Group in Jersey City. A member of Phi Kappa Sigma, he was an active participant with the Alumni Association. A member of Phi Kappa Sigma, he is survived by the love of his life, Maureen Karsh; two sons; his mother; and two brothers.

Stephen P. Haley ’77, of Newark, N.J., died Feb. 11 at the age of 52. He worked at Price Waterhouse, First Boston, Merrill Lynch, Bankers Trust, Morgan Stanley, and finally at Citigroup, where he was a managing director focusing on alternative investments. A member of numerous charitable and civic organizations, he was a board member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and treasurer of the Men’s Field Hockey Association. A member of Chi Phi, he is survived by his wife of 27 years, Adele; a daughter; a son; a sister; and two brothers.

Jon S. Reed, Esq., ’80 died June 9, 2006. A member of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity, he graduated with a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. He was a partner with the firm of Traub, Eglin, Liebman & Straus. He is survived by his wife, Reesa; two sons; and a daughter. Jon’s friends and classmates are hoping to plant a tree on campus in his memory. Those wishing to contribute can send a donation to the College and mark it for the Jon Reed Fund.

Mark H. Hassel, M.D., ’81, of Lancaster, died Jan. 25 at the age of 47. A graduate of Jefferson Medical College, he built a thriving dermatology practice in Lancaster. He was a clinical instructor in dermatology at New York University (1989 –91) and was also a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Penn State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (2002–07). In 1991, he also joined the teaching staff of the Dermatology Clinic at Lancaster General Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his parents; two daughters; a son; and three brothers.


 

 

An appreciation: Glen Tetley ’46

Pioneering choreographer and dancer Glen Tetley ’46 died Jan. 26 in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was 80.

Tetley completed a two-year pre-medical school course at Franklin & Marshall as part of the Naval Training School. He enrolled in Columbia Medical School but transferred to New York University and began a legendary career in dance and choreography.

Described by many as Europe’s favorite American choreographer, Tetley was a pioneer in fusing ballet and modern dance and influenced major companies worldwide. He choreographed for American Ballet Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem, and the Houston Ballet.

He studied ballet in New York with Helene Platova, Antony Tudor, and Margaret Craske as well as at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet. He then trained with modern-dance pioneers, Martha Graham and Hanya Holm.

One of the original members of the Joffrey Ballet in 1956, he also performed with Graham’s company in 1958 while dancing with Ballet Theater (until 1961), with the New York City Opera, and with other modern dance groups. In 1961, he was a dancer in Jerome Robbins’ Ballets: U.S.A. From 1962 to 1969, he directed the Glen Tetley Dance Company.

In 1969, he moved to work full-time in Europe. From the 1960s to the 1990s, he was everywhere on the dance scene. Through his prolific creation of new works, he reversed a traditional pattern: America had imported ballet from Europe, but Tetley introduced and integrated American modern-dance aesthetics and movement into European choreography.

After the early 1970s, Tetley worked less with “contemporary” dance troupes he helped mold like Ballet Rambert in London and Netherlands Dance Theater, where he was co-director from 1969 to 1971. As he became associated with major ballet companies like the Royal Ballet in Britain, the Australian Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet, his work gained wider acceptance.

Tetley choreographed Lux in Tenebris, his last work, for the Houston Ballet in 1999. He is survived by his companion, Raffiele Ravaioli, and two sisters.