Martha Hale Agar ’42, Oct. 24, 2021, Tucson, Arizona.
Beatrice Giles Elliott ’42, March 25, 2022, Holmes Beach, Florida. Beatrice attended Grinnell and Denver University in Colorado. In 1942, she married Jack Savage, who was killed in the battle of Okinawa in 1945. Shortly after World War II, she joined the office of Sen. Edward V. Robertson of Wyoming and served as his executive secretary in Washington, D.C. There, she met U.S. Air Force Col. Robert W. Elliott, who was serving at the Pentagon. They married in 1947. In her retired life, she loved traveling and enjoyed many international trips.
Barbara McMurray Rickey ’42, Sept. 6, 2020, Marysville, Washington. Survivors include a niece, Ann McMurray Balderson ’62; and nephews, Thomas McMurray ’64, David McMurray ’76, and Scott McMurray ’79.
Margery Willard Ertsgaard ’44, Feb. 10, 2021, Santa Rosa, California. Margery graduated from Grinnell with a major in sociology. She married her second husband, Byron Ertsgaard, in 1970. Marge loved being outdoors, and she and Byron enjoyed traveling. Marge volunteered for Camp Fire Girls, the American Field Service, PEO, her churches, and at Rogue Valley Manor. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren.
Bette Horst Gadient ’44, Dec. 14, 2021, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Bette met Richard Gadient ’44, at a dance before attending Grinnell for one year. She married Richard in 1944; they settled in Davenport, Iowa, and raised six children. Bette volunteered for many organizations, including parent teacher associations, the Visiting Nurse Association, Cub Scouts, and Dad’s Club baseball. She also attended evening and Saturday classes at Marycrest College for eight years and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s in art. She is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Mary Guin Doudna Knoll ’44, Feb. 21, 2022, Omaha, Nebraska.
Gladys Mortensen Anderson ’45, Feb. 7, 2022, Lindsborg, Kansas. Survivors include two sons, four grandchildren, and two great- grandchildren.
Doris Crowl Kirhofer ’47, Jan. 20, 2022, Aurora, Illinois. After graduating from Grinnell, Doris earned her master’s in speech pathology at the University of Nebraska. She married her husband, Walt, in 1949. They moved to Baltimore, where she taught school for two years, then stopped working to raise her three children. She practiced as a speech therapist later in her life. She was a tireless volunteer, holding leadership positions in several organizations. She is survived by her three children; six grandchildren; brothers, Harry “Bud” Crowl ’55 and Richard Crowl ’57; and sister-in-law, Anne Beuckman Crowl ’57.
Iris Zeliadt Starkey ’47, Feb. 7, 2022, Riverside, California.
Elmer “Mike” Alft ’49, Nov. 22, 2021, West Grove, Pennsylvania. A Phi Beta Kappa at Grinnell, Mike earned a master’s at Syracuse University and was a John Hay Fellow at Yale University. He married Frances Clark Alft ’49 in 1950 and taught in Elgin, Illinois, schools for many years. Mike served as a member of the Elgin City Council, 1963–1967, and mayor of Elgin, 1967–1971. He was a founding member of the Elgin Area Historical Society and the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. He enjoyed traveling with Fran, touring museums and national parks, and reading. He authored 17 local histories about Elgin. He received a Grinnell Alumni Award in 1999 and was named the Elgin Image Awards’ lifetime achievement winner in 2007. Survivors include four children, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Joanne Heath Collins ’49, Dec. 19, 2021, Tucson, Arizona. After Joanne received her bachelor’s from Grinnell, she married Thomas Collins in 1950. They lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, until 1999, when they moved to Tucson, Arizona. She was active in community affairs in Cedar Rapids, serving as a trustee of Brucemore, member of the board of the Museum of Art, trustee of the Museum of Art, and president of the sustaining members of the Junior League. In Tucson, she served as a member of the advisory council of the Museum of Art and a member of the Junior League. She is survived by four sons, nine grandchildren, and one great- granddaughter.
Jenny Jacobson Egan ’49, Dec. 29, 2021, Idyllwild, California.
Gilbert L. “Tommy” Farr ’49, Nov. 10, 2021, Bellevue, Idaho. Tommy enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and married Janet Monilaw in 1945. Following military service, he completed his degree at Grinnell and then did a year of graduate work in wildlife management at the University of Wyoming. He taught for six years before becoming administrator of the Idaho Primitive area in the Copper Creek District. When he was assigned to the Caribou National Forest, he took up flying again, earning multiple pilot ratings and also acting as a flight instructor. In 1971, he became district ranger on the Ketchum Ranger District in Sawtooth National Forest. His love of flying continued in retirement, when he co-founded White Clouds Aviation, chartering air flights. For many years, Janet and Tommy traveled throughout the West. He is survived by his brother, Charles Farr ’48.
Dorothy Weaver Murphy ’49, Dec. 23, 2021, Hilton Head, South Carolina. Dot earned her master’s from Northwestern University. She married David Murphy in 1951, and they moved to southern California, where they raised two daughters before returning to the Chicago area. They lived in Tokyo for five years, then retired to Hilton Head Island in 1984. A Who’s Who in American Women psychologist, Dot held positions in public service and private practice. Upon retirement, she devoted herself to painting, gardening, and ikebana as well as bridge and golf. She is survived by a daughter.
Coolidge S. Wakai ’49, Aug. 31, 2021, Huntington Beach, California. Coolidge began his college studies, was drafted into military service, served in Italy, then completed college and earned a medical degree. He and his wife, Edith, raised their family in Honolulu, where Coolidge served the community through his cardiology private practice and in multiple hospital and medical leadership positions. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, traveling, gardening, and family gatherings. Survivors include his child, Ross Wakai ’89.
Donald J. Casey ’50, Jan. 12, 2022, Phoenix. Donald was a decorated World War II combat Marine (Pacific theatre), private pilot, accomplished large and small animal veterinarian, and third- generation Iowa farmer. When he was 50, Donald and his wife, LaDeane Osler Casey ’47, moved from Iowa to Paradise Valley, Arizona. He continued practicing veterinary medicine for 25 years, starting up multiple small animal clinics. He also was longtime volunteer for the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul, attended daily mass at the Franciscan Renewal Center, served as eucharistic minister at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, enjoyed golf, and spent many hours watching his grandchildren’s sporting and school events. He is survived by five of his six children, nine grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.
Harriet Balzer Kenworthy ’50, Feb. 22, 2022, Flint, Michigan. During her Grinnell years, Harriet spent four summers serving as a camp counselor for special needs children. She went on to earn a master's in social work from the University of Minnesota and was employed as a social worker in Flint and Minneapolis. Harriet chaired many community boards. She was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Watson. She is survived by her son and daughter and two grandchildren.
Robert J. McClellan ’50, Nov. 10, 2021, Laramie, Wyoming.
David W. Segur ’50, Feb. 3, 2022, Carmichael, California. After Grinnell, Dave worked in the Chicago area and Oregon before joining Liberty Mutual Insurance in Oakland. Liberty Mutual moved Dave to Sacramento as sales manager in 1961. He was inducted into the Liberty Mutual Sales Hall of Fame in 1974 and retired in 1988. Following retirement, Dave was able to be more active at his church, becoming a member of the choir and orchestra and serving as a deacon and elder. Dave and his wife, Marie, had years filled with family and church friends, camping, river rafting, and adventuring. Survivors include his wife, seven children, 30 grandchildren, and 14 great- grandchildren.
Howard D. “Howie” Van Schaick ’50, Jan. 22, 2022, and Doris
Jones Van Schaick ’50, Jan. 27, 2022, Markesan, Wisconsin. Doris graduated from Grinnell with a degree in sociology, while Howard continued postgraduate study at George Washington University School of Business. The couple married in 1951. Howie served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and they raised their family in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, where Doris was an active member of the Community Presbyterian Church. In 1985, they moved to Wisconsin, where both were active members of their community and of the Federated Church of Green Lake. Doris enjoyed singing, reading, swimming, and gardening. Howie, who retired from the steel industry when he was 65, was an avid reader and enjoyed boating and swimming. In their retirement years, they traveled the country in their RV. Both were College alumni and development volunteers from 2005 to 2015. They are survived by their daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren.
Richard C. “Dick” Adams ’51, Jan. 2, 2022, Sister Bay, Wisconsin. After graduation, Dick began teaching high school math. In 1951, he married Betty Louise Harshbarger. The couple was married for eight years and had three sons; Betty died in 1959. Dick earned a master’s in education and administration at the University of Michigan and later studied to become a guidance counselor. In 1962, he married Shirley Marie Roe. In 1965, he took a guidance counselor position, from which he retired in 1984. Dick and Shirley moved to Wisconsin in 1988. Dick was a huge baseball fan and loved gardening and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; four sons; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great- grandchildren.
Shirley Haegele Helpenstell ’52, Dec. 20, 2021, Nampa, Idaho. Shirley met her husband, Fred Helpenstell ’52, at Grinnell. The 10 years following her graduation were spent in Illinois and Wisconsin. While Fred was in orthopedic training, she began her long and successful career as a teacher, and they had four children. In 1964, they moved to Idaho. Shirley taught kindergarten for many years, then sixth grade and parenting classes, then started an after-school program. She was involved with numerous committees and boards; however, her pride and joy was helping start the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa. Nampa honored her as Citizen of the Year in 2000. Shirley served as a GRASP volunteer for the College from 1998 to 1999. Survivors include her children and their spouses, among them, Tom Helpenstell ’81, Tom Faciszewsk ’83, Jill Helpenstell Faciszewski ’83, and Jeanne Helpenstell Mack ’84; 13 grandchildren; and nine great- grandchildren.
Marcia Coates Jacobson ’52, Jan. 15, 2022, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Marcia attended Grinnell for one year, married Robert Jacobson in 1950, then worked for six years at Wincharger and for 27 years as the office administrator of First Presbyterian Church. She volunteered as clerk of session, organ committee, Presbyterian Women, and circles of First Presbyterian Church, auxiliary of Goodwill Industries, and PTA at Hunt School. She is survived by three children and three grandsons.
William D. “Oz” Osmundson ’52, Nov. 25, 2021, Clear Lake, Iowa. After his sophomore year at Grinnell, Oz transferred to the University of Iowa, where he met Fran Swartz. They married in 1954. After earning his bachelor’s in economics, he joined the accounting firm of McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn & Co. (now called RSM) in Rock Island, Illinois. He was awarded his CPA in 1954 and made partner in 1956. He left McGladrey in 1989 and was self- employed thereafter. Oz and Fran lived in Rock Island for 53 years before moving to Clear Lake in 2007. Oz served on various boards and was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake. Oz and Fran enjoyed traveling in Europe, the British Virgin Islands, and connecting with relatives in Norway. Oz is survived by his wife, Fran; three sons; and six grandchildren.
Doris Anderson Davies ’53, Feb. 17, 2022, Englewood, Florida. Doris graduated from Grinnell in 1953 and moved to Englewood with her family in 1960. A talented singer, she performed with musical groups including Sweet Adelines, Suncoast Chorus, and Keynotes; and she sang in the choir at Englewood United Methodist Church for more than three decades. She loved the theatre and was a patron of Lemon Bay Playhouse and the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Doris was predeceased by her husband of 39 years, Clyde Stanley Davies Jr. ’54. She is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a great-great- grandson.
Natalie Thompson Hahn ’53, Oct. 11, 2021, Berkeley, California. Natalie completed two years at Grinnell before she transferred to Stanford University, graduating in 1953. She married her first husband in 1956. Natalie earned a master’s in library science from University of California-Berkeley in 1970 and worked at multiple branches of the Marin County Library as a reference librarian. After her first husband died in 1976, she married Erwin Louis Hahn, a professor of physics, and moved to Berkeley. They brought together five grown children. Natalie threw herself into volunteer work at UC-Berkeley, where she was active with foreign students. With Erwin, she enjoyed sabbaticals and physics awards ceremonies in Europe and beyond. Natalie is survived by five children, three grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren.
Donna Goetsch Boone ’54, Dec. 16, 2021, Oak Brook, Illinois. Survivors include her husband, Ernest Boone; two children; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Paul D. Friend ’54, Dec. 29, 2021, Northbrook, Illinois. Paul was an outstanding Grinnell tennis player. After graduating, he worked for his family’s business, K. Friend & Co. After the business was sold, he worked in commercial real estate. Paul enjoyed bowling and playing tennis, and was an avid fan of all Chicago sports teams. He loved traveling the world — attending six different Olympic Games and visiting the professional sports halls of fame with his children. Paul is survived by his wife, Rosanne Alper; his second wife, Joani, and their child; his first wife, Bonnie, and their four children; and by 11 grandchildren.
Sue Yager Weatherley ’54, Sept. 7, 2021, Boulder, Colorado. Sue earned her master’s in social work at the University of Denver. Her career began in San Antonio, working on the burn unit at the Brooke Army Medical Center, where she met Don Weatherley. They married in 1956 and settled in Boulder in 1960. Sue had a long career at the Mental Health Center in Boulder, where she was instrumental in starting innovative programs for children and families. She and Don helped establish the Boulder Family Therapy Center, where they practiced for many years. She retired in 2001 but maintained a small private practice until 2017. Survivors include four children: Mark, Anne, Sara Weatherley ’85, and John; son-in-law, Daniel Greenberg ’83; and six grandchildren.
Charles K. Hazama ’55, Nov. 28, 2021, Winter Springs, Florida. Chuck came to Grinnell from Hawaii. His education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He resumed studies at the University of Northern Iowa, where he met Almira “Aly” Oyakawa; they married in 1958. Chuck, Aly, and their two children moved to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1967, when he was hired at the YMCA. From 1972 to 1979, he served as YMCA executive director. A dedicated civic leader, Chuck was elected to eight, two-year terms as mayor of Rochester, serving from 1979 to 1995. He was a longtime member of the Congregational Church and held leadership roles in multiple organizations. Chuck loved to travel. He was also passionate about gardening and enjoyed spending time in the gardens at his Rochester home and his family home on Maui, where he lived for much of the winter during his retirement years. He is survived by his son, daughter, grandson, and five of his son’s stepchildren.
Patricia Parr Millhaem ’55, Jan. 17, 2022, Hilton Head, South Carolina. Pat was a graduate of the University of Iowa after attending Grinnell. She was active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and the American Association of University Women. She later worked a variety of roles in health care and administration. After she and her husband retired, they relocated to Sarasota, Florida, where she volunteered at St. Andrews Church and for a variety of women’s support organizations. She is survived by her sons, two grandsons, a great-grandson, and three great-granddaughters.
James C. Olsen ’55, Nov. 6, 2021, Grass Valley, California. His wife, Joanne Boeckling Olsen ’54, died on July 18, 2021.
Ronald E. Schmierer ’55, Dec. 4, 2021, Omaha, Nebraska.
Charles S. Haynes ’56, March 18, 2022, Lenox, Massachusetts. Charlie, active in theatre at Grinnell, was an engaged alumnus who enjoyed a rich and varied life as a professor, artistic designer, writer, and sports fan. After graduate study at the University of Minnesota, Charlie moved to New York City. He married Harriet Hawkins in 1969. He received a Fulbright scholarship to continue linguistic research in Japan, and he and Harriet spent several years abroad, including another Fulbright tour in Indonesia. Eventually they settled back in New York City with their two sons. Charlie had a remarkable 47-year professorial career at New York University, where he had earned a doctorate in linguistics. Charlie completed a master’s in divinity studies at New York Theological Seminary in 2003. He was active in his communities, especially within his church. After Harriet died in 2016, Charlie continued to refine his distinctive arts practice featuring mixed media set in glass-paneled wooden boxes. He also wrote several plays and countless poems. His survivors include a devoted partner, Carol Walker; two sons; and three grandchildren.
Larry L. Schaleger ’57, July 24, 2019, Oakland, California. Larry was a true Renaissance man. He went on from Grinnell to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. He was a professor at the University of Hawaii and a laboratory guru at Jacobs Engineering. A cross- country champion at Grinnell, Larry also was a marathon man, Sierras backpacker, and golfer. He was a bridge whiz, sketch artist and painter, and lover of books. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; children, Paul, Mary, and Eric; and a sister, Valerie.
James H. Stacey ’57, Feb. 2, 2022, Chicago. James received his master’s degree in English literature from San Francisco State University in 1960. He lived in Honolulu, where he taught English at the University of Hawaii before returning to his hometown, Chicago; there he worked for Fairchild Publications, BusinessWeek magazine, Michael Reese Hospital, and the American Medical Association. Later, he spent 18 years in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, moving back once again to Chicago in 2004. A longtime writer and press liaison for the AMA as well as a prolific freelance writer, he was the author of four books. James is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol; his daughters from his first marriage, Nicole Stacey and Michelle Stacey ’79; four grandchildren; two stepchildren and two step- grandchildren; and many Stacey cousins, nieces, and nephews in the Chicago area, including nephew Gordon Stacy ’79 and niece Kristen Stacy ’16.
Jean Fowler ’58, Jan. 30, 2022, San Francisco. Jean graduated from Grinnell with “an enduring sense of obligation to the College.” After a brief stint working for the Girl Scout Council in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jean moved to Germany, where she was employed as a “service club girl” for the U.S. Army. This experience instilled a love of Frankenwein, skiing, and travel. Upon her return to the states, Jean lived in San Francisco. Her career with the Asia Foundation, Levi Strauss, and the World Affairs Council of Northern California provided multiple opportunities to travel abroad. Jean’s retirement in 1999 allowed more frequent adventures, often in the company of Carolyn Hewes Toft ’58 — her Grinnell roommate and lifelong best friend. Jean continued to pursue her passion for exploration, visiting more than 70 countries in her lifetime.
Susan Ward Fisher ’59, March 19, 2022, Rochester, Minnesota. Susan received her bachelor’s from Grinnell. She married Darrell Ervin Fisher ’57 in 1959. Darrell was an orthopedic surgeon with the Surgical Associates from 1970 to 2000 in Mason City, Iowa, where the couple lived until moving to Rochester, Minnesota in 2021. Susan described herself as a “professional volunteer” and faithfully served the Mason City community in leadership positions for nearly 40 years. She was employed as coordinator of education at First Presbyterian Church for 15 years. As a church elder, she served on the national Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit of the Presbyterian Church USA. She was board president of Mason City Public Schools and founding president of the Education Foundation of Mason City Public Schools. She was the first woman campaign chairperson and first woman board president of United Way of Mason City. She worked with her husband on numerous medical mission trips to St. Lucia and Kenya. Susan served on the board of the Grinnell College Alumni Association and was a reunion planning committee member (2008–2014), Alumni Council member, class fund director (2015–2018), and GRASP volunteer (1998–2017). Susan is survived by her husband, Darrell; two sons and a daughter; and five grandsons.
Janet Schaab Mann ’59, Aug. 22, 2021, Salt Lake City. Janet was a professor of music at the University of Utah, where she founded the division of piano pedagogy. Her heart was with Broadway music, and she starred in dozens of regional theaters, from MUNI Opera in St. Louis to Midland Michigan to Salt Lake City. Janet also starred in a cappella groups and was the founder of “Serendipity.” She was a brilliant classical pianist. She was also a talented artist, especially in watercolors, with an amazing eye for color and shading. Janet loved to travel and visited over 100 countries. In 2008, Janet served as a member of her Grinnell 50th reunion planning committee. She is survived by her husband, Michael Kalm; five children; and 11 grandchildren.
Ruey Brodine Morelli ’59, May 2021, Ferrara, Italy.
David A. Rave ’59, Dec. 19, 2020, Venice, Utah. Dave went on from Grinnell to earn two master’s degrees — one in social work from Smith College and one in library science from Brigham Young University. He married Connie Jean Buchanan in 1969. Dave served in the California National Guard. He enjoyed working on family history, reading, and collecting model trains. Dave is survived by his wife, Connie, and his son.
Karl L. Krumel ’60, Oct. 27, 2021, Bonita Springs, Florida. His wife, Nancy Strindmo Krumel ’61, died on June 15, 2021, also in Bonita Springs.
Carolyn Parsons McCall ’60, Aug. 25, 2021, Portland, Oregon. Carolyn spent two years teaching English in Turkey in the Grinnell fifth year abroad program. She married Merritt McCall ’60, and together they managed Menucha, a Presbyterian Retreat and Conference Center near Portland, for 30 years. Carolyn loved her family, her church, music, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, for which she was a qualified interpreter. She served as an alumni volunteer from 2010 to 2015. Survivors include her husband; two children; five grandchildren; a sister, Margaret “Peg” Parsons Swenson ’54; and a brother, Bill Parsons ’62, and his partner, Kay Jones Rencken ’62.
Lawrence W. “Larry” Klute ’62, Nov. 18, 2020, Long Neck, Delaware. After Grinnell, Larry graduated from Duke Law School in North Carolina. He served for four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War as a captain and attorney. He owned a private law practice and worked for the neighborhood legal services in Washington, D.C. He retired as a federal attorney for the Board of Veteran Appeals. Larry is survived by his husband of 20 years, Eric Peterson; two daughters; and two grandchildren.
G. Warren Smith ’62, Dec. 26, 2021, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Warren majored in chemistry at Grinnell, where he met Constance Krambeer Smith ’63. Following their wedding, he earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University. After a few years on the Cornell faculty, he joined the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, serving as department head and faculty member for 10 years. He next served as dean at the University of Houston-Clearlake and later moved to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, where he was vice president for academic affairs and then president. Then he served as Slippery Rock University’s 14th president from 1997 to 2003. He was a member of numerous scientific societies. An Eagle Scout, Warren was awarded the Silver Beaver in recognition of his years of dedication to scouting. He was a violinist and a faithful member of community orchestras wherever he lived. He also served in leadership roles in various civic and governmental groups. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Connie; his son; and two granddaughters.
Ane Sorensen Gade ’63, March 8, 2022, Santa Cruz, California. After a year of study at Grinnell, Ane married Barton Pruhs, had three children, then completed her undergraduate degree in school counseling at the University of Iowa. In the late 1960s, Ane worked as a school counselor. After completing her master’s degree in social work and counseling from the University of Iowa, she became a therapist for Lutheran Social Service’s Beloit of Iowa Counseling and Residential Treatment Center, where she eventually became clinical director. In the late 1970s, she married William Tysseling. In 1987, she moved to California, where she was employed as a counselor in San Jose and Santa Cruz. She opened a private counseling practice in 1991 and continued to provide counseling services to individuals and couples until 2021. Ane was an inveterate reader and loved the theatre. She is survived by her spouse, Bill; her daughter and two sons; and six grandchildren.
Sara Higgins Mitchell ’63, Jan. 30, 2022, Ames, Iowa. Sara attended Grinnell for two years, then graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She received her master’s in English education from University of Iowa later in her life. Sara married Larry Mitchell in 1963, and they raised two children. Besides teaching and providing English as a second language for many communities, she served on a school board in Wisconsin. Sara loved the woods and was a master gardener who loved working at Reiman Gardens in Ames. She enjoyed sewing and working on her loom and wrote family histories. Survivors include her husband, Larry; her daughter and son; and five grandchildren.
Beverly Kahling Offen ’63, Nov. 25, 2021, Glenview, Illinois. Beverly graduated from Grinnell Phi Beta Kappa with a major in history. Subsequently, she earned a master’s in library science from the University of Rochester and the University of Hawaii. Beverly was a professor of library sciences at Oakton (Illinois) Community College Library until retiring. Then she became a published and prolific short story writer as well as a talented poet. Beverly was a tireless volunteer who hosted numerous educational events for the Victorian Society and later became its president.
David V. Evans ’64, Feb. 25, 2022, Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from Grinnell, David went on to earn a master’s in political science from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University and worked toward a doctorate in political science at Penn State. He received an honorary doctorate from Hastings College in 1998, when he was the commencement speaker. David was an authority on federal education law. He was legislative associate for higher education of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Lifelong Learning and worked for Rep. Dale E. Kildee, the subcommittee’s ranking minority member. Before that, he served for 19 years with the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities as a professional staff member and director, working directly for Sen. Claiborne Pell. He played a key leadership role in reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act (1986, 1992, 1998); reauthorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1978, 1988, 1994); rewriting of the Vocational Education Act (1984, 1990, 1996); and other important legislation, such as The Education for Economic Security and Goals 2000 Act. He was a co-founder and member of the board of directors of Votivo, a candle manufacturing company in Seattle. He also served as administrative assistant to the governor of Rhode Island and special assistant to the governor of Nebraska. David was a member of his 40th, 45th, and 55th Grinnell reunion planning committees, and a class fund director from 2006 to 2022. He led his class in raising over $1.25 million for its 50th Reunion and in the establishment of the Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship.
Stephen P. Grooms ’64, Nov. 25, 2021, St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from Grinnell, Steve earned a master’s in American studies at the University of Minnesota, where he met and married Kathe (Schnoes) Grooms. An avid hunter and fisher, he was the senior editor of Fins and Feathers magazine for five years before becoming a successful outdoor writer whose work was published in many magazines and books, including his own Pheasant Hunter’s Harvest, The Cry of the Sandhill Crane, Bluebirds, The Ones that Got Away, and The Return of the Wolf. He looked back with pride on his outdoor writing career, noting that his writing reflected his progressive politics and helped legitimize the role of women in outdoor sports. Steve is survived by a daughter and grandson.
Michael Patterson ’64, Feb. 16, 2022, Dublin, Ohio. Michael went on to earn his doctorate in experimental psychology in 1969. He served as the director of research at three colleges of osteopathic medicine (Ohio University, Athens; University of Health Sciences, Kansas City, Missouri; and Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) from 1977 until retiring in 2008. He had innumerable scientific publications to his name and was associate editor for the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association and the Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine textbook. He earned multiple honors and awards, including an honorary Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the College of Osteopathic Studies in Montréal. He was an avid camper, international traveler, and was extremely proud of his scouting career where he earned his Eagle Scout, was a scout master, and earned the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service in scouting. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janice; two sons; and five grandchildren.
Thomas F. Somerville ’64, March 30, 2022, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After majoring in art and theatre at Grinnell, Tom received a master’s in theater from the University of South Dakota. He also earned an MFA in directing from Florida State University. Tom taught for several years as a tenured professor at the University of Puget Sound. Upon leaving academia, Tom had a long and successful career as a theatre director of more than 160 productions, directing shows at some of the nation’s most prestigious regional theatres. From 1985 to 1990, Tom served as director of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre in Jupiter, Florida. Tom is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy; five children; and five grandchildren.
Allen M. Rossman ’66, Jan. 20, 2022, Woodinville, Washington. Allen attended Grinnell and Johns Hopkins Medical School and received his ophthalmology training at Yale. Part of his residency was spent in Haiti at Albert Schweitzer Hospital. He also served two years in the Army Medical Corps in Fort Riley, Kansas. Soon after Allen opened his ophthalmology practice in Kirkland, Washington, he was diagnosed with leukemia but triumphed over the disease and returned to full-time practice for more than 30 years. Music was a lifelong passion. He played the guitar and banjo, joining college classmates in impromptu performances. He was a member of The Geezers and the Pointless Sisters band, which performed at his 50th Grinnell Reunion celebration. Allen and his wife, Debbie, were married nearly 40 years. Following retirement, they spent time on the road in their Alfa Romeo sports cars, volunteering at rallies with the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon. They also spent winters in Arizona with family and friends. Allen is survived by his wife, Debbie; two daughters; three grandchildren; and sister, Amy Rossman ’68.
Stewart M. Mansfield ’67, May 19, 2021, Northville, Michigan. After Grinnell, Stew proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 and received the Bronze Star. After his military service, he had a successful career with Ford Motor Co. from 1972 to 2000. Stew is survived by his wife of 28 years, Barbara; a son, and two grandchildren.
Michael C. Dejoie ’68, January 2022, New Orleans. Mike was known and beloved by classmates across campus. At a time when Grinnell men typically socialized in their own hall, Mike could be found in any hall. He sang in choir and fondly remembered performing for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Mike worked on The Scarlet & Black and was in ROTC. He was one of the founders of the Grinnell College radio station KDIC. After graduation, he worked for a time at CBS News. He later became a public relations executive with AT&T in Atlanta before returning home to his beloved New Orleans. Both his home and his ancestral home were devasted in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina; he worked hard to restore both. Mike was a member of his 40th Grinnell Reunion planning committee and served as a GRASP volunteer from 2004 to 2017.
Bruce C. Luecke ’69, Nov. 27, 2021, Madison, Wisconsin. Bruce earned his DVM from the University of Missouri and held an advanced degree in pathology from the University of Illinois. He worked for the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the 1980s. He acted as a whistleblower, a challenging and defining experience. Bruce was devoted to animals, wild and domestic, and was in his element taking care of things. Bruce and his wife, Susan Freiss, enjoyed the adventures they had exploring wild places in Wisconsin and beyond. In Bruce’s later working years, he enjoyed his position as a special education assistant with the school district, helping to support children with special needs and who had experienced trauma. Bruce is survived by his wife, Susan.
Roy Biser ’70, Feb. 24, 2022, Houston. Roy earned a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. He served as a Methodist minister at many churches throughout East Texas and was a valued member of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Roy married his high school sweetheart, Merri Gay Beatty, who survives.
Rachel Canright Summers ’70, Sept. 4, 2021, Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada. Born in Chicago, Rachel spent part of her childhood in Guam. After earning her bachelor’s at Grinnell, she earned another bachelor’s, in nursing, from New York University. She lived in New York for 35 years before moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen in 2004. For almost 20 years, Rachel lived in the old lighthouse-keeper’s house in Port Medway, Nova Scotia. She was an excellent artist, a painter with a liking for egg tempera, and a sculptor. She was a careful gardener, tending the flowers around her house and working in the community vegetable garden. She had been an emergency room nurse in New York. She was a Port Medway first responder with the volunteer fire department, always ready to help with fire and medical emergencies.
James E. Bierman ’73, Jan. 15, 2022, Northfield, Minnesota. Jim attended Grinnell for two years, then transferred to the University of Minnesota where he received his bachelor’s in mortuary science. He returned to Northfield to work for his family’s furniture store and mortuary, eventually buying Bierman Funeral Home, which he owned and operated until retiring in 2015. Jim and his high school sweetheart, Mary Boyd, married in 1972. Jim was active in the Sportsman’s Club, was a member and usher at St. John’s Lutheran Church, enjoyed fishing, and took many trips with friends and family to Canada and Alaska. He received the Rice County Wildlife Enhancement Award in 2020. Survivors include his wife, Mary; three children, and one granddaughter.
John F. Potts ’74, Feb. 26, 2022, Ottawa Hills, Ohio. After Grinnell, John graduated from the University of Toledo Law School in 1978. He was a longtime Toledo attorney, practicing on his own for 45 years; specializing in criminal law, white- collar crime, and appellate work. John loved music and played harmonica with several groups, including the Post-Modern Blues and The Microphonics. In his youth he was an athlete, wrestling and playing football for his four years at Grinnell. He also enjoyed bicycling and following the Tour de France.
Twila Thompson ’76, Jan. 4, 2022, New York City. Twila attended Grinnell to study theatre. Ultimately landing in New York City, she participated in acting classes at the Actors Institute. Soon, she was facilitating programs, leading group experiences, and offering personal coaching. As the Actors Institute evolved to work more in the corporate world, Twila became a partner in TAI Group. She developed an intense experiential program, challenging people to reframe personal injury and trauma as a source of creativity expressed through poetry, prose, music, and sculpture. In 2013, she relocated to London to develop international business. She returned to the United States as the director of new partnerships.
David H. Leech ’79, June 15, 2021, Eureka, California.
Peter D. Russell ’79, Feb. 5, 2021, Malibu, California. Peter was a story analyst for major film and TV production companies in the 1990s. Then he started his own business: teaching, writing, consulting, and appearing regularly as a conference speaker. Peter entertained and inspired with his online presence as “peterrussellscriptdoctor.” He taught at several California colleges and was awarded Teacher of the Year at University of California-Los Angeles in 2009. Peter was hiking with his wife when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Suzy.
Sarah Brichford ’81, Feb. 28, 2022, Russiaville, Indiana. Sarah went on from Grinnell to earn a master’s in environmental studies from Yale University. In 1992, she married Jack D. Johnson. She worked as a water quality specialist in various positions for universities, nonprofits, and local government for over 30 years before retiring in 2019. Sarah was an outdoor recreation enthusiast and played several sports. She was an avid fly fisher. She played French horn with the Kokomo Chamber Brass, Howard County-IUK Community Band, and community theatre productions. She was a volunteer for many community groups and activities. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She is survived by her husband, Jack, and a son and daughter.
Robert F. Hale ’82, Jan. 24, 2022, Michigan City, Indiana. Bob graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and worked as a Great Lakes merchant seaman. Survivors include his sister, Julie Hale ’79.
Nikolas Gregory ’90, Feb. 20, 2022, Andover, Massachusetts. Nik earned a doctorate from MIT in 1999. A longtime resident of Andover, where he lived with his wife of 30 years, Laura Meyer Gregory ’89, Nik enjoyed photography, walking, skiing, and spending time with family. After he died unexpectedly, his family suggested memorial donations could be made to the Nik Gregory ’90 Fund at Grinnell College. Nik is survived by his wife, Laura, and two daughters.
Roy B. Huggins ’99, Nov. 19, 2021, Portland, Oregon. Roy studied music at Grinnell, performing in Grinnell Singers. In 2001 he transitioned to Portland, where he met Electra Allenton ’05. He worked in web development until he obtained a master’s in counseling from Portland State University (PSU). After graduating and marrying, he and his wife moved to Japan for three years. Upon their return to Portland, Roy was invited back to PSU to teach. However, his life’s work and deep purpose was his multinational bilingual counseling practice and a nationally respected consulting company, which assists with HIPAA compliance. Roy was a GRASP volunteer from 2002 to 2013. He is survived by his wife, Electra.
James R. Schueller ’03, Feb. 8, 2022, Los Angeles. While attending Grinnell, Jim earned numerous varsity letters in baseball and football. After he received his bachelor’s in history, he lived in the Phoenix area for several years before moving to Los Angeles. Jim spent his life doing what he loved — meeting new people, being a free spirit, working as a professional physical fitness trainer, and playing the guitar in several bands. Jim loved his family dearly, rarely missing a large Schueller family gathering. Survivors include his parents, sister, two brothers, and four nieces.
Former Faculty
Ed Gilday, May 17, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies Ed Gilday taught countless Grinnell students about Asian religions and culture. After earning his bachelor’s in Asian studies, master’s in Buddhist studies, and doctorate in the history of religions, he worked at both Bowdoin College and the University of Colorado. He joined the Grinnell faculty in 1995. Over the course of two decades, he taught courses on Asian religions, including Buddhism and Chinese and Japanese religions. He chaired the religious studies department for many years and was a strong proponent of off-campus studies. Ed was beloved by students for his friendliness and for being invested in their success.
Mathilda Liberman, April 12, 2022, Lincolnwood, Illinois. Mathilda earned her bachelor’s at the University of Michigan and her master’s at the University of Connecticut. She started her career with Grinnell in 1960, when her husband, Myron Liberman, joined the faculty as a professor of English. Mathilda taught courses in the humanities and was instrumental in helping to develop and organize the Writing Lab. She was the lab’s first director and served in that role for more than two decades. Myron retired in 1987 and died in 1995. Mathilda was named lecturer emerita in English when she retired in 1997. Mathilda’s survivors include her two sons.
Sheila McCarthy, Jan. 11, 2022, Ithaca, New York. Sheila graduated from Emmanuel College with a bachelor’s in Russian. She went on to receive a master’s in Soviet area studies from Harvard and a doctorate in Russian literature from Cornell University. Shelia joined the College as an associate professor of Russian in 1973. She met her husband, Clifford “Cliff” Reid, here. They left Grinnell in the late 1980s to take faculty positions at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Throughout her career, Sheila was known equally for her excellence as an instructor and for her care of students as individuals. She retired from Colby in 2009. Cliff Reid passed away in November 2021.
Gregg Narber
Longtime College board member, Des Moines civic leader
Gregg R. Narber ’68, Grinnell College Board of Trustees life trustee and a civic leader in Des Moines, Iowa, died Feb. 16, 2022, in Longmont, Colorado. He was 75.
Gregg believed fervently in education and actively pursued it all his life. He majored in political science and Latin American area studies at Grinnell, then earned his master’s in political science and law degree from Washington University (St. Louis), and a master’s and doctorate in history from the University of Iowa. He pursued additional studies in the political science doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in the MFA program in painting at Drake University.
Gregg was editor-in-chief of the Washington University Law Quarterly and won awards for his scholarship. He taught history at Luther College and as a graduate instructor at the University of Iowa. He published works on Regionalist and New Deal art programs. Gregg was an AFS exchange student to Brazil in 1964, acquiring facility in Portuguese.
After law school, he did active duty as a trial judge advocate
in the Marine Corps. In a 27-year legal career with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa, he became senior vice president and
general counsel; leaving that position to serve as a director of Principal’s joint venture in Brazil. He was a member of the house of delegates of the American Bar Association for several years.
Gregg’s other passions included reading, art, and music. He was on the board of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and a life trustee of the Des Moines Art Center, where he gifted important works to its collection and was president of the board for several years and a member and later chair of its acquisition committee. He was a member of the Des Moines Arts and Recreation Council, the City of Des Moines Public Art Commission, and the Des Moines National Poetry Festival. Gregg also wrote and lectured widely on regionalist and New Deal art programs.
Gregg served as a Grinnell College trustee from 2000 to 2012, then was named a life trustee. He was a member of the Grinnell College Museum of Art Leadership Council from 2015 to 2018.
Gregg shared 50 of his years with two remarkable women: Christann (Kice) Higley ’70, mother of his two sons; and Kathleen Joyce “Kathie” Andriano, with whom he adopted two daughters.
He is survived by his wife, Kathie; four children; six grandchildren; and a brother and sister. Christann also survives.
Emily Ann Pfitsch D.H.L ’17, longtime friend of the College and recipient of an honorary doctor of humane letters in 2017, died Jan. 21, 2022, at the age of 96.
Professor Tyler Tillinghast Roberts, who taught religious studies at Grinnell beginning in 1998, died unexpectedly June 3, 2021, at the age of 61.
Waldo “Wally” Walker died Aug. 28, 2020, in Grinnell, at the age of 89. Although he retired from the College nearly 20 years ago, his impact on Grinnell is still apparent today.