1960s

New submissions for Spring 2026:  From Jane Holden Huerta: “I am hoping to see some submissions here from the Class of 1960! During the past year Juan and I have travelled a lot, mostly visiting family—children, grandchildren, cousins! We even spent 40 days in the Northeast in December 2025! Took the auto train from Florida to Virginia and drove from there to Maine and back with lots of stops. We had a blast! I am still working and playing in the Duplicate Bridge world both in clubs and remotely. I had the great pleasure of celebrating John Vollmer‘s 90th birthday celebration on April 11, 2026, in San Francisco. John and I went to high school together as well. John was a soccer player, and when he arrived at Colby, there was no soccer. Well, that changed very quickly. In four years, there was a varsity soccer team at Colby. The team was undefeated in their last season, including a win over BU.”

Coming Soon—submit your own Class Note!

Coming Soon—submit your own Class Note!

New submissions for Spring 2026: Tom (Thomas) Grossman ’63 and retired Lt. Col. Jim Johnson ’62 attended the Grossman Lecture in Economics, supported by an endowment from Tom’s father Nissie Grossman ’32, in March 2026. Tom and Jim meet up every year at Colby to share memories of their time together at Colby.

New submissions for Fall 2025: Jan Jennings and Herbert Gottfried are retired Cornell professors who now live in Tulsa, Okla.

New submissions for Spring 2026: From Sally Berry: “Doris Kearns Goodwin is a national treasure! Doris was my classmate at Colby College. I follow her successes! I am from an old pioneer family from Maine: Nathaniel Berry b. 1735, a life guard to George Washington in 1776. Nathaniel’s older brother was Samuel Berry, also a Revolutionary soldier! Now, in 2026, we are in a pickle! And I, of course, want Doris to fix it for us! But, I know it’s a problem for WE THE PEOPLE! 🇺🇸 I also know that she’s ‘our Doris!’ and a NATIONAL TREASURE!”

New submissions for Spring 2026: Jay Gronlund ’65 submitted this newsy report: “We had a memorable 60th Reunion last June 2025, our first as Golden Mules. Admittedly, it felt weird to lead in the Parade of Classes (are we really that old?). We had more than 35 classmates attend, many loyal supporters who come every five years, and then there was Eric Spitzer ’65, who had not attended a reunion in eons, never took off his handsome blazer, and was constantly repeating how much fun he was having. The Saturday dinner was mixed with another class, which raised some questions, but a few hard-core classmates closed the bar: John Cornell ’65, Judy Eyges ’65, Rick ’65 and Nancy Winslow Harwood ’65, Bob Rogers ’65, and me. John Tewhey ’65 hosted me before the reunion, and we met with a long-lost friend, Ken Stone ’64, for a fun lunch. Sunny Coady ’65 had an additional reunion with her three siblings, who all went to Colby and were present at Reunion Weekend. Sunny and Bucky ’65 and Anna Owens Smith ’65 enjoyed the Colby-Williams soccer game in Williamstown in October; we all had lunch together in Naples, Fla., in January, too. Gail and Rick Davis ’65 had a memorable Tauck tour through Scandinavia in September and are now planning a Mediterranean tour with a focus on Malta in May.  Margo Beach ’65 was so happy to see Barbara McGillicudy Bolton ’65, and she really enjoyed reading Barbara’s book Lulu Goes To College, based on her Colby experience. Ginger Goddard Barnes ’65 is still healthy enough to get around, visiting Charley ’63 and Pam Plumb Carey ’65 in Delray Beach, Fla., in March. But no one can beat Rick and Nancy Harwood in worldwide travels. They took a long cruise in the Far East last winter, from Singapore to Bangkok. Andy ’64 and Nancy Greer Weiland ’65 actually found snow in Vail to enjoy skiing in March with their daughter and granddaughter. May-Lis and I had a wonderful Viking tour to Iceland and the fjords of Norway last June, including a side trip to Oslo to see my cousins. The bigger news was son Peter having a baby boy, Anderson, on New Year’s Eve (my first grandson), joining his 18-month-old sister, Hadley. My best to all!”

New submissions for Spring 2026: Sandy Miller ’67 writes that she has been taking Apple classes to master Procreate on her iPad, and enjoys reading, gardening, and meeting with friends in both the Boston area and her summer home in Maryland. “Doing exactly what I choose is unique and exhilarating after a lifetime of caretaking. I’ve never felt better. I am looking forward to our 60th Reunion next year as co-President with Patty (Patricia) Jenkins ’67. Mark your calendars!”

New submissions for Fall 2025: Jean Ridington Goldfine has lived in Swanville, Maine, since 1973. She is (almost) retired from being a psychotherapist, LCSW. Jean visits Iceland every year, 23 years now, to ride the amazing Icelandic horses. And she has one at home.

Coming Soon—submit your own Class Note!

New submissions for Fall 2025: 56 years after graduating, Brad Kelly has finally retired. This past year he closed Operation Saturation, an India-focused charity where he served as chairman and president for 25 years, and Acesis, Inc., where he served as a board member since inception. He is also in the process of selling his ownership interest in Spur Capital Partners, which he co-founded 25 years ago.

• Richard Drummond, III ’60, May 19, 2021, at 84.
• Henry “Corky” W. Fitzpatrick Jr. ’60, Sept. 21, 2024, in Milford, Del., at 85. He completed the ROTC program at Colby and was commissioned with the U.S. Air Force upon graduation. He served as a captain for eight years, spending time in Vietnam and earning an Air Force Commendation Medal. He earned a master’s from the University of Colorado in 1969 and then dedicated many years of service to the Department of the Navy in Washington, D.C. He retired in 2004 and relocated from Virginia to Rehoboth Beach, Del., where he enjoyed working as a barista at BookSandCoffee in Dewey Beach and took pride in maintaining the CAMP Rehoboth magazine boxes for nearly a decade. A dedicated walker, he was often seen exploring the scenic paths of Rehoboth Beach. He was loved for his laughter, gentle guidance, and unwavering support. At Colby, he established the Henry W. and Elinor Marie Fitzpatrick Memorial Financial Aid Fund in honor of his parents. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Kathleen, a son, and a grandson.
• Robert D. Haggett ’60, Aug. 4, 2024, in Batavia, N.Y., at 87. He joined the U.S. Army after Colby and was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, serving for two years and working in the personnel department. His military job led to a lifelong career in human resources working for the manufacturing companies Oxford Papermill in Rumford, Maine, and Manchester, N.H.; Mead Corporation in Cincinnati; Hamilton Industries in Wisconsin; and Special Metals in New York. His passion was union negotiations and training. With every relocation, he dove deep into the social scene, creating friendships by playing bridge, tennis, and golf and honoring cocktail hour daily. During retirement, along the Saco River in Biddeford, Maine, he was a substitute teacher. He wrote rhyming poems for special events, was a die-hard Red Sox and Patriots fan, and was a fierce competitor from cribbage to horseshoes. He joined local clubs, including Rotary and the Elks Club, and had a knack for creating connections with people. Survivors include three children, six grandchildren, and a brother, William E. Haggett ’56.
• Elaine Starke Jones ’60, July 27, 2024, in Ware, Mass., at 85. She was an educator, teaching high school in Somerset, Mass., early in her career and later at Highcroft School in Williamstown, Mass., where she shared her love of Shakespeare with students. An active community member, she worked with the North Adams Public Library and League of Women Voters as well as staunchly advocating for local schools in communities. She and her husband were well known for their love of gardening, and their extended gardens were a joy to all. “Good company, daily walks together, a welcoming table, music, and flowers supported a life well lived,” her family noted. She leaves five children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
• Robert H. Littlefield ’60, Aug. 15, 2024, in Boston, Mass., at 86. After graduating from Colby with his twin brother, both majoring in physics, he earned master’s degrees in physics from Tufts University and in education from the University of Maine. Between degrees, he served two years in the U.S. Air Force, prior to accepting a teaching position at Mount Holyoke College, where he met and married his wife. They moved to Brewer, Maine, to raise their family while he spent the next 20-plus years teaching physics and math at Husson College and Nokomis High School. He retired when he developed severe heart failure, opting for a life-saving Left Ventricular Assist Device implantation. He spent the next 15-plus years powered by batteries, becoming the longest surviving recipient of the device. He loved tennis and continued to play (doubles only) with his device. He was also proud of his perennial gardens. His last 10 years were enriched by his involvement with the Maine Air Museum in Bangor, where he served on the board of directors and built several STEM displays. Predeceased by his twin brother, Ronald G. Littlefield ’60, he leaves his wife of 56 years, Sarah, two daughters, five grandchildren, and a brother.
• Robert J. MacLean ’60, Dec. 14, 2024, in Wilson, Wyo., at 87. After Colby, he served three years in the U.S. Army National Guard. His love of teaching led him to a distinguished career as an educator, first with the Allen Stevenson School in New York City and later with the Rye Country Day School, where he taught English, coached varsity hockey and lacrosse, and spearheaded the construction and operation of its tennis and ice hockey complex. He also founded and ran the Wildcat Hockey Camp, was chair of the Hockey Committee for the Hickory Hill Skating Rink in Katonah, N.Y., and president of the Southern New England Interscholastic Ice Hockey Coaches Association. After many years of racing motorcycles, he founded World Championship Motorsports in 1991 and was its co-owner and operator until 2005. WCM competed at the highest level of international motorsports in the FIM Grand Prix Motorcycle series, and he was highly regarded for his entrepreneurial spirit and leadership in the industry. He also served his community on the board of the South Kent School, the Teton County Sheriff’s Auxiliary, and the New York board of the Shakespeare Globe. In retirement in Wyoming, he found peace and fulfillment fly-fishing and on his ranch. He leaves his wife of 64 years, Mary “Marna” Hanson MacLean ’61, three sons, and five grandchildren.
• Ann Monro ’60, Feb. 2, 2025, in Gloucester, Mass., at 86.
• Richard A. Walton ’60, Feb. 1, 2025, in Montpelier, Vt., at 86. After Colby, he served in the U.S. Army, driving big trucks, and lived in New York City, where he worked at the Village Gate on Bleecker Street and saw greats such as Dave Brubeck, The Smothers Brothers, and Nina Simone. He earned two graduate degrees, an M.L.S. from Simmons College in 1970 and an M.A. in business from Goddard College in 1977. He worked as a librarian in Vermont before discovering his true passion among high school students at Spaulding High School in Barre, where he was head librarian for more than 20 years, retiring in 2000. In retirement, he was a hospice volunteer, focusing on veterans, and a tai chi practitioner. With an appreciation for beauty, he loved photography, visiting art museums, and collecting driftwood and rocks. He leaves his wife, Kate Gavin, a daughter, a stepson, and three grandchildren.
• Nancy Judd Coughlan ’61, April 19, 2024, in Fairfax, Va., at 84. She received her master’s in education from Harvard University in 1962 and married the following year. As an Air Force spouse, she spent 25 years working in education as a reading specialist and later as an elementary school principal. In 2002 she was selected as Elementary School Administrator of the Year for the entire state of Virginia. She leaves her husband of 60 years, Peter Coughlan ’63, three sons, and seven grandchildren.
• Charles E. DeWitt ’61, Aug. 30, 2024, in Topsham, Maine, at 86. He earned an M.B.A. in 1963 from St. John’s University and started his business career with AT&T before launching a successful 33-year management career with Keyes Fibre in Waterville. Keyes became Chinet before he earned a well-deserved retirement in 1999. He became an avid golfer in retirement and continued his love of sports, attending events in person and watching them on TV. He also had a lifelong love of reading. His community involvement included service as a selectman, volunteer fireman, and school board member for the town of Sidney. He was also a member of his church vestry. Predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ann Dudley DeWitt ’60, he leaves three children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
• Joseph H. Gibbons ’61, May 21, 2025.
• Dorothy Kirkendall ’61, Mar. 10, 2026.
• Thomas Kirkendall ’61, Nov. 18, 2022. 
• Barry E. Long ’61, March 3, 2025, in Norwalk, Conn., at 84. He earned his law degree in 1964 from Cornell Law School and worked as a corporate real estate attorney at Cuddy and Feder LLP for more than 40 years. Those who knew him understood his love of a good negotiation. He enjoyed vacationing on Cape Cod, skiing, and spending time with his children. For many years, he was a member of the Pound Ridge Community Church, serving in numerous ways, and a generous benefactor to many charities. He leaves two children and three siblings.
• Wilma Russell Merrill ’61, April 27, 2024, in Hyannis, Mass., at 84. After Colby, she worked in several Boston-area hospitals, including for 10 years in the chemistry lab of the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. She “retired” early to raise her three children and tend to her home. She cared deeply about her family, enjoyed reading, and was a whiz at Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and brain games. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Gary Merrill, a son, six grandchildren, and a sister.
• Hyland Plimpton ’61, Aug. 11, 2023.
• George Cary Nix ’61, Aug. 18, 2025, in Rochester, N.Y., at 86.
• Penelope “Penny” Dean Robb ’61, Dec. 22, 2024, in New York, N.Y., at 84. Born on July 13, 1940, in London, England, two months before the start of the London Blitz, she was an English literature major at Colby. Her passion for theater became immediately evident during her freshman year through her involvement with Powder and Wig, the student-run theatrical group. This passion continued throughout her life, culminating with her decades-long affiliation with the St. Bart’s Players, the longest-running, nonprofit community theater group in New York City. Her first husband, Frank Spierling ’59, passed away in 1968, but she maintained long-lasting friendships with their mutual friends, including Peter Vlachos ’58, Burt Angrist ’58, Geraldine Harrison and Hugh Nazor ’59, and Geoff Wheeler ’58. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Valerie Spierling ’89, the goddaughter of Peter Vlachos, who established the Valerie Spierling Scholarship at Colby College in her memory to support Colby students from the New York City area, where donations may be directed. Survivors include a sister and extended family.
• Henry K. Wingate ’61, Nov. 12, 2024, in Pittsfield, Mass., at 86. He earned a master’s from Columbia University Teachers College in 1969 and later a professional diploma for New York State administrators from Fordham University. He taught public middle school history, social studies, and cultural arts for a decade in Ardsley, N.Y., where he was also an administrator. He was granted tenure in 1971, retired, and moved to Otis and later to Lee, Mass., beginning in 1995. He was an enthusiastic athlete and coach for high school and middle school teams, excelling in baseball, basketball, and tennis. He served on the board of Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.; acted as student admissions interviewer for Colby; and served on the board of the Collegiate School. In Berkshire County, he held leadership positions with the Otis Cultural Council, the Otis Council on Aging, and the Otis Library, where he served as its museum docent. He was an active member of the Congregational churches in Otis and Lee, and he helped found the Otis Gazette. He was also an active member of Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. He leaves two sons, Robert and Peter ’93, and two grandchildren.
• Benjamin Blaney ’62, Oct. 21, 2024, in Bar Harbor, Maine, at 84. He earned a master’s in German from Middlebury College in 1967 and a doctorate in Germanic philology from Colorado University in 1972. He taught for 29 years at Mississippi State University in Starkville, where he and his wife raised their three sons. He was a highly regarded professor emeritus of Germanic philology, retiring in 2001. He moved to Bar Harbor and continued his love of teaching at Acadia Senior College, where he taught 28 popular courses. The core of his curriculum was the Sagas of the Icelanders. He loved baseball and Ironbound Island in Maine, where he worked outdoors chopping wood, felling trees, hiking, and reading John Gould books. He loved to sing, in a “most heavenly tenor voice,” the songs of Ironbound Island, which he sang during musical therapy classes at Safe Harbor in Birch Bay, where he lived out his final years. He was also a member of the choir at Bar Harbor Congregational Church and took part in the living nativity, where he was usually one of the wise men. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Anne Rossi, three sons, a grandchild, and a sister.
• Elizabeth Conley Claggett ’62, April 16, 2026, in Frederick, M.D., at 86.
• Edwin B. Cragin Jr. ’62, March 9, 2025, in White Plains, N.Y., at 84. He graduated from Colby as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Vietnam Era. After his military service, he earned his M.B.A. from Boston University and established a career as a financial advisor. He retired from Ameriprise Financial in 2020. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent weekends on his farm in Colchester, often with a chainsaw in hand. He served for 30 years as a trustee of Camp Onaway, where his daughters attended, and was a trustee of the Cragin Memorial Library, a member of the investment committee, and a former Vestry member of the Parish of Christ the Redeemer. Predeceased by his daughter, Susan R. Cragin ’99, he leaves his wife, Virginia Murphy Cragin ’61, three children, and six grandchildren.
• Joyce Dignam Flynn ’62, Aug. 24, 2024, in Atlanta, Ga., at 83. She moved to Boston after Colby, earned a degree in dental hygiene from Tufts University, and worked as a hygienist in New York for a period. She married in 1965 and moved to Vermont, where she raised her three sons. Later, she earned a master’s of education from the University of Vermont and taught grade school at Mater Christi in Burlington. She loved flower and vegetable gardening and later in life turned to painting, developing an affinity toward watercolors. Her faith was a key element in her life, attending mass regularly and ensuring her boys received a Catholic education. Predeceased by her father, Walter L. Dignam ’33, she leaves three sons, including Kevin Flynn ’93; three sisters, Judith Dignam ’60, Joan Dignam Schmaltz ’63 and her husband, Richard Schmaltz ’63, and Janice Dignam Mauer ’72; and seven grandchildren, including Kevin Flynn ’93 and Ryan Flynn ’06.
• Peter M. Jaffe ’62, March 27, 2026.
• Alice Shest Loffredo ’62, July 8, 2024, in Freehold, N.J., at 83. After Colby, she had a brief career as a French teacher followed by 10 years at home raising her daughters. She returned to work as a systems manager while studying astrology, which would become her career. Dubbed “Alice the Astrologer,” she worked as a karmic astrologer, offering individual readings, authoring three books, and giving lectures and interviews. Other passions included the French language, gardening, Neil Diamond’s music, logic puzzles, cruises, needlepoint, and long walks. She leaves her husband of more than 40 years, Donald Caroli, two daughters, a granddaughter, and a sister.
• Bruce C. Marshall ’62, Jan. 14, 2025, in Fernandina Beach, Fla., at 85. He served in the U.S. Navy as a naval flight officer for eight years and flying with a test squadron and with three deployments on aircraft carriers. He then launched a successful career with Westinghouse Defense, spending five years in London, where he was in charge of international business, and then working in Washington as director of operations. In retirement, he and his wife embarked on a global adventure, traveling with close friends and honing their shared passion for fly fishing. They explored North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Their best moments, however, were spent at their homes on Amelia Island and Phippsburg, Maine, surrounded by family and friends. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Linda, a son, and three grandchildren.
• Lisa Walker Meyerhuber ’62, Nov. 26, 2024, in Apollo, Pa., at 84. In addition to raising her children, she worked as an elementary education teacher, focusing on gifted students, in the Armstrong-Indiana Intermediate Unit 28 and the Indiana School District, retiring in 2002. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority for women educators and the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a voracious reader. She leaves her husband of 62 years, Carl I. Meyerhuber Jr. ’62, three sons, five grandchildren, and seven siblings.
• Brenda Bertorelli Pates ’62, July 7, 2024, in Wadsworth, Wis., at 84. After a period as a mother and homemaker, she earned a master’s in deaf and hard of hearing education from Columbia University. Inspired by a deaf cousin, she dedicated her life to the deaf and hard of hearing community, teaching at the New York School for the Deaf for 25 years and later working as an educator and administrator for the Waukegan Public School District. She also mentored young teachers. She held an abiding faith in Christ that called her to ministry and charity work, feeding and clothing the unhoused through local ministries. Hobbies and passions included travel, food and wine, music, and arts and crafts. She leaves three children, seven grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a sister.
• Patricia Farnham Russell ’62, Jan. 22, 2025, in Falmouth, Maine, at 84. She married shortly after graduation and moved to Millinocket, Maine, where she raised her children, tended her home, and took advantage of the recreation in the Maine North Woods. After 13 years, she returned to teaching and, because her field of mathematics was not available, she earned a master’s in special education from the University of Maine at Orono in 1983, traveling 125 round trip weekly for five years to earn her degree. She retired from teaching in 1998 and relocated to Hampden, Maine. After her husband’s passing in 2011, she was an almost unstoppable force of nature and world traveler who could be found baking “blasberry” pies at her beloved camp on North Twin Lake, cross-country skiing the Bait Hole, tapping maple trees at the family sap camp in Elliottsville, attending her grandchildren’s events, supporting a medical mission in Ecuador, or cruising the Rhine River in Germany, which she did just months before her cancer diagnosis last December. At Colby, she was a loyal and helpful alumna. She was president of the Millinocket Colby Alumni Club, served as class agent and correspondent, and represented her class on the Alumni Council. In 1977 the College awarded her a Colby Brick. She came from a long line of Colby alumni, including her parents, Margaret “Peg” Davis Farnham, Class of 1928, and Roderick E. Farnham, Class of 1931, who established the Farnham Writers’ Center at Colby. Survivors include three children, including Jeff Russell ’87 and Margaret Russell Ewalt ’92; four grandchildren, including Alison Russell ’18; and four siblings, including Alden Sprague ’53 and Jane Farnham Rabeni ’66.
• J. Peter Thompson ’62, Dec. 17, 2024, in Auburn, Maine, at 85. He earned a law degree from Boston University in 1965 and practiced law in Auburn at Platz and Thompson. He was an iconic figure and local legend, in and out of the courts and office. He remained a member of the bar throughout his life. In his early years, he was a harbormaster, skilled sailor, and fisherman. Later, at home on Lake Auburn, he was a hands-on master woodworker and craftsman. He was also known for his winding stone walls built over many years with rocks he collected from the lake, woods, and fields. These walls remain a testament to the way he lived, devotedly shaping something beautiful and lasting out of the world around him. He is remembered for his uniqueness, creativity, eccentricity, irreverence, humor, and enormous spirit. He was an avid cribbage and pool player, a blues lover, a gifted storyteller, a master of comfort food cooking, a generous host, and a great friend. Survivors include a daughter, grandson, and two stepchildren.
• Ruth Schafer Sarrica ’63, Sept. 18, 2024, in St. George, Utah, at 82. Her first job as a teenager was writing names on Easter eggs at Gifford’s Ice Cream parlor due to her impressively small and precise handwriting. She was primarily a homemaker and mother early in her adult life. Later she worked for Gold Circle stores and for insurance companies in Ohio, New York, and Texas. She retired from the Ohio School Board Association in 1995 after serving as controller. She found pleasure in family, her cats, reading, knitting, needlepoint, and football, especially the Ohio State Buckeyes. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her husband, an activity they began at Colby and continued throughout 60 years of marriage. Anthony Sarrica ’63 survived her, but just for two months; he died Nov. 26, 2024. She leaves their two children, two grandsons, and her sister.
• Dean E. Shea ’62, Aug. 3, 2024, in Wiscasset, Maine, at 84. He combined his athletic prowess with his love of language and literature into a career teaching and coaching high schoolers. He taught in Maine’s Dexter High School, Foxcroft Academy, and Schenck High School in East Millinocket, where he was an inspiring figure for 25 years, teaching English and coaching cross country, basketball, and baseball. In 1971 he earned a master’s in English from the University of Maine and was awarded fellowships at Carleton College and the University of Oregon to study Henry David Thoreau. In retirement, he returned to his roots in Wiscasset, enjoying his family; hiking, paddling, fishing, and hunting; running road races, from 5Ks to marathons; and feeding his competitive spirit by rooting for the Red Sox and playing cribbage. He possessed a dry wit and was a master storyteller. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Sandra, three children, 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
• Deborah Williams ’62, Feb. 22, 2025.
• Allan M. Zehe ’63, Feb. 8, 2026.
• Gerard A. Corbin ’63, June 25, 2024, in Plano, Texas, at 82. He spent his career working at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, holding various positions and working his way up to regional claims manager. He also received a Chartered Property Casualty and Underwriters designation, commonly known as CPCU, scoring so high that he taught a CPCU prep course at the University of Connecticut. During his career, he lived in Hartford, Chicago, and Cincinnati before settling in Dallas. He loved sports cars, owning a Corvette and a Porsche in the 1980s. He leaves two children, two grandchildren, and two brothers.
• James E. Lapides ’63, March 2, 2025, in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., at 83. After a stint working for Seagram’s Distillers in New York City after graduation, he began a career in finance with Prudential Securities in New Haven, Conn. The blizzard of February 1978 convinced him to move to a warmer, sunny climate, which he did 20 years later. He retired from Prudential, in Sarasota, Fla., after a 43-year career. A four-year letterman on Colby’s golf team, he continued to enjoy golf throughout his life. He also loved the Red Sox and enjoyed watching spring training. He was described as a “homebody” who loved his life, family, and close friends. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Lucy, two children, including Matthew Lapides ’94, four grandchildren, and two brothers.
• Constance “Connie” Miller Manter ’63, Nov. 22, 2024, in East Boothbay, Maine, at 83. She earned two master’s degrees from Syracuse University and was in the doctoral “Leadership in Schooling” program at the University of Lowell. She was a dedicated educator who, from 1969 to 1988, held the position of social studies teacher and department head in the Groton, Mass., school district. In 1982 she was named Distinguished Teacher of the Year in Geography by the National Council for Geographic Education. She was awarded a Russian Studies Fellowship at Yale in 1984 and vigorously pursued a rapport with students and teachers in the then-Soviet Union, a country she visited five times with high school students. In 1989 she went to work for the State of Maine, Department of Education as a social studies curriculum developer and assessment coordinator, traveling the state to assist in staff development and curriculum design and give encouragement to social studies teachers. Much of her professional energy was directed toward at-risk students: the abused, disadvantaged, culturally deprived, or those with special physical needs. She retired from the Department of Education in 2004 and started her own private consulting business, assisting communities and educators around the world. She finally officially retired in 2014. Beyond their careers, she and her husband, Walter, cherished life with family and friends and enjoyed adventures, including world travel, boating, skiing, entertaining, and celebrating throughout. She leaves two sons and a granddaughter.
• Cynthia Peters McIver ’63, April 1, 2025, in Pinehurst, N.C., at 83. She continued her academic career at Middlebury College, earning an M.A. in 1964, and at Harvard University, earning a Ph.D. in 1968. She was also a Fulbright Scholar in Germany at the University of Mainz and in Austria at the University of Vienna. She spent her entire career as a foreign language educator in German with the Fairfax School System in northern Virginia. Later, she was an educational consultant and freelance editor. She retired to Pinehurst, where she enjoyed golf, gardening, and volunteering, devoting much of her time to the Clara McLean House in Pinehurst. She also enjoyed reading, hosting gatherings with family and friends, and traveling around the world, especially to Europe. Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Roderick W. McIver, and extended family.
• Marvin C. Ostrovsky ’63, Feb. 2, 2025, in Salem, N.H., at 82. After graduating from Colby, he attended Tufts University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in pediatrics at the Boston Floating Hospital. He joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a physician and was honorably discharged at the rank of major. Following his military service, he cofounded the multi-specialty Southborough Medical Group and served as president for 28 years. He was a strong advocate for physician and patient-centered health care. However, his greatest professional joy was taking care of the many children in his practice. In 1982, he and his wife shared the honor of being named Southborough (Mass.) Citizen of the Year Award. After retiring at 72, he enjoyed spending time at his home on the lake in Salem with his family. He was described as a gentle and generous man whose philosophy of being kind to others, dedicating oneself to making the world a better place, and passing on durable values to his family inspired others. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Sydney, two children, six grandchildren, and a sister.
• Thomas M. Thomas ’63, Dec. 11, 2024, in Gwynedd, Pa., at 83. Two years after Colby, he went to Doylestown, Pa., for a job but fell in love with the area and spent the next 50 years making a home, building a business, and committing himself to the community. He loved to travel and started Thomas Travel Service to share that love with others. The agency grew to four locations and more than 50 employees. He started the travel series “For Women Only” and was well known for helping large families plan trips to exciting destinations. He was also active with the Central Bucks County Chamber of Commerce and was honored with the Business Achievement Award in 2002. He joined the board of the Bucks County Historical Society while in his 20s and stayed active for 50 years. Social justice was also a passion, and he found a home in the progressive community at Pebble Hill Church and later at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalists Fellowship. At both churches, he spoke and organized services, and he was active on the Peace and Justice Committee at BuxMont. He also volunteered with A Woman’s Place and the local food pantry. He traveled for pleasure to exotic locations, but his favorite place was Nantucket Island, where he enjoyed bird walks, surf casting, scalloping, and relaxing with a cocktail on the front porch. He was married to Patricia “Patti” Raymond Thomas ’65 for almost 50 years, until her death in 2014. His second wife, Christina Pappajohn, is among his survivors, along with three children, including Robert M. Thomas ’88, eight grandchildren, and three siblings.
• Albert Thomas Andrews III ’64, July 14, 2024, in Chatham, N.J., at 81. He earned his M.D. from Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital in Philadelphia and completed his residency and fellowship at Harrisburg Hospital. He became director of educational programs in the Department of Medicine at the hospital and then became chair of that department. After 10 years, he established a practice in hematology and medical oncology that aimed to care for families in a homelike environment; they housed their practice in a rebuilt residential home. In 1979 he was a founding member of Hospice of Central PA, an agency that was one of the pioneers of the hospice concept nationwide. He served as medical director there for more than 10 years. In 1994, the agency established the A. Thomas Andrews Award in his honor. An avid naturalist and birdwatcher, he traveled to every continent in search of birds, in all seeing, photographing, and journaling approximately 6,000 species of birds. He also enjoyed skiing, canoeing, rafting, and raising plants and orchids. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Sharon, four children, and eight grandchildren.
• Jean Brennon Call ’64, Oct. 21, 2024, in Carrboro, N.C., at 81. She taught French at Easthampton High School in Massachusetts from 1966 to 1977, serving as chair of the Foreign Language Department for four years. She moved to Chapel Hill and became a professional house painter. She traveled to Mexico one summer and picked up Spanish, which she later taught; she eventually spoke four languages after adding Italian. An educator at heart throughout her life, she taught Spanish and French to senior citizens at the Orange County Department on Aging in Hillsborough, even after she became a senior citizen herself. She gardened and shared her love of flowers by creating arrangements to brighten others’ days, even as her health declined. She was an enthusiastic dog-lover, took daily walks with friends, volunteered, and was an avid reader who started the Aunt Jean Book Club to share books with her nieces and nephews. She remained in frequent contact with her Colby friends until she passed.
• Barbara McFaul Cook ’64, Dec. 12, 2025, in Easton, MD, at 83.
• Glen R. Crane ’64, March 26, 2026.
• Stephen H. Harris ’64, Oct. 2025.
• Alex Lloyd ’64, July 7, 2024, in Avon, Conn., at 81. He earned a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1967 and joined the firm Shipman & Goodwin in Hartford. He became a partner in 1971 and managing partner in 1985, serving in that role until 1996 and leading the firm through a period of growth and prosperity. His focus was on tax, business, and health care law. He also served as outside counsel for Hartford Hospital. He carried his love of music, fostered at Colby as a vocalist and guitarist in a band, into adulthood, combining it with a love of good food, good friends, and family. He split his time between Avon and Harbor Ridge, Fla., devoting much time to the game of golf and the friendships made on the course. Predeceased by his first wife, Jacqueline Roe Lloyd ’64, he leaves his second wife, Joanne, four children, eight grandchildren, a great-grandson, two stepdaughters, and a brother.
• Shirley Rich ’64, Feb. 12, 2026.
• John N. “Nick” Ruf ’64, Jan. 1, 2025, in Rockland, Maine, at 84. He earned a master’s in English literature from the University of Toronto in 1969 and went on to a career with the State of Maine’s Office of Substance Abuse, leading programs for OUI offenders. He spent his free time reading, solving puzzles, listening to music, and traveling. Survivors include his fourth wife, Louise MacLellan-Ruf, and numerous friends.
• Carlton H. Winslow III ’64, Aug. 22, 2024, in Port Clyde, Maine, at 83. He earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University in 1966 and moved to Kentucky to serve in the U.S. Military at Fort Knox that same year. He oversaw compassionate reassignments during the Vietnam War. He and his wife loved attending the Kentucky Derby and learned to make mint juleps. After two years, they returned to Connecticut and settled in East Hampton at the Winslow family’s summer home on Lake Pocotopaug, where they raised their two children. His work was in finance. Retirement brought him to Maine, where every August he visited Lazy Gut Island, way Down East. He loved nature, animals, sunsets, and the moon, and he found great joy in his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Katherine “Kitty” Winslow, two children, four grandchildren, and four siblings, including Nancy Winslow Harwood ’65.
• Elfie Hinterkopf ’65, Jan. 21, 2026, in Austin, Texas, at 82.
• Harriett “Fran” Holmes Varney ’65, Jan. 22, 2025, in Waterville, Maine, at 82. After Colby, she continued to succeed academically at Columbia University, where she originally studied French in graduate school but was inspired by fellow students to switch to law studies. Upon graduating from Columbia Law School, she returned to Maine as part of the back-to-earth movement. She purchased an old farmhouse in Mercer that remained her home for the rest of her days. She had two children with her first husband and a daughter with her second. Her law career often took a backseat to her commitment to being a present parent. Highlights of her 50-plus-year legal career include defending conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War era, some public defense work, real estate, and personal law. In her spare time, she enjoyed walking with friends, reading books, watching sunsets, enjoying music, eating good food, watching quality movies and TV, and traveling to visit family. She leaves her husband, William Varney, three children, and six grandchildren.
• James Strohn Woodard ’65, April 24, 2024, in Boothbay, Maine, at 81. Thoughtful, kind, and unassuming, he spent his career teaching in Maine, at the old Bristol High School and Coburn Academy in the late 1960s and Boothbay Regional High School in the 80s. He was also the longest continuously serving adjunct professor in the history of the University of Maine at Augusta, where he taught English literature and composition from 1990 until his retirement in 2019. Earlier, he earned a master’s in English from Syracuse University. He read extensively and wrote short stories and one unpublished novel; took sojourns to Manhattan to keep up with the museums, theaters, and concert halls of his youth in Connecticut; and enjoyed cocktails and dinner with friends in Maine or abroad. He had a passion for sailing, spending nearly 40 years on the Damariscotta River or Penobscot Bay in his 21-foot Pearson Ensign. In 2022, at age 79, he returned for the first time to California’s Donner Ski Ranch, which his father owned in the 1950s and where he lived with his family as a child. Survivors include his son and two grandchildren.
• Peter J. Lardieri ’66, Dec. 21, 2025 in Bradenton, Fla., at 80. While at Colby, he was a Dean’s List student and was selected as an All-Conference baseball player. He earned his master’s degree from Boston University in 1968, graduating with high honors and being selected as one of three Gillette Teaching Fellows. A highly respected educator, he taught mathematics for 36 years at Henry Hudson Regional School, Highlands, N.J., retiring in 2004. For much of his tenure, he served as mathematics supervisor as well as coaching 49 various seasons in baseball, softball, field hockey, and chess. He was twice selected as the school’s “Teacher of the Year.” He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Diane (Colby 1966), their two children and their spouses, and three adored grandchildren.
• Dennis Maguire ’66, June 28, 2026, at 81.
• Linda McDonough ’66, P ’00, Oct. 8, 2024.
• Frank W. Musche Jr. ’66, Sept. 25, 2024, in Pocasset, Mass., at 79. He earned his medical degree from Tufts University in 1970 and completed his internship and residency at Rhode Island Hospital. Along with two others, he established a private medical practice, Radiology Associates, with locations in Providence and Woonsocket, R.I. He was an avid golfer and a member of country clubs in Rhode Island and Howey in the Hills, Fla., where he spent winters in retirement. Other pleasures included cruises, fishing, and traveling. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Susan Brown Musche ’65, four children, and nine grandchildren.
• David A. Penhale ’66, May 22, 2024, in Glenwood Springs, Colo., at 79. His interest in the theater, begun in high school and developed at Colby, further blossomed at Wayne State University, where he received an M.F.A. in directing. He later studied at the Byrd Hoffman School for Byrds in New York City. He moved to New England and excelled as a singer, actor, and director in Portland, Portsmouth, and Boston. In his mid-30s, he moved to Hollywood and was cast in movies and TV shows, including Cheers, Hill Street Blues, Highway to Heaven, and The A-Team. Over the years, he developed a passion for biking and transforming interior painting into an art form. Survivors include his son, his ex-wife, and two brothers.
• Meg Fallon Wheeler ’66, June 9, 2025, in Scarborough, Maine, at 80.
• James W. Begin ’67, Nov. 18, 2024, in Waterville, Maine, at 81. After Colby, he served in the U.S. Army infantry before an honorable discharge in 1968. He returned to his hometown of Waterville and picked up working at Warnaco Men’s Apparel, d.b.a. Hathaway Shirt Company, where he started working in high school as a shipping clerk and worked throughout his Colby years. Later, he held various manufacturing positions there, from assistant plant manager in Puerto Rico to industrial engineering, retiring in 1994 as director of quality assurance, contracting, and research and development. He was also a well-known tennis instructor, teaching at Champion Fitness as well as coaching at Waterville Senior High School, Thomas College, and Colby. He leaves his life partner, Pamela Strong, and three siblings.
• James B. Eisenberg ’67, Sept. 10, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas, at 78. He attended Case Western Reserve University after Colby, earning a Ph.D. in 1972 and an M.D. in 1976. He was a researcher and diagnostic and interventional radiologist who worked at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Memorial Medical Center in Ludington, Mich., Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, and Defiance Clinics and Affiliated Hospitals in Ohio, where he was chair of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his grandchildren. He was also a member of Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio. He leaves his wife, Tova, three children, three grandchildren, and a brother.
• Irving B. Faunce ’67, Oct. 17, 2024, in Wilton, Maine, at 79. As a Colby student, he wrote obituaries for the Morning Sentinel and taught English and French at Belgrade High School. After graduation, he worked in Colby’s Office of Communications and then worked briefly for the Maine County Commissioners Association, Maine Pharmacy Association, and Maine Better Transportation Association. He found his true calling in health care administration and oversaw the development of the first-in-the-nation boarding home solely for victims of Alzheimer’s disease in Gardiner, Maine. Later, he served as director of a brain injury facility in Kennebunk and in long-term care facilities across the state of Maine. A fierce protector of the rights and well-being of the most vulnerable, he sat on the inaugural board of the Maine Human Rights Commission (1976-81), Maine Board of Environmental Protection (2000-05), and the State Board of Corrections (2008-11). He also served on various school, planning, and select boards, city councils, and health care systems boards. In his mid-40s, he found fellowship in the Friends of Bill, which changed and possibly saved his life. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Colby and volunteered in several capacities; in 2017 he was awarded a Colby Brick Award for his service. Survivors include four sisters; his wife, Jan Collins; seven biological and adopted children, including Karen Faunce Rand ’90; and 13 grandchildren.
• John C. Hutchins ’68, Feb. 1, 2026.
• Kenneth S. Lane, MD ’68, Jan. 27, 2026, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at 78.
• Richard S. Mather ’67, Feb. 16, 2024, in Melbourne, Fla., at 78. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1967 upon graduation from Colby’s ROTC program and graduated from Squadron Officers School and the Air War College and earned at M.S. from Vanderbilt University in 1977. In his 26-year career as a colonel, he flew 4,000 flight hours in the F-4 D&E Phantom and several models of the F-15 Eagle, serving out of bases in the United States, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and Germany. His staff tour was at the Pentagon in AF Ops as Checkmate Blue team chief and later XO JCS joint reader. He was also chief of the Air Force Section, U.S. Military Training Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He retired in 1993 as a full colonel at Nellis Air Force Base, where he served as acting vice commander, 57th Wing. He was a highly decorated pilot, receiving the Defense Superior Service Medal (normally only awarded to general officers), four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and nine Air Medals. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Phyllis, two sons, three grandsons, and a sister. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
• Barbara J. Kuczun Nelson ’68, July 14, 2024, in Winslow, Maine, at 77. After earning her degree in Spanish at Colby, she earned a master’s in Spanish literature from Middlebury College in 1971. Returning to Waterville with her husband, she taught Spanish at Lawrence High School in Fairfield before joining the faculty at Colby. She became an associate professor of Spanish and taught at Colby for 36 years, retiring in 2014 with emerita status. A vibrant and gifted teacher, she took many student groups to Spain and South America and inspired generations of Colby students with her passion for teaching Spanish language and culture. In the late 1990s, she received a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to build an interactive website to teach Spanish grammar. This small project, originally designed for her Colby students, eventually grew into a cutting-edge, award-winning website of free study modules used in more than 115 countries. For her work, she was awarded an Editor’s Choice Award from MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching). She was an avid reader, the caretaker of breathtaking perennial gardens, and a passionate friend and fighter for justice, particularly for women’s rights. She leaves her husband of 55 years, Paul Scott Nelson ’68, two children, and three siblings.
• William L. Burges ’69, Oct. 27, 2024, in Euclid, Ohio, at 77. While teaching history and government in Brockton, Mass., public schools, he went to night school and earned a master’s in urban affairs and a doctorate in systems development, both from Boston University. Later, he served as vice president for development, dean of instruction, and director of strategic planning at Cuyahoga Community College, or Tri-C. He was a tireless advocate for Tri-C and led nearly 20 campaigns to fund programs that prepared the region’s workforce. His ability to coalesce civic and community leaders resulted in the launch of Burges & Burges Strategists, a political strategy company he ran with his wife. His efforts secured funding for public schools, community colleges, libraries, parks, human services, and transit systems all over Ohio. He was consulted by many for his straight talk, reasoned counsel, and practical advice. Everyone agreed that he was a problem-solver. He leaves a son and a brother.
• Beth Sanborn Burrage ’69, Sept. 10, 2024, in Topsham, Maine, at 77. She pursued higher education after Colby, earning a master’s in education from Boston University in 1970 and another master’s in American literature from Clark University in 1976. After living in Massachusetts, she settled in Connecticut, where, while raising her son, she volunteered at Planned Parenthood in Old Saybrook. Thirty years later, she retired as its clinic manager, having provided guidance and comfort to innumerable young women and men. She stayed physically active through the decades and was a voracious reader and eager book club participant. Retirement brought her back to her home state of Maine, where she became active at Highland Green in Topsham, serving as a board member of its co-op and with the charitable organization Maine Women’s Giving Tree. Owing to her mother’s ancestry, she was interested in all things Scandinavian, including Nordic noir films and police drama and trips to Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. She leaves her husband of 54 years, Thomas G. Burrage ’69, a son, and three granddaughters.
• Betsey Baker Cassidy ’69, Feb. 3, 2025, in Attleboro, Mass., at 77. After Colby, she had a number of professional roles, including engineer’s assistant, real estate agent, commodity specialist at a technology company, and bookkeeper at her daughter’s dental practice. As an at-home mom for 10 years in the late ‘70s, she volunteered with the Girl Scouts and other charitable organizations. She found joy in knitting, crocheting, and sewing, loved to read, supported the performing arts, constructed stone walls around her yard, and hiked in New Hampshire. She was described as a multifaceted individual with a dedication to her family, community, creativity, and the arts. She leaves two daughters, five grandchildren, and two sisters.
• Barbara “Benjie” Benn Engebretson ’69, Oct. 5, 2024, in McAllister, Mont., at 77. She moved to Montana after Colby and earned a master’s in secondary education from Montana State University in 1972. She taught for a few years before moving to Montana’s Madison Valley, where she made her home for more than 45 years. She ran a fly-tying business, Benjie’s Bugs, for many years before opening a gift store, Benjie’s, which drew a community that shared an appreciation for good deals, laughter, progressive politics, and the joy of shopping. She also raised Labrador retrievers, was an avid reader, and kept tabs on the wildlife she saw in the valley. She leaves her husband, Jim, and a stepdaughter.
• Miklos Jako ’69, Nov. 19, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C., at 78.
• Ellen Saslaw ’68, July 24, 2024.