Obituaries

Recent Obituaries
In Memoriam Archive

Archive

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Results for "B"


Jane Ada Dredger Brant ’40

Jane Ada Dredger Brant ’40, March 22, 1995, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She attended Reed for three years. She married Charles Sanford Brant ’41, in 1946 in Portland, and the couple had two sons. in 1961, the family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Jane and Charles divorced in 1968. For much of her life she was a homemaker, but she later was employed as a newspaper editor. She was an active volunteer, and was a member of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Edmontonians for a Non-Nuclear Future, and the Council of Canadians. She also volunteered for the Edmonton Learning Centre. She is survived by her two sons, a brother, and two grandchildren.

Charles Goddard Botsford ’34

Charles G. Botsford ’34, May 3, 1996, in Alexandria, Virginia. He was the son of Charles S. Botsford, director of physical education at Reed College for many years [1912–52]. He was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as legislative affairs officer until his retirement in 1965. After retiring, Charles was a lobbyist for corporations and individuals in Washington, D.C. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, a brother, four grandchildren, and a niece, Ann Botsford Phillips ’70.

Berniz Blann ’34

Berniz A. Blann ’34, April 11, 1998, in Beaverton, Oregon. She owned and operated a cattle ranch east of Mitchell, Oregon. She was past president of the Oregon Cow Belles and a former trustee of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. She is survived by a nephew.

Frank G. Breuer ’38

Franklin G. Breuer ’38, February 8, 1998, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. After attending Reed from 1934 to 1935, he earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Oregon in 1937 and a law degree from Yale Law School in 1940. During World War II, he served as an air intelligence officer with the 20th Bomber Command Intelligence Section in India and Guam. He retired as vice president and general counsel for Georgia Pacific in 1981. Active in the Junior Achievement program for 22 years, he received the organization’s Bronze Leadership Award in 1981. He also served on the board of directors of Holladay Park Hospital from 1961 to 1981 and chaired the hospital board from 1976 to 1978. He is survived by his wife, three sons, a sister, and six grandchildren.

Maggy McCormick Brown ’88

Maggie Brown ’88, April 12, 1998, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of breast cancer. She was a PhD candidate in the Humanities Center at Johns Hopkins University. She was awarded two prestigious fellowships in her field: the Bourse Chateaubriand Fellowship and a Fulbright Fellowship for work towards her dissertation in Paris. After graduating from Reed, she cofounded the Women’s Health Education Project in New York City with Stephanie Stevens ’86 and Susan Davis ’88. She also worked for several years in the Center for Medical Consumers, founded by Arthur Levin ’57. She is survived by three sisters, a brother, grandmother, uncle, four nieces and nephews, and her partner, Cameron Flint ’87.

Eleanor Borman Thompson ’52

Eleanor Regina Borman Thompson ’52, April 1, 1998, in Contra Costa, California, after a long illness. She entered Reed after serving in the Air Force during World War II. She married her husband in 1953 and they moved to Walnut Creek, California, where she worked for Contra Costa County as the supervisor of the social services department at County Hospital in Martinez. After her retirement in 1980, she served in many volunteer capacities, including providing transportation to cancer patients and tutoring English as a second language to new immigrants. Her survivors include a sister, a niece, and a nephew. Her husband died in 1984.

Grace Sawyer Bartlett ’32

Grace Sawyer Bartlett ’32, February 9, 1999, in La Grande, Oregon. She was a longtime resident of Joseph, Oregon, and a well known and respected historian of Wallowa County. She attended Reed for three years and then returned to her hometown of Bend, Oregon, where she married. They moved to Wallowa County and she developed an interest in the history of the region. She worked on many historical projects with the official historian of the area, Harley Horner, and coauthored several articles and pamphlets with him. Following a divorce from her first husband, she married Harry Bartlett, a member of the Nez Perce tribe, and the couple bred and raced thoroughbred horses throughout the West. She helped to organize the Wallowa County Museum and served as its volunteer curator until 1995. Her historical research focused on the early settlers of the region, the Nez Perce, and Chief Joseph. Her books included The Wallowa County, 1867–1877, and From the Wallowa, a collection of stories published in 1992. Survivors include a daughter and son by her first marriage; a stepson by her second marriage; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.

Dale Birdsell ’48

Dale Birdsell ’48, April 8, 1998, in Fairfax, Virginia. He first entered Reed in 1941, but left during World War II to serve in the Army overseas. After the war, he returned to Portland, worked for Southern Pacific Railroad, and completed his undergraduate degree at Reed in 1948. He then attended Brown University, earning a master’s in history in 1950. He worked on a PhD in history at the University of Pennsylvania and had completed all but his dissertation when he left to work as a historian in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Historical Office in Edgewood, Maryland. There, he coauthored a volume of the series, The U.S. Army in World War II, The Chemical Warfare Service: Chemicals in Combat, which also served as his PhD dissertation. He remained in that position until 1967 and authored or coauthored many official studies, histories, and reports. In 1967, he was promoted to chief historian of the U.S. Army Material Command, and he and his wife and children relocated to McLean, Virginia. He became director of historical programs and author of a variety of official special studies and reports. He also directed, edited, and coauthored a publicly published volume, Arsenal for the Brave: A History of the U.S. Army Material Command. He retired in 1986. In retirement, he pursued a variety of interests and community activities and was involved in a weekly current events group at the retirement community where he lived. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Thomas P. Brockway ’21

Thomas Brockway ’21, January 7, 1999, in North Bennington, Vermont. From Reed, he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He joined the faculty of St. John’s College, Annapolis, teaching history and English, and rose from the rank of instructor to associate professor and acting dean within five years. He then taught at Dartmouth College and Yale, and in 1933 accepted a position at Bennington College, Vermont. He earned his doctorate in history at Yale in 1937. At Bennington, he taught in the history department and served as dean in 1952–61, and he also served as acting president on three occasions. During World War II, he was loaned to the government to work for the Board of Economic Warfare, in Washington, D.C. He was the author of several books, including Basic Documents of United States Foreign Policy, 1957; and Language and Politics, 1965. He also authored numerous reviews for the American History Review. In 1981, he completed a definitive history of the founding and early years of Bennington College, Bennington College: In the Beginning, which was produced by the college on its 50th anniversary. Survivors include his daughter and two grandsons. His wife died in 1992.

Henrietta Willick Burcham ’41

Henrietta Willick Burcham ’41, May 7, 1999, in La Canada, California.

William Burpee ’39

William Burpee ’39, December 15, 1998, in Boise, Idaho after a brief illness. He attended Reed for two years and later attended the University of Oregon, where he earned an LLB in 1939. He went to work for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. in 1941, and in 1946 was transferred to Boise. He rose to the position of field solicitor for the Pacific Northwest and served in that position until his retirement in 1977. He was a lifelong Episcopalian and an active member of his church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and on the vestry. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Boise and a 50-year member of the Oregon Bar Association. Survivors include his wife; two sons; two daughters; seven grandsons, and three granddaughters.

Miriam Bachman Guttormsen ’32

Miriam Bachman Guttormsen ’32, February 5, 1995, in Seattle, Washington.

Daniel W. Becker ’69

Daniel Becker ’69, May 11, 2000, in Portland, of complications from diabetes. He was a tenor in the chorus of the San Francisco Opera for nearly 25 years and was also an accomplished actor and instrumentalist. During and following his attendance at Reed, he performed in theatre events both on and off campus, including roles in The Lion in Winter and Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris with the Portland Civic Theatre. He later joined a Young Audiences group in Portland, presenting musical programs to elementary school students on a weekly basis. In 1975, he moved to San Francisco and joined the San Francisco Opera, where he sang tenor and was an occasional comprimario soloist. His career with the opera led him to be featured in the documentary film In the Shadow of the Stars, which focused on the dedication and perseverance of opera chorus members. The film won an Academy Award in 1992. Despite advancing complications from diabetes, he continued to sing with the opera until five months before his death, when he moved back to Portland for dialysis treatments. He is remembered by his friends for his loyalty, his wit, his sarcasm, and his passion for art and music. Survivors include his father and stepmother, and a sister.

Maurice Bernstein ’27

Maurice Bernstein ’27, February 10, 2000, in Keene, New Hampshire, after a brief period of failing health. Raised in an orphanage in New York City, he attended City College of New York and Stanford before coming to Reed. He earned a master’s in English literature from Columbia University in 1930, and a degree in social work from the New York School of Social Work in 1931. He was first employed as a counselor at the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, where he rose to the position of director in 1940. In 1941, with the move towards small, family settings for children without parents, he was responsible for placing all residents of the asylum in foster care and closing the institution. Throughout his life, he held many responsible positions relating to child welfare. He was director of the Pleasantville Cottage School, an agency of the New York Jewish Child Care Association; associate director of the Jewish Welfare Federation in Cleveland, Ohio; director of the Kansas City Jewish Federation; and director of the United Jewish Fund in Columbus, Ohio. In 1956, he returned to New York as senior consultant and director of community planning for the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. He retired in 1968. After retirement, he served as a consultant to the Council and to Jewish social service agencies in London. He continued to work on various projects in his field until his final retirement in 1987. At the age of 87 he took up modern dance and performed with the company Risa Jaroslow and Dancers in New York City and elsewhere. He was married twice; his second wife died in 1983. He is survived by his daughter, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. His son died in 1972.

James T. Bow MA ’50

James Bow MA ’50, January 17, 1998, in Portland after a long illness. He was a retired principal with Portland Public Schools.

Virginia Warner Brodine ’37

Virginia Warner Brodine ’37, May 12, 2000, in Roslyn, Washington. She was a writer and lifelong activist in causes of political and social justice. She attended Reed for three years and later attended Cornish School of the Arts, in Seattle. While in Seattle, she worked in a variety of domestic and office jobs, an experience that encouraged her to join with others to organize the Household Employees League, under the auspices of the YWCA. In 1941, she married Russell Brodine, a musician, and they moved to Los Angeles. She worked as a reporter and columnist for the Daily People’s World during the war and published several short stories. During the McCarthy era, her husband’s political activities put him on studio blacklists, so they moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he obtained a position with the symphony. She worked as a copy editor for Mosby Publishing Company and was public relations director for the regional office of the Ladies Garment Workers Union for six years. She helped found the Committee for Environmental Information and in 1962–69 edited its monthly publication, Nuclear Information, which later became the magazine Environment. In 1978, she and her husband moved back to Washington, where they were active in the peace and nuclear freeze movements and in environmental protection efforts. She was the author of two books on environmental issues: Air Pollution and Radioactive Contamination, published in 1972 and 1975 by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Her historical novel, Seed of the Fire, about Irish immigrants in the U.S. in the 1820s, was published in 1996 by International Publishers. At the time of her death, she was working on a second novel. Survivors include her husband, daughter Cynthia Brodine Snow ’65; a son, and three granddaughters.

Franz Baumann ’35

Franz Baumann ’35, April 21, 2001, in San Francisco, after an extended illness. He received a medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1938 and did pediatric residencies in Wisconsin and California. In 1941, he opened a pediatric practice in San José, California. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After the war, he established a pediatric and adolescent practice in San Francisco, which he continued until his retirement in 1989. During his long career, he also served as a staff physician at several Bay Area hospitals. Franz’s area of special interest was the use of hypnosis to shorten treatment in many childhood conditions, especially enuresis, encopresis, and asthma. He was involved in clinical pediatric hypnosis research at Langley Porter Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco, and published many articles on the subject in the Journal of Urology and the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, as well as chapters in several books. He was a founding member and past president of the San Francisco Academy of Hypnosis and a member and past president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. In retirement, he taught classes at the Center for Learning in Retirement at the University of California, Berkeley Extension Center, and was a volunteer instructor in aquatic exercise at a therapeutic pool at the Recreation Center for the Handicapped. He is survived by two daughters, three sons, 18 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren. His wife of 55 years died in 1997.

Robert H. Bibler ’38

Robert Bibler ’38, February 15, 2002, in Corvallis, Oregon. He attended Reed for one year and then worked with his father as a painter. During World War II he worked in the Swan Island Shipyards in Portland. He married Helen Ruley in 1940. After the war, he began working as an appraiser in the Multnomah County Assessor’s office, where he eventually became chief industrial appraiser. He retired in 1977 and he and his wife moved to Yachats, Oregon. They became active in community affairs, and in 1986 he helped design and supervise construction of the town’s new library. The couple enjoyed travel in later years and spent several months at a time in Maui, Hawaii. They moved to Corvallis in 1991. In a note to Reed in 1994, he wrote, "though my scholastic contact with Reed was relatively brief, the Reed ethic has remained with me and has been of great joy." He is survived by his wife.

Janet Bright (Meigs) Allen ’52

Janet Bright Meigs Allen ’52, February 1, 2001, in Petaluma, California. She settled in Pt. Richmond, California, and was an eligibility specialist for Contra Costa County Social Services until retiring in 1992. She married Richard Meigs ’50, and they had two children before divorcing. In 1989, she married Robert Allen ’51, who had moved from Portland to the Oakland and Pt. Richmond area after retiring from his family business, Executone Sound Systems. Together, they enjoyed New Orleans jazz, reading, politics, hiking, the Pacific coast, their cats, and visiting with family and friends. He died in 2000 of complications related to emphysema. She is survived by a son, a daughter, a stepdaughter, four grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends.

Barbara Hathaway Kellogg-Smith Blohm ’46

Barbara Hathaway Kellogg-Smith Blohm ’46, February 11, 2003, in her home in Chestertown, Maryland. Hathaway attended Reed with a focus in premedicine. She married Richard W. Blohm ’48 in 1944 and they raised a family; first living in Sunnyvale, California, and then moving to her family’s farm on the Chester River in Maryland. In addition to managing the farm, Hathaway supported equestrian sports on regional, national (including the U.S. Pony Club), and international levels, and served as a mentor to young equestrians. She also volunteered with Kent County social services, assisting disadvantaged families. A few years ago, the Blohms sold their farm and moved to a cottage in the woods, where there was "roaming room" for their pets and an opportunity to enjoy a great variety of wildlife—an experience described as "Canyon Day, all year long." Survivors include her husband, three daughters and a son, eight grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and a brother and sister.

Carter Albert Brown ’37

Carter Albert Brown ’37, June 27, 2002, of pneumonia, at home in Oakland, California. Carter received a bachelor’s degree from Reed in economics. He married Jane Marie Townsend ’41, dancer, teacher, and choreographer, and they had a daughter, and a son, Peter Brown ’72. After leaving Reed, the couple moved to Los Angeles and joined the Communist Party. Peter became a labor organizer for entertainment workers in Hollywood; he collected and sold used tires, and pressed 78 r.p.m. vinyl disks for Columbia Records. He joined the U.S. Army in World War II and was sent to officer candidate school, and then to radio school to learn to install and maintain radar bombsights in B-27 bombers all over the world. In New York after the war, Carter became a journeyman machinist, was an officer in his union local that strongly opposed the advent of the Korean War, and was blacklisted for work on the East Coast. He and his family moved to Pittsburg, California, in 1953, and he was hired and fired repeatedly for his political associations. Not until 1964 did Carter find a stable working situation, and continued to present his political views as a leader of study groups, and as a member of the Communist Labor Party. In his later years, he focused his energy in support for Jane’s dance career, even serving as chair of the board of directors for the Jane Brown Foundation for Dance and Related Studies. Peter, who provided details for this in memoriam, wrote that Carter taught him many powerful lessons, including "to look beyond the glitter of consumer goodies to see that all was not right with the world, and that there is work to be done and a better world to be built." Of his experience at Reed, Carter once noted, "I acquired total respect for the scientific method, and a basis in the humanities that has served me well."

Grenfell Boicourt ’51

Grenfell Paul Boicord ’51, March 3, 2003, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Gren received a BA from Reed in physics, and continued his studies at the University of Oregon, where he received an MA in physics in 1953. He then earned an MS from the University of Illinois in 1956 and a PhD from the University of New Mexico in 1973. His career as a beam dynamicist was with the University of California scientific lab in Los Alamos. He married Rose Mary Hammer and they had two daughters.

Carolyn Ruth Baker ’52

Carolyn Ruth Baker ’52, January 31, 2004, in Portland, from cancer. Carolyn attended Reed and received her BA from Portland State University. She worked as a bookkeeper for Fred Meyer until the ’70s, when she earned a master’s degree from Lewis & Clark College in psychology and counseling. Her practice in Portland focused on women’s issues. She also volunteered as a massage therapist for elderly patients in nursing homes. Carolyn is survived by her husband, William Casti; her son and daughter; three grandchildren; and two sisters.

Helen Beatrice Hurd Barnard ’34

Helen Beatrice Hurd Barnard ’34, October 8, 2003, in Maryland, after a short bout with cancer. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Reed, Helen went on to earn an AM in American history at Radcliffe in 1937. Following that, she completed all credentials, with the exception of a dissertation, for a PhD from the American University in Washington, D.C. Prior to her marriage to Robert C. Barnard ’35 in 1939, she taught at the Putney School in Vermont, and after marriage, at the Madeira School in Virginia. In 1949, the couple moved to Paris, where Robert opened an international office for his D.C. law firm and Helen worked as an office manager. They returned to the U.S., living in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and raised a son and daughter. Helen was a cathedral aid volunteer for the Washington National Cathedral from 1967 to 1982. Supplied by her lifelong reading habit, she became an expert in gothic architecture and stained glass, and maintained a keen interest in American history. She is survived by her children and two grandchildren. Robert predeceased her.

Theodore M. Bischoff ’37

Theodore M. Bischoff ’37, February 23, 2004, in Portland. Theodore received a BA from Reed in biology. He attended the University of Oregon Medical School, and received an MD in 1939. In 1944, he married Marion Freedman, who died in 1995, and they had two children. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. He did postgraduate work at Washington University School of Medicine and Harvard University, and practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 47 years in Portland. Additionally he taught at Oregon Health Sciences University. Survivors include his daughter and son, a grandchild, and a brother.

Harrison D. Brunn ’44

Harrison D. Brunn ’44, February 23, 2004, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Harrison attended Reed in the U.S. Army premeteorology program. He married, and worked as an insurance adjuster in Minneapolis.

Mary Helen Branigan Baldwin ’40

Mary Helen Branigin Baldwin ’40, February 19, 2005, in Washington, following a long illness. Branny received a BA in biology from Reed, did graduate study at Oregon Health Sciences University in microbiology, and became a medical technologist. In 1942, she married Fred H. Baldwin; they had three children, and lived in Marysville, Washington. The family traveled extensively, and enjoyed hiking and swimming—the latter at Crabapple Lake where they had a cabin. Baldwin was a member of the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church, and volunteered in the ’70s for the Everett, Washington, blood bank, and in disaster relief for winter floods. Survivors include her children, seven grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Her husband predeceased her.

Susan A. Bromberg ’65

Susan A. Bromberg ’65, November 5, 2004, in San Diego, California, following a long illness. Susan received a bachelor’s degree from Reed in mathematics and went on to teach college mathematics. She married Russell Dubisch ’67; they had two sons, and later divorced. Survivors include her children and three grandchildren.

Eula LaVerne Barker Fuller ’35

Eula LaVerne Barker Fuller ’35, March 28, 2005, in Portland. Eula attended Reed for two years. In 1940, she married Harold R. Fuller. For more than 50 years, she worked as a legal secretary in her husbandis law office in Sheridan, Oregon. She also helped establish the Sheridan Public Library. Survivors include her son and three grandchildren. Her husband died in 1993.

Mary Louise Vincent Back ’49

Mary Louise Vincent Back ’49, April 11, 2006, in Durham, North Carolina. Mary received a BA from Reed in literature. “I know that my life has been immensely enriched because of Reed,” she noted, for her 50th reunion year. Two professors, Lloyd Reynolds [English & art 1929–69] and Victor Chittick [English 1921–48],in particular, profoundly affected her. “Lloyd Reynolds’ classes showed me areas of interest and pleasure that had never come my way before . . . I was excited, challenged, and all my life since I’ve enjoyed things he introduced me to.” Her career included administrative work at the Dramatists Play Service in New York, and promotion management for Duke University Press. She married Kurt W. Back, a Duke professor, in 1969. Survivors include her stepson, Allan T. Back ’74, and a brother. Her husband died in 1999.

Stacey Finn Baylis ’49

Stacey Finn Baylis ’49, July 11, 2005, in California. Stacey attended Reed for two years, earning a BA in psychology from San Francisco State University and an MA in psychology from Dominican College. She specialized as a high school reading coordinator, working with students with learning disabilities, in North Monterey County. She married Andy Salz in 1947; they had one son. In 1958, she married Derek M. Baylis; they had one daughter and two sons.

Mabel Livingstone Bishop ’46

Mabel Livingstone Bishop ’46, March 10, 2007, at home in Portland. Mabel attended Reed for two years. In 1947, she married C.M. Mort Bishop Jr. She was active in the Portland Garden Club, Town Club, and Portland Junior League; and was vice regent and regent for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Board for 20 years. She enjoyed fishing, hunting, tennis, gardening, and bridge. Survivors include her husband, three daughters, one son, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Otis Douglas Brown Hyde ’33

Otis Douglas Brown Hyde ’33, March 19, 2009, in Tacoma, Washington. Otis was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Idaho and Oregon. She attended Reed for a year and received a bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Washington. A birder, horticulturalist, and master gardener, Otis founded the Native Species Garden at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma and the Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium at the University of Washington. She supported the arts in the Pacific Northwest, including the Tacoma Art Museum, the Joffrey Ballet, the Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Opera. She was a lifelong learner, who made a thorough study of the culture, flora, and fauna of a particular region before traveling there. “Aunt Otie,” as she was affectionately called, shared her vast knowledge and extensive collections of furniture, porcelain, and native and ornamental plants with family and friends. She and her husband, Charles Henry Hyde, to whom she was married for 52 years, enjoyed taking horticultural and birding classes at the University of Washington and traveled abroad extensively. Survivors include two daughters, one son, seven grandchildren, and her brother.

Agnes Burt Russfield ’35

Agnes Burt Russfield ’35, February 10, 2009, in Boca Raton, Florida. Agnes grew up in Northwest Portland, lived on campus initially, and became a day-dodger when her father lost his job during the Great Depression. Although her academic interest lay in the humanities, she was greatly influenced by her mother's interest in science. She received a BA from Reed in biology, an MA in zoology from UCLA, a PhD in zoology from the University of Chicago, and an MD from Cornell University. An assistant professor of pathology at Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, and a pathologist at Boston City Hospital and Mason Research Institute in Worcester, Agnes also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1954, she married Lew Russfield, founder and owner of Sun Valley Ski Clothing Company; he died in 1993. Agnes established a scholarship fund in her name for students in the humanities.

Charlotte Blake Sykes ’43

Charlotte Blake Sykes ’43, February 1, 2009, in Paradise, California. Charlotte arrived at Reed for her sophomore year, and received a BA in psychology before enlisting in the Women's Army Corps. She completed two years of service, and then enrolled at Santa Barbara State, studying for graduate school entrance examinations. Rather than continue her education, she chose to marry Donald Sykes in 1947; they were together until his death in 2005. Charlotte cared for their three children and also provided extended care for three elderly family members. She tutored elementary school children, and enjoyed sewing and baking. In 1989, Charlotte and Donald moved to Paradise, where Charlotte reveled in the scenic beauty of the area. Survivors include two daughters and a son; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and her sister, Frances Blake Howard '46.

Jack Dean Breazeale ’50

A picture of Jack Breazeale

Jack Dean Breazeale ’50, November 5, 2008, in Kauai, Hawaii, following a stroke. Jack served with 89th Division in Europe during World War II, and came to Reed on the G.I. Bill. He earned a BA in chemistry from Reed and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Washington. For 26 years, he worked as a thermodynamicist for United Technology Corporation, chemical systems division, in Sunnyvale, California. He retired to Kauai, Hawaii, in 1987, where he played tuba in the Kauai Community Band, was on the board of the Kauai Concert Association, and was a member of the Lihue Christian Church. Jack and Donna LaVonne Breazeale were married for 65 years, and had a son and daughter, four grandchildren, and two great grandsons.

Robert Elmer Bickford ’53

Robert Elmer Bickford ’53, February 17, 2001, in Portland. Robert transferred to Reed from Marin Junior College in California, and attended for one year, but did not complete a degree at the college.

Robert Elmer Bickford ’54

Alfred Stanley Levinson ’54, December 10, 2008, in Portland. Al received his BA from Reed in chemistry, and then entered the master's program in chemistry at Wesleyan University. “I had had no intentions of going to grad school up to that point, but Arthur Scott [chemistry 1923–79] helped me make up my mind and I went.” In 1958, he married Amy Perlson Levinson ’54 and went to Indiana University for graduate work. Their two daughters, Rebecca and Ellen E. Levinson ’84, were born during the time that Al completed his doctorate and postdoctorate work in chemistry and Amy had a full-time position in microbiology. In 1963, he joined the faculty of Portland State College. He retired as professor emeritus of organic chemistry in 1994. Survivors include daughter Ellen; a son; and his cousin, Toinette H. Menashe MALS ’72.

Bruce William Blummert ’76

Bruce William Blummert ’76, who received a BA from Reed in American Studies, was born in New York City, and died in Spokane, Washington, on September 2, 1998.

Charlene Joanne Bryan ’93

A picture of Charlene Bryan

Charlene Joanne Bryan ’93 died January 24, 2009, in Basel, Switzerland, of acute respiratory distress. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, she earned a BA from Reed in biology, a master's degree from OHSU in public health, a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in epidemiology, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Although details remain sketchy, we understand that Charlene was working for a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland, and came down with influenza this year. She went to the hospital, where she developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. Charlene was an expert on depression, diabetes, and health disparities in minority populations, and authored several articles on those subjects. She was also a gourmet cook with a celebrated collection of cookbooks. On learning of her death, her colleagues in Pittsburgh held a memorial in her honor at which everyone wore leis. “We laughed and cried,” writes good friend Mary Hester. “Charlene would have enjoyed it. She only had a brief life, but she was a gift to all who had the privilege to meet her.”

Donald W. Bailey ’38

Donald W. Bailey ’38, October 23, 2001, in Oregon. Don attended Reed, later earning a BS from Oregon State College (University) in chemistry. He was a horticulturalist and manager of Orchard View Farms, a cherry business in The Dalles, established by his parents. He married Edwina Ohlegshlager in 1940; they had seven children. In 1967, he was named The Dalles Man of the Year, and was named Northwest Cherry King in 1974. Bailey developed a packing process that more than doubled the shelf life of fresh fruit. His brother, Jack R. Bailey ’36, also attended Reed.

Louise Baldwin ’45

Louise Baldwin ’45, December 5, 2006, in Portland. Louise attended Reed for three years. In 1943, she married Arthur K. Knauss ’44; they had three children, and later divorced. Baldwin worked at home and as a real estate broker for several companies. In 1997, she married William L. Owen MAT ’59. Survivors include two daughters; a son; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Sylvia W. Baldwin ’50. William died in 2005.

Mary Nancy Taylor Barrier ’43

Mary Nancy Taylor Barrier ’43, February 1, 2008, in Portland. Mary received a BA from Reed in art, and also attended the Portland Art Museum School (PNCA). She married John Barrier in 1950, and was a mother, artist, and teacher. Survivors include two daughters and a son, seven grandchildren, and a sister. Her husband died in 1988.

Morris Beers ’49

Morris Clifford Beers ’49, February 4, 2008, in Portland. Cliff received a BA from Reed in biology, and was an assessor for Multnomah County. In 1955, he married Rosalynd Holm. Survivors include his sister. His wife died in 2002.

Robert C. Becker AMP ’44

Robert C. Becker AMP ’44, July 5, 2007, in Golden Valley, Minnesota, from cancer. Robert attended Reed in the U.S. Army Premeteorology Program. He earned a BA in accounting from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, and an LLB from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. He was director of business management for Honeywell. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Marjorie; a son and daughter; two grandchildren; and a sister.

Ernest Benner ’59

Ernest Jack Benner ’59, February 1, 2006, in California. Ernest attended Reed, but did not graduate. He earned an MD and practiced medicine.

Deane Bennett ’55

Deane Sterndale Bennett ’55, April 26, 2008, in Forest Grove, Oregon, from congestive heart failure. Deane transferred to Reed in his second year, as a premedical student from the University of Oregon. He entered the U.S. Army in 1952, and served in South Korea, after which he completed thesis requirements for a BA from Reed in biology. In 1958, he received an LLB from the University of Chicago. He worked for two years in Chicago for Continental Casualty Company in the claims department. He married Irene Labno in 1960; they had two daughters and two sons, and later divorced. Deane managed an insurance agency in Forest Grove, was a field inspector for Lawrence Warehouse, and was an insurance adjustor for Travelers' Insurance. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1963, and worked as assistant attorney general for the State of Oregon and was deputy city attorney for the City of Portland. In 1973, he entered private practice in criminal defense; his work involved the Oregon Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. In the late ’80s, he retired due to health issues. Survivors include his children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Carolyn L. Bilderback ’38

A picture of Carolyn Bilderback

Carolyn Bilderback ’38, February 2, 2008, in California. Carolyn received a BA from Reed in general literature. After graduation, she taught school at Pt. Reyes Lighthouse in California—a one-room schoolhouse set up for the children of lighthouse employees. She received a teacher's certificate from San Francisco State College in 1940, and moved to New York City, where she did special training in dance, choreography, and also the Alexander Technique in body alignment (with Judith Leibowitz). Carolyn was a freelance leader of movement and dance workshops around the country, including at the Manhattan School of Movement, where she taught stage movement and improvisation for 17 years; the Aspen Music Festival, where she did choreography in 1956–58 for productions such as Carmen and My Fair Lady; the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco; the Association of Humanistic Psychology; and the International Women's Writing Guild. She was adjunct associate professor of movement and imagination at Union Theological Seminary in New York. She led interdisciplinary workshops with M.C. Richards, Paulus Berensohn, and Valerie Harms. Carolyn studied dance with Sybil Shearer and others, and performed with the Katherine Liz Dance Company. Her company, the Carolyn Bilderback Dance Theater, founded in 1968, presented at the Judson Dance Theater and Dia Center for the Arts in New York City. In 1992, she published Gatherings from a Dancer's Journal (Magic Circle Press). The book, introduced by Mary C. Richards ’37, contained Carolyn's journal entries from 1975 to 1985, which described her work, and her relationship to New York City and to herself. In 2006, she moved to the West Coast, where family and her friend, Dinah Bachrach ’70 (daughter of her lifelong friend Betty Hazen Bachrach ’40), assisted her in her final years. Survivors include her half-brother, William Bilderback ’61.

William Luke M. Blanton ’63

William Luke M. Blanton ’63, May 21, 2004, in Santa Cruz, California. Luke attended Reed for two years. He took pleasure in reading, film, and the ocean. He married Myrtle Angele Wilking ’64; they later divorced. Survivors include his son and daughter, mother and father, and brother and sister.

Jean L. Borax MAT ’79

Jean L. Borax MAT ’79, May 11, 2008, in Minnesota, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Jean earned a bachelor's degree from Macalester College. She was a teacher and administrator in the St. Paul School District for 28 years. Survivors include her partner, John Oltmanns, and her mother and sister.

Linden Bates Bowman ’35

Linden Bates Bowman ’35, January 20, 2004, in Oregon. Linden attended Reed, but did not graduate. He married, and had two daughters and a son. His sister, Ellen Bowman Martin ’35, also attended Reed, as did his cousin, Dell Hymes ’50. Linden was an industrial and commercial real estate consultant and broker, and owner and chairman of the Bowman Company in Portland.

Raymond Ellsworth Brooks ’37

A picture of Raymond Brooks

Raymond Ellsworth Brooks ’37, February 18, 2008, in Santa Rosa, California, following a short illness. Raymond received a BA from Reed in psychology. He worked briefly for IBM before accepting a position as teaching assistant in psychology at the University of Oregon, with the intention of becoming a clinical psychologist. Instead, with the assistance of Reed psychology professor William (Monte) Griffith [1926–54], he entered federal service in public administration with the State Technical Advisory Services of the Social Security Board. He went to Washington, D.C., and was then assigned to the Social Security Board in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as regional merit system consultant. In 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served in personnel classification in the Pacific Theatre. Following the war, he returned to his work with the Social Security Board in Cleveland, Ohio, and then transferred to San Francisco, where he worked for 23 years; he retired in 1971. In retirement, he did house carpentry—building a home in Mendocino, California—and also enjoyed photography and backpacking. He married Bernice McKay ’39 in 1938; they divorced in 1969. In 1971, he married Judy Boyles. Survivors include his wife, his son, four stepchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Isabel Beckwith Goode ’41

Isabel Beckwith Goode ’41, March 3, 2008, at home in Jacksonville, Oregon. Isabel entered Reed as a transfer student from Smith College, and received a BA from Reed in economics. For the next three years, she worked for the office for emergency management and other federal offices, in Washington, D.C. During World War II, she worked for the United Nations in D.C., New York, Germany, and London. In 1948, she married Paul J. Goode; they had six children, and she devoted her life to her husband and children. The family lived in Oregon, California, and New Jersey, and Isabel enjoyed gardening, bridge, hiking, travel, and recreation experiences at the Metolius River. In 2003, she was interviewed for the Reed Oral History Project by Trish Styer ’83. Survivors include three daughters and two sons, five grandchildren, and two sisters. Her husband and one son predeceased her.

Barbara Bates Nelson ’43

Barbara Bates Nelson ’43, June 10, 1999, in Olympia, Washington.

James E. Boyle AMP ’44

James E. Boyle AMP ’44, July 15, 2008, in St. Maries, Idaho. Jim attended Reed in the premeteorology program, and served in the military during World War II and the Korean conflict. He went to Washington State University on a football scholarship, and had a number of occupations during his lifetime, including consulting in geology and mining. He had a passion for mountain recreation, which began in childhood when he joined the Seattle Mountaineers. Jim also was a father to two sons and a daughter.

Erica Brunquist ’50

Erica Brunquist ’50, June 25, 2010, in Poulsbo, Washington. Erica studied at Reed for two years. She married in 1950, and raised two daughters. Later, at the University of Denver, she earned an MSW with a focus on children's services, and worked as a social agency consultant. Most recently, she lived in Port Townsend, Washington, where she was a volunteer and facilitator with the Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble. She enjoyed hiking on the beaches and in the forests of the Olympia Peninsula.

Gertrude Theresa Benson Carter MAT ’61

Gertrude Theresa Benson Carter MAT ’61, June 4, 2010, in Portland. Gertrude was a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle. She married Russell L. Bean and moved to Portland, where she obtained a master's degree at Reed and taught high school business and English for 23 years in Portland public schools. Survivors include her son, daughter, granddaughter and grandson, and brother. Her husband and one son predeceased her.

Jeffrey Fulton Beatty ’72

Jeffrey Fulton Beatty ’72, December 20, 2009, in Boston, Massachusetts, from leukemia. Jeffrey attended Reed for a year and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. He was a truly remarkable individual, whose passions were well supported by his versatility as an artist and scholar. He was a dancer, a lawyer, a teacher, and a playwright, as well as a devoted husband and father. Jeffrey began dancing at Sarah Lawrence College and performed with the Sandra Neels Dance Company and the Connecticut Ballet. While dancing professionally, he met Annabel King Winston; they married in 1982, and raised two daughters in a creative and loving home. While his wife pursued a dancing career, Jeffrey completed a JD at Boston University. He worked 10 years with Greater Boston Legal Services, and practiced law with the firm of Kotin, Crabtree, and Strong. In 1988, he joined the faculty of the Boston University School of Management, where he developed the school's business law concentration and coauthored a series of textbooks, Business Law and the Legal Environment. Boston University twice awarded him the Beckwith Prize, the highest undergraduate teaching award, and he was the recipient of the 2007 Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching, the university's highest honor. His plays, performed in England and in the U.S., included A Change in the Moon (1985), Convictions (1990), The Funhouse Mirror (1999), and Scam (2000). From his public obituary, we read that the breadths of his talents, achievements, and wit were unparalleled. He went out of his way for his students and his colleagues, and was articulate, kind, and charismatic in the most genuine way. Survivors include his family, his sister, and two brothers.

Walter B. Barker ’75

A picture of Walter Barker

Walter B. Barker ’75, July 12, 2010, at home in Scappoose, Oregon. Walt grew up in Portland and developed a love of the outdoors that remained integral to his life. He attended Reed and received a BA in geology from Portland State University in 1981, and an MS in geology from the University of Arizona in 1986. During his college years, he travel extensively in the American Southwest. After college, he spent more than a decade teaching in Japan, where he developed an appreciation for Japanese culture and met his wife, Hideno “Non” Sugai. After the couple returned to the U.S., Walt studied nursing at the University of Portland. Most recently, he did renovation projects for the couple's home, designed and planted an extensive Japanese-style garden, and edited scientific manuscripts for Japanese researchers. In his public obituary, we read that he was an accomplished photographer, whose work was exhibited in galleries. He was also a writer, a philosopher by nature, a teacher, and a gifted conversationalist. “Walt was exceptionally energetic, bright, and gregarious, and could carry on in-depth conversations on a broad range of topics with just about anyone.” Survivors include his wife and mother, nieces and nephews, and a large circle of friends from several countries. “He will be sorely missed.”

George Bartholomew ’86

George Bartholomew ’86, June 18, 2010, in California. George spent three years at Reed in economics and completed a degree at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, in 1993, where he studied music composition and technology. After that, he went to Redmond, Washington, for an internship at Triad Studios, and established his own company, Bartholomew Music Productions. He worked for Triad in audio engineering and production and was a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He later moved his company to Grass Valley, California. Survivors include two sisters.

Elisabeth Bauman Lewis ’48

Elisabeth Bauman Lewis ’48, July 7, 2011, in Stockton, California. Betty earned a BA in biology from Reed. She did social work in Santa Rosa and was a member of the Girl Scouts, the Sierra Club, and the Mazamas. She was also adept at biological illustration, spinning, dying, weaving, and gardening. Toward the end of her life, she worked to restore a 311-acre stewardship forest in Philo, California. Betty married Fred R. Lewis ’44 in 1947 and raised three daughters and two sons; they later divorced. Survivors include her children, nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a sister.

Hugo Adam Bedau, Faculty

Hugo Adam Bedau [philosophy 1962–66], August 13, 2012, in Concord, Massachusetts, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease.

A pioneer of applied ethics, Hugo Bedau framed the national debate on capital punishment through a series of influential books, starting with The Death Penalty in America (1964), which has since become a standard work in the field. Professor William Schabas of Middlesex University in England called him “one of the great scholars of capital punishment.”

Born in Portland in 1926, Bedau grew up in the San Francisco area. He earned his BA from the University of Redlands and a PhD in philosophy from Harvard. His interest in the death penalty was sparked by an episode in the ’50s, when he was teaching at Princeton. The state legislature was then considering whether to abolish the death penalty; his (then) wife, Jan, went to a hearing at the statehouse at which a representative argued that if New Jersey abolished the death penalty, “murderers would swarm across the Delaware and Hudson rivers.” Stunned that no one stood up to rebut the statement, Bedau decided that, as a philosopher, he had a duty to contribute to the public debate.

Read more...

Jean Besley Scott ’51

Jean Besley Scott ’51, July 18, 2011, in Portland. Jean, or Scottie, as she was known at Reed, began her education at the University of Oregon, but felt the school was too impersonal. She moved to Portland, where she lived with a maternal aunt and worked for State Farm Insurance and Albertina Kerr to earn money for tuition. During that time, she met Fred White ’50, who suggested she investigate Reed, where she found both academic challenge and the comfort of a smaller community. “The wonderful thing about Reed was that everybody there cared about the world . . . that had never been my experience before at all.” At Reed, she met Kenneth Tollenaar ’50, who shared her love of music; he was a musician, she sang jazz. They married in 1949; she worked in the coffee shop for a year while Ken finished his degree, after which she earned her BA in education. She loved Reed because of Dorothy Johansen ’33 [history 1934–69] and Ann Shepard ’23 [dean of students 1926–68], who believed in her ability to succeed. “It was very, very hard, because I was so poorly prepared. I hadn’t a clue how to write a paper. I didn’t have a clue how to do research and I didn’t have a very broad area of knowledge. It was a wonderful experience, though, because I grew a great deal.” She also gave credit to Frank Loxley Griffin [mathematics 1911–56]. “That man taught me to count to 10.” After leaving Reed, she taught for two years near Eugene, and then the couple moved to Minnesota and Washington, D.C., for Ken’s graduate studies. Jean worked and raised a family, and then earned a master’s in alcohol and drug counseling from the University of Oregon. She worked for Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation in Clackamas and retired in 1989. She was a member of the First Unitarian Fellowship, a passionate supporter of the arts, and a volunteer for students in grade schools and seniors in retirement centers. She kept a close connection to the college throughout her life. “Jean was delightfully cantankerous. She loved to engage in thoughtful debate and enjoyed being around others who shared the love of ideas. I will miss her in our planning meetings as well as at the events themselves,” said Mike Teskey, director of alumni & parent relations. Survivors include two sons, one daughter, and a grandson.

Margaret Joyce Bailey Pancoast ’41

A picture of Margaret Bailey Pancoast

Margaret Joyce Bailey Pancoast ’41, June 11, 2012, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Margaret grew up in Rainier and Salem, Oregon, and completed a BA from Reed in sociology. She served as president of the Reed Women’s Athletic Association and played extramural volleyball, basketball, and badminton. Upon graduation, she won a fellowship in sociology from Western Reserve in Cleveland, earning an MS in social work in 1943. She later wrote about the early years of her life in great detail, and her daughter, Louise Smith, who provided the details for this memorial, has donated Margaret’s memoirs to Reed. Margaret met Ross Pancoast in Ohio during World War II. They married in 1944 and moved to Washington, D.C., when he was assigned to the Pentagon. Margaret volunteered in schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, for the Girl Scouts, and for the National Women’s Party. She worked as a media assistant in Montgomery County school libraries, then substituted as a special education assistant in elementary school until her complete retirement at the age of 81. She enjoyed working with children and found special education particularly rewarding. She and Ross traveled extensively. She also enjoyed gardening, square dancing, line dancing, and handiwork. Says Louise, “Although my mother spent most of her life after college on the East Coast, she remained proud to be from Oregon and to be a Reed graduate. She always remembered her years at Reed and the friends she made there with great fondness and kept in touch with some of her Reed friends throughout their lives.” In addition to Louise, survivors include Margaret’s son, Jim, and granddaughter, Nicola.

Albert Dean Benson MAT ’64

Albert Dean Benson MAT ’64, May 28, 2011, in Portland. Al served in the navy before enrolling at Central Washington College of Education, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He came to Portland in 1958 and taught English at Cleveland High School for 30 years, with summers spent fishing for halibut in the Gulf of Alaska. He also was a member of the Portland Chess Club and the Elks Club. He played handball and racquetball and enjoyed yard work and reading. For the past 19 years, he lived on Woodstock Boulevard, which gave him the opportunity to admire the Reed campus on a daily basis. Survivors include his daughter Susan Benson Zoref MALS ’06, son-in-law Norman Zoref, and grandchildren Sarah Zoref ’05 and Robert Zoref.

Margaret Ayre Brown ’65

A picture of Margaret Ayre Brown

Margaret Ayre Brown ’65, June 7, 2011, at home in Honolulu, Hawaii, from pancreatic cancer. Margaret earned a BA in literature from Reed and married Ronald P. Brown ’64. They eventually settled in Honolulu, where Ron was professor of mathematics at the University of Hawaii. Margaret completed her training as a certified occupational therapy assistant at Kapiolani Community College in 1985. After working several years in the hand clinic at Tripler Hospital, she worked as a leader for groups of frail elderly. In 1989, the Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii named her certified occupational therapy assistant of the year. Margaret did charitable work, mostly through Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu, and also volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program. She helped establish Hui Manawale’a, Crossroads’s branch of an interfaith cooperative effort to support elders and the disabled. She also helped establish Family Promise to provide immediate housing and long-term solutions for the homeless. After her breast cancer diagnosis in 1995, she began a daily practice of centering prayer and became a certified instructor in that practice, leading weekly centering prayer meetings at Crossroads. Margaret was a political activist, passionately devoted to promoting peace, and was a founder and leader of the Hawaii chapter of the Friends of Sabeel, a Christian Palestinian movement for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. She was co-organizer of the 2010 Sabeel Conference at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Honolulu and received the Church of the Crossroads Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award in 2011. The award honored Margaret’s vital and caring presence in the congregation and the great respect for her work at the church and in the community. Margaret was widely read, and her gift for writing with clarity and precision was constantly employed in her many activities. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed ocean swims, daily walks, and backpacking trips with her family and friends. Margaret was also classically trained in piano, violin, and cello. She sang in several choirs and danced with a hula halau. She was a founding member of the Kaimana Ceili Band and organized and recruited people for Celtic and old-timey fiddle music jams in Honolulu. Ron wrote, “Perhaps two-thirds of the people at a big jam at her memorial service had been introduced to this music by her.” Survivors include Ron, daughter Sara, son Peter, and her sister and brother.

Montana Elma Sands Bryant ’49

Montana Elma Sands Bryant ’49, May 23, 2012, in Oceanside, California. A Canadian by birth, Montana was raised in Montana state and moved with her family to Seattle in 1940. She attended Reed for a little more than a year. She worked for the Boeing Company and RCA, and enjoyed traveling, square dancing, and outdoor sports. Montana was predeceased by her husband, Harry E. Bryant, and is survived by two brothers.

Carl Christopher Biehl ’76

Carl Christopher Biehl ’76, August 5, 2012, in Cardiff, California. Born in Berkeley and raised in Diablo, California, Carl came to Reed from the Athena School and majored in biology, writing his thesis on “Resilience, Stability, and Complexity in Real and Model Ecosystems” with Frank Gwilliam [biology 1957–96]. Carl also completed a PhD in biology at UCLA. In 1985, he moved to Cardiff and served as an adjunct professor of biology at UC San Diego before becoming an investor. He lived a very full life, surfing, cycling, mountain climbing, flying, and sailing, and traveled extensively around the world with his wife, Janice Win Biehl, whom he married in 2000. “He was most well known for his keen intellect, sharp wit and humor, adventurous spirit, and unending generosity.” His endeavors helped create the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy in Cardiff to protect, preserve, and acquire land for preservation and for the enjoyment of all inhabitants—mammals, birds, insects, and plants. Survivors include his wife, mother, and three stepsons.

Ruth Consuelo Babb ’19

Ruth Consuelo Babb ’19, October 28, 1993, in Portland. She attended Reed as part of the Reconstruction Aide Program and received a certificate in physical therapy. She then moved to Washington, D.C., and worked at the Walter Reed Hospital. Ruth later returned to the Northwest and worked for the Oregon State Industrial Commission, then went to Tacoma, where she was head of Tacoma General Hospital's physical therapy department for many years. During this time, she cofounded the Association of American Physical Therapy Societies. She returned to Portland after her retirement and worked for a local doctor until 1965. She is survived by her nieces, Ellen Coleman Simpson ’36 and Mary Coleman ’37, a nephew, and her sister-in-law.

David Henry Breuer ’38

David Henry Breuer ’38, October 4, 1993, in Portland. He attended Reed in 1934–35 and then transferred to the University of Oregon, where he received a BA. David went on to earn a law degree from the Yale University School of Law in 1941 and returned to Portland to begin his practice. He served in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army Signal Corps and was an air intelligence officer in India during World War II. After his discharge as a major, David returned to Portland, where he married Miriam Barlow in 1946. He was a deputy attorney for the city of Portland for a number of years before entering private practice in Lake Oswego in 1956. He retired in 1984 and then worked as a realtor in the Lake Grove area until 1990. He was active in the Youth Adventures program for many years. His wife died in 1985. Survivors include his three sons, a twin brother, and a sister.

Madelon Jane Brodie ’39, MALS ’91

Madelon Jane Brodie ’39, MALS ’91, November 14, 1993, in her Portland home. She was born in Oregon City, but in her early years lived with her family in Siam (now Thailand) and Finland. After graduating from Reed College with a degree in general literature, she became a social worker for the Portland chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1946, she was accepted by Smith College's School of Social Work, where she earned a master's degree in social work. Madelon returned to Portland and took a position with the Boys and Girls Aid Society. In 1958, she was employed by Metropolitan Family Services, where she remained until her retirement in 1986. She enrolled in Reed's Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program in 1988 and received her degree in 1991, the oldest person to earn a degree from Reed. Madelon's undergraduate thesis was on different aspects of the work of English author Virginia Woolf. In 1939, she sent a copy of the thesis to the author and received a cordial letter in reply. She has given the letter to Reed's manuscript collection. She is survived by four cousins.

Ben L. Bernhard ’39

Ben L. Bernhard ’39, December 25, 1994, in Portland. He attended Reed College in 1935–36. He was the owner of Helen Bernhard Bakery, in Portland, retiring in 1978. He was active in community affairs and was a past board member of the Portland Junior Symphony, past chair of the Irvington Community Association, and past chair of the Northwest YMCA.

Edward M. Belles Jr. ’46

Edwin M. Belles Jr. ’46, November 1, 1995, in Portland. He attended Reed in 1942–43 and then transferred to the University of Washington, where he graduated in 1945. He was an engineer for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Cupertino, California until his retirement in 1986. Edwin married Elizabeth Parker in 1952, and the couple had two children. After retirement, he and his wife moved back to Portland, where he was an active volunteer with schools in Portland and Clackamas County. He was named volunteer of the year by the Clackamas County Board of Education Office. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.

Jose Brown ’71

Jose Brown ’71, May 1, 1996, of causes related to AIDS, in Portland, where he had lived during the last stages of his illness. Jose was a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher, and was director of his own dance company, Changing Dance Theatre. He attended Reed for two years and then transferred to the California Institute of Arts, majoring in dance. He traveled extensively in Europe and Asia, learning more about other dance forms and performing in Paris, Holland, Denmark, Italy, Greece, and many other countries. While in India and Nepal, he lived in Tibetan monasteries and choreographed and danced with the Tibetan Opera. He lived for four years in Tokyo, Japan, where he taught dance, performed, and choreographed, and studied Noh Theatre. In New York City, he danced with Pearl Lang, Kei Takei’s Moving Earth, and other dance groups as well as with his own company. His last Portland appearance was "Soldiers," a solo dance improvisational performance held in April 1995.

See also: "Arte Povera," Reed magazine (May 2001)

John Richard Byrne ’47

John Richard Byrne ’47, June 16, 1996, at his home near Corvallis, Oregon. After graduating from Reed, Dick did graduate work in mathematics at the University of Washington, earning a PhD in 1953. He married Jane Leedom ’48 in 1948. He taught mathematics at Portland State University for 37 years and was chair of the department from 1967 to 1977. He retired in 1992, and he and Jane moved to a small farm outside Corvallis. During his career, he wrote three books on mathematics that were published by McGraw-Hill: Modern Elementary Mathematics, Modern Elementary Geometry, and Number Systems, An Elementary Approach. He was a member of the American Mathematical Society. His other interests included playing the organ and piano, and spending summers on the Oregon coast. Survivors include Jane, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Winston Backstrand ’43

Winston Backstrand ’43, October 31, 1998, in Salem, Oregon, after a stroke. He earned a master’s degree in physics from Cornell University in 1948. Survivors include a niece, a nephew, and a brother-in-law.

Iriss Sawyer Baffaro ’34

Iriss Sawyer Baffaro ’34, September 13, 1998, in Portland, where she lived most of her life. She attended Reed for two years and then transferred to the University of Oregon, where she earned a BA in 1934. She worked for federal, state, and county governments as a social worker and personnel interviewer from 1934 to 1945. She married Joseph Baffaro in 1945 and became a homemaker, raising three children. Survivors include a daughter, two sons, a brother, and five grandchildren.

George M. Byram ’32

George Byram ’32, April 12, 1996, in Florida. He had a long career in forest fire research with the U.S. Forest Service. After graduation from Reed, he worked at the Pacific Northwest Forest Experiment Station for four years, doing smoke visibility research and designing instruments to measure visibility. In 1935–36, he attended graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, and then returned to work for the Forest Service in Portland. He married Elizabeth Coughlin in 1936 and shortly thereafter they moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where he worked for the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. He did research on visibility, fire behavior, and high intensity fires, and in 1961 he was transferred to a new laboratory for forest research in Macon, Georgia. He retired in 1968, but continued to work part time for several years. Survivors include his wife, a son, and a daughter.

Marion B. Bass Stevens ’36

Marion Bass Stevens ’36, September 4, 1998, in Medford, Oregon. She attended Reed for two years and later attended the University Of Oregon, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. Prior to her marriage in 1938, she worked in a Portland department store as a fashion buyer. The couple lived in several locations in the U.S. during her husband’s military career, and in 1954 they settled in Davis, California. After working as a literacy tutor, she returned to school and earned a master’s in employment counseling from California State University, Sacramento, and a doctorate from International College. In 1968–84, she was a career counselor for the Sacramento County Office of Education and the San Juan Unified School District. She was in private practice in Davis and San Mateo, California, and later in Medford, Oregon, until her death. Survivors include her husband and two daughters.

Jonathan Bealer ’69

Jonathan Bealer ’69, of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, April 27, 1999, in Hereford, Arizona. He was a high school science teacher in Sierra Vista Public Schools. He attended Reed for three years, where he met and later married Virginia Caretto ’70. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and then obtained a teaching certificate from San Jose State University. In 1979, he earned a master’s of natural science from Arizona State University. He began teaching at Sierra Vista Junior High in 1971 and decided to settle there after falling in love with the natural beauty of the area. He taught environmental and natural science and established a natural studies’ area at the high school. In recent years, he also served as computer coordinator for Buena High School and coached soccer. He was remembered by his students for his dedication and excellence in teaching. An accomplished musician, he performed with the Four Mugs barbershop quartet and the Meistersingers. Survivors include his wife, mother, son, and daughter.

Ilo Lehmann Bonyhadi ’51

Ilo Lehmann Bonyhadi ’51, of cancer, November 8, 2000, in Portland. She was known in Portland as a civic leader, businesswoman, and cultural activist. While still at Reed, she married Ernest Bonyhadi ’48. They lived in New York City in 1948–51 while he earned a law degree from Columbia University. Upon their return to Portland, Ilo managed her father’s companies, Northwest Packing and Oregon Trail Farms, becoming executive vice president and director after his death. She retired in 1974. Her volunteer activities were numerous and extensive. In the ’70s, she became the first woman to serve as a commissioner of the Port of Portland. She was an appointee of the Governor’s Economic Council in 1972 and served on the State Ethics Commission until 1998. She also served on many county and city committees and task forces, engaging in what she once referred to as political kibitzing. She was president of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and a member of the boards of the City Club of Portland, Planned Parenthood, Chamber Music Northwest, the Casey Family Program, and the Reed alumni association. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter; son Mark Bonyhadi ’82; sister Marianne Lehmann Feldman ’49; and five grandchildren. The family suggests remembrances to the Bonyhadi Scholarship Fund at Reed College.

George Bailey MA ’60

George Bailey MA ’60, September 14, 2000, in Portland. He taught math at Glencoe Grade School in Portland for 20 years, retiring in 1974. Survivors include two daughters, two sons, and five grandchildren.

Bernard C. Baumgartner ’35

Bernard Charles Baumgartner ’35, August 27, 2002, in Portland. After receiving a BA in physics from Reed, Barney worked for the Leland Electric Company in Dayton, Ohio, initially as a student engineer and finally as supervisor of the experimental development and testing laboratory. He married Margaret Call in 1936, and they raised four daughters in the course of their 65-year marriage. In 1940, he began a position with the Delco Products Division of General Motors as a research and development engineer. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, where he trained civilian and military personnel. From 1946 to 1955 he lived in Grass Valley, Oregon, establishing an electrical contracting business, serving two terms as mayor, and working as a member of the rural school board for Sherman County. He and his wife added a hardware store, a service station, and a motel to their business activities before moving to Salem, Oregon, to address their daughters’ expanding educational needs. Barney worked at a Meier & Frank department store and as a real estate salesman until he was hired as an engineering instructor for Portland State University where he worked until 1978. During his tenure at PSU, he served as registrar, director of admission, and assistant to the chairman of the division of science before returning to teaching as associate professor of engineering. He spent two sabbatical terms in Europe, the second to observe and study alternate energy sources. In 1976 he was appointed dean of the College of Science, and retired as an emeritus professor of engineering and applied science. He enjoyed travel and bird watching, and his avocation in computer programming. He is survived by three of his daughters, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Frances Braden Pickett ’39

Frances Leigh Braden Pickett ’39, August 4, 2002, in Corvallis, Oregon. Frances attended Reed for a year in 1935 before attending Oregon State College (now university). She married Cecil D. Maynard, moved to Mt. Vernon, New York, and left there as a widow with two small children to live near her family in El Segundo, California. In California she worked for United Airlines and met Thomas J. Pickett, whom she married in 1957. They moved to Corvallis, where she was a full-time homemaker during their nearly 40-year marriage. Survivors include her son and daughter, and numerous nieces and nephews.

James W. Bell ’66

James William Bell Jr. ’66, September 7, 2002, of a heart attack, in Toronto, Canada. Jamie received a BA in chemistry and began a variety of jobs that included work as a jewelry maker, farm hand, lab assistant, coal handler, and gardener. He spent two months in 1967 as head of the English department at Pentwater High School in Michigan, followed by his marriage to Mary Nelson, relocation to Canada, and the birth of their daughter in 1969. At the University of British Columbia he studied biochemistry for two years before leaving academia for a position at the Detroit Science Center, Michigan, where he created the Storefront Science Museum and Development Workshop. Following a divorce from Mary, he moved to Ontario and joined the staff of the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, where he staged numerous exhibitions for 16 years, including the First World Crafts Exhibition in 1974. Jamie then worked as an exhibition consultant for many associations, including the Smithsonian Institution National Geographic Park. In 1980 he married Ruth Stirtzinger and they had two sons. Community involvement was central to his life, and he expressed it in a vibrant, passionate format. At the end of his life, he was considered to be the pulse of the Bloor West Village area, especially the Swansea community, where he was manager of the Swansea Town Hall Community Centre. Bell organized and rallied support for the creation of the High Park Adventure Playground—considered one of his greatest achievements. He was a well respected, "irreplaceable," energetic individual, and a master of the pun, who was able to bring together, and communicate comfortably with, a full range of individuals. He is survived by his daughter and sons, three brothers, a stepmother, and an aunt.

Jane C. Baker ’52

Jane Claire Baker ’52, August 15, 2002, in Salem, Oregon. Jane attended the universities of Oregon and Washington, and St. Helen’s Hall Junior College, before attending Reed for a year and half. She said that her time at Reed gave her confidence in decision making, an interest in examining all sides of an issue, and—thanks to Dorothy Johansen ’33 [history 1934–84]—a burning ambition to know everything about Ancient Greece, a feat that was wonderfully impossible. Her career with the national Camp Fire Girls organization included serving as Pacific Northwest regional director and as executive director of the Golden Gate Council. She worked as the executive director of the New York City YWCA, as personnel director for Lipman Wolfe & Company in Portland, and as an active volunteer in her community.

Willard S. Bain ’60

Willard Slocam Bain Jr. ’60, December 2, 2000. Willard received a BA in general literature from Reed and began a career in writing in California that included work as a reporter for the Dessert Dispatch of Barstow and for the Associated Press in San Francisco. In 1968, his book, Informed Sources: Day East Received, was published by Doubleday and Company. Along with his wife, Linnis Logan Bain ’61, he opened a bookstore, Paper Ships, in Corte Madera in 1970. The couple raised five children.

Jerome S. Bischoff ’31

Jerome Sidney Bischoff ’31, August 23, 2002, of age-related illness, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. After earning a degree in political science at Reed, Jerry studied at Harvard Law School, graduating with an LLB in 1934. In 1939 he married Barbara Mayer, and they had one child. Jerry practiced law with his father and later with Martin, Bischoff, Templeton, Langslett, and Hoffman, retiring in 1986. He maintained an interest in world affairs and economics throughout his life. Survivors include his daughter; a granddaughter; a great-grandson; two brothers, Ellis Bischoff ’42 and Theodore Bischoff ’37; a niece; and several nephews. His wife died in 2000.

Ann Nelson Behrman MAT ’68

Ann Nelson Behrman MAT ’68, September 28, 2005, in Belvedere, California. Ann received a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1954. She married classmate Richard Behrman; they had four children. The family lived in Portland while he completed a pediatric residency at OHSU, and she attended Reed, earning her master’s in teaching in English, while working at Lincoln High School and caring for her children. She taught in public and private schools for 20 years in five states, and retired in California. In retirement, she worked for the Stanford admission office, leaving that occupation in the early 1990s. She also worked as a San Francisco city guide, a mentor and college counselor for at-risk high school students, and a court appointed special advocate. She volunteered in numerous capacities for St. Stephen Church in Belvedere. Berhman credited Reed with enriching her professional path and mobilizing her as an activist; she, in turn, enriched the lives of thousands of students, and of her family and acquaintances. Survivors include her husband, three daughters, and son; eight grandchildren; and a sister and brother.

Elihu E. Bergman ’50

A picture of Elihu Bergman

Elihu E. Bergman ’50, November 23, 2005, in Seattle, Washington. Eli began his studies at Reed, but left after two years to enter the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. With two friends, he joined Aliya Bet, assisting in the transport of Holocaust survivors to Palestine. He was imprisoned twice for his efforts, and later returned to the U.S. to help recruit pilots for Israel’s War of Independence. He later returned to Reed and received a BA in political science. He continued his education at the University of Chicago, earning an MA in 1951. His career in foreign aid and technical assistance began with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., and Yugoslavia; then included a position with Robert Nathan Associates in Iran; and for the Ford Foundation in Mexico. In 1970, he received a PhD from the University of North Carolina, and was then assistant director of the Harvard Center for Population studies in Cambridge. In 1980, he became executive director of Americans for Energy Independence in Washington, D.C. Eli retired in 1992, and moved to Seattle. For his 50th class reunion, Eli noted that Reed’s affect on his life was a profound one. "The intellectual and communal experience at Reed contributed to a depth and breadth of the thinking processes and a constructive outlook about the world around me." He married Elsbeth Weber in 1961; they had two children, and later divorced. Survivors include his daughter and son, three grandchildren, brother Abraham Bergman ’54, and nephew Matthew Bergman ’84.

Ruth Marian Wallace Baines ’28

Ruth Marian Wallace Baines ’28, February 23, 1988, in Oregon. Ruth received a BA from Reed in French language and literature. She taught high school English and French in Stayton, Oregon, for two years. In 1930, she married Matthew S. Baines, and they had two sons. She devoted numerous years to transcribing braille text books for the Portland Public Schools, an occupation she found rewarding and stimulating. Her husband died in 1970.

David Mark Baldwin ’32

David Mark Baldwin ’32, January 1975. Mark earned a BA in biology from Reed, and an MA from the University of California in 1934. He taught biology at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, reaching the position of professor in 1970. He received the institute’s distinguished teaching award in 1972.

Maurine Olive Gregory Baldwin ’32

Maurine Gregory Baldwin ’32, September 5, 2004, in Portland. Maurine attended Reed and Oregon State College (University), from which she earned her bachelor’s degree. She provided social services to families at the Multnomah County Poor Farm in Northeast Portland during the Great Depression. In 1939, she married George Baldwin, and began a career as a special educator and teacher. Maurine worked in program development for the Oregon Department of Education, Portland State University, Portland Public Schools, and the University of Portland, viewing education as a lifelong pursuit, for which the strengths of each individual should be reinforced. Her work for the Portland Public Schools introduced cross-cultural normed testing and reading programs that addressed the abilities of all students. For the Oregon Department of Education, Maurine initiated services for the Oregon Literacy Council and the Early Literacy Project. She was described as a woman of strength and integrity; an independent thinker, committed to diversity of person and thought. She lived in respectful relationship with many aspects of life, reflecting her interests in such organizations as the Nature Conservancy, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Historical Society. Survivors include her son and daughter, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Helen Francis Backus Shapiro ’34

Helen Francis Backus Shapiro ’34, October 30, 2005, in Fairfax, California. Helen Shapiro received her B.A. in psychology from Reed, and then moved to Berkeley, California, where she took a job with the federal civil service. She was assigned to train Carl Shapiro for his position with the U.S. Naval shipyards, and their ensuing romance led to marriage in 1942. That same year, they moved into the Fairfax home they shared for 60 years. During WWII, Shapiro was a rural mail carrier in Fairfax; and later developed a career in real estate. At 58, she decided to become a lawyer, and attended Golden Gate University Law School with her daughter; both graduated with honors in 1972. Shapiro joined her husband’s law practice in San Anselmo, and she dedicated her career to representing the underdog. In 1995, she was one of five attorneys to receive the Barney Dreyfus Award for humanitarian service. Both she and her husband received the Wiley J. Manuel Award in 2002 for pro bono legal services. Her "abiding interest in justice" and her "fierce advocacy" were said to have made life better for a great number of individuals. Shapiro once stated, "Whatever ability I have to learn and to use what I learn I owe to Reed." Survivors include her husband, her daughter, two sons, 13 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Herman H. Becker ’34

Herman Hewitt Becker ’34, August 4, 2006, in Portland, from pneumonia. Herman received a BA from Reed in history, and also earned an MEd from the University of Oregon. In 1940, he married Carol L. Dickensheets `32, who died six years later. In 1950, he married Winifred Jane Roby. Herman taught history and social studies at Washington and Franklin high schools in Portland for 30 years. His pride in teaching stemmed from his belief that education provides the most important foundation for an individual's life, and that the study of history is critical in understanding the present. He served on Reed's alumni board and as chair of the Portland High School Teachers Association, as well as other educational organizations, and was a life member of the National Education Association. He was also a professional baritone, and a longstanding choir member at the First Presbyterian Church in Portland. In retirement, he worked in real estate management and sales. Survivors include his wife, his son and two daughters, and five grandchildren.

Clytis C. Belloit ’55

Clytis Craske Belloit ’55, October 23, 2006, in Portland. Clytis enrolled at Reed in fall 1943, then joined SPAR, the U.S. Coast Guard women's reserve. While stationed in Boston, she met and married James Belloit; they had one son. In the early ’50s, she returned to Reed, studied at the college for several years, and then attended Portland State, earning a BS in secondary education in 1956. She taught history and social studies at three Portland high schools. Clytis was active in the Oregon Education Association, the Oregon Historical Society, and the Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League. In retirement she traveled to the Middle East, Africa, and Mexico. She also researched and wrote Railtown, the Early History of Wishram, Washington.

Frank P. Bowman ’49

Frank Paul Bowman ’49, November 14, 2006, in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Frank received a BA from Reed in French, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He received an MA in 1952 and a PhD in 1955 from Yale University in French romantic literature, and taught at UC Berkeley for nine years. Aspects of Romanticism, a course he developed during that time, is one that he continued to teach at the University of Pennsylvania, to which he transferred in 1963. During his career with the university, he wrote nine books, and was awarded two Guggenheim fellowships and a fellowship for independent study and research by the National Endowment for the Humanities. He retired in 1991, but remained at the university for two additional years, serving as founding director of its French Institute for Culture and Technology. His career included visiting positions at Haverford College, the University of Paris, and Princeton University. Frank enjoyed the study of religion, classical music, and was a member of the vestry of St. Clement Episcopal Church. His library of nearly 8,000 books is one of his gifts to Reed.

Jane Brown ’41

A picture of Jane Brown

Jane Marie Townsend Brown ’41, July 2, 2006, in Oakland, California. Jane entered Reed after completing a summer session at Mills College on a dance scholarship. She attended Reed for two years, leaving in 1939, after her marriage to Carter A. Brown ’37, to live in Los Angeles. When Carter enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, the couple moved to New York City. Throughout the ’40s, Jane studied dance and choreography with such notables as Martha Graham and Louis Horst, and performed in many venues. 1n 1945, she began working with Milton Feher, her mentor in the field of dance therapy, and she helped found the Harlem Unity Theater. In the early ’50s, the couple and their two children returned to California. In the ’60s through the ’80s, she taught classical dance technique, incorporating the Milton Feher Method of movement awareness and her own work, Evolutionary Motion Studies, to bring to her students a joyful approach to dance as art and as therapy. In the composition of her choreography, she utilized themes of racial equality and jazz, dance and music history, and biology and evolution. In the early ’90s, her solo performance piece, Medea, explored her passions for gender equality, myth, and classical history. She suffered a stroke in 1996, which limited her work, but did not defeat her determination to rehabilitate her health and to teach. Survivors include her son, Peter Brown ’72, and daughter, and five grandchildren. Carter died in 2002.

Sara Telfer Bunnett ’42

Sara Telfer Bunnett ’42, October 29, 2006, in Santa Cruz, California. Sara received a BA from Reed in general literature. She and Joseph F. Bunnett ’42 met the evening of their first day at the college in 1938, and were married in 1942. During Joe's tenure at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Sara began her four-decade career in volunteer advocacy for civic improvement as president of the Rhode Island Citizens Association for the Public Schools. Joe then taught at UCSC, and Sara became involved in local education, was appointed to the Santa Cruz city school board in 1969, and was elected board president. She served two terms. She was a founding member of the Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, and served on three library boards (1978–2004). She was a member of the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz, and served as president. She researched and wrote a family history, Manila Envelopes, published by the Oregon Historical Society. In 1986, she also began a project to preserve and digitize historical records. The project indexed over 100 years of details from the (Santa Cruz) Pacific Sentinel. Survivors include Joe; two sons; two grandchildren; her sister; and her brother, William H. Telfer ’48. Her youngest son died in 1972. Annie Jordan Harrison Telfer ’15, her mother, also graduated Reed.

David Rust Baty ’79

David Rust Baty ’79, September 30, 2007, in California, from suicide following an extended period of depression. David received a BA from Reed in philosophy and religion. He was a self-employed woodworker and boat builder, who lived in Marshall, California. Classmate Barbara Pijan ’79 created a memorial page for David on her website, www.barbarapijan.com. Survivors include his partner, Sarah Means, and his parents.

Ruth A. Hess Bliven ’52

Ruth A. Hess Bliven ’52, September 6, 2003, in Nashua, New Hampshire. Ruth focused her studies on art and literature during her time at Reed, 1948-49.

Virgil P. Barta ’41

Virgil P. Barta ’41, January 18, 2010, in Tigard, Oregon. Virgil earned a BA from Reed and a DSc from Oregon State College in physics. During World War II, he served in Europe as a radar operations officer with the U.S. Army. He received both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. His career in graphic arts and sciences included positions with the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Technicolor Corporation, and the Stanford Research Institute. An expert in securities protection and fraud prevention, he became a consultant in 1968, working with banks, specialty paper and ink companies, and security printing and fraud protection companies. Many of the security features that he created are still in use today. Virgil and his wife, Helen, were married for 67 years. Survivors include two daughters and a son, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Philip Blank ’44

Philip Blank ’44, May 8, 2009, in Portland. Philip spent one year at Reed. In 1946, he opened Ace Radio, TV and Appliance in downtown Portland, where he sold radios and records. Thirty years later, he opened Blank's Home Furnishings, adding furniture to his inventory. Philip is survived by his wife, Fay Mills Blank, and three sons.

Joseph Henry Bruemmer AMP ’44

Joseph Henry Bruemmer AMP ’44, February 20, 2008, in Tampa, Florida. Joseph studied at Reed in the premeteorology program. For his service with the U.S. Army during World War II, he received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He completed a doctorate from the University of Missouri and was director of research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He moved to Tampa from Buffalo, New York, in 1966. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; his daughter and son; and his sister and brother.

Mary Ella Carson Brodie ’49, MAT ’65

A picture of Mary Carson Brodie

Mary Ella Carson Brodie ’49, MAT ’65, November 11, 2011, in Portland. Mary spent her first year of college at Willamette University. She was skeptical about attending Reed for her second year, even though she thought well of the school and knew that living at home in Portland would save money. “At the end of the first week, I was committed to Reed. I have never regretted that choice. The curriculum, the professors, the friends I made, all have enriched my life more than I ever could have imagined,” she wrote many years later. After graduating with a BA in general literature, she moved to San Francisco—a big adventure for a young woman from the Pacific Northwest, she said. After three years, she came back to Portland, and worked in public welfare and also for the state in higher education and human resources. She earned a master's degree in teaching from Reed, and spent 12 years as an instructor in English, Spanish, and typing at Wilson High School in southwest Portland. Her love of hiking led to her joining the Mazamas in 1957, and it was on a hike in the Columbia Gorge in the early ’70s that she met Laird C. Brodie ’44. Since leaving Reed, he had married and raised a family of three. He was teaching at Portland State University and playing French horn for the Portland Opera and the Marylhurst College orchestra. He also enjoyed outdoor activities. The couple married in 1974. “A year or so later, I stopped teaching, learned to make bread, and for the first time tried being a homebody.” Mary and Laird enjoyed music; hiking with the Mazamas in the U.S. and in Great Britain and South America; and several unforgettable ocean canoe outings near Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Mary was a member of the Reed College Women's Committee, the alumni board, and the Foster-Scholz Club. Survivors include Clark and Greg Canham and members of Laird's family.

Richard J. Brownstein ’52

A picture of Richard Brownstein

Richard J. Brownstein ’52, January 24, 2011, in Portland, from a heart attack. Dick was at Reed for two years before leaving to begin his study of law at Willamette University. In his eulogy for his father, son Richard J. Brownstein II ’85 related: “Certainly, one of my grandmother's favorite stories was how, during my father's second year at Reed, he visited law schools, including Willamette. Apparently, at that time, students could go to law school without an undergraduate degree. When my father asked to take the test at Willamette, he was told that the Willamette policy had changed and they now required an undergraduate degree. Whether apocryphal or accurate, my father begged to take the test, was granted his wish, and scored the highest in school history. Willamette made an exception for my dad, letting him matriculate. In any case, apocryphal or not, my father finished law school and was practicing law by the time he was 21 years old.” Dick earned a BL and an LLB from the university and practiced in Portland for 20 years with the firm that was ultimately named White, Sutherland, Brownstein & Parks. In 1955, he married Betty Baer. Dick was committed to human rights, as was his close friend Fred Rosenbaum ’50, and received appointment and tenure as general counsel of the Housing Authority of Portland (1960–2004). He served as chairman with the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission and was appointed to the Oregon Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Said Richard: “My father had a simple, but effective two-pronged tool set: he was an analytical genius and he was morally grounded. In both regards, he was uncanny. Put Mr. Spock and Mr. Gandhi together and you had my dad, at least from my detached perspective. My father could look at any situation-quite unemotionally-and then find the best practical solution, remembering, the whole time, his very humble beginnings. This explains why Dad was more prideful having been the attorney for 30 years for the Housing Authority of Portland than he was for having served congressmen.” For 33 years, Dick served in the Judge Advocate General Corps for the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel. He also was president of Portland Lodge B'nai B'rith, vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, president of the Institute of Judaic Studies, a board member of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, and a president of Congregation Neveh Shalom. Dick participated in Reed's alumni association. He enjoyed distance running and competed in 19 marathons, including in Boston and New York. In his public obituary, we read: “Dick was a consummate storyteller whose infectious laugh could frequently be heard during the intermission of the opera at the Schnitz, in the restaurants of the University Club, or at the table sharing dinner with friends.” Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Donna; two sons and a daughter; two stepsons; and a sister.

Judy A. Boyer Gibson MAT ’65

Judy A. Boyer Gibson MAT ’65, January 20, 2011, in Redmond, Oregon, from complications of breast cancer. A potter and world traveler, Judy was born in Bremerton, Washington, and attended Linfield College in McMinnville, as well as the University of Aix-Marseilles in France; she earned a bachelor's degree from San Fernando State College. After completing a master's degree from Reed, she taught French and Spanish at Pacific University in Forest Grove, and taught humanities and English in schools in Piedmont, California. She and her husband, Hal Gibson, were living in Berkeley in the ’60s when the ceramics revolution took place, establishing the medium as a fine art. Judy wrote: “I became captivated by porcelain, and in a very short time, I abandoned my teaching career and became a potter.” She set up a studio in her home, and, for the next 25 years, learned the craft, sold to galleries, did shows, and became a master potter in porcelain, primarily following the tradition of classical Chinese forms and glazes. Winters, off-season for her art, presented the opportunity for travel. She spent seven winters in Tobago, West Indies, learning to use local clay in a primitive studio she made. “As I was unable to get the proper papers to set up a business, I decided to travel elsewhere.” Other destinations were in Europe, South and Central America, Southeast Asia, Nepal, and the Near East. She and Hal built a passive, solar adobe house in New Mexico. They lived 10 years on the East Coast, where she took classes in writing and painting at the New School of Social Research in New York City. In 2003, the couple moved to Redmond, Oregon, where Judy set up a potting studio and began again to work on porcelain, and she published a collection of her short stories, Floating Free, in 2008. Survivors include Hal, her mother, and a niece and nephew.

James Magruder Braun ’55

James Magruder Braun ’55, August 24, 2009, in Portland, from a cerebral hemorrhage, the result of an accident. Jim studied philosophy at Reed for four years and earned a degree in mathematics from Portland State University in 1980. He worked as a computer programmer for the city of Portland and for Multnomah County. Public remembrances focused on his insatiable curiosity, his inquiring mind, and his love of music. He was a gifted pianist, and his record collection was described as one of the largest, most eclectic on earth. Jim performed as a tenor with the Portland Symphonic Choir in the ’60s. From the early ’90s to the end of his life, he volunteered for KBOO radio in Portland as engineer, producer, and on-air host for everything from world beat music to classical and jazz. He coproduced a monthly Indian music show, Mandala, for over 10 years. Those remembering Jim identified him as a scholar; a gentle, kind soul; and a true humanist. Survivors include his nieces and nephews.

Kimberly Jae Quirk Baker ’88

A picture of Kimberly Quirk Baker

Kimberly Jae Quirk Baker ’88, January 31, 2011, in Arvada, Colorado. Kim earned a BA from Reed in international studies. Just out of college, she planned a career in acting and modeling, but instead developed her skills in design and graphic arts and worked as an art director in Hood River, Oregon, before moving to a similar position in Half Moon Bay, California. Later she became an emergency medical technician and took up the hobby of airplane flying. She was also a musician and released an album, I Can't Wait, in 2003. “My career today has little to do with my major field of study at Reed,” Kim wrote. “However, my learning experience was invaluable. Each day I find new ways to use the knowledge I gained at Reed, and I don't mean just academic knowledge. Two of the most important things I learned were to respect the diversity of other people and how to learn.” Kim is survived by her daughter Victoria, age 2.

Donald W. Breer ’77

Donald Wayne Breer ’77, December 27, 2009, in San Francisco, California. Don received a BA from Reed in religion, and was an early member of the Reed Gay Students’ Union. Says friend Katie Bretsch ’74, who provided details for this memorial: “As a San Franciscan, he was present at a number of historic events of his time, including Harvey Milk's ‘here to recruit you’ speech and the Berkeley Peoples' Park occupation. He was very proud to have present for that speech.” Don worked for the State Bar of California, coordinating a statewide program for continuing education for attorneys, and also served on the board of directors for Western Star Dancers. Don's brother William Breer wrote: "Don loved opera, travel, hiking, and camping. He also liked to roam his beloved San Francisco on foot. In his last years, a series of illnesses, including heart disease, became progressively worse, leading to his premature death." Survivors include William and brother John Breer.

Vieno Miriam Annunen Beasley ’43

Vieno Miriam Annunen Beasley ’43, December 9, 2011, at her home on the Clackamas River, Oregon. Miriam grew up in north Portland, bilingual in Finnish and English, and with a great appreciation for her Finnish heritage. After studying at Reed for two years, she left to marry James Beas-ley and to raise a family of four in their home on the Clackamas River. Miriam completed a BA in education from Portland State University in 1964 and taught first grade for 20 years at Clackamas Elementary School. In retirement, until she was 89, she assisted at Park Place School in Oregon City. Though teaching and helping others was her mainstay, Miriam enjoyed activities in the great outdoors. She climbed Mount Hood, did tent camping with her family, gave many Clackamas County residents swimming lessons at local pools and on the river, and reveled in vacations at the Oregon coast. Survivors include two daughters and two sons, 12 grandchildren, and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren.

Patricia Brownell Lee ’43

A picture of Patricia Brownell Lee

Patricia Brownell Lee ’43, February 11, 2012, in Portland, from cardiac arrest. Patty grew up on a farm, south of Milwaukie, Oregon, where her father bred poultry and propagated hollies from all over the world. She came to Reed, along with brothers Barry C. Brownell ’43 and Robert P. Brownell ’46, and earned a BA in education. During summers, she worked as a playground director at Peninsula and Sellwood parks. Her interest in fitness and health led to her thesis, "A Study of the Reed College Physical Education Program for Women," and to a teaching position at Jefferson High School after graduation. In December 1944 she joined the WAVES, serving as a personnel supervisor for a naval base in San Francisco. When she returned to Portland in 1946 she taught physical education at Reed. At a folk-dancing event at the college, she met G. Prentiss Lee ’39, who was doing a surgical residency at the Portland Veterans Hospital. They married in 1949 and moved to Helena, Montana, where Prentiss completed his medical certification. Back in Portland, they built a home on two acres, and Patty enjoyed landscaping and maintaining the gardens on the property. She became a full-time mother, supporting the schools and extracurricular interests of her three sons. She also devoted time to community service, doing fundraising and heading up organizations. She volunteered with the March of Dimes, the YWCA Building Fund, St. Helen’s Hall, and the Oregon and American Heart Association. She served as president of local and national medical auxiliary organizations. She was an active member of Reed’s alumni board and Foster-Scholz Club, and volunteered for Reunions. In 2003, she was awarded the Foster-Scholz Club’s Distinguished Service Award. She also was honored by the Portland Chamber of Commerce, and was recipient of the Oregon Journal Woman of Achievement Award and the Mayor’s Spirit of Portland Award. She helped write bylaws for her neighborhood association and served as its president, and was elected to and served on the board of the Southwest Portland neighborhood association. Survivors include her sons, Gilbert and Granville (who now operates the Brownell Holly Farms); six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Her son, Gary, died in a mountain-climbing accident in 2008 and Prentiss died in 2010. “She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend. All who knew her will miss her dearly.”

Renee Diana Berg Bergman MAT ’66

A picture of Renee Berg Bergman

Renee Diana Berg Bergman MAT ’66, November 21, 2011, in Portland. Renee and her beloved brother, Irving, were raised in Queens, New York City. Through Irving, she met Arthur M. Bergman, whom she married in 1945. A year later, Renee completed undergraduate studies in premedicine and literature and graduated with a BA from New York University. As an accomplished cellist, she performed in the university’s chamber orchestra. Renee and Arthur moved to northeast Portland after the war, and, in 1957, to West Linn, where they raised a daughter, Julie, and two sons, Barry F. Bergman ’71 and Marc. Renee completed a master’s degree in teaching at Reed, and taught physics, chemistry, and math at Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Adams high schools in Portland until retiring in 1988. “My year at Reed was a wonderful and challenging experience,” she wrote. Renee was a community volunteer with B’nai B’rith and the Multnomah County Library, and was instrumental in the founding of Clackamas Community College. She continued to play cello and enjoyed attending Oregon Symphony and Chamber Music Northwest concerts, as well as opera and theatre performances. She also was adept at ballroom dancing. Renee is remembered for her intelligence and wit, her independent spirit and initiative, her interest in innovation, and her passion for underdogs. For over 20 years, she made her home on a moorage on the Columbia River. She was also the owner of a number of unusual automobiles, including an Amphicar. Survivors include her sons and daughter and six grandchildren.

Ann Helen Farber Baldwin ’70

A picture of Ann Farber Baldwin

Ann Helen Farber Baldwin ’70, November 22, 2011, in Chinook, Washington. Born in New York City, Ann spent her early years in Queens, moving to Seattle when she was eight. She earned a BA in philosophy at Reed and spent a year studying at the London School of Economics. While living in Portland, she became familiar with the Mist Mountain Farm community in Clatskanie, Oregon. She taught in the Mayger School Head Start program there for several years before accepting the position of Head Start administrator for the northern Willamette Valley. She was also a licensed massage therapist and co-owner of the Evergreen Massage Clinic in Portland. In 1985, she married Ron Baldwin; they had one son, Alexander. The family moved to Chinook in 1993. Ann and Ron operated Lido Caffé Espresso in Astoria for 10 years and Aunt Clara’s Greenhouse, a retail nursery in Chinook. Ann taught a class, Massage for Relaxation, for 20 years at Clatsop Community College. She performed as a pianist for dances and played the banjo and guitar with a number of groups and in theatrical productions. Ann is remembered as being generous of spirit, time, energy, and compassion. “Our world is smaller with this loss.” Survivors include her husband and son and her brother and sister.

Alfred Morton Bork, Faculty

A picture of Alfred Bork

Prof. Alfred Bork (right) in 1973.

Alfred Morton Bork, December 18, 2007, from lymphoma. Al taught physics at Reed from 1963 to 1967. He earned his ScB and a commission in the U.S. Navy at Georgia Tech, and graduate degrees in physics at Brown. He was also fascinated by the history and philosophy of science. Nick Wheeler ’55 [physics 1963–] wrote: “I attended Al’s lectures, which were Socratic exercises of a purity I have never been able to approach. Standing in his typical pink pants and green shoes (!) before a class of 80 students, he would ask a simple-sounding question (“What is length?”) and then wait—patiently, 5 or 10 minutes, if necessary—for some brave student to venture a response. To which he would respond with an implied question . . . and another wait. He managed by this method to coax some remarkable statements from those students. I remember the time when he was discussing (in his inimitable way!) the three-dimensionality of space, when a student ventured the thought (a thought very much alive in the physics of 40 years later!) that perhaps space only seems three-dimensional. Al’s presumptions were (1) that such students are much more comfortable with language-based material than with material that requires some mathematical skill, but (2) that as high school students they did generally do well in geometry, that it was to algebra that they took exception, and of calculus that they remained largely ignorant. So he approached basic physics as an exercise in language. Newton’s De motu corporum in gyrum (written in 1684, just prior to the Principia Mathematica) was at the time available only in Latin. Al had a student with knowledge of Latin prepare an English translation, which the class took as its initial text. It contained certain Latin words with no obvious English equivalents, so they remained in Latin; class had to figure out their evident meaning from the physics into which they entered. De Motu is concerned mainly with planetary motion, which Newton approached by cunning geometrical analysis (since he could not at the time expect his readers to know calculus). The geometry gave rise to an algorithm that served to increment a planet along on its orbit. Al had students use the algorithm to work out the motion of a planet—a tediously routine business concerning which students (not unexpectedly, actually by Al’s intention) complained. So, he had them write programs that would serve to instruct a secretary how to do the work. Reed had, at the time, just acquired its first computer—an IBM 1600 that together with its card readers, etc., filled a large room down the hall from our office. Al knew some Fortran, taught the students enough Fortran (again: a language!) to enable them to program the computer (rather than the secretary) to generate planetary orbits. And, by analysis of those orbits, to follow Kepler’s path to discovery—now their own discoveries!—of Kepler’s laws (which had served as Newton’s primary motivation). Reed’s NatSci students were, by spring, doing things that Reed’s fourth-year physics majors were unable to do! And were aware that they had been led by Al on an intellectual adventure of the first order.” After Reed, Al went to University of California, Irvine, where he held joint appointments in physics and and computer science. Passionate about the use of computers in education, he pioneered the development of computer-based learning material for science and mathematics and founded Irvine’s educational technology center. He was a National Science Foundation Chautauqua Lecturer and won the Robert A. Millikan Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers. Al was an outdoor enthusiast, an avid gardener, and loved classical music, art, and literature. Survivors include his wife of nearly 60 years, Annette; and three daughters, including Ellen, who provided the details for this memorial.

Mary Ellen Bates ’43

Mary Ellen Bates ’43, February 14, 2013, in Pensacola, Florida. A native of Vancouver, Washington, Mary earned a BA from Reed in sociology and joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in the enlisted ranks. “My objective in joining the WAC was to do whatever I could, whenever I could, and do it well.” Rather than take a desk job, Mary chose to get close to the conflict and was sent to officers’ training school. She was stationed with the Far East Air Force, serving in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. After being discharged in 1948, she earned an EdM in social sciences from Smith College and enrolled at the University of Washington law school. Barely seated in the classroom, she was recalled into military service. In the highly decorated military career that ensued, Mary undertook many challenges, including commanding squadrons for the Women’s Air Force and serving as an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force in England and as an administrative office and inspector general in France. In 1962, she received the uncommon distinction of being named honorary submariner with the U.S. Navy. She was a deputy base commander in Kansas and an executive officer in Korea and in Washington, finally retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1973. Back home in Vancouver before a final move to Florida, Mary worked as a member of the city’s planning commission and volunteered with the Episcopal church and for the YWCA battered and destitute women’s shelter. She also was a member and president of Atheneum, an independent study group. “I should encourage young people to go into any profession in which they have an interest and can take pride, and in which they can serve society,” Mary stated. “I think we have an obligation to our fellow man—I really do.”

Joan E. Baker ’53

A picture of Joan Baker

Joan E. Baker ’53, December 10, 2012, in Cleveland, Ohio, from a brain tumor. Joan and her sister, Lois Baker Janzer ’50, took English from the same teacher at West Seattle High School in Washington—“a wonderful, wonderful teacher, named Belle McKenzie”—who urged them both to go to Reed. At Reed, Joan served as editor of the literary magazine she named Janus. Produced via typewriter and mimeograph, the popular publication sold out in a day at 10¢ a copy. She included writing by William Dickey ’51, Gary Snyder ’51, Philip Whalen ’51, and Mary Mathisson MacKenzie ’53, bound in covers by artists like Charles Leong ’53. Joan also painted faculty houses, babysat and mowed lawns for faculty, and varnished the tables and booths in the coffee shop. She earned a BA in general literature with Lloyd Reynolds [English & art 1929–69] as her adviser. A year out of college, she worked for the National Hells Canyon Association. In an interview in 2004, she said: “I had a board of 29 people, labor leaders, farm leaders, public power leaders, and all that. Very, very interesting. But I did all the work. All of it.” The work included writing and producing a newsletter, writing letters, and even writing speeches for local senators. “That’s what led me into law, inadvertently. Because later on, there was another Federal Power Commission case, involving the potential Nez Perce Dam, which would have blocked the Salmon River. The head lawyer on that case asked me to come back to Washington and work with the lawyers who were working on that case. So I did.” Joan also worked for the national Democratic Party and the American Public Power Association. She earned a JD from George Washington University and an LLM from Yale University, and was the first woman clerk for any of the male judges then in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition, she was the first female professor of law at the University of Akron, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Colorado, Boulder. She found that heated interactions with male faculty and administrators overrode the positive experience she had with students, and she was confronted by challenges related to her worth and also by malice. Denied tenure at Colorado, she left to be an academic visitor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and then accepted a position at Cleveland State University in Marshall, where she worked for 20 years. “I decided that it would be Cleveland-Marshall, because there were three women already on the faculty, and I figured I deserved some company after six years of being the first woman.” She retired from Cleveland as professor emerita and provided academic support for students for two years. In her public obituary, we read: “Joan was much loved and revered for her exceptional brilliance and generosity. She encouraged her students, family, and friends to reach for the stars.” Survivors include Lois, and nieces, including Katy Izquierdo ’75, and nephews.

Preston Crosby Bassett ’40

A picture of Preston and Helen Bassett

Preston Crosby Bassett ’40, July 26, 2009, in Fort Myers, Florida, following a stroke. Preston's flair for mathematics was recognized by a teacher at Grant High School in Portland. “Somewhere along the way, word got to all my Reed professors that I was a mathematics major and should concentrate on that field. For example, Reed required that we have reading ability in either French or German. I passed in French by solving a math problem from a French textbook!” Preston met Helen Edmonds [commons 1938–40], who was a dietician at Reed, in 1939; they later married. Professor F.L. Griffin [mathematics 1911–56] introduced Preston to the actuarial field. F.L. had an arrangement with the Prudential Insurance Company to hire his top mathematician every year, and Preston was hired in 1940. Preston wrote: “Prudential had an education program for these winning students, to assist them in passing the required 10 examinations to become a fellow at the Society of Actuaries. To remain in this program, you had to average passing one examination each year. I completed my exams in 1950. Thank you, Reed!” During World War II, he served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific, and in 1950, joined the firm of Towers, Perrin, Forster, and Crosby, where he was vice president and chief actuary. He left the firm to establish his own practice in 1978. A specialist in the areas of employment benefit and pension policy, Preston served on the pension committee for the Department of Labor and was a member of President Carter's Commission on Pension Policy. He was president of all three major actuarial societies: the Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice, the Society of Actuaries, and the American Academy of Actuaries, and was an instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Preston published numerous articles for Harvard Business Review and the New York Times, among others; and wrote three books, Financial Aspects of Private Pension Plans, Interpreting Pension Law Developments, and Benefit Accrual Requirements. Preston and Helen lived in Philadelphia, with a second home on Sanibel Island, Florida. Survivors include a daughter and son, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Mary Elizabeth Russell Bauer ’43

A picture of Mary Russell Bauer

Mary Elizabeth Russell Bauer ’43, January 6, 2009, in Kennewick, Washington. Mary was born in Vancouver, B.C., and came to Reed from Bremerton, Washington. In an oral history interview with Deborah Prince ’71 in 2004, Mary talked about her experience as coxswain in 1941 for the newly formed Reed crew team, a position she held during her sophomore year. “Neither my roommate nor I liked organized sports, so we were honor-bound to put in so much time a week at physical activity.” Mary and roommate Dorothy Cottrell Coppock ’43 rowed in two-person sculls on the Willamette River about the same time several male students and a couple of faculty members organized a crew team. None of the men on the team were small enough to be coxswain, so Mary agreed to take the position, thus becoming the only woman (and the first in the state of Oregon) in collegiate rowing. The story of Mary and Reed's team appeared in Life magazine, on the front page of the Oregonian, in the Oregon Journal, and in other publications, including Ripley's Believe It or Not. Thanks to Mary, the team won three out of six races in that first season. She also was on the Griffin staff during her two years at Reed. Later she transferred to the University of Washington, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She married George H. Bauer; they had one daughter. The family lived in Washington, Alabama, and Mississippi. Inspired by a lecture on medical history, Mary enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi, earning an MA in the field in 1976; she later did postmaster's study in medical history at the University of Washington. Mary's occupations included public health and office nurse, teaching assistant, instructor in nursing, and research associate. Her brother, physicist and inventor James T. Russell ’53, graduated from Reed.

Laird Charles Brodie ’44

A picture of Laird Brodie

Laird Charles Brodie ’44, July 31, 2009, at home in Portland, following an extended illness. Laird was the son of Reed alumni F. Walter Brodie ’23 and medical pioneer Jessie Laird Brodie ’20. He earned a BA from Reed, an MA at the University of Chicago and a PhD at Northwestern University, all in physics. In 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force and studied meteorology at the University of Washington, University of Chicago, Harvard, and MIT. Laird was a professor of physics at Portland State University (1956–87). In his innovative approach to teaching, he employed examples from solar energy to illustrate physics concepts, and he also taught courses in the physics of music and photography. His research involved heat transfer in cryogenic liquids. Laird played the French horn in the Portland Junior Symphony and later in the Portland Opera and Marylhurst College orchestras. He also enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and sea kayaking. He married Rosemary G. Eliot in 1948; they had three children. In 1974, he married Mary Ellen Carson ’49, MAT ’65. The couple did volunteer work for Reed, attended symphony and chamber music concerts, and hiked with the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and the Mazamas. Survivors include Mary, his son and two daughters; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his sister; and brother Alan Brodie ’51.

Jeanne-Marie Bergheim Wyld ’49

A picture of Jeanne-Marie Bergheim Wyld

Jeanne-Marie Bergheim Wyld ’49, May 30, 2009, in Urbana, Illinois. Following the death of her father, a physician and surgeon, Jeanne-Marie left her hometown of Hawley, Minnesota, with her mother and sister and came to Portland. She attended Reed on a scholarship, and earned a BA in chemistry. She went to Stanford University on a four-year fellowship from the Atomic Energy Commission, ultimately earning a PhD. She taught chemistry at Vassar College in 1954. The following year, she married Henry William Wyld Jr ’49. They later moved to Urbana, Illinois, where Bill was appointed to the physics department at the University of Illinois. In Urbana, Jeanne-Marie taught part-time at Parkland College and at the University of Illinois and joined the League of Women Voters. She was the first Democrat to be elected to the Urbana City Council and later ran for mayor of Urbana (1969). She was a key figure in the fight against the Oakley Dam, a massive federal project that would have flooded 1500 acres of parkland in order to provide water for nearby Decatur. As the emissary for the Save Allerton Park Committee, Jeanne-Marie flew to Washington, D.C., and made her case to officials in the Department of the Interior, the Treasury, Army Corps of Engineers, and Senator Everett Dirksen. This effort was ultimately successful: the Oakley Dam was scrapped and the park endures. A snare drummer in high school and in the Portland Junior Symphony, Jeanne-Marie enjoyed music throughout her life. In retirement, she cared for elderly family members in her home, traveled extensively with Bill, and was active in the Wesley United Methodist Church. Survivors include Bill, a daughter, grandson, and sister; a son and daughter predeceased her.

Loraine Beryl Nunes Brownlee ’52

Loraine Beryl Nunes Brownlee ’52, July 23, 2009, in Pebble Beach, California, from cancer. Loraine came to Reed from Hawaii—a place she loved and returned to in 1950 with husband Robert L. Brownlee ’49. She originally aspired to be a teacher, but was devoted to her life as a wife and mother. She held administrative positions while Robert moved through his career in education in Hawaii, Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin, and California. As an avid golfer, she enjoyed living on the Monterey Peninsula, and being a member of the Pacific Grove Women's Golf Group and the USGA. For 20 years, she worked at Brooks-Cole Publishing, retiring in 1996 as executive secretary to the president. Survivors include her daughter, son, and three grandchildren. Robert died in 2008.

Thomas Elton Barklow ’64

A picture of Thomas Barklow

Thomas Elton Barklow ’64, August 19, 2009, in Hoquiam, Washington, after a brief, courageous battle with brain cancer. Tom earned his BA from Reed and his PhD from the University of Oregon in chemistry. In 1963, he married Patricia Wolfe; they had three daughters and later divorced. Tom's occupation was repairing electronics, which he did at his business, ME TV Service in Aberdeen, Washington. From his public obituary, we learned that he had an inquisitive mind, shared his love of learning and reading with his children, enjoyed chess and cooking, and did lamp making and woodcarving. Tom had a 1928 Ford, which he maintained from boyhood, and he rode motorcycles. He was a 35-year member of the Aberdeen (Washington) Eagles. In 1991, he married Carol Johnson Libby. They shared numerous interests, including camping and bowling. Survivors include his wife, mother, daughters, two stepdaughters, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Carol Bannister Enman ’70

Carol Bannister Enman ’70, August 4, 2009, following a brief illness with lung disease. Carol earned a BA from Reed in general literature, and was a gifted writer, with special interests in cooking, Russian history, and biographies and literature. She was married to Robert Enman for 43 years; they lived in Maine, where he taught music and joined the Bangor Symphony. Carol assisted him in his career, with her work in publications and school placements. Survivors include her husband and sister.

Samuel Trust Bush ’71

A picture of Samuel Bush

Sam Bush ’71 designed and built the Angus and Marion Pattullo Drinking Fountain on the Reed campus

Samuel Trust Bush ’71, August 19, 2009, in Portland, from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Sam will always be remembered at Reed for designing and building the Dog Fountain (properly known as the Angus and Marion Pattullo Drinking Fountain; it caters both to people and dogs). A fifth-generation Oregonian, Sam grew up in Portland and attended the Hill School in Pennsylvania before he came to Reed. After studying art at Reed, he returned to Hill School, where he taught woodworking and design. His studio at Hill School garnered national attention. In 1979, Sam returned to Oregon as head of woodworking at the Oregon School of Arts and Crafts and soon built a reputation as one of the state's most gifted wood craftsmen. In addition to the Pattullo Fountain, he also built the climate-controlled display cases in the Hauser Library. Sam founded the Guild of Oregon Woodworkers, and was profiled in Ken Macrorie's collection of outstanding American educators, 20 Teachers (Oxford University Press, 1984). In the program for Sam's memorial at Sellwood Park in September 2009, we read that he was fearless-surfing in cold Pacific waters before wet suits were in fashion-and that his zest for life was “overflowing and infectious.” He created hundreds of beautifully crafted pieces, many exhibiting his exemplary carving. He loved the outdoors and played bluegrass guitar. To the end of his life, Sam was upbeat and supported his friends and students. His mother, Patsy Livesley Morgan, earned an MA from Reed in education in 1963. Survivors include his daughter and son, and his brother. We thank Towny Angell [1989–], director of Reed's facilities operations, and Alan Borning ’71, Sam's roommate and housemate at Reed, for supplying the details for this memorial.

Katherine Dial Baker ’08

A picture of Katherine Baker

Katherine Dial Baker ’08, July 22, 2009, at home in Denver, Colorado. K.D. attended Reed for two years, with a focus in linguistics, before moving to Denver, where she earned an emergency medical technician license and graduated from the Denver School of Massage. She worked as a licensed massage therapist and intended to complete her bachelor's degree at the University of Denver. Her adviser at Reed, Professor Elizabeth Drumm [Spanish 1995–], remembered K.D. as an enthusiastic, joyful, and inquisitive young woman with many interests. Survivors include her parents and three sisters, and many, many friends.

Barbara Ann Besson Martin ’41

Barbara Ann Besson Martin ’41, August 17, 2010, in Portland. The daughter of a Portland physician, Barbie lived briefly in Vienna, Austria, where she discovered a passion for art and music. Returning to Portland, Barbie attended Lincoln High School and performed double bass with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. At Reed she studied foreign languages and fell in love with William F. Martin ’41. The couple married and raised their five children on a cattle ranch near the Clackamas River. Outside of ranching, Barbie enjoyed golfing, fishing, and traveling. She did calligraphy, played bridge, and was a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers. She was a member in many local organizations, including the Reed College Women's Committee. After Bill died in 1986, Barbie remained at the ranch, raising and showing Angora goats, and spinning and knitting their fleece. In the early ’90s, she sold the ranch and moved to northwest Portland. Barbie is remembered for her beauty, courage, dignity, and humor. Survivors include 1 son and 3 daughters, 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a brother. A son died in 1977.

Lee Stanley Baier ’48

A picture of Lee Baier

Lee Stanley Baier ’48, October 13, 2010, in North Yarmouth, Maine, from natural causes. Lee had already begun his studies at Reed when he made the decision to volunteer for the U.S. Army. He was selected to serve with the 20th Armored Division in Europe; after the war, he returned to Reed and completed a BA in general literature. He continued his academic career at Columbia University, where he earned a doctorate in English literature-his specialty was the work of John Milton. In 1958, he met Ursula Howe. They married in Woodlands-Kent, England, the following year, and settled in North Yarmouth in 1966. Lee was professor of English at the University of Maine until retirement. He also was a founding member of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Yarmouth, and for many years played with the recorder choir. He loved gardening, baroque music, and “a finely (and very often a not-so-finely) crafted pun.” His daughter-in-law, Susan Baier, who provided the details for this memorial, noted that Reed was very important to Lee. “He wore a Reed baseball cap until his final days.” Survivors include his wife, sons Matthew and Simon, and his sister, Dorothy Shindler.

C. Melvin Bliven ’50

A picture of Melvin Bliven

C. Melvin Bliven ’50, September 2, 2010, in Wedderburn, Oregon. Mel earned a BA in physics from Reed, where he met Ruth A. Hess ’52. They were married for 25 years and raised two children. Mel's career was centered on the design, manufacture, and maintenance of lasers and technical instruments. His company, Laser Technical Instruments in Lake Oswego, developed the laser guidelines used in precision woodcutting by sawmills around the country. He maintained a friendship with Professor Jean Delord [physics, 1950–88]; in 1979, he provided the physics department with a pair of lasers to create a high-speed computer data link between the physics building and Eliot Hall. (Classmates of the appropriate vintage may remember their enigmatic red beam, which was visible on foggy nights.) Mel enjoyed genealogy work, travel, and time outdoors. In retirement, he moved to Wedderburn, where he built a home just a few feet from the Pacific Ocean. Survivors include his son, daughter, stepdaughter, stepson, and a granddaughter. Mel was also married to Barbara Walker, who died in 2004.

Alan Reid Brodie ’51

A picture of Alan Brodie

Alan Reid Brodie ’51, October 18, 2010, at home in Chicago, Illinois. Alan grew up in Portland, the son of F. Walter Brodie ’23 and medical pioneer Jessie Laird Brodie ’20, and brother of Laird C. Brodie ’44. He earned a BA from Reed in general literature and a JD from the University of Chicago. He served in U.S. Army Intelligence in Germany for a year, after which he returned to Chicago to practice law. Alan specialized in employee benefits with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, and retired in 1987. His passion for archaeology led to travel in the Middle East. He also enjoyed opera, contemporary music, and modern art. He was a member of the visiting committee of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago and served on the National Advisory Council at Reed. In 1988, he endowed the Brodie Family Scholarship at Reed to recognize the college's importance in his life and in the life of other members of his family. A sister and extended family members survive him.

David Wellington Borst Jr. ’69

A picture of David Borst Jr.

David Wellington Borst Jr. ’69, September 27, 2010, in Winter Springs, Florida. Dave spent five years pursuing an undergraduate degree. Arriving at Reed in 1964, he was split between a love of classical string bass and his interest in biology. He also took an interest in radio. “He loved being the manager of KRRC,” wrote his son Douglas T. Borst ’07, who provided the details for this memorial. Records for the management of the radio station were found mixed among Dave's notes for Biology 110. After two years at Reed, Dave moved to Vienna, Austria, to study string bass. After another two years of study there, political tensions and changing interests brought him back to Reed to major in biology. There he rejoined the company of biology professors Bert Brehm [1962-93], Frank Gwilliam [1957-96], and Laurens Ruben [1955-92]. Brehm recalled: “I remember David for his fine work in my class, but mostly from conversations about music or science as a future career.” After returning from Vienna, Dave told Brehm that music would always be an important part of his life, though not a career focus. Said Brehm, “I remember numerous similar conversations: science, graduate school, medical school, on the one hand; music, art, dance, theatre, on the other. What better evidence of a lifelong liberal education?” Dave went on to attain an MA in zoology and a PhD in biology from UCLA. His postdoctoral work was with Howard Bern at UC Berkeley, “a very distinguished endocrinologist and one of my professors and a good friend,” Gwilliam noted. Dave was assistant professor at the University of Connecticut, and, in 1985, he accepted a position as a professor of biology at Illinois State University. Near the end of his tenure at Illinois, he was named Distinguished Professor, the highest honor the university bestows. He was actively involved in research focused on growth and development in insects and crustaceans, and maintained a lab at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Gwilliam said, “Our paths crossed at the Marine Biological Laboratory a couple of times and I heard about him through my membership in the American Society of Zoologists. He was a good scientist and a good guy. I'll miss him.” In 2005, having sent a son to Reed and a daughter to Oberlin, Dave accepted a position as chair of the biology department at the University of Central Florida and moved to Winter Springs. He was actively involved in teaching there until shortly before his death. During his career, he was appointed a Fogarty International Fellow at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, and was a member of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, the Entomological Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He loved his family and science, and was a devoted teacher. He remembered Reed fondly and regaled friends with stories of library stairwell haircuts, the Doyle Owl, and studying for humanities while skiing on Mount Hood. Survivors include his wife, Susan True Wardwell Borst;daughters Allison and Stacy; son Doug, two grandchildren; and two sisters.

Miranda Hinsdale Breger ’93

Miranda Hinsdale Breger ’93, June 27, 2010, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. At Reed, Miranda focused her studies on English literature. A celebration of her life took place at Chesterwood, a National Trust Historic Site in Stockbridge, in July.

John Babala AMP ’44

John Babala AMP ’44, June 1, 2012, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. John attended Reed in the premeteorology program while serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from the University of Detroit. He was general manager of Harlan Electric and founder of Hammer & Smith Electric in Flint, Michigan. Survivors include two daughters and two sons. His wife, Marion, to whom he was married for 33 years, predeceased him.

Carolyn Lee Bullard ’64

A picture of Carolyn Bullard

Carolyn Lee Bullard ’64, August 10, 2012, in Portland. Carolyn earned a BA from Reed in history, and also spent a year studying history and philosophy at the University of Keele in England. She went on to earn an MA in the education of the deaf from Columbia University Teachers’ College and a PhD in education from the University of Washington. Starting in 1978, she taught special education at Lewis & Clark and later served as dean of the graduate school of professional studies. Her personal interests extended to travel, music, horseback riding, reading, and the City Club of Portland. Carolyn married Frank E. Mabrey in 1987; they had two daughters. Survivors include her husband and daughters, three grandchildren, and two sisters, including Margaret Bullard Taylor ’51.

Alexander Botero-Lowry ’09

A picture of Alex Botero-Lowry

Alexander Botero-Lowry ’09, August 24, 2012, in San Francisco, California. Alex was an anthropology major and worked in computing & information services at Reed. Steve Wissow ’07 recalls Alex on the computing policy committee (CPC), when Alex was administrator for the student information network and Steve was the online yearbook editor. “I remember disagreeing with him in a CPC meeting, and appreciating how he both said exactly what he thought and also listened to and empathized with what others thought, and didn’t compromise either for the other.” Marty Ringle, chief information officer, says, “As a member of the CPC from 2006 to 2009, Alex displayed a unique blend of arcane technical knowledge, community conscience, and sardonic humor. He frequently raised critical questions and was often the only person in the room who could actually answer them.” Says Marianne Colgrove ’84, deputy chief information officer: “Alex was witty and congenial, also brilliant and opinionated—a great Reedie! Though we met through technology at Reed, his technical savvy long ago surpassed mine. Our relationship was much more about food than technology. I have worked with a lot of students over the years, but it is unusual to develop a personal relationship that transcends our jobs, and our student-to-grownup relationship.” After graduation, Alex worked as software engineer for Metaweb Technologies and then for Google in San Francisco. “Alex really was special for us,” Marianne says. “We will miss having him in our lives and on the planet.” Survivors include his parents, sister, and grandparents.

Dennis L. Bonner MAT ’69

Dennis L. Bonner MAT ’69, September 30, 1994, in New York City. After receiving his degree from Reed, he entered the PhD program in English at Stanford University, earning a degree in 1974. He moved to New York in 1976 to work for City University of New York. He held posts as assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs, dean of the academic program, and dean of faculty personnel. In 1979, he was appointed director of administrative services, Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York. In 1980, he was appointed acting director of admission for the borough, and in 1981 became the director of admission, a post he held until his death.

Meda Becker Johnson ’31

Meda Becker Johnson ’31, February 9, 1996, in Portland. Meda graduated from Reed with a degree in general literature, and was a writer who published many articles and stories in national magazines and local newspapers. In addition to writing, she pursued a number of careers during her lifetime, including work as a commercial artist, teacher, dental assistant, and in sales promotions. She married Nathaniel Johnson in 1936; he died in 1991. Meda also pursued many volunteer activities and was a past PTA president and president of United Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Churches of Portland and Roseburg, Oregon. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women and Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers. She is survived by her son, Robert Johnson ’63, a brother, Herman Becker ’34, and a granddaughter.

Ethel Bond Saucerman ’17

Ethel C. Bond Saucerman ’17, January 1, 1996, in Portland, where she spent most of her life. After graduation with a degree in mathematics, she taught math at Reed for a brief time, and she later taught at local rural schools and in Vancouver, Washington. She married Fletcher Saucerman in 1927. Survivors include two daughters, a step-daughter, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Reed College.

Robert Boardwell MALS ’71

Robert Boardwell MALS ’71, January 9, 1997, in Portland, of cancer. He was chairman of the art department at Clackamas High School and an instructor at the Museum Art School (now Pacific Northwest College of Art), in Portland. A calligrapher who showed his work in local galleries, he was the author of Beginning Calligraphy: A Guide to Italic Writing, published by Touchstone Press in 1974. After retiring from teaching, he started his own business, Owl’s Nest Computer Service. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren.

Donald R. Beldin ’57

Donald Beldin ’57, of cancer, January 20, 1998, in Green Valley, Arizona. He earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Washington in 1965 and taught math at a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Chicago and Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Washington. In the early 1970s, he obtained a position with the U.S. Department of Energy in Arlington, Virginia, as a research analyst. He remained with the department until 1995, when illness forced him to retire and he moved to Green Valley.

Hortense M. Binderup ’25

Hortense M. Binderup ’25, December 16, 1997, in Portland. She attended Reed for two years and then transferred to the University of Washington, where she earned a BA in 1925 and a master’s in library science in 1928. She returned to Portland and worked as a librarian at Rose City Library, later the Hollywood branch of Multnomah County Library, until retiring in the mid-’60s.

Arthur G. Brachmann MA ’61

Arthur Brachmann MA ’61, July 30, 1997, in Forest Grove, Oregon. His undergraduate degree was earned at Pacific University in 1934. He was a physics instructor at Forest Grove Union High School in 1942–76, and served as chairman of the science department in the ’70s. He was also at one time the head football coach at the high school. He was a sergeant major in the National Guard, the highest rating that can be achieved by an enlisted man. He is survived by his wife.

Donald A. Branam ’53

Donald A. Branam ’53, April 17, 1990, in Chico, California. He earned a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1967. After teaching for two years at Boston College, he joined the faculty at Chico State University, where he remained until his death. He is survived by his wife, a son, and his father.

Norman A. Bergman ’49

Norman Bergman ’49, of cancer, November 14, 1999, in Portland. He earned an MD in 1951 from the University of Oregon Medical School, now Oregon Health Sciences University, interned at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, and completed his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, specializing in anesthesiology. His career in medicine focused on anesthesia research and on education. In 1958, he joined the staff of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he was chief of anesthesia, and he was also on the faculty of the University of Utah College of Medicine. His research focused on investigating pulmonary gas exchange in the lungs during anesthesia. In 1963-64, he spent a year at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, in the research department of anesthetics. In 1970, he was appointed the first professor of anesthesia at the University of Utah. Shortly thereafter, he left that position to take a post as chairman, department of anesthesia, Oregon Health Sciences University, a position he held until 1981. He remained on the staff at OHSU until 1989, and was also on the staff of the Shriners Children’s Hospital. During his career, he was a visiting professor at various universities in the U.S. and Europe, an associate examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiologists, and a reference editor for several journals. He developed an interest in the history of anesthesiology, and in 1998 published a book, The Genesis of Surgical Anesthesia. He published more than 80 articles, both scientific and historical, in his field. His other interests included bicycling, classical music, and astronomy. Survivors include his wife of 48 years; a son, a daughter, five grandchildren, and several cousins, including Elihu Bergman ’50 and Abraham Bergman ’54. The family suggests remembrances to Reed College.

Jo Anne Gevurtz Birch ’62

JoAnne Gevurtz Birch ’62, September 13, 1999, in Costa Mesa, California. After attending Reed, she earned a BA from Portland State University in 1966. She was married and had one child, and she was a part time math and English tutor.

Inez Birney Palmer ’27

Inez Birney Palmer ’27, December 15, 1999, in Lincoln City, Oregon. She attended Reed for two years and later attended Western Oregon University and the University of Oregon, earning a BS in history in 1933. She also studied music at the Portland Music Conservatory. She taught school for over 40 years, primarily fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at the Kennedy School in Portland. The school is now a unique bed and breakfast and conference center that has named one of its rooms in her honor. She married Harry Palmer in 1927 and they had one son. After retiring in 1969, they moved to Lincoln City, on the Oregon coast. She was a volunteer at the town’s domestic violence shelter and served on its board of directors, and in 1987 was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award by the Chamber of Commerce for her work there. She also volunteered at the North Lincoln Hospital and the Lincoln City Senior Center, was a past officer in North Lincoln Republican Women, was a regent of the Yaquina Chapter of the DAR, and served on the Council on Aging. In the 1980s she was asked by the Lincoln County Commission to accept a position on the county planning commission, where she represented senior issues for seven years. Her other interests included rose gardening, fishing, music, and travel. She is survived by her son, two grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Lennard Aaron Benson ’31

Lennart Benson ’31, September 28, 2000, in Portland. Ole attended Reed in 1927–28 and later attended the University of Oregon. He was a public accountant for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Masons and a Shriner who volunteered as a guide at the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children. Survivors include his second wife, a son, a daughter, two stepdaughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Don G. Berry ’53

Don Berry ’51, February 20, 2001, in Seattle, of complications from emphysema.

A creative spirit who disdained a conventional career, Don wrote three influential novels in the 1960s, all set in the Oregon Territory, regarded by some critics as the best novels ever written and set in Oregon.

Don attended Reed in 1949–51, where he was inspired by Prof. Lloyd Reynolds [English and art 1929–69] and developed close relationships with beat poets Gary Snyder ’51, Lew Welch ’51, and Philip Whalen ’51. His first novel, Trask, published in 1960, is the story of Northwest explorer Eldridge Trask and blends historical research with Don's interest in Eastern philosophy. A rip-roaring advendture, the book won a Library Guild Award. In 1962, he published Moontrap, which won a Golden Spur award for best western novel and was nominated for a National Book Award. His third published novel, To Build A Ship, appeared in 1963 and was based on a diary written by pioneer Warren Vaughn. He also published a history of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, A Majority of Scoundrels, in 1961, and a history book for children, The Mountain Men, in 1966. He later worked on a series of documentary films.

Read more...

Louis T. Benezet MA ’39

Louis Benezet MA ’39, January 24, 2002, in Mill Valley, California. He was a former college president and widely respected educator. Prior to attending Reed, he earned a BA from Dartmouth College, and in 1942 he earned a PhD from Columbia University. He was director of admission at Knox College, assistant to the dean of University College at Syracuse University, and assistant to the Chancellor at Syracuse University before becoming president of Allegheny College in 1948. He served as president of Colorado College from 1955 to 1963, president of Claremont Graduate School from 1963 to 1970, and president of SUNY Albany from 1970 to 1975. In 1975, he became research professor and consultant at SUNY Stony Brook, retiring in 1985. During his career, he served on numerous commissions, including the California Governor’s Commission on Tax Reform, the New York Governor’s Task Force on Financing Higher Education, and the Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee. He wrote a number of articles and several books on issues of democracy, higher education, and human dignity, including Style and Substance: Leadership and the College Presidency, published in 1981. His most recent work, Restoring America’s Failed Democracy, was published in 2000 by Higganum Hill Books. In 1992, the Foster-Scholtz Club presented him with the distinguished service award for his contributions to higher education. After the death of his wife, Mildred Twohy ’40, from cancer in 1977, he established the Twohy Benezet Lecture Fund at Reed College. Survivors include four daughters and four grandchildren.

Francis Glenn Barlow ’32

Francis Barlow ’32, January 8, 2002, in Nashville, Tennessee, while visiting his daughter. After graduating from Reed, he worked for Shell Oil, Ford Motor Company and the Chicago Great Western Railway until 1938, when he began working for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as a life insurance agent. He worked for that company in various capacities in the Pacific Northwest and in California. In 1956, he resigned from the company when the retail business that his wife had started grew beyond their expectations and needed his full-time involvement. The company, which sold records, tapes, and high fidelity equipment, was first located in Fullerton, California, and later moved to La Jolla. He was active in the Rotary and held several offices over the years, including serving as president of the Fullerton Club in 1956–57. In 1979, his wife died of leukemia, and in 1980 he sold their business and retired. In retirement, he was active in the La Jolla community as a volunteer English tutor for foreign students under the auspices of the University of California, San Diego, international center. He was recognized on several occasions for his outstanding work at the center, and he was frequently hosted by his former students in their home countries. Survivors include a daughter, a son; a sister; three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Ida Benjamin ’50

Ida Benjamin ’50, January 19, 2003, in Portland. Benjamin once reported to her friend, Ruth Cederstrom Wolfe ’50, that after years of working in a cannery in Southeast Portland, she made the decision to attend the (Portland) Museum Art College. She was encouraged by the college’s director to enroll in the joint degree program with Reed, which she did, studying education, amongst other subjects, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art. Her nontraditional entrance to higher education was followed by a meaningful career in social services and as a teacher for children’s art

Richard E. Bosquet ’44

Richard Eugene Bosquet ’44, December 26, 2002, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, in Bridgeport, Michigan. Dick attended Reed in the army premeteorology program, and completed a BA from the University of Minnesota–Minneapolis in 1948. He and his wife, Llorys, raised two daughters and two sons. Dick worked as a mechanical engineer, and later a scheduling and purchasing supervisor, for Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan, retiring in 1984.

Gordon E. Baker ’48

A picture of Gordon Baker

Gordon Edward Baker ’48, January 13, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California. Gordon served in the U.S. Army in Belgium from 1943 to 1946, receiving several medals for valor, before completing a BA in political science at Reed. In 1949 he received an MA from the University of Washington, did postgraduate work at Brown University, and then earned a PhD from Princeton in 1952. From 1952 until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1993, Gordon taught political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Following retirement, he was recalled seven times to teach courses at UCSB. Gordon was considered instrumental in the growth that made Santa Barbara Teachers College a major research facility, and was a revered department chair from 1965 to 1971. He was described as a caring, optimistic, and gentle man who had an incredible outreach to students and colleagues, and who found joy and remembrance in life’s details. A favorite quotation was, "The teachers you seek: Truth, Wisdom, and Strength, they are all within you." Gordon published a number of studies, primarily on the subject of representation and apportionment, including Rural Versus Urban Political Power: The Nature and Consequences of Unbalanced Representation (1955), The Reapportionment Revolution: Representation, Political Power, and the Supreme Court (1966), and coauthored Free Government in the Making: Readings in American Political Thought (1985). His research was supported by the Guggenheim Foundation, the Social Science Research, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and he was a member of the council and executive committee of the American Political Science Association. In 1947 he married June L. Sharpe ’49, "who for better or worse, urged me to give graduate study a try," Gordon noted, and they enjoyed life with their two children and travel. Survivors include June, a daughter, and a sister. His son predeceased him.

Helen Niles Bentley ’32

Helen Niles Bentley ’32, December 21, 2003, in Saginaw, Michigan. Helen received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Reed, and went on to earn a master’s degree in religion from the University of Chicago. Her teaching career spanned 44 years in California and Michigan. Community involvement included membership in the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, Church Women United, and Countryside Trinity Church. In 1934 she married Robert A. Bentley, who died in 1970. She then married Cleaves Byers, who predeceased her. She is survived by a son and daughter, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Reuben Braunstein ’38

Reuben Braunstein ’38, November 27, 2001, in Maryland. Reuben received a BA in economics from Reed. He married Grace Nathanson in 1941 and they had a daughter and two sons. He worked in retail, as president of Nathanson’s, and retired in Bethesda.

Keith C. Bishop ’44

Keith C. Bishop ’44, January 6, 2004, in Saratoga, California. Buz entered Reed in the U.S. Army premeteorology program, studying mathematics and physics before entering active service as a B-17 navigator during World War II. His service in the Korean War earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. In 1946 he married, and in 1956, moved to the Santa Clara Valley. Buz worked as a real estate broker for 40 years, retiring from the mortgage banking firm, Bishop & Bishop, in 1998, when macular degeneration caused his blindness. His interests included baseball, golf, and solving the daily New York Times crossword puzzle, which he did with a fountain pen. Survivors include his two sons, and four grandchildren. His wife predeceased him in 1997.

Jean A. Bauer Brownell ’48

Jean A. Bauer Brownell ’48, November 9, 2003, in Portland, Oregon. Jean received her bachelor’s degree from Reed in social psychology. She was a member of the board of directors for the Portland Camp Fire association; a medical secretary; a library assistant with the Oregon Historical Society; and later did freelance work in publications, including as an indexer for the Oregon Historical Quarterly. She married Robert P. Brownell in 1953, and they had one daughter, who survived her, along with two grandchildren, and her brother.

Elizabeth Edith Bruce Scott ’50

Elizabeth Edith Bruce Scott ’50, September 22, 2001, in California. Betty attended Reed for two years with an interest in physical education, and in 1947 married Ronald L. Scott ’49, who died in 2000. The couple’s two daughters and son, and the activities accompanying their family and home were the focus of her adult life.

Robert Sanders Baer ’75

Robert Sanders Baer ’75, March 13, 1994, in California. Robert received a BA from Reed in psychology. After graduating, and in an effort to experience life "from top to bottom" (as he described it), he sold encyclopedias, used cars, and even did handstands for change on the San Francisco streets. Wanting a "positive reality" at 32, he entered Cornell University Graduate School of Hotel Management; he left after a year. He returned to California and took a job as a hotel investment analyst, later taking a position in an accounting firm as a hotel consultant. In 1984 he went to work for Blackman Flynn, an innovative investment firm, and was instrumental in three successful hotel renovations in San Francisco. Following this notoriety, he went to India and Nepal, and then to Kenya, hoping to find a vision for the next segment of his life.

Robert Nelson Brenne ’53

Robert Nelson Brenne ’53, December 22, 2004, in Salem, Oregon. Bob graduated from Reed with a BA in physics, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, programming analog computers used for missile guidance systems. In 1959 he married Natalie McLeod; they lived in Philomath, Oregon, and raised a family of four. For 30 years, Bob worked as lead computer programmer on a series of main frames at Oregon State University. He also worked as an instructor at the university and was instrumental in the development of early IC testers at Tektronix. His recreational interests included bowling, playing bridge, and stamp collecting. Bob's wife died in 1993, and in 2004 he moved to Salem. There he developed a close relationship with his friend Janet Taylor. Survivors include his daughter, three sons, and a brother.

Lona Jean Stewart Burns ’38

Lona Jean Stewart Burns ’38, December 13, 2004, in Boise, Idaho. Lorna attended Reed, the College of Idaho, and the University of Washington. She married Willard R. Burns in 1942, and they had two children. Burns was a member of the Saint Alphonsus Auxiliary, the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and a volunteer for the Red Cross. Survivors include her son and daughter, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a sister.

Blanche Britton Cacy ’69

Blanche Britton Cacy ’69, April 1978, in Roseburg, Oregon. Blanche did not complete her undergraduate education at Reed.

Ei Boxer ’73

Eli Boxer ’73, June 12, 2003, in Florida. Eli attended Reed for two years, before transferring and earning a degree in mathematics from UCLA in 1974. He also earned a JD from the University of San Fernando Valley Law School in 1979, and worked in legal and financial counseling and referral services for retirees and for individuals with disabilities.

Helen Dorothy Krebs Brewer ’36

Helen Dorothy Krebs Brewer ’36, March 22, 1998, in California. Helen attended Reed for two years, earning a BA in liberal arts from the University of Oregon in 1937. She married, had a family, and was a junior high school librarian in Dinuba, California. She also was a member of the Tulare County Library advisory board, a trustee at the California State Library Association, and the organizer for Friends of the Library in Dinuba.

Marjorie Bessey Mulkey ’29

A picture of Marjorie Bessey Mulkey

Marjorie Bessey Mulkey ’29, December 4, 2006, in Boise, Idaho. Marge received a BA from Reed in general literature. She also took coursework at a business school before teaching algebra in a Prosser, Washington, high school. There she met Wendell T. Mulkey; the couple married in 1934, and lived in a number of places in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho related to his work with the Bureau of Reclamation. They also spent two years in Australia. After her husband retired in 1962, the couple traveled, gardened, and took painting lessons. Survivors include her two sons and daughter, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; and her niece, Marian Mulkey ’81. Her husband died in 1987.

Robert L. Berg AMP ’44

Robert L. Berg, AMP ’44, October 31, 1996. In addition to attending Reed in the U.S. Army premeteorology program, Robert also attended Marquette University. He was an electrical engineer and staff technology specialist for McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri.

Madeline Linda Prideaux Biggs ’49

Madeline Linda Prideaux Biggs ’49, February 23, 2005, in Lake Oswego. Madeline attended Reed for two years. She married Harry E. Biggs Jr. ’47 in 1946; they had a son and daughter. Harry died in 1992.

Leone Bonney Wollenberg, Friend

Leone Bonney Wollenberg, March 15, 2006, in Longview, Washington. Lee, wife of trustee emeritus R.P. Wollenberg, and mother of five children, including trustee R.H. Wollenberg '75, was active in organizing and supporting Longview civic and charitable groups for 60 years. The focus of her civic energy was often in support of children. She was a founding member of the Toutle River Ranch, known currently as the Youth and Family LINK Program. She also helped to found the Southwest Washington Symphony Auxiliary, and served on the Head Start Policy Council, the Columbia Theatre Board, and the Lower Columbia Foundation Board. She met Dick shortly after moving from Oregon to southwest Washington to begin a position as a second grade teacher. The couple was married for 65 years. Lee was a dedicated volunteer, responding with great energy to any task assigned. Her egalitarian manner, and her great kindness and inner strength, suffused her interactions with others. Survivors include her husband, daughter, three sons, and six grandchildren. One son died in December.

Peter Bachrach ’42

Peter Bachrach ’42, December 14, 2007, at home in Southwest Harbor, Maine, following a stroke. Peter received a BA from Reed in economics, and continued his studies at Harvard, where he earned a PhD in political science in 1951. In 1946, he married Florence Rice; they lived in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and had six children. Peter taught political science at Bryn Mawr for more than 22 years, joining the faculty at Temple University in 1968. He retired from Temple in 1988 as professor emeritus of political science. Following the death of his wife in 1975, Peter married again; the couple lived in Center City before moving to Maine in 1992. His article, “Two Faces of Power,” published in the American Political Science Review in 1962, is described as the most widely cited article in the political science discipline. He wrote 10 books, including Power and Empowerment: A Radical Theory of Participatory Democracy (1992), and was an advocate of political activism by all segments of society. Peter took pleasure in kayaking, playing chess, and stamp collecting. Survivors include his wife, Adrienne, five daughters, a son, two stepdaughters and stepsons, 22 grandchildren, and a sister.

Robert J. Broadbridge AMP ’44

Robert J. Broadbridge AMP ’44, November 5, 2006, in Dearborn, Michigan. Robert attended Reed in the army premeteorology program. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Italy, with the Ordnance Ballistics Team. Survivors include his wife, Frances, a son and five daughters, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and a brother.

Judith Booth Jacobs ’49

Judith Booth Jacobs ’49, November 1, 2007, at home in Niskayuna, New York, from complications of Parkinson's Disease. Judy attended Reed but did not graduate, and later earned an MSW from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. At the university, she met Israel Jacobs. They married, and in 1954 moved to Niskayuna, where Judy became a community activist. She chaired the judiciary committee and served as president, of the Schenectady League of Women Voters. She also was a member, and served as president of the Community Welfare Council. In what she termed her greatest achievement, she oversaw the dissolution of the council and the creation of the Human Services Planning Council, designed to coordinate services to both public and private welfare agencies. The YWCA presented her with the Woman of Vision Award in 1979. She enjoyed painting and drawing, and travel with her family. Survivors include her husband, a daughter and son, and five grandchildren.

Sally Brogan McLeod ’58

Sally Brogan McLeod ’58, December 22, 2007, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sally attended Reed for a year and a half, and received a BA in philosophy from Northwestern University in 1958. An MA in secondary education came from the University of New Mexico in 1975. She married Hugh S. McLeod in 1957, and the couple settled in New Mexico, her home state, to raise a family. She taught mathematics in public schools, and was a docent with the Albuquerque Museum. She also was active in Meals on Wheels, the AAUW, and the Presbyterian church. Survivors include two daughters and four sons, four grandchildren, and two brothers.

Abner S. Baker III ’58, MA ’62

Abner S. Baker III ’58, MA ’62, December 30, 2008, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Abner was born in Fort Morgan, Colorado, a town founded by his grandfather. He received a BA and an MA from Reed in history, and later earned a doctorate from the University of Oregon. He taught at Michigan State University before joining the faculty at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, Connecticut, where he taught American history, specializing in the history of the Civil War. Following retirement, he earned an MS in marriage and family therapy from CCSU, and was developing a private practice at the Hartford Family Institute when he became ill. Abner loved music and sang leading roles with the Simsbury Light Opera Company for several years, and also acted with the Repertory Theatre of New Britain. Family members and friends relied on his expertise on a broad range of subjects and were uplifted by his fair and dignified treatment of others. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia; his daughter and two sons; two grandchildren; and also two stepdaughters, one stepson, and five step-grandchildren.

Carl H. Bush MAT ’69

Carl H. Bush MAT ’69, October 22, 2007, in Seattle, Washington. Carl earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Washington State College. He enjoyed travel in the U.S. and in Europe, and was a member of the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Annabelle, and a son. A daughter predeceased him.

Price Burlingame ’38

Price Burlingame ’38, March 17, 1995, in Oakland, California. He attended Reed College and the Portland Art Museum, graduating under the combined degree program. He taught high school in Prineville and Bend for several years and then returned to Portland to become a radio announcer. He enrolled in advertising courses at Multnomah College, and after completing the coursework taught advertising at Lewis & Clark College and the University of Oregon. He left teaching in 1950 to enter professional advertising, first in San Francisco and then in Oakland, where he joined Kaiser Graphic Arts. He was a sales representative at that company for over 20 years. From 1975 until his retirement in 1980, he worked as a sales representative for Peter Wells Press, San Francisco. He was a member of the American Academy of Advertising, the Society of Art Directors and Artists of San Francisco, and the American Marketing Association. He was also a board member and vice president of the Northern California Chapter of the Business/Professional Advertising Association. He enjoyed travel, and had interests in acting, magic, juggling, photography, and golf. He taught in a variety of settings, including high school, professional development seminars, and special education.

Harold N. Boris ’55

Harold Boris ’55, of heart failure, July 8, 1995, in Boston. He was a psychoanalyst, educator, and author who was on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School at Cambridge Hospital at the time of his death. After graduating from Reed, he pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago. He joined the faculty of Goddard College in Vermont, where he conducted research on rural mental health through a Ford Foundation grant. In 1967, he began working at Tufts Medical Center, where he developed seminars for residents in community psychiatry and group therapy. He continued this work at Harvard, where he supervised psychiatry residents. Since 1967, he had maintained a private practice for adults and children in Lexington and Boston. He was the author of numerous books and papers on psychoanalytic theory and method, including Passions of the Mind: A Third Principle of Mental Functioning, published in 1993 by NYU Press, and his collected papers, Sleights of Mind, published in 1994 by Jason Aronson Publishers. Survivors include his second wife, a daughter, two sons, a brother, and two stepchildren.

Gladys Leonards Bryan ’53

Gladys Leonards Bryan ’53, May 17, 1995, in Portland. Gladys taught school at Crater Lake and Monument, Oregon and was also a piano teacher. She is survived by a daughter, a son, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Charles R. Beiser ’66, MAT ’68

Charles R. Beiser ’66, MAT ’68, May 2, 1997, in Portland. Charles first attended Reed from 1947 to 1950, then returned in 1965 to complete his undergraduate degree and to obtain an MAT in chemistry. He became a teacher with the Oregon State Correctional Institution, retiring in 1983. He is survived by his second wife, three daughters by a previous marriage, two brothers, two sisters, and five grandchildren.

Annette Crogster Bartholomae ’29

Annette Crogster Bartholomae ’29, July 23, 1997, in Portland. She earned a library degree from Columbia University in 1930, worked at the Portland Public Library for several years, and then obtained a position as city librarian in Pocatello, Idaho. In 1942, she became an Army librarian at Camp White in Medford, Oregon, where she met her future husband, George. The couple married in 1945. After the war, she rejoined the staff of the Portland Public Library, working in a variety of capacities there until 1960, when she accepted a faculty appointment at Portland State University as a social science librarian. Here she was in charge of building from scratch the book collection for the social sciences. While working at PSU, she earned a master’s degree in history and became chair of readers’ services. An abridged version of her master’s thesis on early feminism in Portland was published in the Oregon Historical Quarterly. She retired from PSU in 1975 as professor emerita, but continued to work as a reference librarian at the Oregon Historical Society for another 10 years.

Marjorie Bass Muntz ’34

Marjorie Bass Muntz ’34, on April 29, 1998, in Salem, Oregon. She taught high school in McMinnville and Silverton, Oregon, and also worked for the federal government in Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. A pianist, she taught music at Fairview Training Center in Salem, Oregon. Survivors include her husband, two sons, a sister, and two grandchildren.

Henrietta Willock Burcham ’41

Henrietta Willock Burcham ’41, May 7, 1999, in La Canada, California. She is survived by a son, two daughters, and a brother.

Mary Sweeney Byers ’39

Mary Sweeney Byers ’39, on July 20, 1999, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, of pancreatic cancer. She earned a master’s degree in hygiene and physical education at Wellesley College. She taught at Middlebury College in Vermont, Oregon State College, and in the Los Alamos public schools. She also worked in recreational activities for the city of Portland and in Los Alamos. From 1965 to 1967, she served as an associate historian for the Atomic Energy Commission in Los Alamos, and she helped to found the Los Alamos Historical Society. She competed in swimming in the National Senior Olympics in 1989. Survivors include her husband, four children, a brother, six grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Martha Bowles Tuve ’35

Martha Bowles Tuve ’35, March 19, 1999, in Atlanta, Georgia. After studying at Reed, she attended business school and worked for C.I.T. Corporation in Portland. She married Norman Reynolds, an army officer, who was assigned to a Civilian Conservation Corps program in the woods of Cascadia, Oregon. Following that assignment, the couple spent 30 years moving around the United States and to other countries, including Austria, Germany and Turkey. She served as an American Red Cross volunteer and was appointed as one of four area chairmen of volunteers, helping chapters in 10 southeastern states recruit and train volunteers. Following the death of her husband, she married Robert Tuve in 1978 and made their home in Atlanta. Survivors include her husband and three children.

Paul Abner Baker ’52

Paul Baker ’52, September 5, 1999, in Columbus, Ohio. He was a physicist with Bell Labs for 37 years, retiring in 1990. He was married to Nancy Bragdon ’55, who predeceased him. Survivors include two daughters and a brother, Abner S. Baker ’58.

Edna Selzer Barton ’29

Edna Selzer Barton ’29, December 10, 1999, in Arcata, California. She taught school for a year before marrying George Barton in 1930, and then spent 13 years as a homemaker in Rainier, Oregon. She taught in public schools in Columbia County, Oregon, for nine years and was a librarian, audiovisual coordinator, and teacher at Rainier Union High School for 18 years, retiring in 1970. In 1963, she received a master’s in library science from the University of Washington. After retiring, she served on the Rainier Public Library Board and the county retired teachers’ organization, and learned to play the organ. After her husband’s death, she moved to Arcata, California.

Barbara Easton Bent ’30

Barbara Easton Bent ’30, May 19, 2000, in Palo Alto, California. She earned a master’s in library science from the University of California—Berkeley in 1932. During her career she was a children’s librarian for 20 years in California, New York City, and Long Island; a reference librarian at San Jose State University; and assistant county librarian for San Mateo County, where she retired in 1970. In retirement, she volunteered for the Children’s Hospital, Common Cause, and the Community Art Center, and she also enjoyed gardening and traveling.

D. Marcus Beach ’50

Marcus Beach ’54, May 25, 2001, in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He was a retired professor of English at the University of British Columbia. He earned a master’s degree in English in 1955 and a PhD in 1958, both at Cornell University. He was an instructor in English at the University of Washington before joining the faculty of the University of British Columbia in 1960. He married Barbara Frank ’54 in 1960, and they later divorced.

Forrest G. Bennett ’49

Forrest G. Bennett ’49, June 15, 2001, in Portland. After graduating from Reed, he earned an MD from the University of Oregon Medical School (Oregon Health & Science University). He had a family practice in Southeast Portland for more than 20 years and was the administrator of Portland General Hospital, retiring in 1978. In 1970 he founded Aurora Aviation. Survivors include two sons, six daughters, two stepchildren, two sisters, 19 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Two daughters predeceased him.

Cynthea Beatty Hayakawa ’70

Cynthia Beatty Hayakawa ’70, May 15, 2001, in Portland. After graduating from Reed, Cynthia taught dance at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College, worked as a choreographer for the Portland Actors Ensemble, and was a dance performer. She also wrote articles for the Oregonian. In 1994 she began working as a teacher in Lake Oswego Schools, and she earned a master’s in education at Portland State University in 1995. At the time of her death, she was a middle school teacher at Hazelbrook Middle School in Tualatin, Oregon, where she taught cultures, drama, and speech and debate classes. She was married for a time to Alan Hayakawa ’70. Survivors include a daughter, a son, and a sister.

Mary Ethel Barnard ’32

A picture of Mary Barnard

Mary E. Barnard ’32 in her home in Vancouver, Washington, circa 1990. Courtesy of Special Collections, Eric V. Hauser Memorial Library, Reed College.

Renowned poet, writer, and translator, Mary Ethel Barnard ’32 died August 25, 2001, in Vancouver, Washington.

She is perhaps best known for her elegant, powerful translations of the ancient Greek poet Sappho, which liberated the Attic author from a prison of Victorian verse and transformed her into a feminist icon.

Read more...

Beatrice E. Price Bickford ’35

Beatrice E. Price Bickford ’35, July 2, 2002, of age-related causes, in Palos Verdes Estates, California. A talented pianist and accompanist who taught piano while in high school in Oregon City, Bickford attended Reed for two years, then transferred to a number of schools including a music conservatory, eventually earning a teacher’s certificate. She later said that Reed stood out as the only school that made her think. In her seven-year career teaching music and staging musicals in Oregon public schools, she worked in Oregon City, Portland, and Dallas. During World War II she married Paul Radcliffe. The couple moved to Eugene in 1952 and raised a son. Following Radcliffe’s death, she married Gardner Bickford, who died in 1998. She was known for her support of numerous community organizations and established the Beatrice Price Radcliffe Bickford Scholarship at Reed in 1999. The scholarship is awarded with preference to students who intend to pursue careers as teachers in grades K-12. She is survived by her son, a stepdaughter and stepson, seven grandchildren, and a sister.

Dorothy Lucille Yerkes Bjorkman ’40

Dorothy Lucille Yerkes Bjorkman ’40, April 29, 2002, in Portland. She attended Reed for one year, a year that she said influenced her entire life. In 1938, she graduated from the Northwestern School of Business and took accounting at Mt. Hood Community College, working as a part-time stenographer and bookkeeper for the Griffith Rubber Mills until her retirement in 1978. She married Leonard Bjorkman in 1941, and they had two children. Survivors include her son and daughter, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Leslie Bowling ’63

Leslie Bowling ’63, December 7, 1999. Leslie received a BA from Reed in psychology, then continued his studies at New York University, earning a PhD in clinical psychology in 1975. He went into private practice as a clinical psychologist in New York City after serving as an assistant director of the Queens Village outpatient clinic at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. In his correspondence with the college, he claimed to be in possession of the real Doyle Owl—a fact that he promised to deny if it ever appeared in print. Leslie and his wife, Jane, lived in Forest Hills.

Robert C. Barnard ’35

Robert C. Barnard ’35, August 30, 2003, in Silver Spring, Maryland, from pneumonia. Robert received a bachelor’s degree from Reed in political science, and then attended Columbia Law School. He entered Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 1936, receiving a BA in jurisprudence in 1938, and a BCL in 1939; each with first class honors. At Oxford he served as president of the university’s law society. Robert was awarded a Sterling Fellowship at Yale in 1939–40, and that same year joined the antitrust division of the Department of Justice. He later worked as special assistant to the attorney general, and was chief legal consultant in the office of the assistant solicitor general. In 1947, Robert joined the Washington, D.C., law office of Cleary and Gottlieb, then opened and managed the firm’s Paris office in 1949. In 1951 he returned to the Washington practice, where he worked for 50 years. Robert was counsel to the American Industrial Health Council and the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, and participated in regulatory proceedings at OSHA, the EPA, and the FDA involving issues of chronic health hazards and their regulation. He wrote articles on the role of science in risk assessment and addressed scientific and other audiences on issues relating to the need for sound science in identifying and controlling chronic health hazards. He and Helen Beatrice Hurd ’34 were married for 63 years, and they had two children. His sister, Marjorie H. Barnard ’39, also graduated from Reed. "Reed provided an intellectual awakening and an introduction to a body of essential information. The importance and excitement of that experience I feel still today," he wrote in 1993. Robert is survived by his wife, his son and daughter, two grandchildren, and a sister.

Alice Gwendolyn Miles Bothwell ’40

Alice Gwendolyn Miles Bothwell ’40, February 4, 1998, in San Diego. Alice graduated from Reed with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and joined the U.S. Navy WAVES, serving as a supply corps officer from 1943 to 1947. She spent the next two years in Europe, working for the American Red Cross and the U.S. military government, and traveled extensively, using her educational focus at Reed in history and political science as a background for her discoveries. She returned to the U.S., living first in New York, then in California, and married Frederick C. Bothwell, with whom she had two children. The couple later divorced. In 1962, she earned a general secondary credential from San Diego State, and began substitute teaching. A year later, she became a junior social worker, and gained a vast array of welfare aid program experience. In 1967, she received a MSW from San Diego State, and was a licensed clinical social worker for the State of California. Alice worked in the department of public welfare in adoption services for San Diego County, retiring as a senior social work supervisor in 1982.

Beepske Brevet Selhorst ’41

Beepske Brevet Selhorst ’41, August 19, 2003, in her home in Alameda, California. Beepske received a BA in psychology at Reed, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, then attended American University’s graduate program in mathematics. She married Henry H. Selhorst in 1942 in Washington, D.C. In 1947 they moved to Alameda, and moved again to Baltimore, Maryland, for Henry’s position with the Social Security Administration. For the next 16 years they lived in Baltimore and raised their 13 children. After her husband’s death in 1973, Beepske moved back to Alameda. She was well known in the town for, amongst other things, her enjoyment of tricycling. She also swam, studied Cantonese, supported community charities, and attended St. Barnabas Catholic Church. Survivors include her children, 32 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and her brother, Frits Brevet ’50.

Constance Baxter Bittner ’34

Constance Baxter Bittner ’34, August 20, 2003, in Longview, Washington. Constance attended Reed for three years; an experience, she later wrote, that provided the discipline and concentration necessary for professional music study. She received a BA in piano from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. From the university she also received a Bachelor of Music in 1937 and a Master of Arts in 1939 in music theory and composition. After completion of these degrees, she returned to Portland, taught piano, and performed as an accompanist—her primary focus for 50 years. In 1942, she married Francis W. Bittner. In 1943–45, she was a "traveling Army wife," and took employment in various locations, including at the Remington Rand Ordinance Plant in Denver. In 1946, the couple moved to Eugene, where she taught piano in conjunction with the University of Oregon School of Music, and received state and national certification. Constance served as state president of the Oregon Music Teachers Association (OMTA) from 1982 to 1984. She was president of the Eugene District OMTA; of the Mu Phi Epsilon Eugene alumni chapter, and of the Chapter AY of P.E.O. In addition, Constance was active in the Congregational Church, in the Washington State Music Teachers Association, and served as state adjudicator for the OMTA in piano performance. She enjoyed knitting, reading, and traveling. Survivors include two sons and three grandchildren, a half-brother, and a half-sister. Her husband died in 1991.

Alice L. Beach ’43

Alice L. Beach ’43, November 7, 2003, in Palo Alto, California. Blackie attended Reed for two years, then transferred to Stanford University, from which she received a BA in 1943 and an MA in 1958 in psychology. In 1967 she earned a PhD in education for counseling and psychology, which she applied to a position in the Santa Clara Unified School District. She retired as lead psychologist from the district in 1984. Blackie served on the board of directors for the Palo Alto Historical Association, and volunteered for the Mid-Peninsula Access Corporation, the public access channel for her local cable television company. She developed a great interest and skill in videotaping local history lectures, and expanded her subject matter to include records of travel, special occasions, family events, and Reed reunions. During World War II, she was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy WAVES.

William Fiske Bernard MALS ’93

William Fiske Bernard MALS ’93, June 1, 2004, in Portland. William received a BS in political science at the University of Oregon in 1942. He served in the merchant marines during World War II, and returned to the university to receive a JD in 1947, graduating with honors. His law practice began that year in partnership with his father, and he retired after a distinguished career in 2002. His community affiliations included Rotary, People to People, and the Episcopal church. An athlete with a lifelong connection to the Oregon desert, Bernard hiked several Cascade peaks, was a member of the Mazamas mountaineering club, and ran his first marathon at 60. His interests also ranged from furniture making to improvisational theatre. William possessed a strong will and a sense of humor. He described his experience in Reed’s MALS program, which he began at age 65, as one of the highlights of his life. William's determination to learn and to share his positive perspective on life were unaffected by a debilitating stroke. Survivors include his wife, Julie Schauffler Bernard, to whom he was married for 54 years; two sons and daughters; six grandchildren; and his sister.

Furman George Blaylock ’49

Furman George Blaylock ’49, May 24, 2004, in Kennewick, Washington. George served in the U.S. Army during World War II, then attended Reed, and Oregon State University. He married Shirlee Irene Dodge ’49 in 1947, and they had four children. George worked in electrical construction, and his work led him to experiences in Labrador, Canada, and Venezuela. The family resided in the Richland, Washington, area from 1976 to 1994. Survivors include two daughters and sons, three grandchildren, a great-grandson. Shirley died in 1993.

Marley R. Brown ’47

Marley Roberts Brown Jr. ’47, April 27, 2004, in Portland. Beginning in 1935, Marley studied mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, architecture at the University of Washington, and applied mathematics and physics at Reed. He also worked as a mining engineer in New Mexico, and an engineer in the construction of the ALCAN Highway. During World War II, he left his studies at Reed to serve as a U.S. Army unit commander in combat engineers in Italy, remaining with the military government there until 1946. In Italy he met and married Ruth Lyon, a representative with the American Red Cross in Sicily. Marley returned to Reed after the war and completed a bachelor's degree in physics. He then went to work in the lumber business (Brown’s Lumber Service) established by his father, and took over its management when his father retired. He and his wife were supporters of local art, and enjoyed their membership at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Marley was a man of character, who was dedicated to his family and friends, and who possessed a dry wit. He was also an accomplished pianist. Survivors include his two sons and one daughter, six grandchildren, and a sister. His wife died in 2000.

Lila S. Bowen Butler ’51

Lila S. Bowen Butler ’51, August 26, 2000, in San Diego. Lila received a combined bachelor’s degree in art and literature from Reed.

Michael L. Baumann ’50

Michael Leopold Baumann ’50, November 1, 2001, in Chico, California. Michael received a BA from Reed in general literature. From the University of Pennsylvania he earned an MA in 1956 and a PhD in 1971, in English literature. He taught English at the University of Arizona, at University of California, Santa Barbara, and at California State University–Chico, from which he retired as emeritus professor. Michael went to West Germany in 1978–80, accompanied by his wife, Friederike, as a Fulbright senior lecturer at the University of Erlangen. A bilingual scholar, Michael authored numerous publications in the field of literary scholarship and criticism in the U.S. and Europe. His interest in B. Traven spanned more than 30 years. (Traven, whose identity remains uncertain even after his death, was the author of numerous books, including The Secret of Sierra Madre.) "I became a Traven scholar because I fell in love with Traven’s humanism, with his American sense of humor, and with what appeared to me to be his essentially American literary heritage." Michael'a books on Traven include B. Traven: An Introduction (1976), and Mr. Traven, I Presume? (1997). Michael once noted that Reed was the best thing that happened to him, in so far as his education was concerned. "I learned to think (or believe I did) on my own."

William L. Barnett ’44

William L. Barnett ’44, July 19, 1996. William attended Reed in the U.S. Army premeteorology program, earned an MS from the University of Montana in 1946 and a DD in optometry in 1949 from the Southern College of Optometry in Tennessee. He married, and had an optometry practice in Missoula, Montana.

Helen A. Bennett MacTarnaghan ’39

Helen A. Bennett MacTarnaghan ’39, January 15, 2003, in Harbor City, California. Helen attended Reed for a year, receiving a bachelor’s degree in French from Willamette University. She married John T. MacTarnaghan ’37, and they had two children. Later, she earned a master’s degree in library science from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, and worked as chief technical librarian for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missiles System Headquarters Library in El Segundo, California, and as a librarian for the City of Inglewood, California.

Carolyn F. Berland ’68

Carolyn Berland ’68, August 16, 2005, in Chicago, Illinois. Carolyn attended Reed for a year, and received a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. Her involvement in the education of her son and daughter inspired her to earn an MA in mathematics at Northeastern Illinois University. She taught geometry and calculus in Chicago high schools. She was also a spiritual person, who was committed to environmental and social causes throughout her life. Her determined and loving approach to the many expressions of her life’s work inspired a great many individuals.

William Richard Breckenkamp ’67

William Richard Breckenkamp ’67, December 24, 2004. William received a BA from Reed in history and then earned an MA in history from Fresno State College in 1971.

Donald Wilson Bruner ’42

Donald Wilson Bruner ’42, May 16, 2005, in Portland. Donald attended Reed for two years before serving in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. He received the Bronze Star. In 1946, he earned a BA in liberal arts from the University of Illinois; and then completed an MEd from the University of Oregon in 1948 and an EdD from Columbia University in 1950. His career as a school principal brought him to Portland to Abernathy School, James John School, and Kellogg Middle School. Survivors include his wife Marilyn Howell, whom he married in 1967, a son and daughter, two stepsons and step daughters, 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Jean Bruere Dougherty ’33

Jean Bruere Dougherty ’33, January 1992, in Eugene, Oregon. Jean received a BA in French from Reed, and then attended Columbia University, earning an MA in French in 1935. She married Melvin R. Jones in 1934; they had two sons, and later divorced. From 1948 to 1964, Jean taught French at Chapman School in Portland, and served as coordinator of the gifted child program. In 1964, she married David M. Dougherty, a professor at the University of Oregon, and moved to Eugene. She was assistant director of the University of Oregon NDEA Institute for American secondary school French teachers, in Tours, France, for several years. In 1965, she was decorated by the French government for her contribution to French-American cultural relations, and received the Chevalier de l’ordre des Palmes Academiques. She was active in the Episcopal parish of St. Mary in Eugene, and with her husband, she traveled in Europe, Canada, and in the U.S. Her husband died in 1985.

Dorothy Fain Baar Fisher ’39

Dorothy Fain Baar Fisher ’39, April 9, 2002, in Sherman Oaks, California. Dorothy received a BA from Reed in psychology.

Martha Marie Pfaff Becker ’31

Martha Marie Pfaff Becker ’31, June 15, 2006, from a heart attack, in Portland. Martha received a BA in mathematics, and remained at Reed for the next academic year, assisting in the mathematics and German departments, and taking additional language coursework. During World War II, she also assisted Reed’s mathematics program under Jessie M. Short [1920–39] and F.L. Griffin [1911–56]. In 1933, she married Melvin Becker. His work as a C.P.A. took them briefly to Astoria, though they lived most of their married life in Portland. Martha spent some years at home raising her children, and then became a certified teacher’s aide at Couch Elementary School in northwest Portland, primarily working with disadvantaged children in remedial reading (1955–64). This June, she was the only member of the class of 1931 to attend the 75th class reunion at Reed. Survivors include her daughter, son, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1991, and a daughter in childhood.

Josiah Horton Beeman ’57

Josiah Horton Beeman ’57, June 14, 2006, in Arlington, Virginia, from kidney failure. Joe attended Reed for a year, earning a BA from California State University–San Francisco in political science in 1957. His varied career in public service included such positions as executive director of the United Presbyterian Church in New York, staff director of the Democratic caucus for the U.S. House of Representatives, representative and campaign manager for Governor Jerry Brown, and U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. While serving as ambassador, he was also chief of staff for the U.S. International Broadcasting Agency. Survivors include his wife, Susan, to whom he was married for 10 years; their daughter and son; and his sister.

Robert Gordon Blanchard ’52

Robert Gordon Blanchard ’52, June 15, 2006, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Robert attended Reed and the Rhode Island School of Design. He was an interior decorator and pianist, who also worked as an antique dealer, eventually establishing his own shop, the Green Dolphin, in Boston. He volunteered at the Museum of Fine Arts and created a reputable flower garden at his home in Alston. Survivors include his brother; a second brother predeceased him.

Robert Francis Betz AMP ’44

Robert Francis Betz AMP ’44, April 2, 2007, at home in Clarendon Hills, Illinois. Bob attended Reed for a year (1943–44) in the premeteorology program, and returned for additional coursework in summer 1947. He received a PhD from Illinois Institute of Technology, where he met fellow student Eleanor Pratscher. The couple were married for 55 years. Bob taught biology and molecular biology at Northeastern Illinois University, retiring as professor emeritus, and devoted his time to prairie conservation. Nicknamed Mr. (or Dr.) Prairie, Bob had a lifelong interest in native prairie gardens: he studied patches of land in Midwest cemeteries and along railroad tracks, collected seeds, developed restoration techniques, and inspired the work of others. His efforts preserved over 40 cemetery prairies and the 240-acre Gensburg-Markham Prairie in Markham, Illinois, which was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1998. At the Fermi National Accelerator Lab (Fermilab) in Batavia, Illinois, he assisted the restoration of more than 1,000 acres of native prairie. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, seven grandchildren, three sisters and a brother.

Elizabeth Rose Browne Gordon ’50

Elizabeth Rose Browne Gordon ’50, May 27, 2007, in Irvine, California, from liver cancer. Betty entered Reed at the suggestion of Robert M. Gordon ’49, after both had served in World War II—she as a sergeant in the U.S. Women's Army Corps, with a tour of duty in New Guinea, and he in the U.S. Army Air Corps. The couple met in 1939, at a meeting of the Ephebian Society in Los Angeles and married in 1947. Their honeymoon at the Oregon coast during spring break was made more memorable because of the long papers both needed to complete that week. Robert's lovely reminiscence of their meeting and years together describes Betty's life as a long, full, and varied one, with many adventures. The couple moved to New Haven, Connecticut (while Robert attended Yale University), to California, and even to New Zealand. Betty supported the three children and their schools, performed on stage and assisted off stage for local theatre productions; camped; entertained; played bridge; and, in Robert's words, “read, read, read, and passed that love of story and structure and words and exploration on to her children.” Betty, says Robert, was practical and spirited; one who took pleasure in being a neighbor, a community member, and a Democrat; in getting to know people, learning something new, making friends, hearing new stories, and enjoying a good laugh.

Frank Ambrose Beach III ’59

A picture of Frank Beach III

Frank Ambrose Beach III ’59, May 10, 2007, in Northern California. Frank earned a BA from Reed in psychology. He then earned an MA from San Francisco State and a PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in psychology. Charlie Pollack ’61 noted that Frank had a long tenure as staff psychologist at Fairview State Hospital and maintained a private practice in psychotherapy in Orange County. In 2001, Frank retired, moved to Gualala, California, and married Carol Pollack. He constantly reinvented himself; changing locations and careers numerous times in his 70-year life. He is remembered for his tremendous sense of humor, and for his intelligence and warmth. Survivors include his wife and sister.

Margaret Anne Bome ’61

Margaret Anne Bome '61, March 25, 2007, in Reno, Nevada. Margaret received a BA from Reed in general literature. She went on to earn an MA in English literature from the University of Nevada at Reno, and taught English for 22 years at Truckee Meadows Community College, retiring in 1998. Her life was filled with books, which she collected and also generously shared. Survivors include a stepsister and stepbrother, and cousins.

Charmion Giovanni Balbo Vause ’44

Charmion Giovanni Balbo Vause ’44, July 6, 2008, in Sun City, Arizona. Charmion attended Reed for two years—an experience she credited with helping her to think and be independent, “something a woman in the 1940s was beginning to realize would make her a happier individual.” She took college-level classes for the remainder of her life. In 1942, she married Colonel R. Vause ’43. The couple lived in Texas and California before moving to Arizona. In the ’70s, she was assistant public relations director at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California. Survivors include her husband, a son and two daughters, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Edward Arthur Boyrie ’49

Edward Arthur Boyrie ’49, May 26, 2008, in Portland. Edward received a BA from Reed in physics, and served in the army in World War II. He earned a master's degree in physics from the University of Oregon, and was a nuclear physicist for the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory in California. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Graf Boyrie; a daughter and son; and his sister, Florence Boyrie Williams ’49. His mother and father, Levandeur Chuinard Boyrie ’18 and Edward A. Boyrie Sr. ’17, also attended Reed.

Robert LeRoy Brownlee AMP ’44, BA ’49, MA ’50

Robert LeRoy Brownlee AMP ’44, BA ’49, MA ’50, August 3, 2008, in Portland, from complications following a stroke. Robert attended Reed in the army premeteorology program and returned after the war to complete a BA in mathematics. He married Loraine B. Nunes ’52 in 1949; Loraine worked in Reed's admission office while Robert completed a master's degree. In 1968, he earned a PhD in educational measurement and research from Colorado State College. His career in education began in 1950 in Hawaii, after which he returned to Oregon, and then worked in Colorado, Wisconsin, and California. He accepted a position in 1970 with CTB/McGraw-Hill in Monterey, California. In his description for an AMP reunion at Reed in 1984, Robert noted that his career in education could be viewed as variations on a theme, made different by his own perspective and that of the community, “from independent schools to consulting, and from public schools to private enterprise, from grade three to the college level, from teacher to administrator, to consultant, to board member.” Survivors include Loraine, daughter, son, three grandchildren, and his brother.

Robert C. Brown ’51

Robert C. Brown ’51, August 2, 2008, at Danbury Hospital, in Danbury, Connecticut. Bob attended the University of Oregon and graduated from Reed College with a BA in chemistry. He later attended George Washington University Law School and received a JD from the University of Southern California School of Law. In 1967, he moved to New York to begin his 40-year career as an intellectual property attorney and group patent attorney with Union Carbide Corporation. He moved to Danbury in 1982. Bob was a U.S. Army veteran; and a member of the Reed alumni association, the Masonic Lodge, and California, New York, and Connecticut bar associations. Survivors include his wife, Karen Baer Brown; five sons; 13 grandchildren; and his sister, Betty Brown Bruner ’56.

Bonita Marie Barnes Richardson ’53

Bonita Marie Barnes Richardson ’53, April 28, 2008, in Portland. Bonita attended Reed, George Fox College, the Portland Museum Art School, and Clackamas Community College. In 1953, she married Don R. Richardson. She displayed her watercolor and acrylic paintings in various exhibitions and received awards in county and state fairs. She also published her poetry and stories. She worked in art and retail shops in Milwaukie and Portland, volunteered for the Tucker Maxon Oral School in Portland and with Camp Fire and Boy Scout organizations, and was an art volunteer at Linwood Elementary School and Benson High School. Survivors include her husband, a daughter and five sons, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Frank J. Breall ’33

A picture of frank Breall

Frank J. Breall ’33, May 10, 2001, in Laguna Hills, California. While at Reed, Frank demonstrated not only prowess in mathematics, for which he received a bachelor's degree, but was also recognized as a dancer and basketball player. After leaving Reed, he attended Boston University on a mathematics fellowship, and then taught mathematics in Portland high schools and as an instructor at Reed during World War II. During the war, he also worked for 20th Century Fox, and afterward began a career as a jeweler. In later years, he returned to mathematics as a substitute teacher; was a partner in a theatrical promotion company, Northwest Releasing Company; and held executive positions in the Oregon State Jewelers Association. He and Annette Shevach Breall were married for 65 years; they had two daughters.

Betty Black Cohn ’33

A picture of Betty Black Cohn

Betty Black Cohn ’33, May 14, 2009, in Berkeley, California, her home for over 50 years. Betty came to Reed from Pueblo, Colorado, and received a BA in psychology. During the Great Depression, she did social work in San Francisco. For 67 years, she was married to Bay Area native and chemist Roy W. Cohn, who died in 2007. They were devoted to their family, including a son, grandson, and two great-grandsons, who survive them. Betty was a board member for Herrick Hospital in Berkeley and a member of the League of Women Voters.

William Owen Buschman ’41

William Owen Buschman '41, February 16, 2009, at home, in San Luis Obispo, California. William earned a BA from Reed in mathematics, an MEd in school administration from University of Oregon, and an EdD in mathematics and education from Oregon State University. For eight years, beginning in 1956, he was in charge of teacher training in mathematics at California State Polytechnic College, after which he directed the college's computer center. He advanced to the rank of professor in 1965 and retired as professor emeritus in 1980. William did research for the University of Oregon Medical School and Stanford Research Institute, and served as a consultant for Science Research Associates. His publications included articles in education and mathematics journals, and in orchid journals, reflecting his special interest in the plants. He also painted and exhibited his watercolors. Survivors include his wife, Lois L. Zimmerman ’45, whom he married in 1943; a son; two daughters; a grandson; and a brother.

Albert Henning Barlich ’54

Albert Henning Barlich ’54, April 20, 2009, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, from complications related to Parkinson's disease. Al earned a BA from Reed and an MA from the University of Oregon in physics. In 1956, he began a 28-year career with Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory that included work in theoretical applications, the army weapons group, and international technology. The Kiwanis Club and Red Cross honored him for his community service. He also supported the Los Alamos Ski Club, the Boy Scouts, and two local parishes of the Methodist church. Al enjoyed outdoor sports and gardening, and had a special interest in English hand bells; he built and repaired bell equipment and attended hand bell conventions. Survivors include his wife, Jo, to whom he was married for 50 years; a son and daughter; two grandchildren; and a brother.

Robert Emmett Booher MALS ’78

Robert Emmett Booher MALS ’78, February 18, 2009, in Portland. Bob served in the U.S. Army in Australia during World War II. He was a scholar in classical civilization, earning bachelor degrees in anthropology and sociology from the University of Washington and an MA in history from Pacific University, as well as an MALS in classics from Reed. In 1985, he retired from his position as instructor in social sciences and humanities at Mt. Hood Community College. His wife, Zina Kiziuta; and three daughters, including Elizabeth Booher ’79, survive him.

Arthur Leo Black AMP ’44

Arthur Leo Black AMP ’44, August 14, 2009, in Davis, California, from complications related to Parkinson's disease. Arthur joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942, and studied physical sciences at Reed in the premeteorology program. He earned a doctorate in comparative physiology from University of California, Davis, in 1951, and was one of the first two students in his field to be elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. During his career at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, he received the Borden Award for innovative research and was recognized as a distinguished teacher of the year. He taught physiological chemistry and retired as professor emeritus in 1992. Arthur served as consultant to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to the USDA, and to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. “I would not have achieved my career goals without the educational background I received at Reed College,” he stated. In his public obituary, we read: “Everything he did either challenged one to think bigger or to appreciate more. He was an ordinary man who accomplished extraordinary things.” Arthur was married to Trudi McCue Black for 64 years; they had three daughters, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Doris Louise Bailey Murphy ’38

A picture of Doris Bailey Murphy

Doris Louise Bailey Murphy ’38, March 21, 2011, in Santa Rosa, California. At 101, after a full life as a community activist and social worker, Doris was known as the sweetheart of Occidental, California. Friends and colleagues adored her, describing her as elegant, literate, independent, flirtatious, cranky, compassionate, and fully dedicated to the people and causes she supported. She grew up in Portland and began her college education at the University of Arizona, Tucson. It was a poor fit. “I played, joined a sorority, did all that stuff. Didn't like it, but did it,” she said. She returned to Portland and fell in with literary and political types, many of whom attended Reed. During the next year, she employed close friend Jack Huggins ’36 and his brother, Roy, to help with her literary magazine, The Dilettante, and started an art colony on Portland's waterfront. She then enrolled at Reed, spending the first three months on academic probation. After taking a literature course from Barry Cerf [English 1921-48], she was hooked. “I went full circle, from proper sorority life to writing a paper on prostitution and interest in social work, even while my interest in literature and arts never left me.” Inspired by Lloyd Reynolds [English and art 1929-69], Victor Chittick [English 1921-48], and Alexander Goldenweiser [sociology 1933-39], she completed requirements for a BA in sociology and then left for San Francisco to be near Jack, who was at University of California, Berkeley, and to get a job in social work; none were available in Portland at the time. “It was a small town then. A lot of people knew about Reed, and Reed was thought of as being a very politically liberal college, which it was, quite frankly.”

In San Francisco, she worked for the Traveler's Aid Society, helping runaways, wives fleeing abusive husbands, and others. She lived in an apartment on Nob Hill, and spent time with a community of writers and artists. The group often met at the Iron Pot restaurant in San Francisco, where she met a former member of the Industrial Workers of the World and rising leader of the American Federation of Labor, Joe Murphy. “I knew I'd found the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.” In 1942, she got a job with the American Red Cross, a position she held for 13 years. Doris and Joe married in 1948 and spent time on their rural property near Occidental. Ten years later, union violence in San Francisco prompted them to seek the safety and seclusion of the countryside. Joe created a nursery on the land and raised rhododendrons, while Doris took classes at UC Berkeley, earned an MSW in social work and public health, and became a psychiatric social worker. (She attempted to retire at 65, but worked as a therapist until age 90.) After Joe's death in 1987, Doris created the Joseph A. Murphy Center for Labor Education and Social Action-a nonprofit devoted to labor education. She formed the Occidental Community Council and also created the Sonoma County Council for Community Services to provide senior meals, rides, and health-care programs. Following a conversation with a choir member about the lack of performance space in Occidental, she conceived of the Occidental Center for the Arts and led fundraising efforts to build it—her 100th birthday was celebrated at the newly opened center. In addition, Doris wrote for and helped edit the Occidental newsletter The Village Quest, and wrote a column in Russian River Monthly. She hosted fundraisers for the Occidental Health Center and the Peace and Justice Center.

Read more...

Marjorie Helen Barnard ’39

A picture of Marjorie Barnard

Marjorie Helen Barnard ’39, February 28, 2011, in San Francisco, California. Marjorie earned a BA in psychology from Reed, and got a job in the civil personnel division of the War Department. She worked as a manager and teacher in the General Services Administration in San Francisco for 31 years. When her retirement began in 1973, she traveled the world, visiting Asia, Africa, and Europe, and celebrating her Swedish heritage with trips to Scandinavia. The people, cultures, animals, and plants that she encountered on her journeys fascinated her. She related her discoveries through her delightful stories and an amazing collection of memorabilia. Marjorie combined interests in art history and American Sign Language to become a museum docent, conducting tours for the hearing-impaired at the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum, the Asian Art Museum, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She loved opera, and not only held season tickets for the San Francisco Opera, but also scheduled her travels to coincide with operatic performances. Survivors include her nephew and niece, children of her brother Robert C. Barnard ’35.

Eleanor Patricia Beck ’44

A picture of (Eleanor) Patricia Beck

Eleanor Patricia Beck ’44, March 22, 2011, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Patricia grew up in Seattle and came to Reed, where she became the first woman student body president. She later cited Sally Hovey Wriggins ’44, Victor L.O. Chittick [English 1921-48], and Edna Whitman Chittick [music 1931-39] as major influences. “It was a marvelous experience to participate in an intellectual community. I think it must have been Reed's education that taught me to ask questions about anything and everything, and it was a splendid introduction to the landscapes and culture of Portland and Oregon.” After earning her BA in history, Patricia received a scholarship to Stanford University, but the program's lack of intellectual rigor disenchanted her. She quit and got a job as a copy editor at Time-Life, first in New York and later in London, then moved to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] to be a nursemaid for British friends. She contracted polio, but recovered the use of her limbs thanks to excellent nursing. Following that, she got a job on the Ceylon Observer, an English-language newspaper, and traveled extensively in the East before returning to England. She held a brief position with the Press Association/Reuters and then set up her own public relations and printing company with fellow Reuters employee Stanley Clark. In 1958, she became a British citizen, citing her abhorrence for the violence and for the gap between rich and poor in the U.S. among her reasons for doing so. At age 50, Patricia enrolled at agricultural college and worked 10 years on farms in England and Scotland. She then became a librarian at St. Leonard's boarding school in St. Andrews, Scotland. Among her many pursuits in retirement, she learned about the stars and birds and mammals, and repaired the gaps in stonewalls near her home that were made by sheep and cows.

Richard Lee Biggs ’50

A picture of Richard Biggs

Richard Lee Biggs ’50, March 23, 2011, in Portland. During World War II, Dick was a yeoman in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific and a court reporter for court martial trials in Shanghai. He came to Reed on the G.I. Bill and earned a BA in economics. In 1958, he received an LLB from Northwestern College of Law, and practiced corporate law with Martin, Bischoff, Templeton, & Biggs and also with Lindsay, Hart, Neil & Weigler. He later became a solo practitioner, and provided legal aid to seniors through the Legal Aid of Oregon Senior Law Project, where he was listed among their “longest serving and most valued lawyers.” Dick served on Reed's alumni board of directors and as an alumni trustee. “There are some, but only a few, institutions which are attempting to alleviate the problems our society has today,” Dick said. “I believe that Reed is one the places that can help solve them by training good minds.” He resigned from the board in 1978 in order to accept an appointment to the Oregon Educational Coordinating Committee from Oregon governor Bob Straub. Dick and June E. Anderson ’49 married and had two sons and a daughter. In 1971, he married Joan Wong, a community activist and communications professional, who was also a member of the Reed College Women's Committee. Joan wrote: “The thing I most admired always about Dick was his terrific intellect. He read deeply and had broad knowledge about everything.” He was also admired for his quick wit and his green thumb. Born on his grandfather's farm in Nampa, Idaho, Dick had his own vegetable garden by age nine. He created wonderful gardens throughout his life. “It's time to plant the carrots” was among his final words. Survivors include his wife, son and daughter, stepson and two stepdaughters, five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. A son and stepson predeceased him.

Jordan Alexander Burby ’11

A picture of Jordan Burby

Jordan Alexander Burby ’11, April 24, 2011, in Tustin, California, after a short battle with cancer. A native of Orange County, Jordan graduated from Tustin High School, where he was a member of the Model United Nations program, and attended summer programs at Stanford and at Oxford. Travel with the Model United Nations program and travel and camping with his extended family were treasured experiences. Jordan enjoyed books, music, being with friends and family, and learning about a wide range of subjects. He studied at Reed for three years, intending to major in religion. A memorial fund for Jordan has been established to support educational endeavors at Tustin High. To learn more about this fund and Jordan's life, please visit his online memorial site. Survivors include his parents, John and Carol Garrett, and grandparents, Joe and Carol Quartucci. His father, Bill Burby, predeceased him.

Harriet Phyllis Goodman Bodner ’42

Harriet Phyllis Goodman Bodner ’42, April 13, 2012, in Portland. Harriet grew up in Portland, attending Couch Grade School and Lincoln High School. She studied at Reed two years and also at the Museum Art School before enrolling at the Yale University School of Art. In 1943, she married Portlander George H. Bodner. He served as a dental officer in the naval reserve during World War II, while she worked in the Portland shipyards. Harriet volunteered for many organizations, including the PTA and scouting, and political causes, and was a member of Congregation Beth Israel and the Council of Jewish Women. She was a board member of Neighborhood House and was an art consultant for a number of years at Gallery West in southwest Portland before working in the rental sales gallery at the Portland Art Museum. For 13 years, she volunteered with the Oregon Jewish Museum, and was honored for her work in 2006 with the Song of Miriam award. Her family also honored her in Portland’s Walk of the Heroines in 2008. Harriet and George enjoyed their home at the Oregon coast and attending local symphony, theatre, and art events. Her artistic creativity found expression in her daily life and home and in the practice of calligraphy she learned at Reed with Lloyd Reynolds [English and art 1929–69]. Survivors include her husband, children, a granddaughter, and a great-grandson.

Huguette Lucienne Bach MAT ’64

Huguette Lucienne Bach MAT ’64, February 13, 2012, in Woodland, California. Huguette was a native of France. She and her husband, Max Bach, lived in the U.S. and settled in Davis in 1952. Starting out as an owner of a hair salon, Huguette became interested in advancing her education and subsequently earned a BA in French, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Davis. She studied mathematics at Reed, leading to a career as a teacher in Sacramento schools and to tenure at California State University at Sacramento, from which she retired as professor emerita in 1992. “I thank Reed for my success,” she wrote for a class note in Reed in 2011. Huguette lived in Hawaii for several years before moving to Carmichael, California. She loved music and travel, and she made beautiful gardens, meals, and artwork. “She simply loved and enjoyed life.” A daughter and son survive her.

John Peara Baba ’90

A picture of John Baba

John Peara Baba ’90, March 10, 2012, in San Francisco, California. John earned a BA in philosophy from Reed and a JD from Golden Gate University, where he was awarded a Witkin Award in trial advocacy. John was a legal extern in the San Francisco Superior Court law and motion department during his third year of law school. His 12-year law practice with Wiegel & Fried included writ practice, civil appeals, commercial and residential lease disputes, and pretrial motion pleading. Attorney Andrew Wiegel remarked that John was a great attorney and a greathearted man. “He leaves us all better for having known him.” John advanced the laws protecting the right of people to have access to the court and public process without fear of countersuit, Wiegel stated. “He also preserved the right to negotiate with tenants and advanced other legal rights of property owners in meaningful ways.” John distinguished himself admirably. “I will miss him dearly as a member of the firm and even more as a friend.” John, who suffered from apnea, died in his sleep. Numerous Reedies, including William Abernathy ’88, Ian Atlas ’91, Bruce Bennett ’90, Andromeda Dunker ’94, Kip Guy ’90, Sharma Hendel ’92, Alice Meek Landess ’92, and Bennett Steinmuller ’93, gathered to honor John in May. Though he was an Assyrian, John was given an Irish nod at Durty Nelly’s in San Francisco, and at Ocean Beach his alumni friends set a tiny Viking longboat on fire and launched it into the surf.

Nelda Vivien Butt Goetzl Stage ’38

Nelda Vivien Butt Goetzl Stage ’38, February 27, 2013, in Corvallis, Oregon. Nelda studied at Reed for one year. She and Edmund H. Goetzl ’36, an editor with the Oregon Journal, were married and had two daughters. They owned the Lucky Horseshoe Dude Ranch in Republic, Washington, until 1980, when they sold the business and moved to Colville, Washington. Edmund died in 1986. Nelda later married George Stage. She also worked for the Poorman-Douglas Corporation in Portland. In 2007, at 90, Nelda decided to move into a retirement community, she told Reed, as she was finally ready to “let someone else do the work.”

Anita Cadonau Birkland ’41

Anita Cadonau Birkland ’41, April 3, 2013, in Portland. Anita and her brother, Carl H. Cadonau ’43, both graduates of Reed and Phi Beta Kappa, were born to Swiss immigrants Henry Carl Cadonau and Rosina Streiff. Henry and Rosina began delivering milk from their dairy, which they later named Alpenrose, in southwest Portland in 1891. Anita met Raymond Birkland at the Foursquare Church when she was 14 and he was 19. They married in 1938 and worked together at Alpenrose Dairy until 1959, when they moved to Anaheim to operate a franchise of the Original Pancake House. Always interested in advancing her education, Anita built on her BA in general literature by earning an MA in English from California State College, Fullerton. She then earned a second MA, in comparative literature, and, at age 65, completed a PhD in history and European studies at Claremont Graduate School. Taking pleasure in discovery and travel throughout her life, she visited over 135 countries, some in the role of tour leader and guide. She volunteered with the World Affairs Council and was a member of AAUW. Anita and Raymond returned to Portland in 2000; Raymond was in ill health and died two years later. Anita was a regular at Foster-Scholz Club events and a dedicated member of the Portland chapter alumni book group, along with longtime friend Ethel Fahlen Noble ’40. She attended Greek theatre performances in the Cerf amphitheatre and studied Arabic at Portland Community College. Survivors include her sons, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Richard William Babson ’43

A picture of Bill Babson

Richard William Babson ’43, March 16, 2013, in Portland. Bill grew up in a home where music was central to family life. His mother was an accomplished pianist and vocalist and directed Bill’s study of violin and piano during his childhood. As an adult, he performed on cello with the Oregon Symphony and founded several chamber music groups. He was a natural athlete and a lefty. He favored racquet sports, excelling in regional competitions in badminton and tennis even into his 80s. Bill also was an artist who worked in watercolor and did sculpture. He possessed great energy and a great sense of humor. During the one year he studied at Reed, he met Jean McCall ’42, sister of former Oregon governor Tom McCall. He then did military service during World War II, first in Nome, Alaska, and then with General Patton’s Third Army in Normandy, at the Battle of the Bulge, and in the occupation of Germany. Bill and Jean were reunited after the war and married in 1947. They raised a son and two daughters. Bill owned and operated Peerless Pacific Company, which offered wholesale heating, refrigeration, industrial, water works, and plumbing supplies. Under his direction, the business expanded into numerous cities in Oregon and Washington. “Bill was creative and original in his views on most subjects,” said his family. “He valued the individual over the group, celebrated rebellious behavior and nonconformity, and carried a lifelong mistrust of ‘groupthink,’ whether he saw it in corporations, labor unions, government, or the military.” Survivors include his son, Stephen, and daughter Ann, and four grandchildren. Jean, who was a committed volunteer for the college, a nationally recognized community activist working on behalf of children, and a member of the Reed board of trustees, died in 1987. Bill was also predeceased by his daughter Jeannie. Remembrances may be directed to the Jean Babson Student Life Discretionary Fund at Reed.

Daniel Morton Bachman ’49

Daniel Morton Bachman ’49, November 9, 2012, in Portland. Daniel’s studies at Reed were interrupted by World War II, but he returned to the college on the G.I. Bill, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in chemistry. After graduation, he took a clinical clerkship at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, England, then returned to Portland to work at the University-State Tuberculosis Hospital for meals and a bed; he earned an MD and an MS in physiology from University of Oregon Medical School. He interned at George Washington University Hospital, did his residency in internal medicine at Louisville General Hospital, then worked as a clinical and research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. “For the first time since leaving Reed, I felt again at home. The golden age of medicine was taking place in the U.S. at that time, and some of the most talented and accomplished people in medicine were on the scene.” At the hospital, he met Judith Gold MAT ’71, whom he married. Daniel joined the faculty at the University of Oregon Medical School in 1956, where he was instrumental in creating the first rheumatology division; he became a full professor and head of rheumatology. In 1968, he left the school to go to Ramatuelle in southern France with Judith and their three children. The family lived in France for nine months and traveled throughout Europe, “soaking up history and art like dry sponges.” In Florence, Daniel viewed firsthand the art that Rex Arragon [history 1923–74] had presented in a classroom slide show, and throughout their travels he found that Lloyd Reynolds’ [English & art 1929–69] classes “pointed the way to enjoyment.” Back in Portland, Daniel opened a private practice in rheumatology and internal medicine that extended to more than 17 years. “I went into private practice with an open mind, aware of, but unfettered by, academic dogma.” In addition, Daniel learned to fly light aircraft at the age of 40. “It added a new dimension to my perceptions. My medical professional work was done up close, looking at surfaces, looking through the microscope, etc. Flying involved looking far into the distance, anticipating, and being patient.” When he retired from his practice in 1987, he spent time reading, traveling, and reviving his interest in playing piano. In 1988, he “emerged from the cocoon of retirement” and embarked on a third career as a physician specialist at the Eastern Oregon Psychiatric and Training Centers in Pendleton, Oregon; he retired finally in 2008. In her remembrance of Daniel, Judith wrote: “Dan made the archetypal American journey. Born of immigrant parents, he discovered a world where ideas and imagination reigned at Reed College. It was a transformative experience; one he remained grateful for.” His medical career—research, teaching, and practice—says Judith, demonstrated the highest level of competence, ethical standards, and dedication to service. “His passion for learning, independent cast of mind, and capacity for wonder at the natural world have been passed on to his three children.” Survivors include Judith, sons Tovey (’78) and Nathaniel (Reed, 1979–80), and daughter Elizabeth.

John T. Braun MAT ’54

A picture of John Braun

John T. Braun MAT ’54, March 6, 2013, in Vancouver, Washington, at 91, from lung complications following cancer surgery. Ted majored in philosophy and sociology at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II. Postwar, he earned a master’s degree in philosophy and theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he studied with Paul Tillich and Reinhold Niebuhr. He focused on economics and sociology in his subsequent studies at Cornell. In 1949, he moved to Frogpond, Oregon, to be pastor of the Meridian United Church of Christ. He came to Reed to study psychology and the philosophy of education and wrote a master’s thesis under Ed Garlan [philosophy 1946–73] on the work of John Dewey. As he later wrote: “A humanist, Dewey nevertheless was something of a mystic, I argued, in his reverence for the value of direct experience of nature through work and through the sheer immediacy of scientific awareness. A sense of transcendence was implied, although he shared the humanists’ abhorrence of dualism.” Ted also enjoyed Lloyd Reynolds’ [English & art 1929–69] “leftist take on American history.” Ted went on to earn a PhD in modern British literature at University of Washington and joined the faculty in English at Lewis & Clark. His Lewis & Clark colleagues noted: “Ted’s intellectual breadth and experimental approach to learning were facets of his inspired teaching.” One course Ted taught came about after he had successfully constructed a Greek lyre and learned to chant Homeric poetry—the course involved making instruments for the purpose of interpreting poetry through performance. “Materials for the course included a vise, plane, saber saw, hand drill, knives, chisels, scrapers, files, rawhide, white and yellow cedar, shellac, gourds, gut, nylon strings, and ‘junk,’ in Ted’s words. With their handcrafted instruments, he and his students explored the ‘the radical inscape’ of poetries, both ancient and modern.” Students lingered for hours in Ted’s office at Lewis & Clark, and he, likewise, was open and curious with those he encountered in his life, whether as a student, pastor, teacher, friend, philosopher, traveler, mentor, or, finally, as a hospital patient. “He was always ready to confront the mysteries of life.” Ted published The Apostrophic Gesture and self-published Anguispira Oracularis. He wrote a memoir for his family and also collected his thoughts in a great store of notebooks. Ted and Alice, his beloved wife of 69 years, transformed a rustic space on Orcas Island, Washington, into a lush garden with a cabin and a home. While living there, Ted played trombone and sousaphone in community bands, helped to build the local library’s book collection, and joined land conservation efforts, including the preservation of Madrona Point. In 2009, the couple moved to Whidbey Island, where Ted played violin in the community orchestra until his 91st year. Enid Braun, who informed the college of her father’s death, wrote, “He was a beautiful man, with an incredible mind, well loved as a father, grandfather, teacher and mentor, and he lived a full life, with a strong social conscience.” Survivors include his wife; two daughters and two sons, six grandchildren, including Ramona Fankhauser ’16; three great-grandchildren; and his two sisters and two brothers. A memorial site has been created for Ted at tedbraun.forevermissed.com.

Archie Patterson Buie Jr. ’56

A picture of Pat Buie

Pat Buie ’56 and Dudley Collard ’55 (left, back) observe fencing instructor Jack Nottingham as he makes a point in 1954. Courtesy of Special Collections, Eric V. Hauser Memorial Library, Reed College.

Archie Patterson Buie Jr. ’56, February 12, 2013, in Asheville, North Carolina. Pat was born in Florida and served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, flying 81 missions, for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. He attended Reed on the G.I. Bill and earned a BA in general literature in just three years. At Reed, he dealt with the “wired” sensation he was experiencing—known now as post-traumatic stress disorder—by fencing. A team composed of Pat, his lifelong friend Dudley Collard ’55, Murdy McNamar ’58, and Tate Minckler ’55 defeated many regional collegiate fencing teams and emerged victorious at the 1955 West Coast Intercollegiate Team Foil Championship. They returned from that competition to the infamously bookish Reed community bearing a three-and-a-half-foot-tall trophy. “We were given a fairly cool reception, but a more or less quiet one . . .” Pat went on to earn an MS in business from Florida State University. He managed an insurance and real estate business and helped troubled youth through the therapeutic wilderness camps he founded in Florida and North Carolina. “The flood of troubled youth in our nation needs solutions to problems that plague them,” he wrote. “Our youth prisons are only training grounds for a criminal career.” Camps demonstrated success in turning lives around, and he became devoted to the work, assuming positions such as assistant director of Georgia’s Outdoor Therapeutic Program and executive director for the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps, until Parkinson’s disease forced his retirement in 2001. We learned from Lisa Buie-Collard, Pat’s daughter and Dudley’s daughter-in-law, that Pat taught high school fencing in Florida and coached Dudley’s second son, who became an Olympic fencing coach. He also enjoyed fishing and beekeeping. “His time at Reed was one of the high points of his life,” wrote Lisa. “He loved to talk about it.” Pat lived fully: acting on his convictions, taking risks, and demonstrating his concern and care for others. “He will be sorely missed.” Survivors include 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Fredrick Calvin Brown, Faculty

Fredrick Calvin Brown [physics 1951–55], November 18, 2011, in Everett, Washington. A pioneer in the study of the alkali and silver halides, Brown did both his undergraduate and graduate work at Harvard. During World War II, he worked for the U.S. Navy on radar technology. After earning his doctorate, he was a physicist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle. He taught at Reed for four years. As one of the first experimental physicists in the department, he was challenged by both the demands of research and teaching, and left Reed for the University of Illinois, where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Brown and his wife, Joan A. Schauble, then moved to Whidbey Island, Washington. Brown’s early work on defects in silver halides led to many years as a consultant for Eastman Kodak. He was also a pioneer in the development of synchrotron radiation as a probe of defects in crystals and invented “the grasshopper”—an ultrahigh-vacuum-compatible monochromator that opened up the previously inaccessible vacuum UV/soft x-ray spectral range. Brown climbed all the mountains in the Pacific Northwest except Glacier Peak. He held a pilot’s license for a number of years and was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Jim Borders ’63, who notified the college of Brown’s death, met him at the University of Illinois, where Brown served as a thesis adviser for Jim in his graduate study in physics.

Robert Kiefer Bedell AMP ’44

Robert Kiefer Bedell AMP ’44, April 5, 2011, in Brooklyn, New York. Robert attended Stanford for a semester before he was drafted into the army for service in World War II. He came to Reed for the premeteorology program and then served two years of stateside duty. “Reed was a wonderful and important experience for me. It was far more than just a wartime training program.” He earned a BS in engineering in 1947 from Stanford and spent the early years of his career as an engineer with Union Carbide. He worked in Europe, and took classes at the University of Grenoble, Sorbonne, and the Institut d’Études Politiques. He and writer Madelon Berns, who was working for Time magazine in Paris, were married in 1950. Back in the U.S., Robert worked for Westinghouse Electric International. In 1953, he accepted a full-time instructor position at Cooper Union School of Engineering, specializing in thermodynamics and heat transfer. The political protests he had participated in in the late ’40s came back to haunt him during the McCarthy era. He was fired from Cooper Union in 1958, turned to self-employment as an engineering consultant, and took part-time teaching assignments at the Columbia School of Architecture and the Pratt Institute. He created Robert K. Bedell, Engineers in 1969 and designed residential, institutional, and commercial projects. He was technical director of the Energy Task Force and installed one of the country’s first urban solar energy systems and wind generators. He developed a unique honeycomb-type solar collector and collaborated on several nationally regarded studies, ranging from the city’s overall energy needs to the disposal of municipal solid wastes. He was a peace activist, a humanist, and an atheist. He did blacksmithing and maple sugaring and enjoyed reading the New York Times. Madelon died in 1986. Survivors include two sons and a daughter and six grandchildren. “Robert’s presence had the gravity of the sun, and the warmth.”

Dolores Christine Groves Berard ’49

Dolores Christine Groves Berard ’49, May 11, 2013, in Portland. Dolores moved to Oregon from Nebraska in 1939, graduated from Franklin High School in Portland at age 16, and earned a one-year scholarship to Reed. In 1950, she married Jess Willard Berard; they raised seven children. Dolores later completed a degree in early childhood education and taught in a preschool. She was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Portland and was active in the Montavilla Neighborhood Association for many years. Survivors include her children, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Robert Braunwart ’70

A picture of Robert Braunwart

Robert Braunwart III ’70, October 14, 2007, in Los Angeles, California. Vern Lindblad ’67 recently informed the college of Robert’s death from a rare form of melanoma. A Washington state native, Robert attended Reed as a National Merit Scholar, studying at the college for two years before transferring to the University of Washington. Vern says, “I first met Bob at Reed in 1966, after I heard rumors of another student at Reed from Moses Lake, Washington, and tracked him down. I was a senior, and it turned out that he was a fast and meticulous typist, so I ended up employing him to type my thesis. At my thesis defense, my committee commented about the lack of typos—we ended up quibbling about one comma, whose presence I defended. Back in those days before desktop computers, it may have been rare for them to see a typed manuscript without numerous erasures and white-out corrections.” When Vern moved to Seattle in 1982 to attend graduate school in linguistics at the University of Washington, Robert was living with his wife Glenda L. Gartman in the University District, “where there were many potential clients for his typing entrepreneurship.” Vern reconnected with him, and over the next several years Robert typed many papers for him, including an MA thesis on Uyghur phonology. Robert was an administrative assistant, an editor, a small business owner, and an online mathematics tutor. His major interests and activities focused on politics and projects ranging from the Professional Football Researchers Association he cofounded to serving as a contributor to hundreds of articles to Wikipedia, primarily on the viceroys of New Spain. On his Wikipedia page, Rbraunwa, we read that Robert encouraged others to gain intellectual development and political awareness. “He urged people to become informed and involved and to keep up the fight for a better, more just world.” He spent 20 years compiling a database of world history dates, including birth and death dates of famous people, dates of historical events, scientific and artistic events, and popular culture events, which contains more than 500,000 entries. He lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, for 15 years prior to returning to the U.S. in 2006 for medical treatment, which was thwarted by HMO physicians, who refused to authorize treatment by a specialist. In Oaxaca, Robert supported the education of children by providing friendship, encouragement, tutoring, and financial assistance. Robert was predeceased by his first wife Carol Anne Bays, who attended Reed in 1967–68 and died in Anchorage in April 1997, and by their son, Kevin Robert Braunwart, who died in Portland in June 1997. His mother, Dorothy, died in 2012. Survivors include Glenda, his adopted daughter Monica, and three brothers. Says Vern, “I had only sporadic contact with Bob and Glenda after they moved to Oaxaca, and it was a real shock to learn that Bob had died. His memorial service at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum was a special opportunity not only to remember him, but also to meet family members and friends of his, many of whom I had never met before. I understand that his health insurance refused to pay for a required procedure. It’s not clear to me that the latest partial reforms of health care laws would have helped him—unfortunately for all of us.”

Barbara Alison Brownell D'Angelo ’66

A picture of Barbara Brownell D'Angelo

Barbara Alison Brownell D’Angelo ’66, August 9, 2012, after two and a half years of living with cancer. The oldest of seven children, Barbara lived her early years in Milwaukie and Carver and graduated from Clackamas High School before joining a proud family tradition of going to Reed, as did her parents Gloria Mierow Misar ’45 and Barry C. Brownell ’43, her grandparents, Ambrose Brownell ’17 and Helen Phillips Brownell ’19, and 12 other relatives, including aunt and uncle Patricia Brownell Lee ’43 and Robert P. Brownell ’46. She graduated in psychology and earned a PhD in clinical psychology from Washington State University in 1970. That same year, while traveling in Italy, she met her husband of 40 years, Severino D’Angelo, who composed this memorial piece. Barbara’s career included teaching psychology at San Jose State University and at Fullerton State University. Later she opened a private clinical practice in Orange County. Her students and patients remember her as inspiring, young, beautiful, and energetic. Most recently she finished a novel she started 20 years ago. She lived long enough to see Bitter Vendetta in print. She also played piano from her heart. “Barbara was brilliant, fun, and always open to new ideas. She spoke several languages and read extensively. She had true empathy for people and animals and was one of the most selfless, generous people in existence,” Severino wrote. Barbara is survived by her loving husband; her daughters Sandra and Danielle; grandchildren Sophia, Carter, Liam, and Calia; and siblings Charles, Janice, Marilyn, Curtis, Roger, and Marcia. “Barbara will be greatly missed for her incredible sense of humor, her generous and loving spirit, her love of life and people, her appreciation of the world and the environment. The world will never be the same.”

Sydney Gorham Babson ’33

Sydney Gorham Babson ’33, September 5, 2010, in Portland. Gorie grew up in Hood River Valley, where his parents owned an apple and pear orchard. He spent two years at Reed before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he earned undergraduate and medical degrees. After a five-year-old relative died from bacterial meningitis, he decided to specialize in pediatrics and did training at Columbia Presbyterian Babies Hospital and at Stanford Medical School. While in New York, he married Ruth E. Lambert, a nursing scholar at Boston College. Gorie had a private pediatric practice in Portland, which he managed for 20 years. “Starting in, it was in the Depression. Business was poor. There were only six pediatricians in the whole area from Oregon City to Vancouver, Washington. House calls were the biggest business in those days, and that covered a lot of ground. I sometimes had as many as a hundred a month.” He was hired as the first full-time pediatric staff member at Doernbecher Hospital (now Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University) and became the first perinatologist in Oregon. “I got more excited about hospital life and training, and, in 1961, I somewhat sadly signed out my private practice with personal letters.” Gorie headed up the perinatology division at the hospital and developed and directed the Neonatal Intensive Care Center. He created the first neonatal growth charts and a modern infant scale, and did research on infant nutrition and growth. He also helped establish a regional transport system for babies in distress. “There were no private planes in those days, and we found the best thing to do was send a plane to the hospital with the baby in trouble—send the nurses along and the doctor, so they could give care in their birth room and then take the baby back to Doernbecher. This was so exciting, and so helpful.” He was coauthor of the first book on premature infants, a primer on prematurity and high-risk pregnancy, Diagnosis and Management of the Fetus and Neonate at Risk: A Guide for Team Care. In 1977, he retired and set a course to take one world-trip a year and to write about each one—nearly 20 booklets resulted. He also wrote poetry. In 2003, Gorie was recognized with the American Pediatric Society Perinatal Pioneer Award and OHSU established the Gorham Babson Lecture in Neonatology. Survivors include five daughters, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2000. “A gentle-hearted and kind man, he was loved and admired by everyone.”

Patricia Elvira Ball ’47

A picture of Patricia Ball

Patricia Elvira Ball ’47, August 20, 2013, in Portland, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Patricia and her mother moved from Chicago to Portland, where she began her schooling. She attended Reed for three years, focusing on sociology and psychology, and then trained with the IRS for a career as an auditor. She worked for 40 years in the field. In addition, she was a master gardener, loved dogs and cats, and was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Reed provided her with “a continuous curiosity and interest in learning more about almost everything,” she wrote in 1989.

Herbert Kyle Beals ’55

A picture of Herbert Beals

Herbert Kyle Beals ’55, November 2, 2013, in Gladstone, Oregon. A celebrated author and educational advocate, Herb will be remembered as one of Oregon’s most notable native historians. In addition to his unsurpassed histories of Gladstone and Oregon City, he contributed to national biographical publications, including the Who’s Who series, the Oxford Companion to World Exploration, and Coins Magazine, which drew from his own extensive collection of ancient Roman currency.

Herb was born in Portland to Jim and Mae Beals, owners of Beals Grocery in southeast Portland. Herb delivered groceries, sometimes by the streetcar trolleys. He was valedictorian at Jefferson High School at age 16 and then came to Reed, playing on the football team, which maintained a spotless record until an accidental victory ended its losing streak. (After the game, he joined the campuswide lamentations.)

Read more...

David Lawrence Brown ’74

David Lawrence Browne ’74, August 5, 2013, in Tigard, Oregon, from a heart attack. A National Merit Scholar, Dave came to Reed from Moscow, Idaho, and took classes at the college for a little more than a year. He earned a BS from the University of Idaho, an MS from Montana State University, and a PhD in genetics from Michigan State University, and taught biology and genetics in Portland. In his public obituary we learned that he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was especially “at home” tying flies and fishing for cutthroat trout in the many Pacific Northwest streams. “He loved to discuss politics, philosophy, and science, and was well read in a myriad of subjects. He had a sharp mind and a quick wit, and was known for his prodigious intelligence.” In addition, Dave was an excellent guitar player and performed blues music in Moscow, Idaho, in the ’70s. “We all appreciated his sense of humor, giving heart and gentle spirit.” Survivors include his wife, Linda, a son and daughter, his father and stepmother, and five brothers.

Ellis Bischoff ’42

A picture of Ellis Bischoff and members of the Reed Ski Team in 1940

Ellis Bischoff ’42, right, with members of the Reed Ski Team in 1940, Gorder Facer ’41, David Smith ’41, and McGregor Gray ’41. Courtesy of Special Collections, Eric V. Hauser Memorial Library, Reed College.

Ellis Bischoff ’42, December 31, 2013, in Des Moines, Washington, from cancer. A Portland native, Ellis followed his brothers, Jerome G. Bischoff ’31 and Theodore M. Bischoff ’37, to Reed, where he studied for two years. He then transferred to Oregon State College (University), and completed a BS in forest engineering in 1943. During World War II, Ellis served as a naval officer aboard PT boats in the South Pacific, and after the war he returned to the Pacific Northwest, where he was involved with the formation of, and became a partner in, the Mountain Fir Lumber Company. During his long career in timber, he testified before Congress concerning the timber industry, reports his cousin Edward Kessler ’50, who provided details for this memorial. In Portland in 1946, Ellis married Mildred Haugen, who was the love of his life, says Edward. Ellis and Milly had three sons, and enjoyed traveling, visiting family and friends, and taking a scheduled break from Pacific Northwest weather in the California desert. A love of boating led to Ellis’ association with yacht clubs in Portland; in Port Ludlow and Everett, Washington; and in travels to Alaska. He also enjoyed fishing and photography. Ellis is remembered as a bright, warm, witty, and sensitive man, full of love, and a friend to all. In addition to Edward, survivors include Millie; sons Kenneth, Robert, and Lawrence; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Jack Edward Battalia ’43

Jack Edward Battalia ’43, January 29, 2014, in Portland. A Portland native Jack earned a BA in biology from Reed and entered the University of Oregon Medical School (Oregon Health and Science University), leaving in 1943 to do service in the U.S. Army Air Force in Virginia. Following the war, he completed surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland and at the medical school. Jack was proud of the quality and context of his professional life. He practiced general surgery at Good Samaritan from 1954 to 1986, and he was active in the Oregon Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Multnomah County Medical Society, and the Portland Surgical Society. He served as medical director for Montgomery Ward and as a medical consultant for a number of insurance companies, including Safeco and Liberty Northwest, and for several Portland attorneys. He also was company physician to numerous Portland businesses. Jack volunteered as a medical adviser for the Portland Boxing Commission for 29 years and spent a number of years as a member of the Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission. He chaired the International Boxing Federation and U.S. Boxing Association medical committee for 12 years. His priority, he said, was “don’t let them get hurt.” Jack enjoyed fishing and hunting accompanied by a trusty canine companion, as well as woodworking and gardening. He was a longtime member of Rotary. Survivors include a daughter and three sons, born to Jack and his first wife, Doris Risley, who died in 1982; two stepsons, shared with his second wife, Cora, who died in 2004; five grandchildren; and his companion Gladys Kinzel. Jack suffered from the affects of Alzheimer’s disease for many years.

Vivienne E. Morley Brenner ’51

A picture of Vivienne Brenner Morley

Vivienne E. Brenner Morley ’51, January 30, 2013, in Ithaca, New York. Vivienne earned a BA in mathematics at Reed, writing the thesis “A Study in Elementary Valuation Theory,” and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She attended the University of Chicago, where she met Michael Morley, whom she married. Both Vivienne and Michael taught mathematics at Cornell University.

Marian Dorothy Brennan ’76

A picture of Marian Brennan

Marian Dorothy Brennan ’76, November 25, 2013, in Washougal, Washington. Marian received a BA in English literature from Reed and went on to study law at Lewis & Clark College. She later earned a black belt in karate and taught at Karate for Women in Portland. She is remembered for her wit, her kindness, her generosity, and her fabulous cooking. Survivors include her life partner, Susan Helene Fletcher, two sisters, and a brother.

Cecil Bruce Burt Jr. ’64

Cecil Bruce Burt Jr. ’64, December 9, 2012, at home in West Linn, Oregon. Cecil graduated from Gresham High School and attended Reed in 1960–62 before transferring to Portland State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business. Following graduation, he accepted a position as business manager at Portland State and worked in that capacity for 10 years. For 20 years, he was director of institutional research at Oregon Health & Science University, and retired from that position in 2004. Cecil and Barbara Jean were married in 1964, and they had a daughter, Heidi Jean. Family life was very important to Cecil. He was extremely proud of his daughter’s accomplishments in school and in sports, which kept them both busy, and he welcomed and mentored her friends. Cecil was overjoyed when his grandson, Anthony, arrived, and he took his new role as Grandpa very seriously. Barbara died in 1979. Survivors include Cecil's second wife, Doris Engstrom, whom he married in 1982; his daughter and grandson; and his sister, Barbara. "His sense of logic and expression of no judgment allowed everybody he came in contact with to feel loved and at peace. May his strength reside in all of us."

Karla Sue Lapsley Baker ’64

Karla Sue Baker Lapsley ’64, March 4, 2009. Karla attended Reed for one year and completed an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. She was a computer programmer, an antique dealer, a master gardener, and an editor for scholarly works. Survivors include her husband, Walter Lapsley, and her daughter, Shigeko. [Memorial by Leslie Mueller Stewart ’64, based on an obituary in the Contra Costa Times, March 15, 2009.]

Michael George Bazaral ’64

Michael George Bazaral ’64, October 16, 2008, in Jefferson, Maryland. Michael earned a BA from Reed in biology and went on to graduate school at University of California, San Diego. He completed a PhD and an MD in the area of anesthesiology. During the ’80s, he served on the staff of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he developed a catheter package that was patented in 1990. In the decade prior to his death, he worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most recently in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health in Rockville, Maryland. [Memorial by Leslie Mueller Stewart ’64.]

Carol Margaret Burns ’62

A picture of Carol Burns

Carol Margaret Burns ’62, April 22, 2014, in Olympia, Washington. A resident of Olympia who longed for an academic challenge equivalent to her abilities, Carol entered Reed in 1956 and was well rewarded for her college choice. During the winter break of her junior year, however, she was severely injured in an auto accident. Recovery slowed her progress at Reed in time only; she remained involved in the campus community and in Portland, and completed a degree in history, writing the thesis “The Polish Conflict and the Origins of the Second World War,” with Prof. Frank Fussner [history 1950–75]. Two faculty members stood out in her experience, she said in an interview with Joan Soderland ’70 in 2009: Vera Krivoshein [Russian 1949–72] and Dorothy Johansen ’33 [history 1934–84]. Carol was editor of the Quest and a resident adviser in Westport. “My most interesting activities were in association with [the student group] FOCUS,” she wrote. “We sponsored speakers from different socialist parties and progressive movements. We showed films. We presented performers, including Pete Seeger, Miriam Makeba, Brownie McGhee, and Paul Robeson. We joined the Portland organizations in demonstrating support of civil rights activities in the South and ‘Ban the Bomb’ against nuclear testing in the atmosphere.” She and others went to jail for demonstrating on behalf of striking newspaper guild workers at the Oregonian. 

“Most important of all,” she noted, “is the Reed education. I remember that our first reading assignment for humanities was from two sources describing how the transition occurred from tribal culture to what we call ‘civilization.’ It was not until the instructor began the discussion that I realized these were two different theories about the origin of civilization. There was not just one right answer. I can’t tell you how exciting this was to me!”

Read more...

Susan Singer Burnett ’66

A picture of Susan Singer Burnett

Susan Singer Burnett ’66 died in 2012. This memorial was composed by Lucinda Parker McCarthy ’66 and Sue’s sister Linny Stovall.

Sue was born in Torrington, Connecticut, to Harold and Laverne Singer, the middle of three daughters. Her father was a dentist, and her mother was a nurse. Coming west to Reed as a freshman in 1960 was the beginning of a joyful exploration of the world, geographically and artistically. Her roommates at the college that first year were Lynn Bowers ’65, Lucinda, and Leslie Mueller Stewart ’64. Three went on to study in Reed’s five-year combined program with the Museum Art School (PNCA). “Our parents were not quite thrilled, but we were. Two years of serious academics, and then three years of hands-on, six-hour days of studio work knit together our left and right brains. Reed at that time cost $1900 per semester and the museum school was $200 a semester. What a deal.” Sue did her senior thesis project in sculpture with Prof. Manuel Izquierdo [art 1953–56]. With her friend, who had been wounded in the Vietnam War, she homesteaded on an isolated island in British Columbia in 1971. Everything had to be built from scratch, so they learned carpentry, house raising, furniture making, water diversion, and gardening. All the while Sue was painting and working on a children’s book, based on the skills of living in deep nature. After several years, the friends returned to Portland: he went to medical school, and Sue went to dental school. Subsequently Sue practiced dentistry in northern California, in Kenya, and back in Portland. “Teeth are teeth worldwide.” Later she sailed to Hawaii on a ferro-cement sailboat; lived in Ireland, helping friends with a new baby; traveled to Sicily; and for over a decade spent winters in Baja, where she and husband Jim Hall, a retired fire captain, built a straw bale house. (Sue was married twice: first to John Burnett, a doctor in Hawaii, and for 20 years to Jim.) Sue and Jim made their main residence in Portland in an old house surrounded by woods and beautiful gardens. Sue excelled in every creative project she pursued, and was especially attracted to bold color in watercolor, painting, tiles, sewing, and gardening. “A restless, curious, coordinated, highly energetic soul, she changed the world for the better everywhere she went. We miss her very much.” Sue is survived by two sisters, Linny of Portland and Jean Singer of Whidbey Island, plus two dear nieces, Zoe and Shawn.

Finnian Farrar Burn ’00

Finnian Farrar Burn ’00, April 9, 2014, in Washington. Finnian spent three semester at Reed, mainly focused on chemistry. He went on to study computer science and engineering at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and finance and business economics at Western Washington University. He worked as a software programmer, an IT director, a tutor, and a volunteer at an animal shelter. He was a musician, a poet, and a conversant on many topics. Finnian is remembered as delightfully curious and intensely interested in the world around him, and sensitive and empathetic to the people he met and knew. He was challenged by Crohn’s disease, a leg injury sustained in the hospital, and an addiction to prescription medicine. “Brilliant Finn always soared and sometimes flew too close to the flame.” Survivors include his mother and her partner, his father and stepmother, and two brothers and a sister.

Karen June Baumann Osterlund ’57

Karen June Baumann Osterlund ’57, August 4, 2014, while on a cruise to Alaska, with her daughters beside her. Karen was the eldest of five children born to Franz Baumann ’35 and his wife, Barbara. She spent two years at Reed and married Erik Osterlund; they raised four sons and two daughters in San Bruno, California. She also was married to Bob Marshall, who predeceased her. Karen was a certified travel consultant and a 25-year volunteer for La Leche League. “Although I’m not doing anything of noted significance, nor have I accumulated fancy letters to put after my name,” she wrote, “I’m so thankful for my years at Reed College and the many friends that shared my life at that time.” In retirement, she lived in Reno, Nevada, and enjoyed travels abroad and in the U.S., along with visits to her extended family. Karen’s final residence was in Millbrae, California, where she was close to her family. Survivors include her children, 21 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Christopher Hunter Brown ’91

Christopher Hunter Brown ’91, August 31, 2011, in Portland. Chris earned a BA in economics, writing a thesis with Prof. Jeffrey Summers [1987–92], and was a financial adviser for Ameriprise in Portland.

Ellen Elizabeth Browning ’92

A picture of Ellen Browning

Ellen Elizabeth Browning ’92, October 7, 2014, in Brooklyn, New York. Ellen was the first child of Kent and Kathy Browning, who were young and involved in school and work at the time of her birth, so that her grandparents and other family members played an important role in her early childhood. Ellen’s first 15 years were spent in Long Beach, California, where she was a gifted student, an energetic athlete, a wonderful friend to many, and a kind and caring daughter. To address serious health concerns that arose when she was 15, Ellen went to live in Maryland and eventually graduated from Sandy Springs Friends School. At Reed, she majored in history, writing a thesis, “The Appearance and Disappearance of Eastern European Jewish Immigrant Women and Their Daughters in the Labor Movement in New York, 1881–1924.” Her college years were spent in the manner of many students, says her family. She was adept at studying, working, partying, and trying to find out about life itself. Following graduation, Ellen moved to New York City, where many of her closest friends had grown up. She had a variety of interesting jobs, including that of a personal assistant to a renowned musician; a publicist for Farrar, Straus and Giroux; and head baker for the reputable Magnolia Bakery. Throughout her high school years in Maryland, her college years in Portland, and her many years in New York, Ellen made great efforts to remain connected to her family in California. She was a wonderful older sister to her brothers and sister. She also remained close with many of her Reed and Portland friends after college. Ellen met the love of her life, Edward Price, in New York. They married in April 2003 and had two children, Zachary and Louisa, to whom Ellen was devoted, caring for them full time until she became seriously ill and eventually passed away. “I lived with Ellen in Brooklyn for almost seven years before she married, and miss her very much,” writes Jessica Dunlap ’97, who worked with Ellen’s sister Laura Browning O’Boyle on the details for this memorial.

Kathryn Beall Kirk ’82

A picture of Kathryn Beall Kirk

Kathy Beall Kirk ’82 at the little library box she asked husband Alan Kirk ’84 to install outside their home.

Kathryn Beall Kirk ’82, October 23, 2014, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, from cancer.

In November, classmates gathered at Portland’s Lucky Lab Brew Pub to mourn and celebrate the life of Kathy Beall Kirk, beloved Beer Mama to a generation of early ’80s Reedies. Others attended the large memorial service held in November at Bethesda–Chevy Chase High School, where Kathy had taught English for nearly 30 years. The service was officiated by Holly Pruett ’85, who provided this memorial. 

Read more...

Jerome Peter Barta, Staff

A picture of Jerry Barta

Jerome Peter Barta, October 13, 2004, in Portland, following a short illness. Jerry Barta, who served the college as instructor and director of physical education from 1956 to 1988 came to Reed at the end of what was termed "the Golden Days of Reed Athletics," when P.E. credit was given for such things as raking leaves. He instituted a structured credit system, and made P.E. a requirement for graduation. "A sound body and a sound mind go hand in hand," he said in 1967. Barta was proud of the competitive athletic efforts of Reed students, and of the program that responded to the varied interests and needs of a growing student body. He also relished the humor of less-than-successful sporting events. "At Reed, it's a pleasure to coach, because when you lose, nobody is going to holler at you," he stated.

During his tenure, Reed's original 1913 athletic building was demolished and replaced by the Aubrey R. Watzek Sports Center (1964). He instructed a wide range of sports, including racquetball, golf, basketball, and bowling, which became known as "Bowling with Barta." For the 32 years he taught and directed athletics at Reed, he generously infused the positions with his vigor, humor, and humanity. During World Series games, he hosted "Burgers with Barta," inviting Reedies to his home for fried hamburgers and fellowship. Students also shared meals on other occasions, and even did their laundry at his house.

Read more...

Elizabeth Adeline Bomber Baltzell ’39

A picture of Elizabeth Bomber Baltzell

Elizabeth Adeline Bomber Baltzell ’39, January 26, 2015, in McMinnville, Oregon. Betty earned a BA from Reed in history, writing the thesis “A History of Oregon City from 1829 to 1849” with Prof. Rex Arragon [history 1923–74]. After graduation she taught at the high school in Enterprise, Oregon. During World War II, she served with the Red Cross in Washington D.C., and the U.S. Marines in Maui, Hawaii. She met her husband Charles Baltzell at a square dance gathering in Corvallis. They married in 1952 and moved to a farm in McMinnville. The couple and their three children (Sumner, Sherry, and Steve) enjoyed scouting, 4-H and FFA, and community activities, and Betty was active in the McMinnville Presbyterian Church. When the children were older, Betty returned to school, earning primary education teaching credentials from Portland State (University) and then taught grade school for many years at Dayton, Oregon. After she and Charles retired, they enjoyed making trips to Europe, the Middle East, and many of the 50 states, and were glad of the opportunity to visit friends and family. Betty lived and worked on the farm after Charles died in 1994, and she continued to travel to Europe and around the country. She moved into town in 2012. Survivors include her sons, grandchildren, and extended family.

Ruth Suzanne Blum Nace ’45

Ruth Suzanne Blum Nace ’45, September 7, 2013, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sue studied at Reed for two years, leaving to work in San Francisco as a store manager. A renewed friendship with Margaret Nace (Mitter) ’43 there led to her marriage to Margaret’s brother George W. Nace ’43 in 1946. The year before, Sue completed a BA in political science and journalism at the University of Oregon. George attended graduate school in biology in Los Angeles and San Francisco and did postdoctoral study in Brussels, Belgium, and Washington, D.C. He taught at Duke University and joined the faculty at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1956. During these years, Sue raised their four children, volunteered for remedial reading programs in public school classrooms, and worked with the International Neighbors program. When her children were grown, Sue became a substitute teacher and a proofreader for the book manufacturer Braun & Brumfield. “As a lifeguard in her youth, she developed a lifelong avocation for physical exercise,” her family reported. “She was a stickler for the proper use of words and grammar, an advocate for gracious living and sharing of ideas across cultures, and, as she described herself to the end, ‘fat and sassy.’” Sue enjoyed baking and stocked the kitchen pantry with homemade bread, rolls, pastries, and pies, as well as homemade preserves, jams, and pickles. Sue once reported to Reed, “My life is full, and like many others, I deplore the paucity of hours in the day to fulfill all my goals, but I feel blessed that I have sufficient health and alertness to achieve most of them.” George died in 1987. Survivors include two daughters and two sons, and four grandchildren.

Jane Foulke Leedom Byrne ’48

A picture of Jane Leedom Byrne

Jane Foulke Leedom Byrne ’48, October 6, 2014, in Cannon Beach, Oregon. A Portland native, Jane earned a BA from Reed in psychology. Her thesis, “Personality Test Results and Delinquency,” was written with Prof. Monte Griffith [psychology 1926–54]. “Reed opened horizons I would never have come in contact with, and exposed my mind to great ideas. I learned how to defend my views in argumentation in a rational, positive, and scientific manner and developed self-esteem from this. My life in general was greatly enhanced by finding a husband at Reed with a very sharp mind.” We read that when John Richard Byrne ’47 spotted Jane in commons, he reported to a friend, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” They did marry in 1948, and Jane went with him to the University of Washington, where Dick earned a PhD in mathematics. At the university, Jane completed a teaching certificate in primary education, and she taught school for several years. The couple lived in San Jose, California, and then returned to Portland, where Dick joined the faculty at Portland State University and taught mathematics for 37 years. Their marriage was a happy one. Jane was occupied with the work of raising their daughters, Suzanne and Diana, and volunteering with the PTA and as a girls’ club leader; she also opened a nursery school. She loved travel, including trips to Disneyland, and summer stays at Cannon Beach. When Dick retired in 1992, the couple moved to a 30-acre farm outside Corvallis, where Jane thrived, deriving a great deal of pleasure in caring for lost and homeless animals. She remained on the farm following Dick’s death in 1996. Survivors include her daughters and three grandchildren.

Walter F. Berns Jr. Postbaccalaureate ’48–’49

Walter F. Berns Jr., special postbaccalaureate student in 1948–49, January 10, 2015, in Bethesda, Maryland. Noted academic and constitutional scholar Walter Berns served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and came to Reed as a postbaccalaureate student. After earning a BS from the University of Iowa and a PhD from the University of Chicago, he taught at Louisiana State University and at Yale. He joined the faculty at Cornell University in 1959, leaving a decade later after faculty granted amnesty to campus militants who had threatened them with violence during a civil rights takeover. Walter later reflected, “Tyranny is the natural and inevitable mode of government for the shameless and self-indulgent who have carried liberty beyond any restraint, natural, and conventional.” He went on to the University of Toronto and then to Georgetown University, where he was a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Walter’s focus was on political philosophy and constitutional law, and he wrote about democracy, the Constitution, and patriotism, including a collection of essays, Democracy and the Constitution (2006). He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2005. His choice to pursue an academic—rather than literary—career was attributed to his meeting Frieda Lawrence, widow of D.H. Lawrence, while he was a waiter in Taos, New Mexico, after the war. Survivors include his wife, Irene Lyons, whom he married in 1951; two daughters and a son; and six grandchildren.

Jack R. Bailey ’36

Jack R. Bailey ’36, December 4, 2014, in Portland. Jack was born in the Philippines, where his father was a teacher, and the family returned to The Dalles, Oregon, when he was five years old. He attended Reed for one year (1934–35) and earned a BS from Oregon State College in 1949. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flight instrument instructor. Jack was postmaster of Scio, Oregon, and president of the National League of Postmasters. He worked with the city of Scio in several capacities, helping to modernize the city water system and establish a library. He also loved growing things and farmed for many years. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Winiford “Winnie” Ohlegschlager. Both he and Winnie were members of the National Grange for more than 80 years. Also preceding him in death were daughters Nancy and Julia; brother Don W. Bailey ’38; and a sister. He is survived by his daughter Sally, son Jack, 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and a brother.

Sacvan Bercovitch ’57

Sacvan Bercovitch ’57, December 9, 2014, in Brookline, Massachusetts, from cancer. Prominent author and literary scholar Sacvan came to Reed from the New School for Social Research in New York, leaving the college after a year to join a kibbutz as a dairy farmer in Israel. “He was an amazing scholar and a very kind human being,” writes Prof. Laura Arnold Leibman [English 1995–]. He has been called “his generation’s foremost scholar of Puritan America and of the cultural echoes that puritanism bequeathed to modernity,” as well as “the last of the great American studies scholars.” Sacvan was born in Montreal, the son of socialist immigrants from the Ukraine—his mother had been wounded while serving with the Red Army—and his name was chosen to honor Italian-born anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti. After time spent in the kibbutz, Sacvan returned to Montreal with his first wife, and worked at a grocery to fund night school classes at Sir George Williams College (University). He completed an undergraduate degree in 1961 and earned a PhD from Claremont Graduate School in English in 1965. He taught at Columbia, Brandeis, and UC San Diego before joining the faculty at Harvard College. From 1983 until his retirement in 2000, Sacvan was the Charles H. Carswell Professor of English and American Literature and Language. He also held a parallel appointment in comparative literature, recognizing his work as a translator and champion of Yiddish literature. He retired as the Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature, Emeritus. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, president of the American Studies Association, and general editor of The Cambridge History of American Literature. He received the 2007 Bode-Pearson Prize for outstanding contributions to American studies. The author of numerous books and essays, his book The Puritan Origins of the American Self is considered his most influential work. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Susan L. Mizruchi; two sons and two sisters.

Dorothy Blosser Whitehead, Honorary Alumna

Dorothy Blosser Whitehead, January 16, 2015, in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Honorary Reed alumna Dorothy Whitehead had a distinguished career as a teacher and trainer in the field of learning disability.

She was raised in Berkeley, California, where her father worked for Standard Oil and her mother taught mathematics and language. The family was a musical one and Dorothy loved singing and had the gift of perfect pitch.

Read more...

Ronnie Jill Bloomfield Freed ’64

Ronnie Jill Bloomfield Freed, February 14, 2012, in Dedham, Massachusetts. Jill spent a year at Reed in 1960–61. She grew up in New York City and graduated from City College of New York. In June 1966, she married Ivan G. Freed. The Freeds lived in Massachusetts for many years. Her public obituary, found by Leslie Mueller Stewart ’64 in July 2014, states, “She was a dedicated mother, sister, and grandmother, who loved children, animals, and the performing arts."

Joseph Frederick Bunnett ’42

A picture of Joseph Bunnett

Professor Bunnett at UCSC Victor Schiffrin

Joseph Frederick Bunnett ’42, May 23, 2015, in Santa Cruz, California.

Joe entered Reed with Washington High classmates Jack Dudman ’42, Irwin Harrowitz ’42, Russell Parker ’42, and Douglas Smith ’42. At the new student mixer in fall 1938, he met Sara A. Telfer ’42—a good dancer, he noted, whose mother, Annie Harrison Telfer ’15, was a member of Reed’s first graduating class. Joe and Sara spent a lot of time on the dance floor and in Outing Club adventures in the years that followed; they married after they graduated.

Read more...

Evelyn Louise Boese Dostal ’50

A picture of Evelyn Boese Dostal

Evelyn Louise Boese Dostal ’50, March 8, 2015, in David City, Nebraska. Evelyn served with the U.S. Marines during World War II, and during an army-marine dance event, met Louis Q. Dostal, a Nebraska grain farmer. They corresponded for 10 years before marrying in the Eliot Hall chapel in 1954. Evelyn earned a BA from Reed in political science, writing a thesis, “The Public Reaction to the 1906 Campaign of Jonathan Bourne Jr., for the U.S. Senate,” with Prof. Maure Goldschmidt [1935–81]. After college, she went to work at Jantzen clothing as an export clerk. In Nebraska, she led a home extension club, gardened extensively, quilted, and sewed. She enjoyed genealogy and researching iron crosses in Czech Catholic cemeteries. Louis died in 2014. Survivors include their two sons and four grandchildren.

Betty Bernhard, Faculty

A picture of Betty Bernhard

Courtesy of Special Collections, Eric V. Hauser Memorial Library, Reed College.

Prof. Betty Bernhard [theatre 1980–84], March 21, 2015, in Claremont, California, from cancer. Prof. Bernhard taught acting and other theatre courses and directed four plays, including a memorable production of the Threepenny Opera. She left Reed for a tenure-track position at Pomona, where she directed more than 30 productions, including two Sanskrit plays, Shakuntala and The Little Clay Cart. Her research interests were primarily focused on the confluence of theatre for social change and Indian theatre. She was named a Founding Mother of Asian Theatre Scholarship by the Association for Asian Performance.

Memorial by Prof. Kathleen Worley [theatre 1985–2014]

Mary Frances Bankhead McBrayer

Mary came to Reed from South Carolina and studied at the college for two years before leaving to marry. “I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to go,” she noted in 2007. Through the years she kept in touch with her roommate, Betty Workman Hedrick ’39, as well as other alumni, including Emilio Pucci MA ’37. Mary visited Emilio’s clothing shop in New York City and met him at an exhibition featuring his designs in Denver, Colorado, in 1965. “He invited us to Florence to visit, but we did not get there.” Mary and her husband, John A. McBrayer, who was in the navy and had a career in aeronautics, resided in 11 states. “We met many nice friends wherever we lived.” Mary completed a bachelor’s degree from Winthrop University in South Carolina and studied for an additional degree in library science. She held teaching certificates in five states. Mary was predeceased by John, their daughter Ann, and their grandson Jonah. Survivors include daughters Susan and Jane, four grandchildren, a sister, and a brother.

Harry Bernat AMP ’44

Harry was a member of Reed’s premeteorology program during his service with the air force and a graduate with distinction of the University of Minnesota, where he also earned an MA in public administration. He worked as an assistant to the chief scientist for research and development in the Defense Communications Agency in Washington, D.C., and was vice president for Manna Financial Planning Corporation, as well as an independent financial planner. He was selected for the Congressional Fellowship Program and worked at the Democratic National Headquarters on legislation and committee hearings. He taught financial planning and public speaking, including at Washington Saturday College, which recognized his contribution by conferring on him an LHD. Harry held office and received numerous awards as a volunteer, including with Toastmasters International. He and his wife, Frances, also were volunteers with the Minnesota State Society. Harry was an exceptional athlete into his late years, demonstrating prowess in everything from track to tennis, and bowling to basketball. He was captain of several tennis teams and participated in Senior Olympics events in Virginia and Maryland, where he earned dozens of gold medals, and he also competed and earned gold medals in National Senior Olympics competitions. A dedicated volunteer for Reed, he was recognized for superior service to alumni relations in 2004. “I am so proud to be associated with Reed,” he wrote. Harry and Fran had three daughters. Survivors include Fran and Harry’s sister.

Richard Walton Blohm ’48

“I cannot remember ever being unaware of Reed College,” Dick wrote. His grandparents came to Oregon via the Oregon Trail from Missouri. Many of his relatives and friends went to Reed, including his mother, Margaret Walton Blohm ’17; aunt, Helen Walton Manlove ’15; and cousins Charles Manlove ’43, Paul Manlove ’45, and John Manlove ’55. The earlier grads told stories of Campus Day and Canyon Day, steamer trips up the Columbia, and espoused the curriculum and faculty, Dick wrote. “It all seemed to be of a piece to them, and yet more—they shared the sense of the ‘Quest’ in a very real way.”

His own experience at Reed involved sports, hiking, music, theatre, Doyle Owl escapades, and meeting Barbara Hathaway Kellogg-Smith ’46, a pre-med student who intended a career in veterinary medicine. Called into military service during World War II, Dick was in Texas when the couple married in 1944. After he completed a degree in economics at Reed, they moved to Massachusetts, where he earned an MBA at Harvard. He worked for Lincoln Mercury and Ford Motor Company—moving from Massachusetts to Michigan, and then to California, where he worked for Lockheed Missile.

Rapid development and population growth in the Santa Clara Valley provided the couple and their growing family with an incentive to move. They arrived at Hathaway’s 100-acre family farm near the Chester River in Maryland in 1970. Their portion of the farm included room for horses, a dream come true for Hathaway. Dick managed the farm, and the buildings and machinery, and operated a business via the internet. They sold their farm in later years for a small cottage in the woods.

Read more...

Leonore Marianne Courant Berkowitz ’50

The daughter of eminent mathematician Richard Courant, Lori transferred to Reed from Swarthmore and earned a BA in literature. Her thesis, advised by Prof. Donald MacRae [English 1944–73], was on the art and life view of poet Robert Frost. Music was the great love of Lori’s life, and she went on to earn a BA and MA from the Berklee School of Music, to teach at the Manhattan School of Music, and to be principal violist for the American Symphony Orchestra. She cofounded Loon Lake Live! and was an instructor at the Children’s Orchestra Society and at Princeton Chamber Music Play Week. She also coached viola and played chamber music. We learned of Lori’s death from Annice Mills Alt ’51, who recalled that her husband, Franz Alt, played string quartets informally with Lori. “Because there is so much in the repertoire, you can never play too often,” Annice wrote. The couple also hiked with Lori for a number of years. Hiking, berry picking, and stargazing were just a few of the pleasures Lori took from her time in the outdoors. Lori and mathematician Jerome Berkowitz were married in 1954; they had a son and daughter. Following his death, she married widower Peter Lax, who received the Abel Prize for mathematics. Lori’s husband and children survive her, as do two grandchildren. “She was an original and a welcoming, gentle soul, who loved her family.”

Phyllis Bullington Riddell-Shapiro ’42

The daughter of Frank and Sylvia Bullington, Phyllis was born on the first day of spring, March 21, 1919. The promise of spring blossomed into her irrepressible optimism and celebrated smile. When she was two, the family moved from Portland, Oregon, to Kansas City. They were living in Los Angeles when her mother died in 1937, followed a year later by her father. Phyllis moved to Portland to study at Reed, majoring in literature. She did not graduate, marrying Robert Riddell in 1942. The couple had four children, and in 1988 Robert died. Phyllis married Robert Shapiro in 2004, and he died three years later.

Her companion, Joseph Bashlow, survives her, as well as her children, Stephen Riddell (Diane Chellis), James Riddell (Penny), Cathy Riddell (Diane Wells), and Susan Hill (Gary); six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Iris Lee Burton Holt ’50

Born in Portland in 1927, Iris was class valedictorian at Lincoln High School and won a scholarship to Reed. She attended for only one semester before transferring to the University of Oregon.

In 1950, she married Gordon Swan and had two children, Peter and Steven. She returned to college and graduated from Portland State University with a degree in mathematics and a teaching certificate. For the next 24 years she taught in the Parkrose School District at Fremont Junior High School, which she loved.

She married John Holt, who had been a classmate at Lincoln, in 1997, and they traveled, did genealogic research and enjoyed their dogs.

Read more...

Elizabeth Berry Barber ’63

Beth Berry Barber ’63 and Paul Hoyer ’64 install new control console in KRRC

Beth Berry Barber ’63 and Paul Hoyer ’64 install new control console in KRRC

[The organ] is the pre-eminent instrument of music, since the greatest number of voice parts, as many as six or seven, may be controlled by one man. It is customarily used in churches for the praise of God, to facilitate choral singing, and to refresh human spirits and vexations. It is produced with great and heavy outlay and expense, and certainly through ignorance it is easily wasted, ruined, and all the cost may be vainly expended.

—Arnolt Schlick, Spiegel der Organisten und Orgelmacher; translation by Elizabeth Berry Barber.

Read more...

Julia Bean ’05

Free-spirited and creative, Julia was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1982 to Maria and L. Chapman Bean. She grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and attended Xavier College Prep. At Reed, she majored in art. One of her favorite places was the photo studio in the art building, where she developed her black and white film, her creative style, and ultimately her thesis, Invisible Realities: An Approach to Psychological Portraiture with Prof. Ethan Jackson [art 2001-05].

One of her roommates at Reed, Kyndra Homuth Kennedy ’04, remembers, “Julia was there for me through some of the hardest, best, and most ridiculous moments of my life. She had a magnetism about her that made people want to be around her and do whatever she was doing. Her love of life and adventuresome spirit will live on in all of our hearts.”

Read more...

Norman Breslow ’62

A giant in the field of biostatistics who pioneered new techniques to identify significance in medical studies, Norm Breslow died in Seattle at the age of 74. He “really did lay the foundation for all modern statistical methods in epidemiology and public health,” UCLA professor Ron Brookmeyer told the LA Times.

The work was extremely technical—using the right math in the right ways to get meaningful results from disease studies—but its implications were enormous. Was factory dust the cause of workers’ cancer, or was it because they smoked? Did Pap smears prevent cancer, or did the women who got tests just have healthier habits? In an era of huge data sets and rapidly expanding research into the causes and risk factors for disease, his techniques transformed the field.

Read more...

Nellie Brockway Whetsler ’40

Born in Sidney, Montana, Nell attended Reed in 1939-1940. After attending Lewiston State Normal School, she graduated from Washington State University, and did her postgraduate work at Walla Walla College. In 1942, she married C.F. “Buck” Whetsler. She worked professionally as a teacher, beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Hope, Idaho, cooking daily hot lunches for students; she also taught in Clarkston and Pasco, Washington, and served on the Washington State Teachers Retirement Board.

Active in P.E.O., Nell belonged to a formal dance club, and enjoyed reading, golfing, sewing, reading, bridge and puzzles. In her memory care home, she discovered a hidden talent as a watercolor artist. Nell’s true passion, however, was caring for her family, including her daughters, Kaye Hale (Bob) and Kris Turner, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who survive her.

Barbara Bauman Liveright ’51

Barbara attended Reed before switching to Johns Hopkins University, where she got her BS in nursing in 1953. She worked for years as a public health nurse with the Baltimore City Health Department. Once asked about the highlights of her post-Reed years, she answered, “One good husband. Three fine children. One steady job, which is interesting. This is enough for me!”

She is survived by her husband, Peter Block Liveright; son Todd and his wife Debi; daughters Susan L. Kline (Stephen) and Jennifer Murphy (Robert); nine grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Alene Biederman Cisney ’62

A consummate librarian and activist, Alene was born to Albert and Marguerite Biederman. Albert was a colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and the family lived in a variety of locations in the United States and Europe as Alene was growing up. Eventually the family settled in the Pacific Northwest, and she began her undergraduate career at Reed when she was 17. She got a kick out of harmlessly sneaking into various college buildings with her friends after hours and the campus-sponsored folk dances. She studied calligraphy under Prof. Lloyd Reynolds [English 1929–69], and earned her BA in English literature, writing a thesis titled, “Themes and Images in Julius Caesar: Sickness, Fire, Spirits, and the Countenance.” Alice left campus with an enduring love of arts and sign making—a talent she employed for the rest of her life.

At loose ends after college, she worked as a calligrapher and continued to take classes for fun at the University of Washington, where she had a part-time job. During this time a human resources representative at the Seattle Public Library changed her life with the observation that one who so clearly loved learning and spending time in the library might be well suited to a career as a professional librarian. Alene enrolled in the university’s masters in librarianship program, where she was introduced to both her vocational calling and her husband, fellow student Eric Cisney. The two were married in August of 1966, the great romance of their graduating class.

Alene went on to work for 10 years as a cataloger at Seattle University, simultaneously earning a second BA in French and helping to illustrate a local edition of the famous Marchand Method French immersion textbook, La Famille Dupont.

Read more...

Judith Black Craise ’63

Judith majored in literature and wrote her thesis, “The World of Clamence: a Study of La chute by Albert Camus,” with Prof. Kaspar Locher [German 1950–88]. After moving to the Bay Area, she worked as a deputy clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

After 21 years of marriage, she divorced and began building a life that was more to her liking, including taking in the rich cultural life of the Bay Area, writing and traveling. She began freelance writing and copyediting.

“I never dreamed after leaving Reed that I would have the free time to devote to writing,” she wrote at the time of her 30th class reunion.

Read more...

Phillip Blumstein ’66

A social psychologist skilled at analyzing everyday encounters, friendships, and business relationships, Philip was hired as a sociology professor at the University of Washington in 1969 and became renowned for his research in human sexuality and relationships.

He had a reputation for fastidious methodology and a talent for interpreting data. In 1983, Philip and his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, collaborated on the best-selling book American Couples. Based on research using 12,000 questionnaires and 600 follow-up interviews, the book covered everything from how often couples had sex to who did the housework. It was considered a landmark study of what contributes to the success or failure of relationships. Philip and Schwartz had begun studying sexual behavior in 1972, igniting a professional partnership that would last 18 years. In addition to numerous professional publications, the two men cowrote articles that appeared in such popular magazines as Ladies’ Home Journal, Playboy, and Redbook.

Read more...

Vivienne Bonnin ’44

Born Miriam Rivka Goldberg to Henry and Sophie Goldberg, Vivienne grew up in the heart of Portland’s Jewish community on Southwest Jackson Street. She attended Shattuck Elementary School (now Shattuck Hall at Portland State University), and the original Lincoln High School (also a building on the PSU campus). After attending Reed, she graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in social work and went to work for the State of Oregon. She met her husband, John Bonnin, through mutual friends and they married in 1952. They settled in Longview, Washington, and for more than 30 years she contributed her talents as a social worker and supervisor to the State of Washington. They raised their daughters, the late Lyn Smith and Dr. Marni Bonnin, in Longview, but remained active in the Portland Jewish community.

The family was members at Neveh Shalom and Shaarie Torah. Vivienne was active in Hadassah, the American Business Women’s Association, Altrusa, the American Association of University Women, and the National Council of Jewish Women. She served as the unofficial rebbetzin for Cowlitz County and the surrounding counties for decades. After the death of her beloved husband in 1984, she moved back to downtown Portland, where she stayed active, volunteering as a mediator with the Better Business Bureau, and serving on the boards of the Robison Jewish Home and the Oregon Jewish Museum. An avid patron of the arts, she was also a docent at the Portland Art Museum. In April 2015, she moved to Seattle, Washington, to be closer to her daughter, Marni, who survives her.

Lois Baker Janzer ’50

Poet, translator, and teacher, Lois was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Seattle. Her interest in the world’s languages and cultures was cultivated in her working-class neighborhood, home to many immigrant families. As a teenager she worked as a cook and counselor at a Girl Scout summer camp near Hood Canal, and as a secretary for Alaska Steamship in San Francisco.

Majoring in literature at Reed, she worked on the campus literary magazine, and was particularly influenced by professors Lloyd Reynolds [English and art 1929–69] and Natalie Balakohin Dodge [Russian 1943–67]. She excelled in her coursework and made lifelong friends, with whom she shared madrigal and folk singing as well as ski trips in blue jeans and Army surplus skis. She wrote her thesis on the moral theme in the novels of Ivan Turgenev. She was briefly married to Bruce Cartozian ’50, and they lived for a few years in New York after graduation.

Read more...

Sibyl Halling Belliss ’50

Sibyl was born in China in 1928, and lived there happily until the Japanese invaded in 1941. She was held under house arrest with her mother and two sisters until the following year when they were repatriated with their father. Both parents, Frank Halling ’23 and Sibyl Lindell ’22, had graduated from Reed, and Sib followed their lead, studying political science and playing on basketball and softball teams. She wrote her thesis on the program and policies of the Chinese Communists. At Reed she met and married Don Belliss ’51, her husband of 65 years.

Upon graduating, the couple moved to Martinez, California, where Don accepted a job with Shell Oil Company. Four years later, he was transferred to the head office in New York City, and the family, which now included three sons, Frank, Steve, and Greg, moved to a home on the Connecticut shore of Long Island Sound. They built a boat, which the family sailed and raced extensively. Sib loved the ocean and enjoyed sailing, especially cruising in the Virgin Islands. Their next assignment took them to Alton, Illinois, where they lived for 24 years. Sib was active in the Christian Science church and served on the Madison County Board of Supervisors. She also worked diligently, but unsuccessfully, to promote the Equal Rights Amendment.

After Don’s retirement, the couple moved to Nevada City, California, where they built a house over looking Scotts Flat Lake and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sib continued with her church work and gardening. They traveled extensively, ranging from China to Russia, and Alaska to Antarctica. Eventually, dementia took over, and it became necessary to move from their seven wooded acres to Atria Senior Living.

Read more...

Ellen Burtner Dixon ’63

Born in California, Ellen lived in Colorado, Texas, and Oregon, and then moved to Vancouver, BC, with her first husband. Her impressive formal education included obtaining a bachelor’s in history from Reed, where she wrote a thesis on historian Walter Prescott Webb. She went on to get a master’s of library science at UC Berkeley, and a certificate in pottery from the Vancouver Art School, where she met her second husband, Reg Dixon, who shared her love of pottery, sculpture, gardening, and farming. Their daughter, Valerie, was born in 1977.

Ellen worked as a freelance potter and as a learning assistant and access advisor at University College of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia “Learning to learn is the first step to academic involvement,” she once said. A longtime supporter of social justice, environmental and other causes, she gave generously of her time and resources to the Fronya Women’s Centre, the Mission Transition House, and the Mission for Peace.

Ellen shared many happy years cycling, hiking, and camping with her partner, Jean Baycroft, and loved good food, animals, meaningful conversations and digging in her vegetable garden wearing her favorite Tilley hat. She died in a British Columbia nursing home after struggles with Parkinson disease and spinal stenosis.

Jeanne Creech Bush ’45

After graduating from the Anna Head School (now Head-Royce School) in Oakland, California, Jeanne boarded a train from Berkeley for Portland. She majored in psychology at Reed and remembered those three years as a wonderful adventure, replete with independent living, new friends, and close contact with faculty. “Unfortunately,” she said, “my immaturity prevented me from talking advantage of all that Reed has to offer.”

She returned to the Bay Area to pursue her passion for travel. At 5' 10'' she was too tall to be a flight attendant in 1948, so she joined the management team in the United Airlines office in Union Square. This was the beginning of a life of travel and adventure. She met Air Force Lt. Robert Bush of Yuba City, who was home on leave, having been stationed in Europe following World War II. His flying career would take him back to Europe, but they managed to fit a wedding in prior to his leaving in May 1952. Their first home was in Tucson, Arizona, where Robert was a pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Here their two children, Robert and Lesle, were born. Following a successful career in the Air Force, Bob and Jeanne returned to the Bay Area. Jeanne finished her bachelor’s degree in political science at Whittier College in 1971 and managed a travel business. The couple continued their quest for adventure, joining safaris, hot-air ballooning through France, sailing down the Yangtze, and running with the bulls in Pamplona. They considered London their second home, and when both of their children began to work for airlines, they could rarely be found at home. After retiring, they settled in Walnut Creek to enjoy life nearer their children. Jeanne is survived by her daughter, Lesle Bush Thomas, and her brother, John W. Creech.

Max Bettman ’48

Max wrote his chemistry thesis at Reed, A Critical Review of the Atomic Weights with Prof. Arthur Scott [chemistry 1923‑79] advising. He received a PhD from Caltech in 1952 and worked as a research scientist at Ford Motor Company. He was married to the late Dorothy Bettman and is survived by his son Elliott.

Warren Brune ’47

Born in Eustis, Nebraska, to Sophie and Samuel Brune, Warren moved to Portland after graduating from high school. He served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a navigator during WWII, and attended Reed during the summer of 1946 and the 1946/47 academic year. He then worked in the lumber business for several firms in the Willamette Valley, spending the majority of his career with Chapman Lumber. In 1960, he married Dorothy Mae Mosser, and they had a daughter, Betsy. An avid and accomplished golfer, Warren was a member of the Portland Golf Club for 59 years, winning several championships and other accolades. As a member of the Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, he helped relocate Vietnamese families after the war and helped with Operation Nightwatch, a shelter for homeless persons in Portland. A longtime member of the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, he helped establish the computer center and worked as a tutor and administrator for the computer center classes. The city of Lake Oswego honored him with an Unsung Hero Award in 2003 for that work. His wife and daughter survive him

Ellen Bilodeau Lacayo ’76

Born in San Antonio, Ellen grew up in New Orleans, and after majoring in anthropology at Reed, transferred to Tulane University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. In 1999, she received a master’s degree in management and disability services from the McLaren School of Business at the University of San Francisco.

In Gallup, New Mexico, she served as the program director of Disability Services Inc. from 1990 until 1995, when she became executive director. Among her accomplishments were eliminating group home and sheltered workshop practices from the community. Instead, she worked with local businesses to create real jobs for people with disabilities and created a fine arts gallery and studio showcasing the work of outsider artists with developmental disabilities in the Gallup arts community.

Ellen devoted her life to social justice and equal rights, actively protesting the Vietnam War, holding a leadership role in the Students for a Democratic Society, and fighting for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. She brought her passion for justice to the American Civil Liberties Union, where she served as a member of the board of directors for the New Mexico chapter.

Read more...

John L. Bjorkstam [physics]

His scientific career interest spanned a technological timeline from vacuum tubes to quantum mechanics. Born in Seattle, Prof. John L. Bjorkstam [physics 1986–87] graduated from Ballard High School and served in the Navy. He graduated from the University of Washington in electrical engineering, gaining both master’s and doctorate degrees. He was appointed assistant professor in electrical engineering at UW in 1955, and then advanced to professor in 1965. Bjorkstam specialized in solid-state electronics and studies of molecular motion and ferroelectrics. He did consulting work for Boeing on solid-state maser research,and in 1967–1968 worked on ferroelectricity in France and Yugoslavia. After retiring from UW, he taught at Reed for one year and consulted for several agencies and institutes on various projects to include preliminary research on MRI. John also served on various boards, including Trinity Western University Board of Governors and United Evangelical Free Church. He was married for 66 years to his wife, Gwen.

Ernie Bonyhadi ’48

Prominent attorney, generous philanthropist, and steadfast Reed trustee Ernie Bonyhadi died on Thanksgiving Day while visiting family and friends in Australia. He was 92 years old.

Ernie lived an astonishing life. He escaped the Nazis as a boy, fled to the United States, and then returned to Germany with the U.S. Army to search for war criminals. After graduating from Reed, he pursued a long and distinguished legal career, arguing before the Supreme Court, and became a stalwart Reed trustee, serving on the board for more than 25 years and remaining an active trustee emeritus until his death.

Read more...

George Simpson Barton ’55

George was born in Newark, Ohio, the son of the Rev. Lane Barton and Mary Simpson Barton. He went to Reed and the University of Oregon Medical School , and though much of his professional life was spent as a neurologist at Kaiser Permanente, he lived a life of service—serving in the army as a doctor in Germany, volunteering in the Peace Corps in Tunisia, and providing medical care at the Portland Black Panthers’ free clinic. After his son, William, was disabled by a brain tumor, George cared for him and enabled Will to live independently for 37 years.

George’s wife, Elizabeth McManus MAT ’70, survives him, as do his children, Anne Fitzpatrick ’78, Abraham, Catherine, Mariniah Prendergast ’89, and his siblings, the Rev. Lane Barton Jr. and Mary Faust. His son William predeceased him.

Leon Billings ’59

Americans breathe a little easier because of Leon Billings, who forged a legacy as the largely unheralded chief architect of the 1970 Clean Air Act.

He grew up in Helena, Montana, experiencing firsthand the power of clean air. His mother, Gretchen Garber Billings, had been afflicted with chronic lung disease as a child, finding relief only when she left her family home in Washington State to vacation with her grandparents in Montana. She married Henry Billings and moved to Montana where the couple edited a weekly newspaper, the People’s Voice , owned by a farmer-labor cooperative. The newspaper engaged in an ongoing battle with the powerful Anaconda Copper Mining Company, which controlled the daily newspapers in the state. Harry’s column in the People’s Voice carried the quotation: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of moral crisis, refuse to take a stand.”

Read more...

Attellia Vause Berg ’41

Attellia was born in Klickitat, Washington, to Vera Child and Francis Vause. She finished her freshman year at Reed, which both her sister, Clare Vause ’34, and brother, Colonel R. Vause ’43, also attended. That summer she met and married Gordon Berg, an Army Air Corps pilot training in Pendleton, where the Vause family lived.

After marrying in 1942, the couple moved to the East Coast, where Gordon underwent further preparation for the war. When he began flying bombing missions out of India, Attellia returned west and attended Stanford University for a year. She painted, and her love of art and literature flourished during the couple’s extensive travels afforded by Gordon’s Air Force career.

Preceded in death by her daughter, Sydney, her husband, Gordon, and her second husband, Victor Doherty, Attellia is survived by her sons, Robert Berg, Steven Berg, and Gordon Berg, and her daughter, Janet Richards.

Nancy Jones Butterfield ’60

Nancy attended Reed and Portland State and spent most of her life in Astoria, Oregon. For 33 years she was an editor and feature writer at the Daily Astorian and the Chinook Observer in Long Beach, Washington. Nancy raised three boys single-handedly and loved socializing with people to discover unique things about them. A voracious reader, she enjoyed traveling, genealogy, and British TV dramas. She was a lifelong newshound, even in retirement; in 2005, when the oil barge Millicoma ran aground near Cape Disappointment, she rushed to the scene with a camera to snap dramatic photos. Preceded in death by her husband, Michael Rush, she is survived by her three sons, Mark, Tod, and Jason Butterfield.

Elizabeth Ann Brown ’40

March 7, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth was writing her political science thesis on American isolationist propaganda at a difficult time for the nation and the college. An ominous cloud hung over Europe, and two of her professors disagreed violently about America’s isolationist views.

Read more...

Steven G. Brown ’73

January 22, 2017, at home in Niskayuna, New York.

Steve grew up less than a mile from the beach in Los Angeles and experienced the perfect 1950s childhood. He seemed larger than life—six-feet-five, with a big heart and a generous sense of humor. Fiercely intelligent and independent, he studied classics on an academic scholarship at Reed, where he said he was glad to have been able to spend two years. After serving in the army in Germany, he attended school there and traveled through Europe.

A thoughtful and meticulous designer, Steve specialized in custom furniture and the restoration and repair of stringed instruments. He built his own business over 40 years and leaves behind a collection of treasured work. His interests were broad and eclectic: 1960s California surf music, target shooting, pre-1974 MGs, and the mechanical workings of the world. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Brown ’71; sons Max and Will; and his German shepherd, Junior.

Marietta E. Bunzel Spencer ’44

Marietta was a pioneering social worker who revolutionized attitudes towards adoption. She established terminology that removed the stigma of being adopted and was a fierce advocate for the rights of adoptees to have access to their medical history throughout their lives.

She grew up in Vienna, the youngest of two children born to a merchant family in the jewelry trade, and moved to the United States during World War II after receiving an academic scholarship to Reed. An anthropology major, Marietta wrote her thesis, “Acculturation Among the Austrian Refugees of Portland, Oregon,” with Prof. David French ’39 [anthropology 1947–88] and met her life partner and collaborator, Prof. Robert Spencer [sociology 1946], who taught at Reed.

Read more...

David Slack Barrett ’79

David Slack Barrett 1979 photo

A beloved tai chi instructor, David could often be spotted on Reed’s great lawn, guiding students through the slow, hypnotic movements of Yang style tai chi. “Some of my favorite memories of Reed are doing tai chi wordlessly in the spring among the falling cherry blossoms,” Eliot Sitt ’07 remembered. “Dave was both boisterous and serene—very animated with a sense of humor explaining the motions, more meditative during the run-throughs.”

Dave began teaching at Reed in 1981 and was an adjunct professor with the exercise science department of Pacific University. In addition, he taught at a variety of senior centers, including a regular tai chi class at the Hillsboro Senior Center.

Read more...

Betty Brockman Martin ’41

Betty wrote her thesis, “The Geodesics on a Torus and Their Isogonal Projections,” with Prof. Frank Griffin [math 1911–56]. She and her sister, Wanda Brockman ’40, were proud to be Reed graduates. After college Betty began working at NASA, leading a group of women doing work with the slide rule that is now done by computer. She quit in 1945 to marry Andrew Martin, and they moved to Bellevue, Washington, where Andy took a job with Boeing. When Andy was transferred, the family, which included three daughters and a son, moved to Huntsville, Alabama. They returned to Bellevue in 1966, but with the Boeing cutback in 1972 (which led to the billboard reading “Would the last person leaving Seattle turn off the lights?”), Andy found civil service work  at the Justice Department. A series of transfers moved them to Atlanta, Tallahassee, Raleigh, and Lexington. Betty returned to civil service as well, this time as an IRS auditor. She enjoyed being back at work, developing rapport with workers, and meeting the “amusing” public. Her innate leadership skills became evident and she ended up as lead in her office.

With all the moves around the South, Betty discovered a hobby in Civil War history. The couple retired to Bellevue, and following Andy’s death, Betty became very involved with her church, especially with missions work. She remained a voracious reader, particularly of American history, with a partiality to anything related to Abraham Lincoln. One day she said, “I wish someone would give me a bust of Lincoln.” She remained cognizant to the end and passed away in her home, as she had requested. She is survived by three of her four children.

Rosemary Eliot Brodie ’48

Rosemary Greenleaf Eliot was born in Evanston, Illinois, to Sigrid Wijnbladh Eliot and Thomas Dawes Eliot, son of Thomas Lamb Eliot—the pastor who urged Amanda Reed to found the college. As a biology major at Reed, Rosemary wrote her thesis, “Gregarinid Parasites in the Seminal Vesicles of Earthworms,” with Prof. Ralph Macy [biology 1942–55] advising.

She went on to the Northwestern University Medical School, and interned at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. After a three-year neurology residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, she practiced neurology until 1976. She then did a residency in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington, and from 1978 to 1989 worked at the Department of Labor and Industries in Seattle.

Read more...

Waldo Brighton Jones ’50

Waldo Jones photo

Waldo was born in New York City and grew up in the Greenhaven neighborhood of Rye, New York. She attended the Rye Country Day School and then the Putney School in Vermont. An adventurous spirit led her to Reed, where she was as enthusiastic instructing skiers and hiking on Mt. Hood as she was in the classroom. Waldo graduated from Bennington College with a bachelor’s degree in literature. Immediately following graduation, she married the love of her life, James E. Jones ’47, whom she met at Reed.

She started out in the executive training program at Bonwit Teller in New York, doing copywriting until she welcomed a first child in 1952. The couple embraced parenthood and moved to Mt. Kisco, New York, to raise their three children. Waldo had an uncanny ability to teach, and under her tutelage, countless kids learned to read, ride a bike, swim, recite a poem, and, most importantly, to value and respect others. She began working as an assistant teacher, and retired in 1991 as the head of the lower school at Rippowam Cisqua School. Nothing made her happier than greeting hundreds of children by name and with a firm handshake. After retiring she shared pleasurable years with family and friends, alternating between summers in Whitingham, Vermont, and winters in Pass-a-Grille, Florida.

Read more...

Byron Bair ’52

Born in Steilacoom, Washington, Byron lived a hardscrabble childhood that witnessed the entirety of the Great Depression. He enlisted in the navy after graduating from high school, and after World War II came to Portland, where he attended Reed for two years before moving back to Washington. He took a job as a fry cook at Mt. Rainier’s Paradise Inn, where he met the love of his life, Patricia Arnett. They married in 1954, and would be together until Pat’s passing 60 years later. They raised their family in Portland, where Byron enjoyed a long and successful career in the food industry.

A generous and caring man, Byron was known for his signature “point of information” comments when he happened on something interesting he thought all should know. He enjoyed sharing facts, reading the newspaper aloud, and listing the ingredients in food products. He is survived by three sons, Gregory, Thomas, and Daniel.

Rebecca Marshall Brewster ’03

Becky Brewster photo

Becky, 35, succumbed to an addiction at her home in New Orleans. She was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in Plymouth, where she attended Wayzata High School. She started at Reed before transferring to the University of Oregon, where she earned a BA in journalism in 2015. She worked for the Portland Tribune and had begun paralegal work in New Orleans. She is survived by her parents, Christopher and Nancy Brewster, and her brother, Benjamin.

Jeffrey Bernard MAT ’71

He had been called the da Vinci of Ashland, Oregon, a creator who perfectly blended the best qualities of “right” and “left” brain. A true Renaissance man, Jeffrey mastered sculpting in Italy and boat building in the Netherlands, and had a career as a software engineer and applications architect.

A native of the Boston area, he was offered scholarships to Harvard and Yale, chose the latter, and graduated in 1970 having studied engineering and economics. The following year, he earned a master’s degree in teaching at Reed.

Jeffrey wanted to learn how to build boats; rather than take a class, he traveled to Holland and studied with master boat builders. He started out sweeping the floors, then sanded wood. One day his boss told him, “Go fix my daughter’s sailboat. Part of the hull is rotted.” After working in the shop for five years, Jeffrey knew how to build a boat. He then moved to Italy to begin an apprenticeship in sculpting marble, pounding stone with a wooden mallet and antique chisel. He worked at an antiquated marble quarry in Carrara, where all the heavy roughing out of marble blocks was still done by hand, and worked in several sculpture studios in Pietrasanta, carving figurative, decorative, ornamental, and architectural sculptures in marble.

Read more...

Betty Brown Bruner ’56

Betty was born in Portland to Cecil and Louise Brown, who owned a neighborhood store on Southeast Clinton Street. Her family moved to Klamath Falls in 1942, where her father worked as an engineer for Southern Pacific Railroad. Betty graduated from Klamath Union High School and studied English at the University of Oregon and Reed College. She returned to Klamath Falls and married the love of her life, Wayne J. Bruner, in 1955. Betty taught kindergarten classes in Klamath Falls, and for many years volunteered as a 4-H leader, as a community coordinator, and as a food judge at the Klamath County Fair. She also served as a hardworking and conscientious precinct worker in the Klamath County Elections Department.

In addition to managing the family rentals, she was a 55-year member of Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Episcopal Church. Betty’s husband Wayne passed away in 2001. She is survived by her daughters, Heather Coats and Heidi Lawrence.

James S. Bennett ’52

Among other things, Jim will be remembered for his love of music, playing his trumpet, and an affection for puns. After two years of serving in the marines, he returned to Portland, and began at Reed, where he met and married his wife, Leile Olson ’52. He wrote his thesis, “The Effects of Fluoride on the Soft Tissues of the Hamster,” with Prof. Frank P. Hungate [biology 1946–52] advising. Jim then served for two years in Korea, after which he and Lee were reunited in Portland. By 1958, Jim had received his DMD from the University of Oregon Dental School, and in 1961 he received an MS degree in oral pathology. He was on the faculty of the school, which was renamed Oregon Health and Science University, from 1961 to 1989.

Lee, his wife of 66 years, survives him as do his children, Terrea, Annie, Leslie, Carol, James, and Bonny, and his brothers, Lawton, John, and Lynn.

Richard Baird ’53

Dick was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the eldest son of Charlotte and John Baird. At Reed he majored in chemistry and wrote his thesis, “An Investigation of the Mixed Anhydride Method of Peptide Synthesis,” advised by Prof. Marshall Cronyn [chemistry 1952–89]. Dick got a PhD in organic chemistry from UCLA and completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University.

He married Janet Morton of Staten Island, New York, in 1959. Dick taught chemistry for several years at Yale University before moving to Wilmington, where he spent the rest of his career as a research chemist for DuPont. After retiring, Dick volunteered for and ran the local AARP tax program for many years. He was also active with the New Castle Sailing Club, sailed his own boat on Lake Sunapee, and traveled extensively with his wife. Janet, his wife of 58 years, survives him, as do his son, Bruce, and daughter, Catherine Kusmin; his sisters, Joan Jarboe and Susan Ninnis; and his brother, John Baird.

George Edward Bussell ’51

March 7, 2018, on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Born in Tacoma, Washington, George was raised in Everett, where he graduated from Everett High School. Showing an early interest in science, he made toy soldiers by pouring molten lead into molds and playing with liquid mercury in his parents’ basement. After his senior year, he worked on a tugboat, earning enough to pay for his first year at Reed.

Read more...

Barbara Bernstein ’52

May 2, 2018, in Kenmore, Washington.

Born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Barbara moved with her family to Bellingham, Washington, in the early ’30s, where they lived on a 38-acre farm purchased for the family by Barbara’s beloved uncle, Richard Drew, inventor of both masking tape and cellophane tape for 3M. Barbara loved to tell the story of how her Uncle Dick invented Scotch tape, and she was motivated by his creativity, warmth, and intelligence.

Read more...

George G. Barnes ’58

November 9, 2017, in Palo Alto, California.

George was born on Christmas Day in Boston. In the late ’40s, his family moved to California. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “A Resonance Method for Determining the Speed of Sound in Liquids,” with Prof. Ken Davis [physics 1948–80] advising.

Read more...

Lynn Bowers ’65

February 10, 2018, in Eugene, Oregon, of metastatic cancer.

An accomplished artist and tireless activist, Lynn dwelt in the forest, where she championed ecological land use, toxin-free forests, and other rights of nature.

Read more...

Linda Louise Blackwelder Pall ’67

April 29, 2018, in Moscow, Idaho, in her sleep.

Attorney, activist, teacher, mother, mentor, and friend, Linda imparted fierce devotion to justice, inclusion, and community, and gave others strength they didn’t know they had.
As a child, Linda moved with her family from Virginia to The Dalles, Oregon, where she graduated valedictorian of her high school class. From a young age she was interested in music and the arts and became an avid flutist and pianist. As her talent progressed, she began taking the bus to Portland for lessons and eventually earned a chance to play with the Portland Symphony. Linda’s passion for jazz, baroque, and woodwind quintets was matched by her passion for learning. She began at Reed as a philosophy major and wrote her thesis, “Reflections on the Problem of Obligation,” with Prof. Robert Paul [philosophy 1966–96] advising. This was followed by a master’s degree in philosophy of science from the University of London. While in England, Linda lectured in liberal studies at Kingston Polytechnic.
One of her favorite Reed professors was Robert Reynolds [physics 1963–2008], who remembered, “When she was still a Reed student, Linda Blackwelder impressed my wife, Ellen, and me as a force of nature. Her academic, musical, and calligraphic skills were manifest, as was her prodigious energy. Later, we enjoyed visits to her student digs in London, to her mother Dorothy’s home in The Dalles, and to her Portland residence as Linda Pall, wife of biologist Martin Pall. Her subsequent multi-faceted academic careers, political offices, and campaigns were stunning, as was her decade-long refusal to succumb to her illness. Late one night in my Reed office, I tuned to the local NPR station only to hear Linda initiating a conversation with Vladimir Putin. She invited him to visit Moscow (Idaho). He demurred, citing the large number of U.S. cities with Russian names. Her chutzpah, however, was totally unsurprising.”
Linda met her husband, Martin, while teaching at Portland State University. The couple moved to Moscow, Idaho, in 1972, and two years later welcomed their son Zachary.
“Many years ago, Linda adopted Judaism as her religion, and brought up Zach as a Jew, religiously,” Prof. William Peck [philosophy 1961–2002] said. “I asked her if there were any Jews in her family; she replied, ‘Blackwelder?! That’s half an anglicization of the German word for people from the Black Forest (Schwarzwälder). I’ve been there—they’re all Catholics.’ I forget what led her to start going to Jewish services, but she was impressed.”
Linda stayed home during Zach’s early years, and when he became a preschooler, she saw the need in the community for a preschool/kindergarten. As she did with so many projects, Linda dug in and helped to found the Moscow Day School. This was the beginning of a long and dedicated commitment to improve the Moscow community. As Zach grew older, Linda became active in city politics. She served as a city council member from 1977 to 1983, working tirelessly for community and progressive causes, including land use policies, local arts programs, downtown revitalization, a farmer’s market, library development, and historic preservation of buildings like Moscow’s Old Post Office, the 1912 Building, and the Carnegie Library.
To nurture her love of education and passion for politics and government, Linda earned both a master’s degree and a PhD in political science at Washington State University. While working on her PhD, she also enrolled in the University of Idaho, graduating from law school in 1985. After passing the bar, she set about building a practice in family law, employment law, and civil rights, in addition to a general civil practice.
Linda loved being involved in local government, and 10 years after her first stint on Moscow’s City Council, she ran again, serving from 1993 to 2001. After a narrow defeat in 2001, she was returned to a four-year seat on the council in 2003.
She worked in Lewiston, Idaho, until 1996, when she opened a solo practice in her beloved Moscow, where she practiced until her death. She taught Idaho State Bar courses and section events, served as a three-time vice president of the Second Bar District, and helped found several sections of the state bar, including the Family Law Section and the Diversity Section. Linda was also a prime mover in a series of civil rights seminars and celebrations to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Bill of Rights, including major symposia in 2011 and 2016, with nationally distinguished speakers and programs to facilitate young people’s appreciation for the rule of law and the traditions of the Bill of Rights in everyday America.
Prof. Peck was on the panel of speakers and remembered, “She wanted at least one nonlawyer on her panel and thought of me. I couldn’t say no, though I had to do some pretty fast studying to try to get up to speed for the discussions. I told them and our audience, mostly law students, that most of us don’t want a lot to do with lawyers, that litigation is only one way to solve social problems, and that legal solutions and procedures only work well when what some people call ‘civil society’ is in good shape—i.e., the network of nonlegal and nongovernmental agencies and institutions, e.g., churches, that connect people and support cooperation. It was a very exhilarating experience, as was the many hours I turned out spending with Linda during that event, notably an all-night drive from Moscow to Boise along with an ACLU lawyer who had flown in from D.C. for the symposium. I prompted her to talk to keep awake, and she practically recited her life story. That was Linda all the way. I’m very sorry indeed that I won’t see her again. I know I won’t see her like again.”
In 2013, after 26 years of teaching at Washington State University and a year of serious illness, Linda retired from teaching and as coordinator of business law for the College of Business at WSU. For nearly a decade she had been living with primary pulmonary hypertension—a terminal condition—and had been recently diagnosed with uterine cancer and acute kidney failure. She was in and out of hospitals and care facilities, at death’s door, and as she put it, “doing hand-to-hand combat with the grim reaper on a daily basis.” Linda emerged a fierce advocate for improved diagnostic services for patients with rare, orphan diseases like PAH. She founded the Inland Northwest Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Support Group, Inc., which, in addition to lobbying Congress for research funds for NSF and other research organizations, formed a steering committee to establish a center at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University, Spokane, to give medical students education and opportunities to hone their skills in the diagnostics of this complicated and difficult disease.
During the first week of dialysis, Linda lost 50 pounds of water weight, and as the weeks went by, more weight came off. Following physical and occupational therapy, she gained strength, became more confident, and was able to return home. She began gardening with a vengeance. “I thought I better do something since I was given time,” she said. “I may be a short-timer, but I feel better than I have for years.”
Linda volunteered for the Moscow Board of Adjustment, advocated for sensible town planning with a local citizens group, and was active in Democratic Party politics. She was a chair of the county Democratic Party in the ’70s and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention for Jimmy Carter in 1980. In 2000, she secured the Democratic nomination for the First Congressional District and went on to face Lt. Gov. Butch Otter that fall. Otter went to Congress and Linda returned to her law practice and the town that she loved. A longtime member of the county’s human rights task force, she was the prime mover in the creation of the City of Moscow’s Human Rights Commission. Her devotion and commitment were acknowledged with numerous civic and human rights awards, including Idaho Politician of the Year, the Access to Justice Award from the Idaho State Bar Association, and the Eva Lassman Take Action Against Hate Award from Gonzaga University. Moscow honored her in 2008 with Linda Pall Day.
In addition to her volunteer work, Linda found time to take photographs and had public exhibitions in Moscow, Idaho, and Kansas City, Missouri. She was a calligrapher since taking courses with Prof. Lloyd Reynolds [English & art 1929–69] at Reed.
“We were somewhat consoled to learn that her last evening was spent in relaxed dining and conversation with her beloved son Zachary,” said Prof. Bob Reynolds.

Bill Bulick ’74

March 15, 2018, in Portland, Oregon, of Parkinson’s disease.

Bill was a master at shaping cultural potential and used the arts to build livable and vital communities.

Read more...

Steven Boggs ’68

June 2, 2018, in Columbia, Maryland, of brain cancer.

Scientist, inventor, educator, and engineer, Steven focused his remarkable career on the problem of harnessing  electricity on a gargantuan scale. Author of more than 300 papers, he pioneered new techniques for handling massive quantities of electric power—enough to light up cities—and developed better ways to transmit, store, and insulate it. 

Read more...

Ben Ross Burgoyne ’39

July 14, 2018, in Lake Stevens, Washington, at the age of 101.

Ben was born in a sod house on the prairie near Youngstown, Alberta, Canada. When he was four years old, the family moved to Valemount, British Columbia, where his father was running a logging company, providing railroad ties and poles to the Canadian Pacific Railway. The rest of the family joined him later—traveling in the same boxcar as their milk cow, providing fresh milk for the children and enabling Ben’s mother to earn money selling milk to passengers along the way.

Read more...

Michael Baird ’53

May 27 2018, in Portland, Oregon, of natural causes.

Michael spent his career at Oregon Health & Science University, where he was a physician in internal medicine and psychiatry. He was on the teaching faculty at OHSU Medical School and served as director of medical services at OHSU Hospital. 

Read more...

William Jennings Baker ’50

November 7, 2018, in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Bill Baker was born in Virginia and at the age of five was left at an orphanage—the Southern Christian Children’s Home in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, he spent his high school years in a home for teenage boys. He came of age just in time to be drafted for World War II.

Read more...

Sylvia Wells Baldwin ’50

August 17, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii, from a ruptured aorta.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Sylvia began Reed at 17, supporting herself as a waitress and majoring in literature and languages. After three years at Reed, she transferred to the University of Washington, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She married J. Allen Johnson ’50 and moved to Alaska and back to Portland before moving to Hawaii in 1959.

Sylvia focused on raising her four children when they were young, and then, after she divorced, she worked a variety of jobs to support them, including secretary, encyclopedia salesperson, substitute teacher, and tutor. She always wrote, whether it was unpublished novellas and short stories, correspondence with Reed friends, or penning columns in local publications and professional outlets. At the age of 62, she became a U.S. immigration inspector at Honolulu International Airport and worked there for 11 years before retiring. She took trips to Egypt, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, and an around-the-world marathon, and to the end maintained an active interest in the world and in politics. Survivors include her four children: Branden Johnson, Hunter Johnson, Morgan Johnson, and Melissa Johnson.

John Brownlee ’50

October 30, 2018, in Salmon, Idaho. 

John was born in Billings, Montana, and attended high school in Stanford, Montana, where he enjoyed playing basketball.

He attended Reed before transferring to the University of Montana, where he earned a degree in accounting and business administration. He served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force with the Fourth Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Korea. In 1957, he married Helen (Shelly) Moore in Helena, Montana, where they raised three sons. John was a partner with the accounting firm of Galusha, Higgins, and Galusha for 33 years; was an active member in the First Baptist Church, where he served as treasurer; and served as board member and president of the Lewis & Clark County Cancer Committee.

Read more...

Gary L. Brooks ’72

September 2, 2018, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, of cancer.

The son of an air force officer, Gary grew up in Europe, Asia, and many places from the east to the west coast of the United States. After graduating from high school in Virginia, he came to Reed, but, unnerved by the Portland rain, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma. He majored in letters and religion, paying his way through college by buying, remodeling, and flipping houses. Upon graduating from law school in 1975, Gary put up a shingle on Main Street in Norman, Oklahoma, and began practicing law. He devoted much of his career to representing those harmed by the negligence of others and helping ordinary people take on corporations and powerful interests. He made a difference in the lives of countless clients who could not afford to hire a lawyer by the hour and was always willing to use his time and resources to improve the lives of those around him, even when the caller did not have a viable case but just needed to talk with someone who cared.

Gary began a mission of promoting board certification for attorneys and hoped that one day lawyers, like doctors, would be certified specialists. He founded the American College of Board Certified Attorneys, served as the president of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association, and was appointed to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure by Governor Brad Henry.

Read more...

James Beard ’24

By Randall S. Barton

Hailed as the father of the American food movement, James Beard changed American cooking as we know it today.

Read more...

Edward L. Bennett ’43

December 2018, in Berkeley, California.

Edward enjoyed a distinguished career as a research chemist and was a tireless advocate for parks and open space, leaving a legacy for all to enjoy.

Read more...

Jacqueline Boklan Paulson ’48

November 1, 2018, in New York City.

A pioneer in the development of curriculum for prevention of child abuse and neglect in teacher education, Jacqueline came to Reed from New York City. She was here a year and met her spouse, Harry Murphy ’40, whom she later divorced. Jacqueline earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA and then a master’s in psychology from the College of Staten Island.

Read more...

Nancy Meigs Brandriss ’52

December 10, 2010, in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Born in Santa Barbara, California, Nancy and her brother grew up in Chico, California, and Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, Nancy enrolled at Reed. After a year, she transferred to Drew University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in botany. She taught horticulture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, further developing her love of plants and gardens. In New York, she met Michael Brandriss, a medical student at New York University, and they married in 1955. 

The couple moved to Maryland to pursue Michael’s medical career and begin a family before eventually settling down in Pittsford, New York. Nancy was an inspiring mother to her four children, with whom she shared her love of open skies, fresh air, woods, lakes, and mountains. She is survived by her brother, Willard Meigs; her sons, David, Peter, and Mark; and her daughter, Deborah Sullivan.

Ronald Bryan ’53

October 22, 2018, in College Station, Texas.

The third of four children born to Robert and Gladys Leonards Bryan ’53, Ronald was raised in Portland and appreciated the education and classical music training received during his formative years. He attended Reed for one semester and then earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Yale University and a PhD in theoretical nuclear physics at the University of Rochester, where he studied with Prof. Robert Marshak.

Read more...

Aida Bogas Metzenberg ’77

March 18, 2018, in Northridge, California, from the progression of a neurodegenerative disorder.

Aida was an accomplished scientist, genetic counselor, and professor. For her last 20 years, she fought valiantly against an unknown neurodegenerative disorder and was essentially quadriplegic for 10 of those years.

Read more...

John A. Beck ’49

February 16, 2019, in Vancouver, Washington.

As a toddler, JB, as he was known, moved with his family to Vancouver, Washington, from Texas. He stayed there for the rest of his life. After attending Benson Boys Polytech, a technical high school in Portland, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. JB studied physics at Reed. He wrote his thesis, “An Investigation of Physical Properties for Transistor Action,” with Prof. Theodore Lashof [physics 1946–50] advising.

In addition to getting a degree, JB left Reed with “an open mind to accept or at least consider new ideas. Reed encouraged me to accept different opinions and beliefs of others and to realize their views might be the right ones, at least until proven otherwise.”

Read more...

Patricia Bennett Hunt ’50

September 20, 2014, in Paradise, California.

Patricia was valedictorian of her high school class in Hood River and followed her brother, Edward Bennett ’43, to Reed. Majoring in biology, she wrote her thesis, “A Study of Mitotic Rhythm in Salamanders with Special Reference to the Effect of Methylcholanthrene,” with Prof. Ralph Macy [1942–55] advising.

She married Angus Hunt ’50, and after graduating they moved to Alamo, California, where they lived for 50 years, raising three children.

Read more...

John Buckinger ’55

March 13, 2019, in Palm Springs, California.

John was born in Portland and started at Reed as a chemistry major. During the first two years, he recalled, he was having too much fun and was asked to leave. He worked in construction that summer and decided it wasn’t something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Returning to Reed, he switched to physics and credited his mentor, Prof. Kenneth Davis [physics 1948–80], for getting him on the right track. With Prof. Nathan Wainfan [chemistry 1954–56] advising, John wrote his thesis, “Transparency of Thin Films in the Vacuum Ultraviolet.”

Read more...

William Charles Buss ’60

Cliff Sather ’61 and Bill Bus ’60

December 25, 2018, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of esophageal cancer.

Bill was a Reed “dropout,” but he loved and benefited from his time here, and Reed may proudly claim him as one of its own.  Eventually becoming a professor of pharmacology at the University of New Mexico, for more than 40 years he was a respected researcher and professor, and a beloved teacher and mentor to generations of medical students.

Read more...

Joanna Baker ’61

January 18, 2019, in Benson, Arizona, of lung cancer.

A native of Nyack, New York, Joanna graduated from high school in Montclair, New Jersey. At Reed, she majored in literature and wrote her thesis, “Children of Evil: a Study of the Characterization of Evil in King Lear,” advised by Richard H. Tyre [English 1957–61].

Read more...

José Brown ’71

May 1, 1996, in Portland, of AIDS.

“I can never articulate in words the eternal reality—the height of buildings, the texture of cloth, the color of water, the smell of hair, the taste of fruit,” wrote José Brown ’71. “I can dance it.” 

Read more...

Shirley Ann Berenson Mark ’44

July 30, 2019, in Portland, of natural causes.

Born in Portland to Max and Florence Berenson, Shirley went to the University of Washington and Reed. In 1944, she met Danny Fromer—on leave from the army—at a dance at the Jewish Community Center. They married and had three children, Eileen, Marty, and Jim. Danny died in 1982, and two years later, Shirley met Louis Mark in Palm Springs, California. They married later that year and spent many happy years together, dividing their time between Palm Springs and Portland, until Lou passed away in 2013. Shirley’s life revolved around family and friends, and she loved taking her children and grandchildren on cruises.

Anna Bozarth Payne ’53

June 6, 2019, in Happy Valley, Oregon.

Anna spent her childhood in Virginia and California before following in the wake of the migration of some of her aunts and uncles to Redmond, Oregon, during World War II. She was one of five finalists in the Miss Oregon Pageant.

Read more...

Jo Tice Bloom ’55

June 18, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of heart failure.

She was born Nancy Jo Fostvedt in Los Angeles, but from childhood she disliked the name Nancy. She preferred “Jo” and later legalized it. After her parents’ marriage failed, her mother married Fred Tice. Jo found the ideal father in her new stepfather and legally adopted his surname.

Read more...

Robert E. Burney III ’81

July 10, 2019, in Portland.

Robert went to Portland’s Lincoln High School and majored in biology at Reed, where he wrote his thesis, “Malaria: An Increasingly Important World Problem,” with Prof. G. Frank Gwilliam [biology 1957–96].

Read more...

Rachel Brownell ’07

March 12, 2019, in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Born on a sun-filled autumn morning, Rachel was a protective sister to Carrie and loved to draw, dance, read, and play. As a child she was unable to write a word and let it sit alone on the page. When she became a teacher, she loved teaching students to read and the experience of watching unknown words becoming known.

Read more...

Virginia Jardine Banks ’63

November 27, 2019, in Williamsburg, Virginia, from cardiac arrest.

Born and raised in Portland, Virginia was a history major at Reed, where she met her husband, David Banks ’63. She wrote her thesis, “George E. Chamberlain, Governor of Oregon, 1903–1909,” with Prof. Dorothy O. Johansen ’33 [history 1934–84] advising and went on to earn a master’s degree in library science from UCLA. Virginia worked as a cataloger at the Library of Congress before opting for full-time motherhood. The family lived in Vienna, Virginia; Frankfurt, Germany; Rome, Italy; and The Hague, Netherlands, before retiring to Williamsburg in 2003. Virginia was a Cub Scout leader in Rome and an embassy community liaison officer in The Hague.

Read more...

John Douglas ("Dugan") Barr ’64

November 28, 2019, in Redding, California, in his sleep.

A bulldog in the courtroom, Dugan was more like a gentle giant to the clients he represented. The renowned personal injury attorney and his business partner, Doug Mudford, represented 22% of the patients in one of several lawsuits filed against Redding Medical Center—the former name of Shasta Regional Medical Center. Plaintiffs claimed that doctors at the hospital performed unnecessary open-heart surgery on hundreds of patients. The hospital owners paid $395 million in a 2005 settlement, and the doctors settled for $24 million.

Read more...

Virginia (Jeanne) Bloom Bachman ’46

June 25, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Born in Portland, Jeanne attended Reed for a year before transferring to the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.  She worked as a preschool teacher until her marriage to Stanley Bachman, whom she had met when she was 10. They were married for 69 years. Jeanne was a member of Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women and enjoyed reading, traveling, and gardening. She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Bachman.

Ethel Eva Bisbicos ’57

July 20, 2019, in State College, Pennsylvania, after a decades-long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born in Groton, Massachusetts, Ethel majored in biology at Reed but completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Connecticut, where she also earned a master’s degree. She went on to receive a PhD in psychology from Penn State University.

“Of all the institutions in my background, Reed has had the most significant influence on my academic career,” Ethel said. “My experience at Reed influenced my teaching in fundamental and significant ways.”

Read more...

James Borders ’63

January 27, 2020, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jim was born in Akron, Ohio. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “Certain Aspects of the Photoconductivity of Pure Single Zinc Oxide Crystals” with Prof. Kenneth Davis [physics 1948–80] advising, and he continued his education at the University of Illinois, where he earned a doctorate in physics.

Read more...

Martha Bair Steinbock ’71

December 8, 2019, in Olney, Maryland, of neuroendocrine cancer.

Martha was born in Eureka, California, and grew up on a ranch near Arcata. She completed high school in Rio Linda, near Sacramento, and attended Reed, where she met and married Joseph Steinbock ’69.

Read more...

E. Louise Flechtner Brierton ’44

May 5, 2020, in Davidsville, Pennsylvania.

 Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, Louise was the daughter of Gustav Flechtner, a concert violinist and orchestra conductor who taught at the Oregon City Conservatory of Music and was associated with the Portland Symphony. Due to his wife’s ill health, he relocated to Twin Falls and took a job as a music teacher and band leader at public schools in Twin Falls and Jerome, Idaho. To earn extra money, he played the violin at a silent movie theater in Jerome.

 Louise and her sister, Augusta, worked summers after high school in Sun Valley, Idaho. Louise represented Sun Valley and the state of Idaho at the 1939 Miss America Pageant, where she was voted fifth runner-up to Miss America. During the talent portion of the pageant, she played Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust on the clarinet her father had given her as a child.

Read more...

Patricia Prindiville Bostwick ’45

September 14, 2004, in Lincoln City, Oregon

Patricia was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and grew up in Kaimuki, spending many of her summers at Kamalo and Molokai. After graduating from Punahou High School, she attended Reed for two years and then the University of Hawaii. In 1952, she married Corky Bostwick; they had two children. She was a part-time real estate agent and an avid golfer and mah-jongg player. A resident of Honolulu, Patricia was a volunteer with the Friends of Iolani Palace and collected antiques and koa wood furniture. She is survived by her children, Prindi Flug and Charles Bostwick.

Frits Brevet ’50

January 10, 2020, in Oakland, California.

Having graduated from high school at the age of 16, Frits followed in the footsteps of his sister, Beepske Brevet Selhorst ’41, and started at Reed. His tiny room under the eaves in Winch was a great place for studying, but there was time for shenanigans, and interesting comrades were at hand.

Among the lifelong friends Frits made at Reed, one best remembered was Sandy McDonald ’46, who was enchanted with the idea of living in the 18th century and led a troop of men in reliving the American Revolution. Sandy fashioned himself a faithful servant of King George III. His followers made wigs from brown paper bags that they painted white and rolled up on the front and sides. Sandy put tacks on the hammers of the piano in Winch so it would sound like a harpsichord and led his followers in songs of the British Grenadiers. The colonists would answer singing: “Oh democrat or republican or any mortal thing, be sure that ye give glory to FDR our gracious king. For if you prove rebellious, your thunder mightier than your ear, with an NRA and an AAA and a keg of New Deal beer.”

Read more...

Chana Berniker Cox ’63

March 2, 2019, in Oregon.

Chana aspired to be a Renaissance woman, and her work and her life were intrinsically interdisciplinary. According to her son, author Richard Harvester, she was aware that her legacy “might be accompanied by her name, or it might simply work its way into the ideas of others. But it would ripple from her, changing the world she touched.”

Read more...

Kathryn Juel Weibel Brookins ’57

July 25, 2020, in Boston, Massachusetts, from complications induced by Alzheimer’s dementia.

The only child born to Frank and Irene Weibel, Kathryn started out in North Platte, Nebraska. The family moved frequently, as her father was an engineering mechanic who worked on large infrastructure projects then being constructed in the Pacific Northwest. Frank died when Kathryn was 20 years old, and from then on, she and her mother were seldom apart.

Read more...

Thomas Bransten ’58

December 19, 2019, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Tom was raised in San Francisco; his father was the scion of the MJB Coffee company and his mother’s family ran a dried fruit processing company. He studied at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London, and at Peterhouse, a constituent college of Cambridge University in England, before coming to Reed. Initially interested in premedical courses, he switched to literature. He wrote his thesis, “The Alien Vision: A Study of Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Drama,” advised by Prof. Kaspar T. Locher [German 1950–88].

Read more...

Carol Lynn Brassey ’74

June 1, 2020, in Boise, Idaho.

Born in Boise, Carol spent her summers in Placerville, Idaho, where her father owned a logging operation. She was student body president of her junior high school and graduated from Capital High School, where she edited the yearbook, was student body treasurer, and honed her skills on the debate team, which was her true love.

Read more...

Richard Eldon Blanchard ’56

September 4, 2020, in Oroville, Washington, from pulmonary fibrosis.

Richard was born in Tacoma, Washington, where he graduated from Lincoln High School. He attended Reed and the University of Puget Sound before concluding his education at the University of Washington Dental School. He practiced dentistry in Lakewood and East Wenatchee, Washington, and in Quesnel, British Columbia. He also served in the Army Reserve dental corps. He was married to Margaret Cluchey and they had two daughters, Jennifer and Anne Marie.

Read more...

Devon Belcher ’89

September 14, 2020, in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

With an irrepressible grin, rock-star mullet, and unrestrained enthusiasm for heavy metal, Devon cut an unforgettable figure from the moment he arrived on campus. “I still picture Devon as that gangly kid, in shorts and a Metallica tee, with middle-parted long blond glam-metal hair,” Sandeep Kaushik ’89 wrote in remembrance of their friendship at Reed. A knack for outrageous pronouncements made him a fixture of late-night debates in the SU, where classmates soon learned that beneath the headbanging exterior lurked a first-rate intellect. Devon majored in philosophy and wrote his thesis, “Time, Existence and Ontology: McTaggart’s Regress Argument and Some of Its Consequences for the Metaphysics of Time,” with Prof. Charles Cross [philosophy 1988–90]. After graduation he did a stint as a bartender and went on to earn a PhD from the University of Colorado, eventually becoming a professor at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he taught philosophy and humanities.

Read more...

Joshua Abraham Bell ’99

September 14, 2020, in Los Angeles, California; took his own life.

Joshua was a gifted filmmaker, director, musician, and lover of earth. He struggled with mental illness and substance abuse. As his family encouraged, “Let us remember his brilliance, his kindness, his talent, his laughter, his dimples, his style, his many contributions to the world, and above all, his beautiful soul.”

Read more...

Frances Hulse Boly ’44

November 2, 2020, in Portland, at the age of 100.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Frances moved to Portland with her parents and four sisters in 1937, fleeing hard economic times. This uprooting came on the threshold of her senior year, and while she was reluctant to leave Wichita, she was enchanted by the waterfalls cascading down the Gorge as they drove along the old Columbia River Highway. She made friends at Grant High School and was chosen as a senior to be Grant’s Rose Festival princess and then the 1938 Queen of Rosaria. The newspapers nicknamed her “the Dust Bowl Queen,” and Frances began a lifetime association with the festival. With equal parts loyalty and good-humored irony about her perennially recurring “royal” state, she even once served as the emergency stand-in grand marshal for the Grand Floral Parade.

Read more...

Harvey Bjornlie ’51

September 11, 2020, in Pacific Palisades, California.

Harvey was born in Great Falls, Montana, and attended Reed for two years before transferring to the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, he married Sheila Peterson of Great Falls, and they relocated to Santa Monica, where Harvey began his career with Douglas Aircraft. They spent weekends at sports car rallies and immersing themselves in the contemporary art and design culture of Los Angeles. In 1957, they moved to Pacific Palisades, where they raised their four children.

Harvey expressed himself creatively through photography, ceramics, and making sculpture from aerospace salvage. His love of art and the Southwest were combined in his passion for Navajo rugs. He spent most of his professional life at Douglas Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas in the area of multidisciplinary conceptual design. A highlight was working on the interior design of Skylab, the United States’ first space station. For that project, he moved his family to Florida, near the Kennedy Space Center, for one year. When that project completed, he returned to the West Coast, and following the 1973 downturn in the aerospace industry, he was laid off. An architect at heart, Harvey became a residential design-build contractor. When aerospace rebounded, he returned to McDonnell Douglas in Huntington Beach, commuting from Pacific Palisades until he retired in 1985.

Read more...

President Paul E. Bragdon [’71–88]

August 7, 2021, in Portland, of causes related to Alzheimer’s.

Paul E. Bragdon served as president of Reed for 17 years during some of the most tumultuous times of the college’s history.

Read more...

Lorene Schmidt Burman ’52

November 25, 2020, in Bangor Maine.

A Portland native, Lorene wrote her thesis, “An Illustrated and Printed Edition of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,” advised by Prof. Lloyd Reynolds [art and English 1929–69]. She was employed running craft shops for the U.S. Army in France, Germany, and Japan. During her work assignments, she traveled through Europe studying and photographing art and architecture and, for a time, attended art school in London. While working for the Army, she met and married her husband of 33 years, Lt. Col. Charles Burman. Together they traveled the world before settling in Coopers Mills, Maine, to raise their son.

Lorene worked as a bookbinder, calligrapher, and artist. She moved to Orrington, Maine, 20 years ago to be near family and is survived by her son, William Burman.

Bernard “Biff” Bueffel III ’66

January 15, 2021, in Portland.

Because he suffered from acute asthma as a child growing up in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, physicians encouraged Biff’s parents to move him to a drier climate. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Biff lived out his childhood and graduated from Sandia High School. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “A Non-Optic Photoresponse in Ariolimax Columbianus, the Banana Slug,” advised by Prof. G.F. Gwilliam [biology 1957–96].

He returned to New Mexico for medical school at the University of New Mexico and then completed his residency at the University of Arizona. Under the Berry Plan, Biff returned to the Pacific Northwest and served three years in the U.S. Navy on Whidbey Island as one of two physicians. There he met his wife, Elaine, and they married in 1975. Their love of the Northwest led to making Portland their home. Biff started a pediatric practice, where for 37 years he worked his passion for caring for children and families.

Read more...

William Bilderback ’61

May 19, 2020, in Portland, Oregon, at home.

The son of Dr. J.B. Bilderback, founder of Doernbecher Hospital for Children in Portland, Bill followed his older sister, Carolyn Bilderback ’38, to Reed. He was a student of Prof. Richard Jones [history 1941–86], who instilled in him a love of English history and history in general, sparking an affection for Reed that never waned. He wrote his thesis, “The Cotton Whigs of Massachusetts: A Conservative Reaction to the Slavery Crisis,” advised by Prof. David Tyack [education and history 1959–69].

Read more...

Estella Dee Cutler Brown ’52

April 1, 2019, in Eugene, Oregon, following a long struggle with asthma-related COPD.

Known as Dee at Reed, she married Richard Brown ’52 and wrote her thesis, “The Corps of Engineers in the Pacific Northwest, 1866-1890,” advised by Prof. Dorothy Johansen ’33 [history 1934–84]. Dee taught in elementary and middle schools and was an accomplished handweaver who was active in the Eugene Weavers’ Guild. She was passionate about organic gardening, woodworking, and art advocacy, but nothing was dearer to her than her family and friends. Survivors include her son, Brooks Brown ’83; daughter, Laura Coogan; and sister, LaRene Allen.

Barbara Frank Beach ’54

November 7, 2021, in British Columbia, Canada.

Raised in a brownstone in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Barbara grew up in a family that had a strong sense of social justice. She was surrounded by progressive thinkers, artists, and intellectuals, and as a young girl at City and Country School, she learned to make pottery and play guitar, beginning a lifelong love for making music. Summers were spent at the family cottage on White Oak Pond in New Hampshire. Her broad-minded, nontraditional upbringing led her to seek new ways of thinking and expanding her mind, and she met many wonderful people on her journey.

Read more...

Marianne Shipley Buchwalter ’45

February 17, 2022, in Portland.

Marianne was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1924. Four days after Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), a pogrom against Jews in November 1938, she left Nazi Germany with her parents and younger brother. Through a series of highly improbable circumstances, the family ended up in Portland. Years before, her uncle had exchanged his property in Germany for property in Portland owned by an Oregonian smitten by Hitler. Marianne’s father purchased a business that manufactured uniforms and she began a remarkably rich and fruitful new life. Many years later, she recalled her first 14 years of life in a memoir, Memories of a Berlin Childhood, that described how everyday life eroded in Berlin as the Nazis tightened their net.

Read more...

Nonny Frances Burack ’60

November 25, 2021, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Nonny attended Reed, the Columbia University School of General Studies, and Johns Hopkins University before earning a bachelor’s degree from Goddard College. She also earned a master’s degree in education at the University of Massachusetts. But her burning desire was to dance with Martha Graham, with whom she had trained. On November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated, Nonny was hit by a car in New York City, ending all hopes of a professional dancing career.

Still, she taught dance for more than 20 years; worked at The Massachusetts Review, a literary magazine; and was the coordinator of the Valley Peace Center, which for five and a half years opposed the Vietnam War and worked to reduce the power of the “military-industrial complex.” Nonny worked at the Mark Meadow Library, at all branches of the Jones Library, in the Town of Amherst’s clerk’s office, and as an election worker. For more than 30 years she was a guide at the Emily Dickinson Museum. She did freelance typing, proofreading, editing, and calligraphy, and had a keen appreciation for a fine ampersand.

Read more...

Kenton Black ’81

December 10, 2021, in Portland, from a heart attack.

Contributed by Bill Trost  ’90

Read more...

Prof. Doris Desclais Berkvam [French ’75­–’01]

January 27, 2022, in Paris,  France.

Professor Berkvam taught French at Reed for 26 years, from 1975 to 2001. A native of Paris, France, she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and at C.E.L.G. She got her master’s in French from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a PhD from Indiana University Bloomington.

A specialist in medieval French literature and society, she was the author of Enfance et maternité dans la littérature française des XIIe et XIIIe siècles (Librairie Honoré Champion, 1981). Prior to coming to Reed, Berkvam taught at École St. Marcel, in Paris and at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She had come to the United States after marrying an American, but when the couple divorced in 1979, she had to decide whether to stay in the U.S. or return to France. Everything seemed to indicate she should return home, and she tendered her resignation. But Reed President Paul Bragdon [1971–88] urged her to remain, and she agreed to stay because teaching was deeply important to her and she had a strong commitment to her students.

Read more...

Allan Blackman ’58

May 1, 2022, in Seattle, Washington.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Allan was the youngest of four children. The family lived above Blackman’s, the deli and ice cream store they ran that was famous all over Philly for the “Blackman dip,” the huge scoops of ice cream they served. After graduating from high school, Allan came to Reed, where he wrote his thesis, “An Investigation of Piaget’s Theory of the Development of the Concept of Right and Left in Children,” advised by Prof. Carol Creedon [psychology 1957–91]. He went on to earn a master’s degree in urban planning from UC Berkeley, where he served as president of the Berkeley Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

Read more...

Suzan Butler Mayer ’62

March 21, 2019, in Portland.

Born in Portland, Suzan graduated from Lincoln High School and entered Reed’s joint program with the Museum Art School.

“Everyone seemed way more sophisticated than I and had glamorous, famous parents,” she remembered of her days at Reed. “Nonetheless, I prefer having been challenged in all respects than to have slid through a conventional school. Why, I was amazed to find there was a theory of theories! Unsettling, richly strenuous and soulful, Reed made me what I am.”

Read more...

Rockwell Lanville (Chip) Brown III ’77

January 19, 2022, in Portland.

Chip was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Waukesha, Wisconsin. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “Rings of Real-Valued Continuous Functions,” advised by Prof. Hubert Chrestenson [math 1957–90]. He went on to earn a master’s degree in computer science engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked for various technology companies, including Tektronix, TSSI, Credence, and, in Portland, Maine, National Semiconductor.

His kind and gentle nature was exhibited throughout his life and in his volunteer work, including at the Regency Park Memory Care unit and at Lift UP, a local food pantry. Chip enjoyed reading, chess, astronomy, swimming, and tennis, as well as cross-country skiing, camping, and hiking. He is survived by Ana Marquez Brown ’78, his wife of 40 years; his son, Mark; his mother, Julia Ann Butler; and his sisters, Terry, Barbara, and Kathy.

Morris Bol ’58

June 28, 2022, in San Francisco, California.

Morris was born in Eindhoven, Netherlands, to Cornelis Bol, a physicist and inventor, and Josina den Haan, a chemist. In 1936, the family immigrated to Palo Alto, California. Morris was the fifth of six sons, all of whom predeceased him. He graduated from Palo Alto High School and then came to Reed, where he wrote his thesis, “A Study of the Negative Corona Gas Discharge Beads in Air,” advised by Prof. Jean Delord [physics 1950–88]. He received both a PhD in physics and an MD from Stanford University, where he was a Woodrow Wilson fellow.

Read more...

Gayle Rood Burnett ’59

October 3, 2022, in Portland, Oregon.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Gayle moved with her family to Portland, where she attended Lincoln High School and Reed. She married K. Philip Horine Jr., and they raised two children, Daniel and Annette. A devout Christian, Gayle was a longtime member of Cedar Mill Bible Church. She loved plants, was certified as a Master Gardener, and was known for her quick wit and infectious laugh. Gayle was preceded in death by her husband, Loy James Burnett, and son, Daniel Horine. She is survived by her daughter, Annette Coyle, and her sister, Peggy Horine.

Rae Galbraith Ballard ’48

a photo of Rae Galbraith Ballard

September 16, 2022, in Bend, Oregon.

CONTRIBUTED BY LAUREL BALLARD FISHKIN.

Read more...

Allen Davenport Bragdon ’52

January 25, 2023, in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

Allen was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and educated at the Putney School in Vermont. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “The Comic Vision of Christopher Fry,” advised by Prof. William Alderson [English 1943–64], and then went on to Harvard Business School for a year. He entered the U.S. Navy as an officer and was stationed in Naples, Italy, from 1955 to 1957, where he claimed to have survived attempts on his life by an organized crime syndicate that took umbrage at his inspection of goods shipped through the harbor.

Read more...

Ron Becker ’64

December 18, 2022, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Ron was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in Los Angeles. At Reed, he wrote his thesis, “An Examination of the Properties of the Dominant Characteristic Value of a Non-Negative Square Matrix,” advised by Prof. Burrowes Hunt [math 1953–77].

Read more...

Prof. Bertram G. Brehm Jr. [biology ’62–93]

March 21, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Bert Brehm, professor emeritus in biology, was someone with whom you couldn’t take just one class. Decades of students were hooked on his knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachings of biology, botany, and evolution. “Who could forget his lilting voice, his unforgettable lecture on why fig fruit is crunchy (pollinating insects inside!), the warmth of his home with Dorothy . . . and his kindness as we stressed over the senior thesis,” wrote student George Weiblen ’92.

Read more...

Raymond B. Baggs ’64

April 23, 2023, in Portland.

Ray, a loving husband and father of three, died at the age of 80. Born October 27, 1942, in San Mateo, California, Ray spent some childhood years there before his family moved to Virginia, where they purchased a small farm. After high school, he crossed the country to attend Reed, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, writing his thesis “Trace Metals in Normal and Neoplastic Tissue: Neutron Activation Analysis of Subcellular Components,” advised by Prof. John Thorpe [chemistry 1958–63]. During his time at Reed, Ray worked on the reactor, drove the Mount Hood ski bus, and met his future wife, Judith. Ray and Judith married on June 3, 1962, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. After graduation, the young couple spent a year in eastern Washington before moving to California.

Read more...

Abraham B. Bergman ’54

Flame-resistant sleepwear, poison-control packaging, and bicycle helmets are all safety measures that have saved countless children’s lives, thanks in part to Abraham “Abe” Bergman. The influential pediatrician and public health advocate dedicated his life to protecting children through medicine and policy reform.

Abe was born in Seattle and brought up with a strong sense of service, rooted in his family’s Jewish faith. “Worthwhile” was his family’s guiding principle—to do things that are worthwhile, like helping others. In 1950 he graduated from Garfield High School, then followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Elihu Bergman ’50, and attended Reed. Abe studied biology and wrote his thesis on metal radioisotopes in mouse melanoma with Prof. Alan M. MacEwan [biology 1951–55] advising. Abe would later tell people he went to Reed because he loved basketball, and it was the only place where he was good enough to play; for two years he was coach of the junior varsity team. His senior year, Abe performed in the chorus of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, an experience that made such an impact that Abe organized a multigenerational production as part of the 50th reunion for the class of ’54.

Read more...