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UWW | In Memoriam | People & projects

In Memoriam

Alumni

Winifred Hewitt Truex ’26, of Hendersonville, NC, died January 23. She had worked for the Hendersonville State Trust Co., Selective Service, and Barber’s Book Shop. Active in her church and hospital auxiliary, she also enjoyed the company of her many friends at local book and bridge clubs. She is survived by husband William, a son, a daughter, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Elisabeth Strong Knapp ’26 of Westlake, OH, died December 4; she was 100. An art major, she designed and created gold and silver jewelry. She especially enjoyed traveling throughout the US and Europe. She leaves two sons and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Charlotte Marshman Gowdy ’29 of Livingston, NY, died October 19, 1997. She was a physical education major. She is survived by two daughters, including Mary Goudy Lee ’62, and several grandchildren. Her husband, Carlyle, predeceased her.

Alberta Cox Kaminski ’31 of West Haven, CT, died August 8, 2003. An English major, she did graduate work in education at Harvard University. She is survived by two sons. Husband William predeceased her.

Leonore Silverman ’32 of Fayetteville, AR, died January 25. A business major, she earned a master’s in business education from Columbia Teachers College and was a retired teacher. She is survived by a brother, a niece, and a nephew.

Dorothea Townsend DesForges ’32 of Buffalo, NY, died November 18, 2005. She was a psychology major. Former executive director of the American Lung Association and a past executive secretary of the Saratoga County Health Association, she was also a longtime community volunteer. She leaves two sons; her husband, Van Vranken, predeceased her.

Irene Hicks ’33 of Wollaston, MA, died July 5, 2005. A psychology major, she completed her degree at Wellesley College. There are no known survivors.

Doris Nunn Boyd ’33 of Hackettstown, NJ, died October 21, 2001. An English literature major, she was a former librarian. She is survived by two daughters and a son; husband Walter predeceased her.

Harriette Holman Velie ’34 of Cambridge, MA, died February 10, 1994. Her husband, Charles, predeceased her; there are no known survivors.

Antoinette Jewell Stoneback ’34, whose death was noted in the winter Scope, died May 17, 2005, not October 27. Also, she was predeceased by her husband, Ira.

Margaret Wilkinson Lodge ’35 of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, died March 23. A phys-ed major who especially enjoyed golf, she also taught at Skidmore for a year in the 1930s. She is survived by niece Linda Shaw Carpenter ’64. Her husband, William, and sister Virginia Wilkinson Shaw ’31 predeceased her.

Elizabeth Hafley LaVeccia ’36 of Charlotte, NC, died December 23. She leaves three sons, a daughter, a sister, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Charlotte Sawyer Walker ’36 of Atlantic Beach, FL, died December 10. A secretarial science major, she worked for several financial companies before marrying. She is survived by two daughters and two sons. Husband George predeceased her.

Edith Shackelford Eddy ’36 of Edgemoor, SC, died August 7, 2005. A Latin major, she was secretary to George Foster Peabody, executive director of the Yaddo estate in Saratoga Springs, and volunteered for her church. She leaves two sons and a daughter; husband Karl predeceased her.

Mary O’Neill ’37 of Saratoga Springs, NY, died February 27. A French major, she also earned a BS in business from Skidmore in 1938. Employed for many years by the General Electric Company in Schenectady, she worked in the college registrar’s office from 1953 to 1977. She was an environmental advocate and a member of numerous civic organizations. She is survived by sister Claire O’Neill Moore ’49, two brothers, and 11 nieces and nephews.

Jean Grant Randall ’38 of Slingerlands, NY, died December 31. A nursing major, she earned a master’s from Columbia University and was supervisor of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. She remained in public health nursing for 30 years. Active in Planned Parenthood, she was also a former director of Meals on Wheels in Gloversville, NY. For Skidmore she was a Wide Horizons campaign volunteer and Reunion volunteer. She is survived by her son Grant and a grandson; husband Thomas predeceased her.

Elizabeth McClennan Trahan ’38 of Brandon, OR, died July 27, 2005. An English major, she founded Heartbeat, a military hospital auxiliary in the early 1980s, which provided furniture and other items to hospitals, as well as camcorders so that soldiers deployed to Iraq could have instant photos of their newborns. She is survived by a son and two daughters. Her husband, Paul, predeceased her.

Irma Newman Golden ’39 of Burlingame, CA, died March 8. A music major, she taught secondary school music in Hyde Park, NY, for many years and was an avid pianist. She is survived by a son.

Lois LaDow Hilton ’42 of Benton Harbor, MI, died October 26. She was a music major. She leaves two sons; her husband, George, predeceased her.

Bernice Cleaves Lovejoy ’43 of Centennial, CO, died February 21. A business major, she became a certified life-insurance underwriter for Connecticut Mutual Insurance Company. She was an accomplished runner and enjoyed international travel as well spending time with family at their Maine cottage. She is survived by three daughters, a son, and several grandchildren. Husband Fred predeceased her.

Marjorie Whalen Hartt ’43 of West Springfield, MA, died January 24. A psychology major, she owned and operated the Buckley Nursing and Retirement Home in Holyoke, MA. She is survived by three sons. She was predeceased by her husband, William.

Margaret Williams Page ’43 of Denver, CO, died January 7. A biology major, she earned an MSW from the University of Denver and was a longtime social worker for Denver Public Schools. She was an avid supporter of the Denver Museum and the University of Denver; for Skidmore she was a Wide Horizons and Reunion volunteer and established the Margaret Williams Page Endowment for Collaborative Research in Biology. She leaves a cousin, Georganne Hinchliff Eggers ’49.

Nancy MacGilpin Garrison ’44 of Worcester, MA, died February 26. A sociology major, she earned an MSW from Boston University. She worked for the Family Service Organization of Worcester prior to her marriage. A former trustee of the Bancroft School, she was active with the United Way, her church, and numerous historical and cultural societies in the Worcester area. She served Skidmore as a Wide Horizons campaign volunteer, class secretary, Reunion volunteer, and class agent; in 1989 she received the alumni association’s award for outstanding service. She is survived by three sons, daughter Susan Garrison Liming ’75, and several grandchildren. Her husband, George, predeceased her.

Edith DeMott Hutchinson ’44 of Newtown Square, PA, died February 21. A phys-ed major, she was a former program coordinator for the Girl Scouts, PR chair for a family counseling clinic, and a hospital auxiliary and Red Cross volunteer. She served Skidmore as a Reunion volunteer. She is survived by her husband, Dye, and a son.

Ruth Helund Goss ’44 of Kent, CT, died February 13. A political science major, she also studied at the New York School of Interior Design and ran her own interior design business. She is survived by husband John and a son.

Wilhelmina Sneve Starkey ’45 of Duluth, MN, died February 22. She leaves a daughter, three sons, sister-in-law Virginia Lintern Sneve ’45, nieces Virginia Sneve Patch ’67 and Katherine Sneve ’76, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by husband Howard.

Kathryn Horrie Salwitz ’46 of Wilmington, NC, died March 14. A sociology major, she did graduate work at NYU and worked in human resources for Maidenform, Western Gear, and the California Institute of Technology. She enjoyed tennis, golf, and crew. An advocate for women’s and minority issues, she was a member of the League of Women Voters and her church. She especially enjoyed international travel and sailing. She is survived by husband Richard, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Elizabeth Brown Deane ’46 of Marstons Mills, MA, died February 27, 2005. A clinical medical technology major, she finished her degree at Tufts University in 1947 and was a medical technologist for several internists. She is survived by two daughters. Her husband, Charles, predeceased her.

Harriet Camp Mason ’46 of Bay Shore, NY, died May 17, 2005. She was past president of the Bay Shore Library Club and the Long Island Federation of Women’s Clubs. She is survived by two sons, sister Cynthia Camp Hoyt ’43, and niece Marilyn Hoyt Brackett ’69. Husband Robert predeceased her.

Mary-Stewart Galloway Weiser ’48 of Tucson, AZ, died January 14. A nursing major, she ran Action Associates, an employment agency, with her husband. In addition to husband Richard, she leaves a son.

Carol Saurwein Sullivan ’51 of Worcester, MA, died January 3. She is survived by husband William, two daughters, and five grandchildren. Sister Winifred Saurwein Powell ’44 predeceased her.

Anita Ettenberg Cohen ’52 of Copake Falls, NY, died December 15. A music education major, she completed her degree at Boston University. She was a former program manager for corporate employment at Digital Equipment Corporation in Concord, MA. She is survived by two daughters and a son.

June Palmer Conant ’53 of Ocala, FL, died December 15. A nursing major, she was a retired personal nursing manager at Delta Education Inc., in Nashua, NH. She is survived by a son, a daughter, and niece Lauren Lee Southard ’81. Her husband, William, predeceased her.

Carolyn Jonker Harris ’53 of Brandon, VT, died December 23. A music major, she earned a master’s in nursing from Columbia University in 1958 and a master’s in education from the University of Vermont. A longtime school nurse, she later became director of medical-care regulations for the Vermont State Department of Public Health, retiring in 1986. She subsequently founded a health-care consultancy, Elder Solutions. A member of numerous professional societies, she authored several books and articles on health care, Medicare, and Medicaid. In 2005 she was honored by the American Health Care Association. An avid antiques dealer, she also enjoyed gardening. She leaves husband Martin, a daughter, and a sister.

Nancy Kingsland Headden ’55 of Friday Harbor, WA, died January 26. A home-economics major, she completed a degree at Connecticut College and was a kindergarten teacher in Westmere, NY. She is survived by husband William, three daughters, and four grandchildren.

Kay Gumbinner Bienen ’59 died May 31, 2005, of congestive heart failure. A psychology major, she earned a PhD from the University of Maryland. A former state legislative aid, she was executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. She was a well-known Democratic political activist and community volunteer. She is survived by two daughters.

Emily Karp ’63 of Bellmore, NY, died May 28, 2004. A chemistry major, she earned an MD from New York University School of Medicine in 1967. She also completed a master’s in health from NYU School of Public Administration in 1988. She was chief of ophthalmology at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. There are no known survivors.

Ruth Wildman Maynard ’67 of Boca Grande, FL, died March 14 of cancer. She was a widely respected municipal-credit analyst who started her career at Dun & Bradstreet, then became director of municipal research for E. F. Hutton, where she also handled Eurodollar analysis for Moody’s Investor Service. Most recently, she was managing consultant for Fitch Ratings’ public finance group. Former chair of Boston Municipal Analysts, she was a founding member and governor of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts. Ruth was an avid race-car driver and part-time instructor. She served Skidmore as a class agent, Reunion volunteer, and member of the Leadership Gifts Committee. She leaves no known survivors. Memorial contributions in Ruth’s memory can be sent to Skidmore’s advancement office for the Ann Wildman Scholarship Fund, a scholarship she endowed many years ago in honor of her mother.

Riant Rollock ’83 of New York, NY, died January 29. She is survived by her father.

Janet Christie-Oginz ’84 of Needham, MA, died May 27, 2005. A University Without Walls business major, she ran her own financial, tax, and business consulting firm, Oginz & Associates, in New Hampshire for 20 years. She was a founding member of North Shore Women in Business. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her dog. She is survived by husband Gregg and a daughter.

Jonathan Gilmour ’00 of Hollis, NH, died March 30 of pulmonary embolism. He had been living in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was studying animal behavior. A zookeeper at Zoo New England for five years, he won a national award in 2001, earning $20,000 for the zoo. He was planning to study dolphin behavior in the Greek Islands this summer. He is survived by his parents, a sister, a niece, and a nephew.

Zeynep Barnes ’02 of Camp Hill, PA, died March 18 from injuries sustained in an accident. An international relations major, she also played soccer and interned in China, where she became fluent in the Mandarin language. She was a master’s student studying risk analysis at Shippensburg University in Philadelphia. She especially enjoyed art and music. She is survived by her parents and a sister.

Faculty & Staff

Eleanor Huston died March 3 in Saratoga Springs, NY; she was 70. Former executive secretary to Skidmore’s secretary of the college, she moved to Saratoga Springs in 1966 when her husband, Doug, joined Skidmore’s department of chemistry and physics. In 1981 she began working at Skidmore for the assistant dean of student affairs; she also worked for the dean of faculty and the biology department before joining the office of the secretary of the college. She retired in 1992. Colleagues remember Huston’s good humor, thoughtfulness, and seemingly effortless manner of juggling a multitude of tasks. In the community she was active with her church and the Girl Scouts. She is survived by her husband, their daughters, five grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, two sisters, and a cousin.

Ruth Lakeway died February 15 at home in Greenfield Center, NY; she was 83. Professor emerita of music, she was recognized as an expert in the field of voice therapy. She joined the Skidmore faculty in 1957 and retired in 1988. An established concert artist when she came to Skidmore, she continued to appear frequently as a soloist with major orchestras and choral groups. With Fulbright and Danforth grants, Lakeway traveled to Italy to study lirica da camera, the Italian art song. She spent 12 summers researching the topic, even?eventually turning the research into a book. Italian Art Song” was also the topic of her 1978 Edwin M. Moseley Faculty Research Lecture. Lakeway served as musical director at her church, delivered meals for the Office for the Aging, and taught courses for the Academy of Learning in Retirement through Empire State College. She was also a literacy volunteer, a member of state and national music teachers associations, and a supporter of area cultural and arts organizations. Last fall the Saratoga Care Foundation named her to its Legacy Society. Former music chair Isabelle Williams says Lakeway’s home was “always open for department parties or to artists who needed a place to stay. She had a special generosity of spirit.” Lakeway was “the most supportive colleague I’ve ever met,” agrees music professor Chuck Joseph. “Student recitals, faculty colleagues, guest artists—through snow and sleet—she was always there.” Music department chair Tom Denny remarks that Lakeway “had a passion for the health of the voice and treated young voices so sensitively as a result.” Lakeway is survived by three cousins.

Edward Murray of Saratoga Springs died at home on February 22; he was 69. He was Skidmore’s supervisor of transportation and grounds from 1991 to 1998. A professional landscape gardener,Murray came to the college in his retirement and set about to transform the campus with gardens small and large. He also oversaw the maintenance of the college’s roads and parking lots. Jessie Oliver, a member of the grounds staff for 30 years, recalls Murray’s tenacity and willingness to do things the old-fashioned way. “The harder the landscape problem, the more Ed loved to try to solve it,” she says. “He grew everything from seed, and loved to make things grow. He was a great boss and was good at letting workers figure out ways to get the job done.” Oliver says Murray took special pride in having both a tomato plant and a rose bush named after him. Christopher Gregory ’94, a stonemason who worked for Murray at Skidmore and considered him a mentor, says he “transformed the campus landscape. But beyond that, his legacy is the men and women who have skills and a passion for working with their hands—because they worked with him.” In 1998 the college named the area south of Haupt Pond Murray Park. Murray is survived by his wife of 46 years, Margaret; two daughters; two sons; seven grandchildren; two brothers, two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

Charles Osborn died February 25; he was 53. A campus-safety sergeant and night-shift supervisor, he came to Skidmore in 2001. His was a familiar face to students, as he was always out on campus. “The safety of students was his priority, and he put their best interests first,” says campus safety director Dennis Conway. “Charlie was dedicated, worked hard, and always tried to do the right thing.” Osborn enjoyed woodworking and gardening. A hunter education instructor for the National Rifle Association, he also taught hunting safety for the 4H and was an advisor to its Saratoga County program. He enjoyed raising and showing pedigreed rabbits and for many years served as the registrar for the American Rabbit Breeders Association. Osborn was also a member of the Galway Fish and Game Club and Wanderers Car Club of Cooperstown, and a volunteer firefighter with the Malta Ridge department. Osborn leaves his wife, two children, five grandchildren, and an aunt.

Alberta Coseo Sharp of Saratoga Springs, NY, died April 26; she was 88. She came to Skidmore as a clerk in the admissions office in 1964. Two years later she began work in the office of the president, retiring as secretary to the president in 1982. Former provost David Marcell says Sharp was “a warm, gracious, and welcoming presence in the president’s office. She always had a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face.” Sharp was committed to her duties, according to former colleague Barbara Ryan. In 1971, when students took over President Palamountain’s office—to demand a greater presence of black and Puerto Rican students and faculty members—Sharp “refused to leave the office,” Ryan recalls. “She was respectful of the students, as they were of her, and they exchanged conversation.” Sharp and husband Andrew co-owned Sharp’s Cozy Cottages in Wilton, NY, for 60 years. She was active in her church and community, including the Dorothy Nolan and St. Peter’s Home School Associations, United Way, Boy Scouts, and Saratoga Hospital Guild. Predeceased by her husband in January, Sharp leaves two daughters (including Maureen, who worked for many years in the dean of special programs office), two sons, six grandchildren, a nephew, and several nieces, and cousins.