Marriages, Births & In Memoriam

Marriages and unions

Jon Berenson ’85 and Carolyn VanMetre ’86 when they were students

Jon Berenson ’85 and Carolyn VanMetre ’86 first met in biology lab in 1984. Click the image to read their Colgate Love Story.

(2013 unless otherwise noted)

Theodore H. Kendall Jr. ’59 and May Modica, August 24

Donald Rathbone ’60 and Lawrence Hilty Eddie Miller ’76 and Linda Garverick, November 29

Teresa Skalyo ’89 and Philip Epstein, October 27

Travis Leach ’94 and Lindsay Barnett ’97, October 19

Michael Boorman ’95 and Lindsay Anne Allen, July 13

David Wininger ’02 and Amanda Smith ’05, July 21

Jason Smith ’07 and Alli Shirley ’08, August 17

Jeremy Stein ’07 and Jamie Goldstein, November 9

Gretchen Swarr ’07 and Joseph Saulnier, September 14


Births and adoptions

(2013 unless otherwise noted)

To Arlene Lewis ’94: Naomi Rose, September 16

To Tamara Simon ’94 and Stephen John Nemeth IV: Daschel Simon, March 4, joining Gabriel Finn

To Jay ’98 and Danielle Rodriguez ’98 Afragola: Lilith Audrey Mariana, November 26, joining Avery and Madeline

To Josh and Jill Axelrod ’99 Linder: Ryan Jacob, April 13, joining Anna

To Matt Cosman ’01 and Emily: Sarah “Sadie” Grace, October 3, joining William and Abigail

To Dan ’05 and Elizabeth Wolyniak ’05 DiCesare: James Anthony, November 26

To Steve ’07 and Jennifer White ’05 Koehler: Peter Lukas, December 12

To David ’05 and Rebecca Sacks-Oppenheim ’06 Perlman: Andrew Jason, November 8


In memoriam

The Scene runs deceased notices on all alumni, current and former faculty members, honorary degree recipients, and staff members and others who the editors determine would be well known to alumni.

Arthur S. Rasi ’43, September 28, 2013. Theta Chi, indoor track, soccer, wrestling. University of Pennsylvania: DDS, 1945. He had a long career as a self-employed dentist. He is survived by his wife, Emily, and 2 children.

August J. Jandorek ’45, September 15, 2013. Alpha Tau Omega, swimming, tennis. US Air Force. He had a long sales career with companies including Deering Milliken and Co, Inc, and Burlington House Fabrics. He was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite. He is survived by 2 sons.

Kenneth B. Tate ’45, November 13, 2013. Kappa Delta Rho. St. John’s University: BS, 1946. University of Pennsylvania: MA, 1948. He was employed by Pfizer for 25 years in the microbiology lab, working with antibiotics, before joining the Robert F. Jones Real Estate Agency. He co-purchased Quanaduck Cove Golf Course (CT) and became a developer, creating a living community. He is survived by his wife, Grace, 2 children, a grandson, 2 nieces, and a nephew.

John J. Scollay ’47, MA’47, October 14, 2013. Maroon-News, Debate Society, class editor. US Marine Corps, World War II, Korean War. He was the senior VP of marketing for the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency. After his retirement, he taught at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ann; 2 daughters and sons-in-law; and a cousin.

Willard H. Coryell ’48, October 19, 2013. Theta Chi, cheerleading. He had a long career at Liberty Mutual Life Insurance Co. He is survived by his wife, Marion, a daughter, 4 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. He is predeceased by 2 sons.

Lester W. Rice Jr. ’48, August 23, 2013. Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Beta Kappa, Konosioni, Maroon Key, baseball, basketball, student government. He had a long career with Mobil Oil Corporation. He is predeceased by his wife, Sally. He is survived by 3 children.

W. Hampton Smith ’48, September 12, 2013. Delta Kappa Epsilon, hockey, indoor track. US Army, WWII. He held many positions throughout his career, including as a registered representative at various securities businesses and as a sales associate at Century 21 Accord Realty. He is survived by 6 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Robert G. Russell ’49, January 2, 2014. Lambda Chi Alpha. US Army Air Corp. University of Alaska: BS, 1956. University of Oregon: MS, 1962. As an exploration geologist specializing in precious and industrial minerals, his career took him to Canada, Panama, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines as well as most of the western United States until 1993. He retired in Coeur d’Alene where he had made his home since 1977. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia. He is survived by a son, a daughter, 3 grandsons, and 2 granddaughters.

Peter J. Haughwout ’50, October 12, 2013. Delta Upsilon, Maroon-News, Masque and Triangle, chorus, indoor track, cross country. T. Jefferson Medical School: MD, 1962. He was an otolaryngologist and practiced in Mountain View, Calif., before moving to Brunswick, Maine, in 1975. He is survived by his wife, Marianne, 5 children, and 5 grandchildren.

Otto J. Mertz ’50, October 23, 2013. US Military, World War II. Harvard University: MEd, 1952. Columbia University: MS, 1959. He spent 27 years with New York State in statewide and regional planning and retired in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Ursula, his daughter, Linda ’86, a grandson, and a brother.

Thomas E. Thumser ’50, December 31, 2013. Lambda Chi Alpha, Salmagundi, Maroon-News, student government, class president, Alumni Corporation Board, Maroon Citation. He had a successful business career with Procter & Gamble, W.R. Grace, and later real estate management. He was predeceased by his son Bruce and his brother Dick ’50. He is survived by a daughter, a son, several grandchildren, brother John (Harry) ’54, and numerous nephews and nieces, including Carolyn ’83 and Elaine ’87.

John M. Donovan ’52, December 24, 2013. Theta Chi, football, Maroon Citation, Wm. Brian Little Award, James B. Colgate Society, Presidents’ Club. US Navy, Korean Conflict. New York University: MBA, 1957. His career began at Crucible Steel (Pittsburgh), and he went on to take a position at Mellon Bank. Several years later, he joined Lehman Brothers as a municipal salesperson. In 1970, he joined Salomon Brothers Municipal Sales and Trading Department, where he served as a sales manager and was made a partner in 1979. He later left the sales and trading group to head-up the Municipal Finance Department, which he ran until 1987. He completed his career at Dean Witter Reynolds, where he worked until his retirement in 1992. Twice, he provided the resources to renovate Donovan’s Pub on campus — named in memory of his parents. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patti; 2 sons; a daughter; and 5 grandchildren.

Henry T. Kelley ’52, November 5, 2013. Delta Upsilon, Konosioni, Maroon Key, International Relations Council, football, track, student government. US Army. He began his career in sales before going to work as a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch in Boston. He later moved with his family to Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H., where they owned and operated Bon Air Lodges for 32 years. He was also a real estate broker at Kendall Real Estate. He is survived by his wife, Margo, a sister, 4 children, 7 grandchildren, brother-in-law Phil Sanford ’49, and niece Liz Sanford ’84.

David S. Perry ’56, November 7, 2013. Phi Delta Theta, Athletic Hall of Honor, Maroon-News, Maroon Council, Maroon Key, Konosioni, WRCU-FM, chorus, indoor track. US Air Force. He had a career of management positions at New York Telephone Co. and Verizon. He is survived by his son, cousin Lisa Sommer ’91, a sister, 2 nephews, and a niece.

John A. Regan ’56, September 12, 2013. Lambda Chi Alpha, Masque and Triangle, WRCU-FM. He was the owner of John Regan Audiovisual Productions. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline.

William O. Schmeh ’59, July 6, 2013. Delta Upsilon, Washington, D.C., Study Group, International Relations Council, football. He had a long career as a sales manager at companies such as Union Carbide Industrial Gases Inc. and Liquid Carbonic Industries Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Sandra, 3 children, and his brother, Al Schmeh ’68.

Raymond D. Baker ’61, November 7, 2013. Lambda Chi Alpha, Outing Club, International Relations Council. He worked for many years at the Dryden (N.Y.) Agway Store, and later at the Suburban Shopper and the Ithaca Journal. He is survived by 4 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Richard J. Berleth ’63, October 12, 2013. Lambda Chi Alpha, Maroon-News, student government. Rutgers University: MA, 1966; PhD, 1971. He had a long career in communications, and held marketing management positions at Time Inc., McGraw-Hill, Simon & Schuster, and Dun & Bradstreet. In 1986 he began his career as a professor at St. Francis College, where he helped design the advertising and public relations path of the communication arts department. He is survived by his wife, Emily, and 2 daughters, including Hanna ’05.

Donald R. Schumacher ’65, September 13, 2013. Tau Kappa Epsilon, London Economics Study Group, International Relations Council, Outing Club. Radford University: MPS, 2001. George Washington University: JD. He was an attorney and a psychotherapist. He is survived by his wife, Edith, and his daughter, Erin.

Barry B. Staum ’66, November 10, 2013. WRCU-FM, baseball. University of Pennsylvania: PhD, 1970; MD, 1973. He practiced as an emergency physician for more than 30 years and was medical director of the emergency department at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. He was also CEO of Janzen, Johnson, and Rockwell. He is survived by his wife, Linda, 2 children, and a grandson.

Ross M. Shepard ’68, October 20, 2013. Delta Kappa Epsilon, indoor track, student government. Ohio State College of Law: JD, 1971. He began his career as a Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) lawyer at Lane Legal County Aid in 1971 before starting a private law practice. He was also a founder of the Lane County Public Defender Office in Eugene and a founding member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He is survived by his fiancée, Peggy Lazarus, a son, a granddaughter, and 2 step-grandsons.

Francis J. Melena MA’73, November 20, 2013. US Army. He taught American history in the Oneida City School (N.Y.) system and was a guidance counselor for 30 years. He also served as the president of Oneida Teachers Association and president and VP of Madison County Guidance Association. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, 2 daughters, a son, and 3 grandchildren.

Douglas P. Leinen ’74, November 13, 2013. Phi Kappa Tau, marching band, jazz ensemble, physics club. Dartmouth College: MBA, 1976. He worked for the DuPont Company for 18 years before founding his own business, BeneLein Technologies. He is survived by his wife, Laura, 2 children, a granddaughter, and his nephew Bill ’06.

W. Steven Lincoln III ’78, October 5, 2013. Delta Upsilon. He had a long career in municipal bond sales. He was predeceased by his grandfather S. Walter Lincoln ’28. He is survived by his son, mother, and brother.

Amy L. Stevens ’79, May 9, 2013. Raiderettes, WRCU-FM. She had a long career in fashion merchandise planning and worked for such companies as Bloomingdale’s, Ralph Lauren, Calypso, Custo Barcelona, and Marimekko. She is survived by her husband, Matthew Rudansky, 3 sons, including Ruben Leavitt ’08, her parents, and a sister.

Ralph M. Aten ’80, September 29, 2013. Wrestling. University of Washington: MS; PhD. He worked as a research chemist for the DuPont Company for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, Andri Elia, a son, his parents, 2 brothers, and a sister.

Elan Melamid ’84, December 17, 2013. Phi Gamma Delta, India Study Group. Pardee Rand Graduate School: PhD. An adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, he also served as division chief of adoption services for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and as the associate commissioner of research and program development in the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. In addition, he taught courses at California State University, Northridge, and ran a real estate development firm. He is survived by his wife, Amy, his mother, and his sister.

Valerie M. Baruch ’88, September 26, 2013. Phi Beta Kappa, Maroon-News. University of Pennsylvania: JD 1991. She was an attorney and associate at Kirkpatrick and Lockhart. She is survived by her husband, Terry Fry ’88, 2 daughters, a son, and her parents.

Robert L. Hathaway, professor of the humanities and professor of romance languages and literature emeritus, December 19, 2013. He taught at Colgate from 1964–1994, chaired his department, and served as secretary to the faculty as well as 2 terms as director of the humanities division. In 1989, he became the first Harrington and Shirley Drake Professor of the humanities. Instrumental in creating Colgate’s Spanish Study Group to Granada in 1970, he led the group 4 times. His books, articles, and reviews were published in Mexico, Spain, and England as well as in the United States. His wife, Phyllis, predeceased him in 1997. He is survived by his stepdaughter and her family.

Oswald A. Honkalehto, professor of economics emeritus, December 29, 2013. Joining Colgate in 1962, he taught courses in macroeconomics, statistics, econometrics, and the department’s honors seminar, which he originated. He was also responsible for developing the mathematical economics concentration, led the London Economics Study Group on 8 occasions, and was the first faculty member to add the study of the European Common Market to the London study experience. He retired in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Corinne; their 2 daughters; a sister; a brother; and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.