To submit an obituary, please e-mail bulletin@coloradocollege.edu or call (719) 389-6603. You may also submit an obituary at OurCC, the Colorado College online community, at ourcc.coloradocollege.edu.

1938

Agnes Sands Johnson, Sept. 12. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harrison Loesch ’36. Her children, Jeffrey ’68, Candace, and Willis Loesch, survive.

1939

Charles “Chuck” Melbuer, June 23, in Colorado Springs. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he worked at Blick’s Sporting Goods, which he eventually owned and managed for 28 years. An avid outdoorsman, Chuck enjoyed hunting, fishing, softball, basketball, and bowling. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Esther, and children Charles and Ginny.

1941

Hannah Stephens Dooley, May 5, in Montrose, Colo. Her husband, John ’39, predeceased her. Expert seamstress, costume designer, and painter. Survivors include sons Steve ’66 and John; daughters Martha Ratliff, Mary Kaylor, and Jane Fast; and niece Stephanie Clement ’66.

Wilber Hamilton Fulker, July 2, Boulder, Colo. Known as “Uncle Wilber” for Colorado Springs’ Acacia Park fountain that bears his name, he applied creativity and innovation to many endeavors, including photography, bird-house building, fabricating unusual mechanical devices, teaching the blind, and heading the Blind School at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. He also co-authored a book with his wife, Mary, on his invention, learning aids for the blind. Survivors include sons David, Thomas, and Douglas; and a daughter, Hedi Lauffer.
A daughter, Sylvia, and his wife predeceased him.

1943

Marian Brittingham Lynn, Sept. 10. Survivors include her children, David, James, and Clark.

1944

Kenneth Whitehill Geddes Jr., Sept. 12. His children, Brian, William, and Ann, survive.

Mildred Jean Martin St. Denis, July 29, in Durango, Colo. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from CC and became an avocado rancher and founder with her husband George of El Plantio Nursery in Escondido, Calif., where they lived for 53 years. Survivors include two daughters, Gena and Cheri.

1945

Carl Roger Liljestrom, July 17, in Laguna Beach, Calif. He pledged Sigma Chi Fraternity at CC, then served in
the Navy. He practiced law and traveled the world to play golf. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth, and sons Brent and John.

Mary Evelyn McCarty Ross, July 5, in Colorado Springs. She sang in a trio that entertained troops during World War II and sang solo with Bing Crosby at The Broadmoor hotel. At CC, she met her husband, Thomas Wynne Ross ’44, who died in 2005. Mary worked in the CC art department and in the library at the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies. She became a founder of the Bank at Broadmoor and the Broadmoor Agency. Survivors include her children, Margaret Ross Couper ’94 and Thomas; granddaughter Emily Ross Holmes ’01; and nephew Thomas Wolf. Her brother, James Ray McCarty Jr. ’48, predeceased her.

1946

Robert “Bob” Pearson Hall, May 30, in San Mateo, Calif. A Stanford University football player, Bob attended CC during World War II for Naval officer training. He called signals on the football team as an end, as part of the only untied, ranked, undefeated CC team ever. While at CC, Bob was selected as second-team All-American for the 1943 season. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and a son, Robert. Son Stephen predeceased him.

Marcia Purinton Newman, March 13, in Grand Junction, Colo. Homemaker, 46-year hospital volunteer, 45-year member of a book club. She is survived by her husband, Bill; and children Bryan, Kathryn Hawthorne, and Christine Yarbrough.

1948

F. Clinton Howard Jr., June 21, Reno, Nev. An accountant for Gannett Newspapers until his retirement in 1977. A Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War. After military service, he returned to CC to finish his degree in business administration. At CC, he met his wife of 63 years, Beverly Geiger Howard ’48. He sent CC a birthday card every year on Feb. 4, the college’s founding. He was an accountant for Speidel Newspapers Inc. Sons Fred, Bob, and Tim also survive. Preceding him in death was his brother, Harry ’45.

Eathen Emil Miller, Aug. 20, of Wells Fargo, N.D. At CC, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and men’s basketball team. Survivors include his children, Pamela Sandborg, Debra Maruska, Rebecca Henderson, and Shaun.

Ann “Katherine” Neudorfer Helt, June 22, in Manhattan. Wife, mother, teacher, community volunteer. Survivors include two daughters, Laura Davey and Ruth; and two sons, Robert and John. Her husband and a son, Gary Owen, predeceased her.

Jane Wilson Whitney, May 11. Survivors include her husband, George Winston Whitney ’48, and a daughter, Pamela.

1950

Dr. Douglas Payson Gregory, July 15, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He served as a Navy medic in World War II, then practiced psychiatry until he was 80. Known for his wit, humor, and compassion, Doug was a competitive swimmer, diver, and Olympic hopeful, continuing to dive into his 70s. He was predeceased by his wife, Gertrude Gress Gregory ’52. He is survived by his wife, Cassandra, and children Dale Gregory Marich ’77, Scott, and Steven.

1951

Sally Organ Hughes, Aug. 28, in Burr Ridge, Ill. Survivors include daughters Patty Hughes Eagar ’74, Mary Grace Hess, and Cary Hughes Finucane; nieces Sally Davis Parsons ’73 and Lisa Davis Sexton ’74; nephews Tad Davis ’71 and Chris Davis ’76. Her sister, Pat Davis Fox ’49, predeceased her. She was a devoted and active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority throughout her adult life.

1953

Kenneth Williams Kohler, July 5, in Amarillo, Texas. At CC, he was head cheerleader and president of Sigma Chi fraternity. He served in the Army during the Korean War, then owned Kenneth’s Menswear. He served on the mission field for three years with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and in 1961 was elected to the Texas legislature. He owned Flying Inc. flight school for 10 years. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Joan; and children Kimberly, Kyle Ann Poland, Kenneth and Jeff Emmerich, and Theresa Clark.

1954

Susan John, Aug. 8, in Milwaukee, Wis. She was involved in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Susan loved art and
was always sketching her cats, painting landscapes, and sculpting. Survivors include many relatives and friends.

1955

Dereth “Derry” Cowles Godar, June 18, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A Delta Gamma sorority member, Derry met her husband, Ron ’54, at CC and they married in 1956. After her three children were school age, she worked 15 years as assistant director of a local school, then 13 years as admissions director for a large retirement home in Santa Barbara. In addition to her husband, she is survived by children Karrie Roth, Kate Seifert, and Parke.

1956

Mario Loyd Acord, May 20, in Tucson, Ariz. A trust fund has been established: The Mario L. Acord Scholarship Fund Class of 1956. He was a Legacy Society and Barnes Society member. An avid cross-country and downhill skier, mountain biker, and artist, Mario was close friends of Daniel and Lois Krizak, who survive.

1957

James Arthur Mock, Aug. 20.

Stella Marie Schmittner, June 5. She graduated from CC cum laude with a degree in zoology. She was a Barnes Society member.

1959

Jack Clayborn Mason, May 25, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was a math teacher, coach, and counselor at junior high schools, before becoming vice president of Craddock Development Co. Jack also owned and operated several small businesses. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Charlotte; his son, Stephen; daughter-in-law Lauren Deavy Mason ’90; and brother Robert Joe Mason ’56. Son John-Alex, Jack’s favorite musician, died in October.

John Allen Thompson, July 3, in Colorado Springs. He served in the Navy, worked at Heartland Payment Solutions, and was active at First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Shirley, and daughters Lori Negron and Lisa Marie.

1962

Abdul Aziz Abdul Ghani, Aug. 22, in Saudi Arabia, from injuries suffered in a June assassination attempt on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Aziz was a Yemeni politician who served as prime minister and vice president of the Yemen Arab Republic. He studied political science at CC and acknowledged Professor Fred Sonderman as an important influence. He was a member of CC’s Presidential International Advisory Board. Survivors include his wife, Aceya Hamza.

Alexander Cooke Johnson, Sept. 3. Survivors include his son, Andrew, and daughter, Heather Johnson Justice.

1964

Fred Wasson McKee, April 1, in Indianapolis. He was chairman of the board of the Hendricks County Bank and Trust Co. and president of McKee Realty Corp. A fourth-generation Indianapolis resident, Fred was the grandson and great-grandson of Indianapolis mayors. Survivors include his widow, Susan, son David and daughter Elizabeth ’00.

Susan Bailey Wright, Aug. 8, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Short in stature, Susan loomed large in the lives of those who knew her as a active supporter of culture, arts, and diversity. She earned a math degree from CC, became a computer information systems analyst, opened a remodeling business, and advocated for racially mixed relationships.

1966

Dorothy “Dottie” Davis Selby, July 13, Edgewood, Wash. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from CC and developed lifelong friends in her Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She earned a master’s in library science at the University of Washington and served in the Peace Corps in Tunisia. Survivors include her husband of 43 years, John; and children Ian and Theresa Cutler.

1967

Elizabeth H. Roorbach, June 15, in Santa Fe, N.M. A Radcliffe graduate, she also earned a master’s degree from CC in physics. She worked at various careers, including research in physiology at Harvard Biological Lab and Lovelace Foundation in Albuquerque, N.M., commercial photography, and teaching. She was designated as a “Santa Fe Living Treasure” in 2007.

1968

Peter Morse, Aug. 19, in Lagos, Nigeria, while playing squash. He was the 2008 U.S. national squash champion for the 60-plus age group. A soccer player at CC, he continued to play worldwide and coached in the U.S. and overseas at the junior and adult levels. He held a doctorate of mathematics and double masters in mathematics and math education. He taught geophysicists technical skills to locate oil reserves. Survivors include wife Melissa; children Perrin, Meroe, and David. His former spouse, Barbara Fingar Morse-Quinn ’70, also survives.

1969

Richard Steadman Hambleton Jr., July 20, in California. A graduate of the New York Institute of Finance, he was a partner with Hoffman, Vance & Worthington and crewed on five Transpacific Yacht Club races to Tahiti and Hawaii. Survivors include his wife, Carol, and children Katherine Movalson and Rush.

1972

Gustave LeRoy Mundt, June 6, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He retired from the Air Force in 1967 as a Chief Master Sergeant and began working at CC, retiring in 1988. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Maxine; six children; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

1974

Mia Christine Vye, June 8, in Salisbury, Md. A member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she worked in college admissions, taught high school, and became executive assistant to the president at Salisbury University.

1975

J. Michael Egan, June 18, in a bicycle accident while on vacation in Norway. He was president and chief executive of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, a nonprofit orthopedic research and educational organization at the Vail Valley Medical Center in Colorado. Survivors include daughter Kristen, son Tim, and seven brothers and sisters, including, Tim ’77.

1988

Ruth Dianne McElroy Jones, April 19, in Bonaire, Ga. She worked five years for McCall’s Taste To Remember and was a consultant for Premiere Design Jewelry. Survivors include her husband, Lt. Col. Andrew Jones and sons David and Bryan.

1990

Frank Drake Stanley, July 25. He worked at the Ricks Center for Gifted Children in Denver and the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs.

2010

Evan Spirito, Nov. 2, at home surrounded by his family and friends, following a three-year struggle with lung cancer. A lifelong resident of Providence, R.I., he was the beloved son of Anthony and Susan Spirito.  He majored in economics and played football and lacrosse. Following his graduation from college, he remained in Colorado working as a ski instructor at Vail. Evan loved team sports and spending his summers with his cousins at his grandmother’s home in Mattapoisett, Mass. Besides his parents, he leaves a sister: Mia Spirito and his longtime girlfriend, Anne Fallon, both of Providence, R.I. He also leaves his grandmothers: Nancy Baybutt of Mattapoisett and Ernestine Spirito of Hillside, N.J.; aunts (Dawn, Jamie, Mary Lou, Sue, and Kathy), uncles (John, Michael, Tim, and Fred), and cousins (Britta, Celia, Brad, Tom, Andy, Will, Gabriella, and Sam).

Friends

Robert Wilson Broughton, who served as Colorado College vice president and business manager from 1958 to 1984,
died October 25, at the age of 94.

Kenneth Burnley, July 2, in Alaska, following complications from surgery. He served on the CC Board of Trustees in 1997–98, and was superintendent of Colorado Springs School District 11 for 13 years. Survivors include his wife, Eileen.

Eileen Carle, June 20, Colorado Springs. She and her sweetheart, Jerry, came to Colorado Springs in 1957, when Jerry was offered the head football coaching position at CC. She was her husband’s No. 1 fan and a member of the Woman’s Educational Society and the Tiger Pride Club. Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Jerry; son Dave ’72; and daughters Jan and Judy MAT ’81.

Susan Jarzyna, Sept. 2. Mother of Sawyer Jarzyna Connelly ’14.

David Roeder, July 25. Faculty emerita and father of Bryan ’95.

 

Closures

– �A CC hangout for decades, Giuseppe’s closed its doors on
Oct. 24, 2011. For 56 years, CC students frequented the classic restaurant, which had its beginnings in the old Rex Hotel on South Cascade, where it became known for its 3.2 beer, garlic bread, and Reuben sandwiches. When the college food service didn’t serve dinner on Sundays, Giuseppe’s stepped up to
feed hungry students.