’36
Vanessa Morgan Reid raised a family with her husband Clifford in Los Angeles, then went on to work for the California Department of Health. She died July 28 at age 105.
’42
Leanna Allen worked for the War Production Board and then the Civilian Production Administration until she married in 1948 and became an Air Force wife and mother of two. She died March 19, 2018, at age 97.
’43
Clara Mae “Cam” Abell Harmston, part of Delta Gamma at CC, established a restaurant and motel in Roosevelt, Utah, with her late husband, Gordon Harmston ’40. She also regularly volunteered, often in the schools of her six children. Cam died July 1 at age 97.
Harold “Hal” Webster served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After settling with his family in Idaho, he worked as a marketing manager for Mountain Bell Telephone Company for more than 30 years. He died May 31 in his Fort Benton, Montana, home at age 99.
’44
David Rolland Conkey, a World War II veteran, was Minnesota’s oldest and longest-credentialed mechanical engineer and oldest and longest-credentialed structural engineer at the time of his death. He led Conkey and Associates Inc., and was a 67-year Rotary Club member. He died June 14 at age 96. Survivors include son David Wilcox Conkey ’77.
Penelope “Penny” Ann Corya M.A.T. ’70, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, studied dance with Hanya Holm and became a dance instructor. She also was a proofreader for Curtis Publishing in Philadelphia and taught elementary school. Penny died July 19, 11 days shy of her 96th birthday, and is survived by her son, Fred Siebelts, and daughter, Wendy Simmons Taylor.
’45
Grant Powell, a U.S. Marine in both World War II and the Korean War, performed international management consulting at Louis A. Allen Associates and then at his own business, The Powell Group. He also had various civic engagements in his home state of California. Grant died July 4 at age 97.
’48
Herbert “Herb” Beattie H. ’76 sang in the New York City Opera and worldwide. He also taught voice at the college level, including 23 years at Hofstra University in New York. He died Aug. 25 at age 93. Among the five children he had with his former wife, Elma “Kitty” Musetta Feltner Beattie ’48, are Cameron Beattie ’89 and Dawn Beattie Maloney ’81.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, John “Jack” Thomas Farrington went into education, eventually becoming principal of South Junior High School in Colorado Springs. He was 94 when he died May 24.
’49
Cecilia “Sheila” Evans Clement was an accomplished hook rug artist and a mother of three. She died July 20 in Manhattan, Kansas, at age 91.
’50
Theodore “Ted” Baird was a captain in the U.S. Army before practicing family medicine in Long Beach, California, and Caldwell, Idaho, over the course of four-plus decades. He died July 17 in Meridian, Idaho, at age 90.
Ruth Dowdell died July 27 at age 91.
Edward “Ed” Kohlmeier was a Marine before CC, then became a fighter pilot in the Air Defense Command afterward. Ed served during the Korean and Vietnam wars, ascended to the rank of colonel, and went on to command Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. After military retirement, he worked as a real estate broker. Ed died March 9 at age 90.
Corwin “Moke” Mokler spent 17 years as a professor in the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy before he retired in 1984. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Margaret “Peggy” Costello Mokler ’52.
Cynthia Milton Weber passed away May 1 at age 90.
’51
Evelyn Guenther Helmer died June 30 at age 90. Those preceding her in death include her brother, Hans Guenther ’48.
’52
For more than 40 years, Robert Oscar “Bob” Clark worked with Farmers Insurance Group, retiring as a manager in the Los Angeles home office. He also ran a catering operation in Colorado Springs and was an accomplished public speaker. Bob died April 4 in Colorado Springs at age 88.
Susan “Sue” Schlessman Duncan supported and volunteered for such organizations as the YMCA, Iliff School of Theology, and Gamma Phi Beta sorority, as well as Colorado College, where she was a trustee emerita. She died June 1 in Denver, just days before her 89th birthday. Among her survivors is son Michael “Mick” Fredericks ’76.
Chester Johnson earned a master’s from the Yale University School of Public Health before setting up a shop for antique clock repair in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died July 19 in Santa Fe, at age 92.
Evi Mayer Levin was a piano prodigy and classically trained singer who became known for her lifelong devotion to her husband, renowned violinist Walter Levin. In his heyday, she served as Walter’s agent and also as unofficial record-keeper for his LaSalle Quartet. Evi died Aug. 11 in Hyde Park, Illinois, at age 96.
’53
Richard Donahue served in the U.S. Army and worked as chief assessment officer for the Peace Corps as well as a research director for Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. Later, Richard became a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland and a clinical psychologist in private practice. He always was involved in jazz. Predeceased by his wife, Kathryn Chehak Donahue ’53, he died Aug. 23 in Colorado Springs at age 88.
Nancy Winters Jordan raised three children and worked as a tutor, proofreader, editor, and census taker in Denver. She was 87 when she died June 5.
’54
Beverly Byrd Willingham, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, was a homemaker, volunteer, and painter before becoming an elementary teacher in Amarillo, Texas. She died Aug. 19 at age 87.
’55
Edmund Ferdinand “Fred” Ficek passed away Sept. 13 at age 86.
Todd Sermon built and operated a Holiday Inn in Laramie, Wyoming; owned bars in Laramie and Fort Collins, Colorado; worked as a rancher; sold insurance; and was ordained as an Episcopal priest. He was also active in Democratic politics. He died Aug. 21 in Laramie, at age 86.
’56
Beth Harwood Applegate worked as a teacher and a secretary at an Army post before buying and operating a trailer park in Sutherlin, Oregon, with her husband, Bill. She also wrote and sold short stories and poems. Beth died July 26 in Roseburg, Oregon, at age 102.
David “Dave” Brown, an athletics standout at CC, earned the rank of captain in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He was employed by Conoco for 30 years before retiring as marketing manager, and also worked with Coldwell Banker as a Realtor. He was 86 when he died on July 8.
Bernard “Bernie” Royal, who played hockey at CC, spent most of his career with Kramer Tractor in Saskatchewan. He died May 30 at age 85.
’57
Michael “Mike” Taggart taught English at the K-12 level and English literature at Ventura (California) College. In his 60s, he won a senior national doubles title in tennis. Mike died July 27 in Michigan at age 88. Survivors include daughter Rebecca Taggart ’83.
’58
Claudette Brignall Brown, who was living in Pinetop, Arizona, died Nov. 28, 2018 at age 83.
Donovan “Don” Allan Wishart, captain of CC’s 1957 national championship hockey team, built an engineering career in Saskatchewan. His life’s work included saving the “sinking” West Wing of the Saskatchewan Legislature building in 1981. Don was also mayor of the town of Balgonie for five years. He died July 16 at age 85.
’60
Tom Hilb started Aspen Skiwear in 1963 and served as chairman and CEO until 1980. He held the same titles at Hang Ten, a surf apparel company, and later was a partner in Ocean Pacific as well as president and CEO of Op Children’s Wear and Op Images. With his wife and business partner, Susan Gerard Hilb ’63, Tom was an active philanthropist. Susan survives Tom, who died Aug. 28 at age 81.
George Keck Powell, son of George Merle Powell ’27, spent 26 years as a trauma surgeon in the U.S. Army, where he eventually served as surgical consultant to the surgeon general. He also worked with NASA on ocean recoveries for Apollo and Skylab, held associate clinical professor positions at four medical schools, and directed surgical residency programs in Texas and Georgia. He died Aug. 20 at age 80.
’61
Thomas “Tom” Price founded Commonwealth Electric Company of the Midwest and was a professor at the University of Nebraska, in the College of Engineering. He died June 27 at age 80.
’63
James “Jim” Cotton served as an Army captain in the Vietnam War before getting his law degree and going to work for IBM. He retired as corporate staff counsel and was the first African American retiree from the company’s Law Department. Later, Jim taught at Texas Southern. He died Sept. 11 at age 79.
Carol Hurst Haenni taught English at the high school and college levels, and was a member of the board of directors of Tallahassee (Florida) Community College. She and her husband opened their home to a Vietnamese family, exchange students, and foster children. She died July 6 at age 86. Rod Haenni ’73 is one of two children who survive Carol.
Jay Heminway founded and operated Green & Red Vineyard on the eastern edge of Napa Valley, California, where he became renowned for his Zinfandel wines. He died June 5 in St. Helena, California, at age 79.
David Williams worked for Boeing before becoming a carpenter and contractor. He and his family lived for more than 40 years in Fairbanks, Alaska, while often sailing in warmer locales. He died Feb. 6 at age 79. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Toxby Williams ’62.
’64
Alfred “Freddy” King founded Sportsman’s Edge, Ltd. Gallery and King Gallery, both in New York City. He was a lifelong member of the Leash Club in New York City and of the Fishers Island Rod and Gun Club. He died June 2 at age 77.
Marcia Dentan Reed twice earned Teacher of the Year awards in Colorado’s Boulder Valley School District. She was also a professional ski instructor at Vail Resorts and belonged to Daughters of the American Revolution, Phi Delta Kappa International, and Professional Ski Instructors of America. She died May 9 at age 78.
William “Bill” Stanisich worked as a credit finance analyst for more than three decades. He passed away July 7 at age 76.
’65
Erin Smith Colcannon worked in public education, then enrolled at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, where she became class valedictorian. She offered pastoral care in a variety of settings for the rest of her life, which ended July 7 at age 76.
Frederick “Rick” Davis Jr., a member of Beta Theta Pi, was a car dealer in Massachusetts and Vermont. Among other civic endeavors, he helped establish the Lions Club in Shelburne, Vermont. He died July 16 in Shelburne at age 76.
Theodore “Ted” Ellis taught economics, statistics, and computer science at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, where he worked from 1967 to 2005. He died July 27 at age 78.
Peter Michael “Mick” Ramsey worked for Flexible Steel Lacing Company in Chicago, where he rose through the ranks to become president, CEO, and chairman of the board. He was married to Virginia “Genie” Ziegler Ramsey ’68 for 52 years before he passed away April 13 in Sonoma, California, at age 75. Children surviving Mick include daughter Jill Elizabeth Ramsey ’94 and son Brian Patrick Ramsey ’91.
’67
Known as the “impromptu satirist” of the inaugural CC senior women’s honor hall, Haskell House, Linda Garrelts Bredeson passed away Aug. 26 at age 74 in Minneapolis. She is survived by her beloved children, Kate and Andrew. Linda worked as an editor, loved travel, and was active with numerous CC reunions, including zoology major celebrations and the Class of 1967’s 50th convocation.
While earning a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Oregon University, John del Regato invented a groundbreaking system to teach mathematics to the blind via sound. He later taught at the high school and college levels and created both the Pentathlon Institute and the Mathematics Pentathlon Games. He was 94 when he died Feb. 20, 2018.
’71
Jed Appelman was a clinical psychologist and also worked in Silicon Valley during its early days. His last employ was at Kaiser Permanente, supporting research in strokes and other conditions that he himself had faced during many of his 70 years. He died Feb. 26, in Berkeley, California.
’73
Sarah Andrews Brown was a geologist and the writer of 11 mystery novels. A longtime resident of Graton, California, she passed away in a July 24 accident in Chadron, Nebraska, at age 68.
R. Stewart Phelps, an avid skier and family man, died June 15 in London at age 68.
’80
Jo Ann Salazar earned a double master’s degree in law and librarianship from the University of Denver and received honors for a longtime career as librarian for the Colorado State Bar Association. In 1995, the American Business Women’s Association named her one of America’s “Top Ten Business Women.” She died May 17 in Denver at age 65.
’81
Megan Edmunds worked with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority before taking over a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging energy-efficient homebuilding in Colorado. She later transitioned to freelancing, personal projects, and travel. Megan died May 30, less than a month shy of her 60th birthday.
’82
Douglas “Doug” Robert Johnson capped a career in economics by founding and serving as managing director of Catapult Growth Partners in Denver. He was 58 when he died on July 31. Among those surviving Doug is his wife, Kristin Henkle Johnson ’82.
Timothy “Tim” Trumble, an Eagle Scout, dedicated his working life to Leanin’ Tree Greeting Cards, a family business. He died July 21 in Longmont, Colorado, at age 59.
’83
Catharyn Butler-Turner died April 1 at age 85. Kimberley Turner ’84 is one of her seven surviving children.
’90
Kenneth “Kenny” Crochet built a career in Internet technology. He spent 12 years as director of database systems for PGi, which creates and develops collaborative video conferencing and virtual communication services. He died Aug. 3 in Aspen, Colorado, at age 50.
’93
Nicholas “Nick” Mystrom played professionally in the Canadian Football League and developed property in Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, and his hometown of Anchorage, Alaska. He also engaged in philanthropy, helping create an annual event in Denver that generated more than 30 full-ride scholarships to Colorado State University. He died Sept. 25 at age 48.
’94
David Fowler worked as a database architect focusing on telecommunications up and down the Front Range of Colorado, most recently with CenturyLink. He was also involved with Akita rescue. He died May 28 at age 51.