their light lives on

Kara died Jan. 31, 2024.

She attended the College as a graduate student and lived in Virginia.

Joe, an engineer who lived in Iran at the end of the shah’s reign, died June 1, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in engineering at the College and later served as a class officer and on the Reunion Committee. Married to the late Mary Teale Battin ’50, Joe worked in the engineering and construction industry with Bechtel Corp., retiring as senior vice president. The couple had two children, and in 1978, were living in Iran when the shah’s government fell. They eventually moved back to San Francisco before moving to Crosslands in Kennett Square, Pa., where Mary died in 2017.

Ruth, a business major who worked around the world, died April 7, 2025.

She attended the College, where she was a member of the synchronized swim team, and earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Rollins College, married Bob ’53, and spent 40 years in petroleum-related employment in Colombia, Venezuela, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, where she was a supply chain manager before they retired to Malaga, Spain. Upon Bob’s death in 2004, Ruth moved to Asheville, N.C., reuniting with daughter Kathleen and engaging in knitting, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles and word games.

Ken, a hall-of-fame journalist, died April 7, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in political science at the College and worked in television news in various states, before moving to Lexington, Ky., in 1975, where he was news director and vice president of news for WKYT until his retirement. Ken was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and served in journalism organizations, including as state chair for the Society of Professional Journalists Project Sunshine, which focused on freedom of information issues, and as president of the Associated Press Broadcasters of Kentucky, among others.

Dan, past member of the Board of Managers, died April 15, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in political science with Honors at the College where he was an RA, Senior Class President, and a member of the varsity tennis team, College Orchestra, Hamburg Show, Phoenix, and Book and Key Society. Dan, who earned a law degree at Yale University, was counsel at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and was married to the late Maxine Frank Singer ’52 with whom he had four children. As an alumnus, he was a member of the Board of Managers and Reunion Committee, among other volunteer positions.

Nancy, a lifelong horsewoman and dressage judge, died April 5, 2025.

She earned her bachelor’s in English literature at the College, where she met husband E. Paul Feldman ’53; received a master’s of social work at Simmons College; and was part of the family business, Bagel Day, until the couple retired in 2017. When the family moved to Maryland, Nancy pursued her passion for horses and horse training; volunteered on the Giles-Johnson Defense Committee; mentored young equestrians; was a leader in the Redland Hunt Pony Club; served as a dressage judge; and published Collective Marks.

Edith, an artist, archivist, and genealogist, died Feb. 18, 2025.

She attended the College where she met and later married the late Farouk Barakat ’55; the couple had two children; and in 2005, the couple chose to live full time in Minocqua, Wisc. Edith was a creative artist in knitting, jewelry and basket making, and quilting, and was represented by the Goode Gallery in Woodruff, Wisc. She was also the genealogist and archivist for her extended family, including stories of her father, an agricultural missionary in China, and was recognized during ceremonies at the Memorial Hall of
the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

Roger, a leading Tourette’s syndrome expert, died March 13, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in German at the College as well as an M.D. at Johns Hopkins University. In 1969, he accepted a position at the University of British Columbia serving, over time, as its clinical professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry. He was also the former clinical head of the neuropsychiatry clinic at Children’s Hospital. Roger was a member and former chair of the Professional Advisory Board of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada, and created a database to record the signs and symptoms of more than 7,500 individuals diagnosed with Tourette’s.

Jay, a bankruptcy attorney, died April 17, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College, where he was Phi Beta Kappa; a member of lacrosse, football, and wrestling teams; and received an All-American honorable mention. He earned an LL.B. at the University of Pennsylvania and worked for Fox Rothschild for over 60 years, leading its creditor’s rights group. Jay was on the Cheltenham Township Zoning Board, served as an election official, and was given the Philadelphia Bar Association’s service award for his pro bono work for Philadelphia’s Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project.

Sandy, a physician dedicated to public health, died March 25, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in biology at the College and an M.D. at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He worked at Harvard University’s Preventive and Social Medicine, Pediatrics, and Community Health, then moved on to the Boston University schools of medicine (pediatrics) and public health, and Boston City Hospital. He helped establish the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which also addressed the AIDS crisis. He retired in 1990; moved “off the grid” for a time; and was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church and Aging in Place.

Anne, an attorney and city planner, died May 31, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in political science at the College, a master’s in urban/city planning at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and an LL.D. from Cornell University. Anne worked as a city planner in New York before becoming an attorney and the city prosecutor in Ithaca, N.Y. She was also a hearing examiner, setting livable child support, and in later years, established a private law practice. She and her husband delved into city planning with social and economic justice in mind, among other activities.

Bernie, an athlete and humanities major, died May 8, 2025.

He attended the College, where he was a member of the varsity men’s track & field and football teams, and earned a bachelor’s in humanities at Claremont McKenna College. Bernie was married with four children and worked at Pacific Enterprises.

Ron, an economist and professor emeritus, died July 28, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics with Highest Honors at the College and was Phi Beta Kappa; received a master’s and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania; and taught for decades at the University of Ottawa, where he served as chair of the Department of Economics and became professor emeritus of economics. Ron contributed to the development and use of macroeconometric models; co-authored A History of Macroeconometric Model-Building; had widely cited research on windfall income and household consumption; and was a pioneer of the economics of gender issues.

Herb, a San Francisco psychiatrist, died June 22, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in psychology at the College, where he played varsity golf and lacrosse, and earned an M.D. at the University of Pittsburgh after serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Herb completed his residency in psychiatry at Mount Zion Hospital, served as a fellow in community psychiatry, and trained at the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute, becoming certified in both child and adult psychoanalysis. He taught at University of California–Berkeley and San Francisco, impacting the lives of patients and colleagues during his 57 years of clinical work.

Steve, a missionary in North Africa, died March 15, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in English literature at the College, where he worked at WSRN and was a member of Swarthmore Christian Fellowship, and received a master’s in sacred theology at the Dallas Theological Seminary. Steve was in missionary service for 35 years with North Africa Mission (later Arab World Ministries); studied the Arabic language; and served in Morocco, Tunisia, and France in radio production. After retirement, he cared for his late wife, Virginia “Dinny” Reeves Vishanoff ’59.

Bill, an authority in Soviet studies, died April 28, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in political science with Honors from the College, a master’s of political science at George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Russian history at Columbia University. While finishing his Ph.D., Bill started his 50-year-long career at the University of Michigan, where he established himself as an authority in Soviet studies, and received a Fulbright to study in Yugoslavia during the Cold War. After 10 books, visiting professorships at Stanford and Harvard universities, a dozen leadership positions, and 60 or so articles and chapters, he received a lifetime achievement award from the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies and took emeritus faculty status in 2007.

John, an attorney, community leader, and former Class Agent, died April 30, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in history at the College and law degree at the University of Pennsylvania; served as a JAG officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; worked at Dewey Ballantine law firm; and was general counsel to Hospital Affiliates International and HealthAmerica, retiring from the Bradley law firm in 2020. John served on the board of HutsonWood, which named an annual award after him. He also was chairman of the board of University School of Nashville, the Nashville Opera Association, and the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, and volunteered with the Nashville Bar Association.

Bob, a manufacturer’s agent, died June 12, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in economics and history at the College, where he played varsity football and lacrosse, was a member of Kappa Sigma and the Phoenix, and later served on the Reunion Committee. He married Ann Harper Heaton ’61, with whom he had three children; earned an MBA at the Wharton School; and was self-employed as a manufacturer’ agent for most of his career.

Tom, an attorney and lover of Delaware history, died June 4, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in engineering at the College, a bachelor’s in history at the University of Delaware, and an LL.B. at the University of Pennsylvania. Tom began his legal career with Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell before joining Wilmington Trust Company, where he was vice president and trust counsel for 31 years. He served on a number of Delaware Bar committees and was a longtime member of The Cathedral Church of Saint John and the Rotary Club of Wilmington.

Jon, a physicist and HAM radio operator, died May 24, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in physics with Highest Honors at the College and a master’s and Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University; was a lecturer at Tel Aviv University; and was a professor at the University of Minnesota before serving as a professor at the University of Chicago for 43 years. Jon was an expert in Standard Model and flavor physics and made many fundamental contributions to his field. He studied the Talmud and Torah at KAM Isaiah Israel, and enjoyed hiking in the mountains, fishing, and traveling.

Carl, an attorney and golfer, died May 20, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College, where he played lacrosse; received an LL.B. at Boston College Law School; married Judy Taylor Uehlein ’61; and joined the National Labor Relations Board in Atlanta before moving to Virginia and starting at Morgan Lewis & Bockius. Carl served at the Department of Labor as executive assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor and rejoined Morgan Lewis & Bockius as a partner until his retirement. Carl was an avid golfer and Red Sox fan.

Valerie, an international journalist and family historian, died June 10, 2025.

She attended the College, where she was a member of the Phoenix and the student government; earned a degree from the College of Staten Island; and was the general manager at WBAI-Pacifica Radio, NYC 99.5 FM for 10 years. Valerie covered a range of news stories in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Russia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean including work in Panama that was part of the Oscar-winning documentary The Panama Deception. Beyond the newsroom, she delved deeply into family history and genealogy.

Gail, who retired from the U.S. General Accounting Office, died Feb. 6, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in history with Honors at the College, where she was in Mortar Board and the Hamburg Show as well as being a member of the College Orchestra. Gail also earned a master’s in public administration and an A.B.D. in political science at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor and was a retired assistant director at the U.S. General Accounting Office.

Barbara, a landscape architect, died April 28, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in history with Honors at the College, where she was a member of the women’s varsity volleyball team and women’s swimming and volunteered with the Reunion Committee, and received a master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Barbara was the owner of Barbara Seymour Landscapes.

Janet, Vermont’s first ordained woman Episcopal priest, died April 5, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in English literature at the College, a master’s in teaching at Wesleyan University, and a master’s in psychology from Antioch University New England. She was a clinical psychologist in private practice for 29 years. In 1977, Janet became the second woman nationwide to be regularly ordained and the first in Vermont, serving parishes there for nearly 50 years, including at Grace Episcopal Church in Sheldon, retiring in 2023. She was integral to several Christian education programs, including Cursillo and the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont’s Rock Point summer conferences.

Will, a Phi Beta Kappa chemist, died April 18, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in chemistry with High Honors at the College, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and participated in mountaineering, and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Oregon. Will was a retired principal of Applied Biosystems and a retired consultant, and had received a National Institutes of Health fellowship, among other honors.

Lois, an Episcopal priest with a ministry of inclusivity, died May 5, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in English literature at the College and a degree at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Lois spent 35 years in Cali, Colombia, as part of the Harvard-MIT fellowship program, and hosted a radio show, directed musicals, and championed local artists. After ordination as an Episcopal priest in 2001, she served as chaplain at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate priest at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church in Miami.

Suzy, a school administrator and volunteer, died July 21, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College, where she met husband Bill Post ’61. She was a full-time volunteer to many organizations before beginning her career with the Rumson Country Day School in 1985, spending 46 years in many roles, including as the school’s first director of admissions, retiring in 2015 but serving on the board until 2020. She also served on boards for the Monmouth County Historical Association, the Women’s Exchange, and the Monmouth County Organization for Social Service.

Steve, a commercial loan broker and educational consultant, died May 25, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College and an MBA at the University of California–Berkeley. Steve worked in the field of banking and commercial credit analysis for many years, first as a bank lending officer, and later as a self-employed commercial loan broker, making commercial loans in the greater Philadelphia area. Steve and his second wife founded Bennett Educational Resources, a consulting firm they ran for 19 years before selling it to retire to York, Maine, and he wrote the book, The Organic Dividend Portfolio.

Stan, a psychotherapist and same-sex marriage advocate, died June 23, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in history at the College and a master’s in art therapy at Lesley University; was a licensed psychotherapist in private practice who co-founded BTR Psychotherapy; and was ordained to the diaconate in 2009 for the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. Stan was the lead plaintiff in 1999’s Baker v. Vermont, which gave same-sex couples the benefits and protections of marriage. He served the Episcopal Church in many ways, including as a member of the Commission on Ministry, a marriage committee and task force, and as a Safe Church coordinator.

Phil, a script doctor and professor, died Jan. 13, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in French at the College and a Ph.D. in film and motion picture at the University of Hong Kong. Moving to Australia in 1969, Phil worked as a documentary filmmaker with Film Australia, later moving with his wife to Hong Kong, where he was head of audio-visual at Hong Kong University and a script doctor. Then, he and his family moved back to Australia, where he taught at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton until retirement, during which he taught English as a second language.

Hall of Famer Mike, who had a 40-plus career in radio, died April 21, 2025.

He attended Swarthmore College, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and the Brown Institute of Broadcasting; spent four decades in radio, including play-by-play coverage of local sports; co-hosted a Marconi Award-winning morning show; and worked as director of news, sports, and sports marketing, among other positions. Mike was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters’ Association Hall of Fame; had the press box at Hobbs Ice Center renamed in his honor; and received numerous accolades, such as the Torchlight Award and the UPI National Award for Radio Sports Documentary.

Sally, an international banker and gymnast, died April 23, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in French at the College, a master’s in international affairs at Columbia University, and an MBA at Harvard University; was an international banker in many countries and spoke several languages; and worked at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, recruiting minority students. A talented gymnast, Sally went to Team USA Olympic trials and was the great-great-great-granddaughter of Merriam Webster dictionary founder, Charles Merriam, as well as being a lover of dogs.

Myrriah, a lover of Nepal and the viola, died Jan. 10, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in history with a minor in classics at the College and a master’s in instructional technology at San Francisco State University. Myrriah worked as a switcher with Burlington Northern Railways and later repaired computer systems for Digital Equipment Corp., with responsibility for the city’s fire department and general hospital. She traveled four continents, hiking and climbing along the way; and took joy in playing viola, in costume, and in the Chrysanthemum Ragtime Band, founded in the late ’70s to support lesbian and gay rights.

Steve, an engineer, musician, and athlete, died Feb. 17, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in engineering at the College, where he was a member of the orchestra, chorus, varsity squash, and tennis teams. He earned a master’s in computer science from the University of Colorado–Boulder and retired as senior principal engineer at HEI Advance Medical Division. Previous to that, he was senior principal engineer at RELA Inc.

Peggy, a physician and political and environmental activist, died April 3, 2024.

She earned a bachelor’s in biology at the College and an M.D. at Hahnemann University; served a residency at Underwood Memorial Hospital and MetroHealth; worked as a family physician at Clement Center in Cleveland; and later returned to Canada to practice at Regent Park Community Health Center in Toronto, retiring in 2015. Peggy was part of a group of volunteer native pollinator gardeners; repaired clothes in sashiko style to keep them from the landfill; and loved folk music and music festivals that featured old-time Appalachian music.

Donald, a scientist and nature lover, died Sept. 20, 2024.

He attended the College, received the Adamson Prize in Chemistry, and earned a bachelor’s in biology from Arizona State University and a master’s in zoology from the University of Maryland. A man of many interests, Donald found great joy in nature, gardening, and music as well as being an avid reader and passionate birder with a life list of birds.

Bob, a religion major and Buddhist, died Jan. 25, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in religion at the College, was self-employed, and ran for mayor of Halifax, Canada.

Bill, a defense contractor and volunteer, died June 20, 2025.

He attended the College; pursued advanced degrees in education from Georgian Court University, electronic engineering from Monmouth University, and mathematics from Stevens Institute of Technology; and spent much of his career as a defense contractor at NAIC, Mitre, Telos, and KPMG. After a 2007 move to Florida with his wife, Bill spent several years volunteering as an usher at the Sunrise Theatre and a docent at Art Mundo, both in Fort Pierce, and docent at Vero Museum of Art, Vero Beach.

Bill, the unofficial mayor of Swarthmore and a paleontologist, died Jan. 25, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in psychology from the College and was a graduate of Emerson College. Bill worked in the Swarthmore greenhouse; spent many years on dinosaur exhibits for natural science museums across the country; and worked for the Academy of Natural Sciences. A longtime resident of Swarthmore, gardening and dinosaurs were his passions.

Darrell, whose mission was to build communities and improve lives, died March 8, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College and a master’s in business at MIT Sloan School of Management. Darrell worked with AT&T, IBM, and Wang Laboratories; founded Frontier Research and Planning Associates; and established BCOG Planning and Development. He was the founder of the Prairie Avenue Revitalization Initiative, with a mission to attract multimillion-dollar investment in the lowest-income neighborhood of Providence, R.I. Darrell was a member of AME churches and volunteered at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institution.

Gary, an engineer and company executive, died April 12, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in economics and engineering at the College; was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society; and received an MBA from the Wharton School. Gary spent most of his career in the technology industry, including as chief executive officer of Inteligistics and an executive vice president for Speech Interface Design. Prior to retiring in 2023, he was one of Honeywell’s Legends of the Industry. He was a parishioner at St. Benedict Catholic Church and was involved at North Point Community Church.

Alan, a physicist and software engineer, died June 25, 2025.

He earned his bachelor’s in physics with Honors at the College and a master’s and Ph.D. in physics at the University of California–Los Angeles, eventually focusing on wave motion and its resonance in plasmas close to absolute zero, and publishing articles that had important applications to acoustics. Alan moved to the Bay Area in 1997 and worked as a software engineer for small- to medium-sized companies on mathematical modeling, biomedical applications, genomics, and security, before joining Juniper Networks, where he remained until retiring in 2020.

Janette, an attorney and athlete, died July 5, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in economics at the College and a J.D. from the University of Montana; was recognized as the national Moot Court Trial lawyer; and worked for law firms in Billings and Bozeman, Mont., before joining her father at Krutzfeldt & Jones. Janette was a member and president of Rotary, served on the Foster Care Board, delivered Meals on Wheels, and had a 20-year involvement with the local 4-H program. She also completed the 45-mile biking segment of the Peaks to Prairie competition and entered the Montana Triathlon.

Rhiana, a securities attorney in New York, died May 27, 2025.

She earned a bachelor’s in political science at the College and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Rhiana was former chief counsel in the Division of Special Federal Litigation of the New York City Legal Department, practiced for the Hon. Joan M. Azrack in the Eastern District of New York, was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, and was an attorney at Scott & Scott Attorneys at Law. Her practice focused on case development, including identifying, investigating, and initiating complex federal and state securities class actions.

Cooper, who overcame physical challenges and inspired others, died April 6, 2025.

He earned a bachelor’s in engineering at the College, where he was a member of the men’s lacrosse team while managing his Type 1 diabetes and playing on a prosthetic leg. Cooper went on to coach youth lacrosse and mentored players, some of whom went on to play Division I lacrosse. He was a project engineer at Sellen Construction and Venture General Contracting, where he specialized in the use of cutting-edge computer tools to facilitate and optimize the construction process. Cooper loved being part of a team, building something tangible, and seeing an empty tract of land change the Seattle skyline.