their light lives on
Psychologist Pat, who loved elephants and cats, died Aug. 17, 2022.
She graduated from UPenn in 1956, pursued post-graduate studies at Swarthmore, earned a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Cornell, and later studied at the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago. Pat had a varied career, teaching child psychology at the former College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn., working with chemically dependent teens, and practicing as a psychotherapist.
David, a civil engineer, died March 23, 2022.
He attended the College but earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Penn State, served in the Navy Reserves, and was the president of Broscious Building Center (formerly Broscious Lumber Co.). David was a member of Sunbury, Pa., Bible Church and Gideons International, president of the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers, and a volunteer at JAARS in North Carolina.
Morgan, who completed the New York City Marathon at ages 58 and 60, died Aug. 17, 2021.
He enlisted in the Navy during World War II, then attended midshipman’s school at Swarthmore and graduated from Lehigh University. He worked in the garment industry, owning his own fashion business, and joined National Spinning Co., retaining the title of chairman emeritus until his death. Morgan served in many volunteer leadership positions including with Beth Israel/Continuum (now Mount Sinai Hospital) in New York.
LeRoy, an athlete and engineer, died Oct. 31, 2021.
He attended the College and the University of Colorado, and while at Swarthmore was a member of the varsity swimming, track & field, basketball, and soccer teams, as well as participating in the Peaslee Debate Society and the College Orchestra. LeRoy retired as a design engineer for the Pima County, Arizona, Department of Transportation.
Sam, a human resources professional, died Dec. 20, 2021.
He attended both Juniata and Swarthmore colleges prior to his enlistment in the Navy, ultimately graduating from Juniata; worked in human resources at Fischer & Porter Co. for three decades, retiring as national marketing manager; and returned to work in human resources and sales for North Penn Transfer and Keenan Motors and later with several firms in Asheville, N.C. Sam was active in the YMCA as president of the West Bucks County, Pa., chapter; he also participated in church organizations and the Kiwanis Club.
Helen, a writer and artist, died Jan. 5, 2021.
At the College, she was editor of the Halcyon, a member of the junior varsity tennis team and participated in intramural swimming. She earned a bachelor’s degree in film and movie production at the University of Southern California in 1947. She was married to mathematician Hans Lewy, with whom she had a son.
Faith, who was a missionary, volunteer, and knitter, died Jan. 16, 2022.
She attended Swarthmore and, with her husband, Ellis, was a missionary in Brazil for 20 years. They then served at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater, Fla., where he was senior pastor. Faith taught music at Head Start for 35 years, volunteered at the Good Shepherd Center and Meals on Wheels, and knitted sweaters for migrant children until she “retired” at 103.
Attorney Robert, who worked for the utility industry, died May 26, 2021.
He graduated from the College with High Honors in political science and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa, the Phoenix staff, and the College Chorus. He earned a law degree at Harvard and was retired associate general counsel for Edison International.
Barbara, who loved to read, play bridge, golf, and garden, died Sept. 26, 2022.
She graduated from Swarthmore, where she met her first husband, John B. Ferguson ’41, with whom she raised a family. John died in 2002; she married Ralph Young in 2007. Barbara was active in community work over her lifetime, including at the Jenkintown, Pa., Day Nursery, a local garden club, and White Horse Village in Newtown Square, Pa.
Margaret, one of only two women in her Yale law school class, died Oct. 9, 2022.
After Swarthmore, she earned a law degree from Yale and spent the bulk of her career working as a dean at New York Law School and later at St. John’s University School of Law. Margaret was an avid supporter of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, played competitive croquet in Florida, and was a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, where she served on the international visitor’s committee.
Margaret, a physical therapist, died Dec. 16, 2021.
A retired physical therapist, Margaret lived in Tucson, Ariz. She married Mario in 1947 after serving as his physical therapist at an Army hospital.
Ira, a gifted educator and lawyer who served on the College’s Board of Managers 1978–89, died Oct. 18, 2022.
He was a founding partner of Wender, Murase & White and assistant director of the International Program in Taxation at Harvard Law School; served in corporate leadership; and concluded his career at the law firm Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler. In addition to the College, Ira served on many other nonprofit boards, including the American Near East Refugee Association, the MIT Whitehead Institute, and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Bob, a compassionate psychiatrist, died Sept. 15, 2022.
He attended Swarthmore and then UPenn, where he studied medicine and psychiatry, followed by a long career at psychiatric institutions such as Norristown, Pa., State Hospital as well as in private practice. Bob was an avid gardener, a voracious reader, a lover of classical music, and a member of Beth Israel synagogue in Media, Pa.
faculty & staff
Joanne M. Bramley, administrative assistant in the Psychology Department for 25 years, died Aug. 23, 2022. She was 82.
LaDeva Davis, on the music/dance faculty, died Sept. 8, 2022. She was 78.
Claudia Fagioli, who worked in College dining services, died Aug. 15, 2022. She was 94.
Curtis A. Lauber, who was a men’s soccer coach from 1985–93 and a fundraiser for the College, died July 24, 2022. He was 77.
Alva M. Solomon, engineering professor, died Aug. 24, 2022. She was 88.
Mildred E. Thomas, food service manager, died Sept. 14, 2022. She was 87.
Harriet, an opera lover and community volunteer, died Sept. 7, 2022.
She attended Swarthmore and graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was a member of the Psi Chi honorary psychology fraternity and Delta Gamma sorority. She worked as a customer service consultant for the Wisconsin Telephone Co. before marrying and raising four children. Harriet was a volunteer Braillist and Mobile Meals driver, a fundraiser for several charitable organizations, and a member and past president of the Attic Angel Association.
Alice, who was part of a World War II prisoner exchange after her parents, Presbyterian missionaries in China, were captured by the Japanese, died Oct. 20, 2022.
At the College, she was a member of the Folk Dance Club and Drama Board, and participated in outing/mountaineering, among other activities. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1951, married, and had four children. Alice loved good conversations, good books, and casual walks among the plants and trees with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jean, mother and volunteer and lifelong advocate for those in need and social justice, died July 19, 2022.
At Swarthmore, she met and married Francis “Nick” ’48, with whom she raised six children. Over the years, Jean’s volunteer work included teaching and tutoring low-income children, helping immigrants learn English, supporting families of prisoners, writing newspaper articles about local activism/community initiatives, serving on numerous committees, and authoring a number of books, including her autobiography.
Ben, a teacher, academic, and environmentalist, died July 25, 2022.
He enlisted in the Marines in 1943, graduated from Swarthmore, and earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Columbia and the University of Maryland, respectively. He had an academic career that took him all over the U.S. and world, and was working at Florida State when he retired. Ben was also an environmentalist, helped found the Mathematical Competition in Modeling to inspire young problem-solvers, and created a man-and-nature series to raise awareness for earth ethics.
Don, a professor, mentor, and inveterate do-it-yourselfer, died Sept. 6, 2022.
After Swarthmore, he earned a master’s and Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard, and joined the psychology department at Brown University, ultimately becoming Edgar J. Marston Professor Emeritus. He studied visual perception in animals, served twice as chair of the psychology department, and was one of the founding editors of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Don sang bass with the Providence, R.I., Singers for 25 years and was an artist member of the Providence Art Club, among other activities.
Chris, who flew a biplane cross-country to attend a World War II reunion, died July 29, 2022.
He attended Colgate University before serving in the Army Air Force in southern Italy. At Swarthmore, he earned an engineering degree and the McCabe Engineering Award, was class president, and an All-American soccer captain. After earning an MBA from Wharton, Chris had a long business career and was also involved with Friends meetings, tennis, youth soccer, and local planning commissions.
Gwynne, a chemist, volunteer, and mother, died Sept. 1, 2022.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the College and, following her marriage, worked at Tracerlab in Cambridge, Mass., for several years. After retirement, Gwynne and her husband moved to Hopkinton, N.H., where she volunteered at the library and at a local thrift shop and was active in the League of Women Voters.
Irwin, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of California–Davis School of Medicine, died Aug. 25, 2022.
He graduated from Brooklyn College, then received a master’s in psychology from Swarthmore and a medical degree from NYU. Irwin began his research career at the National Institutes of Health and was later a professor and researcher at several medical schools and the VA, making contributions to neuroscience through approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications and his theory that schizophrenia might be related to an abnormality in the pruning of brain synapses during adolescence.
Barbara, a lifelong reader and music lover, died Nov. 11, 2022.
Graduating with an economics degree, she married George ’50, raised two children, and worked for Hollander, Cohen & Associates as a marketing research analyst. In 1985, the couple retired to Chestertown, Md., where Barbara chaired the board of Kent County Public Library. After George’s death, she moved to Durango, Colo., to be closer to family, and was involved with the Durango Friends of the Library and the San Juan Symphony.
Anne, an educator and College volleyball player, died Aug. 2, 2022.
A retired reading specialist for the Waterville, Maine, public schools, she graduated from the College with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and was a member of the varsity volleyball team and the College Chorus. She attended Claremont, Calif., Graduate School and earned a master’s of education from the University of Maine–Orono.
Ronald, a leading figure in the field of international economics, died September 27, 2022.
Ronald earned his Ph.D. at MIT before joining the faculty at the University of Rochester, where he worked for 58 years and played a key role in building the economics department. He authored 180 scholarly articles and several books.
Helen, a nurse and nature lover, died Aug. 12, 2021.
She attended Swarthmore and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University, later becoming a licensed practical nurse. Helen was a woman of deep faith who had a lifelong love of the natural world.
Paul, whose travels in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia influenced his aesthetic and politics, died Jan. 3, 2021.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Swarthmore and a master’s in city planning from UPenn, he did post-graduate work at the London School of Economics and University of Stockholm, and joined the Naval Reserve. Paul was executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission, then moved to California, where he was involved in various online businesses including solar panels, Herbalife, and real estate. He was deeply committed to liberal causes.
Higher education administrator
Jane, who worked New York Times crossword puzzles in ink, died Aug. 27, 2022.
After graduating from Swarthmore and pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University, she worked at the American Council of Education in Washington, D.C. Jane joined SUNY System Administration’s Office of Long Range Planning in 1969, retiring in 1995 as director of Archives and Records Management. She traveled widely and loved sports, especially tennis at Wimbledon, and was a longtime patron of the American Ballet Theatre.
Ellin, a fundraiser, editor, mother, and minister’s wife, died Nov. 8, 2022.
After graduating with a degree in art history, she worked in public relations at Curtis Publishing Co. and Fidelity Bank of Philadelphia. Upon his ordination, she moved with her husband, John, to Pittsburgh. Ellin led fundraising for the local public television station, edited the monthly Diocesan Church News, and was involved with the Church Periodical Club.
Carol, Class of ’53 secretary for nearly 20 years, died Aug. 10, 2022.
After graduation from the College, she married John ’54, raised three daughters in Darien, Conn., where she was involved in political and social services. She was an active member and later president of the Darien League of Women Voters. In 1988, Carol earned a master’s in urban planning from NYU and worked as a planner for Stamford, Conn., until her retirement. She enjoyed gardening, swimming, sailing, and kayaking.
Phyllis, an icon at Swarthmore, died September 26, 2022.
Phyllis worked in the Dean’s Office, Admissions Office, and as the synchronized swimming coach. She met her husband, Richard L. Raymond ’51, on the steps of Parrish Hall, and three of their four children attended Swarthmore. Daughter Jean Raymond Tierno ’81 works in the Theater Department.
Lee, a Quaker, teacher, and foster parent, died Aug. 3, 2022.
After earning her bachelor’s degree at Swarthmore, she studied at Western Reserve University in Ohio, the University of New Hampshire, and the old New Hampshire State Teachers College. She worked in early childhood education, taught elementary school, and was a Girl Scout leader. After marrying, she moved to Center Sandwich, N.H., raised her biological and foster children, and entered politics, running for state offices.
Fran, a dog lover and knitter whose baking specialties were apple pie and carrot cake, died Sept. 19, 2022.
At Swarthmore, she graduated with a degree in economics and met her husband, William ’53. They celebrated 68 years of marriage and had four children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Fran, who volunteered in her community, was an avid traveler, a tennis player, and a fan of the Giants, Yankees, and UConn.
Chuck, an engineer and home inspector, died Oct. 20, 2022.
He attended the College and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from North Carolina State University, as well as attending Cornell University and the U.S. Naval Academy. He served in the Navy and Army. Chuck had a career as a civil/structural engineer and a second career as a home inspector.
Elizabeth, an early childhood teacher and founder of a scoliosis association, died Oct. 4, 2022.
She attended the College, earned her bachelor’s degree from Barnard and a master’s in education at Harvard. An avid hiker, Elizabeth was vice president of the Nassau, N.Y., Hiking and Outdoor Club, a volunteer at the Muttontown Preserve nature center, founder of an international scoliosis association, and honoree with her husband for their support of the Roslyn, N.Y., Synagogue.
Joanna, a social worker, parent, and traveler, died May 30, 2022.
After earning her bachelor’s degree at the College, she went on to receive a master’s of social work at Portland, Ore., State University and a law degree from Lewis and Clark College. She retired from a career in social work with Kaiser medical centers. Joanna enjoyed traveling, attending social events at the Multnomah Athletic Club, and going to the symphony and plays.
Will, who loved music and history, died Sept. 14, 2022.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at Swarthmore, served in the Marine Corps for two years, then earned a graduate degree in Germany and completed his Ph.D. in history at the University of Washington. He later earned a master’s of library science at University of Missouri. Will served on the board of the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs, was a founding member of American Battlefield Trust, and published books about his father’s World War II service and other biographies.
Joe, a stockbroker who served on many charitable, civic and community boards, died Nov. 24, 2022.
After attending Swarthmore, he served in the Army and graduated from UPenn in 1961. He had a 53-year career as a stockbroker, beginning with Butcher & Sherrerd and retiring from RBC Dain Rauscher in 2007. Joe was chairman of the Ralston Center board and served on the boards of the Ralston/Mercy-Douglas House, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Community Development Corp., and the Merion Cricket Club.
Ben, an engineer and physicist who loved boating on Lake Ontario, died Sept. 5, 2022.
After graduating from Swarthmore, he earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Princeton and a Ph.D. from Cornell in engineering physics. Ben led the group that invented the first tunable, continuous-wave dye laser at Eastman Kodak, retiring for the first time in 1991. He then joined the National Science Foundation, becoming the agency representative to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, retiring again in 1999. When he retired for the final time, in 2014, he was the corporate secretary of the American Institute of Physics.
Janet, a teacher, dog lover, and musician, died Oct. 11, 2022.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science at Swarthmore, where she was a member of the archery team and football pep band, and met her husband, Gene ’54. She earned a teaching certificate at Millersville, Pa., College and taught fourth grade until the birth of her first child. Janet was a member of the Merion, Pa., Musical Society and played with the Merion Concert Band, Lower Merion Symphony, and Marple Newtown Music Alumni band.
Tennis player Mike, who got lost hiking and survived five days in the wilderness, died Nov. 5, 2022.
He graduated with a chemistry degree, served in the Army in Germany, earned a law degree at Ohio Northern University, and worked at the U.S. Patent Office as a primary examiner in the chemistry division. After he was rescued in the wilderness on a Colorado vacation, he and wife Louise became deeply involved in their D.C.-area Episcopal church and Mike eventually became a priest.
Frank, a golfer and computer programmer, died May 27, 2021.
At the College, he was a member of the varsity golf team.
Orthopedist Jack, who traveled the Intracoastal Waterway from Maryland to Florida, died Nov. 5, 2022.
He graduated from medical school at Temple University, served in the U.S. Army; and, with another physician in 1972 opened Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, Pa., which offered the first joint replacement surgery in the area. He was chief of orthopedics and chief of staff at Lancaster General Hospital, inducted into the McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame, honored by the Lancaster County Tennis Hall of Fame, and installed in Lancaster General Hospital’s Societas Generalis.
Pat, a mathematics professor, organic gardener, activist, and author, died Nov. 20, 2022.
After graduating with Honors from Swarthmore, she earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from UPenn and taught math at Montclair, N.J., State University. Pat was a founding member of the Association for Women in Mathematics; published eight books and numerous articles, including on how women and racial minorities thrive in math classes and careers; and was politically active, such as participating in a weekly vigil against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
John, a counselor and advocate for women and children, died Sept. 8, 2022.
At Swarthmore, he was a member of the wrestling team. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology at Columbia University and worked in counseling at the VA hospitals in Montrose, N.Y., and Basking Ridge, N.J. He moved to Florida, and then to Walhalla, S.C., where he was instrumental in the opening of the town’s Cherokee Museum. He served as a board member of the grant-making John H. Bickford Foundation, founded by his father.
Nobel-winning economist he died Nov. 6, 2022.
A Guggenheim Fellow and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, his foundational research in macroeconomics led to his being awarded the 2004 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with frequent co-author Finn E. Kydland. After graduating from Swarthmore, Case Western Reserve, and Carnegie Mellon, he went on to teach and do research at various universities, from UPenn to the Norwegian School of Business and Economics to Arizona State University, where he taught until his death. From 1981, he was a senior adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. See pg. 16.
Ben, who coached numerous conference-winning basketball teams, died Oct. 10, 2022.
At the College, he led the Mid-American Conference in foul-shooting and had a 34-year career in education and coaching. Ben was named the Delaware Basketball Coach of the Year and Delaware Athletic Director of the Year, as well as other honors. After retiring, he was inducted into the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame, for his contributions during integration of public schools in Delaware, and the Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame, among other honors.
John, an economist and finance professor, died Oct. 15, 2022.
After graduating with an economics degree from the College, he earned a Ph.D. in economics from MIT, and taught at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Ohio University, and Auburn University. Upon retiring in 1997, John continued reading, traveling, and being a big Tiger football and basketball fan. He also volunteered in the genealogy library of the Family History Center and as a tax preparer for AARP.
Tony, a real-estate developer and sales executive, died Nov. 24, 2022.
A member of Delta Upsilon, he earned an economics degree at the College and later attended Wharton, served in the Army Reserve, and had a long executive sales career with IBM and Xerox Corp. Tony’s true career passion was in commercial real estate. He worked with Rouse and Associates and D. Fickler Construction, where he helped to develop the Penn State Great Valley campus. In retirement, he was a member of the East Whiteland Township, Pa., Planning Commission.
Jon, professor emeritus of astronomy at Eastern Michigan University, died July 27, 2022.
He earned a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. at University of Michigan, and a master’s in astronomy from the College. As a professor in the physics and astronomy department at Eastern Michigan University, he estimated he taught more than 15,000 students before retiring in 2004. Jon was very involved with technology and loved sailing and traveling. He was a skilled watercolorist and photographer.
Lucy, research scientist and piano accompanist, died Oct. 11, 2022.
After Swarthmore, she earned a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard and later joined husband Peter in his lab there. They moved to Indiana University (1985–2016), working on steroid hormones, insect development, and gene regulation. She helped create the Drosophila Genomics Resource Center. In addition to her scientific work, Lucy was an accomplished pianist who worked as a professional accompanist for vocalists.
Mary, a classical radio station host, died Aug. 24, 2022.
She earned a bachelor’s in history at the College, where she met husband Terry ’67. They moved to Birmingham, Ala., where she raised her family and worked as a morning host for a classical radio station. Mary volunteered for numerous organizations and served as president of the Junior Board of the Birmingham Music Club and the American Association for University Women.
Jeff, a potter and physical therapist, died Nov. 11, 2022.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in English at Swarthmore College and discovered a love for pottery at the Penland School of Craft. Jeff taught high school English briefly before experiencing the transformative power of bodywork; he studied physical therapy at UPenn and spent three decades working with clients in North Carolina.
Marsha, who practiced fiduciary law, died Oct. 5, 2022.
An Honors graduate of the College, she was one of a small group of women admitted to Harvard Law School. There she became renowned for her retort to a professor on whom a character in The Paper Chase was reputedly modeled. Marsha was active with the D.C. Bar Association in promoting alternative forms of dispute resolution and reveled in hiking in the national parks and the environs of Albuquerque, N.M.
Bill, a Colorado public-service attorney, died Aug. 16, 2022.
After earning Honors in history, he attended the University of Colorado Law School, worked in the Boulder County Attorney’s Office, joined a private law firm, and taught as an adjunct professor. Bill received the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department Citizen Recognition Award and the statewide Prosecutor of the Year award. In retirement, he volunteered with the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance and as a long-term care ombudsman, while continuing to “skipper” a co ed softball team.
Michael, who worked for justice, died Aug. 26, 2022.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at Swarthmore, as did wife Sherryl Browne Graves ’69, and went on to earn a law degree and MBA at Harvard. Michael worked in the financial services industry for several firms in New York and Connecticut, including a CitiBank in Venezuela, and retired from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He was active in the Urban League and 100 Black Men of Fairfield County. He also funded scholarships to promote educational and economic access for underserved students.
Peter, a historical-thinking pioneer, died Oct. 9, 2022.
After Swarthmore, he earned a master’s degree in the history of education from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Ph.D. in U.S. social history from UCLA. He was a social studies teacher and assistant professor in the UBC’s Faculty of Education and its first Canada Research Chair, and established the Centre for the Study of Historical Consciousness and the pan-Canadian Historical Thinking Project. Peter spearheaded six concepts of historical thinking that became a basis for history and social studies curriculum reform.
Niamh, who bravely followed her passions in her life and work, died Aug. 8, 2022.
Born in Ireland, she graduated from the College with an economics degree, spent time in post-Katrina New Orleans assisting migrant workers with an ESL program, and built sustainable and just food systems through Future Harvest as the field school director. During her free time, Niamh kayaked, rode bikes, walked nature trails, played the violin and banjo, and attended Buddhist reading and yoga groups.
Christine, a physician and avid horsewoman, died Sept. 18, 2022.
She graduated with an English literature degree from the College, then studied medicine, graduating from University of Minnesota at Duluth Medical School and completing her training in 1988. Christine practiced emergency medicine in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Virginia. She had many interests outside of work, especially owning and training horses.
Greg, a macroeconomist and independent blogger, died Oct. 4, 2022.
He graduated with High Honors in economics from the College, then earned a master’s degree in public affairs from University of Minnesota and a master’s and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to working as an independent economist and blogger, he was an adjunct lecturer at SUNY–New Paltz and a research scholar at Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, and had 10 academic publications.
Submit an obituary
To report the death of an alum, email obituaries@swarthmore.edu. Please provide the class year (if known), the date of death, and a short biography or link to a published obituary.
Newspaper obituaries may also be mailed to Swarthmore College Bulletin, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081.