Throughout Puget Sound’s green-and-gold era of the 1970s and ‘80s, staff photographer Keith Bauer captured moments during the Logger football team’s reign as one the most powerful Division II squads. He also took to the classroom to teach students about the burgeoning art of color photography. Brian Threlkeld ’83 was a member of the Logger football team during Keith’s tenure as a photographer and remembered Keith’s “knack for capturing the dramatic action shot that distilled each player’s character, talent, and heart.” Brian says that at the end of each season, Keith would confer with the coaches and select the senior photos they would frame and present to each graduating player. These photos, and the countless others taken by Keith, have inspired a “remarkable, continuing series of reminiscences and swapping of stories” for student-athletes of the era. Keith was born in Fircrest, Wash., and fell in love with photography while at Everett Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif., before returning to Washington and beginning a career at Puget Sound. He was also a photographer for The News Tribune and Washington State House Republicans. He later owned and operated Renaissance Color Systems and became known for his vehicle repair and renewal work. He died on Dec. 11 at the age of 69.
There’s a bench just east of the Jones Hall central stairs with a plaque that reads: “In recognition of Marian ‘Hawkeye’ Frank for her joyful spirit and the many smiles she has given to the students of the university.” It was a gift from the Class of 1982 to staff member Marian Frank, who, for 25 years, worked as a cashier at The Diner and had an uncanny ability to spot any student who was trying to slip past the dining hall registers without paying. It’s why Puget Sound students affectionately called her “Hawkeye.” The Indiana native was beloved by students for this reason, and because she was so good at memorizing meal ticket numbers, her family writes in her obituary. Born in the Midwest, Marian moved with her family to Washington before her first birthday. She spent her early years in the South Sound but graduated from Arizona’s Phoenix Union High School. Her family notes, however, that she always considered herself a Puyallup Viking. She married John Frank—whom she met at a roller rink in Tacoma—in 1948, and the two moved to Chicago briefly before returning to Washington with their family. Marian began her job at Puget Sound in 1967 and retired in 1992. She died on March 11 at the age of 88. According to her obituary, she was “intelligent, meticulous, frugal yet generous, encouraging, gracious, humorous, honest and ... stubborn. In essence, she was noble.”
Adriana Ibarra ’21 loved tongue twisters. She was also passionate about her faith, mariachi, and social justice. The Tacoma native and Lincoln High School graduate was “always one to step up to try and make things better,” her father, Jorge Ibarra, said. In her short eight months at Puget Sound, Adriana left her mark on the campus community. She volunteered at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on campus last September and brought her warm, funny, self-sufficient personality and beautiful and powerful smile with her everywhere she went. Her passing deeply saddened the entire campus community on April 16. A campus memorial service was held at Kilworth Memorial Chapel on April 29, following a funeral mass at Tacoma’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church and viewing on April 25. Adriana is survived by her parents, Jorge Ibarra and Alejandra Avila, and brothers Daniel and Jorge.
FACULTY
Longtime educator Wesley Williams taught in multiple school districts throughout Washington and was a professor of art education at Puget Sound. A native of Sumner, Wash., he held a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Washington University and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Oregon. He received a State Art Educator Award from the National Art Education Association in 1985. He was deeply involved in the Very Special Arts Fair, an event held each year for special needs children, and organized the junior/senior high school art shows for the Washington State Fair. He died in February at the age of 83.
STAFF
Buulong Dang, the supervisor of mechanical services for the university’s facilities department, was a fixture on the Puget Sound campus for 23 years. Known to many as “Buu,” he began his career as a custodian at what was once Puget Sound’s law school and worked his way up to the supervisor role. He died on March 25. In a message to the campus community, Puget Sound Chaplain Dave Wright ‘96 said colleagues remember Buu as kind, gentle, and “very focused on his love for people and especially his love for his family.” Buu leaves behind his wife, Thao, and daughter, Karen. “Buu touched a lot of hearts at Puget Sound and will be deeply missed,” Wright said. An on-campus memorial was held in early April.
Gertrude Jacka received her 30-year service award from Puget Sound in 2007, and a giant sequoia was planted on campus in recognition of the accomplishment. As a custodian, she spent her days serving the professors and students in the university’s science department. Gertrude was a native of Czechoslovakia and was relocated to Germany during World War II. She met her husband, Daniel Jacka, and the two moved to Washington shortly after their marriage in 1967. She began working at the university in 1977 and retired in 2007. She died on April 25.
ALUMNI
Wayne Griffen ’40 died on March 3 at the age of 100. The Montana native earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Adelphian Concert Choir and band. He continued his education at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where he earned a master’s degree in divinity. Wayne married Marion Sherman ’39, whom he met while attending Puget Sound, and served as a Methodist minister at many churches throughout Washington. He is preceded in death by Marion, who died in 2003.
Beverley Brown ’48, M.A.’71 died on May 2 at the age of 94. A lifelong resident of Tacoma, she graduated from Annie Wright Schools and earned a bachelor’s degree in art and design and a Master of Arts from Puget Sound. She returned to Annie Wright and taught art history and fine arts there for 32 years.
Frances Swenson Anderson ’49 passed away on Feb. 20. She was 90. A Washington native, she attended Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Adelphian Concert Choir and Delta Delta Delta sorority. Frances went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Washington. She taught in the Lake Washington School District for 24 years and was the first woman to be a secondary school principal in the district.
Richard Falk ‘49 passed away in Des Moines, Wash., on March 10. He was 91. Born in Tacoma, he earned two bachelor’s degrees from Puget Sound in education and sociology. He was one of the founding administrators of Tacoma Community College—he served as the college’s dean of students—and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Andrew Moe ’49, a Tacoma native and U.S. Air Force veteran, died on Feb. 19 at the age of 91. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, before receiving his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Washington State University. He worked as a regulatory veterinarian in California for 33 years.
Martin North ’49 died in Texas on April 12, five weeks after his 100th birthday. A Pierce County, Wash., resident nearly his whole life, Martin graduated from Lincoln High School and Pacific Lutheran University before marrying Jo-Ann Boyd ’63 and joining the Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned stateside and enrolled at Puget Sound, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education. He spent 31 years with Washington’s Clover Park School District as a teacher, coach, principal, and administrator. He retired in 1977 and built a home in Roy, Wash. He is preceded in death by Jo-Ann, who died in 2001.
Stanley Carlson ’50 died in Lakewood, Wash., on April 18. He was 90. A Seattle native and World War II Navy veteran, he attended Puget Sound and met Gweneth Roberts ’50, the woman who would become his wife. They both transferred to the University of Oregon, graduated, and got married. Stanley worked for BF Goodrich before pursuing his passion and beginning a career in financial consultation at Merrill Lynch in Tacoma. He retired from the firm in 1991 after a 27-year career. Stanley is preceded in death by Gweneth, who died in 2016.
Gwen Jones Whyte ’50 passed away in Seattle on March 27 after a long illness. She was 90. A native of Alaska, she graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle before earning a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Puget Sound, where she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She went on to work with many World War II veterans in VA hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon.
Richard Chiarovano ’51, P’78, P’81 died on Feb. 24 at the age of 89. Born and raised in Tacoma, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and met Lita Johnson ‘50, who would become his wife. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before owning and operating multiple laundromats and jewelry stores in Tacoma and Seattle. He served on the university’s board of trustees from 1972 to 1978. He is preceded in death by Lita and his son, Rod Chiarovano ’81. Another son, Rand Chiarovano ’78, survives Richard.
Harold Prescott ’51, a veteran highway engineer, died on April 15 at the age of 91. Born and raised in Tacoma, just miles from the Puget Sound campus, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Stadium High School. He served during the last months of World War II and enrolled at Puget Sound upon returning home. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology and married Pamela Davis ’52 before beginning a 37-year career with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Harold is preceded in death by Pamela, who died in 1995.
David Vogeler ‘51 passed away in Vancouver, Wash., on Feb. 3. He was 91. David was a Tacoma native and attended Puget Sound after serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 14 months. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Washington and began working for the General Adjustment Bureau, a large insurance adjusting firm. He stayed with the company for 42 years until he retired in 1993.
Francis Huber ‘52 passed away on March 10, less than one month before his 89th birthday. A native of Tacoma, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He married Mollie Mae Morse in ’49 and worked for the Weyerhaeuser Company until 1967, when he began a career in real estate.
William Morton ’52, P’86, a longtime employee of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), passed away on March 7 at the age of 88. He received a bachelor’s degree from Puget Sound’s pre-medicine program and was involved in the university’s residence hall association and intramural sports program. William went on to earn a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Washington. He began working at OHSU School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health as an associate professor in 1967. He led the department’s Environmental Medicine Division, taught occupational medicine, and ran an occupational medicine clinic for puzzling illnesses before retiring and being named professor emeritus of public health and preventive medicine in 1997. According to his obituary, for 18 years after retiring, he continued to come to his office daily to work on analyses and teach graduate courses.
Rod Smith ’52 died on March 9 at the age of 89. A native of Tacoma, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps before graduating from Puget Sound. While at the university, he was ASUPS vice president and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He also met Gertie Marsh ’54, ’55, whom he would marry in 1955. Rod had a long and varied career working for United Airlines and, after retirement, enjoyed serving on Puget Sound’s Alumni Council. He is preceded in death by Gertie, who died in 2015.
Charles Morrison ‘53 died in Boulder, Colo., on Feb. 10. He was 88. Born in Yakima, Wash., to fruit farmers, Charles graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and Adelphian Concert Choir. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from MIT, serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, become a chemistry professor at Washington State University, and obtain 52 patents. He married Elaine Becker ’51, and the couple had four children.
Rhea Riehl Wesson ‘55 died on Feb. 4. She was 88. Raised in Tacoma, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound before receiving another bachelor’s degree from Whitman College. She spent many years volunteering with Camp Fire and became the assistant executive director of the Central Puget Sound Council.
David Nicholson ’57 passed away on March 9 at the age of 83. A Tacoma native, he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He went on to work for 33 years as an environmental manager in Federal Way before retiring in 1992.
Sheldon Gerarden ’58 died in Connecticut on March 16. He was 82. Sheldon earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Logger football team, ASUPS, and the Sigma Nu fraternity. At the university, he also met Faye Vanderford ‘61, the woman who would become his wife. He received a bachelor’s degree in divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in theology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He served Methodist parishes throughout Illinois for more than 12 years.
John Mellor ’58, M.Ed.’64, passed away on July 3, 2017. He was 89. John grew up in Midland, Wash., and earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Puget Sound. He taught language arts and coached football at Mount Tahoma High School and later worked as athletic director and assistant principal at Foss High School.
William James ‘60 died in Tacoma on Feb. 10. He was 82. A Kansas native, he attended Puget Sound and Grays Harbor College before beginning a 33-year career as a marine biologist with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Lorna Moen Robinson ‘60 passed away on Feb. 21 at the age of 79. Born in Hollywood, Calif., she attended Puget Sound and earned a bachelor’s degree in English. While at the university, she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, Kappa Phi Christian sisterhood, and ASUPS. She became a teacher and spent most of her adult life in New Hampshire.
Cecil Royer ‘60 died in Tacoma on Nov. 3. A Tacoma native, he graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi honor society. He married Jo Ann Spencer in ’59, served in the Navy during the Korean War, and went on to retire as a managing partner of Knight, Vale, and Gregory, a Tacoma CPA firm.
Joan Ericksen Sevcik ‘60 died on March 24 at the age of 79. A Portland, Ore., native, she graduated from Cleveland High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Puget Sound. Joan married her college sweetheart, James Sevcik ’60, and became a field geologist for the U. S. Forest Service. In 1977, she earned her teaching certificate and began teaching junior high school students in Oregon. Four years later, she earned a bachelor’s degree in computer programming technology from Chemeketa Community College. Joan worked as a computer programmer in Colorado for almost 20 years.
Heather Vary Blahm ‘63 passed away in Rainier, Wash., on April 5. She was 76. A native of Centralia, Wash., she graduated from West High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Puget Sound. She married Ted Blahm in 1966, had a son, and became a teacher and counselor in the Rainier School District. She worked in the district for 30 years before retiring in 1998 and coaching high school golf teams.
Eunice Trobridge Huffman ‘64, M.B.A.’66, P’59, P’67, passed away on April 29 at the age of 102. Born in Montana, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Phi Chi Theta honor society. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Huffman ’64, and daughter, Carol Whylie Phillips ’59. Her son, Frank Whylie ’67, survive Eunice.
Daniel Melton ’64 passed away in Bremerton, Wash., on Feb. 16 after living with cancer for seven years. He was 80. A native of Tacoma, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Daniel was a U.S. Army veteran, and his careers included pharmaceutical sales, commercial real estate sales, and residential real estate appraisal.
Norman Reilly ’64 died on March 3, less than two weeks before his 77th birthday. Born in Seattle, he attended Everett Community College before earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. While at the university, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and met Laurel Frahm ’67, who would become his wife. The two married in what was then the Gail Day Chapel in Jones Hall in 1966. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, returned stateside, and began working in the insurance business. He and Laurel settled in Portland, and he retired in 2009.
John Dramesi ’67, a U.S. Air Force officer who was captured, held, and tortured as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, died on Sept. 17. He was 84. John earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Puget Sound while stationed at Fort Lewis before being deployed to Vietnam. In April 1967, while flying a bombing mission, his F-105 was hit by an antiaircraft fire. After bailing out of his damaged plane and being knocked unconscious, he came to only be shot and captured by North Vietnamese soldiers. He escaped from the prison camp in a small village eight days later, only to be recaptured and held at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp. In May 1969, he and a fellow POW escaped and traveled for 12 hours before being captured. He was tortured for 38 days and held for another four years before being released in March 1973. He wrote a book, Code of Honor, about the experience and became the chief war planner for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel and held multiple military awards, including a Purple Heart and Air Force Cross.
William Sievers ’67 died on May 4 after a nine-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 73. William was born in Everett, Wash., and graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He was a member of the Logger swim team and Beta Zeta Pi fraternity. He met his future wife, Patricia Madson ’68, during an evening out with his fraternity brothers and Gamma Phi Beta sorority sisters. After college, William became his company’s youngest real estate broker and went on to help his father, Howard Sievers, develop the Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Whidbey Island.
Nelson Corbett ‘68 passed away on Feb. 8 at the age of 71. Born and raised in Oregon, he attended Puget Sound before working as a ranch hand, charter boat captain, mechanic, and real estate developer. He co-founded Chassis Systems, a company supplying intermodal transportation equipment, and held several patents related to the company’s chassis storage system.
Francis Myers ’70, M.B.A.’71 passed away on April 18. He was 85. Francis was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Puget Sound after retiring from the military. He became an executive vice president for Seafirst Bank for 20 years and a longtime resident of Puyallup, Wash.
Janet Strobel Kneedler ‘71 passed away on July 8, 2017, at the age of 68. She was a Tacoma native and one of six Strobel sisters to attend Puget Sound. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and five of her sisters. She became a librarian and worked for 25 years at Reed College in Portland, Ore. She retired in 2012. Janet is preceded in death by her father, Robert Strobel ’33, and mother, Elsie Korpela Strobel ’33. She is survived by her sisters, Carol Strobel Colleran ’64, Sally Strobel Underwood ’59, Betty Strobel Jameson ’62, Julia Strobel Arger ’71, and Susan Strobel ’70.
Patricia Sias M.A.‘71 died in Seattle on April 5. She was 93. Born in Michigan, she completed her undergraduate studies at Scripps College in California before earning her master’s degree in art and design from Puget Sound. She volunteered for several Tacoma organizations and became the city’s first historic preservation officer.
David Askren ‘72 died on March 8 at the age of 69. A Tacoma native, he attended Puget Sound and was known for his love of baseball, skiing, and competitive sports.
Peter Bernier ’72 passed away in Bremerton, Wash., on March 9. He was 67. Peter attended Puget Sound before graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. Eight years later, he graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, Calif. He practiced as a family physician in Oregon for more than 25 years.
Nancy Mc Call Ciskowski ’73 died on Dec. 16 in Tucson, Ariz. She was 81. Nancy was born in Idaho and was the oldest of eight children. She graduated from Boise High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound. She married Larry Ciskowski one year later and received a master’s degree in education from Wichita State University in 1979. She returned to Washington and worked at numerous elementary schools in the Kent School District until retiring in 1998.
James Pfeiffer ’82, a native of University Place, Wash., and longtime school administrator, died on April 21. He was 59 and battled pancreatic cancer for three months before passing away. James held a bachelor’s degree in history from Puget Sound and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was principal of Idlewild Elementary School in Lakewood, Wash., for the past eight years and was nominated for Administrator of the Year.
Ferdinand Van Deursen M.B.A.‘83 passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 86. He was born in New Jersey and earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University before receiving a master’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and worked as a CPA for the Washington State Auditor’s Office for 13 years.
Victoria Moritz Parkhurst ‘84 passed away in Tacoma on Feb. 9. She was 80. Victoria, who held a degree from Portland State University, earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and theater studies from Puget Sound while caring for her two sons. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Colleen Cook Battaglia ‘86 died on April 25 after a fight with pancreatic cancer. A native of Tacoma, she graduated from Stadium High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Puget Sound, where she joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She married fellow Logger Paul Battaglia ’86 and had three children. She enjoyed traveling, animals, crafting, and hosting get-togethers.
Catherine Hart ‘94 passed away in Port Angeles, Wash., on March 18. She was 45. Born in Idaho, she moved to Port Angeles and received a bachelor’s degree in art and design from Puget Sound. She went on to become an artist, dancer, graphic designer, executive assistant, and writer.
Michael Brutger ‘17 died in Ohio on Jan. 5 due to complications from a multi-organ transplant. A native of St. Cloud, Minn., Michael attended Puget Sound, where he was a resident of Todd-Phibbs Hall and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
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