Fall 2024 Obituaries

These include death notices reported by June 1, 2024.

’46

James Lambert Weber on May 3, 2024

’47

Martha Jane “MJ” Sector Paul on March 23, 2024

’48

Sally Miller Brooks on January 11, 2024

Sally Frum McGrew on February 17, 2024

’49

Dr. Herman Wexler on March 20, 2024

Dorothy Elizabeth “Betty” Orris Woods on December 3, 2023 

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved mother, Dorothy “Betty” Woods. Betty passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at Fountain View Village Assisted Living in Fountain Hills, AZ. We have been blessed by her presence in our lives and she will always be remembered by us.

’50

James Alfred Edwards on April 15, 2024

Marilyn Werley Shannon on January 19, 2024

’51

Gwyneth Owens Noble on January 29, 2024

’52

John Jarboe on February 17, 2024

William “Bill” Burwell Sample Jr. on January 31, 2024

Dr. C. Deem Schoenfeld on May 19, 2024

James Caldwell Welton on December 1, 2023 

’53

C. Edwin Benson on May 2, 2024

Daniel K. Bittler on February 11, 2024

Nancy Archer Walk on April 15, 2024

’54

Michael D’Angelo Jr. on April 5, 2024

Dr. Robert Edward Dininny on January 1, 2024

Marjorie “Jane” Dallas Dunn on December 8, 2023

(Marjorie) Jane (nee Dallas) Dunn of Olmsted Township passed away peacefully at 7:15 a.m. Friday December 8th, 2023 at the Renaissance Retirement Campus at 91 years of age.

Jane was born November 7th, 1932, in Berea, Ohio, to Mildred (nee Eckert) and George Dallas at the height of the Great Depression. She graduated from Berea Sr. High School in 1950. Following graduation Jane matriculated to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology … at a time when only 1.2% of women nationally were enrolled in schools of higher education and only 0.2% earned a degree in science.

Following graduation in 1954 Jane moved back to Berea, Ohio, and took a job as a medical technologist at University Hospitals where she met the absolute love of her life, Richard L. Dunn. Dick was a resident physician at University Hospital and they were married June 7th, 1958. They remained soulmates for 63 years interrupted only by Dick’s passing in 2021.

Jane’s interests were diverse and voluminous. She and Dick were avid travelers having visited every continent but one. They were both very active in the United Church of Christ, Berea, OH. She was very active in the Greater Cleveland Cancer Society and was once elected Volunteer of the Year. Jane was fluid in French, having lived in France for 3 years while Dick was stationed there as a Captain in the U.S. Army. She was a skier, a sailor, a scuba diver, a lover of dogs and a voracious reader. She worked as a phlebotomist at a local blood bank and was active in the Berea Historical Society. But above all else Jane was a wonderful, caring mother of 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Jane is survived by her son Rick (Lisa) Dunn, daughter Kathy Dunn and daughter Jennifer and her husband Gary Tullis and grandchildren Patrick, Timothy and James Dunn, Eric and Andrew Copenhaver as well as Bryan and Mathew Bocian. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Alex Bocian, Miles Copenhaver, Arabelle Dunn and Izzak Dana.

There are two words that would epitomize Jane Dunn’s time on earth; caring and kind. She always had a kind word for nearly everyone that she came in contact with and was a deeply caring mother and grandmother. She will be sorely missed!

John Pope Ellis on April 7, 2024

Ann Huston Kazarian, M.D., on December 22, 2023

Suzanne Stockman Lemka on February 18, 2024

Gloria Thompson Miller on April 10, 2024

Lois Jeffrey Harvey Pollard on April 23, 2024

’55

Kathrine Rosalie Dunkle Heath on January 2, 2024

Elizabeth Fish Kohler on December 21, 2023

Lt. Col. Howard Ray Seamens USAF (Ret.) on November 29, 2023 

’56

Richard J. Dilts on May 22, 2024

William C. “Bill” Mumaw on May 8, 2024

’57

Joel Richard Gilson on January 6, 2024

Julia Gwen McCartney Ligo on December 4, 2023 

Dorothy “Dotty” Tolley Morgan on March 23, 2024

’58

Shelby Gail Brundage Chesko on April 20, 2024

Margaret L. “Ticky” Hendricks on January 24, 2024

’59

Ernest H. Gelman, Esq., on March 15, 2024

Dr. Paul Reed Reeb Jr. on March 30, 2024

’60

Dr. Barbara Hotham Iglewski on December 10, 2023 

David W. Laughery Jr. on April 30, 2024

David C. McChesney, DDS, on April 12, 2024

Benjamin Franklin Oswald III on December 20, 2023

Dennis “Tex” A. Swan on January 18, 2024

’61

Dr. Maggie Burns on March 16, 2024

Robert “Bob” Heaton Evans on April 3, 2024

Donald M. Nelson on May 21, 2024

John Peter “Pete” Rushworth on November 7, 2023 

Ronald Eugene Steiner on April 26, 2024

’62

John Peter Amato on February 29, 2024

Dr. Michael Brunt on October 1, 2023

Ronald W. Jones on December 3, 2023

James “Jim” Slocum, M.D., on February 9, 2024

Dr. Charles “Skip” William Smith Jr. on January 26, 2024 

Charles W. “Skip” Smith, ’62, Professor of Physics (Emeritus) at the University of Maine in Orono, passed away January 26, 2024 in Old Town, Maine. He taught at UMaine for over 40 years twice being selected “Maine Distinguished Professor.” His wife, Carolyn I. (Dobak) Smith, ’63, and his daughter and son survive him.

’63

John H. Esterly Jr. on May 1, 2024

Samuel “Sam” Sterrett Harrison, Ph.D.

Alumnus and Former Professor of Environmental Science & Geology

Dr. Samuel “Sam” Sterrett Harrison died June 22, 2024, at Wesbury United Methodist Community, Meadville.

Dr. Harrison was born in Union City, on February 19, 1941, a son of the late Dr. Paul Harrison 1926 and Emma (Sterrett) Harrison. On June 1, 1963 he married Linda Weed; she preceded him in death on June 7, 2023, sharing 60 years of marriage.

Following his 1959 graduation from Union City High School, Dr. Harrison completed his undergraduate studies at Allegheny in 1963, before earning his Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in 1968. From 1968-1970 Dr. Harrison was employed as assistant professor of geology at the University of Wisconsin. In 1970 he returned to Crawford County and became a professor of geology at Allegheny College. He also started a new course of study, Aquatic Environments/Environmental Science, and taught both subjects in Alden Hall until 1989, when he began working self-employed as a hydrogeologic consultant with Harrison Hydrosciences until his retirement. He also wrote two books, “Meandering Through Saegertown History,” sharing stories about Saegertown that had not been written in the past, and “You Start With Your Left Foot: The Amazing History of Saegertown School Marching Band, 1953-1961.” In his younger days, Dr. Harrison played the coronet and trumpet in many bands, and sang in his high school and college choirs, including the Cussewago Jazz Band at Allegheny College. 

Dr. Harrison is survived by three children Kelley S. Harrison Levis ’86 (Christopher) of Saegertown, Brooke S. Harrison (Linda) of Edinboro, J. Benjamin Harrison (Tresa) of Pittsburgh; eight grandchildren Jocelyn Levis Windahl ’13 (Kyle), Malorie Zimardo (Matthew), Isaac Levis, Gabriel Harrison, Emma Harrison, Ian Harrison, Quinn Harrison, Alaina Harrison; three great grandchildren; a brother Paul Harrison of Durham, NC; a half brother Paul Harrison of Alexandria, VA; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Linda, Dr. Harrison was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Thompson and Emma Sterre Harrison.

Jean Carol Apthorp Knowles on December 26, 2023 

Deane Andrew Shure on March 9, 2024

Kathleen Davis Snider on March 31, 2024

Judy Keck Young on February 15, 2024

’64

Brion J. Hathaway on November 25, 2022. 

Brion J. Hathaway passed away on November 25, 2022. Brion grew up in Woodhaven, NY and attended Brooklyn Technical High School. In his early career he worked as a computer programmer in the Financial District of New York until he moved to the newspaper industry as an independent contractor. He was a very devoted father, and when his daughters were in school, he decided to forego his full time job to concentrate on their sports activities. He not only instructed them in their basketball, tennis and volleyball endeavors, but he also founded and coached the first Amateur Athletic Union girls’ basketball team on Long Island. In his later years, he continued this tradition with his grandchildren. He spent many hours coaching them and attending their games while also finding the time to author three e-books about the boroughs in his hometown, New York City. He was also an avid fan of DooWop music and created a website dedicated to sharing the best songs of that era. Brion was formerly married to Karen Olson ’67. He is survived by his two daughters, Leslie (Bobby) Cassidy and Chelsea (Chris) Armes as well as four grandchildren; Kristen, John, Matthew and Peter. 

Martha Edwards Hill on October 27, 2023

Robert “Bob” Edward Wilson on November 24, 2023

’65

Patricia Clair Bernhard in April 2024 

Elizabeth “Betsy” Martha Miller Blackmar on March 23, 2024

Clarence “Carney” Metzgar on January 16, 2024

Alma Jean Laird Swanson on January 5, 2024. 

She is preceded in death by her mother, Emily Blanche Allshouse Laird ’37. She is survived by her sons James E. Swanson ’92 and Richard A. Swanson ’94 and her grandson Richard Jeremy Swanson ’24.

Jane Below Stevens on May 18, 2024

’66

Leonard Craig Harris on April 10, 2024

Eric Loeb on May 11, 2024

Col. James Leland McIntire Jr. USMC (Ret.) on December 29, 2023

’67

Marcia Lee Brevoort on March 10, 2024

Gary Walter Burg on March 2, 2024

Brenda Whitlatch Doubrava on March 15, 2024

’68

Jack M. Anthony on June 29, 2023

James Shuck Bryan on February 11, 2024

’70

Dianne Lockhart Burke on January 14, 2024

Sarah “Sally” Judson Mays on May 22, 2024

Christine Marie Piscione Parisi on January 20, 2024

’71

Jacquard “Jay” Welsh Guenon on July 20, 2023

Thomas A. Piraino Jr. on March 22, 2024

Walter H. Steinlauf on November 18, 2023

’72

Susan Shefte Connell on December 12, 2023

James Daniel Murphy on June 26, 2023

Carol A. Gustafson Somers on May 5, 2024

’73

John Preston O’Connell on January 22, 2024

’74

Michael “Mike” Ellenberger on May 2, 2024

’76

Laura S. Bradbury Keeney on May 14, 2024

’77

Aline “Lalla” M. Stolar on May 16, 2024

Dr. Henry C. Van Zanten on March 11, 2024

’79

Wayne K. Cameron on August 4, 2023

Ronald Preston Heasley on April 18, 2024

’80

Robert T. McDermott on May 15, 2024

’81

Barry Johnson on October 2, 2023. 

Barry Johnson, born 5/26/1958 in San Angelo, Tx, passed away on Oct 2, 2023 after a lengthy battle with Leukemia. Barry graduated from Allegheny in both 1980 and 81. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta. His whole career was working for GTE/Verizon, and he retired at 49. He is predeceased by his father James (Rocky) and his brother Lawrence (Lonnie). He is survived by his mother Helen, sister Helayne, and brother Todd. He leaves behind his wife of 28 years Dee, 6 children, and 8 grandchildren.

’83

Mark James Sydlowski on January 30, 2024

’85

Mary Ann Keller on January 17, 2024

Dr. Roy Robson on January 29, 2024

’88

Gia Mia Celularo on February 7, 2024

’90

John Charles Kieger on March 13, 2024

’91

Barbara Alice Torbjornsen on November 27, 2023

’93

Michelle K. Korinko on January 20, 2024

’94

Geoffrey Allan Turk on May 9, 2024

’07

Alexander James Pavlik on May 12, 2024

Friends

Doris Ann Briggs on February 3, 2024 

Jean Carol Lundahl on January 19, 2024. 

Jean Carol Lundahl, 86, of Braddock, PA, passed away on January 19, 2024, in Meadville, PA. She was born on October 5, 1937. Jean attended Meadville High School, Class of 1955, and later studied at Grove City College. Jean worked for Allegheny College. She proudly served in the U.S. Air Force.

Thomas E. McFate on May 28, 2024

Darwin Johnson Prockop on January 22, 2024