Penn Law Journal Summer 2012

Page 69

his family. Mr. Segal represented him in the military investiga-

Miriam G. Wallach L’73, New York City resident and re-

tion, which ended without charges, and represented him again

tired counsel at Shearman & Sterling, died April 11. She was

a federal prosecution, which ended in MacDonald’s conviction

62. Born in Romania, Mrs. Wallach lived in Belgium until she

and life sentence in 1979. The case reached the Supreme Court

was four years old. She practiced law for many years in New

and became the subject of the book and movie “Fatal Vision..

York City, principally at Shearman & Sterling. Mrs. Wallace

Mr. Segal continued practicing law until 10 years ago and was

loved reading great literature, eating and cooking gourmet food,

teaching classes until his health declined about a year ago. He is

and traveling with her family. She is survived by husband Eric;

survived by his children, Amy of Richmond, Calif., Beth of New

daughters Katie and Emily; son Peter; a granddaughter and

York City, and Eric of Gainesville, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

two nieces.

John O. Shirk L’68, a member of the board of directors

Elkins Wetherill C’42, L’48, former head of the Phila-

of Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc., died on Nov. 8. He was

delphia Stock Exchange and chairman of the Delaware Valley

68. Mr. Shirk’s distinguished career began more than 40 years

Regional Planning Commission, died August 11. He was 91.

ago with Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law, where he was named

Mr. Wetherill interrupted his studies at Penn to serve with the

a partner in 1973 and acted as managing partner from 1983

First Troop Philadelphia Calvary unit during World War II.

to1993. He had extensive experience in mergers and acquisi-

Mr. Wetherill was active in regional and state politics. He was

tions, as well as corporate finance, planning and structuring,

a solicitor for Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor from 1951

real estate development and contract disputes. Mr. Shirk was a

to 1955, after which he was one of the founding members of

past president of the Board of United Way of Lancaster County,

the Norristown, Pa., law firm, Henderson, Wetherill, O’Hey

in Pennsylvania, the Economic Development Company of

& Horsey, where he remained a partner until 1998. In addi-

Lancaster County, the EDC Finance Corporation of Lancaster

tion, Mr. Wetherill was Montgomery County treasurer, head of

County, and the Lancaster General Hospital Foundation. He

the Montgomery County commissioners, and chairman of the

served on numerous boards including the Lancaster Chamber of

Pennsylvania Securities Commission. He subsequently served

Commerce & Industry, Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster

three terms as chairman of the Delaware Valley Regional Plan-

General College of Nursing & Health Services, Pennsylvania

ning Commission. Active in land preservation, Mr. Wetherill

College of Art & Design, Lancaster Newspapers Inc., Fulton

had a lifelong love of equine sports ranging from fox hunting

Financial Corp., Pennfield Corp., the Horst Group, Eastern In-

to 3-Day Eventing. He was a competitive rider and owner of

surance Holdings, Inc., Educators Mutual Life Insurance Co.,

many successful horses that competed in the U.S. and Europe.

and Irex Corp. Mr. Shirk is survived by his wife Mary Ann and

He is survived by his second wife, Ethel; sons Elkins Jr. and Ste-

two children, Michael and Caroline.

phen; daughter Alexandra W. Gerry; stepsons Edwin B. Nalle, Horace D. Nalle, and Alexander B. Nalle; stepdaughters Ellen

Col. Stanley C. Vass L’59, of Leesburg, Va., died April

N. Hass and Lucy N. Weed; seven grandchildren; four great-

20, 2011. Col. Vass graduated at the top of his class from Army

grandchildren; and 14 step-grandchildren.

War College. He served in Germany for two years before moving to the Army Reserves. Col. Vass worked for the U.S. Department of Energy until his retirement in 1993. He is survived by wife Wilma; sons Gregory and Jeff of Greensboro, N.C.; brother Walter of Hollister, Fla.; and grandsons Bennett and Spencer of Greensboro.

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