IN MEMORY
ers. She is survived by her husband, Jack, a daughter and son-in-law, a son, a sister, four grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.
THE IMPACT OF ONE LIFE
EDWARD W. SCHEER ’54, 1932-2011
around, and finally as he made his last point, the cat clawed itself out of the bag and raced across the stage. The audience was laughing uncontrollably. Prof. Scheer said, “Well, now that the cat’s out of the bag…” and gave us our next assignment. He was a mentor. I was not the brightest student, far from it, and by my junior year was questioning my career choice and future. Professor Scheer sat and counseled me for what seemed to be hours. We talked of biology, hopes, and dreams. He encouraged me to get out of the classroom and to attend a summer biology station. As a result, I went to Mountain Lake B io logic a l S ta tion sponsored by the University of Virginia. There I met scientists and professors studying the relationships between birds, insects, molds, etc. True ecology. From there I went to UVA, obtaining my first master’s degree in 1972 and to Miami University, Oxford, obtaining my second in 1978. I started as an entomologist and became a benthic biologist for Argonne N ationa l Laborator y, Illinois and the Ohio EPA. What is the impact of one life? Professor Edward Scheer took a frightened boy and turned him into a man, formed a student into a scholar, and showed him that dreams are possible. This is the type of teacher that inspires, not only by knowledge, but by caring about the student and molding him into the person he can become.—George E. Brown III ’70 PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROLLINS COLLEGE ARCHIVES
It was with sadness and awe that I read of Professor Edward W. Scheer’s passing in the Spring 2011 issue of Rollins Magazine. Many people read the obit and moved on; some it touched. In 1966, I was an idealistic freshman wanting to make a mark for ecology. Of course, I hadn’t the slightest idea how or what ecology really was all about. But I wanted to study biology and had Professor Scheer as my advisor and teacher. At first, he was intimidating. Larger than life with a no-holdsbarred, full-steam-ahead attitude; it was his way or no way. What had I gotten myself into? I felt as though I had failed miserably, and it was only his first lecture. Over time, my reticence and fears eased. I found him to be a warm, caring teacher who delighted not only in making you think, but in pulling out your character, molding it, and transforming it into a mature scholar and scientist. He would raise a question, challenge you to answer it or perform a task, and then show you a new way of thinking, a different approach to your reasoning. With the strictness came a sense of humor. He was a jokester. At one lecture, he brought out a canvas bag and placed it on the stage in front of the podium. As the talk progressed, the bag started to move and flop. It started to lurch, twist, and turn
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ed Scheer taught biology at Rollins from 1958 to 1995. He received numerous National Science Foundation grants for advanced research in biology and founded the College’s environmental studies program in 1970.
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’55 | Rachel Willmarth Senne died in spring 2011. She is survived by daughter Jean Senne Aday ’84 and a son-in-law, another daughter, and three grandchildren. Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, and a brother. Following Rollins, she attended Carnegie Institute of Technology. Rachel enjoyed golfing and was a talented artist. ’56 | Thomas N. “Tom” Grubbs (photo) died June 13, 2011. Before coming to Rollins, Tom attended Kent State and completed six years of military service with tours in Germany during World War II and Korea and Japan during the Korean War, serving as sergeant major of the sixth tank battalion. As a student, he excelled in theater arts and received the Pi Beta Phi dramatics prize and the Theater Arts Achievement Award. Tom’s career had many faces: actor, comedian, model, veteran, cameraman, producer, writer, and reporter. He was the number one fan of the Rollins women’s basketball team, a loyal member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a frequent spectator of performances by Mad Cow Theatre in downtown Orlando. Tom was an attentive caretaker to his unruly brood of cats and a loyal friend of the late Jim Browne, with whom he shared a remarkable friendship for more than 50 years. His warm smile and quick wit will never be forgotten by his dear friends in Rollins’ Offices of Alumni Relations and Development. Other survivors include a nephew, other relatives, friends, and colleagues. ’58 | John C. Wulbern died June 8, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nancy, son John ’97 and daughter-in-law Kristen Carpenter ’97, three other sons and daughters-in-law, a brother, and six grandchildren. John was predeceased by his parents. In addition to Rollins, he attended the University of Florida, the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. John’s banking career included serving as president for both Barnett Bank of Ocala and First Florida Bank Inc. in Tampa, FL. In retirement, he was chairman of the board of Citizens First Bank in Ocala and president of Independent Banker’s Bank. John was also affiliated with the board of directors of Bay Cities Bank in Tampa, Florida Banker’s Association, American Bankers Association, and the board of directors of Abe Brown Ministries and was a member of Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, Tampa Yacht Club, and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club. ’60 | Valerie Baumrind Bonatis ’64MAT died May 27, 2011. A recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award as a Rollins student, Valerie was a school teacher in Orange County, FL for 30 years. She taught history and social studies courses at Colonial High School for the last half of her career. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, helped to author a sixth grade-level ancient-history