Robert Blake, passed away in 1992. Survivors include children Frances Thibaudeau, Shirley Shelley, and Steven Blake; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Arthur Carl Hansen, Sept. 5, 2010 Arthur Hansen happily returned to his native Maine after World War II to start his college years at Bates. A bomber flight instructor, he was en route to the Pacific to pilot a B-29 when the war ended. With a degree in economics and a minor in history, he enrolled in a master’s program at Columbia but found himself distracted by ads seeking pilots for the Berlin Airlift, a chance to make history rather than study it. However, distraction also appeared in the form of a fellow student, Roberta Gerdy, whom he married in 1953. He returned to Maine with both master’s degree and new wife, and started a 41-year career as a history and government teacher at North Yarmouth Academy, from which he retired in 1990. The school has an annual award in his name. He remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1966 and retired as captain. He was known for his handmade and restored furniture, and enjoyed working with his wife in her antique business. She predeceased him. Survivors include children Evan, Carl, Diana, and Terry Hansen; five grandchildren; and brother Glen Hansen ’48 and wife Elizabeth May Hansen ’47. John Joseph Margarones, Nov. 15, 2010 As a boy in Old Orchard Beach, John Margarones listened to his immigrant father, a barber with a fourth-grade education, converse in his native Greek with Bates President Clifton Daggett Gray, a classicist, during haircuts. It was President Gray who admitted John as a student after service in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He went on to earn two bachelor’s degree (Bates, B.A. in history and government, Gorham State, B.S.), two master’s degrees (Univ. of Conn and Boston Univ.), and a doctorate (Boston Univ.) Appointed to the faculty in 1966, he transformed the education department to integrate a hands-on approach. The goal, he said, was to give aspiring teachers skills that can’t be learned in a college classroom. He continued to help out in his father’s barber shop until 1971, and lived in OOB nearly his entire life. He published several books on the history of the town, and was inducted into its high school hall of fame. Before Bates, he was on the faculties of the Univ. of Connecticut and Hartford Univ. He was the first president of the Maine Chapter of the Assn. of State Teachers and New England Colleges, and president of the Maine Teachers Assn. Survivors include wife Viola Fedorczyk Margarones; children Estelle ’88, Joseph, Margot, Katherine, and Melissa ’96; and nine grandchildren. Charles Isaac Pendexter, Sept. 30, 2010 A geologist by training, Charles Pendexter was a gardener by choice. His undergraduate degree was in geology, and he received a Fulbright to study in London. He then earned a master’s and a doctorate at Washington Univ. His career was as a research geologist with Exxon. Following his retirement in 1981, he rented an apartment in Gorham and set about building a garden on a patch of land the landlord regarded as a dump. He spent up to six hours a day in the garden, and was especially fond of roses and lilies. His uncle was George Pendexter, Class of 1900. Survivors include a cousin, Jane Pendexter Delson ’72. James Miller Towle, Jan. 23, 2011 An economics major, James Towle worked in sales, primarily with radio stations and automobile dealerships. He was a member of the East Longmeadow (Mass.) School Committee, a Little League coach, and a church volunteer. He enjoyed model railroads, Masters swimming, and golf. His wife, Arlene Mack Towle, died last year. Survivors include children
62 Bates FALL 2011
DONALD GRAVES ’52 gave this advice to teachers of writing: Write. Just as art instructors create art, and music instructors create music, teachers who teach writing should write. Bradford, Phillip, Andrea, and Gregory; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Ellen Swift Marston, Jan. 13, 2011 Ellen Swift Marston was a founding member of the Topsham Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her family served a mission together at the temple in Washington, D.C. Survivors include husband Bruce Marston; children Susan, Marilyn, Serena, and Thomas; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. 1949 Irving Charles Davis, Oct. 7, 2010 Hank Davis served in the Air Force during World War II, and was recalled to active duty during the Vietnam War. His military career spanned 30 years, and he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. An economics major, he worked for Travelers Insurance and for the Maine Department of Economic Development. He was a longtime member of the Herman Masonic Lodge and American Legion Post No. 4. Survivors include children Dale Goodwin and Mark Davis; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Charles Edgar Fehlau, Dec. 5, 2010 Chuck Fehlau was able to leave high school after three years and take courses at Bates before military service intervened. He was in the Navy during World War II, stationed in Argentina and Newfoundland. When he returned to the College, he threw himself into his studies and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in physics. He had a long career with General Electric, eventually becoming the engineering manager in the heavy military electrical department. A licensed navigator, he was a member of the U.S. Power Squadron for many years, and a member of several yacht clubs near his home in Syracuse. He served in the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Syracuse Univ. for many years, and was an active member of his church. Survivors include his wife, Lois Javier Fehlau ’49; children Eric Fehlau, Patricia Nickles, Karl Fehlau, and Kenneth Fehlau; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister Lois L. Kemp ’53. Another sister, Ruth E. Prince ’51, predeceased him. Maurice Stillman Flagg, Aug. 16, 2010 Maury Flagg took his degree in English and turned it into a long career in public relations and fundraising, primarily for the Red Cross. He took a five-year leave from the Red Cross to serve as director of information services to President Johnson’s Committee on Mental Retardation. During that time, he also served briefly as director of communication and information for the Council for Exceptional Children. He was also very active in town and county affairs in Arlington, Va. Survivors include children Maurice (Buck) and Anthony Flagg, and two grandchildren. Another son, Richard, predeceased him.
Robert Duane Ramsdell, Jan. 9, 2010 A psychology major at the College, Bob Ramsdell switched fields and earned a doctorate in philosophy at Boston Univ. He went on to found the philosophy department at Framingham State College and was on its faculty for 30 years. He was a contributing member of the Philosophy of Education Society. Following retirement in 1990, he taught at the Harvard Institute of Learning and Retirement. His marriage to Nancy Haines ’54 ended in divorce. Survivors include partner Shirley Bean and stepchildren Eric, Marilyn, and Ethan Zimmer. Winifred Sweet Register, Sept. 25, 2010 Despite living in California for most of her life, Winnie Sweet Register never lost her Maine accent. She and husband Frederick Register tried to move back to New England once, early in their marriage, but decided California was the place to be. She worked on and off over the years as she raised her family, including as a payroll clerk for the U.S. Navy, as an associate engineer at Lockheed, and as a substitute math teacher. She also taught piano and volunteered for community concerts. Her husband survives her, as do children Daniel, Damon, and Valerie Register, and five grandchildren. Her late sister was Arline Sweet Noss ’49. 1950 Robert Daniel Cook, Nov. 11, 2010 Robert Cook turned 17 just in time to join the Navy near the end of World War II. He returned home to attend Bates, where he was a history and government major. He was active in the Newman Club and played intramural sports. In 1952, he joined Aetna Life Insurance Co, and retired 37 years later as a director of the company. Survivors include wife Joline Huard Cook; children Kathie Brielmann and Robert D. Cook Jr.; and two grandchildren. Donald Edwin Davis, Sept. 24, 2010 Don Davis deferred college until after service in the Navy during World War II. A math major, he returned to campus shortly after graduation to marry Barbara “Scotty” Mason in the Chapel. In 1960, he completed a master’s of science degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His career was at Pratt and Whitney, where he was an engineer, retiring in 1987. He and his wife led the beautification committee in Bloomfield, Conn., planting some 28 gardens and seven highway medians. He was a ski instructor at Butternut and Blandford ski areas. Along with his wife, survivors include children Donna Davis Keenan ’75, Scott Davis, and Andrea Davis-Griffin; son-inlaw Russell Keenan ’75; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Diane Wolgast Parker, Dec. 20, 2010 Diane Wolgast Parker and her husband, David, took full advantage of sabbaticals and vacation time to travel spontaneously and leisurely throughout Europe. Both were teachers in New York. Diane earned her teaching credentials through SUNY and taught in Great Neck, N.Y. She advocated for civil rights and universal healthcare. Fully involved in the life of her retirement community, she especially supported its scholarship fund for its employees. Her husband died in 2007, and son William in 2006. Survivors include daughter Pamela Parker and three grandchildren. Frank Leslie Walker Jr., Oct. 24, 2010 A biology major at Bates, Frank Walker made his career at Liberty Mutual as a claims adjuster and then manager of claims in Manchester, N.H. He used his knowledge of biology to grow roses at his home there. He taught himself to invest by reading, one of his favorite pastimes, and in turn became an experienced investor. His wife, Madeline Cutler Walker, died in 2007. Survivors include children Cheryl Walker and Brian Walker, and four grandchildren.