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ter’s in education from Southern Connecticut State College. He retired to Portland in 1981 and became a substitute teacher; he also cooked at Howard Johnson’s and was a bagger at Hannaford’s under the watchful eye of Jim Moody ’53. He was a member of his 40th Reunion committee. Survivors include sons Dana and Jordan Kolovson. His late sister-in-law was June Klane Kolovson ’46. Cynthia Parsons Menck September 30, 2017 Cyn Parsons Menck taught English at several secondary schools in Los Angeles. After retiring in 1993, she worked part time for five years at DeVry Institute. She held a degree in English from Bates and a master’s in education from Harvard. She was a member of her 50th Reunion Committee, a former alumni class officer, and a member of the College Key. Survivors include husband Herman; and children Dana, Jocelyn, and Walter. Richard Francis Packard Sr. February 17, 2018 Richard Packard Sr. married before coming to Bates and following service in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from McCoy College after leaving Bates. Survivors include wife Bernice Ellis Packard; children Richard Jr., Irene Coyle, Holly P. Bell, and Ashley B. Packard; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister Harriet Packard Guinn ’55. Their late parents were Charles E. Packard 1919 and Lillian Woodbury Packard 1919. Lucille Higgins Pirie November 4, 2017 A sociology major, Lue Higgins Pirie remained politically active and was a flower gardener and an avid pie maker and reader. She worked in numerous positions in social services, including with special needs children, a state fuel assistance program, and a technology program for teachers, all in Massachusetts. She met her husband, James Pirie ’52, on a blind date. He survives her, as do children Lisabeth Pirie, Korinna Hudson, Christopher Pirie, and Sandra Pirie-St.Amour; and six grandchildren. William Yeaton Stevens January 12, 2018 Bill Stevens spent his entire career at IBM, starting out with summer jobs and eventually retiring with the rank of senior engineer. He was part of the group that designed System 360, still the design basis for large servers. His degree from Bates was in physics, and he earned a doctorate from Cornell. He worked with the Robinson Players throughout his time at Bates, and went looking for the local theater group when he started with IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He later served as the group’s president. An interest in firefighting prompted him to join the New Hamburg fire department as a volunteer. He later served both as fire chief and as chairman of the board of fire commissioners. Besides his wife, survivors include 86

Fall 2018

children Emily and Guy Stevens ’92; and one grandchild. His late parents were Philip L. Stevens ’22 and Eleanore Yeaton Stevens ’22. His grandfather was Harold W. Yeaton 1905, and his uncle was Samuel S. Yeaton ’28. John Alfred Sturgis December 25, 2014 John Sturgis was active in the Robinson Players at Bates while earning a degree in math. After a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, he went to work for Southern New England Telephone and AT&T and remained in the Navy Reserves for another 18. He retired in 1986. He and his wife, Barbara Earl Sturgis ’53, became amateur archaeologists and volunteered for the U.S. Forest Service. He was a member of his 40th and 35th Reunion committees. In addition to his wife, survivors include nephew Jeffrey D. Sturgis ’69 and nieces Carolyn Sturgis Hall ’68 and Linda Barker Koloski ’67. His other Bates relatives, now all deceased, were brothers Deane M. Sturgis ’49 and Harlan M. Sturgis ’43; sister Norine Sturgis Barker ’41; and sisters-inlaw Agnes Mahan Sturgis ’45 and Erma Rowe Sturgis ’46. Peter Sherrill Whitaker January 15, 2018 Pete Whitaker earned a master’s in sociology from Boston Univ. in addition to his degree from Bates. He made a career out of the YMCA, serving as the executive director in Saugus, Mass., for many years. He went on to be the executive director in Burlington, Vt., where he led a capital campaign to renovate and expand the YMCA building. In retirement he worked as a tutor with special-needs students. He was a class agent for many years and a member of his 55th, 50th, and 35th Reunion committees. Survivors include wife Marion Shatts Whitaker ’54; children Cherry Reiniger, Sarah Cochran, Rebecca Christensen, and Scott Whitaker; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

1954 Joanne Waldo Bixby April 1, 2018 Joanne Waldo Bixby worked as a teacher’s aide in Attleboro, Mass., for many years. She volunteered at the Attleboro Council on Aging, where she helped develop Attleboro’s Larsen Senior Center. A poet, she helped found the Attleboro Writers Workshop. A longtime member of the Second Congregational Church, she played an active role in church missions. Survivors include husband William L. Bixby; sons Nathan and Peter; and three grandchildren. Her late brother was Everett A. Waldo ’54. Arthur René LeBlanc Jr. April 12, 2018 “Work hard, play hard,” was the motto of Art LeBlanc. He worked hard at his three (consecutive) careers: a master navigator in the Air Force, an innkeeper in Kennebunk, and a restaurateur in

Kennebunkport. And he played hard: He was a fly fisherman, a skier, and, he claimed, the first person to water ski Marblehead (Mass.) Harbor. After 21 years in the Air Force, he retired as a major and bought the Kennebunk Inn, which was in disrepair. Hard work and a lot of help from family and friends brought the inn back to glory. He also served on the Kennebunk planning board and was an active member of the Rotary Club. He was chair of his 45th Reunion social committee and a member of his 50th and 60th Reunion committees. Survivors include wife Angela Marcucci LeBlanc; children Arthur III, Alan, Alyse LeBlanc Rodriguez ’85, Amira Bixby, and Alaina Tridente; and 12 grandchildren. Constance Manion Parker January 22, 2018 Connie Manion Parker put her Phi Beta Kappa English degree to good use. She worked at the library in Bloomington, Ind., before working for the Library of Congress as a cataloger. She also worked for a small publisher as a proofreader and editor, and was surprised one day to be given a manuscript by her Bates Cultch professor, John Wilkes. Survivors include children Julia and Doug Parker; and four grandchildren. Her late husband was Arthur Parker ’54. Barbara Meader Roof November 8, 2017 Barbara Meader Roof worked at the CIA for several years before marrying. She then made a career out of motherhood and volunteering. She was active for over 30 years in the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary near San Jose, Calif., serving twice as its president and as a hospital board member. In retirement, she and husband Richard traveled to over 25 countries. In addition to her husband, survivors include children David, Robin, and Steven; four grandchildren; and brother Raymon F. Meader ’44, whose late wife was Elaine Humphrey Meader ’42.

1955 Sylvia Hanson Atwater January 6, 2018 Sylvia Hanson Atwater was traveling in Europe when she discovered her avocation: photography. Her favorite subject was Cape Cod, where she vacationed as often as she could. She combined her interest in photography with a varied career: medical research, raising a family, working at the town library and as a secretary. Survivors include children Tracy Gray and Stephen and Scott Atwater; and three grandchildren. She was divorced from the late Robert E. Atwater ’55. Gerald David Bullock January 26, 2018 Jerry Bullock came to Bates after two years at Springfield College and service in the U.S. Navy. An economics major, he worked at The Hartford Insurance Group

for over 30 years as a regional supervisor. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Vernon (Conn.), the Wintonbury Flying Club, and Wampanoag Country Club. Survivors include wife Doris Costigan Bullock; children Jill McAllister, Clifford Bullock, Brenda Bullock Gothers ’85 and her husband David Gothers ’83; stepchildren Deirdre Armon and Jay Dillon; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His late brother-in-law was Lawrence A. Bailey ’49. Sherman Richard Prothero January 5, 2018 Dick Prothero almost didn’t make it out of high school. It took two shots at his senior year before the principal, Clarence Chatto 1912, saw talent in him and urged him to apply to Bates. He was accepted, and shortly before leaving for Bates he met the woman he would marry, Helen Anderson Prothero ’55. He built his Bates degree in biology and chemistry into a medical degree from Columbia. Since he always liked to fix things (he once disassembled a reproducing player piano, repaired its 1,000 parts, and reassembled it), it’s no surprise that he went into orthopedics. He completed his residency at Columbia and joined a practice on Cape Cod. He was a member of his 45th and 35th Reunion gift committees, and a campaign volunteer in the 1970s. Besides his wife, survivors include children Laurie Prothero Sperry ’81, and Stephen, Dan, Eric, and David Prothero; and nine grandchildren. His late brother was Jon C. Prothero ’60. Merriam Round Wheeler January 14, 2018 For a “housewife,” Mimi Round Wheeler was extraordinarily busy. She had most recently worked as a librarian for Pittsylvania (Va.) County, but before that she had taught elementary school, led Girl Scouts, worked elections, counted folks for the census, volunteered at her church, volunteered for the town where she lived, and ran the Welcome Wagon. A psychology major, she took graduate courses at the Univ. of Penn. (elementary education), Villanova, and Lynchburg College (library science). Oh, yes, she also ran a household for her four children, who survive her. They are Lynn Phillips, Martha Singleton, David Wheeler, and Scott Wheeler; other survivors include three grandchildren. Her late husband was Russell M. Wheeler ’53.

1956 Herman Newton Elston February 21, 2018 Bud Elston came to Bates to play football, but his education was interrupted by the Korean War. Afterward, he elected to attend the Univ. of Tulsa and earned a degree in geology. Survivors include wife Prudence; children Sara Mack, Laurie Champagne, Jennifer McNally, and Stephanie, Leslie, Jared and Alex Elston; and six grandchildren.