52 IN MEMORIAM 52
’44 RH Serena Chesnut Fitz Randolph Crosby, 92, a retired partner in a real estate company, died January 29, 2018 in St. Augustine, Fla. Born in Birmingham, Ala., Chessie, as she was known, came to Rosemary Hall in 1942. She was General Sports Captain, in the Kindly Club, an Assistant Marshal and on the Chapel Committee, and President of the Dramatic Club. She also earned five bars on the Committee. She then worked on a farm in Vermont, where she learned to ski. Chessie later was a partner in the Sugar Mountain Resort Development Group in Banner Elk, N.C., later retiring to Florida, but spending summers in North Carolina. She enjoyed golf, tennis, skiing, and meeting new people. Widowed twice, she leaves four children and five grandchildren. ’45 C Warren G. Dennie, 90, the retired president of leather companies, died November 12, 2017 in West Chester, Pa. Born in Gloversville, N.Y., Warren was at Choate for one year; he played basketball and was in the Choral Club. After graduating, he was a Merchant Marine Cadet, and later was a Lieutenant J.G. in the Navy. Warren was President of Warden Leathers and the Logan Leather Corporation. Active in the community, he was President of the local school district, on the boards of the YMCA and YWCA, Chair of the Salvation Army board and President of the Fulton County Economic Development Corp. He leaves three sons, including Todd Dennie ’84, and six grandchildren. John N. Gosselin, 90, a retired executive with International Business Machines, died February 6, 2018 in Bridgeport, Conn. Born in Greens Farms, Conn., John came to Choate in 1944. He played league hockey, tennis, and crew, and was in the Camera Club. After graduating from Williams, he went to work for IBM in Waterbury, Conn., and soon thereafter was headquartered in Paris, from where he negotiated computer patent licensing and trade deals on five continents. John retired in 1995 as Director of Commercial Relations, but continued as a consultant to IBM. He leaves his wife, Betty Gosselin, P.O. Box 261, Greens Farms, CT 06838; three children; four grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
’47 C Robert E. Rothen, 88, a retired engineer, died December 30, 2017 in Willow Street, Pa. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Bob came to Choate in 1944; he was a Campus Cop, in the Choral Club, and treasurer of the Organ Fund Committee. He then graduated from MIT, where he was coxswain of varsity crew. After earning a master’s degree from New York University, he served in the Air Force. Bob was retired from AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, N.J.; while working for Bell he was project manager for communications at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Center in Orlando, Fla., and at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He enjoyed skiing, photography, woodworking, gardening, making chocolates and creating Christmas ornaments. He leaves his wife, Lucille Rothen, 624 Willow Valley Lakes Dr., Willow Street, PA 17584; two children; three stepchildren; five grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren. ’47 RH Rita Smith Igleheart, 89, an artist, died February 9, 2018 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. Born in Evanston, Ill., Rita came to Rosemary Hall in 1944; she then attended Columbia and the University of Connecticut. Before her marriage, she designed and constructed dioramas for the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Her many interests included historic preservation, antiques, dogs, and hunting. Rita leaves three children, including John “Jeb” Ebbott Jr. ’76, 108 Woods Point Rd., Manchester Center, VT 05255; three stepchildren; 15 grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. Her husband, the late John D. Igleheart ’45, attended Choate, as did her former husband, John P. Ebbott ’44; her sister, the late Kaye S. Hogan ’44, attended Rosemary Hall.
’49 C
Nevitt Danforth Oates, 85, a retired petroleum geologist, died December 14, 2017 in Chester, Conn. Born in New York, Dan came to Choate in 1946; he was a Campus Cop and in the Glee Club. After graduating from Williams, he was in the Army in Germany. Returning to the United States, he earned a master’s degree in petroleum geology from the University of Southern California. For many years, he worked internationally, retiring as
Far East Area Manager for Abex Corp. of New York. Dan enjoyed sailing, flying, and horses. He leaves his wife, Audrey Oates, 10 Orchard Rd., East Haddam, CT 06423. A brother, the late Reginald Oates ’49, also attended Choate.
’50 C James A. Brown, 86, the retired owner of a fence company, died January 16, 2018. Born in Meriden, Jim came to Choate in 1946; he lettered in football and wrestling, and was President of the Automobile Club. He attended Harvard, then served with the Army during the Korean War. He was the owner, for more than 30 years, of North Star Fences of Wallingford (previously North Haven Fence Co.). He leaves a daughter and three grandchildren. William T. Hadley, 86, a retired advertising and marketing executive, died January 13, 2018 in Chandler, Ariz. Born in New Haven, Bill came to Choate in 1950; he was Editor-in-Chief of the Brief, Secretary-Treasurer of the Weather Club, and in the Choral Club. After graduating from Penn’s Wharton School, he served in the Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. Bill worked for many years in the Boston area as an advertising and marketing executive and consultant for several firms, including the ad company BBD&O, the Investment Management Consultants Association, and his own firm, The Hadley Company. He was a former Secretary of the Foxboro (Mass.) Jaycees and enjoyed hiking, biking, and traveling. He leaves two children, including David Hadley, 5 Tanglewood Dr., Rose Valley, PA 19086; five grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter. A brother, the late John Hadley ’51, also attended Choate. ’51 C Marcus W. Ziegler Jr., 84, the retired owner of a clothing store, died November 30, 2017 in Beachwood, Ohio. Born in Cincinnati, Marc came to Choate in 1948. He lettered in crew and won a School rowing award; was Business Manager of the Brief; was in St. Andrew’s Cabinet; and was in the Current History, Automobile, and Western clubs. After graduating from Princeton, he was a navigator pilot in the Navy. He then was a buyer for the former Halle Brothers department store in Cleveland before owning his own store, Captain’s Quarters, in Rocky
River, Ohio. Marc enjoyed boating, and was a longtime volunteer with the Court Community Service and the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. He leaves his wife, Susan Ziegler, 1817 Ridgebrook Circle, Beachwood, OH 44122; three daughters, including Jennifer Ziegler ’82; and four grandchildren. A brother, the late Robert Ziegler ’55, also attended Choate.
’53 C John Vanderveer Gibson, 82, a retired banker, died December 28, 2017. Born in New York City, Van came to Choate in 1948; he was on the Board of the News and was a Campus Cop. After graduating from Colby College, he began his career with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, retiring as a Vice President. Van enjoyed world travel, deep sea fishing, and golf. He leaves two sons, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. ’56 C
David G. Flinn, 79, the retired owner of an electronics firm, died December 23, 2017. Born in Baltimore, David came to Choate in 1952; he was President of the Model Railroad Club and was in the Rifle Club and the Glee Club. After graduating from Cornell, he spent four years in the Air Force, then returned to the Ithaca, N.Y. area. In 1965 he opened a ham radio store, which later enlarged to sell stereo equipment and home electronics. He and his family lived on a farm where they raised Clydesdale horses, showing them at state fairs for 40 years. Active in the community, he was on the board of a local theater company, a President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and District Governor of the Rotary Club, winning the club’s highest award in 1991. A licensed pilot, David was a member of the East Hill Flying Club. He also enjoyed model railroads, and was on the board of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society. He leaves two sons, including Dale Flinn ’79, 847 Ridge Rd., Lansing, NY 14882; and two grandchildren.
’58 C
David A. Hovland, 76, a professor of psychology, died February 25, 2018 of cancer. Born in Chicago, David came to Choate in 1954. He played clarinet in the Orchestra and was Secretary-Treasurer of the German Club, Vice President of the Mineral Club,