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administrator of Hodges Badge Co. of Portsmouth. More recently, she worked for the Newport (R.I.) Preservation Society at the Elms and the Breakers mansions. She leaves a brother and several nephews. Her mother, the late Virginia Vernon King ’24, also attended Rosemary Hall.
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Robert W. Durant, 79, a retired teacher, died July 4, 2016 of complications from cancer. Born in New York City, Bob came to Choate in 1952. He was Vice President of the Rod and Gun Club, was in the Skeet Club, and won a school prize for excellence in forestry. After graduating from Northwestern, he became an educator, teaching history, reading, and math, first in Connecticut and later in Lancaster, N.H. Bob was an avid outdoorsman, naturalist, author, artist, and wildlife photographer. He was also a drummer, touring the Pacific, Caribbean, and Europe with the Army Jazz Band during his time in the service. He leaves nephews, nieces, and cousins.
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Philip N. Miller, 75, a retired banker, died August 29, 2016 in Hilton Head, S.C. Born in South Orange, N.J., Phil came to Choate in 1956. He lettered in football and baseball and was in the Altar Guild and the French Club. After attending the University of Pennsylvania, he was a banker for Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust, Bankers Trust in New York, and elsewhere. Phil leaves a wife and three daughters. His father, the late George C. Miller ’31, also attended Choate.
’59 RH Frances Hetherington “Hether” Connor Turner, 75, a retired teacher, died September 30, 2016 in Nantucket, Mass. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Hether came to Rosemary Hall in 1957. She was on the Committee; in the Choir, Philomel, and the Whimawehs; and served as Fire Captain and a Marshal. After graduating from Skidmore, she married Sam Turner, a 1960 Choate graduate, and lived in the Rochester area. Hether taught biology and general science at RushHenrietta High School, retiring to raise her children. She was a Brownie and Cub Scout leader, a past president of the Allyn Creek Garden Club, and a past president of the Rochester General
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Hospital Twisting Twig. She was an avid reader and chaired several committees at her church. She leaves her husband, Samuel Turner II ’60, 13 Doc Ryder Dr., Nantucket, MA 02554; three children; 10 grandchildren; and a sister. Her grandmother, Dorothy Robinson ’07; her mother, Ruth Macomber Conner ’31; an aunt, Darcy Macomber Hetzel ’34; and cousins Darcy Hetzel Jagger ’61, Judith Hetzel Jones ’63, and the late Sarah Hetzel ’66, all attended Rosemary Hall.
’61 C Ralph J. Bunche Jr., 73, a retired investment banker, died of leukemia October 6, 2016 in London, England. Born in Washington D.C., Ralph, who was the first African American student admitted to Choate, was the son of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ralph Bunche Sr. He came to Choate immediately after a wellpublicized incident in which he and his father were refused membership in a New York tennis club because of their race. At school, he was in the Current History Club and played league football, basketball, and tennis. After graduating from Colby, Ralph earned a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, spent two years in the Army, serving in Vietnam, and did graduate work at Keele University in Staffordshire, England. He was an investment banker for many years with JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and ABN Amro Bank; he was also a financial and development consultant for companies in Africa. He worked with the Ralph Bunche Society, named for his late father, which seeks to raise the awareness of contributions by minorities and people of color in the field of international relations. He leaves his wife, Patricia Bunche, 53 Oakley St., London SW3 5NR, England; three children; and seven grandchildren. ’62 C
James H. Smith, 72, a retired Air Force officer, died September 30, 2016 in East Greenwich, R.I. Born in Nashua, N.H., Jim came to Choate in 1958; he lettered in football and was in the Rod and Gun Club and the Altar Guild. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving in California, South Korea, Alabama, Mississippi,
and Guam. He won many awards and decorations, and attained the rank of Captain. After he retired in 1988, Jim owned a construction consulting firm in Rhode Island. He leaves two sons, including Kevin Smith, 212 Marlborough St., East Greenwich, RI 02818; and two siblings.
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Charles H. Thomas, 71, a retired real estate agent, died September 20, 2016, in Aiken, S.C. Born in Washington, D.C., Chuck came to Choate in 1960; he lettered in soccer and hockey, was Captain of the tennis team, won the Stillman Tennis Trophy, and was one of those his classmates named “Best Athlete.” He was also Secretary-Treasurer of the Choate Athletic Association and was on the Dance Committee. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Rollins College, he moved to Vail, Colo., where he was a real estate agent, ski instructor, and tennis coach. He later moved to Aiken. Chuck enjoyed all sports, especially soccer, tennis, and skiing, and he was known to friends as the “Dancing King.” He leaves his wife, Jill Thomas, 910 Two Notch Rd. Southeast, Aiken, SC 29803; two children; a granddaughter; and two brothers.
’73 C Sidney Wilson Smith, 60, an information technology executive, died November 29, 2015 in Memphis, Tenn. Born in Memphis, Wilson came to Choate in 1969; he was on the staff of the Brief. He then attended Columbia. After working in the accounting department at Al-Mac trucking in New York, he moved to Time, Inc., where he became an executive in the nascent computer department. He later handled technology for Memphis Light, Gas and Water and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Wilson enjoyed computer games and social media. He leaves his partner, Cathy Ross, 1521 Linden Ave., Central Gardens, TN 38104-3808; and a brother. ’76 Lisa Zurn Victor, 57, died August 7, 2016 in Erie, Pa. Born in Erie, Lisa came to Rosemary Hall in 1972, and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in psychology. An accomplished equestrian, she also enjoyed reading, playing tennis, and spending time with family. Lisa leaves
two daughters; two grandchildren; her parents; four step-siblings; and four siblings, including Peter Zurn ’72, 6110 Buman Rd., McKean, PA 16426. Her father, Frank Zurn ’45, also attended Choate, as did an uncle, Roger Zurn ’61, and another uncle, the late John Zurn ’43.
’82 Michael J. Packevicz Jr., 52, an English teacher, died September 17, 2016 in Trumbull, Conn. Born in New Haven, Mike came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1978. He was Captain of varsity football and varsity track, and lettered in basketball; was President of the Student Council and a student representative on the Board of Trustees; sang in the Festival and Chamber choruses; and won the School Seal Prize and the Aurelian Honor Society Award. After graduating from Yale, Mike earned master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UConn. He taught English in China for two years, was a teacher and coach at Cheshire Academy for seven years, then returned to China, where he was Curriculum Director of the English Language Institute of China. At the time of his death, he was Director of Health Programs of the Yale-China Association. He was active in his church and sang with the Connecticut Yankee Chorus. He leaves his wife, Anne Packevicz, 142 Old Dike Rd., Trumbull, CT 06611; four children; and two sisters.
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