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Mercersbu rg magazi n e wi nter 2014
University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he worked on his dissertation with the preeminent linguist and thinker Noam Chomsky. Ivan was the Sadie Dernham Patek Professor in Humanities and a professor of linguistics and symbolic systems at Stanford University, where he had taught since 1979 after beginning his career as an assistant professor of linguistics at Penn. He was an originator and developer of generalised phrase structure grammar (GPSG), head-driven phrase structure grammar (HPSG), and sign-based construction grammar, and authored or co-authored numerous books and publications. Ivan was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Linguistic Society of America, and earned the LSA’s Victoria Fromkin Prize for distinguished contributions to the field of linguistics. He was the featured speaker for Mercersburg’s Cum Laude Convocation in 2008. Survivors include his wife, Penelope “Penny” Eckert.
class agent, as a member of the Class of 1987’s reunion committee, and on the Alumni Council. His father, Regent Emeritus and former director of development and alumni affairs Thomas W. Mendham Sr., died in February 2013. Bucky is survived by two sons, his mother, and a sister, Holly Mendham Hartshorn ’90.
’68
Breandan C. Fay, September 25, 2013. (Fowle/Main, Marshall, football) Breandan was completing work on a master’s in business administration and lived in Pittsburgh. In addition to his parents, survivors include two brothers (including Ryan Fay ’01); his grandfather, Bob Fay Sr. ’46; and an uncle (Bob Fay Jr. ’81) and two stepuncles (Chip Strotz ’69 and Bob Strotz ’73).
Lawrence S. Stewart, April 10, 2013. (Marshall, Caducean Club, Jurisprudence Society, Spanish Club, Paideia, KARUX, News, Astronomy Club, cross country, wrestling) Larry graduated from Loyola University and Auburn University. He taught Spanish at Auburn, was a general contractor, and worked as a project manager in California, Texas, and Florida, and internationally in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, and Aruba. Survivors include a son and a brother.
’73
Robb F. Howell II, February 27, 2013. (Chapel usher, dorm prefect, Caducean Club, Gourmet Club, Film Club, Youth Club, football, lacrosse, swimming) Robb graduated from Ohio State University and joined Hobart Brothers, initially overseeing the establishment of Saudi Hobart Welding Industries in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. His career in welding spanned more than 20 years. Most recently, he was the owner and president of MCD Plastics and Manufacturing in Piqua, Ohio. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn; a son and daughter; and two brothers and two sisters.
’77
Bruce J. Findlay, May 17, 2008. (Chorale, Madrigal Singers, Stony Batter, dorm prefect, News, Computer Club, Chess Club, fencing) Bruce graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He had several patents registered with the U.S. Patent Office, worked in the software business, and lived in Taiwan. Survivors include his wife, Ellen, as well as a brother (Andrew ’79) and sister (Lois ’80).
’82
Thomas M. Covell, June 17, 2013. (Fowle) Thomas attended Boston University and lived in Boulder, Colorado. Survivors include his father, mother and stepfather, and a brother.
’87
Thomas W. Mendham Jr., September 14, 2013. (Keil, Marshall, baseball, wrestling, Chorale, Octet, Stony Batter) Bucky graduated from Muhlenberg College and worked in finance for Merrill Lynch and Citigroup; he lived near Princeton, New Jersey. He served as a
’03
Justin F. Vaughan, May 31, 2013. (Main, Irving, football, Peer Group) Justin attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Pennsylvania State University. He was vice president and director of technology at Carnegie Wealth Strategies in Atlanta. Survivors include his parents, his brother, his girlfriend, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
’05
Former faculty/staff/friends Hampton P. Abney, former faculty member (1956–1963), head of the Spanish department, and director of dramatics, June 16, 2013. Roy G. Peck Jr., former staff member (1956–2010) and father of Advancement & Alumni Relations staff member De-Enda Rotz, July 27, 2013. Robert W. Rankin, faculty emeritus, June 17, 2013. Bob was born in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from the University of Connecticut and did graduate work there and at Trinity College. He taught at Mercersburg from 1956 to 1992 and was head of the history department for 18 years. He was dormitory dean of both ’Eighty-eight Dormitory and Fowle Hall, and was also affiliated with Keil Hall. Bob served as a faculty adviser to the Senate and the Jurisprudence Society and as chair of the Discipline Committee, was in charge of the dining hall, and was a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and the American Historical Association. He received a Fulbright grant to study at the Institute of Political Studies at the University of Paris. Bob was Mercersburg’s 1991 Alumni Council Service Award honoree and lived in South Windsor, Connecticut. Survivors include a brother and several nieces and nephews. R. Champlin Sheridan, Regent Emeritus and father of Amy Sheridan Fazackerley ’89, August 7, 2013. Champ was a member of Mercersburg’s Board of Regents from 1991 to 1994; he had also served as vice chair of the board of trustees at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University.