she enrolled in the School of Education and obtained a master’s in teaching. For 21 years, she taught English at San Leandro High School, a vocation she truly loved, and she volunteered in promoting literacy efforts for people at Folsom State Prison and the California Youth Authority. Her volunteerism also extended to Habitat for Humanity, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and her local teachers’ union. At Mills, Lynda was a constant presence. When she won the AAMC’s Outstanding Volunteer Award at Reunion 2013, her ensuing Quarterly profile noted that “few AAMC events happen without her involvement.” She said then: “Long before Mills would teach me ‘Remember who you are and what you represent,’ my parents taught me that if you have something to give, then you must give.” In addition to the many events she helped with, Lynda served as vice president on the Board of Governors for several years, starting in 2006. In celebrating her life, Lynda’s family noted how much she loved Mills, and her funeral repast was held at RAH. Lynda died on May 12 in Oakland. She is survived by three siblings, two nephews, many cousins, and a wide array of admirers, beloved students, and friends.
Crisley Haydis Bauer ’84, TCRED ’85, April 3, in Berkeley. The tuberculosis epidemic defined her life: It took her parents when she was 3 and left lasting damage on her lungs. It also prompted her work in wellness, which peaked when she testified about tuberculosis before Congress in the 1990s. Crisley was a resumer at Mills, even appearing in a San Francisco Examiner piece about the journey, graduating with a degree in American civilization 41 years after she finished high school. She is survived by two children, including daughter Lynda Bauer ’77, and many nieces and nephews.
Faculty & Staff
Dana Robinette ’01, January 14, in Pensacola, Florida. She later graduated from Pensacola State College, and she earned a master’s degree in accounting from the University of West Florida. Dana worked the business side of retail for many years. She is survived by her father, stepmother, two siblings, and her fiancé, Ron Perry.
Warren Kunstman, spouse of the late Carol Fleming Kunstman ’48, November 11, 2019, in Florissant, Missouri.
Cybil Nelson ’09, June 24, 2022, in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She graduated from Humboldt State with a degree in biology, hoping to one day preserve native plant and animal habitats with the US Forest Service. Cybil volunteered with organizations such as Engineers Without Borders and documented her work as a conservation biologist on YouTube. She was also a talented dancer and loved all manner of outdoor sports and activities. She is survived by her parents, a sister, two nephews, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles. William “Will” Gluck, MFA ’15, MA ’16, June 22, 2022, in Lincoln, Massachusetts. At Mills, he won the Margaret Lyons Music Prize for Excellence in Composition. As an Oakland-based musician, Will worked with guitar, piano, pipe organ, and electronic media, and his composition “For Emily Dickinson” was performed at the Center for New Music in San Francisco six weeks before his death. He battled glioblastoma for 10 years, and he donated his brain to the Harvard Brain Bank to help the search for a cure. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, a niece, and many friends.
Peter Dodge, former consulting architect, October 22, 2021, in Santa Rosa, California.
Spouses and Family James Abts, spouse of Jane Simonton Abts ’51, October 16, 2019, in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Anthony Diez, spouse of Julia Prentiss Diez ’63, April 5, in Oakland.
Victoria Read, parent of Elizabeth Read McKee ’78 and Susan Read ’80, May 29, 2017, in San Jose. Edmond Emile Reed, spouse of Kimberlee Currans Reed ’95, May 22, in Opelousas, Louisiana. Yvonne Sporer, parent of Michaela Sporer Thompson ’15 and the late Denise Sporer Keefe ’74, January 2, 2021, in Oakland. Robert Sliter, spouse of Stuart Johnson Sliter ’61, May 18, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Bill Thomas, spouse of Marge Miskelly Thomas ’67 and parent of Katherine Thomas ’88 and Megan Thomas ’93, May 25, in Sonoma. Bernard Widofsky, spouse of the late Joyce Goodwin Widofsky ’59, March 27, 2022, in New Orleans.
Friends Alpha Mae Beamer, former Associate Council member, October 13, 2020, in Piedmont, California. Elaine Halnan, May 4, in Berkeley. Frances Zavis, March 19, 2021, in Menlo Park, California. FA L L 2 0 2 2
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