Obituaries
1930s Joseph De May ’33 of Garden City, NY, died on June 16, 2015. He was predeceased by his first wife, Joan, and is survived by his wife, Sylvia. He is also survived by children Joseph, Jr., Toni Ellen, Joan Meagher (John), Peter, Richard (Anne), David, and Stephen (Linda); cherished grandchildren Lauren Meagher Wright, David Meagher, Erin Nicholas, and Matthew and Lindsey De May; and great-grandchildren Sienna and John Henry Wright and Kaetlyn Meagher. He was the loving brother of the late Anthony J. De May, Florence Trippitelli, and Jane Macchione. A graduate of Poly Prep and Dartmouth College, Joseph served as a major in the U.S. Army in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star. Rockwell Staniford ’38 died peacefully at his home in Vero Beach, FL, April 22, 2016. He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Frances Ingersoll Staniford (Cricket); daughters Caro lyn Staniford Sollis, Martha Staniford Myers, and Virginia Staniford Reid; grandsons Edwin Bryant Sollis II, Jonathan Gardner Sollis, and Alexander Rockwell Reid; and numerous nieces and nephews. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Rocky was a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific in the U.S. Coast Guard as Captain of the LST 168. He spent many years in Westhampton Beach, NY, and his working life in Rochester, NY, where he was an active volunteer and Captain of the Brighton Fire Department.
1940s Thomas Constant ’42 of Alexandria, VA, died on February 6, 2015. Tom, son of Victor and Ester Constant, loving husband to Clarine Aust Constant, passed away from complications of dementia. He is survived by his son, Stephen, five nieces, and one nephew, and
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T H E B L U E & T H E G R AY
was predeceased by his brother, Vic. He grew up in Beijing, China. Returning to the States, he followed his father’s lead and graduated West Point in 1946. He served in the Korean War, Tokyo, Taiwan, and Vietnam before retiring as a colonel in 1970. Tom and Clarine lived in Alexandria 40 years. He loved volunteering at Mt. Vernon Hospital. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with Clarine, who passed in 2009. Gerald Phillips ’43, attorney, ethicist, and philanthropist, passed away on October 19, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA, surrounded by his devoted family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Francine A. Phillips; daughter, Stacy D. Phillips; son, Louis M. Phillips; daughter-in-law, Jackie Phillips; and grandchildren Andrew and Alison Bloomgarden and Bobby and Jeffrey Phillips. Phillips began his career in 1950 at the New York law firm Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, Krim & Ballon, founded by his father, Louis Phillips. Concurrently from 1950 to 1983, he was a Vice President of United Artists, leading its Litigation Department and its Special Markets Division. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Chairman of WNYC, New York’s flagship public radio station. Until his death, he served as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Law. Russell Tilley, Jr., M.D. ’43 passed away quietly at his home in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2016. Dedicated doctor, loving husband and father, loyal colleague and friend, Dr. Tilley is survived by his wife, Betty Ritter Tilley; his son, Richard M. Tilley; his granddaughter, Kathleen Mayo; his sonin-law, John Mayo; and his brothers, David and Peter. He is predeceased by his beloved daughter, Kimberly Ann Tilley, who passed in 2013 at age 60. Alan Cruikshank ’44 died on February 19, 2015. He is predeceased by his daughters, Jill and Janet, and brother, Warren. He is survived by his wife, Fran; son, Andrew (Cathy St. Denis); and sister, Carol. After Poly, he graduated from Princeton in 1948 with a bachelor’s in engineering. He enlisted