In Memory John Marshall Topham ’38 John Topham, 94, died peacefully at home December 25, 2014. His wife Dorothy Emory Topham passed away in June 2014 at age 93 after 74 years of marriage. A construction engineer, John managed such diverse projects as Midtown Plaza, Genesee Hospital addition and the New York State Pavillion of the 1964 Worlds Fair. While building a hospital in Saudi Arabia in 1977 he became interested in Bedouin culture. He collected many textiles and artifacts which were shown at Memorial Art Gallery and then taken to other museums by the Smithsonian. John wrote Traditional Arts and Crafts of Saudi Arabia based on his collection. The family came to Pittsford in 1966, after following his construction projects to various locales, mostly southeastern U.S. and Ossining, N.Y. An avid gardener, John was particularly proud of his prize- winning heritage tomatoes. In 2010 they moved to Westhampton, N.Y., to be near two daughters. Virginians by birth, John and Dorothy were buried in Wytheville, Va. They are survived by loving children, John Topham, Zollikofen, Switzerland; Anne Holsclaw, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.; Pamela Topham, Sag Harbor, N.Y., Nancy Mueller, Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; Dee Topham, Rochester, N.Y.; Elizabeth Topham McCombe, Westhampton, N.Y.; 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters, Janet Topham Byrd, Atlanta, Ga., Carol Griffith, Durham, N.C.; and his wonderful caretaker, Tracy Godley, East Moriches, N.Y. John M. Alden ’43 John M. Alden, 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on October 27, 2014 at The Baptist Home in Rhinebeck, N.Y. John was born on August 21, 1925, in Hamilton, Bermuda, to Captain Charles S. Alden (USN) and Mabel Smith Alden. He
graduated from Eaglebrook School, Deerfield, Mass., in 1940 and St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, Del., in 1943. He joined the US Navy and went to Boot Camp at Bainbridge, Md., followed by the V-12 Program at the University of Pennsylvania and Midshipman School at Abbott Hall, Northwestern University where he received a commission as Ensign USNR. In November of 1945, he was stationed on the USS Missouri when it arrived back from the Pacific after the signing of the peace treaty with Japan and remained there until June 1947. He returned to the University of Pennsylvania (the Wharton School) graduating in 1949. He worked in Boston as an accountant for Charles F. Rittenhouse & Company until May 1951 when he was called back to service in the Navy during the Korean War. John served in the Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander for 21 years, retiring in 1965. While stationed at the headquarters of the Commander of the Eastern Sea Frontier in New York City John met his future wife, who was a LTJG. They were married on February 8, 1953 at St. Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan. They lived in Great Neck, N.Y., from 1953-1960 while he worked for Sperry Gyroscope Company in Great Neck, N.Y. John and Nancy’s four daughters were born on Long Island and in 1960 the family moved to Staatsburg, N.Y. He worked for IBM in Poughkeepsie and Kingston retiring in 1987. John and Nancy enjoyed travelling especially to England, Scotland, Switzerland, Bermuda and Stowe, Vt. John remains a very special husband, father and grandfather. He sailed, played golf and tennis, skied, fed his grandsons oranges, walked his three black labradors through the parks in Staatsburg, went to his daughters’ school functions, and loved taking care of his home which he called “Hame Noo,” which is Scottish Gaelic for “Home Now.” He welcomed many of his neighbors and friends to enjoy their swimming pool and to sled on the Alden’s Hill in the winter. When he first moved to Staatsburg he served as a fireman. He is Emeritus Senior Warden on the vestry of St. Margaret’s Church, and was a wonderful member of the community. He was a member of the Board of
Directors of Hudson River Heritage (HRH) where he served as treasurer, and is an honorary member of the Edgewood Club in Tivoli. The Alden’s lived at Hame Noo until 2009 when they moved to Arbor Ridge in Rhinebeck, N.Y. John leaves his loving wife of 61 years, Nancy C. Alden of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; as well as his four daughters, Nancy “Missy” Alden of Washington, D.C.; Elizabeth “Betsy” Alden (Bonnie May) of Florence, Mass.; Mary Alden (John White) of Staatsburg, N.Y.; and Patricia “Patty” Hasson (Tom Hasson) of Barnard, Vt. He also leaves two grandsons, Bradley A. States of Del Rio, Texas, and Daniel D. States of Ithaca, N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Charles Seymour Alden; and two sons-in- law, Edward States and Daniel Ogle. Mr. Alden was the nephew of John G. Alden, a yacht designer. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, in particular his brother’s three daughters; and many cousins in the United States and in Bermuda.
Edward J. Armstrong ’44 Jouett Armstrong died in February 2015 while in Houston where he was seeking medical treatment. Jouett had lived for many years in Mexico City with his wife of 57 years, Alicia de Armstrong. Sra de Armstrong fondly remembers that he spoke perfect Spanish when they first met, though with something of a Venezuelan accent because he had been working for Sears, Roebuck & Co. in Caracas before he was assigned to Mexico City. Jouett and Alicia went on to live in Chicago and Brussels for his work before returning to Mexico City for his final assignment with Sears. Sra de Armstrong said she and Jouett met only 13 times before they were married, but that this must have been enough because they were happily married for so many years. She noted that, un Americano casado con una Latina, si funciona, pero una Americana casada con un Latino no funcionaria. (An American man married to a Latin woman can work, but an American woman married to a Latin man would not.)”
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