1957 h. Blair Klein died December 18, 2011 of pancreatic cancer in St. Croix Falls, Wisc. Born Oct. 5, 1938 in St. Paul to Horace Dudley Klein ’27 and Kate Watkins Skiles ’29. He graduated from St. Paul Academy, Princeton University and University of Minnesota Law School. He served as an Assistant Attorney General under Doug Head. He then became the first Senate Counsel, serving in that capacity until 1971 when he and his family moved to the state of Wyoming. He practiced oil and gas law with Marathon Oil Company in Casper. He then moved to Buffalo, Wyoming where he was engaged in private practice until his retirement in 1999. He returned to Wisconsin to manage Big Rock Creek Farm in St. Croix Falls. He is survived by 5 children, Daphne Klein (Zachary Kaplan), Horace “Hoddy” (Alecia) Klein, Philipp (Dr. Ann) Klein, Frederick (Jill) Klein, and Dr. Kate (Mike) McGoldrick, 13 grandchildren and Eloise Morley. He is also survived by sister, Kate “Minty” Piper ’55 and brother, Allan Klein ’64. He had wide ranging interests including forestry, conservation, hunting, fishing, and cooking. He was also active in local government serving as Justice of the Peace for Buffalo, Wyoming and Town Clerk for St. Croix Falls township.
1961 Judith “Jann” Vogel died January 9, 2012. She was born in Paris, Texas, to Marcus Dudley and Ann (Parkin) Hilker. She attended Summit School and the University of Georgia. She enjoyed travel, cruising, politics, sports, needle pointing, her three black labs, and spoiling her grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family at the cabin in northern Minnesota and at their winter home in the Florida Keys. Preceded in death by her mother, Ann (Parkin) Hilker. Survived by loving husband, H. Charles “Chuck” Vogel; two children, Bob (Nancy) Verhey ’86, and Anne (Jason) Paquet; five grandchildren, Allie ’18, Jennie, Bobby,
Tommy Verhey, and Jonathan Paquet; also, her father, Dr. Marcus Dudley (Sandy) Hilker, St. Paul; brother, Marcus (Georgie); half-brother, Chris (Suzanne) Hilker; niece, Taylor and nephew, Matthew (Hilker) and many extended family members.
1968 Robert “Rick” Olson of Putney, Vt., died of metastatic melanoma on Sunday, March 25, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. Robert was born March 28, 1950, in Empire Township, Minn., spending his childhood on his family’s grain and livestock farm. He attended St. Paul Academy where he was a formidable athlete, playing defensive end, hockey defense, and baseball catcher in a style that was in marked contrast to his otherwise pacific nature. He attended Harvard University and received a BS in Agricultural Economics and Resource Development from the University of Minnesota in 1974. Soon after he fell in love with Torie Albert and they traveled the world together before marrying in 1978. They moved to Putney in 1980 and renovated a Victorian carriage house in which they raised their two children, Jessamyn Rose and Oakley Christopher. For more than 25 years, he taught woodworking, set design and lighting at the Putney School. He ran his own wood shop, working as a designer and maker of custom furniture exhibited in galleries in New York City and Vermont. He was pre-deceased by his parents and two sisters; and is survived by his wife Torie; children Jessamyn of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Oakley of New York City; brother Stephen and his wife, Julia; six nieces and nephews, and 10 grand nieces and nephews.
1986 Chanya Charles died peacefully at home on February 3, 2012, after a three-years plus fight with colon cancer. Chanya was an early world citizen,
moving to New York, Bangkok, and then St. Paul by the time she was four years old. In 7th grade, Chanya entered SPA, where she enjoyed friends, teachers, classes and sports. After graduating from SPA in 1986, Chanya enrolled at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she focused on Asian Studies and Anthropology. After graduating in 1990, Chanya spent one year teaching English in Japan and two years at the Social Research Institute at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, where her parents had settled. She received her Master’s Degree in Communication and Development at the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center in 1995. The same year, she married classmate John Charles. Chanya and John settled in Washington, DC, where Chanya worked for the Academy for Educational Development in international aid and development. In 1999, son Nathan was born, followed by Justin in 2002. Chanya was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in May 2009 and fought valiantly against the disease until her death. Chanya is survived by her parents, John and Martha Butt; her brother Paul and his family; her sons, Nathan and Justin; and their father, John.
Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Friends James Duscher died on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Jim became employed at St. Paul Academy as head chef working there until his retirement in 1989. They moved back to Sleepy Eye in the fall of 1989 where they enjoyed their retirement. Jim enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and camping at various lakes in Minnesota with family and friends. His daughter, Barb Holmes, is currently a staff member at SPA. Alice Rogers, a long time faculty member at the Lower School, died on January 18, 2012. Alice served as the Lower School principal prior to the merger, a fourth grade homeroom teacher for many years, and the LS librarian.
Spring | Summer 2012 | SPA
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