According to the 1950 El Archivero, “Morris has added more to the school life than any other two boys. ‘Chuckie’s’ sense of humor and good common sense make him an extremely likeable and competent person. Teachers’ trust in him and boys’ respect for him are evident from the positions he has so creditably held”: as a senior, he was “School Chairman, School Prefect, Head of the Committee of X, President of the Bit and Spur, Sports Editor of The Notes, and a principal player in the Dramatic Club. In scholastic work and athletics, he also stands at the head of this class. ‘Chuckie’ works hard for his grades and, as a result, has received at least three commendations for his grades and effort every year. He is a four-year letterman and captain of this year’s undefeated Tennis Team. He has also made the varsity teams for several years in Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball. With the mind and good sense Morris has, he will never have to trust to luck.”
wife; his sons Morris Hart Noble of Marin his wife Sheila Bruseth Preston of Seattle, County and William Leet Noble of San Fran- Washington, and daughter Kayla. cisco; and one grandchild. James Barton Preston, CdeP ’64, died July 18, 2000, just 13 months after speaking at Thacher’s 1999 Reunion (see page 61 in the Spring/Summer 1999 issue of The Thacher News for text). At that time, he said, “When my own time comes to leave this planet as we know it, it will be with ineffable sadness, but also with the knowledge that this is something perfectly natural in the way of the world…I will have satisfaction in knowing that my life has touched others, and others have touched mine. And it will be especially satisfactory, to know that my name will be added to those who have gone before at Thacher. Our ability to touch others, and be touched by them, and hold memories precious, may be one of the very few intimations of immortality any of us can enjoy.”
While at Thacher, Jim served on The Notes Board, as the Business Manager for El Archivero, and as Editor of Ethos (Thacher’s literary magazine). He also participated in the Mop and Broom Club, Third Soccer Team, Intramural Tennis, Book Committee, and Religious Committee. He received the Short Story Award for The Notes in his junior year. He matriculated to Union, but transferred to the Morris matriculated to Harvard College, University of California, Santa Barbara, where where he earned an honors degree in history. he attained a bachelor’s degree in English and He went on to Harvard Medical School and a master’s degree in English Literature. postgraduate training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the Uni- Jim worked as an Editor, Publisher, and Owner versity of California, San Francisco. He served of Special Child Publications; he also published two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Jack Huyler’s The Stamp of the School in 1994. Jack reported in his book that “during mainly in Korea. the 1961-62 school year, Tony Power, Stu ErMorris received a resident teaching award at skine, and Jim Preston (all CdeP ’61) occaChildren’s Hospital in San Francisco, where he sionally took leftover pancakes and French briefly served as chairman of medicine and for toast from the Dining Room. After suitable many years was on the board of directors. He curing on the Middle School roof, the three established an endowed teaching chair in in- boys would bring them in, varnish them, stick ternal medicine at California Pacific Medical address labels and stamps on them, and mail Center to memorialize the contributions of his them to friends, as “genuine souvenirs of The father and brother, Charles Edward Noble, Thacher School.” Part of Jim’s submission for CdeP ’48, who died in 1993. In addition, Mor- the time capsule buried in Thacher’s Centennial ris served for many years on the Board of Di- Year (1989) that is to be opened in 50 years rectors of Town School in San Francisco (his read: “What matters [for making our lives school prior to Thacher) and Thacher’s Board count for something] is how we think and feel; of Trustees. He served as director and presi- how we conduct ourselves moment to modent of the Pacific Union Club and a director ment; how we treat our fellows; what can we of the California Tennis Club. He was a mem- learn, and someday teach, that has enduring ber of the Society of California Pioneers and rather than ephemeral value…Knowledge of this sort is not handed out like so much the Frontier Boys. candy…It is not so much transmitted, as it is After retiring from medical practice in 1995, earned…By attending Thacher, I think you Morris continued to teach as an emeritus clin- have a slight edge.” In 1998, he founded Charical professor of medicine at U.C.S.F. He and ter Investigations, a private detective firm. Jim his wife of 37 years, Winifred Brady Noble, served as a loyal Class Representative for also traveled extensively. He is survived by his Thacher for over 20 years. Jim is survived by
Thacher Friends Rosalind “Roz” Murray Boswell, wife of James G. Boswell II, CdeP ’41, died in midAugust, 2000. She is also survived by their three children: Jody, James, CdeP ’70, and Lorraine; and many grandchildren, including Elizabeth, CdeP ’95, and Cam, CdeP ’97.
Obituaries
Walter Morris Hart Noble, M.D., CdeP ’50, died Friday, July 28, 2000, at his home in San Francisco. For three decades, Morris taught medicine and maintained a successful practice that began in association with his father, Dr. Charles A. Noble, CdeP ’19. Born in San Francisco, Morris was a fourth-generation Californian and a descendant of physicians and educators.
John E. Cahill, Sr., a construction contractor whose family-owned firm helped build San Francisco’s skyline, died Saturday, September 23, 2000. He is survived by his wife Helen, of San Rafael; three sons, John, Jr., of Kentfield, Gerald of Mill Valley, and Edward of Stockton; a daughter, Ann Fidanque of Eugene, Oregon; two brothers, Richard of Ross, and J. Peter, CdeP ’42, of Woodside; and 12 grandchildren including Kimberly, CdeP ’99, Kevin ’01, and Chris ’03. Florence Ehrhardt, widow of Thacher’s Music Director from 1946 to 1977 C. Michael Ehrhardt, died on August 10, 2000. She is survived by their four children: Gina, Michael, CdeP ’62, Modena, and Rebecca. Helen I. Lochrie, who for many years worked as Thacher’s admission secretary, died Saturday, August 12, 2000 at Acacias Care Center in Ojai. She was very detail-oriented and assured that “all loose ends were tied,” according to Jack Huyler. “She could deal efficiently with almost anything that had to do with college counseling, admission, or assistant headmastering.” She is survived by her brother Arthur Lockrie, Jr., of San Diego and sister Elizabeth Hoag McGlynn of Monterey. Carmen Robertson, mother of Sydney Robertson, CdeP ’80, died on Tuesday, September 26, 2000, following a traffic accident in which her husband, Jack, was also injured. She’s credited for organizing the art in Ojai, and making it the artistic mecca that it is today. She is survived by her husband; four sons: Nick, Drew, Winslow, and Cullen; one daughter, Sydney, who is presently working for School Year Abroad in Rennes, France; and five grandchildren. Helena Duryea Thacher, wife of George B. Thacher, CdeP ’20, died on June 27, 2000. She is also survived by sons: Philip, CdeP ’54, and John, CdeP ’57; and grandchildren: Nara, Jeffrey, Peter, CdeP ’84, Sherman, and Thomas, CdeP ’87. Virginia “Murps” Wheaton, wife of the late former Trustee George S. Wheaton, CdeP ’23, died Sunday, September 17, 2000. She is survived by two sons: George S. III, CdeP ’51, and John R., CdeP ’56; five grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. A memorial service was held at Casa Dorinda in Santa Barbara on Friday, September 29, 2000. e Spring/Summer 2000
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