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In Memoriam Barbara Dev passed away on October 8, 2019 after a prolonged battle with ovarian cancer. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Vasu; children, Nisha Abdul-Cader and Rajan Dev; and her grandchildren, Isa, Jibreel, Hana and Aasha. Barbara taught chemistry at Webb from 1992 through 1993. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Holy Names College in Oakland, Calif. then attended the nuclear chemistry program at UC Davis where she earned her master’s degree. She earned her PhD in biochemistry at Loma Linda University. Kenneth Walter passed away on September 26, 2019 in Ogden, Utah, at the age of 80. He taught mathematics at Webb from 1971 to 1981. He is survived by his wife Zora who writes, “Teaching at Webb was a great experience.” Dr. Walter graduated from BYU with a PhD in nuclear physics.
1943 John Reynolds died on March 27, 2019. He is survived by his wife Susan, his children, Hewitt, Julianne and Marcy and many grandchildren. While at Webb, John was a member of Block W, editor of El Espejo and an Honor Committeeman. He went on to earn his BA from the University of Texas and then attended Harvard Medical School. After completing his residency at Boston City Hospital, John returned home to California to conduct Hematology Research at UCLA before deciding to open his own practice in Los Angeles. He was an assistant professor of medicine at UCLA, former chief of medicine and chief of staff t St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, a member of the American Society of Hematology and past president of the Los Angeles Academy of Medicine.
1944 David Armstrong passed away on July 4, 2019. He is survived by his children Meredith, Adelaide and Paul, WSC class of 1976 and many grandchildren. David spent only his senior year at Webb yet achieved a great deal during this time. He joined the Glee Club and was inducted into the C.S.F. for his outstanding academic achievement and graduated as valedictorian at the age of 16. David particularly enjoyed his biology course taught by Ray Alf and recalled how he taught while hanging from a ceiling pipe by one arm. After Webb, David enrolled at Caltech, but halted his studies to serve in the Navy during WWII, where he trained as an electronic technicians’ mate. After serving, he completed his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and
graduated in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in genetics. He then earned a PhD at UC Davis and married longtime family friend Mary Scott Meredith at the Vivian Webb Chapel. Following their marriage, David joined the family business, the internationally known Armstrong Nurseries, to become head of research where he developed new varieties of roses and peaches. He left the business in 1968 to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a medical doctor. After graduating from Creighton Medical School and ultimately pursuing a concentration in psychiatry, David worked at Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk until his retirement at the age of 78. We recently learned the sad news that James G. Craig passed away. He spent only two years at Webb before finishing High School at Poly High, but he always stayed connected to Webb over the years. After serving in the Navy’s V-12 Program, he attended USC and began work with M.S. Walker and Company as a salesman. He went on to work with the Port of Long Beach where he served as commissioner from 1965 to 1977. James continued work with the Port of Long Beach until his retirement and in 1997, hosted an urban field trip for Webb students and invited them for a tour of the port facilities.
1947 Philip Vedder passed away on April 19, 2019 in San Clemente, Calif. Phil is survived by his two daughters, Vicki and Terri, his brother John and many grandchildren. While at Webb, Phil earned a varsity letter in basketball and football and was fascinated by biology and history. A lover of the outdoors, he could be found diving, fishing or relaxing at the beach during the summer months. After Webb, Phil attended Pomona College and went on to become a beloved teacher in the Capistrano Unified School District. He lived a very full life and always had a positive attitude, even when facing adversity.
1953 S. David Webb, PhD, the great nephew of The Webb Schools’ founder Thompson Webb, passed away on September 12, 2019. David was a Distinguished Research Curator Emeritus of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History and a Distinguished Research Professor of Zoology and Geology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship to study in European museums and visiting professorships at Yale University and the Field Museum in Chicago. He was also a
