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in memoriam
1950s Charles H. Lewis ’50, of Naples, Fla. and Essex, N.Y., who served with the 20th Air Force in the Pacific Theater and graduated from Albany Law School, and practiced law in Plattsburgh, N.Y. with several firms before being elected as Clinton County surrogate and county judge, July 21, 2013. Charles, who served as assistant attorney general of New York State from 1960-1973 and served with many civic organizations, was 86. Robert P. Brisson ’50, of Peabody, Mass., who served as a U.S. Army cryptanalyst and was awarded the Victory Ribbon before earning a juris doctor degree from Columbia University, July 7, 2013. Robert, who practiced law in Pleasantville, N.Y. until 2009 and was village justice from 1979-1995, was 85. David L. Gumport ’50, of Catskill, N.Y. and formerly of Greenville, a veteran of World War II who graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Albany Law School, and practiced law in Greenville for 34 years, Dec. 12, 2012. Past master of the James A. Austin Lodge 557 F. & A.M., he was 89. Frank A. Pietropaoli ’51, of Wildwood Crest, N.J., who served in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps before earning a degree in librarianship from the Catholic University of America School of Librarianship, Aug. 13, 2013. Frank, who spent his career with the Smithsonian Institution Libraries and was in charge of the libraries at the National Museums of Natural History, History and Technology, and Air and Space, was 84. 54 | UNION COLLEGE Winter 2014
FREDERICK V. BRONNER ’46
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rederick V. Bronner ’46 (V-12), who spent his career in publishing sales and marketing, died Aug. 23, 2013 in Jupiter, Fla. He was 88. A member of the Navy V-12 program, he entered Union in 1942, served two years in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Amphitrite, and returned to campus to graduate in 1947. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, the executive board of The Idol, Hale Club, Glee Club and Choir, Garnet yearbook and Concordiensis. His father, Frederick L. Bronner ’23, taught history at Union until he retired in 1966. The younger Bronner grew up on campus, first at 17 South Lane, later in an apartment in North College. His sister, Elizabeth, earned a Union degree in 1962.
Leon G. Caldwell ’51, of West Chester, Penn., a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran who held management positions at General Electric and Honeywell in the U.S., France, Germany and Canada, Sept. 17, 2013. He was 89. Harry E. Reis ’51, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., who served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was vice president of Marshall & Sterling Insurance, and who was a member of the Fishkill VFW and several other community organizations, Feb. 19, 2013. He was 83. Herbert F. Roome ’52, of Wilton, Conn., who served in the European Theatre during World War II and in the Army Reserve, and who was an
After graduation, he entered the publishing industry in Manhattan and spent most of his business career with Time magazine where he became director of sales development. After an early retirement, he joined his wife in running 7/12 Productions Ltd., a firm that specialized in marketing and sales promotion projects for consumer magazines. As an alumnus, he was active in the Alumni Council. He was director of the Union Association of Alpha Delta Phi. He was also active in V-12 ReUnions. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Judith Starr Bronner. Survivors include a son, Geoffrey of West Lebanon, N.H.; and a sister, Louise Trafalet of Chicago.
adjunct professor at American University in Washington D.C., July 30, 2013. Herbert, who spent his career in the computer/communications field and retired from McGraw-Hill in 1990, was 88.
and worked as an electrical engineer with Western Electric until his retirement in 1999, Aug. 18, 2013. William, who loved music, golf, and building things, was 83.
Federal Highway Administration in several states and retired in 1994 after 38 total years of government service, July 6, 2013. Albon, loved skiing and fly fishing, was 80.
Robert A. Clendinning ’53, of Cumming, Ga., an Eagle Scout who earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute and spent 30 years with Union Carbide Corp. in New Jersey before transferring to Georgia with Amoco Performance Products, Aug. 24, 2013. Robert, who enjoyed traveling and watching the Atlanta Braves, was 81.
Ethelbert Nevin II ’58, of Blue Hill, Maine, a U.S. Army veteran and textbook salesman with American Book Co. and W.W. Norton & Co. who sailed his sloop, Curlew, from San Francisco to Blue Hill, Sept. 23, 2013. A past commodore of the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club in Blue Hill, he was 80.
Joseph D. Martin ’53, of Wasilla, Ark., June 30, 2013. Avrum Tennenbaum ’54, of West Palm Beach, Fla., May 21, 2013. He was 78. Edward “Don” McSweeney ’55, of Dunedin, Fla., a U.S. Army veteran who served at the Pentagon and later earned an M.B.A. from New York University, and spent 35 years working in finance at IBM, June 29, 2013. An avid traveler who pursued his interest in archeology at each destination and became a certified financial planner in retirement, he was 80.
George Burton Harrold ’52, of Manlius, N.Y., an electrical engineer who worked at GE and was an adjunct professor at Syracuse University, an avid outdoorsman and an Adirondack 46-er many times over, Aug. 26, 2013. Survivors include his son, George Hilary Harrold ’81; and daughter in law, Janet Nachbar Harrold ’82. He was 83.
Kenneth R. Briggs ’56, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who held a master’s degree and professional diploma in psychological counseling from Columbia University, and worked for more than 25 years as team leader and psychological chief of services with Family Counseling Service, N.Y. State Education Department, Hudson River Psychiatric Center, and Wassaic Development Center, July 12, 2013. He was 80.
William Arthur Haas ’53, of Turlock, Calif., who served with the U.S. Army, earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers College
Albon L. Cook Jr. ’58, of East Hampton, Conn., who served in the U.S. Navy before spending 28 years with the
Thomas H. Dinnel ’59, of Summit, N.Y., an army veteran who was employed by the State of New York for over 30 years and held a master's of public administration from UAlbany, July 18, 2013. He was active in the community and served with numerous groups in the Cobleskill, N.Y. area, as well as in Naples, Fla., where he wintered with his wife (Sarah) of 57 years. He was 78.
1960s John R. Moore ’60, of Albany, N.Y. and formerly of Colonie, N.Y., who served in Vietnam with the Army Security Agency and was awarded the Purple Heart before working as a reporter with the Schenectady Gazette and later as a freelance writer, Sept. 14, 2013. John, who eventually retired from the insurance business, was 75. Robert R. Lawrence ’61, of Camillus, N.Y., who served in the U.S. Navy before retiring from the O.R. Lawrence Company in 2007, Sept. 27, 2013. Robert, who enjoyed camping, canoeing and woodworking, was 74.
^ ARNOLD I. BURNS ’50
A
rnold I. Burns ’50, a prominent attorney, Justice Department official and trustee emeritus who served as chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees from 1982 to 1986, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. He was 83. “The loss of Arnie Burns is a great loss for Union,” said President Stephen C. Ainlay after funeral services in New York City. “It has been my pleasure to get to know him. In every way, he was a truly loyal son of Union whose leadership set the stage for the success we enjoy today.” As a student, he was active in the Pre-Law Society, International Relations Club, Garnet, Alpha Phi Omega and Kappa Nu. As an alumnus, he was an admissions interviewer, class agent, national chairman of two Annual Funds, Alumni Council member, chairman of the Terrace Council and chairman of the Campaign for Union. He received the Gold Medal of the Alumni Council in 1980, and the Founders Medal for outstanding service in 1986. During his tenure on the board, the College completed two major campaigns, developed a revised curriculum known as GenEd, and
Richard Goertz Jr. ’62, of Glenville, N.Y., who served the U.S. Navy as a radio mechanic during the Korean War and was an engineer in large steam turbines at General Electric before retiring in 1994, June 9, 2013. He was 80.
did extensive renovations of the College Center (later Reamer Campus Center) and Alumni Gymnasium. After graduating with honors from Union with a degree in political science, he earned a law degree from Cornell University School of Law in 1953, and then spent four years with the Army Judge Advocate General. He formed a law firm—Burns Summit Rovins & Feldesman— and spent 25 years practicing corporate and securities law before joining the Justice Department. He was named associate attorney general in 1985, and a year later was promoted to deputy attorney general by President Ronald Reagan. He resigned in protest in 1988 as Attorney General Edwin Meese III was being criticized for his handling of the Iran-
Contra scandal. Meese resigned several months later. After his time with the Justice Department, he joined Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, staying there for about 10 years before moving to an investment firm and establishing a consulting firm. Active in a number of charities, he was national chairman of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and chairman of the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A well-known raconteur, he published a memoir, Prepare to Be Lucky, and two books of jokes. He and his wife, Felice, donated the Herman and Rose Burns Print Collection from which many prints are on display in a current Mandeville Gallery exhibition. He and his family also donated the funds to create the Burns Arts Atrium, the main gallery in the Arts Building. Survivors include his wife of 62 years; and two children, Linda ’75 and Douglas ’79. To read his obituary in the New York Times, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/ 2013/10/02/us/politics/ arnold-burns-who-leftjustice-dept-in-protestdies-at-83.html?_r=0
David A. Lawrence ’62, of Liverpool, N.Y., who retired from Marsh & McLennan after 25 years and was an avid golfer and aspiring master woodworker, Aug. 9, 2013. He was 74.
Robert M. Heimlich ’62, of Columbia, Mo., who joined the Air Force and was involved in the top-secret laser program at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, where he continued to work as
Winter 2014 UNION COLLEGE
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