1953
Richard M. Kleid, attorney, Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 25, 2025. Kleid was born in New York City and graduated from the Horace Mann School, earned a J.D. from the Law School in 1955 and an LL.M. from the NYU School of Law. While at the College he was a member of ZBT. Most of Kleid’s legal career was spent as real estate counsel for JCPenney Co. in Pittsburgh. After retiring, he and his wife, Rhoda (née Lichtig) BC’58, relocated to Palm Beach, where he was appointed to the Town of Palm Beach Planning and Zoning Commission and was later elected to the Palm Beach Town Council and served 13 years, two as its president. Kleid was an alumni interviewer for the College as well as a volunteer attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, for which he was given the Emeritus Award. The Town Council of Palm Beach issued a proclamation designating Oct. 8, 2024, as “Dick Kleid Day” for his 25 years of public service. Kleid loved to travel and visited all seven continents; he was also an avid tennis player and a part-time golfer. He was predeceased by his wife in 2018 and is survived by his daughter, Susan.
Louis Soloway, attorney, New York City, on Sept. 15, 2024. Soloway graduated from the Law School in 1956 and was a partner with Certilman Balin on Long Island. He practiced law for more than 70 years and left behind a legacy of excellence and integrity, and a distinguished reputation for providing expert counsel in land use and commercial real estate transactions. He is survived by his wife, Joan; five children; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
1954
Anthony Anton, chemist, Wilmington, Del., on Sept. 2, 2025. Anton was born in the Bronx earned M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas in 1958 and the University of Delaware in 1968. He married Lucille in 1954 and joined the Army that same year, serving with pride and distinction in Korea with the 75th Field Artillery Battalion. Anton began his career with the DuPont Co. in 1958 and made significant contributions to nylon fiber technology, authoring 22 technical publications and earning 11 patents before retiring in 1995. In retirement, he continued to pursue his passion for science through independent research conducted in his home microscopy laboratory, and also enjoyed photography and videography. Anton is survived by his wife; daughters, Cynthia (Herbie), Carrie (Joe), Neva (Dave) and Alyssa; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a grandson.
Felix Kessler, journalist, Ponce Inlet, Fla., on Nov. 16, 2025. Kessler was a veteran writer and editor whose career spanned five decades and four continents in both print and electronic journalism. He covered Europe, the Middle East and Africa as a London- and Paris-based correspondent for
The Wall Street Journal before bringing his unwavering eye for a great story to a nascent Bloomberg News. There, he mentored young reporters — some of whom went on to win major journalism awards –– and was crucial in establishing the company as a global leader in journalism. He is survived by his wife; four children; and six grandchildren.
1955
George C. Christie, law professor, Durham, N.C., on Nov. 4, 2025. Christie was born in New York City and earned a J.D. from the Law School in 1957 and an S.J.D. from Harvard Law in 1966. He practiced law at Covington & Burling before joining the law faculty at the University of Minnesota and later the Duke University School of Law, where he taught 1967–2013 and held the chair of James B. Duke Professor of Law. Christie published widely on the subjects of international law, constitutional law, torts and jurisprudence while teaching generations of law school classes, both at Duke’s main campus and in its international programs. He published casebooks in multiple subjects and several books of legal philosophy, one of which,
The Notion of an Ideal Audience in Legal Argument, was translated into French. He is survived by his children, Constantine, Rebecca and Nicholas; four grandchildren; first wife, Susan Monserud; and second wife, Deborah Carnes. Christie was predeceased by his sister, Lillian Christie McDermott.
1956
Aaron Satloff, psychiatrist, Pittsford, N.Y., on Aug. 23, 2025. A distinguished psychiatrist, Satloff was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester. His contributions to the field of mental health earned him the titles of Emeritus Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists and Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. A former lieutenant commander in the Navy, Satloff played a pivotal role in studying the effects of sailors’ mental health on nuclear submarine deployment. His most profound impact, however, came through his early research, alongside colleagues, on the positive effects of lithium in treating manic depression. Satloff was a passionate advocate for mental health care and his expertise led him to testify before both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, where he advocated for the recognition and funding of effective pharmacological treatments for psychiatric disorders. He found immense joy in golf, skiing, travel, stamp collecting and bridge. Satloff is survived by his wife of 67 years, Annette; children, James ’84, BUS’86 (Emily), Ellen (Greg) and Cynthia; and seven grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aaron and James Satloff Scholarship Fund at the College.
Raymond L. Sherman, physician, New York City, on Sept. 26, 2025. Sherman graduated from Tilden H.S. in Brooklyn. and earned an M.D. from SUNY Downstate. Sherman dedicated his life to the clinical practice and teaching of medicine and was an attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for more than five decades and a clinical professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He will be remembered by family, friends, colleagues, patients and students for his wit, intellectual curiosity and warm smile. Sherman is survived by his wife of 62 years, Loni; daughters, Robin (Rob Allen) and Jackie (Mike Held); one granddaughter; brother, Ed; brother- and sister-in-law, Victor and Susan Temkin; and three nephews.
1957
Robert S. Boikess, professor, Piscataway, N.J., on Sept. 7, 2025. Boikess grew up in Brighton Beach and spent his childhood exploring the boardwalk at Coney Island, playing stickball and chess and cheering for his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln H.S., he earned a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1961 from GSAS. He completed postdoctoral work at UCLA in 1963. Boikess began teaching in 1963 at Stony Brook University. In 1968, he began his 57-year tenure at Rutgers. He was one of the founding members of the Rutgers chapter of the AAUP-AFT, one of the first public higher education unions with a collective bargaining agreement for full-time faculty. A consummate academic, Boikess wrote and co-authored several published papers spanning a range of chemistry principles and textbooks. Off campus, he was an avid traveler. He was predeceased by his wife, Karen; and is survived by his sons, Bruce (Elizabeth) and Steven (Susan); and two grandchildren.
1958
Peter Ostrander, naval captain, Livingston, N.Y., on April 14, 2025. Ostrander grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Ghent, N.Y., and attended the College on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He served in the Navy for 30 years nonconsecutively and retired with the rank of captain. Among his naval duties, he was an instructor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, sailed on the
USS McNair and
USS Laffey, and was as a member of the National Discharge Review Board. In between his enlistments, he worked for Mobil; was a real estate agent; was the assessor for the Towns of Ghent and Greenport and several other Columbia County towns; was a farmer; and taught classes in the adult education program at Columbia-Greene Community College. He volunteered with the West Ghent Fire Department and served as president of the Philmont Rotary Club. Ostrander is survived by his wife of 40 years, Betty (née Viskup); daughter, Valerie; stepchildren, Donna Lynk (James Campion), Scott Lynk (Dee), Gary Lynk (Frances) and Gregg Lynk (Monique); eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, John; and son Peter.
1959
Anthony E. Marks, archaeologist, Santa Fe, N.M., on Aug. 15, 2025. Marks was born in New York City and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from GSAS in 1966. He began his tenure at Southern Methodist University in 1967, rising to full professor by 1973, and served as chairman of the Department of Anthropology 1977–81. In 1997, Marks received an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award, a prestigious honor awarded to internationally renowned scholars and scientists in recognition of their career academic achievements. Upon his retirement from teaching in 2005, he was named Professor Emeritus. Marks was best known for his seminal contributions to the study of modern human origins during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods, as well as systematizing the study of stone tool technology. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kay Krochman; and sister, Jean M. Murphy.
1960
Joshua M. Pruzansky, attorney, New York City, on May 2, 2025. Pruzansky was born in the Bronx and served in the Navy after the College. He earned a J.D. from the Law School in 1965. For more than 50 years he practiced on Long Island and served terms as president of both the Suffolk County and New York State Bar Associations. He is survived by his wife, Susan Bernstein; daughter, Dina (Mike Herman); two grandchildren; and sister, Jill Hochberg (Jim Story).
1961
Vincent P. Calabrese, physician, Richmond, Va., on Oct. 8, 2025. Calabrese dedicated his life to medicine, working at the then-named MCV Hospital and McGuire Veterans Hospital until his retirement. He also served in the Air Force. A graduate of SUNY Downstate, he was known for his intelligence, kindness, compassion and commitment to helping others, and the deep love he had for his family and his work. In his leisure time, Calabrese enjoyed painting. He is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Gregory (Gennifer) and Dana Saur (Robert); three grandchildren; and sister, Marie Brown (Bill).
Peter H.L. Gund, scientist, Fort Myers, Fla., on Sept. 8, 2025. Gund had an international reputation as a pioneer of computational chemistry, computer graphics of pharmaceutical and biomolecular compounds, and computer-aided drug discovery. He earned an M.S. at Purdue and a Ph.D. at University of Massachusetts, and completed an NIH Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship in computational chemistry and biology at Princeton. Gund had a long career as an executive at Merck Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories. He later held research leadership positions at scientific computing and combinatorial chemistry companies, most recently with IBM Life Sciences Division. Gund published dozens of articles and gave many presentations on his research. He moved to Fort Myers after retirement, where he and his wife, Helen “Lynn” Sammel, traveled extensively with friends. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Hale (Ryan); stepchildren, Wendy King and Robert Sammel; two grandchildren; four sisters; 11 nieces and nephews; 16 great-nieces and great-nephews; three step-grandchildren; and former wife, Tamara.
teacher, Langley, Wash., on Nov. 15, 2025. Parke was a graduate of Queen Anne H.S. in Seattle and Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. He loved opera and classical music, and was an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He is survived by his husband, Dale Burke, with whom he shared 45 years and more than 12 married.
Stuart A. Smith, attorney and Torah scholar, New York City, on Sept. 18, 2025. Smith graduated from Harvard Law and specialized in tax law and clerking for the chief judge of the United States Tax Court. He also was the tax advocate in the office of the Solicitor-General, representing the United States in tax cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals and in the Supreme Court. Later, he was a partner at a major law firm. Smith had a command of Spanish, German and Yiddish (he was a longtime subscriber to the Yiddish version of The Forward). In later years he combined his tax practice with Torah scholarship. Smith was witty without unkindness, learned without vanity, generous and forgiving to a fault, and capable of great love and even greater kindness. He is survived by his wife, Helaine; and sister, Norma Smith Bellino.
1962
Leopold Swergold, investment banker, Westport, Conn., on Oct. 13, 2025. Swergold was born in Belgium. In 1940 his family escaped the Nazi regime, eventually finding safety in Havana, Cuba, before making their way to New York City nearly seven years later. Swergold was a graduate of Harvard Business School. He had a long career on Wall Street and opened his own investment bank, Swergold, Chefitz and Sinsabough, which he later sold to Furman Selz. After retirement, Swergold opened his own fund, aptly named Anvers (after his birthplace). Later in life he and his wife, Jane, collected ancient Chinese and Cuban art while sharing a deep passion for philanthropy. Swergold was a member of countless boards and synagogues and felt strongly about giving back by way of charitable giving, especially to Jewish organizations, as his own family benefited by the help they received when they arrived in the United States. In addition to his wife, Swergold is survived by his children, Eric (Dawn Dobras) and Pamela Swergold Binder; siblings, Nathaniel ’57, LAW’60 and Pearl Amy Sverdlin; and five grandchildren.
1963
J. Gary Burkhead, financial executive, Palm Beach, Fla., on July 18, 2025. Burkhead was born in Little Rock, Ark., and earned an M.B.A from Harvard. He retired as vice-chair and board member of FMR Corp., the parent company of Fidelity Investments. During his tenure at Fidelity, Burkhead served in numerous leadership roles. His vision and leadership helped shape Fidelity into a global financial powerhouse. In addition to his corporate leadership, Burkhead was deeply engaged in advancing science and public service. He served as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and held a board position at The Scripps Research Institute. After retiring, Burkhead devoted himself to golf, a lifelong passion that brought him joy, discipline and deep friendships. A man of strong Christian faith, he lived his life guided by principles of compassion, integrity and humility. Burkhead is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dawn; children, Pamela Smith and Scott (Lindsay); and five grandchildren.
Jon W. Newsom, librarian, Lewes, Del., on Sept. 26, 2025. Born in New York City and educated at St. Bernard’s School and Collegiate, Newsom graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the College. He went to Princeton on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and, after earning an M.F.A. there, went to the Library of Congress in 1966 as a music reference librarian. In 2005, he retired after almost 40 years as chief of the LOC’s Music Division.
Michael L. Paup, attorney, Falls Church, Va., on Aug. 20, 2025. Paup was born and raised in Wichita, Kan. He earned an LL.B. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1969. Paup began his career as an attorney for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice. During his 26 years with DOJ, he served as an attorney in the appellate division. In 1987, he was named deputy assistant attorney general, a position he held until 1995. Paup then moved to the IRS to become special counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, a position he held until his retirement in 2002. An avid reader and a follower of current events, Paup’s curiosity about the world and its people took him from painting stripes on airplanes to tours of Civil War battlefields, to amateur photography, to race car driving and road trips crisscrossing the United States. Paup was predeceased by his wife, Bernice, and brother, Terry. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Anne Shy and Elizabeth Paup Fowler, and their husbands; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
1964
Peter D. Lowitt, physician and attorney, New York City, on Aug. 4, 2025. Lowitt graduated from Bronx Science and was a lifelong New Yorker. He earned an M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1969 and a J.D. from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in 1981. He was proud to be the first person to hold both medical and law degrees from Yeshiva University — a distinction that can no longer be achieved. Lowitt’s early goal was to become a forensic pathologist but lifelong health challenges prevented that. He remained deeply engaged in the field, however, through his longtime membership in the American College of Legal Medicine. Lowitt practiced general medicine, with a focus on addiction medicine, in New York City. He also maintained a nationwide medico-legal law practice. A gifted storyteller with a winning smile, Lowitt cultivated a wide circle of friends, which included a long friendship with Joe DiMaggio. He is survived by his wife, Deon; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
archaeologist, Waterloo, Ontario, on Sept. 3, 2025. Lubell was born in Boston and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from GSAS in 1971. A well-regarded academic who was involved in many aspects of archaeology, he taught at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, for more than three decades. Lubell was the editor of
Nyame Akuma, a publication on African archaeology. He was also on the editorial board of
The African Archaeological Review and on a committee helping African archaeologists. After chairing its anthropology department for 10 years, Lubell retired from the University of Alberta and moved to Waterloo in September 2005, where he was an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo. He was also involved in Fair Vote Canada and had executive positions in local chapters of both Amnesty International and the Council of Canadians. Lubell is survived by his wife, Mary Jackes; children, Anne, Christopher and Claire; brother, Stephen; and one grandson.
1965
Daniel Roses, physician, New York City, on July 25, 2025. Roses was an arts graduate of the High School of Music and Art and earned an M.D. from the NYU School of Medicine. He was the Jules Leonard Whitehill Professor of Surgery and Oncology of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, where he taught and practiced medicine and surgery beginning in 1969, except for two years of active duty as a lieutenant commander in the Navy. Roses authored the two textbooks and 275 published manuscripts. He was an authority on the history of medicine and surgery, and an expert on the history of Bellevue Hospital. He won numerous professional awards. Roses is survived by his wife, Helen; children, Arthur (Amy), Robert (Shiamin) and Rebecca Harrison ’01 (Travis ’01); and six grandchildren.
William H. Strong, actuary, Decatur, Ga., on Aug. 28, 2025. Strong was born in New York City and raised in Teaneck, N.J. He spent most of his career at the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Hartford. Strong enjoyed playing piano and rooting for the Yankees, Duke and Notre Dame. He was predeceased by his wife, Marie; sister, Susan Mendez; sisters-in-law, Catherine Jackson, Vi Powers and Pauline Brown; and an infant son. Strong is survived by his daughter, Valerie (James); brother, Robert (Barbara); sister-in-law, Joan Moser; one grandson; and nieces and nephews.
1966
Elwyn F. Schaefer Jr., attorney, Denver, on Oct. 18, 2025. Schaefer was born and raised in Patchogue, N.Y. and graduated from high school with high honors. He graduated from the University of Colorado Law School and worked for justices in Denver. Schaefer later started his own law practice, which lasted more than 50 years. He advised several of his law partners in retirement. Schaefer was an avid basketball fan, having played for Columbia. He also loved baseball and remained a Yankees’ fan.
Michael D. Stephens, healthcare administrator, Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2025. Stephens was raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from West H.S. He earned a master’s in hospital administration in 1968 from what is now the Mailman School of Public Health and an M.B.A. in 1974 from the Clemson-Furman Graduate M.B.A. Program. Stephens worked at Hoag Hospital in Irvine, Calif., for three decades and in 1984 was appointed president and CEO, a role he held until his 2005 retirement. He served on the boards of several local nonprofits and enjoyed watching, coaching and refereeing sports. Stephens is survived by his wife of 58 years, Diane DM’66; children, Christopher (Ashley) and Cara Lies (Mark); four grandchildren; and siblings Marsha, Claudia, Jeffrey and Brent.
1967
Amnon Igra, researcher, Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 20, 2024. Igra earned a Ph.D. from Stanford in 1976. He worked in medical sociology and was one of the chief researchers for the State of California Department of Health Care Services’ National Hypertension Study and a statistician for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Upon retirement, Igra followed his passion for history and economics. He was loved for his wit, warmth and insatiable curiosity. Igra is survived by his wife, Helyne Meshar; son, David (Kelly); and two grandchildren.
Sam S. Miller, physician, San Antonio, on Sept. 5, 2025. Miller earned an M.D. from Cornell in 1971. After completing training, he returned to San Antonio with his young family and established a private practice in endocrinology that would grow to include participation in many clinical trials to advance care for his and other patients. In 1987, Miller was appointed chief of staff at Methodist Hospital. He also nurtured an array of interests that reflected his multifaceted intellect and creative spirit: He found joy in classical and jazz music and was an avid painter with an eye for detail and color. Miller is survived by his wife, Dottie; children, Ethan (Stacey Carter), Stephanie and Seth (Sarah); sister-in law, Liz Helenchild (Frank Litton); brother, Alfred (Marge); and five grandchildren.
1968
John W. Isom, geophysicist and financial adviser, Austin, Texas, on Aug. 12, 2025. Isom grew up in Tyler, Texas, was a graduate of Robert E. Lee H.S. and earned an M.S. from the University of Oklahoma. He spent much of his life as a geophysicist and then became a financial adviser; whether he was analyzing rocks or retirement accounts, he was steady, thoughtful and practical. His passion for the outdoors was shared with family and friends. Isom was predeceased by his first and second wives, Linda and Pamela, respectively. He is survived by his children, Patrick (Shannon), Christie (Scott Grant), Libby Schanzmeyer (Kevin) and Amy Gilmore (Matt); and nine grandchildren.
1970
Terry L. Braverman, musician, Media, Pa., on April 16, 2025. Braverman was born in Brooklyn and enrolled at The Juilliard School while attending the College. He earned an M.M. from Washington University in St. Louis. A Fulbright-Hays scholar, Braverman gave concerts throughout France and won a diploma in the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow. His professional career began as assistant principal cellist of the St. Louis Symphony. He was an assistant professor of music at the University of Denver and the cellist for the Denver Trio. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he trained to be a nurse at Castleton College, and then became a senior pharmacovigilance associate at GlaxoSmithKline and later a senior clinical safety scientist at Shire Pharmaceuticals. Braverman is survived by his wife of 37 years, Eileen Magee.
1974
Thomas M. Horner, Pittsburgh, on May 15, 2025. Horner was a graduate of Central Catholic H.S. He appreciated and had an encyclopedic knowledge of books, music and movies, and found joy in simple pleasures and moments spent with family. He is survived by his brothers, John (Lorraine) and Greg; and seven nieces and nephews.
1975
Dov B. Fischer, rabbi, Irvine, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2025. Fischer was a graduate of Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and earned a law degree at UCLA. He was one of the founders of the Coalition for Jewish Values; at the time of his passing he was its VP. Fischer was a columnist for
Israel National News and
American Spectator. The joy he brought to his teaching of Torah, and the shaping of hearts and minds about Israel, Judaism and the Jewish people influenced countless others.
1981
William Colao, wealth management professional, Canaan, N.H., on Aug. 16, 2025. Colao worked at Richardson Associates. He enjoyed playing the guitar and listening to music, and studied Zen Buddhism. A collector of books, Colao had an extensive library and was interested in many writers and scholars. He was predeceased by his parents and by his sister Margaret Calvin; and is survived by his sister Marta (Jeff Pentland); and three nieces and nephews.
Mitchell S. Wachtel, pathologist, Boca Raton, Fla., on Nov. 17, 2024. Wachtel was born in Brooklyn and earned an M.D. from the University of Miami. He completed a pathology residence at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston and was in private and academic practice. Wachtel was a tenured professor at Texas Tech University before retiring in 2020. He enjoyed abstract photography and loved opera, classical music, rock ’n’ roll, jazz and the blues. He spent time hiking and exploring the nature on the Florida coasts and in the Everglades. Wachtel is survived by his wife, June; mother, Lenore; siblings, Stacy, Janice and Edward, and their spouses; and six nieces and nephews.
1989
Andrew Y.S. Cheng, judge, San Francisco, on Aug. 8, 2025. Cheng earned a J.D. from Yale in 1992 and began his legal career as an associate at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro. He began working at the San Francisco City Attorney’s office in 1997 and was appointed U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California in 2003. He was appointed to the bench in 2009 and also taught at UC Berkeley Law and UC Law San Franscisco. Cheng served his community as an elder at Old First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed competing in chess tournaments, playing tennis, reading and playing the piano. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; children, Samuel ’20, Joshua and Annie ’24; mother, Alice; sister, Anita Cheng Lee (Dennis); and eight nieces and nephews.
2000
Vanessa D. Polonio, teacher, Brookfield, Conn., on Sept. 2, 2025. Polonio was born in the Bronx and earned an M.A. in elementary education from CUNY Lehman. She dedicated her career to teaching in NYC public schools, spending the last eight years at P.S. 376Q, the Bayside Hills School of Excellence, as a founding staff member. Polonio pioneered the school’s computer science program and she was instrumental in shaping the school’s mission and vision. Polonio is survived by her parents, Melchor and Ellie; sister, Alisha; grandmother, Narcisa; and a niece.
