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OBITUARIES

1931

Eli Ginzberg '31

Eli Ginzberg, professor, presidential adviser and director of Revson Fellows Program, New York City, on December 12, 2002. Ginzberg was born on April 30, 1911, in New York City, where he grew up just a few blocks from the University. His father, Louis, a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, was one of the foremost Talmudic scholars of the 20th century. Ginzberg attended DeWitt Clinton High School. He earned a doctorate in economics from GSAS in 1934 and joined the faculty of the Business School in 1935. That same year, Ginzberg completed a yearlong tour of 40 American states. His observations formed the basis for a set of recommendations on reforming the regulatory and monetary systems, published in 1939 as The Illusion of Economic Stability. Ginzberg first showed his bent for applied economics during World War II, when he moved from New York to Washington, D.C., and served the federal government in a variety of positions. He built on that experience for decades, supervising studies designed to reduce manpower waste, publishing books and articles and later advising governments and corporations. Ginzberg also worked in the government’s hospital division and the surgeon general’s office of the War Department, where he coordinated the extensive medical preparations for the D-Day invasion of France in 1944. He was awarded the medal for Exceptional Civilian Service from the War Department in 1946. After the war, Ginzberg was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to represent the United States at a conference in May 1946 on victims of German actions who could not be repatriated. He continued to provide advice to former Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower; Ginzberg first advised President Franklin D. Roosevelt and continued to advise subsequent U.S. presidents through Jimmy Carter. In 1950, Ginzberg was appointed to the staff of the Conservation of Human Resources Project at the Business School, a research effort founded by Eisenhower that involved the federal government, business groups, foundations and trade unions, and developed pioneering research efforts in employment and health policy. Ginzberg was co-author of its first major study, The Uneducated, which argued for a greater federal role in education. He also wrote about the importance of integrating women and racial minorities into the workforce. In the early 1950s, Ginzberg played a role in the desegregation of the U.S. Army as an aide to Secretary of the Army Frank Pace Jr., and was sent to Europe by the Pentagon to help break the resistance of the Army senior staff to desegregation. He and his colleagues at the Conservation of Human Resources Project later wrote about the problems of the segregated Army in a three-volume study, The Ineffective Soldier: Lessons for Management and the Nation. After the war, Ginzberg returned to teaching, and he served as director of staff studies at the National Manpower Council from 1952–61. He was A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics until 1979, and the University bestowed an honorary degree upon him in 1982. Ginzberg also applied his knowledge of economics to the health care system, writing more than 100 books and dozens of articles. He contributed many books on subjects such as the supply of doctors and managed care, which he viewed skeptically. In 1974, Ginzberg helped found the Manpower Demonstration Research Corp., a nonprofit group dedicated to rigorously testing public policy ideas on subjects such as welfare and the reintegration of former prison inmates. In 1978, on the verge of retirement, Ginzberg accepted an appointment to direct the Revson Fellows Program on the Future of the City of New York at Columbia. For more than two decades, he led the program, overseeing the selection of more than 230 fellows, all of them civic leaders, and actively mentoring them during their year of fellowship and afterward. Like his parents, Ginzberg was active in Jewish causes, volunteering for the United Jewish Committee and serving as a member of the board of governors of Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the 1950s. The first of his two memoirs, My Brother’s Keeper, (Transaction Publishers, 1989), deals mostly with his family and his Jewish heritage. The second, The Eye of Illusion (Transaction Publishers, 1993), is mostly about his professional career. Ginzberg was married in 1946 to Ruth Szold, who was an editor at the Conservation of Human Resources Project. She died in 1995. He is survived by his children, Abigail, Jeremy and Rachel; and three grandchildren.

1934

Anthony Barres, retired police chief, Florham Park, N.J., on October 9, 2002. Barres was born in Newark, N.J., on December 6, 1911. After graduating from the College with a degree in medicine, he joined the Newark Police Department. He started as a patrolman and worked his way up through the ranks to serve as chief of police, which he did until his retirement in 1977. According to a letter that CCT received from his son, David ’88, “I am sure that [my father’s] Columbia education was one of the reasons he achieved such great success in his chosen profession. My father always spoke to me with great pride and fondness of his days at Columbia. He inspired me to attend the College.” Barres is survived by his wife, Marisa; sons, Anthony and David; and brother, Donald.

1938

Victor B. Vare Jr., M.D., retired physician, King of Prussia, Pa., on October 6, 2001. Vare was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 28, 1917, and grew up in Hollis, Queens. He graduated from Jamaica High School in 1934. That same year, Vare entered the College. He received a full scholarship, but to pay for room and board, he worked a variety of campus jobs. During those years, students in the College could choose the “professional option,” which allowed them, after three years of undergraduate study, to apply early to one of Columbia’s professional schools and, if accepted, spend what would have been their senior year in graduate school. Under this program, Vare spent the 1937–38 academic year at P&S. He received his M.D. in 1941. The advent of World War II disrupted Vare’s plans to enter private medical practice, and he entered the military as an Army surgeon in 1942. He served with U.S. forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. Following the war, during which he was decorated for valor, he served in the Army Medical Corps until 1953, retiring as a colonel. Following his military service, Vare practiced medicine in the Philadelphia area until his retirement in 1985. He was a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a fellow in the American College of Surgeons. An avid golfer, he was for many years a dedicated member of the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. Vare always was grateful for the educational opportunities provided by Columbia, and he was a lifelong supporter of the University. His fond memories of his student years in Morningside and Washington Heights remained strong throughout his life. Friends and family admired Vare for his wide-ranging — and sometimes intimidating — intelligence, his consummate professionalism and his sharp sense of humor. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Anne Vidensek Vare; four children; and nine grandchildren, including John Vare Bennett ’99.

1950

George M. Rogers Jr., retired advertising executive,Tucson, Ariz., on November 29, 2002. George was born in Auburn, N.Y., on July 25, 1926, but lived many places in the United States, as his parents served in the Air Force. Rogers graduated from Manlius Military Academy, Manlius, N.Y., and then entered World War II, serving in the Air Force for two years. His 42-year business career began at NBC in New York, where he became department manager of the Today, Home and Tonight shows. In 1960, Rogers was the advance TV planner for the Nixon and Lodge presidential campaign. He was a v.p. at the BBD&O advertising agency in New York for five years. In 1964, Rogers served as presidential candidate Barry Goldwater’s TV producer, and, in 1970, became director of advertising for the Alberto Culver Co. in Chicago. While in Chicago, Rogers was v.p. of media services for the Bozell & Jacobs and the McCann-Erickson advertising agencies and the sales manager for the Mutual Broadcasting System. His final position was senior v.p., media at DMB&B in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Rogers retired to Tucson in 1991, where he could enjoy golf. He was a member of El Conquistador CC and was active in the Episcopal Church of the Apostles, the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council, Invisible Theater, Tucson Symphony, and Tucson Museum of Art. He taught a marketing course at Pima Community College. Rogers is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jan (née Janice Coy); son, Grant M.; daughter, Amy E.; two grandsons; and two granddaughters. Donations may be made to the Building Fund, Episcopal Church of the Apostles, PO Box 68435, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 or the Northwest Interfaith Center, 2820 W. Ina Rd., Tucson, AZ 85741.

1952

Saul H. Barnett, Baltimore, on October 3, 2002. Barnett, the 1947 recipient of the McCormick Award for the Unsung Football Hero, was a graduate of City College as well as Columbia College. He was a 1954 graduate of the Law School, where he served on Law Review for three years. Barnett practiced entertainment law in New York City and Beverly Hills. In addition to his work as an attorney, he produced film and theatre, including Richard Pryor in Concert and Give ’em Hell Harry, a play starring James Whitmore. For the past 15 years, Barnett participated actively in Aspen life, serving as a ski ambassador in the winter and volunteering for the summer music festival. He also was active in Aspen’s political life. Barnett is survived by his mother, Mary; wife, Sally; daughter, Nancie; sister, Ruth Lee; stepchildren, Marni Rosen, Noah Rosen and Julia Swift; several nieces and nephews; and three grandchildren. Donations may be made to the Saul Barnett Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Aspen Music Festival and School, 2 Music School Rd., Aspen, CO 81611.

Herbert B. Max, retired lawyer and financier, East Hampton, N.Y., on August 4, 2002. Born on May 24, 1931, in Newark, N.J., Max grew up in Hillside, N.J. He earned a degree from the Law School in 1954. He served as a Navy seaman from 1953–55 aboard a ship in the Mediterranean, and began practicing law in 1961 at firms that included Delson & Gordon, and Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. A pioneer in private equity transactions, Max was the author of the second edition of Raising Capital: Private Placement Forms and Techniques (Prentice Hall Law and Business, 1981). He was considered to be an expert in the field of small-business investment companies and often lectured on the topic. He is survived by his mother, Minnie; three sons, Adam, Eric and Daniel; brothers, Jerome and Leonard; two sisters, Elaine Birnholz and Shirley Silverstein; and six grandchildren. His wife, Dorothy, died in 1998.

1956

Milburn D. Smith Jr., playwright and writer, Forest Hills, N.Y., on September 8, 2002. Smith was born on June 21, 1934, in Fort Plain, N.Y. A theatre lover from an early age, he had long ago declared his intentions to move to New York City in order to pursue a career oriented around the stage. While at the College, he was a member of and served as president for the Columbia Players. Smith was a 40-year veteran of the magazine industry, and recently had collaborated with Tony Award winners Lee Adams and Albert Hague, providing the book for the musical Flim Flam. Smith and Hague also collaborated on the musical Surprise! Surprise! Smith authored numerous plays, which were staged in New York and in regional theaters around the country. A.T.A. Readings of his plays were performed at the Vineyard Theater, the HB Studio and The Open Eye: New Stagings. For television, Smith wrote the script for Hollywood Diaries, which aired on the American Movie Classics channel. He also contributed material for the Disney Channel. His novel, Wings of Darkness, was published by Tower Books, and he authored two non-fiction books, The Teen Scene and 365 Ways, both published by Pinnacle Books. Smith’s career in the magazine business included writing for numerous movie, entertainment and soap opera magazines throughout the ’60s and ’70s, interviewing such icons as Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Warren Beatty and Johnny Cash. In the 1980s, he began working for The Starlog Group and held the title of associate publisher there until his retirement in 2001. Smith was an active member of his parish, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Forest Hills. In 1971, he helped found The Gingerbread Players of St. Luke’s, a community theatre group that continues to stage regular performances. He wrote and directed many of the group’s productions. Smith is survived by his wife, Mollie; children, Milburn III, Jonathan Vesey, Eliza and Benjamin; and five grandchildren.

1958

Scott Shukat, personal manager, New York City, on January 9, 2003. Shukat, who formerly went by Sanford, spent his career connected with show business, first as an agent and then as a personal manager for a large roster of well-known performers. He was very involved in College alumni affairs and a generous donor to the Columbia College Fund. He also instituted monthly class lunches at the Columbia/Princeton Club, which remain popular with classmates. Shukat is survived by his wife, Evelyn; son, Jonathan ’05; parents, Harry and Florence Shukat; brother, Peter, and sister-in-law, Yvette; and sister, Susan Kasten. Contributions may be made to Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary Fund Child Advocacy Center c/o Lincoln Hospital, 234 E. 149th St., Bronx, NY 10451.

1963

Stephen A. Russo '63

Stephen A. Russo, attorney, Forest Hills, N.Y., on November 9, 2002. Russo was born July 18, 1941, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He moved to Forest Hills when he was 7 and graduated among the top in his class from Forest Hills H.S. in 1959. Russo earned an economics degree from the College. A member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, he was a catcher for the baseball team and played summer league ball with a team run by the Milwaukee Braves. In 1966, Russo graduated at the top of his NYU Law School class. Following graduation, he worked as a law clerk under Judge Joseph Rao in the New York Custom Courts, and then served as an assistant district attorney in New York under the revered “Mr. District Attorney” Frank S. Hogan ’24. After a number of years with Hogan, Russo ran a successful private law practice and was still practicing at the time of his death. His specialty was criminal defense, although he practiced in a number of areas. He also was a financial consultant. According to a note that CCT received from Russo’s daughter, Hilary Russo Titus, “[My father] was a die-hard Columbia fan and loved his alma mater more than any man I know. Some of my fondest memories include stories of his baseball and Alpha Chi Rho fraternity days … My father’s Columbia pride was so deep that he had an impact on the lives of other Columbia alums and present-day students. On top of being a wonderful father to my brother, David, and me, he had an extended family of children that he took under his wing. He spent many a night counseling prospective students and writing countless recommendations. Many of my friends and neighbors are proud students and alums of Columbia because of my father’s encouragement and careful counsel … He was a humble giant who was loved and respected by many and continues to make a positive impact on those lives he touched.” Russo married Beverly Lewis in August 1969. In addition to his daughter and son, he is survived by his sister, Lorraine Russo Cuoco; and two granddaughters.

1966

Daniel C. Morse, Stonington, Ct., on November 18, 2002. Born in New York City on November 26, 1942, Morse’s family moved to Stonington in 1943. In 1969, Morse married Regan Babb in Washington, D.C. Active in the Stonington community, he was a member of the Stonington Volunteer Fire Department, the Stonington Ambulance Corps and the Portuguese Holy Ghost Society. He was a member of the Republican Town Committee; served as a member, secretary and chairman of the Stonington Board of Finance; and was a founding member of the Cordless Electric Drill Team. Morse’s love of theatre was well known through his work as founder and producer of the American Musical Theatre, which was the first primary tenant of the Garde Arts Center in New London in 1986. He became the technical director and manager of the center’s restoration project. At the time of his death, Morse was serving as the president of The Stonington Players, and was an avid gardener, an excellent cook and was never without a book. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Samuel B.; daughter, Sage D. Williams; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stonington Ambulance Corps, PO Box 424, Stonington, CT 06378 or to the Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, CT 06320.

1973

Peter R. Barton, cable television company founder, Denver, on September 8, 2002. Barton was a founder of Tele-Communications Inc., which grew into one of the nation’s largest cable operators. After graduation, Barton took a year off to become a professional skier. He then turned to politics, and was soon named deputy secretary to Gov. Hugh Carey of New York. Barton moved into business and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1979. Three years later, he joined Tele-Communications, then a fledgling cable company, where he worked closely with John C. Malone to expand the business by acquiring cable franchises across the country. In 1986, he became deeply immersed in the founding of Cable Value Network, the home shopping channel that ultimately became known as QVC. In an interview in The New York Times in 1996, Barton said that after graduating from Harvard, he went to a library and researched the most interesting people to work for. “I sent a direct-mail piece to 322 people, [asking], ‘Would you consider hiring me for 90 days?’ ” He had 125 responses, including one from Malone, who was in the process of building a company of cable holdings. Barton liked the concept and joined him. When Malone decided to spin off Tele-Communications’ cable programming investments from its cable systems into Liberty Media, Barton was named president of that operation, which was controlled by Malone. His career was marked by an ability to work closely, and successfully, with hard-charging men, and he would frequently handle the details of some of Malone’s toughest and longest negotiations. Barton said in the interview that he hoped he would be doing something else within the decade. A year later, he left Liberty, formed his own investment firm and become an adjunct professor of graduate business strategy at Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Barton is survived by his wife, Laura Perry Barton; three children, Kate, Jeffrey and Christopher; mother, Hanna Jane Barton; and brothers, John A. and Thomas W.

1975

C. Daniel Levy '75

C. Daniel Levy, attorney, Los Angeles, on September 14, 2001. Levy was born in 1953 in Lima, Peru, where his family ran a textile business. He came to the United States in 1970 and studied at the University, earning his B.A., M.A. (1977) and M.Phil. (1979) in anthropology, as well as a J.D. (1985). Levy began his anthropological career researching the religion and beliefs of the Shipibos tribe in Peru’s Amazon basin. After those studies, he returned to New York and entered the Law School. Levy became a nationally known defender of immigrant and refugee rights and helped litigate numerous landmark cases involving the rights of naturalized citizens, children and families. Among the best-known cases he worked on was the ultimately successful effort to free six Iraqi opposition leaders detained in California. Levy’s 950-page treatise, U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Handbook (West Group), which has had myriad printings, is recognized as the authoritative work on its subject. After Columbia, Levy was an intern for the Lawyers’ Committee for Human and Civil Rights in New York. There, he focused on refugee issues at a time when immigration to the United States was rising sharply, as was the need for capable lawyers willing to defend the rights of new arrivals. Levy went to Los Angeles, and from 1986–87 was a staff attorney for El Rescate Legal Services, representing Central Americans seeking political asylum in the United States. In 1987, he became a staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center in L.A. He spent eight years there, training attorneys and paralegals nationwide in immigration and nationality law. Levy joined the Los Angeles offices of Bernard P. Wolfsdorf in 1995 as a senior attorney. He entered solo practice in 1999, before joining Public Counsel’s staff in 2001, where he headed the organization’s Immigrants’ Rights Project from February of that year until his death. In an interview in 2001 with The Daily Journal, Levy said that the Amazon experience heightened his awareness of society’s bias against indigenous and poor people. Formal legal training, he reasoned, would better enable him to battle such injustice. Levy was a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and was co-chair of its Employer Sanctions and Verification Task Force. He received the association’s Edith Lowenstein Memorial Award for his contributions to his field. Levy also served on the INS L.A. District Naturalization Advisory Committee. He is survived by his wife, Raquel Ackerman ’78 Barnard; two children, Antonio and Eva; three brothers, Alberto, Ruben and Miguel; and mother, Ethel Levy.

L.P.

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