In Memoriam

Dr. Angelyn A. Konugres Coupounas died in her home at The Academy, Boulder, Colorado, on July 27, 2023, with her son at her side. Dr. Coupounas was a well-known Colorado College alumna, having received her undergraduate degree at Colorado College and later receiving an honorary Doctorate from CC. She was 99.

Dr. Konugres graduated from Colorado College in 1946 and earned a master’s degree at the Los Angeles County Hospital at the University of Southern California Medical School in 1948 with a focus on blood transfusion medicine. For the next nine years, she directed the Los Angeles County blood bank. With a research fellowship, she attended the University of Cambridge in England and, in 1959, became the world’s first recipient of a PhD in immunohematology, a field so new that it did not yet have a name. Dr. Konugres studied under Dr. Robin Coombs, the renowned immunologist, discoverer of the Coombs test used for detecting antibodies in various clinical scenarios, such as Rh disease and blood transfusion.

Dr. Konugres was a pioneering scientist who led a life of purpose and dedication to science, medicine, family, and community. The world’s first recipient of a PhD in immunohematology, discoverer of two rare blood types, and a longtime Harvard Medical School faculty member, Dr. Konugres was recognized internationally as an authority on hemolytic disease of the newborn, neonatal blood diseases, and transfusion therapy. She authored the book Eradication of Hemolytic Diseases of the Newborn, as well as many articles for medical and scientific journals. She was an early proponent and contributor to the development of an antigen for the protection of newborns against hemolytic anemia. The Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) antigen has saved hundreds of thousands of babies’ lives worldwide since its widespread adoption in the 1960s. 

Dr. Konugres was an early and dedicated blood banker, active in the American Association of Blood Bankers (AABB). She was Chairman of the Rare Blood Group Registry for AABB and taught many AABB seminars. She also designed the multi-blood pack to be used in small blood transfusions. She was a noted authority on blood testing for disputed parentage and served as expert witness in many legal cases on disputed parentage. She authored the legal guidelines for blood testing in disputed parentage studies for the American Bar Association and the American Medical Association. 

Throughout her career, she was as a Principal Associate in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School, as Associate Director of the Blood Bank at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Director of the Blood Bank of the Los Angeles County General Hospital – USC School of Medicine, Research Associate and Associate Director for e Blood Grouping Laboratory in Boston, Director of the Blood Grouping Laboratory at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Director of Research at Boston Hospital for Women, Director of Immunohematology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Director of the Blood Bank at the Boston Hospital for Women. 

She was honored by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Association of Blood Banks with the Angelyn Konugres Seminar in Immunohematology, by the American Association of Blood Banks with its Medallion for Leadership for her discovery of new blood factors and the Memorial Award for scientific contributions to transfusion therapy. In 1985, Colorado College recognized Dr. Konugres with its first Louis Benezet Award for extraordinary achievement that exemplifies the values of a liberal arts and sciences education. In 2007, Colorado College awarded her an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Dr. Konugres and her work were featured in the book, “Bloody Brilliant: A History of Blood Groups and Blood Groupers” about the blood medicine pioneers.

Throughout her life, Dr. Konugres continued an active commitment to civic engagement and education. She was the first woman in history to serve on the board of the Harvard Club of Boston. She served as a member of the Defense Department’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Services when the military academies were being opened to women. She served on the Board of Trustees and as President of the Board of Trustees of Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, of Mt. Ida College, and Anatolia College. She served on the Boston World Affairs Council and the executive council of the Oxford-Cambridge Society of New England. A patron of the arts, she was a longtime supporter and board member of the Boston Ballet and the Boston Opera as well as a season ticket holder at the Boston Symphony and the New York Metropolitan Opera. After retiring from her position at the Medical School at Harvard University, she took classes at the University in the humanities and social sciences. 

During her college years and beyond, Dr. Konugres lived the life of a true intellectual, reading voraciously and engaging in lively debates on the issues of the day. In her retirement in Boulder, CO, she took classes in Russian literature and architecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She participated in dozens of book clubs during her lifetime, calling her book club friends “bookies.” A lifelong Republican, Dr. Konugres also had an enduring love for gardening and flowers, especially blue hydrangea, and for entertaining family and friends at her home in Chestnut Hill, MA. 

Dr. Konugres was a caring person, always asking how others were getting along and doing any myriad of thoughtful and kind things to help them. Dr. Konugres became known over the years for remembering everybody’s big days, sending them cards filled with New Yorker cartoon clippings she’d hand-selected for them. She was always celebrating others, cheering them on and lifting them up. She was both warm and fierce, kind and no-nonsense. She had a keen wit, a probing mind, and a generous and giving nature. She was blessed with several deep and lifelong friendships. Dr. Konugres received many honors during her lifetime, but when asked what her greatest was, she would say it was the birth and lives of her son Demetri and her grandson George.

She is survived by her son, Demetrios George Coombs Coupounas, his wife Kimberly Riether Coupounas, her grandson George Demetrios Leonidas Coupounas of Longmont, CO and her brother Dr. James Konugres of San Marcos, CA, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, attorney George D. Coupounas of Chestnut Hill, MA, and by her parents Sam, Elizabeth (Johns), and Mae (Saliba) Konugres, her siblings Helyn (Konugres) Bebermyer, Gus Konugres, Kris Ann (Konugres) Vogelpohl, and Dr. Beverly (Konugres) Bain.

Dr. Konugres donated her body for studies at Harvard Medical School and the Colorado School of Medicine to advance medical knowledge, with a hope that her example would encourage others to do the same.

Please share stories or tributes to Dr. Konugres.

Max Morath was born October 1, 1926 in Colorado Springs, and died June 19, 2023 in Duluth, Minnesota. He grew up in Colorado Springs, where his first job as a 17-year-old radio announcer at KVOR in that city launched his professional life in media and theatre. 

As a child he studied piano and harmony, while mastering the rudiments of ragtime piano from his mother. He graduated from Colorado College in 1948 with a B.A. in English, and from the Stanford-NBC Radio and Television Institute in1951. Jazz and broadcasting jobs in Florida, Dallas, and Phoenix, combined with his appearances as pianist and musical director for melodrama companies in Cripple Creek and Durango, Colorado, led to his lifelong career as an entertainer/spokesman for ragtime and American popular song. During 1959-1961 he wrote, performed, and co-produced 28 television programs for PBS (then NET), which are now considered genre classics. The Ragtime Era traces the development of the popular music of that period; the Turn of the Century series deals with the interaction of popular music with the nation’s social and political fabric.

Max and his growing family moved to New York around 1963. He made his nightclub debut at the historic Blue Angel that year, followed by an extended run in 1964 at the Village Vanguard with his Original Rag Quartet. Television activity continued on PBS, and on the Bell Telephone Hour, Today, and The Tonight Show; radio appearances included many years as a frequent guest of the Arthur Godfrey Show on CBS, and on National Public Radio (NPR). In the theatre, his one-man show Max Morath at the Turn of the Century was a critical success in 1969, enjoying a four-year national tour. Other productions followed: The Ragtime Years, Living a Ragtime Life, and Ragtime and Again. By the time Max retired from touring in 2005, he had logged over 5,000 live performances in theaters, clubs, and colleges.

At age 70 Max earned a Master’s degree in American Studies from Columbia University. His thesis explored the life and work of the American composer Carrie Jacobs-Bond, followed in 2008 by publication of his novel I Love You Truly (iUniverse 2008), based on her life. His other writing credits include The NPR Curious Listener’s Guide to Popular Standards (Penguin 2000); The Road to Ragtime, with his wife, the photographer Diane Fay Skomars (Donning 1999); the musical play Trust Everybody…But Cut the Cards, based on the newspaper columns of Finley Peter Dunne; Mr. Dunne’s Mister Dooley, a 65,000-word book (2019) sub-titled Translating Mister Dooley, which contains extensive rewrites of the original Dooley columns (1893-1915), the Irish dialect removed; and the musical One for the Road, co-produced in 1982 by the St. Louis Repertory Theatre and MUNI Opera. Max’s many recordings, primarily on the Vanguard label, include The Best of Scott Joplin, The Ragtime Women, and Jonah Man; The Ragtime Man (Omega); and many other recordings incorporate Max’s compositions for piano, including “The Cripple Creek Suite,” “Golden Hours,” “One for Norma,” “One for Amelia,” and “Three for Diane.” Max was the initial recipient of the Sedalia, Missouri Scott Joplin award. He has been named as a distinguished alumnus of Colorado College, and in 2016 he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. His screenplay “Blind Boone,” written in collaboration with Moss Hall, received first-place recognition at the Nashville Film Festival in 2015.

Max’s last performance as an entertainer was his role in a four-day tribute to composer Irving Berlin in New York, 2006. At age 91 he concluded his second career as a lecturer at the Sacramento Ragtime Festival in November 2017.

Max Morath was preceded in death by his parents Gladys (Ramsell) Morath and Frederic Palmer Morath, his brother Frederic Ramsell Morath, and Norma Loy (Tackitt) Morath, his wife of 39 years. Survivors include daughters Kathryn Annette Morath (Robert Wagner) and Christine Lee Mainthow (Michael Mainthow;) son Frederic Loyd Morath and daughter-in-law Paula Sue Morath; Diane Fay Skomars, his wife of 30 years, and her daughter Monette Fay Magrath Macdonald (David Macdonald); grandchildren Jordan Claire Wagner, David Lee and Eric Robert Mainthow, Malia Lynn Morath, Finley Fay Margaret Macdonald; and great-grandson Edward Ke’eluohilohanakahi Kehaoha Jr.

A great human being, as well as an alum of note. A native of Colorado Springs and a broadcast pioneer of PBS television (not to mention one of the founders of KRCC) he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Beverly Ann (Geiger) Howard died peacefully in the care home at which she had resided for the past month on August 25, 2023, holding the hand of her youngest son, Tim. She died after a long battle resulting from complications from a broken hip. She was born in South Denver on September 15, 1926, to Robert E. Geiger and Marjorie Elinor (Ord) Geiger. Her younger sister and only sibling, whom she loved dearly, Carmen, was born in 1931. The family began attending the Divine Science Church and despite attending multiple other denominations of churches throughout the rest of her life, this was the church of which Beverly always considered herself to be a member. Beverly attended primary through high school in South Denver. She graduated from South Denver High School in 1944. She was a good student and was awarded a scholarship to attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She matriculated there in the fall of 1944, majoring in Biology with the intention of becoming a veterinarian out of a deep love for animals. However, this never came to fruition as her heart was too tender to perform the more painful tasks a veterinarian must do. Instead, she fulfilled her love for animals by saving, raising, and nurturing innumerable strays and pets throughout her life.

In March of 1945, at a mutual friend’s home, Beverly met a Marine Second Lt. named F. Clinton Howard (Clint), a native of Colorado Springs, while he was on emergency leave from his service in the Pacific Theater of WWII. He returned to Camp Pendleton, and at the end of the war he was officially discharged. He reentered Colorado College as a second semester sophomore in business and accounting. Beverly was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and her housemother, a close family friend to Clint’s parents, thought Beverly and Clint would suit each other. Clint called Beverly and they immediately connected, their first phone call lasting three hours, which began a relationship that would last the rest of their lives. In the fall of 1945, Beverly’s father returned from the Pacific, where he had been assigned as a war correspondent by the AP. The AP then assigned him to Washington DC, causing Beverly’s family to move there. Beverly stayed in Colorado to finish her Biology degree. Beverly and Clint were married on August 25, 1947, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado, by a Catholic priest, as Clint was a devout Catholic. They graduated together from Colorado College in the Spring of 1948.

The young couple moved to Washington DC, where they lived with Beverly’s family. Clint got a job as a Burrows Adding Machine salesman, and Beverly got a job working for a dentist. On November 25, 1948, their oldest son, Frederick C. Howard III, was born at Georgetown University Hospital. Shortly after that, Clint took a government job in New York City for the commodities exchange, so the young family moved to the Bronx in New York City. When the Korean War broke out and Clint was recalled to active duty in the Marine Corps, they moved to Camp Lejeune, NC. They remained there until the end of the war in 1953. Clint was released from active duty, and he, Beverly, and their young son returned to Colorado where Clint got a job as the business manager for Fort Lewis A&M College near Durango. In 1954, Clint got a job with Speidel Newspapers Inc. in Colorado Springs. Beverly and Clint’s son Robert Geiger was born there on April 6, 1954. Their third son, Timothy Joel Howard, was born on September 30, 1960. In 1964, Speidel Newspapers Inc. moved their offices to Reno, NV, where they owned The Reno Evening Gazette and The Nevada State Journal, and the Howards moved with them. Beverly began attending services at the First Congregational Church of Reno. She became an active member of the Reno community, participating in P.E.O. Chapter B activities, serving as the local director for the Youth for Understanding Student Exchange Program, and joining in as an active P.T.A. member at her children’s schools. In 1977, Gannett Newspapers acquired Speidel Newspapers Inc., and Clint was retired. Beverly and Clint traveled extensively throughout the United States and even Europe, seeing family and friends and attending graduations, weddings, funerals, reunions, etc.

In 1992, Beverly’s mother, Marjorie (89), died in Alton, IL. In 1997, Beverly’s father, Robert, moved to Reno to live with her and her family. In 2000, Beverly’s sister, Carmen (69), died in MD. In 2006, Beverly’s father, Robert (103), died in Reno, NV. In 2011, Beverly’s husband, Clint (88), died in Reno, NV. In 2021, Beverly’s son, Fred (72), died peacefully in his sleep after a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her son, Bob Howard (Jennifer); her son, Tim Howard; her daughter-in-law, Dennise Howard; her grandchildren, Elinor Walquist (Scott), Leanne Howard (Derek), Robert J. Howard (Kendra), Joan Barcellos (Nathan), Glynnis Howard, and Gwen Howard; and her great grand-children, Elijah Walquist, Everett Walquist, Carter Barcellos, and Jeanne Barcellos, as well as numerous other relatives throughout the United States.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many healthcare professionals who provided Beverly with quality care during her final years.

Ruth E. Teason passed away on January 7, 2023 at the age of 93. She worked as the Alumni Records Manager at Colorado College, computerizing the paper records under the direction of Barbara Yallich and J. Juan Reed beginning in 1974 and retiring from the office in 1986. She was a life member of the Women’s Educational Society WES, CC 50 Year Club Member, and the Aficionados (CC’s Southwest Studies Program). She was a Colorado native, born in Cripple Creek, grew up in Colorado Springs, and loved the mountains, her family, chocolate, and a good cup of tea. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edwin R. Wilson ‘51 in 1983 and her second husband Donald P. Teason ‘51 in 2018. She is survived by her children; Susan Langlois ’74, Christopher Wilson, Kerry Wilson ’80 and Matthew Wilson ’84.

Walter Nathan Stone, MD, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2023 in San Francisco, CA. He was 91.

Walt’s professional and personal achievements were grounded in his early education at the University of Chicago Lab School and his undergraduate education at Colorado College. He maintained a lifelong connection to both institutions.

A leader in his professional field, Walt nevertheless had time to delve into many hobbies and interests. In his college years, he was quite the card shark at bridge and poker. Playing cribbage with his grandchildren was one of Walt’s greatest joys. When he wasn’t playing games, he was reciting rhymes, especially from Winnie the Pooh. He was a fan of all types of music – especially jazz – often breaking out in song or a little jig. Walt was also an amateur birder, hot air balloon pilot, history buff, amateur oenologist, and enthusiastic art collector. But sports – both as spectator and player – were his real passion. He founded the men’s soccer team at Colorado College and played goalie. He also played baseball. He was a champion handball player and avid swimmer. Most importantly, he loved professional sports, especially his Cincinnati Bengals and Reds. In his last years he enjoyed playing bridge at the Mill Valley Community Center and all the activities, including ping pong and trivia, at the Institute on Aging and Frank Residences.

Walt received his MD from Vanderbilt University in 1957. Shortly after graduation, as a partially trained medical internist, Captain Walter Stone was assigned by the Air Force to evaluate the fitness of airmen for duty. That experience sparked Walt’s interest in the field of psychiatry and changed the course of his medical career. After the military, Walt accepted a residency in psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati and then joined the faculty. At the university he focused on the chronically mentally ill and began working with this underserved population individually and in groups. Walt’s involvement with and influence on the practice and theory of group psychotherapy included leadership positions in the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes, and the American Psychiatric Association as well as his authorship of a number of books and articles. Walt, with his wife Esther Stone, led trainings in group therapy in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and Australia. His influence has been recognized nationally and internationally as providing an additional lens in which to view working in groups and his books are considered the seminal practitioners’ reference.

An active member in his community, Walt served on the board of Isaac M. Wise Temple, and on the advisory board of Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati. After retiring to California in 2001, he volunteered at UCSF Department of Psychiatry and at Sutter Health, and served on the board of Buckalew, a nonprofit provider of mental health services.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Esther, his four children from his first marriage, Katherine “Kay” (Peter Hofmann) Stone, Allen Stone, David (Melinda McTaggart-Stone) Stone, Andrew “Andy” (Julie Zaidler) Stone, and the daughters he lovingly gained through his marriage to Esther, Rhona (David Warren) Lyons, and Amy Lyons; and, his twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They are all blessed by his having been a part of their lives.

John “Misto II” Oliver Stewart passed away peacefully of dementia on January 28, 2023 at the age of 88 in Pocatello, Idaho.

John was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at CC and at his graduation ceremony in 1958, he was commissioned a 2^nd LT in the Chemical Corps of the United States Army. He served honorably for over 23 years, retiring with the rank of LTC. His three assignments took him to Baumholder, Germany with the 3^rd Armored Calvary Regiment, Saigon, Vietnam with MACV Headquarters, and South Korea at the Headquarters United Nations Command 8^th Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam.

After retiring from the military, he and his family moved to Phoenix where he settled into his second career at the Department of Civil Defense and Emergency Services for Maricopa County Arizona.

Fun times were spend playing his clarinet in various groups in Phoenix and continued on when he and Judy decided to move to Pocatello to be closer to their daughter and family.

John is survived by his wide of 65 years, Judy (Van Epps) Stewart ’58, his sons Charles and Andrew (Pam), and grandsons Sam and Hunter.

Colorado College graduate, Robert Allan (Bob) Egly, passed away August 7, 2023 at the age of 92. He graduated from CC in 1956 with a degree in Business Administration and Banking. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Egly.

A navy veteran, Bob had a career in sales. This included teaching marketing classes for Perdue University at their Calumet and North Central campuses.

He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and active in a number of CC activities. He is survived by his daughter Lou Ann and his partner Bobbie Durant.

Robert “Robin” Alan Reid born May 26, 1937, passed away on May 15, 2023. Robin was born in Colorado Springs Co. to J. Juan and Margaret Reid. He is survived by his sister Judy Finley, Brother John, nephews, Bruce and Drew, and nieces Karen, Laura and Katie.

After graduating from CC, he spent two years as a lieutenant in the army and taught high school history for two years before working for 10 years at Cornell College in Iowa. He then moved to San Diego, CA where he spent the rest of his life. After working a few years for consulting firms and the city of San Diego, he became an independent management consultant. He was well known for his collaborative demeanor and mentoring new people coming into the consulting business.

Robin was married and divorced twice and had no children. He was well loved by family and his many friends. He will be missed.

Lifetime Craig resident, Pete Pleasant, died peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in Craig. He was 84.

Peter B. Pleasant was born the son of Sidney and Alice (Schrepferman) Pleasant on April 22, 1939, in Hayden, Colorado. Pete graduated from Moffat County High School in 1957. Following high school, Pete furthered his education and was active on the football team at Mesa College and later Colorado College, where he earned his bachelor’s. Pete was a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

On July 21, 1961, Pete married the love of his life, Mary “Madge” Martin in Craig. To this union, two sons, Jeffrey and Danny were born. Pete and Madge celebrated 38 years of love and marriage together before Madge’s passing on July 31, 1999.

In 1961, Pete took over his grandfather’s business, F. M. Pleasant Insurance. He had many loyal clients for over 50 years before retiring in 2012. In his spare time, Pete enjoyed hunting, golfing, and, probably most of all, socializing! He was a dedicated member of the Craig Kiwanis Club, Colorado Referee Hall of Fame and the Craig Elks Club. One of his favorite accomplishments was being the first recipient of the Dude Dent award in 1957.

Pete is survived by his two sons, Jeff Pleasant of Grand Junction and Dan (Darcy) Pleasant of Clarks, NE; and one sister, Pamela Pleasant-Foster of Craig. He is further survived by four grandchildren: Sara Ann Pleasant, Cody Pleasant, Elizabeth Ann Pleasant and Luke Pleasant; and two nieces, Sasha Foster and Ashley (Rudie Piper) Foster-Piper.

In lieu of flowers, Pete requested donations be made payable to the Kiwanis Club Scholarship Fund or to the Yampa Valley Golf Course Men’s Club both in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Avenue, Craig, Colorado 81625.

Dr. Robert W. Fernie III passed away on July 18, 2023 at the Virginia Piper Memory Care Center from a brain disease. Born in Hutchinson, Kansas on January 30, 1941, to Dr. and Mrs. Robert Fernie II, Bob obtained his undergraduate degree at Colorado College and his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Arizona State University.

Bob dedicated his entire life to helping other people. He taught psychology at Phoenix College and for many years chaired the Department of Psychology. He was active in the LGBTQ community, including leading the Relationship Discussion Group at the Unitarian Universalist Church for many years and providing HIV/AIDS education in various settings. Bob supported many other LGBTQ activities in various ways. He is survived by his husband, Conrad Egge, his children Rob (Amber), Sandra Mullinax (Jim), and Carmen Bastek (Lynnette); also, his siblings John Fernie (Kate) and Betsy Hunt and niece Eliza Fernie ’04. Bob will be best remembered for his kindness, generosity, and compassion for others.

Ben Melton passed away on May 12, 2023 in Bossier City, LA after a long battle with cancer.

Ben was a starting two-way lineman for the CC Tigers for three years, a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity, and an honors student. Following graduation, and commissioning through CC ROTC into the US Army, Ben completed Airborne and Ranger schools before deploying to the Republic of Viet Nam, where he commanded a Howitzer Battery in the 2-11 Artillery. Subsequently assigned to the 1/502 Airborne Infantry in the 101st Airborne Division, Ben was wounded in action. After honorably serving his country, he separated from the Army and moved to Shreveport, LA. There, as a successful small businessman and entrepreneur, he owned and operated a transmission remanufacturing company, oil field construction business, and bought and sold gas stations, car washes, and warehouses. In 1997, Ben liquidated his businesses, and he and his wife Sue bought a fifth wheel and, living out a lifelong dream, hit the road while maintaining a home in Bossier City, LA. Ben is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sue, and two grandchildren.

On Feb. 8, 2021, Bill Whaley ’68 died of a heart attack while skiing in Taos Ski Valley with his granddaughter, Lili. His death occurred while he was doing one of the things he most loved to do, in a place he revered, with one of his favorite people on Earth.

In 1964, when Whaley arrived at Colorado College from Carson Valley, near Lake Tahoe, he found himself in an intellectually stimulating and socially exciting environment. He took political science classes, secured a spot on the school football team, and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. At a beer bust near Gold Camp Road in Colorado Springs, he met Susan Bisbee Reid ’68, who would become his first wife and mother of his son, Fitz.

Whaley struggled to complete his education amid the tumultuous times. In 1966, the Vietnam War claimed 6,000 Americans. Two years later, his friend and former CC classmate Jim Turner would die serving in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. He wrote a classmate that he “cried like a baby” when visiting Turner’s gravesite in Silver Cliff, Colorado. Whaley left Colorado College in 1966, returned in the Summer of 1968, then left for good that Fall.

“He had an academic bent at the wrong time, the wrong decade. The rest of the world at that time was just pulling in at the seams,” says Bisbee Reid, who remained friends with her ex-husband until his death.

After dropping out of CC, Whaley spent the next five decades in an on-and-off love affair with Taos, New Mexico, starting as a ski bum and parking lot attendant for Taos Ski Valley. He served in a Taos-based National Guard unit. Over the years, he operated numerous businesses there, notably the Plaza Theatre, the monthly news magazine Horse Fly, and the blog Taos Friction.

He resumed his academic journey at the University of Nevada, Reno. He was just a dissertation short of his PhD in philosophy, a subject he continued to pursue until the end of his life, when the siren call of Taos brought him back. That led to his teaching literature and writing at the University of New Mexico-Taos.

He authored Gringo Lessons: Twenty Years of Terror in Taos. In a review, his friend, the author John Nichols, who penned The Milagro Beanfield War, wrote, “This wonderful autobiography is as honest as the day is long, no holds barred, no punches pulled. Bill’s ability to make sense of his tangled life with clear and exhilarating prose is a real treat.”

His Colorado College friends remember him fondly.

Gary Knight ’67 explains that Plato in “The Apology” for the life of Socrates reminds us that all societies need a “gadfly” to sting the “steed” of state into acknowledging its proper duties and obligations. “Bill’s Horse Fly was like Socrates’ gadfly. Bill was always raising issues by asking questions. He wouldn’t take anything for granted. He wrote honestly about things going on politically,” says Knight.

“I got to know Bill when we both played Tiger football under Frank Flood in 1964. Those long bus rides to games were a chance to hear Bill talk about film and skiing: his two major interests,” says Thomas Wolf ’67.

“I first met Bill my sophomore year in the Fall of ’64 when he played football. He was a good football player — a guard who got a lot of playing time as a freshman, as I recall, ” says Lex Towns ’67, who was a dorm mate and later a roommate (with Jim Turner) of Whaley’s at an off-campus house.

Whaley shared a room in what is now South Hall with Lance Clarke ’68, who recalls his former roommate’s walking contradictions whenever he listens to “The Pilgrim” by Kris Kristofferson.

“I think he was the iconic character of CC — intelligent, impatient, insightful, irreverent, irritating when he thought you could do or think better, irascible, and lovable,” says Gordon Aoyagi ’67.

Known for his brilliant mind and big heart, for giving voice to the unheard, and for championing alternative viewpoints, throughout Whaley’s adventurous life, he endured financial failure and reinvented himself many times over.

He is survived by his son, William Fitzpatrick (Fitz) Whaley, granddaughter, Lili Hart Whaley, and two sisters.

Blake William Wilson, Class of 1969, died on April 25, 2023, in California. Blake was born in Santa Barbara, California on June 7, 1948. He graduated from Laguna Blanca School in 1965 and CC in 1969.

Blake was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a varsity soccer player, and a proud organizer of the famous demolition derby. He taught math in Oregon for a short period of time and then embarked on a long, distinguished, and very successful business career.

Blake was a world-class blue-water yachtsman, having competed in dozens of races, and, most importantly, a first-class friend.

Blake is survived by his wife of 43 years, Susanne, two brothers and two sisters, and a host of nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Vaya con Dios, El Jefe.

Gary Schuyler Young was an artist, a loving husband, a beloved father and friend. He loved slow cooked ribs, doppio espresso, black licorice, and rhubarb pie. He was a man who was as comfortable when pheasant hunting or wake surfing as he was discussing quantum physics, playing the banjo in an Irish band, or watching a favorite movie with his family. The unfailing love and support he provided to his wife and son gave him purpose. Time spent with close friends lent him meaning. The Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, and Eric Clapton were his soundtrack, while the strokes of his paintbrush colored a life that was not only lived but also wholeheartedly enjoyed.

Gary was raised in Wilmette Illinois, alongside two brothers, Fritz and Tom, and two sisters, Heidi and Margaret. His artistic talent came naturally. Both of his parents were artists and his grandfather, Frank H. Young, founded the American Academy of Art in Chicago – a leadership post that his father, also Frank H., subsequently assumed. To Gary, both his father and his grandfather were giants. They nourished his love to draw and inspired his passion for empowering others through mentorship.

In 1970, Gary graduated from New Trier High School and headed to Colorado College, where he majored in art. Over the next four years, Gary fell in love with the West. His appreciation of nature was kindled on bird hunts with his father as a boy, and it grew exponentially during his college years in the splendor of the Rocky Mountains. 

While in college, Gary spent summers building houses with his brothers and friends, living in tents on the mountainside, and occasionally working a defunct Colorado gold claim (a treasured gift from his father). Or, as Gary used to recall, he and his friends would sometimes just sit on a rock and drink in the view.

Colorado made him a cowboy. Although he had no special riding skills, he was deeply connected to nature, as comfortable outdoors as a wrangler on the range. It was in college that Gary bought his first pair of cowboy boots, which he continued to wear intermittently throughout his life – including on his wedding day.

Upon graduating, Gary bought an old Willy’s Jeep, loaded it up, and drove back to Chicago to start a career. Buoyed by a year of training at the American Academy, he landed a job at Foote, Cone and Belding. From the start, colleagues at the ad agency marveled at how quickly he dashed off impressive layouts for clients such as Kimberly Clark, S.C. Johnson, and International Harvester. He was fast – tight deadlines never fazed him. Intuitive. He was easy to be with and easy to work with, no small accomplishment in an industry known for people with strong egos. He was a man of uncommon talent with no need to draw attention to himself.

Eventually Gary opened his own design shop. He delivered award-winning work for many clients, including large corporate law firms like Mayer Brown and Barnes & Thornburg, for whom he worked directly until his retirement last December.

While Gary’s work was in advertising, he was unwavering in the belief that his real job and true purpose in life was to be a loving husband and supportive, present father. While navigating an evolving career, spending time with his wife, Carole, and their son Andrew, took precedence. Gary was the calming voice and the steady hand in their family. He was the planner of cleverly themed birthday parties for Carole and the little league coach for Andrew.

He was fulfilled by his role as a “family man” and the only thing either Carole or Andrew ever had to do to make him happy was to come home at the end of the day. Gary’s daughter in-law, Chelsea, brought a smile to his face. Gary’s grandson, Nolan Schuyler Young overwhelmed his heart with pride and comfort.

All who knew him understood Gary’s personal passion for painting. His watercolors earned awards in juried, national competitions, and at Chicago’s Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, where Gary painted, instructed, and exhibited for years. His artwork graces the walls of homes throughout Chicagoland and from Florida to Oregon. In his spare time, he taught watercolor classes in the western suburbs. Gary used his talent and his artwork as a medium for spreading joy and to give back to a world that he felt had given so much to him.

Gary passed away on May 17 in Lake Forest Hospital. He is survived by his wife Carole, their son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Chelsea, grandson Nolan, along with his brother Tom and sister Margaret. He also left behind numerous brothers and sisters in-law and many nephews and nieces some of whom liked to lovingly call him “Uncle Coolio”.

Gary lived his life like he drove his car. The power seat reclined to 60 degrees, his wrist hanging over the steering wheel, a smile on his face, obeying the speed limit, rarely changing lanes, and never cutting anyone off. While everyone else was jostling to get ahead, he enjoyed the ride, arriving calm and refreshed.

Colorado College alum and long-time CC professor Mark Paich passed away in 2022, after a year-long battle with an unexpected illness. He was 68.

Mark earned his Master’s in Economics from The University of Colorado-Boulder and then his PhD in System Dynamics from MIT in 1995. He was a high-level consultant for such firms as McKinsey & Company and PwC, and formed several boutique consulting companies in his career. Mark also cherished his role as an adjunct/associate professor at CC in the Department of Economics and Business. He taught intermittently from 1976 until his departure from the school in the early 2000s. For several years, Mark was also a coach and sponsor of CC’s Forensic (often referred to as “Speech and Debate”) teams. In 2022, the football squad on which he played in the early 1970s was inducted in CC’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mark was a gifted educator who could explain complex ideas with simplicity, integrate other people’s ideas into the conversation, and support the dignity of all students through humor and humility. He taught a wide range of subjects at CC and MIT, providing his students with valuable real-world experience. He was also a patient and altruistic mentor, assisting a great number of his students in job searches, with career advice, and during their subsequent professional development.  

Mark will be sorely missed by his family members (wife Connie, daughter Julia, son Ryan – as well as many others), colleagues, and countless individuals in his extended CC network who so benefitted from his unique expertise during his distinguished life and career.

Phil Paul of San Francisco, CA passed away on June 18, 2023, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was 69.

Phil was born on April 25, 1954. After graduating from Iowa City High in 1972, he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in physics from Colorado College, where Phil learned that he could master any subject in three and a half weeks or less – a skill he repeatedly demonstrated throughout his career. Phil then earned a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa, followed by a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

After PhD graduation, Phil accepted a position at Stanford and worked for six years as a Senior Research Associate on laser-based imaging diagnostics, where he became the globally recognized expert in planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging in reacting flows. In 1990, Phil became a Senior Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA where he worked for 10 years at the prestigious Combustion Research Facility. At Sandia, it became clear that Phil was unique in his ability to apply multidisciplinary concepts to solving complex problems in many different fields. His talents became highly sought after by his colleagues to help them whenever they ran up against a wall and needed new ideas.

In 2000, Phil was one of the six co-founders of Ekisigent, a biotech company specializing in microfluids where Phil’s role was the Chief Technology Officer. In 2010, Eksigent was acquired by Danaher, and after several years, Phil returned to work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, which is where he continued to work this last decade until his recent illness.

Over his career, Phil made remarkable contributions to the global scientific community through hundreds of publications, patents, and presentations. Many of his closest colleagues would concur that Phil was the most talented scientist/engineer they knew, and they feel grateful to have had the privilege to work with him.

But for anyone who knew Phil, they knew that he would say that the most wonderful thing he ever did in his life would be meeting and being married to his beloved wife, Mary.

At his 50th birthday party, Phil met Mary Gwynn, and for anyone who was in attendance, they could see that for Phil it was love at first sight. They married in 2007 and enjoyed many shared interests including traveling, hiking, cooking, being avid readers, exploring new restaurants, taking biking adventure trips in different parts of the world, and whippet dog events.

Phil is survived by his wife Mary and their two fur children, Kitty and Milo; his mother, Dorothy Paul of Iowa City, IA, sisters Liz Paul (Jorge Quero) of Pleasanton, CA, and Marlene Preston (Edward) of Troutville, VA, his niece Sara Quero and fiancé Steven Patterson of Dublin, CA, nephew Nico Quero (Austin) of Alameda, CA, his Aunt Shirley Fischer, as well as extended family, friends, and coworkers who brought him joy throughout his life and helped him become the amazing person that he was.

Carol Pomerance Cataldo passed away peacefully at her home in Rockport on June 19, 2022 of brain cancer. An exceptional and adventurous woman she created community and creativity wherever she found herself.

A decidedly adventurous teenager who relished the outdoors, she attended Colorado College where she studied Anthropology, communed with nature, and made lifelong friends among classmates and professors. She then pursued a career in social work, and graduated with an MSW from The University of Michigan. In her early career, she specialized in working with formerly incarcerated youth in the Bronx, as well as members of the emerging 80s-era Russian immigrant community in Brooklyn. She met Jim Cataldo when he was a Ph.D. student at Columbia University, and they later moved to Arlington, MA. Carol continued her career working as a social worker and soon became a mom — First to Simon, then Eva and Anna. Notably, Simon followed Carols footsteps (or perhaps more accurately hiking boots) to CC, from which he graduated in 2008.

Carol had a second act in her beloved town of Rockport, where she moved full-time in 2009. She immediately began working her magic and befriended the entire town and beyond, fulfilling her lifelong purpose to connect everyone with everyone in her distinctly bold and intuitive way. 

In her 66 years, Carol never sat still (or if she had to, she complained about it). She lived a vivid, full life, and was unwaveringly herself at every turn. She leaves behind her children Simon, Eva (Berlin), and Anna; sister Ruth Pomerance; grandsons Lev, Hank, Alan, and Charlie; daughter-in-law Chessie and son-in-law Gdaly Berlin; former husband and lifelong friend Jim; nephews Aaron and Emilo Prieto; stepmother Molly Pomerance; father-in-law John Cataldo; and many other beloved family members and friends. She provided and cared for all of them in ways they’ll never be able to repay.

David “The Hammer” Hanson passed away at home with family by his side on July 13, 2021. Dave experienced a stroke in 2017, and the complications from that catastrophic event ultimately took his life. Dave departed this
world far too soon and he will be greatly missed as a husband, father, brother, teammate, colleague and friend. Dave was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Diane Firmani; and their sons, Chancie and Cooper; as well as Dave’s brothers, John Hanson and Larry Hanson; sister, Kathleen Jeanson; and their spouses.

Dave’s adventurous spirit and outdoor skills were evidenced by the numerous trophy mounts in his log cabin home. He loved to hunt and fish and spend time at his cabin on the Little Susitna River. Dave had many friends because he knew how to be a friend. Whether he was handing out a kind word with a cup of coffee, telling tall tales over a beer or being a solid presence when someone needed a listener, Dave made a difference in the lives of those around him.

Dave was born in North St. Paul, Minn., on May 14, 1955. His lifelong love of hockey started early as he grew up across the street from an ice rink and spent many hours there after school and on weekends. He was a defensive stand- out and captain of his high school team, lettering all four years in hockey and tennis. Dave received a full scholarship to play hockey at Colorado College, where he earned a degree in business administration. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1975 before a career-ending knee injury in his final college game.

Dave moved to Alaska in 1977, where he remained a steady force in the recreational hockey community. He touched many young lives in his 37 years as a USA Hockey referee, particularly at the high school level. In a span of 40 years, he played in the Anchorage Men’s League (Most Penalty Minutes), Valley NHL (Noon Hockey League), Over the Chill Co-Ed and worked at all three Mat-Su indoor ice arenas. A great sheet of ice awaited anyone fortunate enough to skate after Dave drove the Zamboni. Dave’s professional career also included 14 years at Fed Ex, where he retired in 2004.

In his memory, Dave’s family welcomes flowers or a donation to Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

The world lost a shining light on January 29, 2023. Kip Freytag was taken from us by endometrial Cancer and those who called her friend, companion sensei, or mentor lost an amazing soul. 

Kip was born in Los Angeles on December 28, 1962.  She grew up, went to school, and graduated high school mostly within the confines of the greater LA area, but at that point she wanted more. She left home for Colorado College in 1981 to study Poli Sci, but along the way re-discovered German, a language she first heard from her caregiver as a baby. This led to a college exchange program in her sophomore year that took her to Luneburg, Germany and her love for travel was born. Her guest father was a forester and that had her rethinking her career path. After returning to the States, she soon transferred to UC Berkeley to pursue a degree in Forestry.

She met her husband, Frieder Schurr during a summer field course required for Natural Resource majors. However, she soon realized that a career in Wildlife management would entail long days in the woods, alone. Anyone who knew Kip, knew that she was a people person. So being in the woods wasn’t a problem, but being alone sure would be. But on a backpacking trip with friends, she fell and broke her elbow. This led to physical therapy and the introduction to her true calling. She returned to school and earned a Master’s degree in Human Physiology followed by a professional degree in Physical Therapy. She thrived in this field until an injury she suffered while treating a client sidelined her from the physical demands of the occupation.

Back in Berkeley she was introduced to martial arts through a women’s self-defense course. Over the next 30 years, she became a multi-degree blackbelt in three disciplines. She was still actively teaching in all of them up until just a couple weeks before her passing.  

She and her husband often spent weeks or even months in different places. Over the past six years, Bamberg, Germany became a second home. She attended several weeks of language lessons there each summer, with the exception of the Covid years, but even then, she continued her studies with online lessons.

KIP LOVED LIFE! She meant it to her core when she said she wanted to live forever. There was just so much to learn! She had an insatiable lust for knowledge through reading about the past and even more so through direct experiences and meeting new people. As a result, she leaves many friends, new and old, literally scattered around the world. If you knew her, please keep her in your thoughts and maybe she will still bring a smile to your lips. She would like that and that’s how she can live on.

Frieder was her husband and true partner in crime, in every way, for the past 36+ years. He says: I’d love to hear your stories, though I can’t promise to reply. WRITE TO FRIEDER »