Class of 1972
We remembered those who are no longer with us at the Class of 1972 Memorial Service on June 4, 2022. Numerous attendees offered comments about classmates and those are included below. We would welcome any additional comments, recollections or corrections for these classmates or any others we may have missed.
NOTE: At the conclusion of the Class of 1972 is a list of spouses lost. We welcome any thoughts or comments or if known, any updates. Thank you.
If you know of a classmate who has passed away and is not on this list, please notify us at alumni@colby.edu
Kristie Capers Bailey (Medfield, MA) (Remembered by Nancy Capers Mellen ‘72)
Upon graduation from Colby, Kristie and her husband, Tom Bailey moved to Belmont, NH, where Tom set up a dental practice, and Kristie was the receptionist, bookkeeper and later became a middle school English teacher in Belmont and had the luxury of just walking up the hill behind her house to get to work. For 13 years she was a dedicated and passionate educator committed to pushing students to be better and opening their eyes to the world outside our insular NE bubble. Kristie was a loving, supportive mother and wife with a gentle sense of humor, an avid baker, especially known for her extravagant desserts, and a passionate lover of music and literature.
Died on June 26, 1999.
Amy Sosland Brown (Kansas City, MO) (Remembered by Cathie Joslyn ‘72)
Amy began as a member of our class and eventually graduated from Smith College and MIT. Amy’s career included teaching at Ball State University in Indiana and serving as board member of the National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington DC.
Died September 18, 2019
Jan Neal Brownstein (Nashua, NH)
Jan was an avid mineral collector, and co-purchased the Songo Pond Mine in Bethel, Maine, working as a gemologist, cutting, and selling gemstones.
Died February 19, 2013
David Cohen (Medford, MA)
Died July 8, 2019
Ellen Gould Cohen (Burlington, VT)
Ellen was a retired Financial Manager, having worked many years for Harvard University
Died May 6, 2022
John Crabtree (Walpole, NH)
Utilizing his economics degree, John spent his entire career in sales and management with St. Johnsbury Trucking and Teals Express. John was involved with his sons in Boy Scouts and coached Little League Baseball as well as Youth Hockey. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots and loved hunting and fishing.
Died October 30, 2020
Priscilla Davis (Cleveland, OH)
Cilla served as a medical writer/editor for Norwich Pharmaceuticals. She was a lover of animals, adopting twenty-five pets over the years.
Died January 31, 2012
Ty Davis (North Smithfield, RI) (Remembered by Sally Barker ‘72)
Sally Barker reflected on meeting Ty a few weeks before Freshman year began when he was working that summer at the Harvard Coop. Yup, he flirted with me, but not until Sophomore year did we get together. He always had passions he pursued – he wrote reviews of rock concerts for the Providence Journal as he had started doing when he was in high school. Several weekends a semester we would drive down to Boston or Providence for a concert, yes, even the Rolling Stones and turned these trips into fun outings. along the way. The next day we would drop off the review at his editor’s house or take it into her at the Journal. That was in addition to his weekly column reviewing a new album.
But his love of music came from playing it – the bass guitar, with Danny Baschkopf (’70) and John Bunker at frat parties and sometimes the Chez Paris. We stayed together until a year after we graduated – I moved to Boston, he to Providence.
Died March 13, 2021
Dorothy Donovan (Monson, MA)
Louis Fleming Fallon (Oconomowoc, WI)
Lou was a modern Renaissance man, holding many positions, including airplane pilot, handbell ringer, baker, kaleidoscope collector, percussionist, and many others. Fleming taught at several institutions of higher learning including Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, and Bowling Green State University. His professional field was public health numerous post-graduate degrees including a M.S. in microbiology, a M.B.A., a Ph.D., a M.D., M.P.H, and lastly, a Dr.PH in 2000.
Died March 28, 2020
Ellen Muzzy Farnham (Brunswick, ME)
Ellen was a Navy wife and was an active volunteer in schools, museums, and other community activities at her husband’s several duty stations in California, Japan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Maine.
Died June 14, 2002
Paul Ford (Framingham, MA)
Paul attended Emory University School of Law, practicing law in Georgia for 35 years, and founding his own law firm.
Died March 7, 2018
Steve Gaynor (Marblehead, MA)
Steve was A Tau Delta Phi and following graduation, moved to south Florida and established an automotive wholesale distribution company, Gem Industries in Coral Springs.
Died November 5, 2017
Alan Glass (Brookfield, MA) (Remembered by Judy Moreland Spitz ‘72)
Alan was a generous, talented, and loving classmate remembered for his baseball skills, participation in planned and unplanned DU activities, his extensive music collection, and late night snack runs. Also: Allan hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 upset of national power Springfield College the Saturday after the Kent State shootings in 1970. Alan was an executive with Thom McAn. He also coached many youth sports teams.
Died June 2, 2010
Penny Grace (Arlington, VA)
Penny was a lifelong supporter of the New England Home for Little Wanderers
Died June 14, 1993
David Graves (Orono, ME)
Died August 1, 1997
Peter Robertson Haskell (Manchester, CT)
Peter put his math skills to work in Silicon Valley, California in the advanced computer industry. He became an avid fan of the Oakland Athletics
Died September 10, 2012
William Holland (Chatham, MA)
Bill loved the outdoors and spent his boyhood, as boys do, climbing trees, hunting, fishing. But when, just after his college graduation in 1972, his best friend, Daryl, took him rock climbing for the first time, his entire life was recast. He was seduced by the rocks, their steepness and height. In April 1989, at the age of thirty-nine, Bill disappeared in an ice climbing accident in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. While he was attempting an unroped descent off Slipstream—the three-thousand-foot frozen waterfall that runs along the treacherous east face of Mt. Snow Dome—he fell through a cornice of ice. Years later his body was located.
Died April 1989
Charles Hull (Bangor, ME)
Charlie loved the outdoors, boating, golfing, cooking, gardening and all the family pets. He took a special interest in the complete care and maintenance of the Little League’s Haverty Field on Washington Avenue in Portland, ME. Charlie was a self-employed automobile executive in Portland, Maine, and a staunch fan of the Red Sox.
Died July 5, 2005
Jane Thayer Hutchinson (Concord, MA)
Died January 8, 1994
Sylvia Jenkins (Hingham, MA)
Sylvia went on to earn a master’s degree in Special Education from Lesley College. She spent her career teaching and tutoring countless students in the Hingham School System. She was an intellect, a poet, and a gifted writer as well as a musician and a singer who loved to harmonize. In her later years, she became an avid sailor and will always be remembered at the helm, the sun on her face and the ocean breeze at her back.
Died August 13, 2022
Rick Jones (Waterville, ME) (remembered by Tina Murphy Serdjenian ‘72)
Rick was born in Florida, but grew up in Waterville, ME. He was an Eagle Scout at age 13,
attended Ohio Wesleyan University for two years, graduated from Colby in 1972 and then earned a masters from Thomas College. Rick devoted so much time to the development of soccer including coaching Olympic Development teams and Waterville H.S. Teams. In 1995, his HS boys’ team won the Class A State Championship. Rick was a man of many talents: a woodworker and furniture maker; a talented musician in a well-known local band “The Imposters” and a founding member of the contemporary Christian band, known as “Light.”
Bob Juliano (Brockton, MA) (Remembered by Larry Bigelow ‘72)
Bob Juliano was a kind, funny, and gentle soul who left us all too soon. Bob was my roommate at Colby and one of my closest friends until his death many years ago. From his best friends in our class---Johna, Mike, Beth, Karen, myself, and others--: Bob, we miss you still, all these many years later, and our hearts are full of the many great times we had together at Colby and after. I never met a bigger fan of Diana Ross or Donna Summer, still to this day!!
Richard Kaback (New York, NY)
Richard had interests in travel and tourism, working for various agencies in New York. In 1978 he earned a master’s in tourism administration from the New School in New York City.
Died November 23, 2009
William Kelleher (Boston MA)
After Colby, Bill earned a bachelor’s degree at University of Massachusetts. He earned a Ph.D. in social cultural anthropology. He taught at University of Illinois and at Syracuse University. He was an advocate for peace, education, and justice.
Died September 18, 2013
Anne Kendall (Rochester, NY)
Died November 23, 2009
Joseph Myers Koch III (Bellevue WA)
Joe earned a master’s degree from Washington State and began his career at Boeing Corporation in Seattle. He moved east, eventually becoming president of the Dragon Cement Company in Maine. Joe was a board member of the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Died May 20, 2005
Tom Lamson (Smithfield, RI)
Died July 1984
Sarah Lucy (Portland, ME)
Died July 14, 2023
William Lutnicki (Lincoln, MA)
Died February 1979
Richard MacKay (West Hartford CT)
Following graduation, Richard completed his graduate degree at Brown University and taught at Watertown (MA) Public Schools and, also, worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Died April 9, 2018
Paul McGurren (Methuen, MA)
Paul worked his way up from prep cook to part-owner at Peter Otts in Camden, where he learned to cook with remarkable speed and skill and identify which seafood was freshest. He produced exceptional writing including stories for Fly Rod and Reel, Downeast Magazine, and the Free Press. Paul was a registered Maine Guide who was the center of the Midcoast Maine’s fly-fishing community for over 30 years.
Died April 27, 2023
Erland McLetchie (Laconia, NH) (Remembered by Nancy Round Haley ‘72)
Nancy noted that Erl had been a criminal defense lawyer, professionally, but he was the “unofficial mayor” of Wolfeboro, NH. Erl was considered the mayor since he knew everyone in town and a simple
errand would take him hours (always stopping to talk with all he met). Erl had a twinkle in his eye & a great sense of humor. But we did not always get his jokes, as he was such a “low talker.” He was a dedicated family man, first to his wife Janet Veasy McLetchie ’72 and then his kids & grandkids. He was a loyal friend until the end, & we all miss him.
Died May 1, 2016
Dave Melpignano (Milford, MA) (Remembered by John Hornstein ‘73)
After graduating from Colby, Dave (Blinky) received a master’s degree in Educational Media and Technology from the University of Bridgeport and then, went to Boston University for a Ph.D. in Educational Media and Technology and finished all but his dissertation before he began working in the field he loved, video. He started his own video production company in the early 80s which he ran successfully for more than 30 years, creating the first large stock footage library in the country.
He also, continued his teaching on the baseball field and coached at all levels of the game including taking his American Legion team to the state tournament finishing second
He has been described as ‘the man who has been 18-years old his entire life’ by his closest friends. He brought humor and adventure everywhere: he taught his children how to race cars home on a road trip, get a good “burn” going to get rid of the leaves, and how to elude the police while setting off fireworks. He was also never without some snack in his pockets just in case he got hungry. He taught everyone to think critically and approach every situation like it was game day.
Died July 20, 2021.
Michael (William) Meserve (Gardiner, ME)
At Colby, Mike became interested in Japan, and after graduation he studied and worked in Tokyo for several years. After returning to the States, he pursued graduate studies at Indiana University in Asian history and political science, and then law at Washington University. His 30-year career as a political officer in the Foreign Service centered on Japan and China including serving in Hong Cong as the US Deputy Chief of the Economic Political Section during the handover of Hong Kong from Great Britain to China in 1997. He was the recipient of numerous Department of State Superior Honor awards for mentoring staff, management, analysis, and policy implementation. An excellent linguist, he was fluent in Japanese and proficient in Mandarin.
Died Feb. 23, 2017
Patricia Mustakangas (Canton, NY)
Pat was a case manager for the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services, retiring as a supervisor. She was concerned with social justice. Also, she was a gifted musician, who excelled on the French horn. You could count on Pat for stimulating, thought-provoking, and spirited conversations. She enjoyed travel, and particularly held dear Cape Cod, Salem, MA in October, and Rangely, ME.
Died May 28, 2021
J. Si Nahra (Bangor, ME)
After graduation, he worked as a researcher for the State of Maine. He conducted Medicaid research and discovered his interest in large-scale health data and analysis. Si moved to Michigan for four years of advanced study at Michigan State University and earned his Ph.D. He continued his work by forming Health Decisions, Inc, a company that conducted research for thirty-four years.
Died August 21, 2020
Robert Nelson (Arlington, MA)
Died July 1, 2008)
Timothy Orcutt (Weymouth, MA)
Died March 8, 2008
Brian Peterson (Reading, MA)
Died September 14, 2010
Bob Pike (Haverhill, MA)
How is it that a country boy from a small family in Bangor, Maine, and a streetwise boy from a large sports-loving family in Haverhill, Mass could end up rooming together sophomore year on top of Mayflower Hill? We met not on the playing fields nor in the classroom, but as freshmen pledges as fraternity brothers in the house of Lambda Chi Alpha. Bob Pike - "Pikey" as we called him - played Colby football, and notwithstanding his medium build he was tough, rugged, and solid as the Rock of Gibraltar!
Bob was a perceptive student of history and of people. In his own quiet way, he would stand back and size up a situation and the character of a person before he authoritatively spoke up or intervened.
For those who knew Bob, you knew how intrigued he was by the music of The Doors, especially the unorthodox lyrics of Jim Morrison, all of which he'd recite to you frequently. His favorite History teacher was Professor Bridgeman whose rather eccentric style amused Bob, who would come back to our room after class and recount that day's lecture. Bob took every course Bridgeman offered.
Sophomore year when Mohammad Ali visited campus as our guest speaker, Bob worshipped Ali and somehow finagled the privilege of picking Ali up from the Bangor Airport and escorting him to campus. Only problem, Bob didn't have a car, so I lent him my old Chevy Corvair in which he insisted on going alone to have the legendary athlete all to himself. I always wondered how Bob coaxed the towering Ali into that unsafe, subcompact car!
It was here at Colby that Bob met the love of his life, Chris Hanley, our classmate who is sitting among us today at this Memorial Service. Chris was always his "sun by day, and northern star by night," by which Bob took his bearings and oriented his life. I always knew whenever Bob was prepping for a date with Chris - he took a hot shower and borrowed one of my sweaters. They joyfully married not long after Colby.
Bob was a man of principle with an innate sense of justice, especially for the underdog. He would have made a brilliant, cross-examining trial attorney, but after Chris, football was his second love. Bob was an inspiring AP History teacher and celebrated football coach who encouraged his students to reach for the stars. One year he took his All-State Football Champions to the Republic of Ireland to teach them our game of American football.
Bob was a loving husband and father who raised two children with Chris, Monica and Rob - another accomplished football coach. "Pikey" passed away last year, and his last words to his son were, "reserve time to spend with your family."
"Pikey" you did Colby proud along with your family and community. We loved our days with you on our Mayflower Hill and miss you.
So long Brother - Rest in Peace --
Died March 3, 2021
Stanley Pozerycki (Washington, MA)
Died September 14, 2010
Alison Smith (Slatersville, RI)
A history major at Colby, she worked in the medical supply manufacturing industry for most of her career. Her first love, however, was helping at her family's farm, Christiansen's Orchards, in Slatersville, RI.
Died July 9, 2009
Craig Smith (Cambridge, MA)
Died June 8, 1996
Danny Smith (Gardiner, ME)
Freshman year, 2nd floor Robins Hall, I met Danny Smith, the only other classmate from Maine in our dorm. Short, shy, and unassuming, which is an understatement, he was probably unnoticeable unless you had a class with him - even then not particularly noteworthy. Danny was the kindest person with a pleasant personality, a thoughtful and gracious person. But most guys in our dorm didn't bother to get to know him, and even cruelly teased and intimidated him such that he avoided us in the dorm.
Danny was a lover of books, and by college the most well-read person I'd ever known at our age. He was a brilliant scholar of Maine history and a librarian. When I saw his name on a list of deceased classmates, I didn't want him to go unnoticed among us any longer.
Danny D. Smith's lifetime of achievements and contributions to Maine will endure.
- Gardiner Library Association
- The Society of Mayflower Descendants
- Maine Cemetery Association (a primary source for historical research)
- New England Genealogical Society
- Chairman of Special Rare Book Collections of Maine History
- Coauthor of several books with State Historian, Earle Shettleworth, Jr. (Colby '70)
Died May 25, 2019
Mike Sullivan (Melrose MA) (remembered by Tina Murphy Serdjenian ‘72)
Mike Sullivan loved hockey and played hockey in his youth in Melrose, MA through his years at Colby, where he studied economics. After graduation, he moved to Maryland, where he founded AMI Capital, Inc., in 1991, where he grew his business nationwide for 20 years and sold it to Wachovia Bank- now Wells Fargo- and retired to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he bought a farm, and enjoyed the outdoors. Mike was a skilled hunter and fisherman, a dedicated conservationist, an adventurer. He loved sailing and used his captain’s license to explore the Chesapeake and the Caribbean. He was a generous man, who hosted hunting outings for the Wounded Warriors on his farm, an event partially inspired by the loss of his brother, Stephen, in the Vietnam War. He established the Louise and Tom Sullivan Scholarship Fund at Colby. Mike was a funny guy, with a wry, self-deprecating sense of humor. He brought laughter wherever he went.
Died February 28, 2019
Steve Sullivan (Lexington, MA) (Remembered by Susan Griffin Benjamin ’72)
Steve lived in Waltham, Mass and I believe he was still working for UMass. He had never married but maintained an active social life with several other Colby friends, Kathy McGurr, Anne Emerson, and
Susan Griffin. He was always a very good friend to all, kind, considerate and generous with his time. Steve’s amusing good nature became evident during Junior year in France, where he was the most active participant in the group’s never-ending social events. We all loved him and miss him greatly.
Dudley Townsley (Laconia, NH)
In 1972, Dudley was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force through ROTC and began his 20-year career in communications. While in the Air Force he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and earned his master’s degree in Teleprocessing Science. During his time, he received the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He retired in 1992 as a Communications-Computer Systems Officer. Dudley returned to New Hampshire and settled in Sanbornton, NH, and taught math at Lakes Region Community College.
Died February 5, 2012
David Traister (Haverhill, MA)
Died June 12, 2010
Hugo Wallgren (Fitchburg, MA)
Hugo continued his education by earning an MBA at UMass-Amherst and spent his career in business, ultimately serving as Chief Financial Officer for a large company. Hugo was a competitive tennis player throughout his life.
Died June 21, 2018
Randall Wieting (Swampscott, MA)
Following graduation, Randall studied landscape design at Radcliffe College and after completing service in the US Air Force from 1966 to 1970, spending one year in Thailand. He was an accomplished skier and sailor and a regular exhibitor at the New England Flower & Garden Show.
Died April 13, 2021
Mike Wilson (Lewiston, ME) (Remembered by Doug O’Heir)
Mike Wilson was one of the best persons I have ever known - funny, intense, strong, and honest. He died too young at 26 years of age on July 22, 1977. Mike disagreed with student deferments that shielded college students from being drafted and left Colby early to become a conscientious objector and served two years of Alternative Service at Thayer Hospital. Once done with his Alternative Service, Mike put himself through the University of Maine to become a Special Education teacher and reconnected with our Colby classmate, Stephanie Kuehn, and married in 1976. Before starting teaching positions, Stephanie and Mike went backpacking in a remote part of Northern Maine. After a full day of hiking and setting up camp beside a lake, Mike went for a swim to an island in the middle of the lake. Part way out, he shouted for help and started sinking beneath the waters. Stephanie swam to him, got him to the island, but it was too late - Mike was gone. The cause of death was uncertain - a rare, but fatal, cardiac arrhythmia. Mike is buried in Auburn, Maine. His grave inscription reads “And I can still hear the angels sing, and see the wind, and touch the moon.”
Spouses Lost as of June 4, 2022
Dan Bloomer lost his wife Lillian McMullin in 2019
Ned Carr lost his wife, Joy Branscombe Carr ’73 May 2016
Greg Chapman lost his wife Debra
Linda Chmielinski lost her husband Frank Gould on December 4, 2021 Frank was an honorary, Colby alumni as he attended all of our major reunions as the spouse of a classmate. He is an Honorary Member of the Colby Cass of ’72.
Paul McGurren lost his wife Carol in 2019
Nancy Round Haley lost her husband Steve Haley on May 16, 2017. Steve was an honorary, Colby alumni as he attended all our major reunions and danced the night away. He died suddenly in 2017 of pancreatic cancer. He will always be cherished as a wonderful husband, father, friend and teacher with a truly quick wit and zest for life. He was a real renaissance man; I was lucky to call him my friend since high school. (Remembered by Janet Veasey McLetchie)
John Koons lost his wife Susan September 18, 2003
Anne Emerson lost her husband
Rich Fournier lost his wife Pauline in 2007.
Pam Rudolf Jaffke lost her husband Rich Jaffke in 2019
Carol Morland lost her husband Mike Meserve ’72 on February 23, 2017.
Janet Veasy McLetchie lost her husband Erl McLetchie ’72 on May 1, 2016
Chris Hanley Pike lost her husband Bob Pike ’72 on March 3, 2021.
Carol Johnson lost her husband Donald Rycroft on February 1, 2018
Deborah Christensen Stewart lost her husband Robert on Dec. 12, 2015
Amy Sylvester Wells lost her husband Ken on March 11, 2016.