Category Archives: 1950s

Anthony C. Berg ’52

Anthony (Tony) C. Berg, of Williamsburg, VA,  passed away at age 83 on June 24, 2018. He was predeceased by his wife, Camille and his parents, Renie and Marcus Berg. Tony was born in Halifax, England and grew up in Stuyvesant Falls, NY and Easthampton, MA. Tony graduated as Valedictorian from Williston Academy in Easthampton. He then attended and graduated from WPI. After graduating from WPI, Tony was hired by Raytheon. In 1958, he took a leave of absence from Raytheon to serve his country in the Army where he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. Upon honorable discharge in 1960, he and Camille moved to Massachusetts where Tony resumed working for Raytheon until his retirement in 1997. After retirement in 1997, he and his wife moved to James City County. Having enjoyed golfing throughout New England, he and his wife joined Williamsburg Country Club. Shortly after moving to Ford’s Colony Tony began building and maintaining blue bird boxes. Through his effort Ford’s Colony became a bird sanctuary. Tony also enjoyed ten pin bowling and joined a bowling league in Williamsburg. Tony had a love of antique cars and would frequent local car shows. In recent years, he enjoyed studying the stock market and trying different investment strategies. Tony’s favorite pastime, however, was his Ham Radio. He enjoyed making contacts and friends all around the word. He was an active member of FOC and ARRL. Now W1OT will join the ranks of the “Silent Keys”. Left to remember Tony are daughters, Gretchen Queeney and Karen (Jack) Primiano; grandchildren, Sean and Mia Primiano, Nicole Floria and Kellen Queeney; cousin, Sandra Garner; and nieces, Georgia (Steve) Schumacher, Elizabeth (Cal Thomas) Stoehr, and Pamela (Winston) Cavin.

Eugene M. Pfeifer ’58

Eugene “Gene” Michael Pfeifer, Esq. died June 10, 2018 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Alexandria, VA in the company of his loving family. Born on May 17, 1940, Gene was predeceased by his second wife of 31 years Jill Bothwell Pfeifer, stepson Thomas Bothwell, sisters Anne and Teresa. He is survived by his children Chris Pfeifer (Daniela Spigai) and Laura Pfeifer (Edgar Fields), stepdaughter Maria Bothwell (Jeffery Kline), daughter-in-law Laurie Bothwell (Keith Burgess) and grandchildren Marc Blanch-Baldwin, Amelia Bothwell, Max Kline, Lily and Zane Pfeifer, Jackie Tilley, and a host of grieving family and friends. Gene was a graduate of Williston Academy 1958, Brown University 1962, and then moved to Alexandria, VA to attend Georgetown University Law Center, graduating in 1967. He enlisted in the National Guard while at law school and served 1962-64. While at Georgetown, he clerked for the first African American judge in DC and was an ardent civil rights activist, attending many marches and demonstrations in DC in the 1960’s. His children are inspired by his sense of civic duty. Gene was well and widely read. He always had a book in hand. His penetrating intellect made him a formidable conversationalist enhanced by a dry sense of humor. A marvelous raconteur and bon vivant, Gene enjoyed travel; when his children were young, Gene and his first wife Debbie Baldwin pulled their kids out of school for a year-long road trip across The United States and Mexico in a van he had converted. Gene’s children, Chris and Laura, forever grateful, remember this as their most profound education and a life changing experience. He was quite the adventurer. His love of sailing started as a child growing up in New England. Summers on the water at a young age seeded his passion for sailing that lives on in his grandson Max. On land, he loved to bike. He rode 100 miles in 2014 and 2015 for Bike to the Beach for Autism. Sports were a big part of his life. He was a gymnast, played hockey for Brown, and skied every winter. Gene loved his family and in his last year, he did not shy away from telling his children how proud he was of them and his grandchildren. He left comforted by knowing he had passed on his values, morals, and integrity to his children and grandchildren. Generous of spirit, Gene was a wonderful grandfather and could often be found undertaking projects with the grandchildren including building a playhouse and tubing behind the Grady White in Easton. Gene had a remarkable legal career rooted first at the Food and Drug Administration. He was a law partner at King & Spalding in Washington DC and prior to that was a law partner at Burditt, Bowles & Radzius. Among his many accomplishments, Gene was a major participant in the development of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. He provided regulatory advice and representation on a wide variety of FDA, FTC, and DEA regulated activities, including product approval and compliance issues. Prior to his law firm work, Gene served for a year in the General Counsel’s office of the Federal Trade Commission, where he represented the FTC in Federal Court to enjoin violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act. He had served ten years in the Chief Counsel’s Office at the FDA as Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement, Associate Chief Counsel for Drugs, and Deputy Chief Counsel for Regulations and Hearings. During his tenure at the FDA, he was the FDA’s lead litigator and Appellate Court advocate, and he briefed six major FDA cases before the Supreme Court. He was an active volunteer professionally and personally, serving on the board of Elite Pharmaceuticals, and as volunteer at Habitat for Humanity in Easton, MD.

C. Lawrence Reece ’53

 

Christopher Lawrence “Larry” Reece III 81, of Sun City Center, FL, passed away April 28, 2017 in South Bay Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his two children, Alison and Jennifer; grandchildren, Nicole, Echo, and Delta. Larry and his wife Mary were longtime residents of Longmeadow, MA. Once retired, they moved to Sun City Center where Larry was an active association member.

Roma I. Donais W’27

Roma I. Donais, 100, of Easthampton, MA passed away Sunday, May 13, 2018 in her home with her family at her side. She was born in South Hadley, MA on August 13, 1917, the daughter of Hector and Clemencia Isabelle Huot. Roma attended schools in South Hadley and pursued a profession as a Registered Nurse. She was the widow of Dr. Henry E. Donais ‘27, a well-respected physician in Easthampton, who died in 1997. Roma was active in Easthampton as a member of the former Town of Easthampton Finance Committee, member and Corporator of Emily Williston Memorial Library, member of Tuesday Afternoon Club, Helping Hand Society, Garden Club and a former President of the Easthampton Historical Society.

Roma is survived by son Paul C. Donais and daughter Harriet E. Tatro ‘57, both of Easthampton, two grandchildren Harriet A. DeVerry ‘81 and John H. Tatro ‘87, and one great-grandson Devin DeVerry ’17. She was predeceased by her son Henry E. (Hank) Donais, Jr. ’59.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 17, from 4pm to 6pm at Mitchell Funeral Home, 15 Park Street, Easthampton.

In lieu of flowers’s, a gift in Roma’s memory may be given to the Williston Northampton School, Donais Scholarship Fund.

Warren A. Rival ’54

Warren Allen Rival completed his life journey on April 18, 2018 at his home in Laconia, New Hampshire, at age 82 with his family by his side. Warren was born in New Britain, Connecticut on March 7, 1936 to Matthias and Loretta (Koerber) Rival. Warren attended New Britain Public Schools until he was fourteen when he went to Williston Academy and then on to Yale University where he continued to use his beautiful baritone voice singing with the Baker’s Dozen and the Yale Glee Club. He was graduated with the class of ’58. Warren started his career in aerospace manufacturing as a manufacturing engineer and factory manager. As an entrepreneur and patent holder he grew his small successful aerospace manufacturing business from three to seventy five employees. The good work of others was always greatly appreciated and respected by him. Whatever recreation Warren allowed himself was for the benefit of his family mainly in the mountains of New Hampshire, Maine, Wyoming and Switzerland, the birthplace of his paternal grandmother. Summer vacations were always on the coast of Maine. In his later years his tennis game became part of the “Old Mens” group. Warren’s quiet intelligence, integrity and industry are carried on by his son Chris and his daughter Mimi who saw their father live his life and endure his long illness with grace. Warren is survived by his wife Jean; his son Christopher (’78) and his wife Suzanne of North Reading, Massachusetts, and his daughter Maria “Mimi” Tlougan and her husband Bruce of Jackson, Wyoming; grandchildren Dr Brook Tlougan and spouse Vijay Karia of New York City and Jackson, Wyoming, and Jay Tlougan and his wife Liza of Jackson, Wyoming; great grandson Rowley Tlougan. Also surviving are nieces Marcia Richmond and her husband, Al, of Westfield, Massachusetts and Susan Nock and her husband, Randy, of Twinsburg, Ohio and nephew Bryan Rival and his wife, Caroline, of Hilliard, Ohio. In addition to his parents Warren was preceded in death by his brother Richard.

Robert D. Bates ’53

Robert Duane Bates passed away March 18, 2015.  He was born on April 24, 1934, in the Catskill-mountain town of Walton, New York. Son of Dr. Floyd R. and Mrs. Mildred (nee Churchill) Bates, Bob grew up spending hours outdoors in the mountain air, camping, fishing, and hunting with his parents and beloved dog, Bonnie. Back indoors, Bob thoroughly enjoyed studying music, and, after mastering the piano, he went on to teach himself the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica; later in life, he liked to say that he also “fiddled around with the fiddle.”

In the late 1960’s, Bob moved to central New York State, where he soon met his future wife, Marilou (nee Matuszak) Bates of Elmira, New York. Bob and Marilou were married in 1970 and welcomed into the world their own children – a son and twin daughters.

After 45 years of marriage, Bob is survived by his wife, Marilou, of Cortland, New York; by his two children: son John Francis Bates, also of Cortland; and daughter Margaret Aileen Koch of Wenatchee, WA; as well as by many loving in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his devoted parents and by his infant daughter, Kathleen, who went to be with the Lord in 1973.

Bob will further be missed by his oldest grandson, John Francis Smith-Bates of Ithaca, New York, and by his son-in-law Robert James, grandson Joshua Michael, and granddaughter Caitlin Elizabeth Koch, all of Wenatchee, WA.

William S. Michael ’53

William Shaw Michael passed away on April 15, 2018 at age 82. Son of the late Leroy Michael and Katherine Shaw Michael, he was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. Bill, as he preferred to be called, was a graduate of Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and majored in English. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan. He began his fifty-year legal practice in Charlotte, NC at First Union National Bank. Bill then served as corporate counsel at The Ervin Company, and later was a partner in the firms of Williams and Michael, and Weinstein & Sturges. He retired to Pawleys Island in 2011. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Cathy; his three daughters, Helen Michael, Caroline Osborne, Dillon Grenham, and their spouses, Roy Cloud, John Osborne, and David Grenham, all of Washington, DC; stepsons Jeff Phillips and Jonathan Neubauer, and their spouses, Mary and Jeannie, of Charleston, SC; and grandchildren, Meryn, Cole, Lila, Natalie, James, Cate and Ryn. Bill is also survived by his brother Leroy and spouse Joanne Michael of Scottsdale, AZ. Always active, Bill loved Tar Heel basketball, tennis, hiking, politics and socializing with friends. In retirement, he trained Golden Retrievers for Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit devoted to helping people with disabilities by providing them with highly trained dogs free of charge. Through that charitable work, he found his treasured dog Lupe, who serendipitously failed to pass a few of the rigorous tests for becoming a service dog. Bill was a member of the ACLU and the vestry of Holy Cross Faith Memorial Church of Pawleys Island. He was a passionate reader, with avid interests in literature, history and theology, and had a great facility for puns.

Margaret Hill Greenberg ’51

Margaret “Maggie” Greenberg, 83, died on April 10, 2018 at her home. She was the daughter of Smith College English professor Charles Hill and his wife, Ruth, of Northampton, MA.
Mrs. Greenberg graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, where she also won the history prize, and later received an M.A. degree in history from the University of Maryland. Subsequently, she was awarded the Diplome de Langue Francaise with highest honors from the Alliance Francaise in Paris, France.
Mrs. Greenberg traveled extensively in Europe, spending two years in Greece and two years in France. As a result, she became fluent in French and was able to converse in German, Italian, and Greek.
An accomplished classical pianist, Mrs. Greenberg studied under professor Sklarevsky, a Russian pianist at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, MD. After moving to Mount Gilead, OH in 2005, she enjoyed giving piano lessons to her younger grandson.
Following 18 years of teaching history and French at college preparatory schools in the Washington, D.C. area, Mrs. Greenberg moved to Sanibel Island, FL. During her 20 years on Sanibel, she played team tennis in Florida’s “A” league, was Tennis Director at Sanibel’s largest resort, became very involved in local civic affairs, and began a new career as a freelance writer. The publication of over 200 articles and six books earned her a listing in “Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors & Poets.”
Mrs. Greenberg endowed two academic scholarships for students at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA and at the American College in Athens, Greece. She was also a generous contributor to the Mt. Gilead Public Library, the Morrow County Hospital Foundation, and United Way of Morrow County.
Mrs. Greenberg was predeceased by her husband, Louis M. Greenberg, a history professor at the University of Maryland. She is survived by her daughter, Alison Hirt of Mount Gilead, and grandsons Jaccob Hirt and Stefan Showalter, also of Mount Gilead.

 

Robert H. Moore ’52

Robert Hilliard Moore, 84, of East Falmouth, MA passed away on Friday, March 9, 2018 at the Falmouth Hospital. He was born in Winchester to Robert L. and Dorothy (Hilliard) Moore.

Bob was a graduate of Williston Academy and attended Boston University. He served in the United States Army and then went on to attend Employers Insurance School in Boston. He worked for Paul Peters Insurance Agency for over 40 years.

Bob was a charter member of the Elks and was on the board of directors for the Falmouth Co-operative Bank for over 20 years. He also was one of the founding fathers of Falmouth Youth Hockey, and a lover of the ocean and the Mountains, his favorite pastime was boating.

Bob leaves behind his 4 sons: Bobby and Linda Moore of Sandwich, David and Cathy Moore, Paul and Laura Moore, and Tom and Trish Moore, all of Falmouth; his 8 grandchildren: Marissa and Nicole Moore, Brandon, Jordan and Rachel Moore, Brittney, P.J. and Marianna Moore; and his siblings, Steven and Rick Moore. He also leaves his first wife, Sally Peters, and his second wife, Janet Moore and her children, Brad and Kristen Fish. He was predeceased by his sister, Sheila.

Basil A. Petricca ’50

Basil August Petricca, the former CEO of Petricca Industries, and founder of Unistress died on March 7th at the age of 86 in Pittsfield, MA.

Basil “Rick” Petricca, born October 2nd, 1931 in North Adams, MA was the son of Basilio Augusto and Rose Mancuso Petricca. He graduated from Williston Academy in 1950 and Tufts University in 1954. He later served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA.

Rick started his business career as a child, raising and selling chickens and eggs to help support his family. When his father died unexpectedly in 1962 Rick stepped into a leadership role in the family business and dedicated himself to its success and growth. Rick was an entrepreneur by nature and loved to make deals. Over the years he founded or acquired over a dozen businesses ranging from pre-stress concrete to telecommunications and travel.

Rick was a communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and St. Marks Church and attended mass every day. In 2007 he was honored for his years of service to the church with indoctrination into the Bishop’s Circle of Stewards. He was also involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, more than the family can remember, but among his favorites were: The Boys and Girls Club; Berkshire Healthcare Systems; The Berkshire Museum; The Berkshire County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association; UNICO; and The Catholic Youth Center.

He will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm who always had time to hear and help with anyone’s problem. No matter how large the family grew he made every child feel special. His sense of humor helped us all accept his passing but he will always be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

He leaves his beloved wife and best friend of 61 years, Rosaland Bishop Petricca and five children, Perri Petricca (Michelle Thorpe-Petricca), Richard Petricca ’76 (Priscilla), Gregg Petricca ’79 (Lisa Dachinger), Tina Petricca ’82 and Cara Carnevale ’89 (Marc). His grandchildren, Adam, Grady, Leah, Charlotte, Lauren, Richard, Jr., Nicole, Curt, Jennifer, Nathan, Cole, Ryder, Nicholas and Tyler. His great grandchildren, Makayla, Alanna, Roman, Milania, Victoria, Harrison, and Elle. He is survived by his brother Robert Petricca (Lyn). Rick was predeceased by his brother Peter, sister Virginia and granddaughters Talia and Alora Grace.