Robert J. Samuelson, an economics columnist for Newsweek and The Washington Post died on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Bethesda, Md. He was 79.

His death, in a hospital, was caused by complications of Parkinson’s disease, his daughter, Ruth Samuelson, said.

Mr. Samuelson married Judy Herr in 1983. In addition to his wife and daughter, Ruth, he is survived by two sons, Michael and John; a brother, Richard; and two grandchildren.

To read Mr. Samuelson’s complete obituary, please visit the New York Times.

Gordon Eugene Cadwgan Jr, age 81, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of West Palm Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Gordon’s life was marked by service, scholarship, and a genuine appreciation for the world around him. He graduated from the Williston Northampton School and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He proudly served his country in Vietnam before completing his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts.

Gordon began his professional career at Union Carbide in West Virginia. In 1981, he joined the DuPont Company as a research chemist, where he continued to pursue his passion for scientific discovery. Beyond his career, he dedicated many years to the Alpha-1 Foundation, where he served as Chairman of the Board and worked tirelessly to support its mission.

An avid golfer, Gordon was a longtime member of Ibis Golf and Country Club. He had a deep love for animals and generously supported Big Dog Ranch in Wellington, FL, and Peggy Adams Animal Rescue in West Palm Beach, FL. Some of his happiest moments were spent at the family beach house, where he cherished summers surrounded by those he loved.

Gordon is survived by his devoted wife, Ruth Cadwgan; his daughters, Lois Slusser (Kevin), Kate Cadwgan (Dave), and Sally Bronson (Jason); his son, Larry Williams (Pam); his two cherished granddaughters, Samantha Walsh (TJ) and Mary Leverette (Jordan); and his four great-grandchildren, Timothy, Grayson, Liam, and Alana.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 7th at 1 p.m. at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803.

Gordon will be fondly remembered for his kindness, intellect, and unwavering love for his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to alpha1.org/tribute-giving/

Robert “Bob” Shumway, a WWII veteran, real estate developer, and survivor of the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire, has died at 101. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1942, his life spanned over a century of American history. At 17, he was among the last survivors of the tragic Boston nightclub fire, and during WWII, trained as a pilot before serving in the U.S. Army’s 89th Infantry Division under General Patton, participating in the campaign across the Rhine into Germany.

Following the war, he built a successful career in real estate in Amherst, starting with Shumway’s Dairy Bar. He shared a loving life with his wife Eleanor, whose Italian heritage enriches their family traditions. An avid golfer, Bob enjoyed his time at local clubs in Amherst and Bears Paw Naples, Florida, where he relocated in retirement. He greatly cherished family, community, and life’s simple joys. Bob is survived by his daughter Jacalyn Sexton, son Curtis Shumway, grandchildren Jennifer Gallant and her husband Cliff Gallant, Jack Shumway and Meghan Shumway, along with great grandchildren Mia, Sophie and Cliff.

Services will be held privately with family. Donations can be made to your local Veteran’s Association.

Raymond Peter Boulanger passed away, surrounded by family while in hospice care, on November 3, 2025, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 81.

Ray was born in Northampton, MA, on April 26, 1944, to Raymond Louis Boulanger and Georgette Bessette Boulanger. He attended Williston Northampton school, where he played baseball and football, but his focus was on academics. He graduated fourth in his class with highest honors. At a mixer during high school, he met Maureen Reardon, who would become his wife until she passed away in 2022. After high school, Ray attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, majoring in Economics, ranking third in his class, and earning Phi Beta Kappa honors. He was also the backup catcher on the varsity baseball team. Ray earned his Masters in Economics from the University of Michigan, before applying to law school.

Ray and Maureen married on May 6, 1967 and later moved to New Haven, CT, where Ray attended Yale Law School through Army ROTC. Ray was a member of the Yale Law Journal. After law school, they moved to Alexandria, VA, where Ray served as a Captain in the Army and Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon. While in Alexandria, their son, Cort, was born in 1971. In 1973, the growing family moved to Arlington, MA, where daughter, Brittanny was born.

Ray’s legal career started in 1973 at Goodwin Procter, with a promotion to associate partner in 1978. At his 2016 retirement party, colleagues celebrated Ray’s contributions to building Goodwin Procter into a thriving national firm. At Goodwin, Ray’s clients included some of the nation’s largest financial services firms – including Fidelity and State Street – and his expert guidance helped grow Boston’s nascent mutual fund industry into a global powerhouse. He also taught advanced seminars in corporate law at Yale Law School and Boston University School of Law.

In 1975, the family moved to Winchester, which remained home for more than 40 years. Ray was an avid Red Sox fan whose fandom was best described as perpetual hope peppered with daily doomerism. While he did rejoice when the Sox finally broke the curse in 2004, neither that nor the three subsequent titles changed his outlook as a Red Sox fan. Ray lived out his own big league dreams at Red Sox fantasy camp in 2005. He relished participating in spring training in Florida, hobnobbing with Sox greats, but the highlight was the game at Fenway Park. With friends and family in the stands, Ray knocked a single to center and played solid defense behind the plate.

Ray traveled with Maureen to New Zealand, France, Scandinavia, Ireland, and more. An avid jogger, Ray transitioned to hiking in his 50s, with treks in the Andes, Alps, Himalayas, and other high-altitude locales. In the early 1990s, Maureen and Ray bought a vacation home in Scarborough, ME. The home became a haven for the entire family, creating lifetime memories for his grandchildren. After Maureen’s passing, Ray moved to Maine full-time, taking long walks on the beach and visiting the gym daily. Ray supported many philanthropies, including A Better Chance, Rosie’s Place, and Framingham State University, for which he served as a trustee.

Ray leaves two children, Cort Boulanger of Middlebury, VT and Dr. Brittanny Boulanger, who lives in Winchester with husband, Dr. Todd O’Brien. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Liam O’Brien, Niamh O’Brien, Callan Boulanger and Mac Boulanger. Ray is joined in eternal life with Maureen and their granddaughter, Tilly Boulanger, who passed away in a tragic accident in 2019. Ray is survived by his brother, Edward Boulanger; and sister, Avis Ashton; his in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews.

On November 21, at 10:00 a.m., Ray’s life will be celebrated with a Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Winchester, before a private Interment with military honors. A reception at the Winchester Country Club will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Tilly Boulanger Foundation, which celebrates the life of Ray’s beloved granddaughter – and their shared love of learning and the outdoors, tillyboulangerfoundation.org or consider supporting the Greater Boston Food Bank in this time of need, https://my.gbfb.org/give

Philip Stuart Fisher, 85, an extraordinary man whose life was a true performance, completed his final scene early Tuesday morning, November 4, 2025. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family in Houston, TX, after a life lived with profound purpose and an unwavering belief that there were no coincidences, only “God Winks” that guided every meaningful moment.

He was a celebrated wordsmith, passionate educator, accomplished actor, and beloved family man.

Born and raised in Worcester, MA, Philip harbored a lifelong passion for the dramatic arts that would define his remarkable career. A true poet from a young age, he published a book of poems at just 12 years of age, foreshadowing a life dedicated to the power and beauty of language. He honed his craft at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City (Class of 1962), earned his BA in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Class of 1968), and achieved an MFA in Theatre from Boston University School of Fine and Applied Arts (Class of 1970).

Philip’s illustrious acting career saw him perform Off-Broadway in New York, appear in 20 featured television roles, and become a fixture in the vibrant Houston theater scene. He captivated audiences in over 44 roles at the Alley Theatre, as well as multiple productions at Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) and Stages Repertory Theatre.

Beyond the stage, Philip was a devoted educator. He taught at the University of Houston (Downtown and Clear Lake), Houston Community College, North Harris County Community College, Rice University, and San Jacinto Community College. He earned multiple “Who’s Who in American Teachers” recognitions and left a profound impact on thousands of students—shaping not only their communication skills but also their confidence and worldview.

As a gifted communicator and consultant, Philip inspired individuals and organizations in public speaking, interpersonal skills, voice and diction, and acting. He coached speech teams to local, regional, and national awards. Even during a detour into insurance sales with Transamerica, he achieved Million Dollar Round Table membership, a testament to his innate ability to connect and persuade.

Philip, often affectionately known as Phil, Poppy, or Dr. Fisher, wore many hats and gave his whole self to each one. He was a performer in every sense—not just on stage, but in the everyday theater of life. He embodied a generous spirit, once featured in the Houston Chronicle for picking up random riders in the HOV lane, eager to share conversations and connect with diverse individuals on his journey downtown. He was renowned for his insightful acronyms, designed to make complex ideas memorable and practical.

A true dreamer, his life was a masterclass in communication, kindness, and connection.

Philip was preceded in death by his parents, Julius B. Fisher and Rose Mandell Fisher, and his siblings, Lois Seder and Conrad Fisher.

He is survived by his loving wife, Susan Fisher; his cherished daughters, Kimberly Fisher Roth (David), Karen Lynne Fisher (Kim Cash), and Valerie Tinklepaugh Hairston (EJ Hairston); and his grandchildren, Julia Roth Castleberry (Robert), Spencer Harrison Roth, and Karli Rose Fisher.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the physicians and nursing staff at MD Anderson Hospital and At Your Side Caregivers for the compassionate care shown to Philip in his final days.

A celebration of Philip’s life will be held in the new year. All who wish to share a story, acronym, or pronunciation in Phil’s honor are warmly invited. If you have a great story or memory, please let us know so we can compile them for our family to have and hold.

So in his spirit, hug someone like you’re reminding them they matter, hold open the door — yes, literally for a stranger and metaphorically for joy — savor the dessert (especially ice cream) like it’s the last sweet word in a long poem, and say yes to the event you’ve been avoiding like it’s a chapter waiting to be written. Because as Phil would say, “Life is for living.” Let’s live each of our 525,600 minutes to the fullest.