William Lee Olds Jr., a fourth generation San Franciscan who was a long-time resident of San Francisco died peacefully, July 25, 2018 at the age of 77. William attended Williston Academy before graduating from University of San Francisco.
He is survived by his three children, William Lee Olds III, Helene Hanneken, and Michelle Sauger as well as his son in-law James Sauger, eight grandchildren and his sister Jane Olds Bogart.
He was the President of the William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, a founding Board member of University High School, long time Board member of the San Francisco Humane Society and sat on numerous other non-profit boards. William was also a member of The Olympic Club for 58 years and The Bohemian Club for 48 years, where he was very active in their productions.
He was old school, regal, and selfless in his generosity; never expecting anything in return. William literally lived by the phrase “belt and suspenders,” which is commonly used in finance to describe cautious bankers, or for having redundant safety procedures in place to eliminate risk.
He was prepared, systematic and preserving of the resources he was a steward of, while also known to sport a belt and suspenders in his day to day. He was a voracious reader and a world traveler. He loved to travel on boats and had a passion for the Antarctic after his visit there. He was a true gentleman and will be sorely missed.
Category Archives: 1950s
Joseph Wayland-Smith ’57
Joseph Wayland-Smith passed away peacefully on July 25, 2018 after a long fought battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Seattle, Washington and lived in Oneida, New York for many years and later retired to Bonita Springs, Florida. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Betty and Jerry Wayland-Smith; sister, Nini Hatcher, brother and sister-in-law, Janny and Bill Rosenberger and brother-in-law, Robert Kopp.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Ellen, of 53 years, his adoring children, Anne Salerno (Allen Salerno) and Douglas Wayland-Smith (Amy Wayland-Smith), and his cherished grandchildren, Ian Salerno, and Abby and Natalie Wayland-Smith. Joe is also survived by his sister-in-law, Carol Kopp and brother-in-law, Lang Hatcher. In addition, he leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Joe graduated from Williston Academy, Syracuse University and Albany Medical School Physicians’ Assistant Program. Joe proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960. He worked for Oneida Limited for many years but his true love was working as a PA in the Emergency Room. Joe had many interests in life. He was a football referee, soccer coach, EMT and a woodworker. He served on the board of the area arts council for many years and various other volunteer organizations.
Joe and Ellen enjoyed their vacations on Nantucket for 25 years surfcasting for blue fish. They also made wonderful memories at their daughter’s cabin in the Adirondacks. Pontoon boat rides and hearing the loons were particularly special to him. Joe and Ellen spent 17 wonderful years in retirement at Worthington Country Club in Florida where they made lasting friendships with folks from various parts of the U.S. and abroad. Joe was interested in the stock market, reading, golf, duplicate bridge and loved being surrounded by his family and friends engaged in conversation and laughter. He will be remembered for his kindness, courage, patience and dedication to helping others.
Peter P. Gerquest ’51
Peter Prior Gerquest, of South Freeport, ME, passed away June 1, 2018. Peter was an impassioned sailor, hobby lobsterman, and a career shipbroker; the sea was his garden. For the last 20 years of his life, Peter watched the sea every day from his home in South Freeport, overlooking Casco Bay. Peter was brought into the world by poet, family friend, and physician William Carlos Williams, in Passaic, N.J., on March 3, 1932. He was the son of Llewellyn Prior Gerquest, a painter and sculptor, and Arthur Stevens Gerquest, an engineer and potter. Peter and his sister, Sonja, grew up among a community of creatives who influenced his lifelong appreciation for art and music. Peter attended Williston Academy, Hamilton College, and graduated from Columbia University, with an interim stretch serving in the Korean War. As an avid sailor, Peter raced on such famous yachts as The Weatherly and The Ticonderoga. He lived with his wife Mabel in Riverside, CT for 35 years. There, they raised their children, Heidi and Chris, while Peter ran his own shipping company Sea Quest, later renamed Sea Reef Chartering and Beaufort Navigation. Peter traveled the world in both personal and professional capacities throughout his life. In 1995, Peter and Mabel moved to Freeport, where they lived down the street from their daughter, Heidi and granddaughter, Fiona. He was deeply involved in his community both by land and sea. Peter devoted his time to the Harraseeket Yacht Club, the Freeport Historical Society, served as the president of the South Freeport Congregational Church, and as a board member of the Maine Maritime Museum. For those lucky enough to have received a knowing smile from Peter, his charm and wit were an understated but ever-present way of connecting with friends, family, and strangers alike. He will be greatly missed by many. Peter was predeceased by his sister, Sonja, and his much-beloved dog, Phoebe. Surviving members of the family include his wife, Mabel Gerquest; his daughter, Heidi Gerquest and her partner, Johnny Walker; his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Heather Gerquest, and his adored grandchild, Fiona Prior Harbert.
“But the sea, which no one tends, is also a garden” -William Carlos Williams.
William L. Wright ’59
William L. Wright, age 76, of Ogdensburg, NY, passed away with complications from lung cancer on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center with his wife by his side.
Bill was born on March 15, 1942 in Ogdensburg, NY, a son of the late Archie & Leona (Prosser) Wright. He graduated from Heuvelton Central School in 1960, and later enlisted in the US Army from 1964 – 1966 as a paratrooper medic, serving with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. After receiving his honorable discharge, Bill earned his RN at Canton College and worked in geriatrics at veterans’ hospitals. He also worked at United Helpers Nursing Home as a nurse for a few years. In 1973 he attended the NYS Ranger School in Wanakena NY, graduating in the Class of 1974. After working for Finch Pruyn Paper Company as a logging supervisor, he returned to Ogdensburg. He found his life’s work at Mater Dei College in Ogdensburg, where he earned a degree in alcohol treatment. In 1986 he began his career at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Alcohol Treatment Center where he worked until his retirement in 1997.
Bill was a member of Friends of The Ogdensburg Public Library, the Society of American Foresters, the National Rifle Association, the American Chestnut Foundation and the Planetary Society. He enjoyed being in the woods, hunting, reading, gardening and being with friends & family.
Surviving is his wife Karen; two sons Noah Wright of Lake Hill, N.Y. and Thomas Wright of Boulder, CO; daughter Ellen Wright & her fiancée Joshua Baublitz of Henrietta, N.Y.; brother Timothy Wright of Ogdensburg; mother-in-law Dorothy Lauber of Heuvelton and brother-in-law Brian Lauber & his wife Cheryl of Virginia, along with many cousins.
A sister Dr. Nanette Gordon, sister-in-law Bonnie Wright, and brother-in-law Robert Lauber predeceased him.
Noel J. Belcourt, Jr. ’53
Noel John Belcourt, Jr., 83, of Sarasota, Florida passed away Wednesday morning June 28, 2018.
Born in Hartford, Ct., he was a son of the late Noel J. Belcourt and the late Frances Llewellyn Belcourt. In addition to his parents Noel was preceded in death by his son, David Belcourt.
Noel attended schools in Wethersfield, Ct. and graduated from Williston Academy in 1953. He then attended Boston University and graduated in 1957 and was a graduate of Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University. Noel served his country in The United States Air Force from 1958 to 1961. He was a past President of the Manchester, Ct. Rotary Club. Noel retired after 32 years in banking with Connecticut Bank and Trust Company. He was a property a manager for several home owners associations. He also served on the board at Bent Tree and served as treasurer at Laurel Lakes. Noel volunteered at Habitat for Humanity for a number of years.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lee Gowdy Belcourt; three sons, Kenneth Belcourt and his wife, Stephanie, Richard Belcourt and his wife, Joanne and Douglas Belcourt; his brother, Llewellyn N. Belcourt; granddaughter, Angelica Mack and daughter in law, Leibia Willis.
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.










