Category Archives: 1950s

Jorge Ibarra Cuesta ’50

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At age 85, Jorge Ibarra Cuesta, died in Havana on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. The influential Cuban historian was  author of works essential to understanding the process of construction of the Nation.

For his merits he was distinguished with the National Prize of Social Sciences (1996), the Ministry of Culture and the Cuban Book Institute, and the National History Award (2008), awarded by the National Union of Historians of Cuba, in both cases For the work of all life.

Born in Santiago de Cuba on August 11, 1931, he studied in that city and then in the United States. On his return, he graduated as a lawyer at the Universidad de Oriente. In the Santiago of the 50 participated in the clandestine fight against the dictatorship.

After the revolutionary triumph he worked in the National Council of Culture, joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces, worked in the ICRT and the Institute of History and was developing a consistent work in which he emphasizes his contribution to the writing of the Manual of Cuban History , Of the Political Direction of the FAR. The University of Havana was awarded the title Doctor in 1997. He was an active member of the Writers Association of Uneac.

His height as an essayist was revealed in Mambisa Ideology (1967); Approaches to Clio (1979); Nation and national culture (1981); A psychosocial analysis of the Cuban: 1898-1925 (1985); Cuba: 1898-1921, political parties and social classes (1993); Cuba: 1898-1958, structures and social processes (1996); And Máximo Gómez in the face of imperialism (2000).

About himself, with modesty, he affirmed: “I have only thought of sketching problems, revising the conceptions of the past and discussing everything. I do not pretend to have created a new school or way of seeing things. If I have made some contributions it has been in the field to stimulate discussion and criticism among my colleagues. It is true that, like every historian, I have brought to light some unpublished facts, but the interpretation I have given it is yet to be discussed. In the end, it is not I who values ​​my work more knowledge of cause, but the new promotions of historians.

When Ibarra dedicated the XVIII International Book Fair of Havana in 2009, his colleague Fernando Martínez Heredia spoke these words to extol the legacy of who now says goodbye: “Jorge has come the long way with the upstanding flag of the social scientist And the difficult militancy of the intellectual, with unshakeable honesty, a lofty and growing prestige, and an ever-fighting spirit. ”

This is a translation of the following page:  http://www.granma.cu/cuba/2017-06-07/fallecio-el-historiador-jorge-ibarra-cuesta-07-06-2017-23-06-41

 

Posted in: 1950s

Daryoush Farshid Hakim ’54

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Daryoush Farshid Hakim passed away on May 18, 2017 at the age of 84.  He died at Yale New Haven Hospital surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. Farshid was born on December 17, 1932 to Reverend Jollinous and Badieh Hakim and was the youngest of four sons.  He attended grammar school in Tehran, Iran and graduated from Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA.  He attended the University of Georgia where he earned a degree in Agricultural Engineering.  After graduation, he returned to Iran and married his wife of 56 years, Faegheh (Fae) Hakim.  Subsequently, he completed his studies at Princeton Seminary. Farshid worked as administrator of Iranzamin – Tehran International School.  In Iran, he was an active member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Tehran and the Rotary Club International.  In 1979, Farshid moved his family to Cheshire, Connecticut. He quickly became an active member of the Cheshire community, joining the local chapter if the Rotary Club and the First Congregational Church.  Initially, he worked as business manager for the First Congregational Church of Waterbury.  He then worked for the Presbyterian Church USA as a missionary, assisting Christian refugees during their transition to life in America.  After his retirement, he remained active by helping students at Cheshire Academy Health Center with their transportation needs.  For the last few years, Farshid was an active congregant of the First Church of Christ, Wethersfield. Farshid served more than 50 years with the Rotary Club International.  During his tenure in Cheshire, he served in many roles, most consistently as the coordinator of the Scholarship Committee. He was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions to the Cheshire organization.  In 2014, he received the Rotary District Governor’s Citation for his service. A man of great devotion to the Lord, he faithfully served in several roles, including Deacon, Trustee and numerous boards and committees at all churches he attended.  He, along with Fae, led the Iranian Christian Fellowship of Connecticut for many years. He is survived by his loving wife, Fae, his children, son Ramin and his wife, Linda Boulanger, daughter, Noureen, his beloved grandchildren, Christian and Alexandra, and his brother, Dr. Jamshid Hakim and his wife, Margaret of Pocono Pines, PA.  He was predeceased by his brothers, Houshang Hakim (Redbank, NJ) and Parviz Hakim (Tehran, Iran) and his granddaughter, Alana Saba Hakim (Cheshire).

Posted in: 1950s

Priscilla Ruder Lucier ’50

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Priscilla Ruder Lucier passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017 one month before her 85th birthday. She died in her home in Duxbury, MA surrounded by her family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer. Priscilla was born in Mount Lebanon, PA, but spent most of her life in a variety of towns in Massachusetts including Woburn, Amherst, Foxborough, Easthampton, Sturbridge, Wayland and Osterville. She was deeply beloved by her husband of 63 years, Joseph L. Lucier and their four children, Daniel D. Lucier, Mark B. Lucier, Leslie L. Marino and David L. Lucier, their spouses and eleven grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters Susan G. Hull and Paula L. Cole and predeceased by her parents Carl L. Ruder and Mary R. Salmon, stepfather Edward Dwight Salmon, sister Cynthia L. Seifert and son Daniel Lucier. Priscilla was a graduate of the Northampton School for Girls as well as The University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Her career spanned a love of conservation as well as a talent for fundraising. She worked at The Williston Northampton School, Old Sturbridge Village, Mount Holyoke College, Boston Childrens Hospital, Parmenter Visiting Nurse and Wayside Hospice and volunteered in local land conservancy organizations and garden clubs.

Posted in: 1950s

Carlo A. Marchetti ’51

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Carlo A. Marchetti, loving and much loved father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Saturday, December 17, 2016, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was born on June 13, 1931, in Springfield, to parents Serafino and Carolina Marchetti. He was a champion of the City, beginning his professional life as a City Assessor, moving on to become a Vice President of Real Estate for the Third National Bank and, ultimately, doing the job he loved most, as Executive Director of an organization he helped create, Springfield Central. Upon retirement, he moved to Sarasota, Florida where he lived for the last 16 years of his well-lived life. Carlo was a veteran, having served in the Marines, First Reconnaissance Company, during the Korean War. He was predeceased by his sister Esther Marchetti Ferrero and her husband Julian; and he is survived by his sister Rena Libera Jonathan and her husband Jack; his children, Carolyn Marchetti Branthoover, Lisa Marchetti Lamp and her husband Steve, and John Carlo Marchetti and his wife Karen. Carlo shared much love, joy and energy with his six grandchildren, Christopher, Nicholas, Katherine, Lauren, Alexander and Gabriel. Carlo was delighted when he was able to expand and deepen his friendships with extended family in Italy, in his later years. His trips to Italy became an annual occurrence, which he cherished. He was a world traveler whose favorite trips were those taken with family, the most recent of which was to Chicago in April of this year, organized for him by his Grandchildren.

Posted in: 1950s

William E. Gwatkin ’59

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William “Bill” Gwatkin, 76, died Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Bill was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He and his wife Nancy have been “snowbirds” between Cape Cod and Titusville and traveled the country visiting family and friends for over 20 years. Bill owned a Food Distributorship in Cape Cod. He was an avid golfer and loved traveling in his RV.

Bill is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Kristen Reed and her husband Ed of Colorado Springs, CO; Wesley Gwatkin of Massachusetts; David Gwatkin and his wife Betty Ann of Vermont; his grandchildren Emma, Tyler and Cambell; and his stepsons Jon and Greg Whyman.

 

Posted in: 1950s

Daniel M. Doolittle ’55

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doolittleDaniel M. Doolittle, 81, of Kennebunk, Maine, originally of Darien, Connecticut, died on Monday, March 6, 2017 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough, Maine following complications from surgery. Mr. Doolittle was born on May 20, 1935 to Dwight N. and Dorothy M. (Smith) Doolittle in Stamford. He attended Darien High School, class of 1953, and graduated from Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA, in 1955. Mr. Doolittle attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He married Cynthia Crider in 1971 and they lived in Darien until his retirement 2001.

Mr. Doolittle learned how to skate and played hockey on Darien ponds in his youth. He taught youth skating and hockey to local children, some of whom would later join his hockey team at Darien High School. He was Darien High School head coach for a number of years, finally winning the state championship for Darien High in 1969. Mr. Doolittle played hockey for Williston Academy and also for St. Lawrence University. He was also a member of the Home Oilers, a semi-pro team made up of players from Fairfield County.

Mr. Doolittle worked for Pitney-Bowes as a service repair technician before being drafted into the United States Army. He spent two years stationed in France using skills he learned with the U. S. Army Signal Corp and worked installing and repairing phones at his base. Mr. Doolittle was home for almost a year before being recalled into active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Doolittle returned to Pitney-Bowes as a technical service writer. He became manager of technical publications and continued employment with the copier division.  After 40 years, Mr. Doolittle retired from the company. The next day, he and Cynthia moved to Kennebunk, Maine.

In Maine, Mr. Doolittle belonged to The Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise and to Laudholm Farm in Wells. He was an avid wood turner and loved creating things out of wood. He was always fixing or building something. Mr. Doolittle loved his family around him and enjoyed his summers on the water in Maine, often kayaking with the loons.

Mr. Doolittle is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cynthia Doolittle of Kennebunk; two daughters: Alyssa M. Doolittle of Newark, Vermont and Robin Illian and her husband Randy of Portland, Maine; six grandchildren: LunaMay Doolittle Waterman, Gordon Simpson Doolittle, Jack Simpson, Francesca C. Illian Sparrow, Leonard Daniel Illian, and Sequoia Shriver Illian; one sister, Donna E. Rajczewski of Darien, Darien’s Town Clerk; two nieces: Lee R. Richardson of Burlington, North Carolina and Dana Turton of Richmond, Virginia; and many cousins.

 

Posted in: 1950s

Lolita Machon Williams ’50

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lolitaLolita Jane Williams (Lee), of Bridgewater, died on March 4, 2017, at the age of 84. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 2, 1932, to the late Elsie and Norman Machon. Lee grew up in Providence and in Andover, Massachusetts. She graduated from Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1950. Lee’s family summered at Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, and there she met her future husband Robert (Bob) Williams. She attended the University of New Hampshire for two years, leaving to marry Bob and settle permanently in New Hampshire. Lee was a homemaker, caring for Bob and their three sons while Bob established a family lumber business, R.P. Williams and Sons. Lee’s life revolved around her family, and many weekends were spent skiing at Ragged Mountain, hiking in the White Mountains or boating on Newfound Lake. Lee was active in the Bristol Federated Church for many years, and also served as a trustee of the Newfound Lake Association. During a long retirement, Bob and Lee enjoyed traveling around the country in their RV and spent winters in the Florida community of Estero. During the late 2000s, Lee gradually descended into dementia; Bob took care of her at home until shortly before his own death of cancer in 2014. Lee is survived by three children, Robert Penn Williams III of Bridgewater, Steven Williams of Bridgewater and Bruce Williams of San Francisco, California; four grandchildren, Travis Williams, Kiersten Williams, Alicia Williams and Kyle Williams; as well as three great-grandchildren.

Posted in: 1950s

John R. Bruno ’50

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john bruno correctJohn Robert Bruno, of Whispering Pines, NC died peacefully Saturday, March 18, 2017.
John was born the day after Christmas, 1930, in Paris, France, to Germaine and Sylvan Bruno. Germaine and Sylvan were French born, but naturalized American citizens. John’s two older siblings, Evelyne (deceased) and Phillip (Clare) were also born in France. When John was four, the Brunos returned to America and lived in Scarsdale, N.Y.
In 1950, John graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass., and in 1954 received his bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, John was captain of the soccer team, and an All-American. In 1953, he was voted the outstanding team player. John was a natural athlete who also played a great game of tennis.
After college, John joined the Army. He was an artillery officer at Fort Sill, Okla., after graduating from OCS. He went on to be an instructor at the school. After serving for four years, John left the Army and moved to New York City where he started a career in advertising. His favorite account was the U.S. Army.
In NYC, John met Joan Mallett. They were married 55 years ago this May in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. They lived in NYC until their son, J. Robert Bruno Jr. ’81 (Teresa) was a year old, when they moved to an old farm house in Stamford, Conn. Elizabeth Bruno Hyer (Ken) and Gigi Bruno (Jeff Heisner) were born while they lived in Stamford. In 1970, the family moved to Rochester, N.Y., where John worked for the Rumril-Hoyt advertising agency. Besides advertising, John did sales and marketing for a number of Rochester area companies. For several years, he also was publisher of a group of local newspapers in the Finger Lakes Region. Sailing on Lake Ontario was a favorite pastime for John during the Rochester years.
In 1999, John and Joan retired to Whispering Pines. John enjoyed volunteering for Meals On Wheels and was on the board of the Department of Aging. He also served on the Board of Adjustments in Whispering Pines. Touring the country back roads of Moore County on his 1979 Honda motorcycle or sailing his Sunfish on Pine Lake were a relaxing way for him to spend an afternoon.
Wherever he was, John enjoyed greeting and talking with people. Whether at the Reservoir Park or Walmart, he was friendly with all and will be remembered for his good sense of humor.
John always loved dogs. However, when he and Joan were married, cats entered his life and he learned to love them too. There was always a mix of animals in the house, from Siamese cats to Great Danes.
“Bops” will be missed by his three grandchildren, “Woody” Bruno (Kristin), Michael and Ally Wood, and by his entire family.

Posted in: 1950s

Jean Fowler Winsor ’50

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winsorJean (Fowler) Winsor, 84, of Newport, the Florida Keys and Ft. Myers passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 6, 2015. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, The Reverend Edward S. Winsor. Born in Westerly RI on February 11, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Wells and Esther Fowler. Jean graduated from Wheeler and RI College and taught first grade in the Portsmouth Schools for twenty years.
Jean was a lifetime member of the Newport Yacht Club. She was an experienced yachtswoman. She met the love of her life, Edward, while sailing in Weekapaugh, RI and they continues their lifelong love of the water, sailing from Nova Scotia to the Florida Keys into their seventies. Jean was a political activist, past president of the Newport National Organization for Women in the 1970’s, an active member of the Ft. Myers Democratic Club, and a strong and tireless advocate for the poor, volunteering at meal sites wherever she resided.
Jean’s lifelong commitment to the church gave her strength, energy and spiritual fulfillment that she shared generously with all she met.
Jean leaves behind her daughter Susan and her children Gordon, Amy-Elizabeth and Sarah; son Frank, his wife Theresa and their children Andrew and Daniel; daughter Elizabeth and her son Samuel Slesinger; son Gregory, his wife Barbara and their children Meredith, Mitchell and Maxwell; great grandchildren Nathin Johnson, Mylee Santos and Abigail Winsor; and sister-in-law Anne Doskow of CA. Jean was predeceased by her sisters Bickey Pile and Barbara Rossell.

Posted in: 1950s