Passings |
| "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." |
 Russell C. Alstatt ’50 of Wilmington, NC, died on January 7, 2008. Born in Denver, he graduated from Mines with a degree in petroleum engineering before serving as a combat engineer for the U.S. Army in the European Theatre during World War II. Russell saw action at the Battle of the Bulge, crossing the strategically significant Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen before it was fully secured by the Allies. He was a member of the Elks Club and Disabled American Veterans. After the war, Russell worked for 33 years as a nuclear engineer with General Electric in Hanford, WA; San Jose, CA; and Wilmington, NC. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 61 years, Twanette Kauble; three daughters, Diana Street, Vicki Thayer and Shelley Gupton; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Robert L. Beseda ’52 died on February 24, 2008. A member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Robert graduated from Mines with a degree in geological engineering. That same year, he became a father and began his service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which took him to Korea for a portion of the war. During his career, Robert worked in the uranium business as a prospector and a uranium mill manager in Riverton, WY. He also worked at a lightweight aggregate plant in San Clemente, CA, and designed rotary kilns and dryers in Los Angeles. He subsequently went on to become chief engineer for the original producers of the Tidy Cat and Kitty Litter brands, oil absorbents and other dried clay products, where he stayed until he retired. His interests included hunting, fishing and breeding Great Pyrenees. He also constructed a geodesic dome kennel, planted a vineyard and experimented with wine making. After his wife’s death, Robert took on the design and construction of a three-story, cube-shaped, steel-framed house in Texas. He is survived by his sons, Scott and Jim; daughters, Marti Jones and Debi Beseda-Hart; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. George C. Bodine, Jr. ’48 of Chattanooga, TN, died on May 16, 2008. A member of the 1939 undefeated football team and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, George’s studies at Mines were interrupted by military service. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army in both the European and Pacific Theaters, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. George later graduated from Mines with a degree in metallurgical engineering. During the course of his career, he worked for U.S. Steel Corp, the Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., the Wall Tube and Metal Products Co., Combustion Engineering Inc. and Power Systems Div. He returned to school later in his career, earning a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1974. In 1989 he received the Russ B. Ogden Award, Committee B-10 on Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys Award, honoring his achievements in the science and technology of reactive and refractory metals and alloys. After retiring, he was active in the Chattanooga art community as a member of the Association of Visual Arts and the Watercolor Society. He was a prolific poet who enjoyed music and dancing, and he took pleasure in volunteering at a local hospital. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorlis J. Bodine, and his daughter, Doree Graham. He is survived by his second wife, Mary Ann Bodine; daughter, Lynn Graham; son, Michael; a granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.Back to top. Floyd L. Brown ’43 of Prescott, AZ, died on March 29, 2008. Born in Colorado Springs, Floyd graduated from Mines with a degree in metallurgical engineering. While attending the school, he met his future wife, Gayle, who was then a student at Denver University. After their marriage, they moved to Verona, NJ, where he completed his master’s degree in metallurgy at Steven’s Institute of Technology. In the postwar nuclear industry, Floyd enjoyed a long career as a nuclear engineer working primarily for Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago. He remained with the ANL until his retirement in 1985, save a brief four-year tenure with General Atomic in San Diego during the late ’50s and early ’60s. Throughout his life he remained deeply committed to his family. Described as a handyman par excellence, Floyd was known to visit family and friends with toolbox in hand. He and Gayle travelled extensively throughout their life together, visiting every continent except Antarctica. At home, Floyd was active with the Lions Club and the Unitarian Universalist Church, and enjoyed square dancing and skiing. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gayle; his daughters, Pamela Dizikes and Cynthia Tatum; his son, Richard; four grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and his brother, Robert Brown ’44.  Jack S. Corlew ’39, MS ’68, PhD ’72 of Golden, died on April 18, 2008. Born in Utah, Jack grew up in Denver and attended Golden High School before coming to Mines. A member of Beta Theta Pi, Jack earned a degree in petroleum engineering. From 1939 until 1972, he worked for Sinclair Refining Company, dividing the majority of his time between the East Chicago Refinery, the Sinclair Wyoming Refinery and the company’s New York office. In 1945 he married Marcine Lentz, with whom he raised three children. While working full time as Sinclair’s senior staff engineer in Denver, Jack returned to Mines to earn a master’s degree in petroleum refining engineering and a doctorate in chemical and petroleum refining engineering. In 1972 he formed Process Consultants Inc. and worked as a consulting engineer until he retired in 1994. In addition to consulting, he found time to lecture and teach at universities abroad and in the U.S. Jack’s interests included photography and woodworking, and, above all, fly fishing. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Marcine, and his son, Brian. He is survived by his daughters, Ginger Corlew and Susan Mark; two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and his brother, William.Eduard J. Douze ’55 of Tulsa, OK, died on April 2, 2008. He was born in 1931 in Indonesia to Dutch nationals who returned to the Netherlands and helped persecuted Jews escape Nazi Germany during World War II. Eduard’s family was in turn hunted by Hitler’s troops, and when he was seven they fled across the Alps to a boat in Italy that took them to Argentina. He finished high school in Argentina before coming to Mines to earn a degree in geological engineering. After receiving his doctorate in geophysics from Stanford University, he co-founded Aminex, an independent oil company in Dallas, TX. In 1976 he married Susan Everly, whom he met on a beach in Mexico. Eduard was by then a geophysics professor at the University of Tulsa, where he also served as chairman of the Earth Science Department. He and his wife enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms. He was an enthusiastic contributor to the arts and the Nature Conservancy. Eduard is survived by his wife and two nephews. Back to top.  John A. Fagnant ’37 of Kemmerer, WY, died on December 25, 2007. Born in Kemmerer, John grew up in the same home where he and his wife would later raise their 10 children. At Mines he earned a degree in metallurgical engineering. He met his wife, Lillian, while working for Allis-Chalmers designing iron ore plants during World War II. They were married in 1943. Shortly after their marriage, he and his wife returned to Kemmerer where he helped with the family lumber yard business and later went to work at Kemmerer Coal Company. A devout Catholic, he attended daily mass until his health prevented it. He was also an original trustee of the Kemmerer Foundation, a member of the Lions Club and served on the Kemmerer City Council. He is survived by his five sons, Paul, Chuck, Steve, Jim and Chris; five daughters, Ruth Fritzel, Marie Julian, Margaret Ann Smith, Billie Richardson and Betty Sanders; 27 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren. Douglas W. Grobecker ’43, ’47 of Claremont, CA, died on January 29, 2008. Born in San Diego, CA, Doug was a retired captain of the U.S. Army and a veteran of World War II. At Mines he was member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Epsilon and earned two professional degrees, the first in mining engineering, the second in metallurgical engineering. Doug was dedicated to his work in recovery waste management, working tirelessly to develop new sources of energy using recycled waste. He enjoyed traveling, hiking, skiing, biking, flying and gardening. He also took great pleasure in entertaining friends and painting. He participated in Sierra Club outings, hiked in the Himalayas and biked in the Balkans, wherever possible staying in Elderhostels. In 1997 he participated in the California AIDS Ride from San Fransisco to Los Angeles in support of research. He asked his family to celebrate his life with a toast, a Frank Sinatra song and a party. He is survived by his companion, Virginia; two daughters, Theresa and Leslie; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty. Gregory A. Haynes ’69 of Colorado Springs, CO, died April 26, 2008. He graduated from Mines with a professional mineral engineering degree–mathematics specialty. Gregory worked for United Technologies Corporation as the senior principle CAD engineer before moving to Aeroflex in Colorado Springs as a software engineer specializing in computer aided design. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and remained active with Sister Cities International and Open World. For several years he enjoyed serving as a judge for Senior Design. He is survived by his wife Janet; son, Ethan; and daughter, Hillary Chaney. Kenneth E. Knapp ’41 of Grand Junction, CO, died on June 16, 2008. Kenneth attended American University before graduating from Mines with a degree in mining engineering. After graduating, he worked for Vanadium Corporation in California and Rifle, CO. In 1942 he married Barbara L. Rountree in Pomona, CA. They subsequently moved to Indiana and Maryland, where Kenneth served nine months in the U.S. Army. He and his wife then moved to Silverton, CO, where he owned and operated two mines. In 1952 he moved to Grand Junction with his family where he remained for 56 years, working for several companies, including Climax Uranium Company, Lucius Pitkin and Bendix. An Eagle Scout as a young boy, he attended the historic 1933 Boy Scout Jamboree in Hungary. As an adult, he enjoyed four-wheeling with the Grand Junction Jeep Club, hiking, rock hunting, bird watching, photography and all manner of science. Kenneth was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church. He was predeceased by Barbara, his wife of 64 years. He is survived by his son, Charles; daughters, Cheryl Leighton and Nancy Anderson; three grandchildren; and a brother, Robert.Back to top. Robert J. Nekervis ’40 of Avila Beach, CA, passed away on February 2, 2008. Robert attended Calumet High School and Michigan Technological University prior to coming to Mines. A member of Kappa Sigma, he earned his degree in metallurgical engineering. Robert went on to work for Houghton County, Michigan Highway Department; Calumet & Hecla Mining Co.; the U.S. Postal Service; and the State of Colorado, where he helped survey U.S. Route 50 through the Rocky Mountains. As a scientist, he worked for US Steel in Gary, IN, and was assistant supervisor of the Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Department at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, OH. He was also manager of U.S. operations for the Tin Research Institute of London, later returning to Battelle as a fellow in materials. Some of his projects included the development of stronger materials for railroad and automotive engines, developing protective coatings for bronze castings, and the coordination of U.S. Air Force intelligence on Soviet metals technology. An active member of his community, Robert served as president of the Franklin County Ohio Mental Health Association in the '50s. He retired in 1976. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Genevieve; and his son, George. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter Robertine Freshwater; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Richard E. Pierson ’41 of Gainesville and Lewisville, TX, died on February 29, 2008. Richard grew up in Elkview, WV, where he remained until he attended Mines. A member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, he graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering and began a 34-year career with Amoco Oil, during which time he developed a formula to maximize profit for refinery processes. In 1975 he joined Wasco as a principal and chief engineer, retiring in 1984. His many hobbies and interests included golf, tennis, model airplanes, electronics, politics, sports, science and the arts. He also documented his family’s genealogy in West Virginia. In all the places he lived, he was an active member of Toastmasters, Kiwanis and church choirs. He served the Boy Scout Committee; the United Christian Church in Country Club, IL; the United Methodist Church in Gainsville; and the Men’s Golf Association at Lake Kiowa. He also served on the Lake Kiowa volunteer fire department. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna. He is survived by sons, Richard and Brian; daughter, Donna Pierson; step-children, Ann Elliot Gibbs and Lawrence Elliot; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  Frank M. Pool, Jr. ’70 of Edmond, OK, died on March 4, 2008. Born in Houston, he graduated from San Angelo Central High School before attending Mines. A member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, he earned his degree in petroleum engineering. In 1982 he married Valrie Heaton in Odessa, TX. Since 2001, Frank served as the executive vice president of United Engines, an Oklahoma-based distributor of diesel engines. Prior to this, he was the vice president of manufacturing at Stewart & Stevenson. He also served on the scholarship committee of the Association of Energy Service Contractors. Frank is survived by his wife, Valrie; daughter, Lara; his parents, Frank and Elizabeth; and sisters, Mary Ellen Pool Hartje and Martha Pool Elder. Michael R. “Bob” Quinn ’46 of Denver, CO, passed away on October 26, 2008. Born in Denver in 1923, he graduated from Regis High School. In 1946 Mines awarded him two professional degrees: metallurgical engineering and mining engineering. After graduation, Bob attended graduate school at MIT, where he worked on a secret atomic energy project in the postwar phase of the Manhattan Project, of which “he never gave details.” In 1950, while working for the New York engineering firm Dorr Company, he met and married Helen Krippendorf. He returned to Denver in 1961 to work with his brother, James, who founded Denver Equipment Co. In the midsixties he joined Hydro Conduit Group, designing concrete pipe systems for the Climax Molybdenum Mine. During his retirement, Bob served as an investment specialist. Bob’s love for cars was wellknown: In the ’60s, he owned a fleet of 10 Packards and Chryslers. He also loved children, volunteering as athletic director at Park’s Hill Blessed Sacrament School and coaching baseball in the Catholic Youth Recreation Association. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters, Margaret Quinn and Mary Pat Birnesser; four sons, Michael, Peter, Bill and Paul; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his brother, James ’48.Back to top.  Joseph W. Reese ’60 of Carlsbad, NM, died on February 23, 2008. Born in Stamford, CT, he remained there until coming to Mines in 1956. After graduating with a degree in mining engineering, he went to work on the Alaska-Canadian highway project. Shortly thereafter, he joined the U.S. Navy and was commissioned as an ensign in the Civil Engineering Corp in 1961. After being stationed in California, he spent a year supervising construction in Saigon in the midst of the Vietnam War. He was then posted to Charleston, SC, where he met and married Mary Freeman, a Navy nurse. In 1965 he left the service, but remained with the reserves. He went on to work for the Bunker Hill Mining Company in Kellogg, ID; Windsor Minerals in Windsor, VT; and a mining equipment division of Voest-Alpine in New Jersey. In 1979 he joined the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Albuquerque, NM, and later moved to Carlsbad, NM, where he remained until his retirement in 2002. During his continuing career with the Naval Reserves, he achieved the prestigious rank of captain and served a brief tour as the commanding officer at Carlsbad’s Naval Reserve Center. He was predeceased by Mary, his wife of 43 years. He is survived by his son, James.Edward E. Rue MS ’49 of Niceville, FL, and formerly Mt. Vernon, IL, passed away on March 12, 2008. Born in Harrisburg, PA, he grew up in Danville, KY, joining the US Navy immediately after graduating high school. He served for three years as a gunnery officer aboard the USS Clarence L. Evans during World War II. He married Fay Bright in 1944. After the war he earned an undergraduate degree from Berea College in Kentucky before coming to Mines for a master's in geology. He worked for Magnolia Oil Company for four years after graduation and then founded Bufay Oil in Mt. Vernon and embarked on a long and successful career as a consulting geologist. Edward was one of the seven original founders of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, now over 4,800 members strong. He served as AIPG board member and president, and was recognized with honorary membership. Engaged in his community, he was an active member of the Rotary and Elks Clubs, served on his local school board and became an elder in the Presbyterian Church. Edward loved yachting and sailed in the Bahamas for many years with his wife and family. He is survived by Fay, his wife of 63 years; his son, Jonathan; daughters, Fayette Schmultzler and Georganne Williams; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and his brother, George. Earl N. Spieles ’48 of Casper, WY, died on January 1, 2008. Born in Golden, CO, he was raised by his maternal grandparents and graduated from Golden High School in 1939, after captaining the school’s undefeated football team of 1938 and earning all-conference honors. That same year Earl began his studies at Mines and played on the undefeated football team of 1939. In 1942 he met his future wife, Irene Ogle, whom he married in Golden in 1943. In 1942 Earl enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers, serving until 1946 in the China-Burma-India Theatre of World War II. In 1946 he returned to Mines to complete a degree in petroleum engineering. He began his career working in Grass Creek, WY, for the Ohio Oil Company, later to become Marathon Oil. He transferred to Casper in 1953 and was promoted to division engineer in 1960. Active in his community, he coached Little League baseball, was the president of the Casper Babe Ruth League for several years, served on St. Mark’s Church vestry and was a board member of the American Petroleum Institute. After his retirement in 1982, he and his wife spent summers in Casper and winters in Mesa, AZ. He enjoyed traveling, all manner of sports, fishing, golfing, attending Army reunions, gardening and, above all, the company of his family. He is survived by Irene, his wife of 64 years; two sons, Patrick and Michael; two daughters, Kathleen Fullerton, Mary Jo Johnson; 10 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Back to top.  Archer D. Swank ’60 of Casper, WY, died on March 12, 2008. Born in Dolores, CO, he served aboard the USS Bremerton during the Korean War as a machinist mate. Arch earned a degree in geological engineering at Mines, but he never stopped thinking of himself as a student. He took courses in electrical engineering at the University of Alabama, Huntsville while working on the Apollo program, and in his retirement, he continued to take classes at Casper College. During his career, Arch spent 10 years as a system test engineer on nuclear plant design. In 1974 he joined the nuclear raw materials staff of the Tennessee Valley Authority in Casper. After retiring in 1989, he began a computer-assisted mapping business and continued map-making until the week before his death. He was a member of the National Speleological Society for 43 years and a founding member of the Hole in the Wall Grotto—a local cave club where he helped with vertical training for new cavers. He was also an active member of the Wyoming Geological Association, the state Board of Geologists, SME, the Casper College Geology Club and the Tate Geological Museum. An avid outdoorsman and an accomplished guitarist, he will be remembered for his warm smile, twinkling eyes and quick wit. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lynne; daughter, Susan Frazier; and his sister, Karen. Joe L. Thompson ’58 of Oklahoma City, OK, died on April 18, 2008. Born in Wichita Falls, TX, he transferred to Mines with a football scholarship from North Texas University. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Blue Key, he married his wife, Jane, in 1957 and graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering the next year. After living in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado, they ultimately settled in Oklahoma City in 1966. For six years he worked as a petroleum engineer for Kirkpatrick Oil Company before becoming an independent consultant in 1974. In 1976 he and his wife formed Satellite Well Service Co., which they ran for 20 years. Joe stayed busy in the oil business during his retirement, although he and Jane were able to enjoy their lake house in Fort Gibson. He was an active member of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, Society of Independent Petroleum Earth Scientists, Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Men’s Dinner Club. An elder at the Church of the Savior, he also served on the boards of directors of Hanna Oil & Gas Co. of Fort Smith, AK, and Universal Consulting & Technology, Inc. in Fort Collins, CO and as a section coordinator for the alumni association. Joe was also an accomplished harmonica player. He is survived by Janie, his wife of 51 years; his son, Scott; daughter, Shelly Benson; five grandchildren; and his brother, Richard. George P. Walker II ’56 of New Braunfels, TX, passed away on October 3, 2008. A member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at Mines, he graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering. In 1964 he received a master of science in geological engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He enjoyed a successful career in the oil and gas industry, which culminated with the founding of Walker Petroleum Consulting in 1980, offering reservoir engineering, computer modeling, exploration and development, groundwater hydrology and remediation. George was a certified petroleum geologist and a registered professional petroleum engineer. Before starting his company, he worked as a district engineer for Tenneco Oil, and then as a division geologist for Amoco Oil. A man who put family first, George was a keen sportsman who loved fishing, hunting and camping. In the summer of 2003, he realized a lifelong dream by exploring the Alaskan wilderness. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jeanne; his son, George; daughters, Betsy Walker Gallagher and Charlisa Walker Sisk; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.Back to top. Also In Memoriam Michael K. Hendrickson ’69........................................March 6, 2008 George W. Hicks ’58..................................................July 4, 2005 Fillmore S. Peavey ’40...............................................April 17, 2008 Sidney B. Peyton Jr. ’54.............................................April 22, 2008 Satyabrata Sarkar ’51.................................................March 5, 2008 William C. Schafer ’49 ...............................................March 31, 2008 |
Winter 2008 - 2009