Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Heaton Davis ’35, Santa Rosa, Calif., May 21. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Webster Davis ’35. She graduated second in her Colorado College class (Clyde was first); both were members of Phi Beta Kappa, and Elizabeth was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was an active community volunteer, and was president of the school board in Antioch, Calif. She is survived by two sons, William and Jerry, and a daughter, Jean.
Elynor Harter Hendrickson Moore ’40, Grand Forks, N.D., Feb. 28. A member of the Broadmoor Skating Club and Kappa Alpha Theta while at Colorado College, Elynor served as a national Theta officer for 26 years. She earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. She was a parliamentarian and civic leader, active in many organizations in the 58 years she lived in Grand Forks, N.D., and she loved golf and bridge. She was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives, where she helped rewrite the state constitution. She also served as secretary of the North Dakota Optometrists’ Association, and lobbied in Washington, D.C., for that organization. She is survived by two sons, Steven and Gary; a daughter, Susan Hendrickson Mauritz; and five grandchildren.
Allen Vander Weyden ’40, Phoenix, Ariz., June 30. A full-tuition scholarship student and member of Sigma Chi, Allen also played trumpet professionally while at Colorado College. He received his chemistry degree with honors and then earned a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He went on to an illustrious career in nuclear reactor development with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, McDonnell Douglas, and the U.S. State Department. He was a member of Colorado College’s Fifty Year Club. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; his sons, Kim, Craig, and Kerry; a stepdaughter, Sally Wilson, and two stepsons, David Wright and Scott Wright; and 11 grandchildren.
Abigail Howe Crawford ’44, Longmont, Colo., July 28. As an art major at Colorado College, Abigail studied with Otis Dozier and Boardman Robinson. She was a member of the Dog Club (a biology department society), Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the Lyrichorus a cappella group. After graduation, she married and became a homemaker, raising three children and serving as a community volunteer. Abigail was preceded in death by her former husband, Clay Crawford; a sister, Alice Herrick Howe ’39 M.A. ’43; and two brothers. She is survived by sons Wilson and James, daughter Crete St. Clair Crawford Wood ’69, four grandchildren, including Catharine St. Clair Wood ’95; grandson Oliver Ellsworth Wood III ’97; and one great-grandson. She is also survived by a brother and many nieces and nephews, including Laura Howe Schell Flanders ’76.
William Killerlain ’46, Colorado Springs, March 17. A civil servant and philanthropist, Bill was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Smith Killerlain ’46. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ames, and three daughters, Gail Levinson, Eleanor “Pegi” Cooper, and Cynthia Murphy.
Jack Quamme ’50, Kettering, Ohio, Aug. 16. At Colorado College, Jack was a member of Sigma Chi and played basketball, setting a 40-year Colorado College career scoring record (1,003 points). He was inducted into the Colorado College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996, and is one of only two Colorado College athletes to have his or her number retired. He served in the Maritime Service and Naval Reserve before coming to Colorado College on an athletic scholarship. After graduation, he worked first for Goodyear, then for Dayco; he retired as president of Dayco Rubber Products after 27 years. In later years, he was an enthusiastic Colorado College volunteer and fundraiser, especially for athletics. He is survived by his wife, Ginny Anne; a son, Steve; a daughter, Julie Walther; and six grandchildren.
Richard Hahn ’51, Boise, Idaho, Aug. 3. Dick was a Phi Gamma Delta at Colorado College, then served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, where he was a second lieutenant and JAG officer. He started in business by working in Manhattan for an import-export company, then a chemical firm. He began his New Jersey commercial banking career doing financial analysis as a vice president in private banking until he retired in 1991 from what later became J.P. Morgan Chase. He was a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey, active in his church and many community and conservation organizations, and he loved fly-fishing. He is survived by his wife, Willow, his children Turner and Elissa, and two grandchildren.
Delores Devanny ’53, Oct. 31, 2005. She was a mortgage processing officer.
Mary Atkins Sullivan ’58, Camden, Maine, Jan. 30. Her husband, Sherman Sullivan ’58, died in October 2005.
John Parr ’59, League City, Texas, Dec. 13, 2005. John worked in technical sales in the area of boiler controls and environmental controls. His passion was boating and related activities. After he retired, he and his wife, Laurie Campbell Parr ’60, lived and cruised aboard their comfortable trawler. John is survived by Laurie, a daughter, five granddaughters, and niece Patricia Faulkner Smith ’84.
John Mugford II ’82, Denver, April 21. John was a talented chemist; he touched all who knew him with his infectious laugh, sense of humor, loyal friendship, love of music, political insight, and love of golf and the Denver Broncos. During his time at Colorado College, he often played his saxophone in Benny’s Basement. After he graduated, he taught science and math for the Peace Corps in Fiji, then worked in the pharmaceutical industry in the Denver area. He is survived by a brother, Paul, and wife Tracy and their children.
James Atkinson ’84, Kingston, N.Y., May 10. James was a swimmer and diver at Colorado College, as well as co-president of EnAct, the student environmental organization. He earned a master’s degree in urban and environmental studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, became assistant director of environment management there, and was working on his Ph.D. dissertation when he became a quadriplegic after a 1994 diving accident. He volunteered in his community in energy use, recycling, and land conservation, as well as for his alma mater, almost until his death. Friends including Robert Pitts ’84, Steve Wood ’84, Rex Palmer ’85, Theo Wright ’85, and Laurie Wood ’96 planted a hawthorn tree at the Dyken Pond Environmental Center in Grafton, N.Y., to honor him. James was preceded in death by his mother, and is survived by his father and stepmother, Schales and Rosemary Atkinson, and three sisters: Sarah, Mary Beth Stephens, and Schales Rever.
Ezra Jones ’00, Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 5, 2004.
Friends
Earl Juhas, Colorado Springs, June 28. An Army veteran who studied at Juilliard, Earl was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Mu Alpha, and a top-flight clarinetist. He taught in Colorado College’s music department 1953-92, serving as full professor from 1970. He was extraordinarily kind — a true gentleman who wore his accomplishments lightly, says fellow Professor Stephen Scott: “His was an unfailingly modest and genuine presence on campus.” Professor Donald Jenkins adds that Professor Juhas’s dedication to teaching, patience, gentleness, and his “beatific smile” (an observation by Professor Carlton Gamer) were always present. His conscientiousness with his many committee assignments was renowned as well. With Albert Seay and Charles Hawley ’54, he helped compose the Colorado College alma mater, “O Colorado College Fair.” Memorial gifts may be sent to Professor Michael Grace, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3294.
Patricia Vaeth Croke, Colorado Springs, June 8. She and partner Jack Might were the U.S. Pairs Silver Medalists in 1941, when she was 14— the same year she began playing the harp. She produced, wrote, and starred in the “Pat Vaeth Show” on KKTV and KOA-TV 1953-56, then studied music at Juilliard. Later, Pat played harp with the Colorado Springs Symphony; she was the harp instructor at Colorado College 1968-1992, and was president of the Woman’s Educational Society 1986-87. She is survived by sons Joseph ’79, Kevin, Patrick, and Stephen ’82; daughter Valerie Croke Schoenherr ’85; and her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, including Jerome ’46 and John “Jack” ’50 Vaeth.
Ginny Kiefer, Seattle, Aug. 26. Ginny worked at Tutt Library 1987-2001, becoming curator of special collections/archivist. She was a docent and board president for Rock Ledge Ranch, and a talented quilter and gardener. After moving to Seattle in 2001, she volunteered as an archivist at several nonprofits there, including the Seattle public library, the Nordic Heritage Museum, and the Washington Park Arboretum. She is survived by her sons, Eric and Kurt ’85.
Vanessa Reichert-Fitzpatrick ’08, Evans, Colo., Sept. 29. A second-year student with junior standing and a resident of the Spanish House, Vanessa was an intern with the feminist and gender studies program. She died after a car crash in her hometown.
