In Memory

Sara Rhoads '31 Hauser, Nov. 22, 2005, Zelienople, Pa.

Diana Lizdas '33 Snyder, Nov. 1, 2005.

Ruth Derstine '39 Shober, Aug. 16, 2005, Quakertown, Pa. She was a member of the Motet Choir at Susquehanna University. She was a personnel manager at Neshaminy Manor in Doylestown, Pa. for more than 10 years and was active in organizing the early Bucks Association for Retarded Citizens program. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Eastern Star of Doylestown. She is survived by her niece, Wendy Hayes '93 Gladstone.

Louis Baylor '40, Sept. 19, 2005, Laguna Beach, Calif. Following U.S. Army basic training and an accelerated medical training program in Oakland Regional Hospital, his Army obligation took him to Okinawa. He opened his first office in Danville, Pa., and in 1952, he moved to Whittier, Calif, where he established a family practice of medicine. He then practiced emergency medicine at Hoag Hospital in Newport. After a medical career of more than 50 years, he retired in 1989.

Celo V. Leitzel '45, Sept. 10, 2005, Selinsgrove, Pa. After graduation from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1948, he served on the Mount Airy Seminary faculty. From 1965 to 1974, he was pastor of First Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove, which merged with Trinity Lutheran Church to form Sharon Lutheran Church. He went on to serve as pastor of the Eastern Snyder County Lutheran Parish and Salem Lutheran Parish. He formally retired from the ministry in September 2003. He is survived by his son, Lowell Leitzel '76, and granddaughter, Amanda Moser '09.

Ralph C. Brown '47, Dec. 1, 2005, Stuart, Fla. He worked as a computer systems analyst at American Cyanamid Co. in Parsippany, N.J. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the Apple Computer Club. He is survived by his wife, Hermine Lempke '45 Brown.

Douglas E. Arthur '49 H'96, Jan. 16, 2006, Harrisburg, Pa. He served as a member of the board for 20 years before being awarded emeritus status in 1993. He continued to be active in the life of the university, giving generously of his time and wise counsel and making major contributions to the work of the board. He became an officer in the U.S. Air Force and was a prisoner of war during World War II. For his distinguished service, he received the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with clusters. Following the war, Doug entered Susquehanna University and earned the bachelor of science degree in accounting. He continued his education at Dickinson School of Law, Franklin University's law school, Temple University and Rutgers University.

Doug had a distinguished 37-year career with Nationwide Insurance Company, retiring in 1986 as a vice president and regional manager. A leading insurance industry spokesman for many years, he served as an officer and member of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, a member of Pennsylvanians for Effective Government, and chair of the Pennsylvania Guaranty Fund. He was a director of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and in 1980, was named “Businessman of the Year.”

A tireless supporter of Susquehanna University, he was the first person to receive the two highest awards given to Susquehanna graduates: the Alumni Association's Achievement Award in 1985 and the Alumni Association Award for Service in 1994. A member of the Crusader football team for four years under coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, Jr., he also received the University's Russell W. Gilbert Award in 1991 for long-standing loyalty to the Crusader athletic program. The football practice field was named in his honor in 2001. At commencement ceremonies in 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in recognition of his distinguished achievements in business and in service to others, and his devotion to Susquehanna and the region.

A generous benefactor of the university, Doug was a long-time member of the National Committee on Annual Giving and served in critical leadership positions in University capital campaigns. In 1987, his commitment to higher education led him and his wife, Lucille, to establish the Douglas E. and Lucille Groff Arthur Scholarship for academically able students from the Millersburg area. A gift from Lucille in his honor is funding the Douglas E. Arthur Recognition Plaza on campus, which will recognize and inspire donors who have the capacity to help shape the institution through major gifts.

Nancy Lockett '58 Savage, Dec. 4, 2005, Waynesboro, Pa. She worked with her husband, Bill, at Savage Family Pharmacy and as a secretary in administration for the Waynesboro School district. In the early 1980s, she graduated from the Franklin County Vocational and Technical School and worked part-time at Quincy United Methodist Home as an L.P.N. for several years.

Donald W. Boyle '59, Jan. 31, 2005, Quinton, Va. He was a retired director of the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Sandra Locke '59 Dwye, Aug. 29, 2005, Mendham, N.J. She and her husband, James, opened Westmont Montessori school in 1965 in Chester Borough, N.J. More recently, she was a legal advocate for battered women, advising them in court.

Elias Okamura '62, Nov. 10, 2005, Saipan. He became the first Micronesian to be commissioned as merchant marine deck officer. He retired from the Trust Territory Government in 1981 as deputy director of the department of transportation and communications. He accepted the position of civil defense coordinator for the government of the Northern Mariana Islands and took full retirement from government service in December 1994.

Joseph R. Joyce '63, Jan. 13, 2006, Lewisburg, Pa. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve. He began his career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, where he rose to the position of vice president and chief human resources officer of the bank. He worked as director of personnel with the University of Maryland at College Park and the American Banker's Association.

After returning to Philadelphia to join Continental Bancorp as senior vice president, he then established his own human resources consulting firm.

Glenn Wayne Miller '65, Oct. 18, 2005, Selinsgrove, Pa. He was a member of the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. He was employed as a librarian for the Harrisburg State Hospital and for many years by the City of Philadelphia.

Sue Ebling '70, Sept. 7, 2005, Lancaster, Pa. She was a caseworker for the Lancaster County Assistance Office of Public Welfare for 35 years until her retirement in 2005.

Francis J. Fendt, Jr., '73, Oct. 13, 2005, Sunbury, Pa. He served in the U.S. Army. He was formerly employed by the former Shamokin Citizen newspaper and later as a reporter by The Daily Item , Sunbury. He then held the position of vice president of marketing for First National Bank of Sunbury and later the Central Pennsylvania Savings Association, Sunbury.

Steve Gosewisch '76, Jan. 12, 2006, Elberon, N.J. He taught at Howell High School/Freehold Performing Arts Academy for nearly 30 years. His students are planning a memorial concert for him in the spring, as is the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra where he was the associate conductor.
Betty Jane Brungard '85, April 27, 2005, Northumberland, Pa.

Paul DeSanctis '95, Dec. 19, 2005, native of Wyomissing, Pa. Paul earned his pilot's license in 2001. He was a pilot with Chalk's Ocean Airways in Florida. He previously worked for Quest Diagnositcs, flying air-transport flights of transplant organs, blood and other medical samples.

Deborah Morrow '96 Hornberger, Nov. 3, 2005, Leominster Mass. She earned a master of science degree from the University of Akron and worked as a geologist for the environmental consulting firm Arcadis G&M. She is survived by her husband, Brant Hornberger '94. Friends and family are working with Susquehanna University to establish a scholarship; contributions can be sent to: Office of Development, Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870, in memory of Deborah and Samuel Morrow Hornberger.

Angela Gentile '02 Snyder, Sept. 10, 2005, Harrisburg, Pa. At Susquehanna, she was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority. She worked as a credit analyst at MidPenn Bank in Harrisburg. She was attending Lebanon Valley College pursuing a master's degree.

Robert E. Murphy '07, Dec. 5, 2005, Dallas, Pa. He was the president of the Student Government Association, captain of the swim team and the student representative to the University Council. Dan Smith '07 shared the following during a Dec. 7, 2005, memorial service:

“What's up, kid?” That's how Bobby always welcomed me when we ran into each other around campus. A warm, welcoming greeting from the most familiar face on campus, someone I had known since the second grade. Someone many, many others at Susquehanna have had the privilege of knowing. As classmate, student, swim team captain and president of student government, he touched the lives of so many on campus.

We both swam in high school, often competing in the same events. I never once beat him. I'd tell him, over and over again, that someday I'd be faster than him. In college, I stopped swimming, but would see him before meets and say, “Bobby, I could jump in and beat you right now.” We shared a laugh, both of us knowing the truth – there was no chance that I'd beat him.

Bobby and I were in Scouts together. We both earned the Eagle rank, but he did it two years earlier. This is one example of how much more driven Bobby was than I. If there was a student at Susquehanna University who had a plan, who knew where they were going and was definitely going to achieve it, it was Bob Murphy.

Bobby's life was cut short. Why exactly, we'll never know. With every passing day, I and others will try to make sense of it. But, I challenge others and myself with this: Instead of wondering what we could have done, let's pursue the lives Bobby would have wanted us to. As we celebrate Bobby's abundant life, I hold on to this quote by Albert Pike: “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Jack Kolbert, professor emeritus of French, Sept. 25, 2005. An internationally-recognized scholar in French literary criticism and modern French literature, Jack joined the Susquehanna University faculty in 1985 and continued teaching at the university even after his retirement. He was awarded emeritus status in 1996.

He authored 10 books and hundreds of essays on French literature, culture and civilization. He was the recipient of the French Knight of the National Order of Merit on three separate occasions. During the 12 years he was a professor of modern and classical languages at the University of Albuquerque, Kolbert became active in local politics, serving as the first president of the Albuquerque City Council from 1974 to 1977. In addition, he was an honorary French consul in New Mexico and California, and served on a variety of national commissions and professional boards.

Victor P. Rislow III, associate professor of music at Susquehanna University, Dec. 20, 2005. He was a member of the Susquehanna University music faculty for 35 years.

In addition to his teaching, Vic had extensive performance experience as a trumpeter in a wide range of musical settings. He appeared as a soloist with the Susquehanna University Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band and gave recitals both on campus and in the region. As the first director of the SU Jazz Ensemble, he had also served as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician at high school jazz festivals and competitions.He was a founding member of the Commonwealth Brass Quintet, formed in 1981 by faculty members from several schools in Pennsylvania to promote the performance of brass chamber music.