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Category: Obituaries

Jackson, Susan Kay

Wisconsin State Journal

Sue worked for the University of Wisconsin Family Practice Program, scheduling residents for 15 years. She retired from on Dec. 30, 2009.

Fiegel, Robert W.

Wisconsin State Journal

Bob worked for the Vari-Typer Corp. and then the UW-Madison as an office machine repair man. If there was problem, he could fix it.

Coffman, Edward McKenzie

Wisconsin State Journal

Edward McKenzie Coffman, distinguished military historian and revered teacher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, died on Sept. 16, 2020, at Thomson-Hood Veteran Center in Wilmore, Ky.

Felicia Campbell, Professor Who Studied Gambling and Pop Culture, Dies at 89

The New York Times

Ms. Campbell was born on April 18, 1931, in Cuba City, Wis. Her parents, Frank Churchill Florine, a pharmacist, and Irene (Bower) Florine ran Florine and Son’s Drugstore and Pharmacy, where their daughter worked as a soda jerk. After earning undergraduate and masters degrees in English at the University of Wisconsin, she joined the Marines because, she said later, she wanted to see if she could handle it.

Gibson, Chère Campbell

Wisconsin State Journal

In 1982 Chère worked as an academic planner in University of Wisconsin System Administration. In 1984 she left administration and joined the faculty of the Department of Continuing and Vocational Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Family Living Program Area in University of Wisconsin -Extension.

Felicia Campbell, Professor Who Studied Gambling and Pop Culture, Dies at 89

The New York Times

Ms. Campbell was born on April 18, 1931, in Cuba City, Wis. Her parents, Frank Churchill Florine, a pharmacist, and Irene (Bower) Florine ran Florine and Son’s Drugstore and Pharmacy, where their daughter worked as a soda jerk. After earning undergraduate and masters degrees in English at the University of Wisconsin, she joined the Marines because, she said later, she wanted to see if she could handle it.

Florence Howe, Feminist Press founder and women’s studies champion, dies at 91

The Washington Post

At 16, she entered the college itself, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in English. A professor there told her that women writers were “not important enough to study,” Ms. Howe later recalled, but also urged her on to graduate school. She received a master’s degree from Smith College the next year and studied for a PhD at the University of Wisconsin before dropping out at the insistence of her second husband.

Florence Howe, ‘Mother of Women’s Studies,’ Dies at 91

The New York Times

Her activist spirit was also ignited as a Hunter undergraduate. She formed an interracial and interfaith sorority with friends and was elected student body president. She studied English with the intention of teaching in the public school system, but was encouraged by a professor and Hunter’s president to pursue a master’s degree, which she earned at Smith College. In 1951 she went on to study for a doctorate in English at the University of Wisconsin.

Kelley, John “Joe”

Wisconsin State Journal

After a brief stint as Administrator of the Madison Agrigenetics Research Laboratory, he returned to the U.W. to administer the newly formed Biotechnology Center and then the Institute for Enzyme Research until his retirement in June 1992.

Hohneke, Donna King Thacker

Wisconsin State Journal

Donna was employed by the Records and Registration Office at the University of Wisconsin where she thoroughly enjoyed her time at the University.

Meyer, Gary “Butch”

Wisconsin State Journal

Butch worked for the State of Wisconsin at the University in the Registrar’s office until his retirement in 2000.

Dr. Seymour Schwartz, Who Wrote the Book on Surgery, Dies at 92

New York Times

A gifted actor in student productions at DeWitt Clinton High School, Sy was encouraged by his father to pursue a theatrical career, but decided to become a surgeon instead. Accepted by Yale but unable to afford the tuition, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin on a scholarship and completed his pre-med degree in two years.

LaCroix, Richard Lee

Wisconsin State Journal

Richard’s first position was a management role with UW-Extension at Ashland and Spooner Agricultural Research Stations. Thereafter, he served in Calumet and Fond du Lac counties as a Dairy Agent.

Baumgartner, Lawrence Edward

Wisconsin State Journal

Larry spent most of his working years at UW Madison. He started in the mail room and worked his way through many positions, because every few years he wanted something new and challenging. His last campus position was working in heating and cooling at Biotron Laboratories.

Clifton, Kelly Hardenbrook, Sr.

Wisconsin State Journal

After his PhD in Zoology/Endocrinology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (’55,) postdoctoral work in Boston was followed by a faculty position at the UW as a Professor of radiation biologist / cancer researcher in 1959, a job he held under various titles until his retirement in 1997.

Duchon, Gerald A.

Wisconsin State Journal

Gerald was Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UW-Madison, retiring after 38 years in 1995.

McDonald, William “Billy”

Wisconsin State Journal

He worked for the UW Agriculture School from April 1959 to April 1994. His love for Badger sports lead him to work for the UW Athletic Department for 10 years as a score keeper for both Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball.

Logterman, Christina D. “Chris” (Hedrick)

Wisconsin State Journal

Christina has been part of the UW Madison academic advising community for nearly a decade. She worked for several departments including, School of Nursing, School of Letters and Science before her current position serving as Student Services Coordinator and undergraduate academic advisor for the English Department.

Kunen, Kenneth

Wisconsin State Journal

He began his teaching career in 1968 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the Department of Mathematics, becoming full professor in 1972. With the exception of one year visiting the University of California, Berkeley, and two years visiting the University of Texas at Austin, he spent his 40-year career in Madison, retiring in 2008.

Jensen, Jane Margaret

Wisconsin State Journal

She taught mini courses at the UW-Madison which were always well attended and earned her praise for her depth of knowledge and facilitation skills.

Kemper, Joyce M.

Wisconsin State Journal

She retired in 2006 after many years of service to the University of Wisconsin—Madison as a Graduate Admission Coordinator in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, receiving a Distinguished Achievement Award in 2003.

Gosting, Dorothy

Wisconsin State Journal

Dorothy worked in several departments at the University of Wisconsin, including the Food Research Institute, from 1966 until her retirement in 1992.

Komai, Hirochika

Wisconsin State Journal

From 1972 to 2006, he was a research scientist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, first at the Institute for Enzyme Research and then in the Department of Anesthesiology.

Reed, Dr. Charles E.

Wisconsin State Journal

In 1962 he became a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He pursued research, patient care, and implemented a fellowship training program in allergic diseases. Dr. Reed became head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and established new standards in patient care and treatment.

Certain, Phillip Robinson “Phil”

Wisconsin State Journal

Phil’s career at UW-Madison included teaching undergraduate and graduate students and doing research as part of the Theoretical Chemistry Institute … His UW career also included the administrative positions of Chair of Chemistry, Associate Vice Chancellor, Acting Vice Chancellor, Associate Dean and Dean of the College of Letters and Science.

Larson, Barbara A.

Wisconsin State Journal

When her children were mostly grown, Barbara joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Waisman Center as a Project Administrator in the School of Social Work.

Hicks, Lynda Margaret

Wisconsin State Journal

Lynda was a longtime employee of the UW Law School, and in her retirement she found enjoyment in painting, volunteering, and advocacy work.

Rathke, Roger

Wisconsin State Journal

He seemed to find his true vocation when he became a Senior Lecturer of Marketing back at his Alma Mater, UW-Madison.

Fitzgerald, Mary Kathleen “Kay”

Wisconsin State Journal

In the late 1980s she began working as a payroll clerk and librarian for the Biochemistry department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she remained until her retirement in 2008.

Sewell, Richard Herbert

Wisconsin State Journal

After graduating from Harvard, Richard taught for three years at Northern Illinois University and in 1965 accepted a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. In addition to mentoring many graduate students who went on to prestigious university positions, Richard taught undergraduate lecture courses on the Age of Jefferson and Jackson, and the American Civil War Era. In 1989, the University of Wisconsin presented him with a distinguished teacher award.

Bailey, James Orville, Jr.

Wisconsin State Journal

He taught in the Slavic Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1967 until his retirement in 1995, having served as Chair of the Slavic Department, Head of the Russian Area Studies Program, and Head of the Folklore Program, which he helped found.

Dawson, Connie V.

Wisconsin State Journal

Connie was employed as an administrative assistant at UW-Madison, a position she held until retirement.

McCormick, Thomas Joseph, Jr.

Wisconsin State Journal

Following teaching assignments at Ohio University and the University of Pittsburgh, Tom returned to UW–Madison in 1970, succeeding William Appleman Williams in the ground-breaking work of the Wisconsin School of Diplomatic History.

‘She knew how to get things done’: Bo Black forever left her mark on Summerfest and beyond

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Noted: Black came to Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her first job at Summerfest was as administrative assistant to then-Summerfest director Henry Jordan in 1974-75. At the time she was named executive director of Summerfest in October 1983, she was a member of Mayor Henry Maier’s staff.

Fraser, Lois A.

Wisconsin State Journal

Later she was an Academic Specialist-Administrator at the UW Endocrinology- Reproductive Physiology program from 1963 until her retirement in 1994.

Former ABC 7 meteorologist Jerry Taft dies

Daily Herald

Noted: Taft’s interest in weather began in the U.S. Air Force, which he joined as a 19-year-old radar technician. He eventually became a combat pilot, spent a year in Vietnam, taught aviation and flight planning, and earned a degree in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin in 1969.

Blattner, Thomas Michael

Wisconsin State Journal

Tom was hired as academic staff to manage Babcock Hall dairy plant, teach, and do research. For 22 years he proudly taught the farm short course in dairy processing. By retirement in 2008 he had advanced to administration in the food science department and achieved emeritus status.

Schmitz, Joanne J. (Jaeger) “Jody”

Wisconsin State Journal

Jody became publicity director for the UW-Madison Memorial Union, nurturing artistic and writing talents and befriending many of her student employees. She returned to school and earned an MSW in 1986. After advising students at the UW School of Social Work, she became the first director of the Kennedy Heights Community Center.

Schten, Edward

Wisconsin State Journal

He was employed by University of Wisconsin-Extension in 1961, with which he stayed until retirement in 1993. At UW his main focus was educational work for local government officials.

Sandholm, William H. III

Wisconsin State Journal

Bill spent his entire 22-year academic career at the University of Wisconsin, most recently as the Richard E. Stockwell Professor of Economics. Bill’s primary area of research was evolutionary game theory.

Leskinen, Sigurd William

Wisconsin State Journal

Sigurd had great pride at being a skilled tradesman and he was a master electrician. He retired from the University of Wisconsin in 2002 as head of their electric shop.

Mr. Ash, Chicago’s greatest magician, dies at 80

Chicago Tribune

He trained as a boxer, wrestler and weightlifter in Iraq before immigrating to the U.S. in 1960, where he served in the Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for three years, according to his son and Adajian. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and received his civil engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, eventually landing in Chicago where he worked for the state as a bridge inspector, according to his son.

Jeardeau, Joyce

Wisconsin State Journal

Joyce spent the bulk of her career working for the UW Hospital and Clinics and the UW School of Medicine. Most recently she was the Student Programs Coordinator for the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.