He earned a BSEE from UWMadison and later worked as an electrical engineer for UW and the State of Wisconsin.
Category: Obituaries
Richard Bruce Bilder
Richard’s career was dedicated to the challenges of international law and the betterment of international relations. He worked in the Office of Legal Advisor at the U.S. State Department, before coming to Madison, where was a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin for more than 50 years.
Sharon James
She left her tenured position to return to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she entered higher education administration, serving as both Assistant and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs for UW Systems.
John Olson
In addition to his coaching career, John served as Assistant Principal at Madison Memorial and later as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was employed for 44 years in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator, teaching at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. He also prepared aspiring teachers and coaches for careers in education for seven years while teaching at the School of Education at UW-Madison.
Charlene Kate Kavanagh
Dr. Kate went on to become an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine and School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Michael L Symons
Mike retired from the UW-Madison Physical Plant in 2008 after more than 30 years of service.
Jean Milant, founder of Cirrus Gallery and Cirrus Editions, dies at 81
Milant was born in Milwaukee in 1943, and earned a degree in fine art from the University of Wisconsin before beginning his career as a painter. He spent time in a master’s program at the University of New Mexico in 1967, before heading to Los Angeles to begin his printmaking work at Tamarind. He founded Cirrus with $1200 in a Hollywood space that Ruscha helped him find near his studio. The collector Terry Inch later bought shares of Cirrus, becoming a behind-the-scenes partner.
William Lawrence Church
He retired as Volkman-Bascom Distinguished Teaching Professor of Law after teaching for 50 years at the University of Wisconsin Law School. He received numerous awards for excellence in teaching.
Michael J. “Mike” Collins
He was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin.
Mary Teresa Zellmer
For several years, Mary worked with the Theater Department at UW-Madison, a highlight of which was traveling throughout the U.S. with performing theater students.
Longtime columnist John Oncken was champion for Wisconsin agriculture and its people
After finishing his education, John and his new bride, Jennette headed north to Clark County where he secured a job as an Extension agent.
Margaret Mott
While nurturing her family, she worked as a Staff Nurse at Methodist Hospital; UW-Madison Student Health Services as a Nurse Clinician (earning the first certification in Wis) and Health Information Materials Coordinator until her retirement in 2000.
Kristine Lea Winneke
After three years, they returned to Madison, Wis., and Kristine obtained a position in the Secretary of State Office. Uncomfortable with elections changing office conditions, Kristine resigned and took a position at the University of Wisconsin Department of Engineering in the continuing education office.
Julie Schneider
Her professional life was equally commendable, serving as the Director of the Medical Library at Mercy Hospital in Janesville followed by a career at the UW Madison School of Medicine.
Marshall Brickman, UW alum who co-wrote ‘Annie Hall’ with Woody Allen, dies at 85
The Oscar-winning screenwriter Marshall Brickman, whose wide-ranging career spanned some of Woody Allen’s best films, the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys” and a number of Johnny Carson’s most beloved sketches, has died
‘He was the guy’: How Rudy Martzke invented the sports media beat
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Martzke graduated from the University of Wisconsin and worked for a few newspapers and ABA teams. (He liked to tell people he helped hire Bob Costas at the Spirits of St. Louis.) Eventually, he ended up at the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, New York, before moving to the D.C. area to help launch USA Today.
‘Airplane!’ filmmaker Jim Abrahams, a Shorewood High School alum, has died
While students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Abrahams and his friends Jerry and David Zucker and Dick Chudnow started the comedy group Kentucky Fried Theater, which combined video satires of TV commercials and a stage show.
John Bryant Wyman
Bry left the Marshfield Clinic in 1992 and, after a brief stint as a farm hand in Illinois, he began a faculty position at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He treated patients and taught medical students until his 80th birthday. In his later practice, he focused on irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic functional disorders. Patients who had suffered debilitating symptoms for years remain grateful for the healing he gave them.
Edward J. Prendergast
Ed worked as an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin, 1980-1982, and was a Partner at Dean Medical Center (now SSM Health) in the Department of Hematology/Oncology, 1982-2014.
Robert “Dober” Dobson
He retired from his glazing career while working for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dober formed more amazing friendships while working for the UW. Those who rode the rideshare van looked forward to hearing Dobers stories and they would all laugh on their ride into work.
James A. Lindblade, MD
He delivered more than 3,000 babies throughout his career, primarily at Madison General Hospital (now Meriter). He was a partner for 20 years at the Quisling Clinic. He then worked at the University Health Services and the University of Wisconsin Medical School.
Gloria M. Green
Finally, she worked for the University of Wisconsin division of Extension, managing education programs around the state.
Georgia Wagner
She worked for the State of Wisconsin in the coastal management program and at the Wisconsin state capitol before beginning a long-term career as an administrator at the University of Wisconsin. She worked in the school of nursing but spent most of her career as a graduate advisor, first in the department of Economics and later in the department of Limnology and Water Chemistry. At both departments, she provided support and advice to generations of graduate students.
Barry L. Sievers
Barry joined the UW-Madison Office of Clinical Trials as the Finance Manager, where he oversaw all federal and non-federal research budgets on top of the department’s operations budget. Most recently, Barry held the title of Senior Financial Manager for the Institute of Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he served since 2011.
Joyce Agnes Tikalsky
After working for a number of technical firms as a technical writer and editor in the Madison area, she taught herself web design and became the webmaster for the UW-Madison College of Engineering.
Amy S. Hall
Amy had a fulfilling and impactful career, most recently with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health as the Division Administrator for Geriatrics and Gerontology. She loved her coworkers and role, often referring to it as her dream job.
Flora (Flo) Victoria Smith
While living in Madison, Flo worked for the University of Wisconsin, Madison as an Account Specialist until her retirement.
Patricia Ann Kalscheur
She worked for many years for the State of Wisconsin and the UW Medical School until her retirement in 2013.
James M. “Jim” Huffer, M.D.
Jim joined the Orthopedics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and eventually became a partner at Bone and Joint Surgery and Associates. In addition to patient care, he was a highly regarded teacher, earning the student-given UW Medical School teaching award twice. Jim also cared for and mentored student athletes on the UW football, basketball and hockey teams. The UW Hockey team won the NCAA National Championship in 1973, while Jim was the team physician.
Richard Cash, championed ‘simple’ therapy to overcome cholera, dies at 83
He recalled that his interest in science began as a child during visits to Milwaukee’s museum of natural history. He received a bachelor’s degree in science in 1963 from the University of Wisconsin, and his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1966.
Wisconsin Public Media remembers executive director Heather L. Reese
Wisconsin Public Media (WPM) is saddened by the death of Heather L. Reese, executive director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison division that, in partnership with the Educational Communications Board (ECB), provides statewide access to public media through PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR).
William M. Reynolds
Bill served as director of the graduate program in school psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and held appointments as principal investigator at the Waisman Center on Mental Retardation and Human Development and as discipline chief of Psychology of the University Affiliated Program at the Waisman Center.
Carla Thompson Leskinen
Carla dedicated a significant part of her career to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working in both the School of Agriculture and the Art Department.
Jack Cipperly
He served as an Assistant Dean in the College of Letters and Science, working with students and staff for thirty two years, which seemed a job made in heaven for him.
Catherine Armstrong Reznikoff
Dr. Reznikoff was the first woman to earn a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and went on to become a Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned international recognition for using novel techniques to define genetic changes in transitional cell carcinoma. Dr. Reznikoff served as Chair of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, underscoring her reputation and her integrity.
Blair Mathews
He returned to his beloved University of Wisconsin until his retirement in 1994. During those decades Blair served as an Associate Dean in the College of Letters and Science, Assistant Dean in the Dean of Students Office and assistant to the Vice Provost. He counseled and advised countless students throughout his career whose lives he significantly influenced. Blair supervised doctoral and masters degree students as they served as clinical interns in the University Counseling Services.
Pamela Kay Winne
Pam taught elementary education in the Cottage Grove and Monona School Districts for seven years, until she joined Dr. Dempsey’s Neurosurgery team at the University of Wisconsin as a research coordinator. She finished her career as a research coordinator for the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) study at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.
Peter R. “Pete” Weiler Jr.
In the same year, Pete received a fellowship in physics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he earned a master’s degree in physics and a doctorate in physics. The University became home to him. He worked in Environmental Sciences and throughout his career, received many honors.
Gerald “Jerry” Edward Lange
In 1968 he moved to Wisconsin and began working at the UW Internal Audit Department and advanced to heading the department until his retirement.
Charles S Lueck
He was admitted to the state bar in 1969 and was an Attorney at Law for the University of Wisconsin (1969-2002) where he practiced Higher Education Law. He traveled extensively during his career giving speeches and presentations on the new and developing higher education field of law.
Waltraud Emilie Dorothee Gartzke
In the early years of their marriage, Emy was the main breadwinner for the family, using her training in chemistry to find employment in the laboratories at what was then Rayovac, then later with Dr. Beinert at the Enzyme Institute and ending up with Dr. Ganther at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the U.W.
John Straughn
After receiving a masters in chemistry at UW-Madison, he obtained a position with the University of Wisconsin Safety Department as a chemist for 26 years.
David Sulman
In 1966, they moved to Madison, where David served as a physician for 35 years at the University of Wisconsin Student Health Service and the VA Hospital, where he compassionately provided care for generations of students and veterans. He was Associate Professor at UW Medical School.
Dr. Gary Philip Williams
He moved to Madison, Wisconsin and did a two-year pediatric residency at the University of Wisconsin. Gary then began working at the General Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was Associate Professor of Pediatrics with expertise in pediatric dermatology.
Sandra Deanna Paske
Then in 1986, she was hired by UW-Madison, General Library System where Sandra remained until she retired with emeritus in 2011 as Head of Microimaging Services. During Sandra’s tenure with the UW-Madison library system, she played a key role in the establishment and development of the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center.
Duane Anderson
He managed National Food stores in Madison for many years and then was employed by University Housing until his retirement in 1990.
Mary Jane Ayer
She earned her nursing degree at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, her Bachelors degree 1959, Masters in 1964 and Ph.D. in 1966, all three at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Jane was a Professor and Associate Dean in the School of Education retiring in 1992.
Karlee Lillian “Kay” Babcock
Kay worked the majority of her career in cancer research at the University of Wisconsin. Over the years she became the “lab mom” by her description. She spent 47 years working at the UW’s McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research.
Jason T. Jonely
After graduation, Jason continued his service to the University, transitioning to a full-time role in 1997 as an advisor in the International Student Services Office (ISS). Over the next two decades, Jason rose to the position of Associate Director of ISS, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the international student experience at UW-Madison. His leadership extended to various campus-wide committees, including the Exchange Coordinators Committee, the International Student Recruitment and Marketing ad hoc committee, and the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT).
Legendary actress Gena Rowlands was one of the most famous people to come from Wisconsin
Rowlands grew up in Wisconsin and later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Here’s a look at her ties to the Badger State, and the career that paved her legacy as one of Hollywood’s legendary actors.
Gena Rowlands, actress of lacerating intensity, dies at 94
After graduating from Washington-Lee High School in 1947, she attended the University of Wisconsin and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She met Cassavetes, a struggling actor who had admired one of her student performances and wooed her ardently for three years.
Gena Rowlands, Actress in ’The Notebook’, Dies at 94
Virginia graduated from high school in Arlington, Va., and attended the University of Wisconsin, but she dropped out to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she began her acting career.
Gena Rowlands, acting legend and star of “The Notebook,” dies at 94
Rowlands quit the University of Wisconsin in her junior year to pursue an acting career in New York. Like other actors of her generation, she gained invaluable experience in the thriving field of television drama in the 1950s, appearing on all the major series.
June Blanchard
June went on to become a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin, where she taught and advocated for women’s rights for over two decades until her retirement.
William R. Risley
In 1986 he accepted a dual appointment at the University of WisconsinMadison in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Department of Liberal Studies, Division of University Outreach. A consummate teacher-scholar, Professor Risley loved teaching undergraduate and graduate students, who appreciated his extensive knowledge, warmth and wit. While directing the University’s Spanish and Portuguese outreach programs, he enjoyed offering adult continuing education classes in the evenings and developing courses in new areas, especially in Latin American literature. He retired from the profession in 2011.
Ina Jaffe, stalwart NPR correspondent, dies at 75
She began acting in high school and continued her involvement in the theater at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1972.
Ina Jaffe, Dogged and Award-Winning NPR Reporter, Dies at 75
She attended the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and DePaul University, where she earned a master’s degree in the subject.
Stephen D. Caldwell
While a student in economics at the UW-Madison he began working in 1971 for the UW Department of ADP, which later became DoIT. He started as a computer operator, then advanced to programmer and analyst for the Registrar. His last position was with the UW Mail Team as senior analyst for all email iterations.
James C. Scott, Iconoclastic Social Scientist, Dies at 87
Dr. Scott received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale in 1967. He taught for several years at the University of Wisconsin, where he was active in the antiwar movement and acquired a deeper interest in Southeast Asian rural peoples.
Larry Davis Obituary (1935 – 2024)
Larry D. Davis, Emeritus Professor of Physiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, died on July 14, 2024, at the age of 89. During his career at UW-Madison his successful work in cardiovascular research earned him the Wisconsin Heart Association Outstanding Researcher Award in 1974.