In 1963 he was appointed to the faculty in the English Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and moved his family (then including two daughters, Lisabeth and Sheila) to Madison. At UW he established a program in English as a second language (ESL) for the instruction of international students at the university.
He joined the faculty of the UW-Madison college of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Agronomy, with responsibilities for statewide UW extension weed management education programs. Ron was particularly proud of the Pesticide Applicator Certification program that he developed for the state of Wisconsin which became “The Model” for many other states.
In 1968, he joined the professorial faculty at the UW-Madison College of Engineering. Structural mechanics was his principal research focus, which included the vibrations of aerospace shells, the design of nuclear fusion reactor chambers, the fabrication of microsensors and microactuators, and nanoscale mechanics analysis for the semiconductor industry.
After two years of military service, Joe completed his B.S. degree from UW-Madison in 1959, and his M.S. in 1960. He received his Ph.D. in 1964, and joined the faculty of the Department of Food Science as an Assistant Professor.
William Spriggs, the assistant secretary of labor in the Obama administration and former chief economist for the AFL-CIO, who died at age 68, was such an economist and such a leader.
As a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin—where he earned his master’s degree in economics in 1979 and PhD in economics in 1984—Spriggs served as copresident of the Teaching Assistants’ Association (American Federation of Teachers, Local 3220), a groundbreaking campus labor union that fought a successful battle to expand collective bargaining rights for graduate students.
Dr. Spriggs earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Williams College in Massachusetts and attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a master’s degree in 1979 and a doctorate in 1984, both in economics.
Dr. Spriggs graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Williams College in Massachusetts. He received a doctorate in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1984; a fellow graduate student, Lawrence Mishel, said Dr. Spriggs was the only African American among roughly 150 graduate students in economics at the time.
He attended Williams College as an undergraduate before earning a Masters and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served as an assistant secretary of policy at the US Labor Department from 2009 to 2012, under President Barack Obama.
He worked at McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research as a Research Specialist for almost 10 years before starting his almost-30-year career at Promega Corporation as a Senior Scientific Buyer.
After returning to school, she worked for the State, having numerous brief jobs that created many silly stories: at DILIHR, University Hospital, and the UW-Madison Graduate School, where she retired in 2011.
He also worked at the University of Wisconsin as a cook and caterer.
Martha Johnson, wife to “Badger Bob” Johnson and mother to current UW Women’s Hockey Coach Mark Johnson, has passed away at the age of 88.
Dr. Friedlander held faculty positions at Fenn College, Cleveland State University, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, before spending the bulk of his career as Research Professor of Human Development in the Psychology Department at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
Dave had been recruited to become an Assistant Dean in the College of Letters and Science at UW-Madison. He was instrumental in bringing their department into the computer age.
Donald entered and completed the carpenter apprentice program and dedicated his career at the Physical Plant (carpenter shop) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donald worked at the UW for 31 years and retired in June 1999.
He worked and sailed with his father and was a talented basketball and football player for Badger High School in Geneva Lake. His studies at the University of Wisconsin, however, were cut short when he was drafted into the Korean War.
Upon his return from the service he started his apprenticeship with the Steamfitter Union, Madison Local 394 working for Johnson Controls and later University Wisconsin Madison until he retired.
Noted: He earned a Ph.D. in food science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1972.
Dr. Hans Sollinger, the former chair of transplantation at UW-Madison who pioneered a pancreas transplant technique and developed an anti-rejection drug taken by many transplant patients, died Monday at his home in Madison.
He earned his medical degree at the Medical School of Munich in 1973 and PhD at the University of Munich in 1975. Later that year, an immunobiology research fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison brought him to the US, and eventually he stayed for his surgical residency and transplantation training. During his career, Dr. Sollinger revolutionized the field of transplantation.
Rosemary worked at the University of Wisconsin as assistant to the vice chancellor for 25 years retiring in 1985.
Guil retired Professor Emeritus after 42 with the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin. His academic accomplishments during his time contributed greatly to the field. In 1971, he was the first to identify and describe ophthalmological conditions that were later observed during the AIDS epidemic. His research and clinical practice focused mainly in the areas of diabetic and hypertensive retinopathies.
Mary initially worked for the UW Hospital Cardiovascular Research Department, and was instrumental in assisting with some of the early successes of Dr. Charles Crumpton. Using her excellent typing skills, Mary typed hundreds of doctoral theses for graduate students over the years. She advanced her career as the hospital grew, eventually retiring in 1991 as an administrator with the UW Hospital Department of Medicine.
Robin moved to Madison and became the Operations Manager at the Radisson Inn and Conference Center in 1987, where she met her husband. They were married in 1990, then she worked for UW-Madison in the Department of Information Technology for 20 years.
After his retirement from Foley and Lardner, Larry enjoyed teaching as an adjunct professor at the UW-Madison Law School for 11 years. Larry was passionate about teaching and was recognized for his outstanding work with the Warren H. Stolper Award, an honor that acknowledges excellence in teaching on the part of the Law School’s professors.
He taught Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison for over 40 years and founded their Computer Aided Engineering Center (CAE). His teaching and research specialties were geometric modeling and computer-aided design; including the kinematics, dynamics, and simulation of articulated rigid-body mechanical systems.
In 1997, Ed retired from his position as Employment Relations Manager at UW-Madison.
Dolores held a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UW-Eau Claire and a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from UW-Madison, where she worked for the Division of Continuing Studies as a Teaching and Learning Technology Consultant.
He already was a rock star at running hospitals and had options, but agreed to become chief executive officer of the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics (the predecessor to UW Health.) The mammoth hospital we see today on Highland Avenue opened five years after he arrived. Derzon navigated its evolution for 26 years before retiring in 2000.
Ruberta Weaver, the inaugural first lady of what’s now called the University of Wisconsin System and a prominent supporter of husband John Weaver during his presidency, died March 29 at her California home. She was 106.
He started his career as a Junior Librarian at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, and was later appointed Head of Acquisitions at SUNY Buffalo. Gene then became Head of Acquisitions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, until his retirement in 1996. Always active, he held various board and committee positions for many community organizations. Gene received the Librarian of the Year Award for 1991 by the University of Wisconsin, and received a Governor’s Special Award in 1996 for 27 years of dedicated service to the State of Wisconsin.
Upon returning to Madison, he took up his longtime role in the UW administration serving in many capacities, chairing and coordinating several committees governing academic admissions, financial aid and continuing education. Ultimately, he was appointed Associate Vice Chancellor by Chancellor Irving Shain.
He then joined the UW-Madison School of Business academic staff as a Senior Lecturer, teaching International Business and Human Resources Management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels until his retirements from the University in 2000 Scott enjoyed gardening, fishing, tennis, traveling, hiking and camping.
James Skibo, Wisconsin’s state archaeologist and a well-known figure in the field, died recently in a scuba diving accident in Lake Mendota. He is being remembered for his curiosity and enthusiasm.
Bob retired from the UW Business School in 1994, being granted the position of UW Professor Emeritus. A UW professor for 38 years, Bob mentored countless students as they pursued their educational ambitions and was the business fraternity counselor for Delta Sigma PI for 20 years.
As the state’s archaeologist, he was an ambassador of antiquity, sharing history and artifacts with community groups and members of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Skibo, who took on the role in 2021 after a distinguished career with Illinois State University, also worked closely with other archaeologists and the state’s Indigenous communities, especially after the remarkable discovery of two ancient canoes in Lake Mendota in 2021 and 2022.
Norb worked for 48 years for the University of Wisconsin Physical Plant as a plumber.
As UW faculty in the College of Engineering for twenty years, Gisela became Director of the Technical Communication Program, where she taught engineers effective write skills.
After her career as a med tech, Karen received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Continuing, Adult, and Vocational Education from UW-Madison where she worked as a project assistant at UW-Extension.
They moved with their four children to Madison, WI, where John spent 50 years of enjoyable teaching and research in biomedical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
When Barry Alvarez decided he was ready to leave his post at Notre Dame and accept the challenge of taking over the University of Wisconsin football program, one of the men he targeted to join his first UW staff was Bernie Wyatt.
He came to Madison that year as a Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin until retiring emeritus in 1992. Never one to tout his achievements, he authored many articles and book chapters, won teaching awards, and completed important research on the effects of alcohol when flying.
Noted: Born Helen Celia Schubert in Wisconsin, Schubert grew up outside Cedarburg, just north of Milwaukee. She received a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and journalism in 1952 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she also wrote for the student newspaper.
She was employed at U.W. Housing and the Mendota Mental Health Institution for over thirty years as a Food Service Manager and was active in the American Dietetic Association at the local, state, and national levels.
During her years of employment, Grace was Executive Secretary to the Organic Chemistry Chair, UW Madison, retiring in 1993.
Dale had a long and very successful career in agricultural research at the University of Wisconsin and abroad. He was a great leader who was held in high esteem by all who worked with him. He retired as Director of Agricultural Research Stations at the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 1999.
Don was a life-long advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a teacher at the UW-Madison School of Social Work, Community Outreach coordinator at the UW Waisman Center, and founder/board member of Create-Ability, Inc.
Noted: Daunted by the serialist compositional style that held sway in academia, Mr. Johnson turned to visual art. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a bachelor’s degree in art in 1974 and then drove a cab in Madison for a year to finance his move to New York City in 1975.
From secretary to the UW-Madison Dean of Students LeRoy Luberg to front office manager at Kohl’s Grocery Store, followed by working closely with Dane County Executive, Jonathan Barry, and Wisconsin Division of Community Services Administrator, Eloise Anderson, and finally as a Grants Administrator and Prevention Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Kathy applied empathy, collaboration, and common sense problem-solving to everything she did.
She was employed with UW Madison for 35-plus years until she later retired from there.
She was employed at U.W. Housing and the Mendota Mental Health Institution for over thirty years as a Food Service Manager and was active in the American Dietetic Association at the local, state, and national levels.
Lee worked as an electrician at UW Madison retiring in 1992, and a member of IBEW Local 159, for 65 Years.
After 32 years with the State of Wisconsin she retired in 2012, at the age of 78, as an administrative assistant from the University Office of Biological Safety.
Before Berkeley, she taught at the University of Wisconsin Madison in sociology.
At the Commerce Department, she attained the post of acting secretary briefly in 2011 and again from 2012-2013. She left to become chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she tangled with state Republicans who were trying to cut funding. One achievement was her creation of a scholarship program for Wisconsin students from poor families.
When he was 9, his aunt gave him a camera and he began making home movies. He later filmed football games and school events while attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and moved to St. Paul, Minn., to make TV commercials and corporate films.
Bert Ira Gordon was born in Kenosha, Wis., on Sept. 24, 1922, the son of Charles Abraham Gordon and Sadeline (Barnett) Gordon. He became interested in film as a boy, when an aunt gave him a 16-millimeter movie camera for his birthday. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison but dropped out to join the Army Air Forces during World War II.
Born on Sept. 24, 1922 in Kenosha, Wis., Gordon was gifted a 16-millimeter movie camera at a young age. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and dropping out to join the Army Air Forces during World War II, Gordon married Flora Lang, who would become a frequent collaborator on his features. The two had three daughters, Patricia, Susan and Carol, before divorcing in 1979.
John had a lengthy career in law enforcement for the UW-Madison Police Department, retiring as detective.
