Category: Obituaries

Noted: His parents bought a local Wausau radio station in 1958 for $54,000, renaming it WRIG. Wright worked as the station’s general manager, after serving in the National Guard and earning a business degree from the University of Wisconsin.

After a residency in Retina at the University of Iowa, they moved to Madison, where he worked as a Professor of Ophthalmology at UW Madison Hospital and Clinics for over 44 years.

After teaching 5th and 6th grade at Gompers Elementary School for four years, she taught Elementary Science at UW, inspiring teachers to confidently teach science in their classrooms. In 1993, Jean established the Science Teacher’s Scholarship Fund at UW. She also served three year terms on the UW Board of Visitors for the School of Education, and the Board of the Friends of the UW Arboretum.

She was a retired Program Assistant at UW-Madison Women’s Studies Dept.

After seven years at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, in 1970, he took a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Molecular Biology, where he was largely focused on cancer research.

In 1974 Joan started her career at the Waisman Center, UW -Madison, eventually becoming a Clinical Professor. She developed the Genetic Counseling Training Program (first graduating class of 1978 at the UW Madison).

She was a professor of physical therapy at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Galveston).

He was a research associate for the UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine and Practice from 1971 to 1974, then was coordinator of the statewide oral history program at the State Historical Society until December 1982.

In 1958 he joined the UW Extension Program as Waukesha County Recreation Agent, rising to the position of District Director for the Southern District and Full Professor in the Department of Community Development. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus by the UW Board of Regents and commended for Outstanding Service by the governor and legislature of the state of Wisconsin.

Carl worked for the University of Wisconsin in various business office roles and in several departments over his career, finishing as a payroll financial specialist at the Nelson Institute.

Dick served several years as the State Extension Program Leader in Wisconsin Agricultural Extension and received the Award for Superior Service from the United States Department of Agriculture. He served as a professor at UW Madison in agriculture and marketing for thirty years, specializing in research and also teaching agribusiness and marketing.

While at UW, Dean founded and developed LifeMapping, an interactive virtual cartography tool for chronicling one’s personal life journey. At the time of his death, Dean continued his work with LifeMapping and was a UW-Madison Police Department Security Officer.

Carolyn joined the faculty of the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973, and over the next 25 years provided significant leadership in psychiatric nursing and doctoral nursing education.

In 1966, she worked in the UW-Extension as a Specialist in the Division of Community Programs, with responsibility for enhancing and expanding partnerships between the University of Wisconsin and four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She earned a Master’s Degree from the UW-Madison and retired in 1987 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cooperative Extension Services at the UW-Extension.

She became employed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the English Department, which was the largest department in the College of Letters and Sciences at the university. She served six years as Administrative Assistant for the department and the department chairman; three of those years she was also Administrative Assistant for Professor Helen C. White, world-renowned English literature scholar, for whom the Helen C. White Library on the UW-Madison Campus is named. In 1966, Professor White requested that Dolores be given a 20% raise, stating: “She maintains a very cheerful and efficient office. Indeed, she is a fine leader and executive. She has more than earned it.”

Sheila returned to Wisconsin in 1994, where she became Director of International Student and Scholar Services, until she retired in 2002.

He worked at Rayovac and Graber, then went on to become a machinist at the University of Wisconsin in the Physics and Chemistry departments.

They moved to Madison in 1965, when Ernie joined the UW business school faculty. Ernie spent 37 fulfilling years as a faculty member. He was a dedicated and positive teacher as he engaged students at all levels of instruction.

Cathy dedicated her career to advancing groundbreaking technologies from laboratory to patient, first as a pivotal member of the pioneering team at Stratatech in Madison, WI, and later as Executive Director of the Forward Bio Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was a leader in regenerative medicine and a mentor to many throughout her life.

Jim worked for many years for the UW – Madison campus police department.

Arthur worked for the University of Wisconsin in Madison about 30 years, and most of that time was spent as a lab technician at the Biochemistry Pilot Plant helping students set up their growth of different microbiology (ex. yeasts and algae) in large growth chambers.

Later in life she took a position at the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center where she stayed until her retirement this past year.

In 1973, Rob accepted a postdoc position at the Enzyme Institute in Madison, kicking off a 35-year career in heart research at the University of Wisconsin.

He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University and spent the better part of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducting dairy related research and outreach.

Bob pursued his PhD in chemistry at Harvard University before igniting a highly successful career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he became the Eugene G. Rochow Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Organosilicon Research Center.

From 1954 to 1983, Norris was an instructor with the University of Wisconsin School for Workers.

In 1997, Carl became Director of Patents and Licensing at WARF, a foundation formed to patent and commercialize inventions developed at the University of Wisconsin and to use the revenue derived from those inventions to fund research and further the University of Wisconsin’s mission. He became Managing Director in 2000, retiring in 2016. During his tenure, the WARF endowment grew significantly, allowing WARF to give hundreds of millions of dollars to the UW. Carl strongly believed that WARF should fund and support developing technologies and startup companies.

Jerry received his PhD from the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Wisconsin in 1971, and joined the UW-Madison faculty as an assistant professor that same year, becoming a professor in 1977.

When, in 1966, Robert was offered an Associate Professorship at his beloved UW Madison, the family returned to Wisconsin, and built a house on Shenandoah Way that would be the Kauffman’s family home for the next 50 years.

Noted: Escaping life on the family farm, he took that interest with him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Goldwater Republican who could happily mingle with radicals on marches for civil rights. He majored in history and stayed on for a law degree.

A Durham native who earned advanced degrees from the University of Wisconsin and John Hopkins University, Fisher entered politics after a career as a practicing physician in both family practice and corporate settings. She settled in Salisbury.

He went on to enjoy decades of fulfilling teaching and astronomy research at University of Wisconsin-Madison where he specialized in UV astronomy, studying the interstellar medium known as “star dust.”

Ann worked for the UW in many departments on campus over the years before retiring in 2010.

She retired from the University of Wisconsin Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering on February 14, 1997.

She worked for Satterfield Electronics for several years and then worked and retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after 30 years.

She retired with Emeritus status from the University of Wisconsin Madison Office of Biological Safety.

She was employed for 20 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, retiring as a financial specialist from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison, in 2006.

He received his Ph. D. from the University of Marburg in 1955 in German literature, art history, history and philosophy, and joined the Department of German in Madison in 1958, soon helping to put the Department and the UW-Madison on the map nationally and internationally. For decades, he was among a handful of Germanists with world-wide fame, in demand all over the globe as a speaker.

Connie was a well-known member within the Middleton and Madison communities through her work with University of Wisconsin Extension, progressive political causes, and the Middleton League of Women Voters.

Barbara worked for the duplicating service within the UW-Madison campus for 30 years before her retirement.

David worked at the University of Wisconsin – Madison as a painter for many years, retiring in 2000.

Mr. Straub studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he lived across the street from the future rock star Steve Miller.

Beth graduated from Knox College with a degree in French before attending Rush University Medical College in Chicago, IL. After completing a family medicine residency at University of Wisconsin-Madison, she became a faculty member in the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Her primary practice site was the Access Community Health Centers’ Wingra Family Medical Center where she taught family medicine residents and medical students as well as attending to cherished patients. At the time of her death, Beth was also the Medical Director of Employee Health and Wellbeing Services.

Terry worked for 25 years at UW-Madison as a night shift manager.

Bob worked for the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Space Science and Engineering as an Engineering Technician for over forty years. He always did impeccable work and was recognized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for his contributions on the Galileo Project /STS 34, Atlantis, and on the Hubble Space Telescope Program. In addition, the Sutton Weather Station in Antarctica, established in 1994, was named for Bob’s contributions.

She went on to become a freelance artist for multiple fashion stores in the Madison area and she also worked for the UW-Madison, Do-It (Division of Information Technology) as a senior graphic artist. Ellen was also a technical scientific illustrator for many university professors, where she would draw graphics for botany and anthropology textbooks. She retired from the UW-Madison after 33 years of service.

Early in his career, he was an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, during which he also served as an adviser in international organizational affairs to the U.S. mission to the United Nations.

In 1990, Bill retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, after serving as Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Director of the School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences.

Ted moved to Wisconsin and was a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison from 1957 – 1990.

Noted: Dr. Damadian took an early interest in music and studied violin with some boyhood classes at the Juilliard School. He decided to shift to medicine after winning a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating in 1956. He received a medical degree in 1960 from New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Michaels was a visible and polarizing figure in the climate change debate — partly because of his stridency and partly because, unlike many politicians and other policymakers, he had scientific credentials. He held a doctorate in ecological climatology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, was for decades a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia and Virginia’s state climatologist, and had published in scientific journals.

On July 7, 1995, Norma retired from her job as a custodial worker for UW Madison after 27 years of service.

Mary worked for over 36 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, retiring in 2003, with emeritus status; she truly enjoyed her interactions with the engineering students, especially meeting those from other countries.

Tom worked at UW Provisions for 43 years until his retirement in March 2015.

While working in the Wisconsin State Senate, at UW Extension in the Chancellor’s office and in the Local Government Center, Mark approached all his activities as a teacher, whether explaining UW Extension to legislators or helping local government officials navigate state and local regulations. In his final job before retiring, Mark taught UW students in the Department of Child and Family Studies about the direct impact of government policy on Wisconsin families.

After graduation in 1963, she worked at the UW for three years and then moved to California and worked for a year. Upon returning to Madison, she continued her career in nursing at the UW, primarily in post anesthesia and trauma until 1980.