Middlebury notes the death of Edith W. Illick, who died on Monday, June 22, 2015.

Illick retired from the College on October 21, 1988, after a lengthy career. She was predeceased by her husband, J. Rowland Illick, who was a Professor Emeritus of Geography. Mr. and Mrs. Illick were both members of the 25-Year Club. Edith worked in the English Department at the time of her retirement, and had previously worked as a Box Office Manager and a Secretary to the Drama Department. 

Illick was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1919. She attended Syracuse and Cornell Universities. The Illicks were married in 1943 and enjoyed 54 years of marriage together. From 1958-1960, Illick and her family lived in Beirut, Lebanon and were affiliated with the American University of Beirut. From 1969-1971, Illick lived and worked in Saudi Arabia. International travel was a lifelong passion, and by the time she traveled with five of her grandchildren on the Orient Express, she had visited all of the continents except Antarctica. In 1996, the Illicks moved to the Crosslands Retirement Community in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania, and remained there for the rest of their lives.

A small private memorial service was held for Illick by her family on July 10. Those who wish to make a donation in her memory may do so to the “J Rowland Illick Geography Fund” at Middlebury College.

Middlebury notes the death of staff member Patricia Rene Peters, 50, who died Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at her home in Middlebury.

Peters worked as a Cook on the Middlebury campus since December of 2006.  Atwater Commons Chef and Catering Manager Ian Martin remembered her as “a consummate debater and intellect. She roamed the kitchen, talking and bantering with her peers constantly. She was well liked by many students and always looked out for their best interest.”  Martin also recalled that she was “blazingly witty, wicked smart and driven to be more than ‘just’ a cook,” as evidenced by her continuing educational studies and achievements.

No funeral arrangements have been announced, but those who wish to make a donation in Peters's memory may do so to the HOPE Food Bank (http://www.hope-vt.org.)

Middlebury notes the death of a former faculty member, H. Peter Wimmer, who was Assistant in Instruction for the Department of Biology from 1972 until his retirement in 2000. Wimmer, a longtime resident of Shoreham, died on February 18 at the age of 77.

For generations of Middlebury College students, Wimmer was the primary lab instructor in organismal biology, genetics and evolution, and cell biology. His colleague Vickie Backus, senior associate in science instruction, said, “He took his teaching very seriously and was always willing to go the extra mile with his students.”

“The biology faculty admired Pete’s energy, knowledge, and passion for the natural world and life science,” said Tom Root, Professor of Biology. “Whether sharing tales about animals in Lake Champlain or insisting that introductory biology students do quality experiments, Pete’s excitement and childlike curiosity were infectious and gave us a deeper understanding of our world.”

A natural historian and entomologist, Wimmer earned his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Vermont. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Lehigh University.

After retirement Wimmer studied the distribution of aquatic insects on Vermont’s third-highest mountain, Camel’s Hump, and was active with the Invertebrate Scientific Advisory Group to the Vermont Endangered Species Committee, a division of the State Agency of Natural Resources.  Backus recalled, “Pete wrote the group’s position paper on the effect of lampricide application on the larvae of Vermont’s freshwater mussels, and was a force in recommending that several invertebrates be listed as threatened or endangered species in the state.”

Ian Worley, a professor emeritus of environmental studies at UVM, said, “The crowning achievement of Peter’s professional life was his time serving on the Endangered Species Committee with such dedication, hard work, and passion.” 

Funeral arrangements were private; his colleagues are planning a celebratory memorial fit for an entomologist for a time “when the weather is fine for a picnic, and the birds and bugs are all abuzz.”

Middlebury notes the death of retiree Edmund Francis "Ed" Sullivan, 70. Sullivan died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at his home in Ripton. 

Prior to moving to VT to work at the College Sullivan had a successful career as a health and safety professional in Massachusetts and served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Safety Council. He joined Middlebury in May of 1995 when he was hired as Safety Officer. In March of 2002, Sullivan was promoted to the new role of Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator, the position he held until his retirement in May of 2013. Even throughout his retirement Sullivan continued to assist the College as a First Aid and CPR instructor and taught a class as recently as this January.

Tom Corbin, Assistant Treasurer and DBS, remembers that, “Ed truly enjoyed working with students, providing first aid and CPR training, arranging slots at local rescue squads, creating the Middlebury Student EMT group (now part of MREMS), providing driving classes, and hosting international students.” Erin Kilpeck, Lead Human Resources Information Coordinator, commented that any employee who went through New Employee Orientation during Ed’s tenure knew him best for being “passionate about his safety training.”

Kilpeck also recalled that Sullivan “founded the Middlebury College ERT and taught countless First aid and CPR classes to staff and faculty, as well as all the J-Term Emergency Medical Responder classes.” She said that Sullivan became an EMT because he wanted to help, and to give back to the community that he felt had always supported him. Kilpeck said that Sullivan believed that everyone in the world should be trained in CPR; if everyone knew it lives would be saved. Erin shared, in closing, that Ed was one of the kindest people she knew and that he liked everyone he met. 

Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home, 117 South Main St., Middlebury.  The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Middlebury.

Middlebury notes the death of Frederic W. Allen of Shelburne, Vt., the former chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court who served as a member of the Middlebury Board of Trustees from 1988 to 1998. He died on April 9, 2016, at the age of 89.

A respected jurist, attorney, trustee, husband, father, and World War II veteran, “Fred” Allen received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Middlebury College at the 2003 Commencement.

“In 12 years as chief justice, you restored the prestige of the Supreme Court among both public and bar in Vermont. Under your leadership the Court [ruled] that the quality of a public school student’s education should not depend on the property wealth of his or her town,” his honorary degree citation stated. 

With Allen as chief justice the court also determined that the Vermont state constitution could be used to provide protection for individual liberties even if the U.S. Supreme Court read the federal constitution in a more restricted way.

Born in Burlington in 1926, Allen earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (Ohio) and a degree in law from Boston University. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946, and entered the practice of law in Burlington in 1951.

As a Middlebury College trustee, he served on the conference and educational affairs committees, chaired the honorary degree committee, and from 1992-1993 chaired a special committee that revised the by-laws of the College.

William H. Kieffer III, a Middlebury trustee emeritus and member of the Class of 1964 served as a trustee with Allen. “Fred was perceptive, engaging, a source of legal guidance for the board and the administration, and he remained a legal resource for us for many years,” said Kieffer. “Fred also served as a resource as we planned and celebrated the Bicentennial of the College in 2000, especially as we celebrated the relationship between the college and the State of Vermont.”

Another trustee emeritus, Nancy Furlong ’75, said Allen “was a lifelong Vermonter and as such was very unassuming. He was a prestigious attorney and chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, but never took himself too seriously. His quiet way, quick wit, and self-deprecating humor was legendary. And he was greatly admired in the legal community for his sound and compassionate judgment.”

A member of the American, Vermont, and Chittenden County Bar Associations, Allen served as an alderman for the City of Burlington and as a trustee of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington and the Bennett C. Douglass School for students with special needs. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Vermont Law School.  

Justice Allen is survived by his wife, Karen McAndrew Esq.; children Kathryn, Martha, Zachariah ’03, and Spencer; three granddaughters; and six great grandchildren. 

There will be a reception in memory of Frederic Allen on Friday, April 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farms Road in Shelburne. All are welcome to attend.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Middlebury notes the death of Carl D. Torsnes, retiree and member of the 25 Year club, who died Sunday, April 17, 2016, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. 

Torsnes started his career at Middlebury in December of 1978, as an employee of the Snow Bowl, and continued working at the Snow Bowl and the Ralph Myhre Golf Course until his retirement in May of 2003. At the time of his retirement Torsnes was both a golf course mechanic and a Snow Bowl lodge caretaker. Jim Dayton, director of golf operations, remembers Torsnes as a “very intelligent but also frugal old-timer…who could, and wanted to, fix anything rather than replace a piece of equipment.” Peter Mackey, Snow Bowl manager, also remembered Torsnes as having a “sharp mechanical mind” which enabled him to “fix just about anything.” Peter also shared that Torsnes would be “remembered by customers and fellow employees for his many quirky announcements pertaining to various aspects of gear, trays, tables etc.” at the Snow Bowl.

Torsnes was born July 8, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Karl and Nellie (Shannon) Torsnes. He attended Huntington, New York, schools and then served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Constellation during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge from the service, he moved to Hancock, Vermont, in 1970. He married Sharleen Warner on June 16, 1973 in Brandon and worked for Simmonds Precision in Vergennes for a short while, before coming to work at Middlebury.  Torsnes is survived by his wife, Sharleen Torsnes of Hancock; two daughters, Annette Rivas of Fairfax, Va., and Heather Cortes of Greenville, S.C.; a son, Andrew Torsnes of Randolph; two sisters, Louella Larmon of Rochester and Carol Brouard of Seminole, Fla.; and five grandchildren.

Graveside memorial services will be held at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, at a date and time to be announced later. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.

Clare Everett Ulrich, Class of 2014.5, died on May 22, 2016 of complications following a fall while visiting friends in New York City. Ulrich matriculated at Middlebury in February 2011 from the Westminster School in her hometown of Simsbury, Conn., and graduated cum laude in 2015 with a major in economics.

She was an active member of Wonnacott Commons, and Ulrich's faculty head, Associate Professor Jonathan Miller-Lane, remembered her fondly:

Clare Ulrich

"Clare was the kind of human being that makes teaching at Middlebury such a marvelous job. She was curious about the world, compassionate to others, and cared as much about her own intellectual growth as she did others. She will be missed by so many at Middlebury, but the spirit and kindness she left behind will be long remembered,” Miller-Lane said.

Associate Professor John Maluccio of the economics department had Ulrich in his Introduction to Regression Analysis class and recalled that she was a wiz at statistics. “Despite it being an early morning class,” he said, “Clare always had a smile and strong enthusiasm for the subject matter. When she shared with me her father taught AP statistics [at Westminster School], that’s when I learned that it ran in the family.”

Matt Longman ’89, her Commons dean, said, “Clare approached all aspects of her life at Middlebury with a vibrant curiosity and enthusiasm. She was kind, compassionate, and an inspiration to many. She was a core member of her February class who will be missed by many friends, faculty, and staff members.”

At the time of her death Ulrich was employed as an account associate at EMI Strategic Marketing in Boston. During her years at Middlebury she worked as an annual giving affiliate in Advancement and as an intern in the Admissions Office.

Ulrich was a member of a large Middlebury family that includes her parents, Peter and Siobhan Ulrich of the Class of 1983; her sister, Ann Farrington Ulrich of the Class of 2013; and aunts, cousins, an uncle, and her great grandfather.

The Ulrich family will conduct calling hours at Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury on Saturday, June 4, from 3 to 6 p.m., and there will be a memorial service on Sunday, June 5, at 1 p.m. in Andrews Memorial Chapel at the Westminster School, with a light lunch following. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Clare Ulrich Memorial Fund ℅ Simsbury Bank, 981 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury, CT 06070. Please visit Clare’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.

Middlebury College notes the death of retiree Mary Agnes Nelson on July 2, 2016. Nelson joined the College in May of 1978, as a secretary in Wright Theatre and worked in this capacity until her retirement in March of 1994.

Born in Manhattan on July 17, 1926, Nelson was the daughter of Patrick and Mary Ellen (Greehy) Hynes. She graduated as valedictorian from Cathedral High School, class of 1944. Nelson pursued her passion for the arts throughout her career starting at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). She later worked for the Hempstead, N.Y., Public School District in the high school music department before starting her career at the College.

Nelson was married to Walter John Nelson at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and enjoyed almost 50 years of life together in New York and Vermont. Both avid readers with a quick wit, they spent hours discussing current events, history, books, politics, and religion. She was devoted to the parish of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury, and participated in the choir, religious education, and meeting the needs of the local community. 

Nelson was predeceased by her husband, Walter, and her brother, Bernard Hynes.  She is survived by her son, Robert J. Nelson and his wife Kelly of North Carolina; two daughters, Patricia N. Merrill and her husband Jeffrey of Kennebunk, and Elizabeth N. Egan and her husband Robert, also of Kennebunk. Mary found great joy in her grandchildren: Patrick, Christopher and Claire Nelson, James and Jessa Merrill, and Emily and Mary Egan.

A funeral Mass was held on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Parish/Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Middlebury. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, visit Mary’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.  Arrangements were in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, Me. 04043.

MONTEREY, Calif.—Middlebury Institute alumnus Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak, an assistant professor of law at the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan, was among the 16 students and faculty killed in a terrorist attack on the American University campus on August 24. Khpulwak studied English at the Institute in spring and summer 2010 as he prepared to begin his graduate education in the United States.

“This is a tragic loss, for Naqib’s family, for his country, and for his teachers and fellow alumni of the Middlebury Institute,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute Jeff Dayton-Johnson.

Khpulwak came to Monterey in 2010 as a Fulbright Student, completing ESL and English Preparation for Graduate Studies courses at the Middlebury Institute during the spring and summer before going on to earn his master’s degree in comparative politics and security studies from Old Dominion University. He was also a visiting scholar at Stanford Law School in 2013. He previously earned his bachelor’s degree in law and political science from Nangarhar University in Afghanistan, graduating first in his class.

At the American University, Khpulwak taught courses on property rights, family law, and co-teaching courses in alternative conflict resolution and international law. He also worked as a counselor and volunteer lecturer for organizations in Afghanistan including NRC Afghanistan and Nangarhar Law School. He was preparing to seek a master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Oxford in England at the time of his death.

“I am extremely saddened by this news,” said Assistant Dean for Language and Professional Programs Patricia Szasz. “Naqib was one of the first Afghan Fulbrighters who came to MIIS, with the intention of taking his professional skills back to Afghanistan in order to make a positive impact on his country’s future. It was a tremendous privilege to be a part of his educational journey, and we, as his teachers, learned much about the triumphs and challenges of Afghanistan from having known him.”

Alumna Nathalie Juniorette MPA ’12, who took English classes with Khpulwak in the summer of 2010 to prepare for her own graduate studies, called him “among the kindest people, sincerest believers and brightest minds here on earth. It's a great, great loss.”

Khpulwak was mentioned in coverage of the attack by the New York Times, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Buzzfeed and the Wall Street Journal. His brother, Masoud Ahmad, told Al Jazeera that "My brother was highly educated and always wanted to educate the people of his country. He returned back to Afghanistan for this purpose. Losing people like Naqib is a big loss to this country, to us.”

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury mourns the loss of longtime faculty and staff colleague, Lena Ivette Santillana, 48, who passed away on August 30 in Madrid after a long illness. Born in Cuba in 1968, Lena spent 24 years, or half her life, with Middlebury as a graduate student, administrator, and teacher. Lena earned her undergraduate degree in German and history at Walla Walla College in Washington State in 1990. She began studying for her master’s in Spanish at Middlebury in 1992 and received her degree from the Spanish School in 1993, having attended the School in Spain during the 1992—1993 academic year.

Shortly after earning her degree, she began working at the School Abroad in Spain as the assistant to the director, a position she held for the rest of her career. She taught from 2005—2013 at the Spanish School in Vermont, helping hundreds of students to develop a deeper understanding of Spanish culture, grammar, and writing. Lena also cotaught a graduate course at the School in Spain from 2007—2010, where students consistently praised her dedication and warmth.

Spanish School Graduate Coordinator Audrey LaRock had known Lena longer than any other colleague at Middlebury. “I first met Lena when she was a student at the Spanish School, and I have always felt that our relationship was more than just a connection between two co-workers,” said LaRock. “Lena touched so many of our students’ lives. She was kind and caring, spending time in hospitals with sick and injured students. Yet she was also feisty and could whip the graduate students into shape in the commencement line. I will miss her forever.”

Associate Professor and Director of the School in Spain Patricia Rodriguez shared a similar sentiment. “For more than 20 years Lena worked at the School in Spain doing an impeccable job to ensure the well-being of all the students in the program, many of whom have never forgotten her,” said Rodriguez. “The School in Spain will always miss Lena and cherish an indelible memory of her.”

“Lena was there when anyone needed her, at any time of the day or night,” said Kim Griffin, former associate professor and director of the School in Spain. “She was a solver of problems small and large, a dedicated professor, an ardent fan of all things related to Middlebury College, a loyal and trusted colleague, and a dear friend.” 

Spanish School Director Jacobo Sefami also recalled Lena’s gifts and impact. “Lena was a wonderful teacher and professional, always ready to act if needed,” said Sefami. “She was a great interpreter as well. I remember her during the ceremony to award an honorary degree to film director Carlos Saura. She interpreted from Spanish to English with great ease. All colleagues in the Spanish School have beautiful memories of the summers we spent together. She will be greatly missed.” 

Lena Santillana is survived by her husband, Stefan Schmitt. A service to celebrate Lena will take place in Madrid in the next few weeks, and in Orlando, Florida, in the fall. If you wish to reach out to Lena’s husband, mail can be sent to him in care of Middlebury School in Spain; c/Prim 19; 28004 Madrid; Spain. Stefan’s email address is stefan.schmitt.es@gmail.com. If you would like information about the services, please contact Patricia Rodriguez at prodriguez@middlebury.edu, and she will share it as soon as it is available. 

Middlebury notes the death of Norm Hadley, a retiree who died on September 5, 2016. Hadley started his career with the College on January 3, 1966, when he was hired as assistant to the comptroller. In 1968, he was promoted to assistant comptroller, and in 1970 Hadley was again promoted, this time to director of data processing, the position he held until his retirement in 1996.

Tom Cutter, a member of the Information Technology Services team, said, “Norm is the reason I am at Middlebury. In 1993 I was an IBM Customer Engineer and Middlebury was one of my accounts where I worked on the AS400 and the handful of PC’s that existed at the time. After working together in this capacity for a while Norm extended a job offer to me to come work in what was Administrative Computing. Seeing the way his [Norm’s] area was run, his keen interest in new technology and the way the IT staff respected his leadership sealed the deal and convinced me to come to Middlebury. I will always owe him a debt of gratitude for the opportunity to build my career here.”

Tom Corbin, assistant dreasurer and director of business services, said that Hadley was great at “finding the best simple solution to a problem, like developing our first id card checking system for the dining halls” and that he had “a gift for finding people with the right raw talent and then helping them become programmers and computer techs.” 

Julie Tumminia-Tomsuden, senior programmer analyst, remembered Hadley “as a kind man who was very proud of his sons. He was quite an athlete and even bicycled to the top of a very high volcanic mountain when he visited Hawaii. The last time I saw him, he was enjoying a men’s post-season basketball game at the Peterson Family Athletic Complex.”

Hadley was a Vermont native who attended Williston Academy and then graduated from the University of Vermont in 1959. He is survived by his wife Linda and their five sons: Jeff, Bruce, Dale, Ken, and Phillip.

Middlebury notes the death of retiree Fred E. Spencer Jr., 91, who died Sept. 27 at Helen Porter Health Care and Rehabilitation in Middlebury. Spencer started his career at Middlebury in June of 1969, when he was hired as director of campus security, a position he held until his retirement in July of 1988.

Prior to working at Middlebury Spencer worked for campus security at Dartmouth College. Following his retirement he volunteered as a driver, and also worked part time for Sanderson Funeral Home in Middlebury, and Brown and McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes. For more than 50 years, Spencer was a master mason with Union Lodge #2 F&AM of Middlebury. He was also an active member of the Shriners International Fraternal Organization and a member of the Champlain Valley Fiddlers Association.

Spencer was born April 22, 1925, in Bellows Falls, Vermont, to Fred and Myrtle (Daggett) Spencer Sr. Spencer is survived by his wife of 69 years, Nellie (Hale) Spencer; his daughter, Alice George of Middlebury; his son, Wayne Spencer of Middlebury; three grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, October 7, 2016, with a funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. at Sanderson Funeral Home, 117 South Main St., Middlebury. The Rev. Matthew Wollam-Barens will officiate.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Homeward Bound at 236 Boardman St. in Middlebury. Online condolences may be left at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Middlebury notes the death of Marilyn DeLaney a longtime staff member who died at age 88 on November 1, 2016 at her Cornwall, Vermont, home.

DeLaney started her career at the College in September of 1982 with a temporary assignment in the president’s office. She became a full time employee in October of the same year, the launch of a 32-year career with Middlebury. During her time with the College DeLaney worked for the president’s office, financial aid, and the Bread Loaf School of English. President Emeritus John McCardell remembered DeLaney as a “dear, gentle person, meticulous, intelligent, and with a great sense of humor.”

In retirement, DeLaney was an active volunteer with groups that included the Porter Medical Center Auxiliary, Round Robin, the Middlebury United Methodist Church and its choir, and the PEO Sisterhood.

Born and raised in Richmond Hill and Manhasset, New York, she graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, with a degree in English Literature. DeLaney returned to New York and worked as a secretary at Time, Inc., first for Life and then for the newly launched Sports Illustrated. DeLaney and her husband John were married in 1953 and settled in Garden City, New York, to raise their children. They moved to Cornwall in 1979.

DeLaney is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Alison and Hal Granger of Farmington, Connecticut; son John B. De Laney of New York and Farmington; grandchildren Amanda and Anthony Erlandson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sam Granger of Seattle, Washington, Sophia De Laney of New York and Lucinda De Laney of New York.  She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Don and Sue Bayer of Huntington, New York, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bob and Adrienne De Laney of Middlebury and her nieces and nephews.

A celebration of DeLaney's life will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Middlebury’s Mead Chapel. Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Addison County Home Health & Hospice, to Middlebury College or to any worthy charity supporting the Addison County community.

David J. Littlefield

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury notes the death of retired professor David J. Littlefield, 88, who died in Middlebury on Sunday, November 20. Littlefield, the Stewart Professor Emeritus of English and a beloved faculty member, taught at the undergraduate college for 39 years.

Littlefield began his Middlebury career in 1953 as an instructor after earning his master’s degree at Yale. In 1956, he returned to Yale to earn his PhD, but before he left, then-chair of the English Department Douglas Beers assured Littlefield that a job would be waiting for him at Middlebury after he completed his graduate studies. He returned to Middlebury in 1959 and taught English until his retirement in 1995.

Littlefield became a full professor and was named to the Old Dominion Professorship in 1969. In 1974 he was named to the Philip Battell Stewart and Sarah Frances Cowles Stewart Professorship. He was also the author of Pomona and Vertumnus: A Fruition of History in Ovid’s Metamorphoses and numerous scholarly papers.

Littlefield inspired generations of students and his colleagues with his passion for his subjects, and served as a valued mentor for younger faculty in the department. He enthusiastically immersed himself in a wide range of topics, including Milton—one of his primary areas of scholarship—as well as Chaucer, classical literature, English literature from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, practical criticism, and the films of such directors as Robert Altman and Stanley Kubrick.

“David was the archetype of a Middlebury professor in his era,” said Jay Parini, D. E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing. “A gentleman to his fingertips: kind and sensitive to students and colleagues alike. He was a deeply learned man who wore this lightly and was a natural teacher—inside and outside the class. I admired him deeply and feel grateful to him for his example.“

"David was the first member of the Middlebury faculty I met, when he interviewed me in 1972,” said College Professor Emeritus John Elder. “His high-spirited, intellectually curious outlook inspired me, and made me even happier to receive an invitation to join the English Department.”

Colleague and C. A. Dana Professor of English and American Literatures David Price shared a similarly deep appreciation. “David Littlefield was my mentor and my dear friend. From the moment I arrived on campus in the fall of 1970, David took it upon himself to advise, guide, and support me in innumerable ways, and always in the friendliest and most generous spirit,” said Price. “I depended on him for so many things, and he never failed to give fully of his time and counsel. Both his office and his home were always open to me, and his concern for my personal welfare as well as my professional development was always in evidence. He taught me a great deal about teaching. I hope I honor him by remembering him as one of the most formative and enduring influences in all my years at Middlebury.”

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College, Littlefield served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951–1952. He was a member of several academic organizations, including the Modern Language Association, American Association of University Professors, and the American Philological Association.

Predeceased by his wife, Jean, he is survived by his son Patrick Littlefield and wife Amelia Rogers of Boxborough, Mass.; David J. Littlefield Jr. ’79 and wife Karen Stolley ’77 of Atlanta, Ga.; Mark Littlefield of Brandon; and Christopher Littlefield, who attended the Middlebury School of Japanese, and wife Sarah (Gordon) ’92 of Reading, Mass., and eight grandchildren, including Malcolm H. Littlefield ’13. 

The family has requested that donations in lieu of flowers be made to a fund that was established in 2013 in honor of David and his wife Jean by Sabin C. Streeter ’63. The fund supports undergraduate scholarships at Middlebury, with preference for students from Vermont. Checks may be made out to Middlebury College and sent to: 

David J. and Jean J. Littlefield P'79 Scholarship Fund
Gift administration
Office of Advancement
700 Exchange Street
Middlebury, VT 05753

The family is planning a memorial service for a future date, and the College will share this information with the campus community when it becomes available.

Griffin Madden

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Griffin Madden, who attended Middlebury's Kathryn Wasserman Davis School of Russian, was among the 36 victims of the deadly fire that tore through a warehouse party in Oakland, California, on December 2.

Madden, 23, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2015 with a double major in philosophy and Slavic languages and literature. He continued his studies at Middlebury’s Davis School of Russian in the summer of 2015 at the top level of the 8-week session. In 2016 he completed his first summer in the Davis School’s MA program. 

“Griffin will be deeply missed,” said Jason Merrill, director of the Davis School of Russian. “He was one of the most magnetic, kind, and caring people I've met.  All students seemed at ease with Griffin—his gentle confidence and listening ear made anyone open up to him.  And his energy and zest for life turned those people into instant friends.  Even in times of stress, he always had an uplifting view of the world to share with those around him.”

Merrill said that since Madden’s death, there has been an outpouring of memories from students, faculty, and staff who knew him. “Friends recall his kindness, positivity, infectious grin, and wonderful dancing,” Merrill said. “They have shared many fond memories, such as walking on the green with Griffin at night, learning the names of the constellations in Russian. Our hearts go out to Griffin’s family and loved ones, and to all who held him dear.”

Madden was also remembered by his former Berkeley professors and friends as a gifted student who was passionate about his studies.

“He was probably the most memorable undergraduate student I’ve had in my years of teaching,” Luba Golburt, an associate professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, told the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper reported that Golburt had Madden in two classes: 19^th-century Russian literature and a seminar on the Ukranian writer Nikolai Gogol. “He had a luminous away about him, a quest for knowledge, and an enthusiasm for learning things,” Golburt told the Chronicle. “We all remember him very fondly.”

Madden was one of five members of the UC Berkeley community to die in the Oakland fire. Berkeley Newsreported that as part of a campus vigil, Madden’s father Mike fondly recalled his son’s intellectual passion and zest for life. “As a family,” he said, “we have no regrets. And we have no regrets for Griffin. He lived every moment of his life to the fullest.”

John Spencer in a 1992 photo from Middlebury Special Collections and Archives.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – John Spencer, African Studies Emeritus Professor of History and a former trustee, died on December 31 in the rehab section of the Osborn, an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, where he and his wife Natalie shared an apartment. Spencer, who was 86, devoted more than 35 years of service to Middlebury in a variety of roles.

When Spencer arrived as an instructor of history in 1974, he did not have a traditional academic background, but he did bring a considerable wealth of experience. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Princeton in 1953, Spencer served for two years as first lieutenant, infantry platoon leader, in the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea. He then worked for five years at the National Sugar Refining Company, two years as a fellow with the Institute of Current World Affairs in East Africa, three years as program officer at the Ford Foundation for Eastern, Northern, and Southern Africa, and as a Peace Corps evaluator for Gambia, Mauritania, and Senegal. His work with the Peace Corps eventually led him to earn his MA and PhD from Columbia University.

At Middlebury, Spencer was named assistant professor of history in 1975, served as dean of the College from 1976–1981, was promoted to associate professor of history in 1978, and to professor of history in 1983. He was named William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of History from 1987–1990 and chaired the history department from 1988­–1991. From 1992 until his retirement in 1998, Spencer was professor of African studies.

“He was a marvelous colleague and a marvelous teacher,” says Travis Jacobs, the Fletcher D. Proctor Professor Emeritus of History, who worked with Spencer throughout his time at Middlebury. “The enthusiasm he brought to his work was contagious and he developed a very strong following among students and colleagues, becoming one of the best and most highly respected professors on campus.” Jacobs credits Spencer with reviving and building an African studies program in the 1970s.

A speaker of German, French, and Swahili, Spencer led student and alumni trips to Africa within his first few years at Middlebury. He also developed a very popular course on Middle Eastern history.

Ted Perry, Fletcher Professor of the Arts Emeritus, describes Spencer’s impact on the College as a teacher, scholar, administrator, trustee, and friend. “Many current faculty will remember him as a mentor, offering sage advice about how to survive and be exceptional at Middlebury,” Perry said.  “Many students will remember his extraordinarily helpful role in emphasizing oral presentations, a practice he made central to success in his classes. He knew it was a skill they would need in whatever life’s work they chose.”

Over the course of his career, Spencer’s contributions to the College included serving on Faculty Council; chairing the Educational Council; and serving on the Committee on Senior Faculty Review and the Committee on Re-Appointment.

In an email on January 3, former Middlebury President John McCardell Jr. reflected on his many years working with John Spencer: “John was a dear colleague and friend: a model administrator, a masterful teacher, a true student and mentor in the field of public speaking (keep your jacket buttoned, never say ‘uh,’ don’t breathe through your mouth), a supportive colleague, a loyal friend. He was a model institutional and departmental citizen. He truly ‘made’ the field of African history at Middlebury—students flocked to his courses.”

Outside Middlebury, Spencer’s numerous professional achievements included serving as a trustee of the African Medical Research Foundation; a trustee of Atlanta University; and as trustee and vice-chairman of both the Africa-America Institute and the Institute of Current World Affairs. He was also appointed as an international observer for the 1994 South African elections.

In recognition of Spencer’s dedication to strengthening the quality of undergraduate teaching, friends and alumni in 1992 endowed the Chair in African Studies, which, upon his retirement in 1998, was officially named the John Spencer Chair of African Studies.

Immediately following his retirement from the faculty, Spencer was elected to Middlebury’s Board of Trustees, serving through 2008. Churchill Franklin ’71, who was chair of the trustees during John’s service on the board, says, “John cared deeply about this college and wanted every student to both grasp the importance of history in understanding world affairs as well as the ability to convey one’s thoughts in front of a crowd.  As a member of the Board of Trustees, his global perspective, insight into history, concern for the student, and oratory ability made him a very popular resource for all board members, particularly me as board chair when faculty perspectives were a crucial piece of the discussion.”

Two of Spencer's children are Middlebury alumni: Theodore Spencer is a member of the Class of 1988 and Natalie Spencer Brokaw is a member of the Class of 1994.

At this time, there are no details about a memorial service. The College is currently developing an oratory prize in Spencer’s honor, the details of which will be announced at a future date.

Sandy Martin in a 1989 photo from Middlebury Special Collections and Archives.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Edward Alexander “Sandy” Martin, professor emeritus of English and former assistant director of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, died in Middlebury at age 89 on January 12. Martin taught at the undergraduate college for 35 years, always approaching his students, colleagues, and work with kindness, intelligence, and gentleness.

Martin began his career in 1961 as an instructor at Middlebury after earning his doctorate in English and American literature at Columbia University earlier the same year. He taught at Middlebury until he retired in 1996.

Martin became a full professor in 1976 and was appointed to the Henry Norman Hudson Professorship in 1987. He also served as director of the New England Young Writers’ Conference, chair of the English Department, and director of the College Freshman Writing Program.

Martin cared deeply about how literature and writing are taught, and he shared his joy of literature with generations of Middlebury students. His course subjects spanned a wide range, from Shakespeare and Faulkner to creative writing. Martin’s areas of scholarship included American satire; English and American pastoral literature; and Chaucer and medieval literature. Both his students and his colleagues appreciated his superb listening skills and his wry sense of humor. After his official retirement, he continued to teach part-time at the College.

An H. L. Mencken scholar, Martin was the author of two books on the American journalist and cultural critic: “H. L. Mencken and the Debunkers” and “In Defense of Marion.” He served several terms as the president of the H. L. Mencken Society.
 
“Sandy was chair of the English Department during my early years at the College, and I was always impressed by his kind, fair-minded, calm, and quietly reassuring presence,” said Jay Parini, D. E. Axinn Professor of English and Creative Writing. "He was a fine scholar, and he took his students and colleagues with equal seriousness, always willing, even eager, to listen. His presence in Middlebury will very much be missed.”

“Sandy Martin was an invaluable mentor to me when I arrived in the 1970s," said Elizabeth Napier, professor of English and American literatures. “His gentle demeanor and careful attention to student work­—and to his own scholarship—consistently emphasized the central role of patience, diligence, and dignity in teaching.”

At Martin’s inaugural lecture as the Henry Norman Hudson Professor, President John McCardell introduced him and said, “Whenever we have needed a firm hand and a quiet voice, a good listener and a credible respondent, unassailable integrity and disinterested citizenship, the College has time and again turned to Sandy Martin.”

Martin received his undergraduate degree from Princeton and his master’s at Columbia. He was drafted into the Navy at the end of World War II (1945–1946) and into the Army during the Korean War (1952–1954).

An early member of the Middlebury Volunteer Ambulance Association, Martin also served multiple terms on the Mary Hogan Elementary School and Middlebury Union High School boards.

Martin is survived by his wife, Peg, and their four children: son Quentin Alexander Martin and Angel Rayford; son Ian Stewart Martin, his wife Nancy McClaran, and granddaughters Bryn and Reed; son Robert Geddes Martin, his wife MaryAnna Bishop-Martin, granddaughter Claire, and grandson Avery; and daughter Margaret Carveth Martin, her husband Curtiss Calleo, and grandson Aidan.

The family has requested that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 764, Middlebury, VT 05753, or Project Independence, P.O. Box 581, Middlebury, VT 05753.

The family is planning a gathering in Martin’s honor for a later date. The College will share this information with the campus community when it becomes available.

Walker F. Connor

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury notes the death of Walker F. Connor, of Belmont, Vermont, who died on February 28, 2017 at the age of 90. Connor served as Visiting Distinguished Professor and Scholar-in-Residence from 1998–2003. Beginning in 2003, he held the title of Visiting Scholar. His last appointment at Middlebury was during the 2010-11 academic year. During his time at Middlebury, Connor taught a seminar, helped organize the Scott Symposium, taught winter-term courses in politics, and ran a faculty colloquium.

Connor was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in 1926. In 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon completion of his service he returned to Massachusetts and later graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He continued his education at Georgetown University, obtaining a Masters Degree and Doctorate in Political Science in 1961. Upon graduating, he began his career of teaching and the pursuit of scholarship in the field of Political Science.

Prior to his work at Middlebury, Connor served as a faculty member of Nasson College in Springvale, ME, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY- Brockport, and at Trinity College (CT).

Connor is considered one of the founders of the interdisciplinary study of nationalism. From his earliest work, he attempted to improve understanding and establish conceptual consistency in the field. 

He published numerous journal articles and two books, The National Question in Marxist- Leninist Theory and Strategy (1984), and Ethno-nationalism: The Quest for Understanding (1994), both published by Princeton University Press. He served on the board of editors for numerous publications, including World Affairs, Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism and the Journal of Asian Affairs.

Connor was predeceased by his wife, Mary Lyon Connor in 2014. He is survived by his three children: Peter (and Marlene) Connor of Holyoke, MA, Joan Connor of Athens, OH, and Daniel (and Nancy) Connor of Mount Holly, VT.

His family has announced that Walker and Mary Connor's lives will be celebrated in Vermont sometime this summer. In his honor, it is suggested that donations be made to Doctors Without Borders: https://donate doctorswithoutborders.org

Heibges, a scholar of Latin and Greek, also taught for a summer in the German School. Photo c. 1969 from Special Collections.

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Ursula Margarete Heibges, a Latin scholar and member of the Middlebury College Department of Classics for 29 years, died at Porter Medical Center on May 18, 2017. She was 88 years of age.

Professor Heibges arrived in Middlebury as an instructor in 1961 from Bryn Mawr College where she had just completed her doctoral studies and written a dissertation on “The Religious Beliefs of Cicero’s Time as Reflected in His Speeches.”

During the course of her tenure at Middlebury she taught elementary and intermediate Latin and Greek, Roman comedy, Latin lyric poetry, Roman epic poetry, and courses on Cicero, Aristotle, Plato, Horace, Vergil, Tacitus, Sophocles, Thucydides, and Ovid.

After her retirement in 1990 at the rank of associate professor emeritus, Heibges remained in Middlebury to pursue her interests in music, languages, nature, and the Catholic faith. Heibges played recorder, sang in the church choir, and wrote music to accompany classical poetry; she spoke no fewer than six languages including her native German, Latin and Greek, Arabic, and Russian; she expressed a deep appreciation for the beauty of Vermont; and was devoted to St. Mary’s Church in Middlebury.

One of her faculty colleagues, Victor Nuovo, the Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, recalled that Ursula was instrumental in vitalizing the Department of Classics in the late 1960s and early 1970s. “It was through her prodigious effort that we have a Classics department at Middlebury today,” he said.

“Ursula was a charming person who loved teaching and was dedicated to classical learning and especially to Latin," he added. "She arrived at Middlebury a year before I did, and we had many wonderful conversations together that almost always included much laughter. She filled the role of the teacher-scholar perfectly, and delighted in recruiting students in the pursuit of it.”

Heibges’s research, particularly her work in Plautine comedy, resulted in a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a fellowship from the American Association of University Women, a Prix de Rome Fellowship, and a visiting professorship in classics at Indiana State University.

In 1966, Middlebury President James A. Armstrong, a Princeton-trained classicist, supported her application for an NEH fellowship saying: “Miss Heibges has the necessary tools, training, and interest to make a major contribution to our understanding of Roman Cantica. She is an excellent teacher, conscientious and energetic, [who] obviously cares about her teaching and wants to increase her capacity as a teacher-scholar.”

Ursula Heibges was born in Germany in 1928 and attended Bonn University before moving to the United States in 1951. She enrolled at Catholic University of America, where she was awarded a bachelor of arts degree with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1954. She went on to earn a master’s degree at Columbia University as a Woodrow Wilson fellow, and a PhD in classics at Bryn Mawr College.

Her love of languages and desire to understand Russian brought her to the attention of Alexandra Baker, MA German ’68 and lecturer emerita of Russian, who recalled, “Ursula asked if she could attend my first-year Russian class – which I always taught at eight o’clock in the morning – because she wanted to read the great works of Russian literature in the original language. With her background in Latin and Greek, Russian was not that complicated for her, and she eventually finished War and Peace and some other Russian novels on her own, and only occasionally did she need help understanding some of the more difficult passages.”

Liane Barrera ’64, a retired programmer and analyst at Middlebury College, was acquainted with Heibges for nearly half a century. “She played her recorder every day, and was busy writing original music to accompany ancient scripts right up until her very last days,” she said. “Ursula had an incredible intellect, and the Middlebury College Music Library was a great source of enjoyment for her."

“I first met her when I was a student here in the 1960s," Barrera continued. "Years later, when I returned to Middlebury, we sang together in the alto section of the St. Mary’s Choir. To the very end, she never forgot to say ‘thank you.’ She was such a grateful, sweet, gentle person.”

Heibges is survived by her niece and nephew, who flew from Germany to Vermont to attend her memorial service on May 22, 2017, at St. Mary’s Church. She was interred in St. Mary’s Cemetery adjacent to her beloved Middlebury College.