Susquehanna University - Susquehanna Today - Fall 2007

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Spring 2008

Deaths

H. Blanche Savidge '34, Northumberland, Pa., Dec. 29. She began her teaching career in 1935 at Northumberland High School. She retired in 1979.

James A. Grossman '36, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 3. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Philippines and received the Bronze Star. Grossman completed a 45-year career as a highly respected regional claims manager for Nationwide Insurance.

Ruth Jones '38 Hershey, Elizabethtown, Pa., Nov. 15. She was a former teacher and substitute teacher in Perry and York County School Districts. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Scott '71 Lyen, cousin Donald Fosselman '49 and niece Kathy Wasson '64 Unglaub.

Miriam Miller '39 Fisher-Coryell, Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 13. She was a teacher in the Rochester City School District. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Fisher '71.

Leonora Spotts '39 Guthrie, Shillington, Pa., Oct. 13. A teacher, she began her career at Muhlenberg High School teaching business and later taught for 10 years at Tulpehocken High School until her retirement. She is survived by her husband, Mark Guthrie '38.

Kenneth Wilt '41, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 11. He was the pastor of Glenwood Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio; Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles, Ohio; St. James Lutheran Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and Jones Road Church in Cleveland. He was a professional arbitrator and human resource manager for several business organizations in the Cleveland area.

Evelyn Williamson '43 Matthews, Cypress, Texas, May 26. She is survived by her twin sister, Dorothy Williamson '43 Adams, and cousin Rita Williamson '57 Neago.

Donald L. Adams '49, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 22. He was retired from Heavy Duty Parts, formerly Safety Sales and Service, in Harrisburg. He is survived by his sister, Mary Adams '61 Vought.

Frank D. Calvert '49, Ashland, Pa., Aug. 18. He retired from the Citizens National Bank in 1989.

John Raymond Mertz '49, Pompano, Fla., Jan. 5. He was a crane operator at Bethlehem Steel. This was followed by a stint in the Army from 1944 to 1946. He was a teacher at Miami (Fla.) High School, where he taught social studies via television. One of his students was the future Governor of Florida and U.S. Senator Robert Graham. He was also an assistant principal of South Miami Junior High School, where he was later promoted to principal. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Gould '48 Mertz.

Charles A. Morris '49, Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 27. He was a retired sales executive for the Burroughs Corporation in Harrisburg, and a retired Marine Corps Colonel serving in World War II and Korea. He is survived by his granddaughter, Elizabeth Morris '11.

Thomas E. Deppen '50, Herndon, Pa., Oct. 11. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in the Philippines. He was employed as a controller at ButterKrust Baking Co. in Sunbury and retired at the age of 81.

Gerald E. Moorhead '51, Martinsburg, Pa., Nov. 4. He retired as director of development from Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries in Hollidaysburg in 1992 after 12 years of service. Before that he served pastorates at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Martinsburg, Mount Zion Lutheran Church in York and Liberty Valley Lutheran Parish in Tioga County. He also served on the cabinet of the Central Pennsylvania Synod, where he was secretary of the Altoona District.

Shirley Young '51, Fountainville, Pa., Oct. 16.

Dwight E. Keener '54, Wallingford, Pa., Aug. 5.

Lester E. Rudisill '59, Ephrata, Pa., Oct. 23. He served three parishes - the Addison-Confluence Parish in western Pennsylvania from 1962 to 1966, Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ephrata from 1966 to 1988, and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Freedom from 1988 until his retirement in April 2000. He is survived by his wife, Cleone Hohman '60 Rudisill and son George Rudisill '83.

Gayle Troxell '60 Yingling, Lewistown, Pa., Sept. 24. She was a school teacher in Altoona, Pa., followed by a 28-year tenure as a caseworker for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, retiring in 1999.

Mary Drake '67 Franco, Glenview, Ky., Oct. 16.

William C. Merz '70, Hermitage, Pa., Nov. 17. He was the vice president of sales and marketing at Interstate Chemical Company in Hermitage and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Rebecca Yarnell '71 Price, Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 23. She was an investigator with the Virginia Department of Child Support Enforcement prior to her retirement in 2004.

Jeffrey L. Claflin '75, Ambler, Pa., Nov. 29. After attending Susquehanna University for one year, he studied piano for a year at the Philadelphia Musical Academy, now the University of the Arts. For several years, he played in clubs and piano bars and at private parties in Philadelphia before moving to Manhattan in 1980.

Douglas Renkel '75, Middleburg, Pa., Jan. 6. He served in the Army with the 11th Armored Cavalry during the Vietnam conflict. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Hudson '73 Renkel.

Joel R. Ostrow '75, Trevorse, Pa., Oct. 7.

Karel Olmstead '83 Page, Selinsgrove, Pa., Oct. 12. She was employed as a teacher's aide at Agapeland Preschool.

Frederic Billman '36

Frederic Billman was born Oct. 10, 1916, in Herndon, Pa. He was largely self-taught as a pianist before applying for and being accepted to the music education program at Susquehanna University. As a student at Susquehanna, he participated in the Susquehanna Symphonic Society, the Susquehanna University Band, the Choral Society and the Bond and Key Club.

After graduating from Susquehanna in 1936, he taught music in Johnstown, Pa., public schools for several years. He also pursued graduate study at the University of Pittsburgh, ultimately earning his master of arts degree from Columbia University in 1941.

As a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army, Fred saw WWII action in Italy, France and Germany. Following his discharge, he spent 1946-47 doing graduate work at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. While at Juilliard, he studied piano with Alton Jones and participated in an ensemble class coached by Robert Mann, first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet.

In fall 1947, Fred joined the music faculty at Susquehanna University, where he taught studio piano and courses in music theory and music literature and was an active performer. He served as head of the music department for several years in the late 1950s.

In 1968, The Lanthorn yearbook was dedicated to him, and he was recognized in 1975 for his extraordinary teaching with the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, predecessor to today's Susquehanna University Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Fred was absolutely dedicated to this institution and its students, giving unselfishly of himself in the studio, in the classroom and in university service. A perceptive and lifelong scholar and beloved mentor, he provided a challenging and inspiring role model for students and colleagues alike, even after his retirement in 1981.

Frederic Billman died Nov. 22 at the age of 91. Alumni and faculty continue to remember him fondly.