Issue: Autumn 2004

Class Notes - Marriages, Births, and Deaths

Marriages

Mark Payne ’91 and Charlotte Panattoni

Andrew Apfelberg ’93 and Rebecca Gorny

Jennifer Kurlak ’94 and Ryan Yakubik

Tiffany Anne Fiddes ’95 and J.B. Dowd

Matthew Payne ’95 and Relissa Sherman

Liv Eisaman ’96 and Steven Long

Ebony R. Parker ’99 and Christopher R. Morris ’00.


Births

Rex Olson ’86, MBA ’01 and Darby (Fuller) Olson ’87, a son, Troy Michael. He joins siblings Drew, 8, Taylor, 6, and Matthew, 2

Caralee (Mahlab) Harwood ’89 and Jay Harwood, a daughter, Meirit. She joins sisters Rivka, 8, Moriya, 6, and Eliezra, 3

Bret Marnell ’89 and Samantha Degen, a daughter, Lila Bee

Susie (Davies) Davenport ’90 and James Davenport ’90, a son, Mark Dylan. He joins brothers Luke, 8, and Jimmy, 3. He is the great-grandson of Louis Tallman MA ’44, the grandson of Sally (Tallman) Davies ’63 and the nephew of John Davies ’95

Glenn Chambers ’92 and Constance Karageorgis, a daughter, Phoebe Helen

Steve Garrett ’92 and Ann (Backowski) Garrett ’93, a son, Luke Stephen. He joins brother Jack

David Kaminskas MD ’92 and Ruth (Wells) Kaminskas, a son, Luke Alexander. He joins sister Chloe

Russell Klosk ’92 and Carolyn (Ford) Klosk, a daughter, Vivian Helen

Gay Anne (Barry) Murphy ’92 and Justin Murphy, a daughter, Allanah Maria. She joins sibling Aidan

Jessica (Staples) Keefe ’93 and Michael Keefe, a son, Aiden Michael. He is the great-grandson of Bruce Odou ’48, MD ’52, the grandson of Janet Staples MD ’85, the great-nephew of Eugene Odou MD ’49 and the nephew of Mark Odou ’77, MD ’81

Anne (Turner) Lopez ’95 and Michael Lopez ’97, a son, Troy Nicholas. He is the nephew of Christopher Turner ’97 and Christine (Nonis) Turner ’97

Florian Montebon ’95 and Nic Montebon, a son, Noah Jayce. He joins brother Nico, 2

Scott Jackson ’97, JD ’01 and Suzette Jackson, a daughter, Samantha Charlotte. She is the granddaughter of Robert Jackson JD ’72, the great-niece of William Jackson ’71, DDS ’75, the niece of Paul Jackson ’97 and the cousin of Mark Roberts ’02

Maria Lopez-Johnson ’97 and Theodore R. Johnson III ’98, a daughter, Thea Marie. She joins sisters Mariah and Sydney

Joy (Parlet) Underwood ’97 and Duke Underwood ’97, a son, Matthias Lane. He joins brother J.D., 2

Ignacio De La Torre ’99 and Ana De La Torre, a son, Ignacio

Alexis (Stapleton) Pascal ’01 and Nikolai Pascal, twins, Preston and Chloe.


Deaths

Josephine (Rodriguez) Stephens ’29, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; January, at the age of 95. She graduated from USC at the age of 19 as the only Hispanic female in her class. She taught Spanish and English at Jefferson and Dorsey High Schools in Los Angeles for many years and later became the first female lay professor to teach at the all-male Loyola University. She is survived by sons Jay and Tom.

Helen Zabelle (Moordigian) Babikian ’35, of Glendale, Calif.; March 18, at the age of 99. Prior to graduating from USC, she owned a dry goods store in Hollywood. For 27 years she worked as an old-age assistance caseworker for the Los Angeles County Bureau of Public Assistance. She is survived by daughter Jeanette, granddaughter Sheree, three nieces and four nephews.

John C. Allen DDS ’36, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; April 27, 2003, at the age of 91. He was captain of the USC water polo team. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain in 1957. He practiced dentistry in Santa Barbara and Montecito, Calif., for 20 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Margaret. He is survived by sister Sarah, children Mark, John and Leeanne, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Roberta Aull ’36, of Los Angeles; Jan. 9, at the age of 89. She was a member of Kappa Delta and the USC Alumni Association. She was preceded in death by husband Arthur ’35. She is survived by sons Robert ’73 and John, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Program, UCLA Department of Neurology, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

G. Sydney Barton ’42, of Pasadena, Calif.; March 31, at the age of 84. While at USC, he was president of both the student body and Phi Psi fraternity. He joined the Navy in 1942 and served three years in the South Pacific. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he began a career in life insurance, eventually founding his own insurance company, Empire Life. He was president and director of Western Broadcasting Corp. and president and part owner of KRLA Radio. For 30 years he served on the USC Medical School board of councilors. He helped fund the USC/Med-COR summer work/study program, the surgical pathology lab in the USC/Norris Cancer Center and construction of the Dr. Richard Barton Memorial Diagnostic Clinic. In 1996 he received the USC Alumni Merit Award. He is survived by wife Doris, daughters Sue and Joan and grandchildren Christopher, Sarah and Sydney.

Maxie (Lee) Fox ’42, of Newport Beach, Calif.; Feb. 5, from a stroke, at the age of 82. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta at USC and later was an active member of the San Fernando Valley Trojan League. She was preceded in death by husband John ’43. She is survived by daughters Georgia ’74 and Maggie ’84.

Leon Koplin DDS ’42, of Los Angeles, Calif.; June 15, 2003, at the age of 85. He served in World War II as a dentist and German translator. He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Ida. He is survived by son Alan, grandson Evan and sisters Irene and Myrna.

Douglas L. Forde MD ’43, of Malibu, Calif.; Feb. 1, at the age of 84. He maintained a practice in Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica, Calif., and taught at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He was the author of Interviewing and Patient Care. He is survived by wife Jo, sons Douglas and Gregory and granddaughter Amy.

Arthur Heller DDS ’43, of Los Angeles, Calif.; April 16, 2003, at the age of 85. He was a member of USC’s baseball team and graduated with honors. He practiced dentistry in Westwood, Calif., for 48 years and was past president of the Beverly Hills Academy of Dentistry. He is survived by wife Dorothy, daughters Christine, Barbara and Pati, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Charles “Chaud” Strother DDS ’44, of Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Feb. 2, at the age of 84. He maintained a private dental practice in Glendale, Calif., for 40 years. He taught at the USC School of Dentistry for nine years and was president of the USC Dental Alumni Association. He is survived by wife Marylou, daughters Charlene ’70, Pamela ’71 and Sandra, granddaughters Erin ’00 and Noelle and nephew Charles ’69. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rex Ingrahm Chair of Restorative Dentistry, USC School of Dentistry, Office of Development, 925 W. 34th St., Rm. 202, Los Angeles, CA 90089.

Charles Eugene Gail DDS ’45, of Glendale, Calif.; May 3, 2003, at the age of 81. He served in the U.S. Army in Okinawa during the Korean War, then practiced dentistry for more than 50 years in Montrose, Calif. He is survived by wife Marcia, children Lawrence, Geraldine and Robert, stepchildren Scott and Kim and seven grandchildren.

Claudell Empey ’47, MEd ’49, of South Gate, Calif.; Nov. 20, at the age of 84. He was manager of both the USC and Los Angeles Athletic Club track teams. He taught physical education at Bret Harte Junior High in Los Angeles for seven years and at Carmelita Junior High for 36 years. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Virginia, daughters Mariann, Diane and Joanne, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Donald Snedaker DDS ’47, MS ’55, of Salt Lake City, Utah; April 9, 2003, at the age of 87. He served in the Navy during World War II and was later drafted into the Air Force after graduation, serving in Guam as a dentist. He practiced orthodontics in Pasadena, Calif., for 22 years, then moved to Logan, Nev., where he practiced until retirement. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He is survived by wife Marjorie, daughters Jeanne, Carole and Nancy, 11 grandchildren and two great-grand-children.

Grelun Landon ’49, of Ojai, Calif.; Feb. 2, at the age of 80. He was a veteran music industry official who helped guide the career of Elvis Presley. He got his start as the vice president of Hill & Range Music in New York, where he worked with many top stars of the Grand Ole Opry. He later worked for RCA Records and headed up the company’s West Coast publicity. He was an active trustee of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum from 1971 to 1989. He co-wrote The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country and Western Music. He is survived by children Anne, Jennifer and Christopher and three granddaughters.

Norman Snider ’50, of Solvang, Calif.; Feb. 28, at the age of 78. He was a procurement negotiator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, two daughters, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Harry F. Brown MD ’51, of Newport Beach, Calif.; Nov. 7, at the age of 84. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He later practiced ophthalmology and performed eye surgery in Arcadia, Calif., and Pasadena for more than 40 years. He is survived by wife Anne, children Christine, Lawrence, Sharon, Lynne, Russell and Stephanie, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Maurice Deigh PhD ’51, of Studio City, Calif.; Feb. 5, at the age of 80. In the 1960s, he served in the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and was among the first public health officials to develop and implement community mental health programs. He also maintained a private practice and held teaching positions at UCLA, Loma Linda Medical School and USC. He was a founder of the Southern California chapter of the Gray Panthers, a senior citizen’s advocacy group. He was also appointed to a term on the county Commission on Aging.

Alfred Tennyson DDS ’51, of Arcadia, Calif.; June 8, 2003, at the age of 78. He practiced dentistry in Pasadena, Calif., for 37 years. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty, children Ruth, Martha, Paul and Tim and four grandchildren.

Charles E. Fleming Jr. MD ’52, of Reno, Nev.; Jan. 28. He was an instructor of neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC from 1955 to 1956 and later became an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Nevada. He maintained a private neurosurgery practice in Reno and was chief of neurosurgery at Saint Mary’s and Washoe medical centers. He is survived by wife Hylda, children Charles and Jan, two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Kenneth E. Orr MD ’52, of Riverside, Calif.; Dec. 3, 2003. He was a lieutenant in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. He later maintained a private urology practice in Riverside for 39 years. He is survived by children Kathryn, Robert, Bruce, Richard and Edwin and five grandchildren.

Ruth C. Monahon MS ’53, of Walnut, Calif.; Jan. 28, after a long illness. She was a librarian at USC’s Norris Medical Library for 31 years.

Elinor Richardson MS ’53, EdD ’73, of Los Angeles; Feb. 18. She was an adjunct professor at the USC Rossier School of Education and established a library collection and scholarship fund in the name of her daughter, Penelope. In 1997 she received a ROSE Award, the USC Rossier School’s highest honor, for her contributions to the field of instructional technology. Early in her career she worked as an elementary school teacher and principal as well as a community college and university instructor. For many years she administered the Regional Educational Television Advisory Council representing more than 80 school districts in Southern California.

Howard K. Parker MED ’54, of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.; Jan. 1, at the age of 81. Before attending USC, he served three years as ensign in the Navy during World War II and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Redlands. He was a science teacher for Los Angeles city schools for 35 years. He is survived by wife Delores, sons John and Jeffrey and three grandchildren.

Martin Brockman ’55, DDS ’59, of Newport Beach, Calif.; March 31, 2003, of complications from diabetes, at the age of 70. He played on the USC football team for two years. He served at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center for two years, then spent 33 years in private practice in Newport Beach. He taught preclinical and clinical restorative courses at the USC School of Dentistry and received the Teacher of the Year Award in 2001. He is survived by wife Leslie, children Kurt and Kristen, stepdaughters Marisa and Monika, brother E. Gene and grandchildren David, Allison, Charlene, Christia and Bryson.

Theodore A. Jacobs MS ’55, of Annandale, Va.; Feb. 23, of cardiopulmonary arrest, at the age of 76. He was a chemical physicist who began his career as director of high-energy laser technology at TRW Defense and Space Systems Group in Redondo Beach, Calif. He also served as head of the aerophysics department at Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, Calif. After two years as superintendent of the optical sciences division at the Naval Research Laboratory, he began working at the Pentagon. He later served as deputy assistant secretary of research and advanced technology for the Navy. He is survived by wife Joan, son Steven, a brother and a sister.

George Telford DDS ’57, of La Crescenta, Calif.; Feb. 11, at the age of 73. After graduating from USC, he served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. He later practiced dentistry for almost 30 years in La Canada, Calif., and La Crescenta. He is survived by wife Alma, sister Gwen, daughters Nancy and Linda and five grandchildren. Memorial donations can be sent to the USC/Norris Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

Charles “Chuck” Kane MEd ’58, EdD ’78, of Riverside, Calif.; Feb. 10, of prostate cancer, at the age of 72. After graduating from USC, he worked as a basketball coach at Long Beach (Calif.) City College. He served as superintendent and president of Riverside Community College. In 1992 he was hired as chancellor of the Seattle community colleges system. He is survived by wife Marie, brother Clark, children Russell, Karen, Carol, Kathy and Kristy, stepson Dan, 13 grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

Robert A. Arrington MBA ’62, MS ’66, of Dallas, Texas; Jan. 22, of a heart attack, at the age of 74. After graduating from Tulane University, he worked in the aerospace industry on projects including system integration designs for the Apollo program and development of the Columbia space shuttle. During the 1960s he patented an analog-to-digital converter. At the time of his death, he was president of the North Texas USC Alumni Club. He is survived by 10 children and 21 grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Bob Arrington Scholarship Fund, USC Alumni Club of North Texas, 3100 Main St., Dallas, TX 75226.

Robert A. Miller ’62, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; June 25, 2003, at the age of 72. He worked in the aeronautical industry after graduating, then designed and built Ambassador mobile homes. He later started his own insurance business. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Gerri ’58, children Gary, Rob and Sallie Ann and seven grandchildren.

William Moritz ’62, PhD ’68, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; March 12, after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 63. He was an authority on abstract animation and the work of experimental filmmaker Oskar Fischinger. A professor at California Institute of the Arts, he also made 44 experimental films throughout his career. He wrote the chapters on animation in the Oxford History of Cinema and was past president of the Society for Animation Studies. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Academy of the Netherlands in 1993. He had recently published the book Optical Poetry: The Life and Work of Oskar Fischinger. He is survived by siblings Mitzi and Edward, four nephews and one niece.

Richard Wren DDS ’65, of Ontario, Calif.; May 29, 2003, at the age of 63. He was a captain in the Army Active Reserve. He is survived by children Sheryl, Mary Ann and Brian, stepson Mike and five grandchildren.

William R. Haas ’66, of Medford, Ore.; Feb. 6, at the age of 59.

William F. Schaefer MS ’66, of Sunland, Calif.; Oct. 25, of cancer, at the age of 69.

Janice (Hocker) Rushing MA ’73, PhD ’76, of Fayetteville, Ark.; Feb. 19, at the age of 55. She was an expert in rhetorical and media criticism and was a professor of communication at University of Arkansas. She won many awards for her books and articles and was a four-time winner of the Outstanding Teaching Award from Lambda Pi Eta, the communications studies honor society. She was also associate editor of the Quarterly Journal of Speech and an editorial reviewer for the journal College English. Memorial contributions can be made to the Janice Hocker Rushing Scholarship fund at Bank of America, 1 East Center St., Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Lawrence McGrew ’80, of Lancaster, Calif.; April 2, at the age of 46. He was a former NFL linebacker who played in the 1985 Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots. He started in two Rose Bowl games while playing on the USC football team. He was drafted by the Patriots upon graduation and spent much of his 11-year NFL career with the team, also playing briefly for the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants. He is survived by his mother, his wife, five children and a sister.

Sean Kimerling MA ’91, of New York; Sept. 9, 2003, of testicular cancer, at the age of 37. He was an Emmy Award-winning sportscaster for WPIX-TV in New York City and a commentator during WPIX broadcasts of New York Mets games. Previously he had worked as a sportscaster in Denison, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Okla. He is survived by his parents, a brother and a sister.

Theodore “Theo” R. Johnson III ’98, of Los Angeles; Aug. 29, of multiple traumas sustained in a motorcycle accident, at the age of 35. He worked in the field of occupational therapy, working independently in home health and adult day care centers. He is survived by wife Maria and daughters Mariah, Sydney and Thea.

Foster Andersen, of Mission Hills, Calif.; April 26, of complications from a long illness, at the age of 64. He coached USC football for nine years and was a scout for one year. He coached eight Southern California football teams throughout his career, beginning at UCLA in 1962, and later coached the Los Angeles Rams. He also taught at Pasadena City College for a year before serving four years in the Army. He spent a year in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he continued coaching for area colleges. He is survived by wife Elizabeth, children Christian, Sean and Kari, mother Eleanor, four siblings and many nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Purple Heart Association.

Victor Carter, of Los Angeles; March 28, at the age of 94. He established three architecture scholarships at USC and devoted much of his time to philanthropic efforts in Southern California. He turned a small Southern California lumber shop into Builder’s Emporium, the biggest hardware store in the United States. He was also president and board chairman of the film company Republic Pictures and was president of several organizations in the Los Angeles area, including the United Way, the Japan American Society of Southern California and the Jewish Federation Council of Greater L.A. He served on the board of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and was founder and former chairman of the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In 1984 the Greater L.A. United Way created the Victor M. Carter Humanitarian Award in his honor. He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Adrea, daughter Fanya, sister Bella, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

William “Bill” Chavez, of Sacramento, Calif.; Jan. 25, at the age of 49. He was a consultant and lobbyist for many educational and political organizations and lobbied on behalf of the Los Angeles County Office of Education. For the past five years he had served as president of the Strategic Education Services.

James N. Gamble, of Pasadena, Calif.; March 15, at the age of 81. He was a philanthropist and civic leader who donated the Gamble House to the USC School of Architecture to be preserved and open to the public. After graduating from Princeton University, he earned his MBA from Harvard University and then served as a battalion commander in France and Germany for two years during World War II. He moved to Pasadena and founded the investment firm Gamble, Jones, Morphy and Bent in 1956. He was chairman of the board of Huntington Memorial Hospital, co-founder of the nonprofit group Pasadena Area Residential Aid and a trustee of many organizations, including Scripps College, the Pasadena Library, the Rotary Club and the YMCA. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriet. He is survived by second wife Helen, daughters Tracy and Terry, stepsons Jim and Peter, four grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

John Hench, of Los Angeles; Feb. 5, at the age of 95. He was a founding supporter of the USC School of Cinema-Television’s Division of Animation and Digital Arts and a longtime Disney artist. He began his work with Disney in 1939 as a sketch artist for Fantasia and went on to work on many other classic Disney films such as Dumbo and Peter Pan. In 1955, he won an Academy Award for special effects for the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He also helped to create Disney resorts and theme parks around the world. In 1990, he was named a Disney Legend, and later he received lifetime achievement awards from the Themed Entertainment Association and the International Animated Film Society. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lowry.

Jerome F. Lederer, of Laguna Hills, Calif.; Feb. 6, at the age of 101. He was a pioneer in aviation safety and an adjunct professor at USC’s Institute of Safety and Systems Management. He made many contributions to aircraft safety, including the invention of the black box flight data recorders, seat belts, padded instrument panels and 52 energy-absorbing structural members in planes. He created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Offices of Manned Space Flight Safety and the Flight Safety Foundation. He won more than 100 awards over his career, including the NASA Exceptional Services Medal and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Distinguished Service Medal. He is survived by wife Sarah, daughters Susan and Nancy and two granddaughters.

Robert McKenna, of Newport Beach, Calif.; Jan. 13, at the age of 78. He was a surgical oncologist who taught at the Keck School of Medicine of USC for more than 35 years. He worked with the American Cancer Society for four decades and spent a year as president of the organization, launching a cancer prevention study to determine risk factors that cause cancer deaths. He was past president of both the Los Angeles unit and the California division of the ACS and was a former president of the Society of Surgical Oncologists. He worked as a surgeon in several Southern California hospitals. He is survived by wife Madelyn, children Robert, Brian, Kathryn and Kevin and nine grandchildren.

Robert Selig, of Los Angeles; Dec. 31, at the age of 93. He was a motion picture distribution executive and co-founder and chairman of USC’s School of Theatre Management. He began his career with 20th Century Fox Inter-Mountain Theaters, then became executive vice president and general manager of National General Corp., then the third-largest theater chain. He helped create the annual ShoWest film festival and convention, which promotes mainstream movies to theater owners. He was president of the Theatre Association of California and helped found the National Association of Theatre Owners. He was preceded in death by wife Olive. He is survived by son Robert Jr., three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.