System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!
Eileen McMahon Bills '47, February 25, 2001, in Merrimack, N.H., at 74. A computer coordinator for the city of Lowell, Mass., she received the key to the city for her 23 years of service in clerical and computer training in the Employment and Skills Training Center. Previously she was dean of students at Rogers Hall in Lowell. Besides her husband of 50 years, Ralph Bills, survivors include a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.
James H. Wing '49, March 26, 2001, in Evans, Ga., at 79. After Army service during World War II he returned to the College to major in physics and became a research engineer with Hollingsworth and Whitney Co. in Waterville, Maine. Later he was director of research and development for Continental Can Co. in Georgia. Survivors include his sons, James Jr., Dana and Jonathan, his daughter, Bonnie Wing Rowley, three grandchildren, one step-grandchild and three great-grandchildren.
Carlene MacPherson Sparkes '50, June 15, 2001, in Springfield, Ore., at 73. She was a New England Telephone Company service representative and later taught in the Danvers and Littleton, Mass., school systems. Predeceased by her husband, John S. Sparkes '50, she is survived by her son, Stephen Sparkes '78, her daughter, Joanna Turteltaub, and a sister.
J. Edwin Martin '51, June 5, 2001, in Rumford, Maine, at 73. After serving in the Navy during and after World War II, he was a family physician for nearly 40 years in his hometown of Rumford, where he served on many committees and was public health officer. He received the Health and Safety Advocacy award for his outstanding efforts to improve Maine's workplaces and communities. He is survived by his wife, Marie-Therese Beaudet, six daughters, including Priscilla Martin '77, three sons, including Patrick Martin '86, a sister and brother and 13 grandchildren.
Oscar Rosen '51, April 7, 2001, in Salem, Mass., at 78. After service in the Navy from 1940 to 1946 he received master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin and taught history at overseas U.S. military bases. Later he taught Far Eastern history at Cheyney University and at Salem State College. He was the founder and editor of the newsletter for the Atomic Veterans Radiation Research Institute. He leaves three daughters, Donna Rosen, Diana Shatz and Joanne Silva, a sister, two brothers, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Benjamin R. Sears '52, May 7, 2001, in Bedford, Mass., at 72. He was president of Bedford Real Estate for 25 years, treasurer for the general contracting company Page Associates, Inc., for 17 years and involved in Bedford community activities for more than 40 years. He served Colby as class officer, alumni interviewer and Alumni Council representative, and he and his wife, Nancy Ricker Sears '50, were awarded Colby Bricks in 1997. Survivors include his wife, his daughters, Jennifer Sears Supple '81 and Rebecca Sears Cleary '87, two sons, four grandchildren, his sister, Harriet Sears Fraser '55, and his nephew, Jonathan Fraser '82.
Darroll Mortimer Downing Jr. '56, June 26, 2001, in Milford, N.H., at 66. He owned and operated Mort's Convenience Store in Amherst, N.H., and also worked at Sanders Associates in Nashua. Survivors include his friends Rita and Dixie Dickstein.
Thomas B. Newman '56, May 29, 2001, in Norwalk, Conn., at 67. He was employed by Mobil Oil Corp. for 32 years. After retiring as a senior executive he was president of Johnson and Dix Company in Lebanon, N.H., and owned A&T Fuel Enterprises in Enfield, N.H. He maintained a life-long involvement with athletics. He is survived by his wife, Irene, a daughter, two sons, a sister, a brother, three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Katharine Lamneck Jones '58, June 12, 2001, in Rochester, Minn., at 64. She worked as a field representative for the U.S. Census Bureau. She is survived by her husband, Philip L. Jones, two daughters and a son, three grandchildren, her mother, her sister, five nieces and a nephew.
Lucia Johnson Stuart '58, January 24, 2001, in Grand Rapids, Mich., at 64. She is survived by her husband, James L. Stuart, three sons, a brother and her stepmother.
John B. Shoemaker '59, February 24, 2001, in Palmetto, Fla., at 64. Following service in the Navy Seabees he worked in the quality control department of Milliken Woolens, Inc., in New York City. He retired from Continental Airlines. Predeceased by his father, Charles W. Shoemaker '25, he is survived by his sisters, Carol Shoemaker Rasmussen '60 and Nancy Shoemaker Dargle '60.
