In Memoriam: Spring/Summer 2021-22

We celebrate the lives of the following alumni and friends, whose deaths were recently shared with us. We are thankful for their friendship.

Lucille Voigt Heard MDS'44

While attending Milwaukee Downer Seminary, Lucille Voigt Heard MDS’44 was known for her laugh, sense of humor, and love of mathematics. She attended Layton School of Art and lived in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with her husband, Harold. She was a long-time supporter of University School of Milwaukee, and a member of the school’s Heritage Society—meaning she generously designated USM as a recipient of a gift in her estate planning. She passed away in July 2021, and in celebration of her longstanding commitment to USM, the school has established the Harold William Heard and Lucille Voigt Heard Fund, a general endowment fund that will support USM’s ongoing excellence. We are very grateful for her thoughtful consideration of USM, which will ensure sustained funding for the school’s people and programs.

James B. Wigdale MCDS'55

James B. Wigdale MCDS’55, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on Jan. 26, 2022, surrounded by his five loving children. He was born on Aug. 9, 1936 in Milwaukee, and learned to overcome challenges early in life. At the age of 8, he was briefly paralyzed with polio, and his father passed when he was only 11. Despite these early setbacks, or perhaps because of them, he had a relentlessly positive and optimistic attitude, a tireless work ethic, and a deep appreciation that every day is a gift.

Jim graduated from Stanford University in 1959, where he was a center on the football team his freshman year. In 1961, he started a 42-year career at M&I Bank (now BMO Harris Bank) as an assistant cashier, ultimately becoming CEO in 1991. He retired as CEO in 2002, and chairman in 2004.

He served on the board of directors at a number of organizations, including Green Bay Packaging, Sentry Insurance, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Children’s Hospital Foundation, YMCA, and many others. He was named the 2001 Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin leader of the year, and a 2018 Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame inductee, among others.

James Bell MUS'58

James Bell MUS’58 passed away on Jan. 25, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was an active member of the USM community and longtime supporter of the school. While a student at Milwaukee University School, Jim excelled in both academics and athletics, and was a force on the football field, basketball court, and tennis court. He displayed strong leadership skills, earning the Thompson Trophy in 1958 and the Herbert E. Uihlein Football Trophy for sportsmanship.

He matriculated to Williams College, where he continued his football career until he graduated in 1962 with a degree in American history and literature. He went on to serve a managing director and chief administrative officer of Robert W. Baird & Co.

As a member of the Board of Trustees and chairman of the school’s Endowment Board, Jim shared his time and talent with University School of Milwaukee. He served as chairman of the building committee during the $11 million consolidation of USM’s north and south campuses in 1985. He was a recipient of the USM Alumni Service award, and was part of the second class of Athletic Hall of Fame inductees in 2019.

Jim was an active member at Town Club and Milwaukee Country Club. When he wasn’t on the sports field himself, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren compete as well as family trips to Sanibel and Eagle River.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jane; children Vicki Borkowski ’85, Bob Bell ’87, Tom Bell ’90, and Mindy Bell Grenier ’96; eight grandchildren, including Mason ’24 and Bella ’25 Grenier, and two siblings: Barb Rushing MUS’62 and Rob Bell ’71.

Terry Geise

Terry Geise, a member of USM’s transportation team, passed away on Feb. 15, 2022. He had recently celebrated his 26th anniversary at USM, having spent the early part of his career at the Journal Company. Terry kept the buses running, drove countless students, and forged strong bonds with co-workers over the years. He was a jack-of-all-trades, adept at fixing just about anything with a spare part or two. “Terry kept the buses in safe running condition as we transported students to and from throughout the years,” said Claudia Fritz, associate director of auxiliary programs. “I’ll miss his record of safety, his intelligence, and most of all, his sense of humor.” Terry is survived by his wife, Lisa, and brother, Rick, who are both members of USM’s transportation team.

1930s

Nancie Brown Palmer MDS’34, New York

Katherine Tyler Grey MDS’37, Indianapolis

1940s

Marianna Paulson Gallauer MUS’40, Barrington, Ill.

Janet F. Fitch Creelman MDS’42, Menlo Park, Calif.

Helen Van Dyke Godfrey MDS’42, New Orleans

Dorothy Turck Hill MUS’42, Tenafly, N.J.

Kate N. Niedecken Pieper MDS’42, Hartland, Wis.

Frederick F. Rhue MCDS’42, Rocky River, Ohio

Michael J. Cudahy MUS’43, Milwaukee

Edith von Schleinitz Maclay MDS’43, Mequon, Wis.

John C. Pritzlaff MCDS’43, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Gloria Rogahn Bomier MUS’45, Neenah, Wis.

Jane Siegel Carpenter MUS’45, Pinehurst, N.C.

Sarah Uihlein Fitzgerald MDS’45, Mequon, Wis.

Charles H. Harper MUS’45, Milwaukee

Kathleen Meyer Mueller MDS’45, Mequon, Wis.

Laura Lent Spinti MDS’45, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Susan Doyle Evenson MDS’46, Waukesha, Wis.

John Boughton MUS’47, Fox Point, Wis.

Judith Shutter Klann MUS’47, Naples, Fla.

Frederick Leypoldt MUS’47, Mequon, Wis.

Arthur W. Miller MCDS’47, Moran, Wyo.

Alice Wild Trewin MDS’47, Redmond, Wash.

Nancy Callender Baxter MDS’48, Indianapolis

Joan Stryker Grubaugh MDS’48, Mesa, Ariz.

Joyce Jung Heinrich MDS’48, Milwaukee

Pauline Jones Hoff MDS’48, Slinger, Wis.

Elinor Brumder Stark MDS’48, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Arthur M. Toepfer MCDS’48, Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Paul J. Downey MCDS’49, Ashland, Ore.

David E. Duecker MCDS’49, Milwaukee

Thomas S. Frank MCDS’49, Chittenango, N.Y.

1950s

John Cline MCDS’50, Newburyport, Mass.

Beatrice Brumder Gallagher MDS’50, Milwaukee

John M. Gossen MUS’50, Santa Fe, N.M.

Jean Enzer Nussbaum MDS’50, New York

Joan Miller Schneider MUS’50, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Laura Alice Van Brunt Fletcher MDS’51, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Maud Gilman Krom MDS’51, Sequim, Wash.

Peter F. Vilter MCDS’51, Raleigh, N.C.

Margaret Jane Cadwell Weber MDS’51, Potsdam, N.Y.

Laura Lee Michelson Garfinkel MDS’52, Akron, Ohio

Richard Nigbor MUS’52, Woodland Park, Colo.

Frederic Obst MUS’52, Wauwatosa, Wis.

John S. Owen MCDS’52, Naples, Fla.

Douglas J. Steelman MCDS’52, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Barbara Chalker Windsor MDS’52, Virginia Beach, Va.

Charles E. Windsor MCDS’52, Virginia Beach, Va.

Vonnie Adams MDS’53, Beloit, Wis.

Binnie Darling Rust MDS’54, West Bend, Wis.

Holly Roth von Estorff MDS’54, Menomonee Falls, Wis.

Anne D. Holbrook Fitzgerald MDS’55, River Hills, Wis.

Robert E. Kotas MUS’55, Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Daniel R. Ward MCDS’55, Three Lakes, Wis.

Roger C. Chase MUS’56, Mequon, Wis.

John A. Hazelwood MCDS’56, Winnetka, Ill.

Henry Hempe MUS’56, Madison, Wis.

William T. Husting MCDS’56, Glendale, Wis.

Timothy A. Kelly MUS’56, Salem, Va.

John T. McCann MCDS’56, Germantown, Wis.

Ronald S. Susnar MCDS’56, Aiken, S.C.

Eileen Scott Dietrich MDS’57, Shelbourne, Vt.

Marguerite Huth MDS’57, Milwaukee

Barbara Wigdale Nelson MDS’57, Clifton, Va.

Norbert E. Schwarz MCDS’57, Barrington, Ill.

David H. Zarwell MUS’58, Hubertus, Wis.

1960s

Sue Ramaker Hitler MDS’60, Mequon, Wis.

Marcia Slater Johnston MUS’60, Chicago

Jo Ann Moebius Wilson MUS’60, Carmichael, Calif.

Jeffrey C. Busby MUS’61, Birmingham, Ala.

Maude Seaman Revenko MDS’61, San Rafael, Calif.

Robert P. Hansen MCDS’62, Scottsdale, Ariz.

David P. Rubner MUS’62, New Lennox, Ill.

Roger E. Seefeld MUS’62, Mequon, Wis.

Thomas E. Steinman MCDS’62, Delray Beach, Fla.

Michael B. Ackerman MCDS’63, Westwood, Mass.

Kristina Quale Grade MUS’63, Sarasota, Fla.

Ming M. Voo MDS’63, Jackson Heights, N.Y.

James S. Grodin MCDS’64, Longwood, Fla.

Douglas F. Frank ’66, Portland, Ore.

Jeffrey M. Servis ’69, Mequon, Wis.

1970s

Chester H. Berne ’70, Green Bay, Wis.

Marshall L. Sella ’79, New York

Friends

Dottie Aring, Milwaukee
Mother of Julia A. Uihlein ’68 and Kathryn A. Piper ’69. Grandmother of Alexander Uihlein ’98, Elizabeth Sadoff ’99, and Charles Uihlein ’02. Great-grandmother of Rowan Sadoff ’31, August Sadoff ’34, Henry Sadoff ’35, and Eleanor Sadoff ’36

Richard S. Gallagher, Fox Point, Wis.
Husband of the late Ann Gallagher ’66. Father of Elizabeth Petree ’99 and Catherine Brown ’02

John C. Koss, Milwaukee
Father of Michael Koss ’72, Debra Fulton ’74, John Koss Jr. ’75, and Pamela Geimer ’78. Grandfather of Michael Koss Jr. ’02, Sarah Splittgerber ’06, Casey Geimer ’07, Charles Koss ’08, Morgan Geimer ’09, Benton Geimer ’12

Joseph Mittnacht, Mequon, Wis.
Father of Andrew ’24, Allison ’26, and April ’26 Mittnacht

James H. “Jim” Norris, Fort Thomas, Ky.
Former Middle School assistant head, science teacher, and swimming coach. Father of Dianne Thomas ’68 and James S. Norris ’72

Charlotte “Char” Olsen, Milwaukee
Upper School biology teacher from 1969 to 1996

Sophie R. Parker, Milwaukee
Mother of Porter Parker Hutto ’68, Caroline Robertson ’72, Charles Parker ’79, and Thomas Parker ’79. Grandmother of Ian Parker ’23

Joy K. Tector, Milwaukee
Mother of A. Joseph Tector ’83, Matthew Tector ’85, Leslie Tector ’87, and Kelly Migliero ’92. Grandmother of Kelly ’19 and John ’21 Schroeder

Updated as of May 18, 2022.