In Memoriam: Fall/Winter 2023-24

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

Remembering Bill Cannon

William (Bill) Cannon died on October 7, 2023, in Mequon, Wisconsin, after a valiant battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Geralyn Cannon, daughter, Kelly Cannon ’09, son, Conor Cannon, and many friends and family. Bill belonged to one of Wisconsin’s most prominent legal families and proudly continued a 100-year family history of four generations of lawyers representing people who have been wrongly injured. He formed the Milwaukee law firm that later was established as Cannon & Dunphy S.C. on July 5, 1985. The firm has gained recognition as one of Wisconsin’s most successful personal injury law practices.

When Bill’s cancer returned in early 2023, one of Bill’s surgeons at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Garrett Nash, recruited Kelly to run the NYC Marathon and raise money for a promising trial he was leading for colorectal cancer. Despite little time for training as she cared for her dad, Kelly finished the marathon with a personal record and the title of the second-highest individual MSK fundraiser with an impressive $137,372 (see more here http://bit.ly/3TXdqzj). All funds went towards supporting the trial that Dr. Nash and his colleagues hope to deliver to patients by the end of 2024.

“Running a marathon pales in comparison to the tenacity and perseverance required of patients who battle cancer, as my father did so valiantly. Although the trial was too late to save my dad, my goal is to eradicate this disease in my lifetime so others never have to experience the heartbreaking loss of a parent or loved one to colorectal cancer,” said Kelly.

Bill and Geralyn generously supported USM in a variety of ways, including contributing to USM’s Our Next Generation campaign, the USM Fund, and the USM Endowment, among other causes, while Kelly and Conor were students. “USM always held a special place in my dad’s heart,” said Kelly. “He met many of his closest friends through the USM community and was a constant fixture on the sidelines at our athletic events. To witness the outpouring of support from so many of my former teachers and classmates who attended dad’s memorial service reinforced to me how truly special our USM community is.”

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Remembering Tom Bergen

Tom Bergen, former Upper School math teacher, died on Oct. 20, 2023 at his home in Spring Hill, Florida. Bergen taught mathematics at USM for 41 years, having started in the fall of 1963 at Milwaukee Downer Seminary (MDS), one of USM’s predecessor schools. He was the last faculty member from MDS to teach at USM.

Although he embraced the role of technology in the classroom, there was one area in which Bergen preferred to remain a Luddite: the chalkboard. “By the end of the day, his shirt and trousers would be covered with chalk dust,” said Fred Lange, Upper School math teacher. “In the winter, he would have Band-Aids on his fingertips because they were so dry and cracked from the chalk.”

Many colleagues and students will remember his white hair, bushy eyebrows, and goatee. They will also remember his “Blue Mondays,” in which he would distribute blue-covered notebooks with AP-level questions that students worked on over the course of the week. Or his habit of referring to tests as “opportunities,” and of giving students Tootsie rolls to calm their nerves during said opportunities.

Bergen cared deeply about his students and colleagues, but did not hesitate to share tough truths. “He was always there to praise your accomplishments and listen to your woes, but he was also there to tell you what you did not want to hear,” said Lange. “It was a sometimes painful—but honest—assessment from someone who cared.”

Bergen is survived by his wife, Barbara, two sons, Mark ’78 and David ’80, four grandchildren, and many other friends and family.

Raj Chetty ’97 remembers Tom Bergen 

“I apply what I learned from Mr. Bergen every day, in my research on expanding opportunities for children using modern statistical methods founded on the core mathematical concepts he taught me and, as I myself, teach hundreds of students at Harvard. There is no overstating the impact he has had on my career and on countless other students (who in turn have influenced countless others), compounding his impact over the generations. I think few can aspire to have contributed so much to the world.”

Raj Chetty ’97 is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, and the director of Opportunity Insights, which uses big data to study the science of economic opportunity.

1940s

Jane Zwisky Lillie MDS'40, Bryn Mawr, PA

Elizabeth “Betty” Lawler MUS'43, Brookfield, WI

Barbara Witte Kauth MDS'44, West Bend, WI

Alice “Lloyd” Phillips Lewis MDS;45, Milwaukee, WI

Carl R. Triebs MUS'46, Vancouver, WA

Gwenne Kathleen Heiser MDS'47, Sarasota, FL

Sue Graham Mingus MDS'48, New York, NY

David L. Rice MCDS'48, Parker, CO

Charles “Charlie” V. James MCDS'49, Fox Point, WI

1950s

John Arthur Speaker MUS'50, Mequon, WI

Polly Sprinkmann Rosenheimer MUS'51, West Bend, WI

Susan R. Weinkauf MDS'51, Wausau, WI

Jean Ann Jacks Wirth MUS'51, Milwaukee, WI

William H. Smythe MCDS'52, Wyckoff, NJ

Sigrid “SiGi” Walker MUS'54, Colorado Springs, CO

Thomas B. Hurd Jr. MCDS'55, Brookfield, WI

William V. Ott MCDS'59, Boynton Beach, FL

Deanna Wollitzer MUS'59, Milwaukee, WI

1960s

William “Chip” U. Burke MCDS'61, Milwaukee, WI

Barbara “Bobbin” Young '66, Williamsburg, MA

1970s

James R. Clark '72, Horseshoe Bay, TX

Susan S. Hoffmann '72, Lake Forest, IL

Elmer C. Prenzlow '72, Thiensville, WI

David Morter '73, Steamboat Springs, CO

Robert H. Messinger '74, Glendale, WI

Tammy Chmurski '75, Brookfield, WI

James Anthony Finlayson '76, Milwaukee, WI

1980s

Carrie T. Park '86, Medina, OH

2020s

Cole M. Miller '20, Glendale, WI

Friends

John A. Bach, Milwaukee, WI
Father of Michael Bach '89

Mark Brickman, Milwaukee, WI
Grandfather of Sofia '24 and Evi '26 Brickman

Lilly R. Crowder, Whitefish Bay, WI
Mother of Lola Mendeloff '10

Constance F. Evrand, Providence, RI
Mother of Julie Silcock '74 and former Upper School librarian from 1964 to 1970

Anna Ferrara, Shorewood, WI
Grandmother of Gaetano "Tommy" Ferrara '16

Dolores Hayssen, Mequon, WI
Mother of Anne Ferrell '67, Robert Hayssen '68, Charles Hayssen '69, James Hayssen '72, and Thomas Hayssen '75

David "Keith" Johnson, Bellingham, WA
Father-in-law of John Rosenberg '79, grandfather of Lauren Heaberlin '07 and David Rosenberg '11, and great-grandfather of Avery Heaberlin '36 and John Heaberlin '38

Mary Penkalski, Milwaukee, WI
Mother of Paul Penkalski '78

Alice H. Sallada, Dallas, PA
Mother of James Sallada '97 and academic support teacher from 1992 to 1997

Ruth Sommer, Thiensville, WI
Mother of Tracey Sommer '81

Lynne Soto, Whitefish Bay, WI
Former Development office assistant from 1998 to 2005

Audrine White, Milwaukee, WI
Grandmother of Meghan Wendland '04

Mary Carol Winkleman, Milwaukee, WI
Mother of the late Ryan Winkleman '99

James E. Youker, Hartland, WI
Father of Britt Stearns, 92