In Memoriam: Spring/Summer 2025-26

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

Remembering Ryan Petersen

Ryan Petersen, a beloved mentor to the USM robotics teams and the father of Carson ’20 and Mackenzie ’23, passed away on March 29, 2026 following his battle with cancer. Ryan had been part of the USM community for more than 20 years and began mentoring the school’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program in 2018 during its inaugural year.

Affectionately known as “Mr. P.,” Ryan served as the team’s lead design and mechanical mentor. He worked closely with students, helping them develop critical engineering, design, and mechanical skills while fostering confidence and teamwork.

He led the team to win the Midwest Regional in 2018, earning a spot at the world championship in the program’s very first year. In 2022, he was recognized for his mentorship and dedication when he received the Woodie Flowers Award at the New York Tech Valley Regional. This prestigious honor, nominated by students and selected by a panel of judges, recognizes outstanding mentors who inspire young people.

In 2023, Ryan helped lead the team to another remarkable season by winning the St. Louis Regional along with the Engineering Inspiration and Engineering Excellence awards, once again qualifying the team for the world championship. Ryan’s generosity, and commitment to students’ success left a lasting mark on the USM community. He will be deeply missed.

Remembering  Patricia Bridge 

Patricia Hansen Bridge, a welcoming member of the USM community, passed away on July 9, 2025, just two days after her 100th birthday. Born in 1925 in Philadelphia to Edith and Gerald Hansen, “Trish” embraced life with a profound joie de vivre. A 1943 graduate of the Agnes Irwin School, she was a lifelong enthusiast of tennis and theatre.

Trish shared a life of adventure with her husband, F. Gardiner “Gardie” Bridge, who served as headmaster of University School of Milwaukee from 1966 to 1977, and their children, Gardiner ’69, Gerald ’72, and Jonathan ’78 Bridge. As the wife of a head of school, Trish was an essential partner and hosted numerous gatherings for alumni, donors, community members, and teachers, always ensuring each felt valued and appreciated.

In retirement, Trish and Gardie settled on Cape Cod in 1985, where she became a dedicated watercolor artist, painting the local landscape despite later challenges with her vision. She was also a talented gardener, a long-time member of the Nauset Garden Club, and a founding member of the “Overdue Book Club.” Her competitive spirit never waned; she remained an avid reader and a devoted fan of tennis. Trish’s warmth, artistic talents, and kindness left a lasting mark and she will be deeply missed by her family and the many communities she touched.

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1940s

Georgann Morsell Eaton MDS’43, Quincy, Ill.

Consuela Van Pelt Hamberger MDS’43, Palm Desert, Calif.

Elizabeth Carman Lanzer MUS’45, Torrance, Calif.

Mary Norem Bindner MDS’47, Lakewood, Colo.

Donald W. Baumgartner MCDS’49, Milwaukee

Jerry L. Sokol MCDS’49, Squaw Valley, Calif.

1950s

Phyllis Nolte Grootemaat MDS’50, Overland Park, Kan.

Shaila Kiley Bolger MUS’51, Madison, Wis.

Louis W. Falk MUS’53, Clive, Iowa

Betty Mollgaard Jarusiewicz MUS’54, Forked River, NJ

Betsy Adams Moulton MUS’54, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Nancy Rickey Umbreit MDS’54, Seattle

Kenneth H. Read MCDS’55, Mequon, Wis.

Gerald C. Swanstrom MUS’55, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Robert A. Miller MCDS’56, Mequon, Wis.

Susan Buettner Purtell MUS’56, West Bend, Wis.

William R. Levis MCDS’57, New York, NY

Judith Sawyer Gillingham MUS’58, Tulsa, Okla.

John S. McGregor MCDS’59, Milwaukee

1960s

Carol Heinze Hansen MUS’60, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Craig B. Adelman MCDS’62, Milwaukee

Jane Wanvig Rauh MDS’63, Bonita Springs, Fla.

Jave Hughes MDS’64, Fish Creek, Wis.

Richard M. Koehler MCDS’64, West Bend, Wis.

Alexandra Bowers ’65, Savannah, Ga.

Theodore (Pete) Friedlander III ’65, Fox Point, Wis.

Hill C. Burgess ’66, Chicago

Susan Gingrass ’66, Matthews, NC

Jack Allis ’67, Montague, Calif.

Nancy Agard Danas ’67, Cedarburg, Wis.

Barbara Slocum Sargent ’69, Milwaukee

1970s

Gretchen Casper Gray ’70, Milwaukee

Janet Schmidt Wittenberg ’71, Fox Point, Wis.

1980s

H. Richard Quadracci ’82, Weston, Fla. 

1990s

Salvador R. del Rosario ’91, Bakersfield, Calif.

2000s

Kimberly S. Zwicke ’11, Los Angeles

Friends

Richard H. Aster, Milwaukee
Father of Nicholas Aster ’92 and Geoffrey Aster ’95

Marianne Beckman, Milwaukee
Grandmother of Walter Gay ’17 and Irene Gay ’21

Barbara Collings, Fox Point, Wis.
Mother of Tina Schwartz ’71, Deborah Collings ’74, John Collings ’75 and Mark Collings ’80, and grandmother of Paige Early ’06 and Kemp Collings ’09

Scott Holden Engroff Sr., Mequon, Wis.
Father of Mike Engroff ’96. Grandfather of Savanna Engroff ’32, Ella Engroff ’34, and James Engroff ’37

William Finlayson, Milwaukee
Father of Reginald Finlayson ’72 and the late Tony Finlayson ’76

Carroll Gottschlich, Milwaukee
Mother of Nancy Maio ’85 and Laura Gottschlich ’91

William Hanrahan, Milwaukee
Father of Mary McBride ’83 and Matthew Hanrahan ’86

Ellen Levin, Milwaukee
Mother of Adam Levin ’99 and Jason Levin ’01

Patricia Ogden, Milwaukee
Grandmother of Amelia Otjen ’25

Otto Radke, West Allis, Wis.
Grandfather of Julia Radke ’16 and Kathleen Radke ’19

Scott Taylor, Mequon, Wis.
Father of Caroline Taylor ’16