Longtime educator Christine Kline, professor emerita and former dean of Puget Sound’s School of Education, was known for her collaborative approach to teaching. The supportive relationships she developed encouraged students to be role models and colleagues to be more patient. It was an approach crafted over nearly four decades of work in the education field. Christine received her bachelor’s degree in English and American civilization from Mills College, her master’s degree in American literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and her doctorate in education from Rutgers University. Her first 14 years as a professional were spent teaching elementary and middle school in New Jersey and consulting on K-12 curriculum throughout the nation. She served as the director of the National Commission on Composition for the National Council of Teachers of English before joining Puget Sound as a faculty member in the School of Education in 1994. During her 15 years at the university, she served as director of women’s studies (now the Gender and Queer Studies Program), was invited to numerous national and international venues to speak about the British language across the curriculum movement and feminist theories of talk, and was the dean of the School of Education. After retiring in 2009, she became a docent at the Seattle Art Museum. Christine died on Jan. 22, after a year of illness. A statement to the campus community on Feb. 1 announcing her passing referred to Christine as “an always-generous role model ... Her wisdom and kindness as [a] mentor and friend have been quietly but importantly felt by many at Puget Sound both prior to and following her retirement. Her positive spirit is being remembered across and beyond the campus as we grieve her passing and honor her gifts to us.”
A. Jane Thompson Price ‘44 died in Oregon on Oct. 21. She was 96. A native of Pullman, Wash., she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Adelphian Concert Choir and Delta Delta Delta sorority, and worked for ASUPS. After graduating, she married Albert Prince. The couple had seven children, and Jane became involved with music—teaching voice lessons, singing in her church choir, and playing various instruments.
Margaret Allen Jonez ‘48, ‘71, passed away on Dec. 18. She was 92. Born in Los Angeles, Margaret was raised in Tacoma and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Puget Sound, where she met William Jonez ’50, the man who would become her husband. The two married in 1949. Margaret worked as a riveter during World War II. After the war ended, she became a social worker. She returned to Puget Sound to earn a teaching certificate in 1971 and worked as a school teacher.
Robert Garrison ‘49 passed away on Nov. 28 at the age of 95. A Tacoma native, he graduated from Stadium High School and was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in World War II after attending Seattle Pacific University. After the war ended, he returned stateside and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound, where he met Clara Brakke ‘53, the woman he would marry in 1959. Robert began his career at the Internal Revenue Service and later transferred to The Bank of California (Union Bank of California), where he worked for 30 years before retiring.
Walter Loewenstein ‘49, former president of the American Nuclear Society, passed away on Nov. 26. He was 92. Born in Germany, he immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 12. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Puget Sound before earning a doctorate in physics from The Ohio State University. He worked for Argonne National Laboratory, where he planned experiments using the Zero Power Reactor III at Argonne’s facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In the early 1970s, he was named director of Argonne’s applied physics division. Still, he left the company in 1973 for a Nuclear Power Division’s newly established Electric Power Research Institute. He became the division’s deputy director in 1982 and remained in the position until his retirement seven years later. He assumed the American Nuclear Society presidency in 1989.
Mollie Mae Morse Huber ‘49, a graduate of Puget Sound’s economics program and member of the Alpha Phi sorority, died on Jan. 16. She was 91. Born and raised in Tacoma, she graduated from Stadium High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Puget Sound. She worked for many years as a loan officer for Tacoma Savings and Loan and married Francis Huber ’52. The two were married for 67 years before his death in March 2018.
Joyce Nedervold ‘49 died on Nov. 25 at the age of 90. Born in Tacoma, she graduated from Stadium High School and attended Puget Sound. While a student, she joined the Chi Omega sorority and met Glenn Nedervold ’45, the man who would become her husband. The two lived for more than 30 years on Fox Island, Wash., and raised two sons.
Howard Irwin ‘50, ‘52, a renowned botanist and former president of the New York Botanical Garden, died on Jan. 23 in Massachusetts. He was 90. Howard earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and education from
Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the orchestra. He taught biology as a Fulbright instructor at Queen’s College in Guyana, South America, and earned his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Texas at Austin. In the following years, he led a series of field trips to Brazil and discovered multiple new plant species that had never been documented. After his presidency at the New York Botanical Garden, a vice chancellorship at Long Island University, and a directorship at New York’s Clark Botanic Garden, Howard retired in 1991. He moved to Cape Cod, Mass., where he remained involved in local conservation work.
Norman Pollom ‘50, a native of Chehalis, Wash., and former Logger football player who headed the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills scouting staffs died on Jan. 7. He was 93. After graduating from Chehalis High School in 1943, Norman attended Valley City State University in North Dakota as part of a World War II-era U.S. Navy officers training program. He served in the military for two years and enrolled at Puget Sound once the war ended. While playing football as a Logger, he was a member of the legendary 1949 team that went 7-1 as Evergreen Conference co-champions and beat the rival Pacific Lutheran University Lutes twice. Norman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and coached at multiple Washington high schools, the University of Washington, and the University of Southern California before entering the realm of professional football. As a leader of the Los Angeles Rams’ scouting staff, he built the teams that won seven straight NFL Western Division championships from 1973 to 1979. With the Bills, he rebuilt the scouting staff, making the team an AFC powerhouse. He retired in 1990.
David Sahlin Jr. ‘50 died on Jan. 15 at the age of 90. Born and raised in Tacoma, he graduated from Stadium High School and attended Puget Sound before earning a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Washington. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a dentist and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean War. When he returned to Washington, he met and married Marion Russum. The couple had two sons, and David continued practicing dentistry for five decades. He retired at the age of 74.
Betty Uhlman Fleischmann ‘50 passed away on Jan. 9, nine days before her 94th birthday. Raised in Tacoma, she graduated from Stadium High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound. She married James Fleischmann ’51 and worked as a teacher for Tacoma Public Schools. Betty is preceded in death by James.
Ann Vlahovich Marinkovich ‘50 passed away on Nov. 10 at the age of 89. Born and raised in Tacoma, she was the first child born in America to her Croatian immigrant parents. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Adelphian Concert Choir and joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She was an elementary school teacher for six years and mother to four children.
Wilmont Westlin ‘50 died on Jan. 12. He was 93. A lifetime Tacoma resident, he graduated from Stadium High School before joining the U.S. Coast Guard. After completing his service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He and his wife, Ede, had three children.
Nadine Clarey Cox ‘51, a beloved elementary school teacher, died on Dec. 2 at the age of 89. Born and raised in Tacoma, she earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Puget Sound and taught first grade at the now-closed Hilltop Elementary School in Puyallup, Wash., for 30 years.
Vivian Davidson Russell ‘51 died on Jan. 10 in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. She was 90. Born in Port Angeles, Wash., she graduated from Port Angeles High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. She married Terry Russell in December 1950, and the couple had five children.
Richard Waller ‘51 passed away on Nov. 3, less than two months after his 97th birthday. He served in World War II and, upon returning stateside, attended Puget Sound before graduating from the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
Katherine Falskow Desberg ‘52, P’80 died on Feb. 6 at the age of 89. Born and raised in Tacoma, she graduated from Stadium High School and attended Stephen’s College in Missouri before graduating from Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at the university, she joined the Chi Omega sorority and traveled abroad in Sweden and Europe with religion professor John Phillips. After graduation, she worked for the State Department in Germany and the American embassy in Belgium. She is survived by her three children: Niels Jensen ’80, Kirsten Robinett, and Rolf Jensen.
Marie Hines Jurich ‘52, a Tacoma native and former library professional who attended Puget Sound, died on Nov. 30. She was 88.
Vernon Kohout ‘52 passed away on Nov. 23. He was 91. A native of Tacoma, Vernon graduated from Lincoln High School. A standout baseball player, he played for the Loggers and was scouted by teams such as the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers. After a short stint in the U.S. Navy, he signed on with the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals in 1947. He pitched for teams throughout the nation before retiring from the sport in 1950 and coming to Puget Sound. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education and met Georgia Tippie ’51, the woman who would become his wife. The two married, and Vernon earned a doctorate in education from the University of Wisconsin. He joined the U.S. Department of Defense school system and spent 27 years abroad in administrative roles. Vernon retired in 1990 and settled back in Washington. In 2007, he was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. Vernon was preceded in death by Georgia and is survived by three children and five grandchildren.
Fredda Lamp Pfau ‘53, ‘54 died on Jan. 21, exactly one month before her 88th birthday. Born and raised in Arlington, Wash., she graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. She earned her occupational therapy certification one year later. She had postgraduate internships in Honolulu, Hawai`i, and treated countless World War II veterans throughout the country. While working in California, she met and married Robert Pfau and settled in Granada Hills, Calif. In 1982, the couple retired to Whidbey Island, Wash. Fredda continued traveling internationally, and Robert worked on a rhododendron sanctuary around their home.
Jean Stobbs Ronald ‘53 died on Dec. 21, 2017. She was 86. Born and raised in Washington, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound, where she joined the Alpha Phi sorority. She was an elementary school teacher for seven years before she moved to Australia and married Forrest Ronald. Together, they ran a successful news agency for 25 years.
Richard Tillotson ‘56, M.Ed.’68, a U.S. Army veteran and resident of University Place, Wash., passed away on Jan. 25. He was 89. Richard graduated from Clover Park High School and began working at Puget Sound National Bank, where he met Marian Anderson, the woman who would become his wife. They married in 1951 before Richard joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Hawai`i, South Carolina, and Utah. After his service, he earned his bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in education from Puget Sound. He went on to become a school counselor.
Ray Aest ‘57 died on Aug. 19 at the age of 85. Born and raised in Tacoma, he graduated from Lincoln High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound, where he was a member of the Logger golf team and U.S. Air Force ROTC program. He served in the U.S. Air Force at March Air Force Base and retired in 1960. He then worked for Boeing for more than three decades.
Ardyce Overland Conner ‘57, ‘58 passed away in Arlington, Wash., on Jan. 8, 2018. She was 88. Born in North Dakota, she earned a bachelor’s degree and certification in occupational therapy from Puget Sound before graduating from Tacoma General Hospital’s School of Nursing. She became a teacher there until the school closed and then taught in Tacoma General Hospital’s (now called MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital) education department.
Georgadee Martin MacLeod ‘59, P’92, passed away on Nov. 10 at the age of 80. Born in Pennsylvania, Georgadee was raised in Everett, Wash., and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and theatre arts from Puget Sound. While at the university, she also joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She worked at GTE and Johnson Printing before retiring and lending her time to volunteering at Everett Community College, the Everett Public Library, and Little Libraries. Her daughter, Wendi Lee MacLeod ’92, is also an alumna of Puget Sound’s theatre arts and communication studies programs.
John Perry ‘59 died on Dec. 11 in Olympia, Wash. He was 81. After graduating high school in Tacoma, John attended Puget Sound and Washington State University. In 1962, he began a 30-year career as a driver’s license examiner with the Washington State Department of Licensing. He was a foster parent and regularly welcomed foreign exchange students into his home. He also coached football and wrestling.
Donald Weber ‘59 died on Jan. 9, less than two weeks before his 83rd birthday. Born and raised in Tacoma, he served in the U.S. Army. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Puget Sound and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Washington. He married Marjorie Coy ’58 and became a family physician serving the Washington communities of Lake Tapps and Sumner for more than 40 years.
John Mitchell ’60, a Gig Harbor, Wash., resident, and longtime teacher, died on March 10, 2018. He was 80. Born and raised in Tacoma, John earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and theatre arts from Puget Sound, where he met Carolyn Fletcher ’60. The two married and moved to Gig Harbor, where they raised three children. John taught English for more than 30 years at South Kitsap High School, where he also co-directed school musicals and served as the announcer at home football games.
Duane Parker ‘60 died on Jan. 8, after nearly a dozen years of living with myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow disease. He was 81. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound, where he
met Barbara Keevil ’60, the woman who would become his wife. After completing his undergraduate work, he decided to pursue theology, earning a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University. His ministry took him to Kansas, Rhode Island, and Georgia. Duane spent more than 50 years as a supervisor with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, serving as its national executive director for 10 years.
Robert Stotts ‘60, an Arizona native and U.S. Army veteran, passed away on Feb. 1, 2018. He was 83. After graduating from high school in California, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served at Fort Lawton (now Discovery Park in Seattle) and Fort Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord). He attended Puget Sound but ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University after completing his military service. He was a builder and business owner in California for more than 50 years and was a certified public accountant for more than 10 years.
Gilbert Harrington ‘62 passed away on Dec. 2 at the age of 81. Born and raised in Western Washington, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He went on to work for Gulf Oil until 1974, when he returned with his wife to Washington. He became an internal auditor for the state of Washington and retired in 1999.
James Robinson ‘62 died on Jan. 31 at the age of 86. Born in Wyoming, he moved with his family to Tacoma as a teenager. He graduated from Fife High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Puget Sound before becoming a teacher. He taught marine biology and life sciences for the Clover Park School District and retired in 1992.
Vivienne Johnson Klingbeil ‘63 passed away in Edmonds, Wash., on Jan. 12. She was 77. Vivienne graduated from Seattle’s Lincoln High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She taught in the Lake Washington School District and went on to have multiple trailblazing adventures. In her obituary, her family says Vivienne “dove out of a plane in Australia, educated the folks at NASA about effective instruction, got married in Russia shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, battled her way through Venezuela during catastrophic flooding in her 50s, wandered the bandit-filled hillsides of central Mexico on a vision quest, beat back cancer multiple times over 32 years, preferred words over numbers (an understatement), was completely unfettered by time constraints or schedules, and claimed that her crowning achievement was that she raised her two boys to be ‘good men.’”
Robert Lake fish ‘63 died in Longview, Wash., on Jan. 3. He was 78. A Washington native, he graduated from R.A. Long High School before attending Puget Sound. He worked for Weyerhaeuser for 30 years and retired as a millwright in 2005.
Florence Burghardt ‘64, an alumna of Puget Sound’s English program, died in Illinois on Dec. 1. She was 90.
Becky Gault Honsberger ‘64 died on Feb. 27 in Auburn, Calif. She was 75. Becky earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound, where she became a member of the Chi Omega sorority and met William Honsberger ’63, whom she later married. She taught in the Oak Grove School District in Northern California for 20 years and retired in 2000. She is survived by her husband, William.
Sharon Miller Montgomery ‘64, P’94, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., who attended Puget Sound and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, passed away on Jan. 17. She was 76. After graduating from high school in Wenatchee in 1960, Sharon attended Puget Sound and met C. Clark Montgomery ’62, P’94. The two married in 1963 and moved to Lakewood, where they raised three sons. Their son Joshua Montgomery ’94 earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Puget Sound.
Philip White ‘65 died in Idaho on Jan. 31 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 77. Born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho, he graduated from Lewiston High School. He attended Puget Sound before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Jose State University in California. Philip began teaching at Washington State University while working toward his Ph.D. in psychology. After graduating, he taught at Southern Oregon College and then moved to California, where he worked for the California Youth Authority and maintained a private psychiatry practice.
Maxim Zbitnoff ‘67, who attended Puget Sound, died on June 16 in Massachusetts. He was 72.
Terry Hale ‘68, a Tacoma native and former Logger football player and wrestler, passed away during a bike ride with friends on June 18. He was 72. Terry graduated from Lincoln High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He received his master’s degree in business administration from Seattle University and went on to work for Pierce County. He retired as the county’s director of information systems technology.
William Shaug ‘68 passed away on Jan. 6 at the age of 73. The Seattle native loved music from an early age and earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Puget Sound. He later received a master’s degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He worked as a teacher and band director at multiple junior and high schools throughout Western Washington before beginning a 20-year career with Boeing as a program planner.
Bruce Glundberg ‘69 died on Dec. 16 after a battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. He was 74. Born in San Diego, Bruce grew up in Tacoma and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound, where he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After serving in the Army Reserves, he was hired by truck design and manufacturing company PACCAR. He worked in the company’s Kenworth division for 35 years before retiring. He enjoyed sailing and restoring cars.
William Caddey ‘71, a lifelong resident of Tacoma, passed away on Jan. 15. He was 91. William graduated from Stadium High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and returned stateside after the war to marry his high school sweetheart, Jean. William worked as a CPA in Tacoma for more than 50 years.
Arlene Stanfill ‘71 died on Feb. 1, her 70th birthday, after a 10-year battle against breast cancer. She grew up in Tacoma, graduated from Stadium High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Puget Sound. She moved to Texas and became a social worker for Child Protective Services.
Nancy Hillier Beerman ‘72 passed away on Nov. 12. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Puget Sound, where she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority and was a member of the ski team. She earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa and became an elementary school teacher and librarian.
Lloyd Jordan ‘72 passed away unexpectedly on June 12, one month before his 69th birthday. Born and raised in Canada, he attended Yakima Valley College in Yakima, Wash., before coming to Puget Sound. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and moved back to Canada with his wife, Rae Ann. He is preceded in death by his wife and survived by two children and one grandchild.
Michael Snyder ‘72, known for being the first franchisee of the Red Robin restaurant chain, died in Yakima, Wash., on Dec. 2. He was 68. Born and raised in Yakima, he graduated from Eisenhower High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound, where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. Michael and his brother, Stephen Snyder ’75, went on to open 14 Red Robin restaurants in Washington, Colorado, and Idaho. In 2000, he merged his franchise company with the parent company and took over as CEO and president.
Jerry Ferrier ‘75 passed away on Oct. 3 after a battle against liver cancer. He was 78. A longtime Seattle resident, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Puget Sound and went on to work on numerous local and national political campaigns.
Terry Higgins Hinsor ‘75 passed away on Jan. 26. Born and raised in the Seattle area, she earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She worked as an occupational therapist for 40 years, specializing in the treatment of geriatric and medically complex patients. Her two sons and two granddaughters survive her.
Ronald Shelman ‘75, an Idaho native and former Seattle police officer, died on Oct. 18. He was 76 and had been battling multiple myeloma. Ronald graduated from Bonners Ferry High School and married Cheryle in 1968. The two had a twin son and daughter before moving to Washington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Puget Sound. After graduation, he began a 25-year career with the Seattle Police Department and retired in 1990.
Jimmy Barnes ‘76, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Pasco, Wash., native, died on Nov. 27 at 80 years old. He graduated from Marysville High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Puget Sound. He went on to work for the city of Seattle and Bank of America and as a travel host. He is
survived by his wife, four children, and more than a dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Gary William Low M.B.A.’79 passed away on Nov. 16 while golfing at Auburn Golf Course. He was 69. Gary was a longtime resident of Burien, Wash., and graduated from Highline High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in the same subject from Puget Sound. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was a controller for several Seattle-area businesses.
Toni Ross ‘79 passed away on Jan. 11. She was 68. Toni earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Puget Sound.
Thomas Lopez ‘80 died in California on Nov. 30. He was 70. Thomas graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and became an engineer.
Steven Holman ‘81, a Seattle resident and longtime steel industry professional, passed away on Jan. 13. He was 71. Steven earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound and went on to work for more than 40 years in the steel business and as a steel estimator.
Caroline Beaver Stone ‘83 died on Nov. 23, 12 days after her 60th birthday. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound.
Beckie Krantz ‘84 passed away on Nov. 24 after a battle against cancer. She was 75. Born in Seattle, Beckie worked as director of development at Annie Wright School in Tacoma and as director of research for Washington Friends of Higher Education before earning a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Puget Sound. She was an intern at the Washington Supreme Court and later founded a company with her husband offering nationwide legislative information online. She was a longtime resident of Gig Harbor, Wash.
Sheryl Deffenbaugh Pasquinelli ‘85 died on Oct. 14 in San Jose, Calif. She was 55 and had fought ovarian cancer for three years. Born in Kennewick, Wash., she graduated from Kennewick High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Puget Sound. She held multiple computer analyst positions in Seattle before moving to California’s Silicon Valley. She met her husband, Kevin, and the two married in 1994. Their daughter was born in 1996, and their son in 1999. Sheryl later became the computer teacher at her children’s school and, for 15 years, created a computer curriculum for students in preschool through junior high.
Julie Hillers ‘88 passed away on June 22, a dozen years after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She was 52. The Pullman, Wash., native earned a bachelor’s degree in math and business administration from Puget Sound, where she participated in the Business Leadership Program and KUPS. She worked in information technology for various companies, including Safeco Insurance, Washington Mutual Bank, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Marilyn Waltz Brown ‘88 died on Sept. 22 at the age of 52. She was born in Portland, Ore., and graduated from Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. While at the university, she was part of the Business Leadership Program, joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, and met Todd Brown ‘90. Marilyn and Todd married in 1994, and Marilyn became a partner at the Portland accounting firm Hainley Lavey & Brown. The couple had four children.
Heidi Barrett Hilliard ‘89 passed away on Dec. 1 at the age of 52. She had been fighting cancer for 20 years. Born in Seaside, Calif., she graduated from W.F. West High School in Chehalis, Wash., and earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and French from Puget Sound. Two years later, she married David Hilliard and began working as a mortgage broker.
Jennifer Bott Lange ‘91, a Washington native and longtime elementary school teacher, passed away on Sept. 17. She was 49. Born in Vancouver, Wash., she graduated from Evergreen High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Puget Sound, where she joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She had been working as a teacher for more than two decades and, at the time of her death, was a first-grade teacher at Grass Valley Elementary School in Camas, Wash.
Kimberley Loehr Soto ‘93 passed away on Jan. 3 in Texas. She was 47. Kimberley earned a bachelor’s degree in natural science from Puget Sound, where she was a member of the Logger crew team and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Sarah Walton ‘96 died on Oct. 4 at the age of 44. A native of Western Washington, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Puget Sound and began working in marketing and sales in Seattle. In 2005, she moved to Vancouver, Wash., with her husband and daughter. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, as well as being outdoors.
Jacob Denovchek ‘04 died on Dec. 4 after fighting melanoma for four years. He was 36. He was born in San Diego, and he and his family moved to Tucson, Ariz. He graduated from University High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Puget Sound. One year later, he joined the Army and served with the 772nd Forward Surgical Team, which was deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, for 14 months in 200809. Upon returning to the U.S., he held various jobs but found his calling volunteering at the VA hematology/ oncology lab, helping other veterans fight cancer.