Obituary: Elizabeth Ann Franklin Jallings

MADISON - Elizabeth Ann Franklin Jallings, born June 9, 1916, passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2008, in Madison. Betty was the oldest daughter of the late Newton L. and Bertha E. Franklin. She had two sisters, Ruth Louise, born 1919, died 2001, and Susan Elvira, born 1920, died 1926. The family lived in Madison, where Betty graduated from West High School in 1934. Then they moved to rural Oregon and built a home in which four generations of the family have now now lived. Betty graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1938, where she studied modern dance, music, and visual arts. She and her future husband, Jack Kirkland Jallings, met at a Spanish Club Halloween party at the First Congregational Church. Betty was dressed as a gypsy, and Jack, always a romantic, went home that night and told his brother, Charlie that he had met the girl he wanted to marry. And marry they did, on Aug. 17, 1940. They lived in Chicago, where they were involved in working for social justice, racial and religious tolerance, and community support for families in the housing projects of Chicago's south side. Betty created a world full of the arts for her three girls, and later her son: music, visual arts, puppetmaking, crafts, dance, creative drama, and storymaking, all enhanced by visits to museums and summers spent in Wisconsin with grandparents and cousins. A lifelong bookaholic, Betty also loved classical music and was a talented artist; her work was featured in a number of Madison art exhibits. She illustrated several books of Wisconsin pioneer stories. The family moved to Oregon in 1954, where their only son was born. Betty was involved in community groups, especially 4-H and Girl Scouts, worked at the State Training School for Girls, cultivated large vegetable gardens, and collected a menagerie of assorted animals. Betty returned to the UW-Madison for a master's in education in 1964. She taught English briefly at Central High School, then for many years at Madison Area Technical College. Betty was an active member of the American Federation of Teachers, a board member of the YWCA in Madison, and president of the local chapter of the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom. She spoke articulately and worked with total commitment to peace and justice, taking her children and then her grandchildren on various marches and demonstrations across the country. Both Betty and Jack were members of the First Unitarian Society and founding members of the Prairie Unitarian-Universalist Society. They traveled the world, taking photographs and collecting art, crafts and books of every description. In 2000, they moved to the Meriter Retirement Center. An intelligent, independent, artistic and articulate woman, Betty was very much her mother Bertha Englund Franklin's daughter. In turn she raised her children to value family, education and the arts, to believe in and think for themselves, and to work for positive change in their society and the world. Betty is survived by her husband of nearly 68 years, Jack; children, Susan Daniel of Toronto, Canada, Nancy Walsh of Oregon, Rebecca Jallings of Madison, and Jonathan Jallings of Oregon; as well as 12 grandchildren and their familes: Peter Daniel (Marcia) and son, Alastair of Toronto, Jennifer Daniel Duckering (Brent) and sons, Zachary and Matthew of San Diego, Calif., Kerri McCabe (Andrew) and children, Katie, Kylie, Liam of Patchogue, N.Y., Jessica Jallings Gomez (Brian) and daughter, Emily of Delafield, Kelly Walsh of Nashville, Tenn., Marissa Walsh of Annapolis, Md., Joshua Walsh and Eric Walsh of Loganville, Ga., Stacy Sandler and sons, Kyle and Taylor of Madison, Geoffrey Sandler (Karen) and children, Ryan and Jenna of Madison, Claire Sandler (Michael Kramer) and daughter Daisy of South Bend, Ind., and Lili Sandler (Zeb Page) and sons, Jack and Milo of Oberlin, Ohio; and many extended family members, friends and former colleagues across the U.S. The family would like to thank the many dedicated and caring staff at the Meriter Retirement Center who made Betty's eight years there so comfortable and pleasant. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 2 p.m. in the GRAND HALL at the MERITER RETIREMENT CENTER. Donations in Betty's memory should be made to the American Indian "College Fund," P.O. Box 172449, Denver, CO 80217-9797 or www.collegefund.org. "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Mahatma Gandhi. Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Rd. (608) 238-3434

Obituary: George Harvey Shands

MADISON/ VILLAGE OF SHOREWOOD HILLS - George Harvey Shands, age 68, died at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, from complications associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was the second child born to Ruebush G. Shands and Elizabeth (Henry) Shands on Sept. 16, 1937, at Madison General Hospital in Madison. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Joan (Bures) Shands. They met at the Memorial Union while students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and married on Aug. 13, 1966. He is also survived by his two daughters, Rebecca Shands of Denver, and Susan Shands of Madison; his brother, Henry (Katherine) Shands of Fort Collins, Colo.; his sister, Harriet Shands of Bradenton, Fla.; his brother-in-law, Kenneth (Madelon) Bures of Marblehead, Mass.; and his aunts, Jobelle Shands of Shorewood Hills, and Martha (Henry) Shirkey of Lawton, Mich. He is further survived by cousins, nieces, a nephew and many friends. George attended Shorewood Hills Elementary School and graduated from Madison West High School, Class of 1955. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in American history in 1963, followed by graduate work. He taught social studies, with a concentration in American history and psychology, for 30 years through the Madison Metropolitan School District. He was a teacher at Madison East High School for 27 years, and was proud of developing an innovative community issues program for seniors called "WalkAbout." George was a lifelong member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ of Madison, where he was baptized and confirmed. It was the most important institution in his life, where he served in many capacities: as moderator, on boards and committees, developing and interpreting the constitution and by-laws, researching and documenting the church's history, and singing bass in the church choir. George steadfastly believed what Reverend John Robinson said to the Pilgrims leaving for the new world, "More light and truth shall break forth from God's word." George had been a licensed amateur ("ham") radio operator for more than 50 consecutive years, operating under the call letters W9WUU. He resumed operating in earnest after his retirement in 1996, enjoying "DXing" and contesting. He was a member and served on the board of Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club (FLARC) and also belonged to the DX club. He enjoyed many close friendships through his involvement with ham radio. George was a longtime member of the Southern Historical Association and the Augusta Richmond County (Georgia) Historical Society. He took great pleasure in the pursuit of family history, and was entrusted with keeping many family photographs, portraits, heirlooms and stories. His genealogical work lead him to explore his Southern roots, writing and presenting papers on his findings. He spent much time visiting courthouses, genealogy centers, libraries and cemeteries to gather family information. One of George's great loves in life was music. He enjoyed listening to classical, opera, folk, jazz and bluegrass and attending live performances. He played the piano, trombone, dulcimer, banjo and sang, collecting many antique and unique instruments along the way. Fueled by his faith and a sense of moral duty, George was deeply engaged in the struggle for civil rights and social justice in the 60s and onward. He supported many worthy causes with his time, wisdom and generosity. George will be greatly missed by his devoted family and many wonderful friends. The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude for the care provided by the doctors, nurses, CNAs, ICMs, and support staff of Meriter Hospital and HospiceCare Inc. during his final days. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. at FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 1609 University Ave., at Breese Terrace. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Congregational Church UCC or to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711, or to the charitable organization of your choice. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 11, 2005

Obituary: Marie Garness

MADISON - Marie Helen Garness was born Sept. 22, 1939, in Fond du Lac, the only child of Hart and Cecilia Urban Garness. As a child she studied music, playing the piano and cello. Her favorite was the trumpet, playing along with Harry James and Louis Armstrong records. She spent long happy summers on the family farm in Wild Rose, playing alongside her many cousins. She graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, in 1957, and came to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin. She was president of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was involved with music and theater on campus, working for several years on Humorology, the student-produced comedy review. For Marie, being a teacher was not her job, it was her identity. Her first assignment as an English teacher was at Central High School in Madison. She considered it one of the happiest times of her life. Recently she attended a reunion of some of her Central High students. When Central closed in 1969, she transferred to West High, and then to Memorial High School, where she taught until her retirement in 1989. Everywhere she taught, she loved working on the staging and directing of musicals, working until she was exhausted on productions of Mame, Annie Get Your Gun, Pippin and many others. She brought her love of musicals and films to the classroom and introduced film units into the high school English curriculum. When she retired, Marie could still remember the name of almost every student she had ever taught. She adored movies of all kinds, but was especially fond of musicals. She was a long time devoted Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli fan. She loved crossword puzzles, cooking, gardening, basking in the sun, reading, especially mysteries, and floating in her swimming pool. She loved meeting new people and figuring out what made them tick. She enjoyed travel, though it was difficult for her, and had made several trips to New York City. She had planned many trips including the South Carolina sea islands and even China and Africa, but was never able to go. Marie had endured breast cancer and very proudly wore her seven year survivor pin. Her numerous friends, former students, fellow teachers and dedicated medical providers will remember the best things about her: the intense spark of her creativity, enthusiasm and wit, her generous nature, and her compassion and concern for others. Marie suffered her entire adult life with bipolar depression and other aspects of mental illness. Over time her illness made her world smaller and more difficult, made relationships with friends and family increasingly difficult, took away her ability to do things she loved and burdened her daily life with numerous obstacles. After a life long struggle with mental illness, she ended her own life on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007. Many who knew Marie have said that they feel guilt or regret for not being able to help her, wishing they had done more. A fitting tribute to Marie would be to channel those regrets into something positive by helping out as you can, do a kindness for a friend, a neighbor or even a stranger. Friends, colleagues, and former students are invited to share in the celebration of Marie's life on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. at the OAKWOOD RETIREMENT CENTER - WEST, 5205 Mineral Point Road. Please enter the main entrance of the Heritage Building.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on September 23, 2007

Update: Notes from the celebration of Marie's life on October 3, 2007:


The photo on the left is a photo of some of the many photos of Marie's life and career as a teacher than were on display at the celebration of her life. I'll be adding some more photos from the display, as well as some photographs of some of the people who attended the celebration to the Central Alumni Flickr account.

Susan Brockett (Class of 1967) was unable to attend the celebration, but she did write something to be read on her behalf. I'm reproducing Susan's essay about Marie, since it certainly addresses the fond feelings she and many of her classmates had for a teacher who touched their lives in meaningful and unexpected ways:

Here I am, 43 years later, writing something because of Marie Garness. The former time is vivid for me.

Sophomore year. I wrote a piece on To Kill a Mockingbird, and I tried to do more than "enough", I tried to excel. Marie read it, perceived what I was trying to do, and told me I owed it to myself to work at my writing, but then she went a step further, as only she could have. She said that if a I wrote a journal, she would too, and we could compare. I was amazed and inspired – a teacher inviting me into the adult world, treating me as an adult, and expecting me to rise to the situation. I have no idea how many times I have told this story to people I have met, to give them an idea of what wonderful teachers I had, and Miss Garness was one of the best.

That was who Maudie Garness was for me – a teacher, but also a person – an adult who was willing to invite us, her students, into her world and treat us as adults. There are so many other memories:

• The times a bunch of us just stopped by her house on a Friday or Saturday evening…uninvited, just to say hi. And she invited us in, sat and talked, and treated us as she would any friends who stopped in.

• the play, where she was a central pivot of the whole team, teaching us the joy of creation, of teamwork and hard work, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

These are the pictures that come to min mind, as I try to share in your memorial, although I can't be there…

• Marie, standing in row 3, yelling "entrance stage right!", gesturing up at the stage in the old, dusty, brown auditorium.

• Marie on stage, playing jazz on her trumpet, with Mr. Schenk on the piano. Shocking us all that teachers could be so COOL.

• Marie laughing in her living room, at one of Sid Iwanter's routines.

…and Marie talking with us all a the reunion and picnic so recently, helping us retain a link to who we were 40 years ago, and maybe helping us see who we are now.

We must all acknowledge the pain she lived with and that caused her to decide that she had had enough,

But even more, we need to remember the life she lived, and the lives she touched.

– Susan Brockett (or as Maudie would say, Brocksy)

Obituary: Mariam (Cook) Lichte

WAUNAKEE/ LODI - Miriam Lichte, age 85, died Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital. She was born Feb. 15, 1922, to Cecil and Isabelle (Collins) Cook on Gastrow Road in the West Point Township. Miriam graduated from Lodi High School in 1938, then attended college in Whitewater for a year, followed by a year at Madison Business College. She worked in the office at Central High School until she married Ray W. Lichte, Feb. 19, 1944. They farmed on Quietdale Farm, three miles west of Lodi on Reynolds Road, until 1983, moving to Waunakee in 1989, when they sold the farm. Miriam was a sweet, unassuming woman with a quiet, peaceful demeanor. She loved her family and gave of herself without complaint. She was active in her church teaching Sunday school, serving as an elder and was a member of the Presbyterian Women's Organization. Miriam was known for her wonderful cooking, her hospitality and charity. Even though she had no musical talents of her own to speak of, she loved music and made sure that her children cultivated their musical talents and their love for music. Miriam believed in the importance of a good education and encouraged her children to make the most of theirs while allowing each of them to follow their own interests. Miriam is survived by son, Ed Lichte and his children, Stephanie (Doug) Goodsell, Tim (Larisa) Lichte and Marcus Lichte, all of Fort Worth, Texas; son, John (Wende) Lichte of Abuja, Nigeria and his children, Luke Lichte of Madison, Nikki Lichte of LaCrosse and step-daughter, Brandie (Tom) Wolff of Sheboygan; daughter, Judy (Dave) Kopp and their sons, Chris and Jordan, all of Waunakee; as well as special family member, Mark (Leisa) Heimbecker of Lodi, (who worked and lived with Ray and Miriam for 14 years) and their children, Clint and Carly. She is also survived by two step-great-granddaughters, Lucy and Amelia Wolff and sister-in-law, Florence Brown of Lodi and her children, Jim (Marcia) Brown, Linda (Herb) Damsteegt, Tom (Liz) Brown and Donna (Dave) Rimple. Miriam was preceded in death by her husband, Ray on May 20, 1999; by her parents; an infant brother, Robert; grandson, Andy Lichte; and brother-in-law, Roy Brown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at the FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in Lodi, with the Rev. Gretchen Lord Anderson and Elder Marie Langeteig officiating. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2007, at the HAMRE FUNERAL HOME in Lodi, and from 10 a.m. until the services on Saturday at the church. The family suggests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church in Lodi. Hamre Funeral Home Lodi

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 8, 2007

Obituary: Frank C. Lindl

MADISON - Frank C. Lindl, age 85, died on Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at his home. He was born in Milwaukee, Aug. 30, 1921, the son of Frank and Julia (Wimmer) Lindl. He attended Riverside High School. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he volunteered to go into the U.S. Army. After training he was sent down to safeguard the Panama Canal and was the Post Sergeant Major for four years. After returning home he was among the G.I.'s who swarmed the campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Frank earned his master's degree in art education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 1949 and pursued a teaching career. He taught at Madison Area Technical College and was in the Madison School District for 39 years. He taught at Central High School, started the Art Department at Lafollette High School, was assistant principal at West High School and ended his career as Fine Arts Coordinator. Frank enjoyed coaching football, wrestling and tennis. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing his produce with friends, family and neighbors. Frank was noted for his tomatoes, fruit trees, wine, cooking, picture framing and his humor. He was a founding member of St. Maria Goretti Church and Friendship Force of Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife, whom he married 60 years ago, Margo; his children, Dennis (Yvonne), Beth Lindl (David Drake), Barbara DeJongh (Kurt) and John (Cyndi); grandchildren, Bryan, Abbie, Rachel and Molly; and two sisters, Anita and Betty. He was preceded in death by two sons, David and Jamie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison, on Friday, June 8, 2007, at 11 a.m. Monsignor Michael Burke will officiate with burial in Resurrection Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare, Friendship Force of Wisconsin, St. Maria Goretti Parish and Parkinson's research. A special thanks to caregivers, So and Dave and all of the people at HospiceCare. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 7, 2007

Obituary: Ann Junginger

MADISON - Ann Junginger, age 83, of 1210 Seminole Hwy., Madison, died on Tuesday, January 3, 1984 at a Madison nursing home. She was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin on March 31, 1900. She was a teacher for many years with the Madison school system. Survivors include two brothers, Karl Junginger of Waterloo, and Adolph Junginger of Clinton, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 6, 1984 at 2 p.m. at the SCHROEDER FUNERAL HOME, 3325 East Washington Ave., Madison. The reverend Norman Peterson will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 5, 1984; submitted by Jill (Gasdorf) Topper (Class of 1966), who says Miss Junginger taught her shorthand when she was at Central.

Obituary: Florence Morris

Miss Florence Morris,
Former teacher, Dies

Miss Florence Morris, 80, of 1005 Haywood Dr., a Central High School teacher for 39 years, died Sunday night (Feb. 18, 1973) in a Madison hospital after an illness.

Miss Morris was a well-known Madison tacher who maintained friendships with many of her former pupils throughout her life.

Born at Randolph, we was a graduate of Carroll College. She taught at Amherst for two years, at Hayward for one, and at Eau Claire for one year.

Miss Morris tauhgt advanced and college algebra in high school before most high schools featured higher mathematics.

Also a geometry teacher, she was reported to have applied a basic geometry principle to her pupils -- the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Miss Morris told her pupils the straight line applied to personal relations between pupils, between pupils and teachers, and between pupils and the life ahead.

A sports fan, she was known as a loyal supporter of the school football and basketball teams, traveling frequently outside Madison to watch the games.

The orange and black "M" emblem, reserved for athletes, was presented to a teacher only once -- to Miss Morris in 1957.

When she retired in 1958, she had been describd as a firm disciplinarian, but one who was always fair. Her students were said to have called her "Flossie," but only behind her back.

Golf was one of Miss Morris' hobbies. A running joke at the school was that her golf score for 18 holes looked like the national debt.

She was an advisor for many years to the Central High School Student Council and for 20 years to the Wisconsin Assn. of Student Councils.

Miss Morris was also an active member of the Wisconsin Gymanfa Ganu, which holds traditional Welsh singing festivals throughout the state.

More than 200 former pupils, teachers and friends attended her retirement reception in 1958.

In September, 1972, more than 100 persons greeted Miss Morris on her 80th birthday at a surprise birthday at her apartment.

The list of her students included names of well-known Madisonians, among them former Police Chief Wilbur H. Emery, former Wisconsin State Journal sportswriter Monte McCormick, and Wisconsin State Journal Publisher J. Martin Wolman.

There are no immediate survivors.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Frautschi Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd.

Note: The above was originally published in the Obituaries section of the Wisconsin State Journal on February 19, 1973. At this time, obituaries were still "news stories," written by newspaper staff, not families. Given the length of the tribute and the amount of detail it includes, it is likely that some of her former pupils may have been involved in writing this unsigned "news story."



This tribute (below) Florence Morris and Benjamin Ashman, both of who retired in 1958, appeared in the 1957 Tychoberahn.

Obituary: Benjamin H. Ashman

MADISON - Benjamin H. Ashman, age 90, of 2107 Waunona Way, died on Thursday, Jnauary 20, 1983, at a Madison hospital. Born on March 3, 1892, in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, he was married to the former Mildred Duncan on August 15, 1915. Mr. Ashman taught at the former Cental High School in Madison for thirty-eight years and spent his retirement with his avocation, gardening. Survivors are two daughters, Marian Ashman and Margaret Huff, both of Madison; two sons, Thomas of Madison and Stephen of Mount Horeb; four grandchildren, Jonathan Wilde of Belleville, Phoebe Swenson of Mesa, Arizona, Laurie Hamilton of Wallingford, Connecticut and Connie Weiss of Madison; a great granddaughter; and several nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred in 1975; a daughter, Helen Wilde in 1966; a brother, Richard in 1969; and just recently, a sister-in-law, Erma Duncan. Memorial services will be ehld at the FIRST UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE AT 900 University Bay Drive at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, with the Reverend Max Gaebler officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the University of Wisconsin Foundation for the Arboretum at 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison 53711 or the Wisconsin Phenological Society at 1922 University Avenue, Madison 53705. The CRESS FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 21, 1983

Note: What is phenology? According to the Wisconsin Phenological Society Manual (2003), "Phenology is an interdisciplinary branch of ecology. Its purpose is to record the general development of plants and animals as affected by climate and weather at a certain geographical location." Use the links to learn more about the organization and its objectives.

The article below was originally published in The Capital Times on July 23, 1958. It was written by reporter Frank Custer, a Central alumnus (Class of 1931), who probably was one of Ashman's pupils.

Note: Double click on this image to enlarge it in your browser window.

This tribute (below) to Benjamin Ashman and Florence Morris, both of who retired in 1958, appeared in the 1957 Tychoberahn.

Obituary: Marvin Foster

EAU CLAIRE - Marvin Foster, veteran performer and conductor in the early days of the Madison Theater Guild and pioneer in the development interdisciplinary college curricula in Wisconsin and San Francisco, died in his hometown of Eau Claire on Sept. 26, 2005. The cause of death was cancer. Mr. Foster was an active participant in the early days of Madison Theatre Guild musical productions as a director, conductor, singer and actor. Of the many roles he played, he is most remembered for his portrayals of the King in The King and I and Harold Hill in The Music Man. He also conducted several musicals with the Theater Guild including Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Carousel, The Boy Friend, Little Mary Sunshine, Damn Yankees, and Most Happy Fella. In addition, he directed the first off Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof in Madison. At the time of his death he was professor emeritus of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University. During the 1960s, Foster was director of the Bureau of Lectures and Concerts at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he produced art programs for schools throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. These programs integrated different art forms into single productions with common themes. In 1969, he joined the faculty at San Francisco State University as chairman of the Center of Interdisciplinary Arts in the School of Creative Arts. At San Francisco State, he created an interdisciplinary program that merged the performing, visual and media arts. This innovative approach to educational curricula broke down traditional departmental barriers and created a model for interdisciplinary programs that has been adapted by other colleges throughout the country. While in San Francisco, Foster joined and became very active in the Bohemian Club, where he continued his theatrical interests and produced and directed dozens of shows. Foster was born in 1921, the son of Charles Foster and Elsie Toy Foster. He attended both high school and college in Eau Claire, where he was very active in all aspects of music. During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. He was the commanding officer of a landing craft in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Southern France. After the war, he moved with his wife, the former Ruth Augustine of Eau Claire, to Madison, where he entered graduate school in the Philosophy of Education at the University of Wisconsin. While a graduate student, he served on the faculty at Madison Central High School for several years before taking the directorship of the University's Bureau of Lectures and Concerts. His time in Madison also included the directorship of the Jane Addams' Hull House touring theater and the Hull House Fine Arts Camp at East Troy. In the early 1960s he served as a consultant for the performing arts for the governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco and Greece. He returned to Eau Claire in 1992 for the 100th birthday of his mother. He met and married another Eau Claire native, Katherine Garnock Gilbertson, and remained in his hometown until his death. He is survived by his second wife, Katherine Garnock Foster; three children, David Foster (Betsy Jacaruso) of Rhinebeck, N.Y., Deborah Foster (David Eppstein) of Brookline, Mass., and Thomas Foster (Annie) of Blaine, Wash.; three stepchildren, Julia Colvin (Michael) of Durham, N.C., Philip Gilbertson (Jan) of Blacksburg, Va., and James Gilbertson of Richmond, Va.; three grandchildren, Laura and Daniel Eppstein of Brookline, Mass., and Tonya Howe (Joe) of Dubuque, Iowa; a step-grandchild, Cara Hamill of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; and four great-grandchildren

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 11, 2005

Obituary: Robert Harry Alwin

BELLEAIR, FLA. - Robert Harry Alwin, age 83, of Belleair, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, in Clearwater, Fla. Born in Madison, he moved to Florida in 1957 from Madison. He was a teacher and coach, and earned several master's degrees in math and meteorology from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago. He served in the Air Force and taught math at St. Petersburg Junior College. In 1998, he was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame for his sports accomplishments, including membership on the University of Wisconsin's Big Ten and NCAA championship basketball team in 1941, and team captain in 1942; head basketball and golf coach and football assistant at Central High School in Madison, 1946-1957. He also co-authored several math textbooks. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley; a daughter, Joan, Belleair; a son, Mark, York, Pa.; and two grandchildren, Kristen Dinklage, Winter Park, Fla. and Matthew of Belleair. Hubbell Funeral Home and Crematory Bellaire Bluffs, Fla. (727) 584-7671

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on October 23, 2003

Note: Coach Alwin was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. Larry Franklin (Class of 1965) was also inducted that year. To read more about Coach Alwin, who was a member of the UW-Madison's NCAA championship basketball team in 1941, click HERE.