Class Notes Archive 1931-2014
Class Notes are searchable back to our spring 2000 issue. You can browse the notes by decade (click on a decade to view its class notes):
Class notes from the 1950s
| 1951Marvin Corff, D.V.M. ’53, died in McMinnville, Ore., in February 2005 at the age of 84. Dr. Corff served in the Marine Corps during World War II, earning a silver star for valor, and worked for 30 years as a veterinarian with the Davis Animal Clinic. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, five children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. (appeared in the Winter 2006 issue) • After more than 45 years as a successful vegetable breeder and retirement from the Naval Reserve, Carroll Briggs, Ph.D. ’62, is now working in Gilroy as a member of the production staff for Gavilan College’s educational TV station. He has appeared in over 40 shows, most recently as the Moon in Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding. During his career as a vegetable breeder, Briggs served as manager of Asgrow’s Pacific Coast Research Stations in Milpitas and San Juan Bautista as well as director of the Asgrow Research Center in Twin Falls, Idaho. He also holds patents on two tomato varieties. In his spare time, Briggs continues to write plays and poetry and paint watercolors. (appeared in the Summer 2007 issue) • Donald Cooper died in March 2007 at age 85. A longtime Boulder City, Nev., resident, Mr. Cooper was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II and an engineering project coordinator for North Las Vegas for 20 years. After retirement he worked as a guide at Hoover Dam and later as a security officer. Survivors include his wife, Gloria, his late wife Carol’s two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. (appeared in the Summer 2007 issue) • Arlynn Alexander “Gus” Cuthbertson, D.V.M. ’53, died at his home in March 2007 at age 84. After serving four years in World War II and fighting in the South Pacific, Dr. Cuthbertson returned to the U.S. to continue his schooling and joined the second class of UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine. He later founded the Elko Veterinary Clinic in Nevada and worked as a veterinarian almost until the day he died. Dr. Cuthbertson also served his community in a number of ways: as a county commissioner, member of the Nevada State Board of Health and the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, instructor at a local community college and chair of the Elko Hospital board. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol, and their five children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Another great-grandchild will be born in September. (appeared in the Summer 2007 issue) • Jalil Karim Abulhab, M.S. ’51, Ph.D. ’60, a pioneering entomologist of the Arab world, died of a heart attack in January in his home in Baghdad just hours after a retirement ceremony honoring his 50-year career as a professor, scientist and mentor to thousands of students. He was 83. During his career, he was a faculty member at the University of Baghdad during 1960–78, headed an entomology unit in the office of preventive research in Abu Ghraib, Baghdad, during 1978–90 and was on the medical entomology faculty at the Mustansiriya University in Baghdad from 1991 until his retirement as a distinguished professor in late 2009. The recipient of a 1999 Iraqi medal of science, he published more than 16 books and booklets and hundreds of articles on entomology, and several books and articles in the field of Arabic and Islamic scientific literature. He is survived by his wife, three sons, four daughters and 16 grandchildren living in Iraq, the U.S. and England. (appeared in the Summer 2010 issue) • Sidney De Kadt wrote An Aerial View, his autobiography. Originally written in his native language of Dutch, an English version was released in 2004. He was the first international student to be the editor-in-chief of The California Aggie. De Kadt moved back to the Netherlands in the 1950s to take over the family business. In the mid-1960s, he sold the company to work for Schreiner Airways. He and his wife since 1957, Amelia Maria van der Heyden, live in Dennenheuel, Netherlands. (appeared in the Fall 2010 issue) • Wilson Eads Pendery died in March in Visalia after many years of battling Parkinson’s disease. He was 86. After earning his degree in agronomy, he spent 1953–70 working as a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor in Tulare County. He also grew satsuma mandarin oranges from 1957 to 2002. He enjoyed skiing, golf, horse-pack trips, camping, natural history and bird watching. He is survived by his wife of more than 62 years, Carolyn, as well as nieces and nephews. (appeared in the Fall 2010 issue) • Hugh Popenoe by Anna Hennings Occupation: water buffalo rancher, professor emeritus in soil and water science at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and president of the American Water Buffalo Association. The beginning of water buffalo: During his first job in Thailand after graduation, Hugh Popenoe ’51 became particularly impressed with the significant role water buffalo play in the country’s agricultural cultivation. In 1975, he started the first U.S. herd with just four cows. It grew to be the largest in the nation, with as many as 800 water buffalo at one point. Today he still maintains a herd of 500 and provides meat to local markets and animals to individuals running dairies in numerous states and other countries. The healthy alternative: “Some people eat it for the health reasons, and some people just because they say it tastes better. It doesn’t leave a fatty taste in your mouth,” says Popenoe. Water buffalo has one-half the cholesterol and less than one-fourth the amount of fat found in beef. Water buffalo milk is often used to produce a mozzarella cheese much tastier than what you might find at your local supermarket, he says. Popenoe’s herd is range-fed and is not given antibiotics or hormones, and “organic [customers] look on that favorably,” he says. Labor of love: Popenoe has been the president of the American Water Buffalo Association since its inception in 1986. The organization’s 70 members exchange information and work to educate others about the industry—an industry essentially launched by Popenoe. He long ago achieved his goal to bring the water buffalo business to the U.S. but has continued to raise the animals because he enjoys it. Popenoe also likes teaching, which he does full time at the University of Florida. “I’m officially retired, but I still keep my same teaching load because I enjoy teaching so much,” he says. “My water buffalo almost become pets. I have had a few who have came up and eaten out of my hand, and I put my arm around them.” (appeared in the Spring 2007 issue) • Frank Sweetman, who co-founded Modesto animal health products company Veterinary Service Inc., died last November in his Aptos home at age 82. A Korean War veteran, he also grew almond trees and raised cattle and sheep. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Gunvor (Sontum) ’51; son, Robert, of Arleta; daughter, Karin Estess, of Aptos; brother, Thomas; and six grandchildren. (appeared in the Summer 2012 issue) • Israel Gershon “Gersh” Rosen, a retired Delta College counselor, died in his Lodi home in December. He was an Air Force veteran and a volunteer with the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and other organizations. His wife, Judy (Lampman), who attended UC Davis, died in 2003. (appeared in the Spring 2013 issue) • Wilfred Pimentel, D.V.M. ’53, a retired Fresno veterinarian, died at home last August following injuries from a fall. He was 86. After retiring, he volunteered as a checkpoint doctor at the 1993 Alaska Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Among survivors are sons Matthew ’82, and Paul ’83. (appeared in the Spring 2013 issue) • Tadao Yamashiro, a retired photogramist who created the first topographical map of Yosemite National Park, died in July 2012. He was 88. He and his family were sent to Tule Lake Relocation Camp during World War II. He worked for the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Department of Water Resources. (appeared in the Spring 2013 issue) • Thomas Hitchcock, Corral De Tierra, age 86, died Jan. 12. He was a World War II Army veteran and retired produce industry executive. (appeared in the Summer 2014 issue) |
| 1952Jerry Garibaldi, D.V.M. '54, died in February 2003 from leukemia. He was 75. Among his achievements was the creation of the Romie Lane Pet Hospital in Salinas in 1964. Survivors include his wife, Pat; his son, Timothy; his daughter, Jane Garibaldi, and son-in-law, Ken Nakagawa. (appeared in the Summer 2003 issue) • Art Aseltine was presented with the Outstanding Commissioner Award by the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Aseltine has served as the public member of the Yuba Local Agency Formation Commission for nearly 37 years and has chaired the Yuba commission since 1970. Aseltine, an agricultural engineer, and his wife, Sara Jane, have lived for 38 years in the tree-farm forests of upper Yuba County. (appeared in the Winter 2006 issue) • Mary Grace (Fitzpatrick) Davidson and her husband, Clyde, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January. Staying close to her roots as an agricultural graduate, Davidson trained and showed horses out of their Lucky Acres Ranch in Walnut Creek from 1968 until her retirement. She remains active as a dressage judge and competitor. (appeared in the Spring 2006 issue) • Richard Schein, Ph.D., died in January at age 82. He was a part of the first Ph.D. graduating class in plant biology. In 1955, he joined the faculty at Pennsylvania State University, where he developed the plant growth chamber, was the lead researcher in developing awnless barley and served as an associate dean. After retiring in the mid-1980s, he learned to fly and became a commercial apple grower. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; and sons Jim, Chris and Rich. (appeared in the Fall 2009 issue) • Patricia Curtis Cosgrave, a retired home economics teacher, died in Modesto last March after a brief illness. She was 82. Survivors include her husband, Russel ’50, M.Ed. ’52. (appeared in the Winter 2013 issue) • Robert Stephenson, a longtime resident of Camarillo, died in October after a long illness at age 88. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and retired strawberry grower. (appeared in the Winter 2013 issue) • William “Nic” Smith, died in January in Yountville from lung cancer. He was 84. A U.S. Army Medical Corp veteran, he worked in Solano County in a variety of careers, including fruit rancher, inspector, licensed stockbroker, travel agent and racing official. (appeared in the Spring 2013 issue) |