Alumni & Giving

Family Loss

Over the years, many have referred to the campus community as a family. We often hear about the passing of alumni and former employees. This page is provided to help you know of those life transitions. If you know of a classmate or former employee who has passed on, please complete the form below. If you have any questions, please contact Larry Stewart at lstewart@rochesteru.edu.

2024

Randa (McClure) Griffith, a member of the class of 2010, passed away Sept. 16, 2024. Her parents, Randy and Karen McClure, are former employees of the university. Obituary
 
Liz Nichols, a member of the class of 1994, passed away Sept. 10, 2024. Two of her siblings, Stephanie (Nichols ’90, ’17) Lawson and Matt Nichols (’02, ‘14), are also alumni. Obituary
 
Phyllis (Huckaba) Ferguson, a member of the class of 1968, passed away Sept. 8, 2024. Her husband, Dan Ferguson, was also a member of the same class. Her brothers, Harlan Huckaba (’60) and Phil Huckaba (’75) are also alumni, as well as her daughter, Lydia (Ferguson ‘91) Horvath. Obituary
 
As a teacher, theatre director, and eventually academic dean, Larry Jurney had a tremendous impact on campus from 1970 through 1986. He passed away Aug. 9, 2024. His wife, Nancy Jurney, served as a campus librarian during many of those years. Obituary
 

A member of the class of 1961, Gary Lutes, passed away July 14, 2024. Gary’s wife, Onita, is also a member of the class of 1961. Two of their daughters, Karla (Lutes-’83) Hawkins and Rita (Lutes-’84) Pulley, are graduates of the university. Obituary

Timothy Vancil, a member of the class of 1963, died May 19, 2024. Obituary

Cherry (Echols) Hart, a 1980 graduate, passed away May 7, 2024. Cherry’s husband, Clay Hart, is also a 1980 graduate. Obituary

A member of the class of 1963, Jack Cronk, passed away May 4, 2024. Jack’s sister, Linda (Cronk) Tucker, is a member of the class of 1969. Obituary

Nola (Lee) Cucheran, a member of the class of 1964, passed away  April 15, 2024. Nola’s husband, Bob Cucheran, is a member of the class of 1967. Their daughter, Cathy (Cucheran) Herman, is a 1987 graduate. Two “adopted” children, Vic Bliss (’90, ’04) and Ann (Bliss-’90) Sparks, are also alumni. Obituary

A member of the class of 1987, Laurie Losiewicz, died April 9, 2024. Obituary

Dennis Rainsberger, a member of the class of 1976, passed away March 21, 2024. His wife, Vicky (Spurgeon) Rainsberger, is a member of the class of 1977. Two of their children, Justin Rainsberger (’03) and Jayson Rainsberger (’04); and two siblings, Cheryl Rainsberger (’80) and David Rainsberger (‘83), are also alumni. Obituary

A 1977 graduate, David Kwasiborski, passed away March 17, 2024. David’s sister, Kim (Kwasiborski) McKerracher, is also a member of the class of 1977. Obituary

Justine Yennor, a 2004 graduate, died Feb. 23, 2024. Obituary

Tamara (McCormick) Ross, a member of the class of 1983, died Feb. 19, 2024. Obituary

Gary Mitchell, a member of the class of 1964, passed away Jan. 30, 2024. His son, Eric Mitchell, is a 1998 graduate. Obituary

A member of the class of 1960, Jerry Burns, passed away Jan. 4, 2024. Obituary

Kevin Sircloumb, a member of the class of 1983, died Jan. 3, 2024. Obituary

2023

David Park, a former vice president of finance and operations during the mid-2010s, passed away Dec. 6, 2023. David was a longstanding supporter of the university. His wife, Linda (Doughty) Park, is a 1974 graduate. Obituary

Dale Sargent, a member of the class of 1962, died Dec. 1, 2023. Obituary

Jim Hall, a 1961 graduate, passed away Nov. 30, 2023. Jim’s brother, Bill Hall, was a member of the class of 1962 and only former student to lose his life in Vietnam. His parents, Maurice and Marie Hall, were instrumental in the founding years of the university. Obituary

A member of the class of 1966, Dennis Saulsberry, passed away Nov. 29, 2023. His wife, Cynthia (Clark) Saulsberry, is a 1967 graduate. Obituary

Sheri Johnson, a 1972 graduate, died Nov. 12, 2023. Obituary

Chuck Richards, a member of the class of 1970, died Oct. 20, 2023. Chuck’s sister, Coralie Richards, is a member of the class of 1971. Obituary

A 1963 graduate, Cheri (Riggenbach) Bartlett, passed away Oct. 5, 2023. Cheri’s son, Ward Bartlett, is a member of the class of 1978. Obituary

Joan (Treptau) Johnson, a 1965 graduate, passed away Sept. 25, 2023. Joan’s husband, Tom Johnson, is a member of the class of 1966. Obituary

Mike Longfellow, a 1973 graduate, passed away Sept. 6, 2023. Two of Tom’s brothers are also alumni: Tom Longfellow (’78) and Rob Longfellow (’78) Obituary

A 1962 graduate, Judy (Milam) Bies, passed away Aug. 27, 2023. Her husband, Tim Bies, is also a 1962 graduate. Three of their children are alumni: Wendy (Bies-’83) Hannum, Chris Bies (’90), and Dan Bies (’91). Judy’s brother, Randy Milam, is a member of the class of 1964. Obituary

Terri (Girdley) Turner, a 1999 graduate, passed away June 20, 2023. Terri’s three sisters are also alumni: Julie (Girdley-’90) Boyd, Lori (Girdley-’86) Gunningham, and Kim (Girdley-’92) Penna. Obituary

John Qualls, a 1991 graduate, died Jun 5, 2023. Obituary

A member of the class of 1962, Kathy (Bush) DiMarzio, passed away May 29, 2023. Kathy’s husband, John DiMarzio, is a member of the class of 1983. Two of their daughters, Lisa (DiMarzio) VanNatta and Toni (DiMarzio) Coalson, are 1988 graduates. Obituary

Marlyce (Robb) Martin, a member of the class of 1982, passed away May 23, 2023. Marlyce’s sister, Tammy (Robb) VanWagoner, is a member of the class of 1977. Obituary

Steve Lance, a member of the class of 1971, passed away April 18, 2023. Steve’s wife, Candy (McCain) Lance, is a 1971 graduate. Obituary

A member of the class of 1981, Deb Duzan, died April 10, 2023. Obituary

Gary Henson, a member of the class of 1962, passed away March 28, 2023. Gary’s wife, Marilyn (Kincade) Henson, was a 1962 graduate, and their daughter, Karla Henson, a member of the class of 1985. Obituary

A 2010 graduate, Claire (Wegner) Kwolek, passed away March 16, 2023. Claire’s sister, Ava (Wegner) Lucas is a 2011 graduate. Obituary

Marilyn (Kincade) Henson, a 1962 graduate, passed away March 12, 2023. Marilyn’s husband, Gary Henson, was also a member of the class of 1962. Their daughter, Karla Henson, is a member of the class of 1985. Marilyn’s sister, Linda (Kincade) Huckaba, is a member of the class of 1960. Obituary

Frankie Miller, a 2016 graduate, died Jan. 5, 2023. Obituary

A member of the class of 1969, Ken Burman, passed away Jan. 1, 2023. Obituary