Class Note 1949
Issue
March-April 2022
Unfortunately, this column has no good news, as several class stalwarts have passed away.
Paul Francis Woodberry died on October 15, 2021, in Sea Island, Georgia, where he lived. Paul had a successful corporate career, with senior positions at W.R. Grace and Allegheny Corp. among his accomplishments. With four children and 10 grandchildren attending Dartmouth, he undoubtedly holds the class record and maybe the College record for Big Green progeny. Paul was a good friend to many classmates, including me, and contributed frequently to this column. He is survived by children Seth ’81, Sturgis ’88, Sarah ’87, and Leslie.
Douglas Thomson died on October 22, 2021, at his home in Savannah, Georgia. Doug, who was my predecessor as class secretary, spent 27 years with Uniroyal, ending up as president of the consumer division. He then served as president of the Toy Association in New York before retiring. Doug, 97, a fine golfer, shot his age regularly into his 90s. He leaves behind his wife, B.J. (Betty Jane), daughter Brooke, and son Alexander.
My close friend Thomas Hagen Towler died on December 13, 2021, in his retirement home in Sarasota, Florida. We saw each other regularly for almost 40 years, and I will miss him. Tom retired as CEO of both Top Value and S&H Green Stamps in the early 1980s, after spending his career as a top executive in several retail supplier businesses in a dozen communities around the country. In retirement, Tom served on the boards of New College and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is survived by children Ned, Jon, Bill, and Jill.
Richard Wilson Hanselman died on October 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived. Dick spent his career as a prominent corporate executive at RCA, Samsonite, Beatrice Foods, and Genesco. Upon retiring as CEO of Genesco (footwear and accessories), he served as a director of 27 public and private companies, including Becton Dickinson, Equitable Life, and HCA. Dick is survived by his wife, Beverly, and daughter Jane.
Joseph Tyrone Derry, a resident of Palm Harbor, Florida, died on August 27, 2021. Joe received his M.B.A. in industrial-labor relations from the University of Pennsylvania and then moved to Miami, where he had his own business. Nothing is known about his career or family.
—John Adler, 1623 Pelican Cove Road, BA123, Sarasota, FL 34231; (203) 622-9069; (941) 966-2943 (fax)
Paul Francis Woodberry died on October 15, 2021, in Sea Island, Georgia, where he lived. Paul had a successful corporate career, with senior positions at W.R. Grace and Allegheny Corp. among his accomplishments. With four children and 10 grandchildren attending Dartmouth, he undoubtedly holds the class record and maybe the College record for Big Green progeny. Paul was a good friend to many classmates, including me, and contributed frequently to this column. He is survived by children Seth ’81, Sturgis ’88, Sarah ’87, and Leslie.
Douglas Thomson died on October 22, 2021, at his home in Savannah, Georgia. Doug, who was my predecessor as class secretary, spent 27 years with Uniroyal, ending up as president of the consumer division. He then served as president of the Toy Association in New York before retiring. Doug, 97, a fine golfer, shot his age regularly into his 90s. He leaves behind his wife, B.J. (Betty Jane), daughter Brooke, and son Alexander.
My close friend Thomas Hagen Towler died on December 13, 2021, in his retirement home in Sarasota, Florida. We saw each other regularly for almost 40 years, and I will miss him. Tom retired as CEO of both Top Value and S&H Green Stamps in the early 1980s, after spending his career as a top executive in several retail supplier businesses in a dozen communities around the country. In retirement, Tom served on the boards of New College and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is survived by children Ned, Jon, Bill, and Jill.
Richard Wilson Hanselman died on October 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived. Dick spent his career as a prominent corporate executive at RCA, Samsonite, Beatrice Foods, and Genesco. Upon retiring as CEO of Genesco (footwear and accessories), he served as a director of 27 public and private companies, including Becton Dickinson, Equitable Life, and HCA. Dick is survived by his wife, Beverly, and daughter Jane.
Joseph Tyrone Derry, a resident of Palm Harbor, Florida, died on August 27, 2021. Joe received his M.B.A. in industrial-labor relations from the University of Pennsylvania and then moved to Miami, where he had his own business. Nothing is known about his career or family.
—John Adler, 1623 Pelican Cove Road, BA123, Sarasota, FL 34231; (203) 622-9069; (941) 966-2943 (fax)