Willard Eugene Wolfe ’51

Willard Eugene Wolfe ’51 died on February 16 at home in Frankfort, Michigan, of pancreatic cancer. He was born in Detroit, grew up in nearby Grosse Ile and graduated from its high school in 1944. He joined the U.S. Army, became an officer and ended his service in 1947 during the occupation of Japan. While at Dartmouth he majored in psychology, was president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, served on the Interfraternity Council and was involved in freshman football and varsity crew (as co-captain of the 150-pound crew). Married in 1953 to Joan Luedders, he worked in several businesses before opting to enter dental school, graduating in 1960. By now with two sons they moved across the state to Grand Rapids, where he established his practice. He served as the volunteer dentist for the Blodgett Hospital cleft palate team and was president of the Kent County Dental Society. An ardent fly fisherman, he became very active in conservation and environmental issues. He chaired West Michigan Trout Unlimited and organized and led a statewide committee that wrote what became the Inland Lakes & Streams Act. He retired in 1990 and moved to Frankfort on Lake Michigan. He continued his interest in the environment by serving on several boards. He was an Eagle Scout, a Rotarian, active in his church and enjoyed bird watching, cross-country skiing, forestry, gardening, music, cooking and reading. Will is survived by Joan and son John ’77. Son Peter was killed while serving in the Peace Corps in Guatemala.