Together, we mourn the loss of our fellow graduates from the Brown Class of 1980. Below is a list of memorials published in the Brown Alumni Monthly for the years 2017 - 2022. We will add memorials from previous years below as time permits.
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Note: If you know of a 1980 classmate (undergraduate or graduate) who has passed away, but who is not listed on this page, please send an e-mail to: Classof1980@alumni.brown.edu. Photos of the departed are also welcome. Thank you.
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2017 Memorials
Donya A. Powers ’80, of Providence; May 19. She started a family medicine practice in Seekonk, Mass., in 1986 and was affiliated with Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Mass. In 1992 she moved her practice to Providence and then Pawtucket, R.I. She held numerous hospital appointments throughout her career, including medical staff president at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, medical director for Hospice of CVNA in Attleboro, and clinical associate professor at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine. In 1994 she earned a fellowship from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). She served on the AAFP’s Commission on Science and later was a member of its National Research Network, for which she presented original clinical research internationally at World Family Medicine meetings. She was a volunteer with the AAFP Foundation’s Physicians with Heart program, traveling to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Republic of Georgia to deliver humanitarian aid to local hospitals and lead educational sessions for local family physicians. She enjoyed reading mystery and science fiction stories, cooking, photography, ballroom dancing, and traveling. She is survived by a brother, a sister-in-law, and two nephews, including Andrew Y. Powers ’15.
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Emily H. Rubenstein ’80, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Boston and San Francisco; June 21, of complications from Cushing’s Syndrome, lupus, and diabetes. After Brown, she earned a JD from Northeastern Law School and worked for as an associate with the former law firm of Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon in San Francisco. She is survived by two sons, her parents, and two brothers.
William M. Waggaman ’80, of Edgartown, Mass., formerly of Norwalk, Conn.; Oct. 21. He was a retired marketing manager. While at Brown, he was a member of the rowing team. He is survived by his wife, Audrey; two daughters; a son-in-law; his mother; a sister; and two brothers.
2018 Memorials
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Peter M. Kriff ’80, of Columbus, Ohio; Mar. 26, of cancer. He was head of his own advertising/design agency in Burlington and a 30-year member of the Vermont Jazz Ensemble. For the last 10 years he was executive director of the Vermont Statewide Independent Living council. He is survived by his wife, Robyn; a son; a stepson; his mother; a sister; and a brother
Jonathan Resnick ’80, of Chappaqua, N.Y.; Sept. 28, due to complications from the onset of septic shock. He worked as an assignments editor and a political editor at WBZ-TV in Boston prior to helping start CNBC as their first news editor. He later joined his father’s business, Barbizon Lighting, which he built into a large lighting and rigging supply company. At Brown he was a member of the soccer team and Delta Phi Omega. He remained active with Brown as a class officer, reunion officer, and supporter of the Brown Sports Foundation. At the time of his death he was helping coordinate a soccer reunion commemorating the 1970s soccer teams that achieved great success. He enjoyed coaching boys and girls soccer in Chappaqua for two decades and was a congregant of Temple Beth El. He is survived by his wife, Sue; three children; three sisters, including Maxanne Resnick ’81; and several nieces and nephews.
2019 Memorials
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Sallie McLean Ramsden ’80, of Lyme, N.H.; Oct. 28. A homemaker and community volunteer, she restored old homes, researched the genealogy of her family, and was instrumental in restoring the Lyme Congregational Church and Lyme Academy building. She was a leader of the Lyme Historians and co-authored a history of Lyme. She enjoyed gardening, sailing, skiing, hiking, and traveling. She is survived by her husband, Richard Ramsden ’59; a daughter; two sons and their spouses; and seven grandchildren, including David Rabin ’14.
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2020 Memorials
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Thomas A. Epstein ’80, of Carver, Mass.; Sept. 30, of cancer. He was a supervising engineer for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for more than 35 years, where he was credited with being a skilled writer. He wrote some of the first rules for solid and hazardous waste management programs and created the department’s first website as its webmaster. He retired in 2018, then drove a school bus and played Santa Claus for the Edaville Railroad. He was also an actor who won the role of Carver’s King Richard’s Faire’s Chef Crumpet in 1993 before being crowned king in 2002, a reign that lasted 16 years. He is survived by his wife, Diandra, and two children.
Frederick J. Brian ’80, of Fort Pierce, Fla.; Feb. 7. He spent his career working with his childhood friend Bob Picerne at Picerne Real Estate Group. He traveled the world and enjoyed boating, fishing, and skiing. He is survived by his wife, Leslie; his father Joseph ’47; two sisters, including Wynne Brian ’81; and a brother.
Wendy Schornstein Good ’80, of New Orleans; May 24, after a battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. After Brown, she went on to Tulane Law School, where she was a member of Order of the Coif and Tulane Law Review. After clerking at the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, she joined Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel in the estate and trust practice, remaining there until 1988. After Hurricane Katrina, she began photographing and documenting various aspects of street, burial, and musician culture and ritual. This included David Peters Montana, Big Chief of the Washitaw Nation Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, as well as local musicians, including Kermit Ruffins and his “We Partyin’ Traditional Style!” album. She served as an executive board member for Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans and of Temple Sinai, where she cocreated and led Sabbath of the Soul. She was a longtime supporter of local artists and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Prior to her death she had trained to be a medical advocate for victims of domestic violence with the New Orleans Family Justice Center. She is survived by her husband, Julian; two daughters and sons-in-laws; her parents; two sisters and their families
2021 Memorials
Howard S. Klein ’80, of Phoenix, Md.; Sept. 11, from glioblastoma. While attending Brown, he joined the crew team and Kappa Delta Upsilon. After graduating, he returned to Baltimore to earn a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and worked at the Frank, Bernstein, Conaway & Goldman law firm in Baltimore before returning to Forest Hill to join his family’s growing supermarket business. He became an executive of his family’s chain, Klein’s ShopRite supermarkets, transforming a small general store into a chain of nine full-service supermarkets and an associated real estate development company. Over the years, he assisted in capital campaigns and fundraising efforts for McDonogh School and was the recipient of their 2009 Alumni Distinguished Service Award; he was inducted into the Circle of Philanthropy in February 2021. In the spring of 2021, the Class of 1976 established an endowed scholarship in his name. He enjoyed skiing and playing golf and is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter; two sons; two grandsons; and a brother.
David S. Bigelow IV ’80, of Harrison, N.Y.; Oct. 17, of pancreatic cancer. He spent his career in the financial services industry, most recently as managing director at Fiduciary Trust International. He was instrumental in fundraising and was involved as a mentor with first generation college students through Project Basta. He enjoyed spending time skiing with his
children in Vermont. He is survived by his mother, four children, three siblings, many nieces and nephews, and his former wife.
2022 Memorials
Kenneth S. Hahn ’80, of Homer, Alaska; Feb. 6, in an automobile accident after suffering a medical condition. He was a physician who previously worked in Carnation, Washington, prior to joining Kachemak Medical Group in 1996. He was on the South Peninsula Hospital medical staff from 1996 to 2017 and served as chief of staff in 2012. In addition to his work as a doctor, he was part of Homer’s peony farming and gardening community and assisted in the Homer Peony Celebration. He is survived by his partner, Linda Stearns; three children; two grandsons; and his former wife, Nancy Karle.
Morris V. Johnson ’80, of San Francisco; Dec. 26. He began working as a lead developer for several artificial intelligence start-ups in the Bay Area. After teaching in Germany for a period of time, he began his own consulting business and eventually became a lead developer at Audacity, an open-source digital audio application software. He played keyboard at several San Francisco venues over the past 20 years, including performances with his own Vaughn Johnson Trio. He is survived by a brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew.
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Memorial Gifts: If you would like to donate to Brown in memory of a classmate or loved one, please click here now. Thank you.
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