Dr. Henry Gilbert Ingersoll '35 of Hockessin, DE, formerly of Chestertown, MD, died on May 28, 2007 at the age of 91. After graduating Gil received a master's degree from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940. He worked as a research chemist for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, DE, for 39 years. Gil was an avid hunter and a skilled skeetshooter, lifelong bird lover, trophy- winning sailor, alpine skier, hiker of the Appalachian Trail, environmentalist and outdoorsman. In the mid-1940s he purchased 320 acres of farmland on the river near his birthplace and built a family vacation home—a hunting and environmental preserve as well as operating farm. In 1996 he created a conservation easement to maintain the property as open land forever. Dr. Ingersoll's children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to enjoy this greatest of legacies.
Louis Evans Smith '49, of Eustis, and formerly of Salisbury, passed away May 13, 2007, at Avante in Mount Dora, FL, after a lengthy illness. During his college years, he was drafted and served in World War II with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. After college, Lou was employed for a time with White and Leonard, and then went to work at Salisbury Steel Products/H.D. Metal, where he retired after 35 years as comptroller. On Aug. 6, 1947, Lou married the love of his life, Nancy, to whom he was married for 59 years until she passed away March 23, 2007. Lou was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church while living in Salisbury and served on the administrative boards of both and also served on the administrative board at First United Methodist Church in Umatilla, FL. Lou was active in the community as a life member of Wicomico Lodge AF&AM 91 as a 32nddegree Mason, Salisbury Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix, the Chesapeake Consistory, the Boumi Shrine Temple in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore Shrine Club. He was a member of the Good Sam Club, president of the Holiday Ramblers, member of the Parks & Recreation of Wicomico County, past president of the Mardel Chapter, and served on the Alumni Council of Washington College. He was past president of East Salisbury Elementary and Wicomico Junior High PTAs, and served on the Advisory Board of Wicomico Senior High School.
Daniel A. Hall '50, a U.S. Marine who spent 33 years as an instructor in the Ordinance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground and who was instrumental to the growth and development of Cecil Community College, passed away at his home in Colora, MD, June 5, 2007. The Daniel A. Hall Golf Classic is an annual fundraiser for Cecil Community College, where he served on the Board and held the positions of Chair and Vice Chair. Dan was an artilleryman during World War II who fought in the Marshall Islands Invasion and the Battle of Okinawa. He taught history and English at Chesapeake City High School and earned a master's in adult education from George Washington University in 1970. He was an agent and a member of the Board of Directors for Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Insurance Association of Cecil County until his passing. Upon retirement from his civil service career, he and his wife JoAnn established Diamond Stables, where they bred and raced thoroughbreds. A former member of the Rising Sun Lions Club, he was also a current and founding member of Rising Sun American Legion Post 194. Dan also helped to establish the Rising Sun Little League and the Susquehanna Youth Baseball Association. He was a founder and board member of the Harford- Cecil Oldtimers Association and served as Master of Ceremonies at their annual banquet. He is survived by a son and his second wife, Patti Holbrook Hall, and two grandchildren.
John C. Palmer '55 died July 22, 2007, at the age of 73. After college Jack served in the Maryland National Guard for 12 years. For many years he owned and operated the family business, Soil Service, in Oil City, MD, retiring in 2000. He belonged to the Denton Rotary Club, the Temple Lodge #128 AF&AM and was past president of both the Caroline Country Club and the Denton Volunteer Fire Company. In addition to his family, Jack had two loves. One was St. Luke's Church in Denton, MD, where he sang in the choir and held many offices over the years, and the other was playing golf.
John Douglas Howard '56 formerly of College Park and Annapolis, died of pneumonia July 19 at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis. He was 72. Mr. Howard, also known as "Jack" and "Hezzy," was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and an All-American lacrosse player who was later inducted into the Washington College Hall of Fame. In 1979 he became the first Shoreman to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Mr. Howard served in the Navy as a lieutenant. In 1967, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, where he taught in the English department and was head coach of University of Maryland's lacrosse team from 1966-1969. He proceeded through the ranks from instructor to assistant professor, associate professor, full professor and professor emeritus, which he was awarded in 2000. He authored two books: Blake's "Milton" and Infernal Poetics. His interests included astronomy and oil painting, for which he participated in numerous juried art exhibitions. His first wife was Anne Grim McKown '56.
C. Norris Harrison '66, formerly the director of Washington College's audio/visual services and language lab, died August 26, 2007 in Chestertown. A graduate of the Augusta Military Academy in Virginia, Mr. Harrison joined the U.S. Army and served from 1943-1960, attaining the rank of Major. He served in both World War II and Korea. After his military service he earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science, and then worked for the U.S. Navy and for Washington College. He was a member of the College's George Washington Society. He also belonged to Delta Upsilon Fraternity, the Scabbard and Blade Honor Military Society and was a life member of the Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post 36. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, two daughters, three sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Francis W. Sharp '66 died May 21, 2007 of cancer. He was 64. Born in Wilmington, DE, he was recruited to play basketball at Washington College. After graduation he worked as a manufacturer's representative for Hallmark Cards for several years before forming his own company, Mid Atlantic Sales, Inc. Mr. Sharp retired from sales in 2002 and enjoyed his time fishing, boating, hunting and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He is survived by three children, three grandchildren and a great grandson.
Jean MacNeil Wetzel '66 died April 1, 2007 at the Chester River Hospital in Chestertown. Born 90 years earlier in England, Mrs. Wetzel lived in both Paris and Tunisia during WWII, and later worked as a translator for the American Army in North Africa. She came to America in 1947 and married Frank Wetzel. Mrs. Wetzel enrolled as a nontraditional student at Washington College where she majored in French and received certification in education. She taught at Kennard School and at Queen Anne's County High School, where she inaugurated an exchange program with a high school in France. Mrs. Wetzel is survived by three nephews and two nieces.
Merry Lavelle York '75, a special projects coordinator at Stroudwater Christian Church in Portland, ME, lost her battle with cancer on March 4, 2007. She was 53. Merry had been a psychology major and a member of the Washington College Band. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
Jaron Putmon '06, an environmental studies major who had been working as a quality assurance analyst at LaMotte Company in Chestertown, drowned July 14, 2007, while vacationing with his girlfriend's family in Ohio. A midfielder on the varsity men's soccer team for four years and a two-time MVP, Jaron served as team co-captain in his senior year and earned All-Centennial Conference recognition in his junior and senior years. He is survived by his parents, three brothers, a sister and his girlfriend, Katie Dulany '06. Becky Binns, the 2006 Class President, spoke on behalf of Jaron's classmates and the many friends he made at Washington College. "The Class of 2006 will greatly miss our friend Jaron. May we always cherish and honor the amazing, smiling individual that he was."
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