Hugh E. Cross ’50

hugh e crossHugh Edward Cross, 83, of Carrollton, IL passed away on Friday,June 24, 2011, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL. Mr. Cross attended Jersey Township High School for two years and then transferred to and graduated from Western Military Academy in Alton, IL. He attended the University of Illinois with his enrollment interrupted by his enlistment in the U.S. Navy from 1945-1946. While at the U of I, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He graduated in the class of 1950. In 1951, Mr. Cross bought the Carrollton Farm Supply Co. (an International Harvester farm implement dealership) and was owner and manager for 25 years.

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David S. Timson ’75

1388182_20100105123004_000+dn1photo1logo.imgDavid Scott Timson, 56, of Lake Forest, IL passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, IL, loving husband of Reggie Wanland Timson; devoted father of Kyle David, 21, and Andrew Scott, 20.; beloved brother of George and Suzanne Timson Barker; and son of the late George Harold and Betty Jean (Behrens) Timson. A 1971 graduate of Mt. Prospect High School, David earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in 1976 from the University of Illinois in Champaign where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He pursued his career in the investment finance field serving a variety of financial and planning positions including Director of Venture Management and Analysis for Greyhound Capital Corporation, Executive Director/Partner in the Private Markets Group of Brinson Partners, Inc. and ultimately became a valued partner for the past 24 years in the highly respected investment firm of Adams Street Partners, LLC in Chicago. Dave served on the board of Enfora, Inc. and Greeley & Hansen. He was responsible for the Birds Eye, Esselte, Hertz, Kappa Smufit and Leiner Investments. He was also instrumental in investing in companies such as Microchip Technology, Morningstar Foods, SalesLogix and Scientific Protein Labs to mention a few. He was an avid reader and had passions for fitness, golf, automobiles, but most importantly, his friends and family. He served as an exemplary role model for all of those who were fortunate to know and love him. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Evan’s Scholar Foundation, 1 Briar Road, Golf, IL 60029. Memorial Visitation 3 until the 5 p.m. Memorial Service with reception to follow Thursday, January 7, 2010 at Conway Farms Golf Club, 425 S. Conway Farms Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045. Info: (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?pid=138186960#fbLoggedOut

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Robert Nicolette ’66

Former Illini athletic trainer Bob Nicolette died Sunday. Here’s the obituary that ran in Tuesday’s News-Gazette:

Robert Nicolette

CHAMPAIGN — Robert Lane Nicolette, 81, of Champaign passed away at 1:12 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at the Champaign Urbana Regional Rehab Center, Savoy.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church, 302 West Church Street, Champaign, IL 61820, with Reverend Doctor Rick Snyder officiating. Private family burial will be held in Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy, IL 61874.

Mr. Nicolette was born on Oct. 31, 1928, in Chicago. He was the son of Anthony O. and Rose Skaluad Nicolette. He married Judith Dawson on Aug. 2, 1958, in Champaign. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Lane (Serra) Nicolette of Champaign; one daughter, Amy (Tim) Born of Champaign; one son-in-law, Cary Izzi of Morton Grove; seven grandchildren; and one brother, John (Geraldine) A. Nicolette of Winnetka.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Jill Nicolette Izzi.
Mr. Nicolette served in the U.S. Army in the Armored Tank Division during the Korean Conflict. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in physical education. He was head trainer of athletics at the U of I from 1954 until 1969 and real estate broker with Nicolette Hoggatt Dawson Realty. He was a member of Kiwanis, served on the Boys and Girls Club Council, volunteered for Champaign Central High School football as trainer, and for many years served as trainer for the state wrestling and basketball tournaments. He enjoyed fishing at the family cabin in Wisconsin and cottage in Michigan. He attended the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign.

Memorials can be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494 or to the Carle Hospice, 206 A West Anthony Drive, Champaign, IL 61822.

Former Illini basketball Harv Schmidt had this to say about Bob:

— It was with a great deal of sorrow that I learned of Bob Nicollette’s passing away. “Nick” and I were in school together and good friends. He was older having been in the military, a very good student,and, of course, a wonderful student trainer.

When I returned as coach in 1967 “Nick” was our trainer for a couple of years, He ran an up-beat training room, was a genius treating injuries, and highly respected by all Athletes in all sports. He held strongly to his principles of the proper way to to administer treatment and prevent injuries.

It is easy to describe Bob Nicollette–a great guy!!!!

Harv Schmidt

Comments from Al Martindale, current Head Athletic Trainer to our student trainer alumni:

Our sports medicine family lost a member on Sunday night, Bob Nicolette who was the Head Athletic Trainer at the U of I 1954-1969 passed away, he was 81.

Dr Bob Gurtler, Carle Sports Medicine, Rick Jean, Christie Sports Medicine, Skip Pickering, Provena Sports Medicine have all talked about the impact Bob had on the local sports medicine scene. It is important that our sports medicine community be represented, in thoughts and prayers, at his visitation and memorial service.

Bob was a strong advocate of our student athletic training program, through his actions and contributions. For those of us that had the opportunity to know Bob, we are better athletic trainers because of him.

He was a great guy, hard working, intelligent, determined and patient.

One of the really neat and special pictures that we have taken was at a student athletic trainer banquet several years ago. It was a picture of the three former Head Athletic Trainers and me. I think of the history and knowledge and experience in that photo. Amazing.

Bob Nicolette…..1954-1969, Bob Behnke, 1969-1973, Skip Pickering, 1973-1983 and Al Martindale, 1983-to present

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Richard V. Clausing ’77

10368209_302319506640588_181927145436555047_nRichard V. Clausing Visitation for Richard V. Clausing of Ridgewood, N.J., will be from 12 noon until the time of the services at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road (four blocks south of Palatine Road), Arlington Heights. Interment will be in Randhill Park Cemetery. Born in Elgin, to Vernon and Lucille (nee Harz) Clausing, he passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, in White Pigeon, Mich. Richard was a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign. He worked for Arthur Andersen in Chicago. Later Richard worked as an executive of the May Corporation, where he became the CFO of Famous Barr. He then worked as the CFO of Lord & Taylor and later became the chairman. He also served as the CFO of Wickes Furniture. Richard is survived by his wife, Amy (nee Vogt); his children, Beth and John; his mother, Lucille Clausing; his sisters, Christine (Ernest) Owens and Marianne (Kevin Lee) Clausing-Lee; his nieces, Melissa, Kara, Ashlie and Rachel; and his nephew, R.J. He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Clausing. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Richard V. Clausing Accounting Scholarship Fund and mailed to the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation, c/o Richard V. Clausing Accounting Scholarship Fund, 32 E. Washington St., Symphony Centre, Suite 1350, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Donations may also be made to the Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood NJ 07450 or the Ridgewood High School Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 1338, Ridgewood, NJ 07451. For information and condolences, www.GlueckertFH.com or 847-253-0168. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=richard-v-clausing&pid=133272644#fbLoggedOut

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Richard S. “Dixie” Walbaum ’60

Richard S. “Dixie” Walbaum  '60

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Richard Sherwood Walbaum, 71, died at his home on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was born May 16, 1938, in Springfield, Illinois, to the late G. Crum and Mary Taylor Walbaum.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Molly Moore Walbaum, and his sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Janet of Fair Oaks, Indiana; David and Megan of Rochester, New York; and Daniel and Moira of West Lafayette, Indiana; and by his great joy, grandchildren, Owen, Emma, Ellen, Henry, and Nathan; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Anita Walbaum of Springfield, Illinois; and by countless dear friends that he gathered over his lifetime.

He graduated from Springfield High School in Springfield, Illinois, the University of Illinois, with a Bachelor of Science degree, and Purdue University with a Master of Science degree. While at Illinois, he served as president of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He served in the Unites States Army as a lieutenant in the First Air Defense Missile Brigade at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Upon separation from the service he entered graduate school at Purdue. He was later named assistant dean for undergraduate administration at the Krannert School of Management. He loved working with students and established the School of Management’s Student Council. He was proud of his significant role in the establishment of the Business Opportunity Program for the Krannert School. For many years, he served as faculty advisor for Grand Prix and was selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Gimlet, Reamers, and Iron Key.

In 1984, he became assistant athletics director at Purdue and was director of the John Purdue Club. In later years he became senior associate athletics director and helped to establish Purdue’s areas of athletics marketing and promotions. He was a winner of the Diamond P. Award, and in 2001 he retired as senior associate athletics director emeritus.

Community service included many years as coach and commissioner of the Little Gridiron youth football league of West Lafayette and active support of Junior Achievement, West Lafayette High School Booster Club, and the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation. He was a longtime board member and treasurer of the Lyn Treece Boys and Girls Club. He was also a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Purdue Alumni Association, Purdue President’s Council, and the John Purdue Club.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Richard Walbaum Memorial Fund, care of the John Purdue Club, Ross-Ade Pavilion, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

There will be a memorial visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway W., West Lafayette, IN 47906. A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 6, at Federated Church, 2400 Sycamore Lane, West Lafayette, IN 47906, with Rev. David Mills officiating.

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Marc B. Fagot ’75

MarcFagotMarc Burnham Fagot, 55, of Geneva passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, March 5, after a valiant, year long battle with cancer. By his side were Robin, his loving wife of 28 years, and his two sons, John and Drew. With him in spirit and support at his passing were countless friends and family members, all of whom were blessed by having been a part of his life.

Marc was born May 10, 1953 in Danville, Illinois, the son of Robert and Mertyce Fagot. He graduated from Danville High School, where he was active in the choral music programs, as well as swimming, track and, most importantly, football. He was chosen to attend the American Legion Premier Boys State conference in Springfield, where he was elected Boys State Attorney General. Marc then attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. While at the U of I he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, and a fullback for two years for the varsity football team. He graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

After a brief association with Mark Shale and Associates in Texas, Marc moved to Chicago. He opened Marc Marketing in a showroom at the Chicago Merchandise Mart, and remained at the Mart for the next twenty years. As the business focused on unique home furnishings and decorative accessories, Marc was elected President of the Chicago Gift Association. He moved the business to Geneva in 2001, also operating a retail store “Domus” on Third Street. Most recently, Marc was employed as a sales manager for Riverfront Chrysler Jeep in North Aurora.

Marc and Robin (Unverferth) were married in Danville on April 12, 1980, and after living in Chicago for a short time, made their home in Geneva. Along with being a tremendous ambassador for the community, Marc served as a charter Board Member of the Geneva Baseball Association, and was responsible for the initial fundraising efforts necessary to get the league started. In addition, he served as the Treasurer of the Geneva High School All-Sports Boosters. It was 9 years ago that Marc found the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his caring and commitment to the youth of Geneva. In 2000 he stepped forward to volunteer as an Assistant Coach for the Geneva High School Football Vikings. In that capacity, Marc not only helped shape young lives, but also helped to rebuild the program and lead the Vikings to the state championship game this past November.

Marc was an avid fisherman and took many father/son fishing trips to Canada with his sons. He also enjoyed golf, loved the Cubs, the Bears and, most of all, his Fighting Illini.

Marc is survived by the love of his life, Robin, and his two sons, John and Drew, all at home in Geneva. He also leaves behind his parents, Mertyce and the Hon. John P. Meyer of Danville, his brothers Robert (Kathy) Fagot of Egan, MN, John (Toni) Meyer, Jr. of Danville, Michael Meyer of Yorba Linda, CA, Christopher (Sue) Meyer of Danville, his sisters Mary (Rudy) Manfredi of Fairfield, CA, Betsy (Russell) Elam of Susanville, CA, Melinda (David) Jankowski of Danville, a special brother-in-law, T.J. Goetting of Bangor, ME, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert and his beloved sister, Tamara.

Mass will be held 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 10th at St. Peter Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva. Visitation will be Monday from 3-8:00 P.M. at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 West Street, (Rt. 38), Geneva. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Marc B. Fagot Memorial Fund, c/o Park National Bank, 808 West State Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. For info call Yurs Funeral Home of Geneva. 630-232-7337 or at yursfuneralhomes.com.

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Donald I. Weller ’51

Donald Weller was a native of Illinois, Champaign HS class of ’46; HS State wrestling champion and Sports Hall of Fame, 1998. Graduated from the University of Illinois, class of ’51, earning a BS in Chemistry. Retired as Western Regional Manager of American Can Company, Research Dept., 1985. Served in the U.S. Army during Korean War. Avid interest in sports, gardening, and traveling.

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John L. Heath ’57

John L. Heath '57John L. Heath, Heath Candy Bar heir, died Monday, January 9, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Heath was the grandson of the founder of L.S. Heath and Sons, established in 1914 and head quartered in Robinson, Illinois.

Heath was born in Robinson on December 30, 1935. He worked for the Heath Candy Company from 1962 until 1988. He was the Chairman, President and CEO from 1971 to 1982, and he remained as the Chairman of the Board until 1988. Heath retired from the day-to-day operations of the candy company in 1985 and moved to Paradise Valley, Arizona. He and his brother, Allan Heath, sold their interest in L.S. Heath and Sons to the Leaf Candy Company in 1989. Heath intentionally orchestrated the sale to Leaf to keep the candy manufacturing plant operational in his small hometown of 7,000 residents. The Leaf Candy Company, manufactures of Whoppers, Milk Duds and Payday, was subsequently purchased by Hershey.

Heath was a well known community leader in Illinois and Arizona. He served on numerous boards and commissions, including bank boards and hospital boards in both states. He also served on the Central Illinois Power Service Board of Directors, the Board of Endowment for Eastern Illinois University and the Endowment Board of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. Within the candy industry, Heath was highly involved with the National Confectioners Association, and he was often a featured speaker at national candy conventions.

He was particularly proud to be a former investor in the Phoenix Suns. Heath was a graduate of Robinson High School and Eastern Illinois University. He served in the military in the Army Signal Core at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Prior to joining the candy company, Heath was a radio personality and Station Manager at WEIC in Charleston, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife Sheila, his brother Allan, his sons Larry and David and his daughters Kerry and April. His four children awarded Heath with nine grandchildren. His entire family resides in metro Phoenix, Arizona. Services have concluded.

Published in The Arizona Republic on 1/29/2006.

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Charles “Chick” H. Delano III ’62

Charles “Chick” H. Delano III, 65, of Springfield, died at 10:40 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2006 at Memorial Medical Center.

Chick was born on March 19, 1940 in Springfield, the son of Charles H. and Nell Curren Delano. He married Barbara Schwarm on September 12, 1964 in Evanston, IL.

Chick was a 1961 graduate of Stanford University and received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1964. He practiced law serving as a trial lawyer for forty-one years. He began his career with Continental Bank of Chicago and then practiced at two LaSalle Street litigation firms. He served as a Sangamon County Assistant State (TM)s Attorney. In 1967 he founded Delano Law Offices. He served as the first corporation counsel for the city of Springfield, setting up its law department. In 1992 he purchased the Roland building which sat upon the foundation of the historic American House Hotel. The full historic renovation was recognized by the National Park Service as a certified historic structure. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Catherine Curren and Mary Christine.

He is survived by his wife: Barbara of Springfield; three sons: Charles H. (wife, Erika) Delano IV of Springfield, John (wife, Lisa) Delano of Brookline, MA, Kevin (wife, Annie) Delano of North Riverside, IL; three daughters: Sarah (husband, Tom) Pavlik and Cathleen (husband, Patrick) Sweeten both of Springfield, and Ann (husband, Keith) Bunnell of Peoria, eleven grandchildren, and a sister: Jane (husband, Warren) Foran of Springfield.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 ” 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2006 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home , 900 S. 6th St. Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. Concelebrated Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut, Springfield with Rev. James Neuman, principal celebrant and Rev. David H. Hoefler and and Rev. Robert Spriggs, concelebrants. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 748 W. Laurel, Springfield, IL 62704.

The family of Charles “Chick” H. Delano III is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield. – See more at: http://www.butlerfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Charles-Chick-H.-Delano-III/Springfield-IL/277768#sthash.Fj9FWegc.dpuf

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R. Gregory Swedo ’96

GregRobert Gregory Swedo studied finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne. Following graduation in 1996 he worked at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) for Lakota Trading before being tragically killed in November 2000 by a hit-and-run.

A memorial fund has been established in Swedo’s memory to help other students with the costs of education. For more information visit http://www.gregoryswedo.com/