Obituaries

Sadly, Sharon Hart Chackel, AIS Class of 1966, passed away on April 22, 2008.
She left behind: Her husband Robert Chackel, two children, Leann Rhodes and Jennifer Heffington, along with her sister Maureen Markman and brother Richard Hart and four grandchildren, Tegan Rhodes, Lexie Rhodes, Chandler Rhodes, and Harper Heffington. She is missed every day, very much. Questions and expressions of condolences may be sent to her daughter Leann Rhodes via email. Contact email: dchaser2@msn.com

Eugene M. Schaeffer, 86, who spent more than 20 years abroad as a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Information Agency, died August 9, 2008 at Spring Hills-Mount Vernon, an assisted living facility in southern Fairfax County, Virginia. His four children - Eric, Susan, Claire, and Michele - attended AIS in the 1970s. Read more about Eugene Schaeffer.

John Ranard, AIS class of 1971, died May 14, 2008 of liver cancer. He was a documentary photographer who's subjects included Russia, boxing, and ethnic communities in New York City, his home for 24 years. Washington Post obituary

Joel Baird, AIS class of 1973, sends sad news about his partner, Katharine Pearson, also AIS class of 1973. "Katharine eased her body into death about 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, May 24, 2008. She didn't struggle; she simply breathed her last after a long day of deeper and deeper sleep - and a long, year and a half of a particularly aggressive breast cancer." Read more from Joel.
Tribute from Joel  | Tribute from Oxfam Canada.

Rajiv Badhwar, AIS class of 1967, passed away in May, 2008, in New Delhi. He had been in a coma for over ten years after being in a car accident in Wyoming. A few years ago, the family moved him from a nursing home here in the states back to India. He is survived by three grown children living in the U.S.

Toby Lucker, AIS class of 1974, died April 5th,2008, after a seven year battle with cancer. Read more from his sister Helma, AIS class of 1975.

Former AIS teacher Frank Shepard died at his home in Springfield, MO, March 20, 2008. He was 66. Shepard taught at AIS in the late 1960s, served for 17 years with the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools, and joined the faculty of the Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO, in 1991. News story | Obituary | Guest Book | Mr. Shepard's Theater Arts Class, 1968 (PPT)

Katie Lamont Kippel (nee Hentschel) AES class of 1987 passed away March 4, 2008, a victim of breast cancer. Read more.

"I'm sorry to say that my classmate (AIS 1969) and friend Rolla Griffith died in Ethiopia in 2002 of kidney and liver failure. The sad news came from Rolla's mom who asked not to be contacted, she did however give me permission to tell the alumni of his passing." Read more from Dan Rizzie, AIS class of 1969.

"I'm sorry to say that Tom Pascale passed away in October, 2005, after a lengthy illness. He was in the class of 1971, and attended AIS just one year." Read more from Shirley Pascale Shelby AIS class of 1972.

Sad News. We have learned of the suicide death of Jana Donaho Fritz (67) in 2006. Jana left an adult daughter and three grandchildren. Condolences can be sent to her sister Susi Donaho Williams (65) and her husband Dave Williams at dsunman@cox.net (February 2008)

"It is with great sadness that I tell you Glen Lawrence, AIS class of 1968, passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2008. Glen had a liver transplant in 2004 and was doing pretty well, unfortunately he was diagnosed w/ lung cancer last April. We thought he would have had longer, but that wasn't in the great plan." Read more about Glen Lawrence.

Mary L. Brown, mother of Susan Brown Wadleigh, AIS class of 1976, Priscilla Brown Lucas, AIS class of 1973, Nancy Brown Colvin, AIS class of 1974, and Tim Brown, AIS class of 1970, passed away unexpectedly on January 28, 2008. She was 82. Heartfelt thanks to our friends from AIS for your loving support.

Bruce Ripley and Diane Cowper in 2005.

"Sad news. We have received word from Sara Ferguson and Lalla Jones, that Bruce Ripley, husband of Diane Cowper, AIS class of 1976, passed away quietly in his sleep on Sunday, January 13, 2008." Read more.

"Meng Bock Ji, AES class of 1986, passed away on August 5th, 2007. He died of a heart attack in the Philippines. He was 39 years old. He was cremated in Manila and his ashes are buried next to his father in New Delhi, India. He is sorely missed by his family and his friends.

"The family were not ready to inform everyone but I saw them over Christmas and New Year and they are healing albeit slowly. He was a very good friend to many. One of my closest friends." Sent January 9, 2007 by Paula Sachar-Phiri, AES class of 1988.

It is with great sadness that Rhonda Scott (Class of 1969) and Brenda Scott-Williams (Class of 1974) share news of the passing of their brother, Rhonie Scott (Class of 1971)from congestive heart failure on November 20, 2007. After Rhonie left India, he graduated from Highland Falls High School in Highland Falls, New York, and attended the State University of New York at New Paltz. For the past thirty years, he resided in Tampa, Florida. Rhonie was one of the good guys, known for his modesty and gentle humor. He is sorely missed by his family and friends.

"My father, James Miller, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 31, 2007. He was an information officer for USIS in 1960 and a VOA reporter and announcer on his second tour of duty in Delhi, 1974. My mother, Nell Miller, passed away on December 17th. We were at AIS: Melinda Miller '65, Melissa Miller '67, Larry '69 and Kurt, '74." Melissa Miller, AIS class of 1967.

William and Hellen Ide in 2005.

William Carter Ide, 88, who served with USAID in India in the 1960s, died July 27, 2007 of a heart ailment after a fall at his home in Vienna. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Helen Louise French Ide of Vienna; seven children, Gretchen Ide Kossack of Shrewsbury, Mass., David Chandler Ide of Arlington County, Jennifer Taylor-Ide of Franklin, W.Va., Rebecca Ide Lowe of Ojai, Calif., Peter McDonald Ide of Falls Church and Tunis, Susan Ide Patton of Vienna and Nicholas Carter Ide of McLean; and 11 grandchildren. Read more.

"I am so sorry to be sending this news. At 10:33 AM, July 8, 2007 Mark's lungs gave up the fight and he drifted peacefully into sleep. He was surrounded by loved ones and though it all seems surreal right now, we too are surrounded by loving Christian friends and family." Read more of the passing of Mark Vollmer, AIS class of 1974, from his wife, Linda.

"Our sweet father and husband made his transition at 7:45 a.m., July 5, 2007, at the Loch Raven Hospice for Veteran's. He is no longer suffering and I know he has made a full recovery on the Other Side. I/we will miss his smell and his smile, his love and his laughter, but I/we have been blessed with having known, loved, and been loved by such a fabulous human being, such a wonderful man!" Read more from Lynette Bushnell Hone, AIS class of 1974.

"I received an email from Hank Freeman, AIS class of 1966, reporting that his Mother died on November 29, 2006. She had been ill for some time and Hank had been caring for her." Read more from Anne Beattie Kerr, and an obituary for Mrs. Freeman.

Stephanie Smith, AES class of 1987, passed away October 4, 2006, age 36. Read more about Stephanie.

"I am sorry to inform you that our father Digger Jones died in a Tucson hospital on 15 November 2006. Mom and our eldest sister Cindy (ACS Addis class of 1969) were with him when he died. Sara (AIS class of 1972) had been out earlier to see him while he was in the hospital." Read more from Elizabeth (Lalla) Jones, AIS Class of 1976.

"It is with the deepest regret and sadness that we inform you of the death of our beloved daughter, Stephanie Anne Smith. Stephanie succumbed to colon cancer after a long and courageous battle on Wednesday, October 4, 2006, at the age of 36." Read more from Mark and Barbara Smith.

Jack Hols, father of Eric Hols, AIS class of 1976, and Laura Hols Toepfer, AIS class of 1971, died September 15, 2006, after a three year battle with cancer. Read more from Eric Hols.

Artur Isenberg, father of Judy Isenberg Kaufmann, AIS class of 1969, and Mark Isenberg, AIS class of 1964, died August 4th, 2006, in Afula, Israel, age 89. Read more from Judy Isenberg Kaufmann.

Alumni gathered for a memorial concert August 12, 2006 to honor Elizabeth Ronkin, mother to George and Maggie Ronkin. From left are Jane Freundel Levey, Maggie Ronkin, both AIS class of 1971, David Ide, and George Ronkin, both AIS class of 1969.

Elizabeth Ronkin, mother to George and Maggie Ronkin, AIS classes of 1969 and 1971, passed away July 11, 2006.

Elissa J. Haney, AIS class of 1967, died from a heart attack February 20, 2006. Read more from Lissa's brother Doug Haney.

Mike Bennett, AIS class of 1969, passed away January 30, 2006, of renal cancer. Read more from Debbie Bennett, AIS class of 1975.

"I'm sorry to report that Sergeant Major Robert A. "Red" Creedon, USMC (Ret), passed away on December 20, 2005. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jean, and children Rob Creedon, AIS class of 1975, Eryn Creedon Olheiser, AIS class of 1976, and John Creedon, AIS 1977." Read more about Sergeant Major Creedon.

Ray Flegel, AIS class of 1966, passed away Friday, December 30, 2005, at home with his loved ones. He was 58. Ray was a master of all trades who shared his knowledge with many. He was an avid motorcyclist and hunter. He is survived by his wife Jeanette; son, Brett Flegel; daughter, Wendy Flegel; brother Russ (Carol) sisters, Sharon Raby (Howard); and Shirley DeKoninck (Jim). Ray was a loving husband, father, brother and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Read more from Ray's family.

Ed Kelly, father of Willie Kelly (76), Terry (Kelly) Jones (79), and Sheila (Kelly) Chittum (81) passed away December 18, 2005. The Kelly family was stationed in New Delhi attached to the American Embassy from October 1974 - September 1978. Ed and his wife Kay retired to Somersworth, NH in 1986. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at 10 a.m. at Holy Church, Somersworth, NH with burial at HolyTrinity Cemetery immediately following. The burial service was held with full military honors since Ed was a WWII veteran and a government civil servant for 31 years.

The father of Anne Beattie Kerr, AIS class of 1967, passed away September 12, 2005. Our sincere condolences to Anne and her family.

"...just wanted to let people who knew Titus Johnson (class of '76) know that he died in his sleep of a heart attack on the 29th of July 2005 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. If you want further details please email me and I can put you in touch with my younger brother Steven." Peter Johnson AIS class of 1978. (Read Peter's bio.)

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