Deceased L (13)
Deceased A B C D E F G H I-J K L M N-O P-Q R S T-V W Y-Z

From 2018 Alumni Bulletin:  Peter A. Lamana '52, D.Ed '67, Springtown, Pa., March 9, 2018. Mr. Lamana was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.  He was also a member of The Brown and White.  He started his professional career as a reporter before entering education.  He retired as the principal of the Sellersville Elementary School.  His son, Michael Lamana. is a member of the Class of 1976.

From Summer 2023, Alumni Bulletin:  James N. Land Jr. '52, New Providence, NJ, April 4, 2023.  Mr. Land was a Sigma Nu brother, as well as a member of the soccer and lacrosse teams.  He served in the US Air Force before joining First Boston Corporation.  Later, he started a consulting practice.  August 2023.

From Pat (deceased), in Summer 2010 Alumni Bulletin:  Thanks, classmates, for all the news and information.  If anyone runs across my old fraternity brother Jim Land, please tell him to "phone home!"

March 2021:  Art, have not heard from you for 16 years!  Statistically you are classified "deceased" until I hear otherwise.  I would love to hear that I am mistaken.

November 2005:  Still enjoying life on the NJ shore.  Minor health problems, but nothing more serious than an occasional cold.  For those who don't know NJ, Ventnor is on the same island right next to Atlantic City, so you can come gamble away to your heart's content, then call us at 609.487.9871 for commiseration and a meal.

From Winter 2005 Bulletin - Art Larky has been a permanent resident of Ventnor, near Atlantic City, N.J., since December '02.

October 2001: I got my Masters degree in EE from Princeton in 1953; went to Stanford University in 1954; spent 1954-55 as a researcher in a Signal Corps contract under Professor Karakash.  Got married and went back to Stanford in 55 and got my PhD in EE in '57.  Rejoined Lehigh in the fall of '56 and went up through the ranks from Research Engineer to Research Professor; to Associate Prof.; to full Professor of EE.  Morphed into a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; took early retirement in 1995.  

Have been working part-time as a forensic consult, primarily in patent cases, since 1971.  Enjoying retirement (or was until 9/11) visiting children and grandchildren and still keeping up with consulting.  Still living in Bethlehem. phone 610.865.3716.

Douglas K LeComte, Alexander City, Ala., November 8, 2017.  Mr LeComte served as a corporal in the U.S. Army in the second class of the Guided Missile Training School at the Redstone Arsenal.  For more than 30 years, he was president of LeComte & Co., a manufac­turing firm in Brooklyn and New Jersey.  His son, Edward LeComte '87, and daughter-in-law, Sharon (Appleton) LeComte '87, are members of the Lehigh family.

November 29th, 2000 - My father doesn't surf the Web, but we will be telling him he's on this site.  He's semi-retired and lives in Kennesaw, GA, with his wife, Barbara.

His younger son, Edward, is Lehigh class of 1987.  Edward lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Sharon, who is also Lehigh class of 1987.

I'm his older son, and being the prodigal that I am, I went to Wesleyan in Connecticut.

It's a hoot to see my dad as a 21-year-old staring out at me from a Web page!  Richard LeComte, Sierra Life editor, Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nevada

From 2018 Summer Alumni Bulletin:  An email from Ed Leidheiser's widow, Mary Lou, reports she enjoys the column and stays in touch with Ralph Fortney.  Mary Lou attended her 65th Reunion at Hood College, Frederick, Md., and wonders if Lehigh 65th Reunion returnee David De Graaf (deceased) ever lived in Hendersonville, N.C., and attended Grace Lutheran Church there?  David? Is that you?  You are welcome to answer Mary Lou in this column.

Responding to Mary Lou Leidheiser:  Yes, I am the David De Graaf (deceased) that you recall, still in Hendersonville, NC.  Surprised at seeing your inquiry and my name in the recent Lehigh magazine, I tried and failed to look you up.  Apparently you moved away from Flat Rock, NC to Glenview, IL, perhaps in 2002.  None of the phone numbers I found worked.  Send me email if you see this - Webmaster's Note I don't put email addresses in the web other than my own - Spammers mine web sites for addresses.  Mary Lou contact me and I'll forward Dave's address. 

  Mary-Lou Leidheiser writes:  Thanks for keeping in touch and for the great website design.  Ed's granddaughter, Kate, will be married in April and I'm sure he's grinning big time from above. – November 2015

Spring 2009 - Mary Lou Leidheiser, widow of Ed Leidheiser, sent a card from Flat Rock, N.C. thanking me for my efforts as correspondent and mentioned a wonderful visit with Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney after their granddaughter's wedding in Greensboro.  Mary Lou sent a heavenly 'hi' from Ed.

Fall, 2007 Alumni Bulletin - Flat Rock, N.C., Feb. 26, 2007.  Ed was a retired synthetic byproducts manager at DuPont Co., and an Army veteran of the Korean War.  He was a member of Sigma Chi. Survivors:  Wife, Mary‑Lou; two sons; two step‑daughters; two step­sons; 11 grandchildren.

From Andy Gibson:  A memorial service for Ed Leidheiser was held March 31st in Flat Rock, NC Grace Lutheran Church. Andy Gibson, Harry Smeal (deceased) and Bob Scarr (deceased) - All "52" - attended.  Reflections on Ed's full life were very well presented by his family and wife, Mary-Lou.  He will be sorely missed.

From Andy Gibson:  Edward Steinel Leidheiser, 76, of Flat Rock died Monday morning, Feb. 26, 2007, at the Elizabeth House after a brief battle with lymphoma.

    Born March 23, 1930, in Hackensack, N.J., he was the son of the late Henry Leidheiser Sr. and Margaret Steinel Leidheiser.  He was also preceded in death by his devoted spouse of 46 years, Doris Nissley; a sister, Marion; a brother, Art and his wife, Ruth Leidheiser.

    He was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the Army.  He graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in chemical engineering and was employed for 41 years by E.I. DuPont in the Polyester, Dacron, and Recycle divisions.

    An active sportsman, he was a three-letter man at Bogota High School in Bogota, N.J., a pitcher for the Lehigh baseball team, and was scouted by the New York Giants.  He was inducted into the Bogota High School Sports Hall of Fame.

    He was a charter member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Kinston and was a current member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville.  He was active in the United Way, Junior Achievement and the Orchid Society, and was president of Golfside IV Condo Association in Kenmure.  He was an avid golfer and gardener, whose specialty was growing orchids.

    He is survived by his loving wife and high school sweetheart, Mary-Lou Rude Leidheiser of Flat Rock; two Leidheiser sons, Steve and wife, Lynn, of Cary; and Jeff and wife, Shannon, of Franklin, Tenn.; two Rude sons, Chris and wife, Lisa, of Northbrook, Ill.; and Mike and wife, Debbie, of Portage, Mich.; two Rude daughters, Kathleen Rude and husband, John Mullin, of Deerfield, Ill., and Elizabeth Rude and husband, Al Alvarez of Northbrook, Ill.; a brother, Henry Leidheiser and wife, Virginia; grandchildren, Will and Katherine Leidheiser, Grant and Reid Leidheiser, Sean and Carmen Alvarez, Billy, Carly, and Maggie Rude and Wynton and Liam Rude and numerous nieces and nephews.

    A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Kinston.  A family visitation and luncheon will be held at the church following the service with burial at WestLawn Cemetery.  A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville in the spring.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731. Shuler Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Spring 2007 Alumni Bulletin after Ed's death - Mary Lou and Ed Leidheiser sent a newsy e‑mail outlining a three‑week trip to Africa, part of which was a 10‑day safari in Tanzania.  They said the trip to Africa was the experience of a lifetime, viewing beautiful animals and birds.  They saw lions and their cubs, wildebeests, hyenas, vultures and elephants.  They ended the trip at Victoria Falls in Zambia, where Ed said the falls were truly one of the seven wonders of the world.

Received a note from Ed Leidheiser, who has become my best contributor.  Ed and Mary Lou spent winter '04‑'05 in Florida, where they touched base with Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney and Ann and Bob McCann (deceased).  Ed keeps in touch with Wil Wilbern (deceased).  – Winter 2006 Alumni Bulletin

My wife and I go to The Plantation in Venice for several weeks each winter.  My brother, a professor of chemistry at Lehigh for 21 years, lives there full-time with his wife so I enjoy being near him.  We lease a condo on the golf course.  While there, we usually get together with the Fortneys, who come to visit us from their place in Hilton Head.  Also we generally have dinner with Ann and Bob McCann (deceased) as we did this year. Take care ,Ed  - March 2005

See Ed's suggested page for Wil Wilbern (deceased)- August 2004

From Spring 2004 Alumni Bulletin:  One of my favorite cards came from Mary Lou and Ed Leidheiser (recent columns have chronicled their history and marriage). The picture of Ed and Mary Lou tells it all.  I quote in part from their text: "A year of living, loving and traveling, but still feel like honeymooners as we settle into our Flat Rock, N.C., homestead.  From Washington and Oregon to South Carolina beaches and St. Augustine, to high school reunion in New York and then to Europe.  We managed the underground trains with aplomb in Berlin, Munich, Vienna and Prague.  Cathedrals and palaces to vineyards and wine cellars and visiting friends in Germany and Hungary."  Mary Lou and Ed, who deserve high marks for stamina, completed their card by mentioning that they saw Sue Ann and Ralph Fortney at Sea Island, Ga., and St. Augustine, Fla.

Summer 2003: Ralph Fortney sent a long, cheery note saying that Ed Leidheiser and his new bride, Mary-Lu, had stopped by his Delaware home.  They looked great and are very happy after a Thanksgiving wedding aboard a cruise ship with both their families in attendance.

In a lighter vein, a wonderful romantic story comes my way from Ed Leidheiser and Mary-Lou Rude.  It seems that Ed and Mary-Lou were high school sweethearts in Bogota, NJ., in 1948.  They went on to different colleges, married different people and went about the job of raising children and developing careers.  Fast forward to Nov. 28,2002, when the two sweethearts were married on board the Sovereign of the Seas, a cruise ship that sailed from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Nassau and Paradise Island. Congratulations to the lovebirds and may they have many happy years together - Spring 2003

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - ->

Winter, 2001: I'll put a cap on this edition with a letter from Ed Leidheiser, 501 Reunion Fund co-chair, who regularly keeps me "up-to-speed" on events in North Carolina.  The Lehigh Club of Western Carolinas met in July to hear an impressive, educational talk by Lehigh's President Farrington. "Fig" Figlear, of the Development Office, and Frank Bailey were in attendance.

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Donald E Liddie '52 Saratoga, Calif, April 14, 2008.  He was a manufacturing manager for the Signetics Corp. in California at the beginning of what was to develop into the Silicon Valley.  He played an integral part in the search for and development of plant sites in several Asian and European locations.  He was promoted to president of Signetics International and held that position for 11 years.  In 1975, Signetics was purchased by Philips, and he was named corporate vice president and chief administrative officer.  He retired from Philips in 1995 with the title of executive vice president and chairman of the management team.  As a student, he was a brother of Kappa Sigma and served on the Interfraternity Council.  He was a member of the Asa Packer Society.  Survivors: Wife, Florence; brother Alexander '54; three daughters; son; eight grandchildren. - From Fall 2008 Alumni Bulletin

Don Liddie sent a wonderful letter (Spring 2003) extolling our reunion and looking forward to our 55' in 2007.  Prior to coming East from San Francisco, Don stated that he "would miss sleeping in the outside dorm at the Kappa Sig House, the wail of the Steelswitch at the Kappa Sig House, the wail of the Steelswitching engines at night, the roar of the blast furnaces, the coat of dust on my desk in the morning, imbibing at the Beethoven Maennerchor and many other fond remembrances."

Don loves California but realizes that being a continent away from Lehigh and friends is a drawback.  California has become an important recruiting center for the university; 50 of last year's freshman class were from the Golden State.  I have long thought that the Southwest and California were fertile areas for Lehigh.  Many bright kids from Southern Arizona go East to college every year.  Why not channel some of these young people to Bethlehem?  I mentioned this to Chris Marshall '88, executive director of the Alumni Association, and he said, "Great idea: you are now vice president / Lehigh University Alumni Association in charge of Region IX Southwest."  So, that's my mission - to recruit and build up the Lehigh Club of Southern Arizona to the point where President Farrington makes regular stops here in Tucson!

From 50th Reunion Book, 2002 - Upon graduation, I worked as an industrial engineer at Western Electric until the Army saw fit to "enlist" me into the Chemical Corps where I served in the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Labs in Edgewood, MD.  With what is going on in the country today, I am expecting to be called back any day now!

The real excitement came when I joined Coming Glass Works and after Plant I.E. assignments was transferred in 1963 to Signetics, an integrated circuit start-up in what was to become the "wild and wooly" Silicon Valley.  As President of Signetics International, I traveled the world setting up and managing companies in most of the countries in Europe and East Asia.  I retired in 1995 as Executive VP and Chairman of the Management Committee of Philips, North America after 39 years with the family of companies Coming / Signetics / Philips.  Over the years, I have attempted to give back to the community by serving on the Boards of Directors of the United Way, American Lung Association and the Tech Museum of Innovation

I was able to do all this because I married my wonderful helpmate, Flo, in 1954 who, almost single-handedly, raised 4 beautiful children while I roved the globe.  We are most proud of the fact that all 4 children obtained college degrees, 3 at the West Coast Lehigh, Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.  They are all successful in their own right and are now raising our 8 marvelous grandchildren, around whom our world revolves.

March 2002 - My wife, Flo, and I have set our plans to return to Lehigh for our 50th.  We will fly out from San Francisco on May 30th and go to our beach house on Long Beach Island and amble up to Bethlehem a week later.  I am looking forward to returning but will miss sleeping in the outside dorm at the Kappa Sig house, the wail of the Steel switching engines at night, the roar of the blast furnaces, the coat of dust on my desk in the morning, imbibing at the Beethoven Maennerchor and many other fond remembrances.  I have been calling my old fraternity brothers, many of whom I haven't seen in over forty years, to urge them to attend. 

It has been a wonderful experience living and raising a family out here in Silicon Valley but the only drawback is being a continent away from friends and family and close relationships with the university.  I was able to attend two Lehigh functions last week when President Greg Farrington, his wfe and Professors Menon and Wu  made a swing through the San Francisco / San Jose area.  It was good to see them out here as California is becoming an important recruiting center for Lehigh.  It was noted that fifty of last years freshman class were from the Golden State!!

We are looking forward to seeing over one hundred classmates in June so everyone stay healthy!!

Ron Lindquist (Carl's brother) writes:  My brother, Carl E. Lindquist, Jr., was killed in Korea on July 25, 1953.   After nearly 60 years of hoping that his remains will be returned, we have decided to have a memorial service for Carl at Arlington National Cemetery on July 25, 2012.  Thank you, Ron Lindquist - May 2012

June 2002 from Charlie Hutch - Photo at right was taken on Memorial Day 1953.  Carl Lindquist is pictured on your right.  He is hatless, has a cigarette in his right hand, and to his front is a Ballantine beer carton.  Photos were provided to me by his Navy Corpsman friend who served with Carl when the pictures were taken.

Carl, a second lieutenant in the First Marine Division, was killed in action in Korea on July 25, 1953.  Ironically, this was only two days prior to the armistice of July 27.  This period of the war was marked by some of the most savage attacks by North Korean and Chinese troops in an effort to gain the maximum advantage in the armistice negotiations.  The Marine Corps did not confirm his death until July 1954 because his body was not found.  He was survived by his wife.

Carl lost his life leading his platoon to relieve another platoon on a hill that was being overrun by a greatly superior number of enemy troops.  This hill, designated only as HI 11, was regained at a tragic cost by heroic actions such as Carl's.  Although true peace still does not exist between North and South Korea, the progress made by South Korea in the last fifty years was made possible by the sacrifices made by the United States and a few other allies to halt the advance of Communist aggression.

Ogden W. Link, Basking Ridge, N.J., May 18, 2019.  An Alpha Sigma Phi brother, Mr. Link had a career in the aviation insurance industry, ultimately retiring as vice chairman of AON Aviation. - Fall 2019 Alumni Bulletin

George Little, Keyser, W.V, Dec., 15, 2011.  Mr. Little was retired as a business manager at Potomac State College.

Have no information about Henry in 26 years or from John for 69+ years so reluctantly moved him to "deceased" list.  Statistically this is realistic - contact if in error. - April 2021

Alan Koppes (deceased) related that for several years now, a number of my fraternity brothers and wives have been getting together in the fall for mini-reunions.  These have been held at a variety of locations, mostly eastern, including Asheville, NC., Montebello, Canada, the Adirondacks, Hershey, PA, and even Durango, CO.  A few other '52-ers have been involved, including Dave Morrow (deceased), Dave Ryerson (deceased) and Henry "Art" Loux, who I thought was class of '51, but who is listed on the website as '52, has also attended regularly).  We've had wonderful times, thanks to the organizing energy and genius of John Ziegler, '50.  - January 2005

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