Obituaries News Archive

In Memoriam: Anne Friedberg, 57

Anne Friedberg, historian, theorist of modern media culture and USC School of Cinematic Arts professor, whose work pioneered the field of visual studies, died on Oct. 9, following a long struggle with colorectal cancer.

In Memoriam: Herbert A. de Vries, 91

Herbert A. de Vries, a professor emeritus of kinesiology at USC College who was known as the father of exercise and aging, has died. He was 91.

In Memoriam: Leon Clarke, 76

Leon Clarke, an all-league end who led USC in receiving in 1954 and 1955, died Oct. 5 in Los Alamitos of pancreatitis. He was 76.

In Memoriam: Arnold Heidsieck, 72

Arnold Heidsieck, professor of philosophy at USC College, preeminent scholar in German and European intellectual history and literature, has died. He was 72.

In Memoriam: Monte Clark, 72

Monte Clark, the co-captain of the 1958 USC football team who later played and coached in the National Football League, died on Sept. 16 in Detroit, Mich. He was 72.

In Memoriam: Berle Adams, 92

Berle Adams, longtime supporter of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, died on Aug. 25 after a long illness. He was 92.

In Memoriam: Pierre Cossette

Innovative producer, philanthropist and USC alumnus Pierre Cossette, whose career included successes across the entertainment spectrum, died Sept. 11. He was 85.

In Memoriam: Lillian Fluor, 87

Lillian Fluor, widow of former USC trustee J. Robert Fluor, died Sept. 2 at her home in Newport Beach. She was 87.

In Memoriam: Jane O’Brien Dart, 90

Jane O’Brien Dart, wife of former USC trustee Justin W. Dart, died at her home in Pebble Beach on April 8 after a lengthy illness. She was 90.

In Memoriam: Linda Clingerman

Linda Jeane Clingerman, former director of policy development and communication, died of a heart attack on Aug. 9 at home in San Gabriel.

In Memoriam: Arts Patron Virginia Ramo, 93

Virginia Ramo, a USC alumna, life trustee and 2002 recipient of the university’s highest honor, the Presidential Medallion, died Aug. 19. She was 93.

In Memoriam: Henry B. Clark II, 78

Henry B. Clark II, professor emeritus of religion at USC College and champion of social justice, has died. He was 78.

In Memoriam: William Robert Smith, 91

William Robert Smith, who helped establish the elite reputation of USC Marshall’s Leventhal School of Accounting, died on July 8. He was 91.

In Memoriam: Raymond A. Watt, 90

Raymond A. Watt, a USC trustee and a prominent Southern California real estate developer who has been credited as being among the first in California to develop condominiums and timeshares, died of natural causes in Rancho Mirage on July 7. He was 90.

In Memoriam: Herbert G. Klein, 91

Herbert G. Klein, a veteran journalist and the White House’s first director of communications, died on July 2. He was 91.

In Memoriam: Montgomery Ross Fisher, 88

Montgomery Ross Fisher, USC alumnus, former trustee and respected Southern California engineering and building contractor, died on June 10. He was 88.

In Memoriam: James Stancill, 76

USC Professor Emeritus of Finance James McNeill Stancill, a leading member of the USC Marshall School of Business faculty for 43 years, died June 17 of pulmonary fibrosis at his home in Pasadena. He was 76.

In Memoriam: Thomas P. Nickell Jr., 88

Thomas P. Nickell Jr., former USC vice president for university affairs, died in San Diego on May 25. He was 88.

In Memoriam: Julius ‘Julie’ Bescos, 97

Julius “Julie” Bescos, one of USC’s earliest three-sport stars who also coached for the Trojans, died on May 23 in Long Beach. He was 97.

In Memoriam: John Blankenchip, 89

The professor emeritus, who joined USC in 1955, was synonomous with the School of Theare and was integral in developing its BFA and MFA programs.

In Memoriam: Diane Ainsworth, 56

Diane Ainsworth, a science writer for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, died of an aneurysm on March 29 in her Altadena home, according to her father Donald Ainsworth. She was 56.

In Memoriam: Timothy M. Doheny, 83

The rancher and advocate for California’s land and wildlife helped to lay the cornerstone for USC’s landmark library.

In Memoriam: Emery Stoops, 106

The university’s oldest alumnus was a longtime supporter of education at USC whose ‘legacy was an inspiration.’

In Memoriam: George O. Totten III, 86

The Distinguished Professor Emeritus at USC College was a World War II veteran and scholar of world peace.

In Memoriam: Wanda Wilk, 88

The philanthropist and USC alumna established the Polish Music Center on campus with her late husband Stefan Wilk.

In Memoriam: Gene Parrish, 82

He was a Classical KUSC fixture for more than two decades and talented producer or voice of National Public Radio programs.

In Memoriam: Roy Saari, 63

The swimmer won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

In Memoriam: Robert Bau

The award-winning chemist was an inspiring instructor and gentle mentor who believed in scientific independence for his students.

In Memoriam: C. Sylvester Whitaker, 73

USC College’s professor emeritus and former dean of social sciences was an expert in the political development of Africa.

In Memoriam: Mitchell Lurie, 86

The renowned clarinetist worked on several acclaimed movies and taught at USC Thornton.

In Memoriam: James C. Warf, 91

USC College’s Distinguished Professor emeritus was an expert on nuclear chemistry as well as a peace activist.

In Memoriam: William H. Perkins, 85

USC Annenberg’s distinguished emeritus professor was an expert on stuttering who challenged conventional beliefs about the speech disorder.

In Memoriam: Craig Fertig, 66

Former USC quarterback, coach and administrator will be remembered for a game-winning touchdown pass against top-ranked Notre Dame in 1964.

In Memoriam: James Karls, 80

He started the first mental health clinics in central California and developed a unique assessment system for social workers.

In Memoriam: Frances Feldman, 95

The social work pioneer and longtime USC professor helped establish a faculty and staff counseling center, now called the USC Center for Work and Family Life.

In Memoriam: Charles H. Whitebread, 65

The bow-tied, larger-than-life scholar taught more students than any law professor in the country, according to colleagues. A memorial will be held in November.

In Memoriam: Kazumi Maki, 72

The award-winning physicist at USC College was a classical music aficionado who played the violin.

In Memoriam, Armond Fields, 77

Armond Fields, an expert on vaudevillian theatre, a biographer and a longtime friend of the USC Libraries, died at his home in Culver City on Aug. 17. He was 77. A prolific author, the Chicago-born Fields researched and wrote many...

In Memoriam: Edwin O. Guthman, 89

The Pulitzer Prize winner and former USC journalism professor was dedicated to the principles of a free press. His contributions will not be forgotten, said Dean Ernest Wilson.

In Memoriam: Armond Fields, 77

The author, artist and expert on vaudevillian theatre was a patron of the USC Libraries.

In Memoriam: George N. Boone, 85

Longtime philanthropist and real estate developer supported the fields of dentistry, medicine and environmental studies at USC.