Obituaries News Archive

In Memoriam: Mitzi M. Tsujimoto, 84

Mitzi M. Tsujimoto, associate director for administration at the USC Emeriti Center and former director of admission, financial aid and student affairs at the USC School of Pharmacy, died on Jan. 23 in Pasadena. She was 84.

In Memoriam: Nancy E. Wood

Professor Emerita Nancy E. Wood died on Nov. 22.

In Memoriam: Thomas C. Cox, 72

Thomas C. Cox, associate professor emeritus of history at USC, has died.

In Memoriam: Manbir Singh, 67

Manbir Singh, professor of biomedical engineering and radiology at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, died during the winter break while visiting family in India.

In Memoriam: Richard Thor, 80

USC School of Social Work Board of Councilor member Richard (Dick) Thor ’58 died on Dec. 18 at his home in Redondo Beach after a battle with cancer.

In Memoriam: Sidney W. Benson, 93

USC Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Sidney W. Benson, who became scientific co-director of the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences when it opened in 1977, has died.

In Memoriam: Charles Ritcheson, 86

Charles Ray Ritcheson, USC University Librarian Emeritus and Colin Rhys Lovell Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, died December 8 at his home in Washington, D.C.

In Memoriam: Xavier Suazo, 72

Xavier Suazo MPA ’78, who coordinated security and travel logistics for USC’s athletic teams for the past 35 years, died Dec. 20 at his home in South Pasadena of heart failure after a lengthy battle with diabetes.

In Memoriam: John Marburger, 70

John H. Marburger III, former dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and science adviser to President George W. Bush, has died. He was 70.

In Memoriam: Don Andersen, 71

Don Andersen, USC’s sports information director from 1967 to 1973, died Nov. 18 in Idaho from complications with diabetes and kidney failure.

In Memoriam: Dave Yoder, 46

Dave Yoder, who helped lead the USC men’s volleyball team to three NCAA Final appearances in the mid-1980s, died Nov. 11 in Mission Viejo after a lengthy battle with lymphocytic leukemia.

In Memoriam: John W. Beierle, 74

John W. Beierle PhD ’68, recently retired associate professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, died on Oct. 18. He was 74.

In Memoriam: André Pineda, 46

André Pineda, a Democratic pollster, mentor and lecturer at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, died on Sept. 27. He was 46.

In Memoriam: James Rosenau, 86

James Rosenau, professor emeritus of international relations at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, a founder of foreign policy as an academic field and a pioneer in the study of globalization, died on Sept. 9. He was 86.

In Memoriam: John Calley, 81

John Calley, former head of Warner Bros., United Artists and Sony studios, as well as a successful producer and long-standing member of the Board of Councilors at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, died on Sept. 13. He was 81.

In Memoriam: Clifton O. Dummett, 92

Clifton O. Dummett, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, died on Sept. 7. He was 92.

In Memoriam: Thomas A. Rhue, 67

Thomas A. (Thom) Rhue M.A. ’68, associate senior vice president for University Advancement, died Aug. 20 at his home in Los Angeles, following an arduous battle with cancer. He was 67.

In Memoriam: USC President Emeritus John Randolph ‘Jack’ Hubbard, 92

John Randolph “Jack” Hubbard, U.S. ambassador to India from 1988 to 1989 and the eighth president of USC, died Aug. 21 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., following an extended illness. He was 92.

In Memoriam: Carol Nagy, 72

Carol Nagy, the first female dean of the Division of Social Sciences and Communication at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and a major force in the creation of the university’s Gender Studies Program, has died.

In Memoriam: Tsen-Chung Cheng, 66

Tsen-Chung Cheng, an internationally known authority on power systems who was part of the smart grid research initiative at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, died on July 12 at his home in San Marino. He was 66.

In Memoriam: Gunnar Nielsson, 77

Gunnar Nielsson, retired professor in the School of International Relations at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and expert in European integration, has died. He was 77.

In Memoriam: John Hospers, 93

John Hospers, professor emeritus of philosophy at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Libertarian Party’s first presidential nominee, died in Los Angeles on June 12. He was 93.

In Memoriam: William H. Crawford Jr.

William H. Crawford Jr. ’62, a former dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, died on June 18. He was 74.

In Memoriam: Laura Ziskin, 61

USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors’ member and alumna Laura Ziskin '73, who earlier this year was honored by the Producers Guild of America with its Visionary Award for her work as a producer in Hollywood, died at her home in Santa Monica on June 12 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 61.

In Memoriam: William C. 'Mickey' Anderson, 93

William C. “Mickey” Anderson, who was a member of USC national championship football and track teams, died on April 26.

In Memoriam: Kam Kuwata, 57

USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences alumnus and political strategist Kam Kuwata, who worked for Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the late Sen. Alan Cranston, has died. He was 57.

In Memoriam: Herman Ostrow, 88

Herman Ostrow, a 1945 graduate of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and the benefactor whose name the school shares, died April 23. He was 94.

In Memoriam: Sidney Harman, 92

Sidney Harman, philanthropist, audio pioneer, husband of former Democratic congresswoman Jane Harman and business tycoon who purchased Newsweek from The Washington Post Co. last year, died in Washington, D.C., on April 12 of complications from leukemia.

In Memoriam: Marjorie Spess Stegemeier, 77

Marjorie Spess Stegemeier, wife of USC life trustee Richard J. (Dick) Stegemeier, died peacefully on Feb. 16 at her home in Anaheim, following a yearlong struggle with pneumonia.

In Memoriam: Harold von Hofe, 98

Harold von Hofe, professor emeritus of German and former director of the Feuchtwanger Institute for Exile Studies at USC, died Feb. 3 at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 98.

In Memoriam: Ruth Cox Britton, 88

Former USC librarian Ruth Britton died in Rosemead on Jan. 27. She was 88.

In Memoriam, W. Ross Winterowd, 80

USC College’s W. Ross Winterowd, renowned teacher and author in the field of rhetoric, died after complications with pneumonia on Jan. 21 in Huntington Beach. He was 80.

In Memoriam: Jean-Roger Vergnaud, 65

Jean-Roger Vergnaud, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Humanities, professor of linguistics and a major contributor to generative grammar, has died. He was 65.

In Memoriam: Doyce B. Nunis Jr., 86

Doyce Nunis Jr., professor emeritus of history at USC College and historian of early California history, died Jan. 22 at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center from complications after abdominal surgery. He was 86.

In Memoriam: Carolyn Jones O’Connell, 83

Carolyn Jones O’Connell, the daughter of legendary USC football coach Howard Jones, died Jan. 24 in Fontana. She was 83.

In Memoriam: Samuel P. Bessman, 89

Samuel P. Bessman, a longtime professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, died Jan. 4. He was 89.

In Memoriam: Joyce S. Toscan, 70

Longtime USC librarian Joyce “Sandy” Toscan died Jan. 14. She was 70.

In Memoriam: Lei Jieqiong, 106

Lei Jieqiong MA ’31, an educator and sociologist who achieved widespread renown in the political and academic arenas, died of illness in Beijing on Jan. 9. She was 106.

In Memoriam: Donald J. Lewis, 88

USC College Professor Emeritus Donald J. Lewis, an experimental psychologist with expertise in learning and memory, the former dean of social sciences and chair of the Department of Psychology, has died.

In Memoriam: John Viljoen, 75

John (Jack) Viljoen, who served as chair of the LAC+USC Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology from 1982 to 1992, died Nov. 27 of complications following a surgical procedure. He was 75.

In Memoriam: Kent Carter, 60

Los Angeles Police Department officer and former USC football player Kent Carter died in an off-duty car collision Dec. 12. He was 60.

In Memoriam: Richard J. Bing, 101

Richard John Bing, an accomplished cardiologist, composer and author, died Nov. 8 at the age of 101.

In Memoriam: Diane Talmage Van Iden

Diane Talmage Van Iden, longtime event planner at USC, died Nov. 25 after a courageous battle with cancer.

In Memoriam: Bob Chambers, 83

Bob Chambers, a former USC middle distance runner who competed in the 1948 Olympics, died Nov. 6 in San Pedro. He was 83.

In Memoriam: Kate Stern, 100

Catherine G. “Kate” Stern, a leading activist since the 1950s for improved human relations and civil rights in Los Angeles, died Sept. 23 at the age of 100.

In Memoriam: Joseph R. Cerrell, 75

USC College alumnus and political consultant Joseph R. Cerrell, who played a vital role in the presidential campaigns of Democratic candidates including John F. Kennedy, has died.

In Memoriam: Tony Psaltis

Tony Psaltis ’56, the most valuable player and team captain of the 1956 USC men’s basketball team, died Oct. 30 in Los Angeles of leukemia. He was 76.

In Memoriam: James F. Smith

James F. Smith, a teacher, performer, arranger and guitar impresario, died Sept. 24 after battling brain cancer for nearly two years.

In Memoriam: David S. Tappan Jr.

USC life trustee David S. Tappan Jr. died Sept. 27 at his home in Newport Beach. He was 88.

In Memoriam: Thomas Ely Lasswell, Sr.

Professor Emeritus Thomas Ely Lasswell, Sr., a national leader in the sociology of family, 30-year USC College scholar and former chair of the Department of Sociology, has died. He was 90.

In Memoriam: Robert P. Biller, 73

Professor emeritus of public administration and longtime USC administrator Robert P. Biller died Aug. 29 at his home in La Cañada, Calif., following a difficult illness. He was 73.

In Memoriam: Tim Miller, 47

Tim Miller, a longtime Trojan who worked in the Department of Facilities and Technology at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, died on Aug. 21 after battling multiple illnesses in recent months.

In Memoriam: Ghazi al-Gosaibi, 70

Ghazi al-Gosaibi MA ’64 died of cancer Aug. 15 in Saudi Arabia. He was 70.

In Memoriam: David L. Wolper, 82

David L. Wolper, a producer of the groundbreaking 1977 miniseries Roots, along with more than 300 other films, died Aug. 10. He was 82.

In Memoriam: Richard Llewellyn, 93

Richard “Duke” Llewellyn ’40, a three-sport USC athlete, died June 4 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 93.

In Memoriam: Frederick D. Williams, 76

Frederick Dowell Williams Sr. MA ’60, PhD ’62, who served as founding dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication from 1973 to 1980, died May 29 in Houston. He was 76.

In Memoriam: William A. Fraker, 86

Veteran cinematographer/director William A. “Bill” Fraker ’82, a USC School of Cinematic Arts alumnus and instructor, died May 31. He was 86.

In Memoriam: Norm Lacy, 56

Norm Lacy, an offensive lineman at USC in the mid-1970s who became a successful high school football coach, died May 29 of a heart attack in Indio, Calif., while on vacation. He was 56.

In Memoriam: Ronald Gottesman, 77

Ronald Gottesman, founding director of the Center for the Humanities at USC and professor emeritus of English at USC College, has died. He was 77.

School Namesake Flora L. Thornton Dies

Flora Laney Thornton, a philanthropist with a lifelong interest in higher education, the arts, preventive medicine and numerous charities, died May 7 of pulmonary disease. She was 96.

In Memoriam: John M. Peters, 75

John M. Peters, the Hastings Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and a renowned authority on the effects of air pollution on health, died of pancreatic cancer May 6 at his home in San Marino.

In Memoriam: Marion Schulman, 89

Longtime USC librarian Marion Schulman died in Los Angeles on May 2 after a brief hospitalization. She was 89.

In Memoriam: William G. Spitzer, 82

William G. Spitzer, 82, professor emeritus of electrical engineering, materials science and physics at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, died April 14 in Oceanside, Calif.

In Memoriam: James R. Beniger, 63

James R. Beniger, who authored a highly acclaimed study of the economic and technological origins of the information society, died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In Memoriam: Mosi Tatupu, 54

Mosi Tatupu, a fullback on USC’s 1974 national championship football team, died Feb. 23 in Attleboro, Mass. He was 54.

In Memoriam: Keith Crown, 91

Professor Emeritus Keith A. Crown Jr., an artist, World War II veteran and educator, died Jan. 31 in Columbia, Miss. He was 91.

In Memoriam: Lars Hansen, 60

Lars Hansen, who served as USC’s first executive director of the office of cultural relations from 2001 to 2004, has died. He was 60.

In Memoriam: John Milner, 97

Professor Emeritus John Milner, who was a professor of social work at USC for 31 years, died at his home on Jan. 29. He was 97.

In Memoriam: Ned Miller, 73

Ned Miller, who served as the official statistician at USC football games for the past 54 years, died Jan. 31 of cancer at his home in Northridge. He was 73.

In Memoriam: Meg Seno Wemple, 79

Meg Seno Wemple, an alumna and lifelong supporter of USC, died Dec. 31. She was 79.

In Memoriam: Robert “Bob” Maners, 76

Robert “Bob” Maners, former executive director of development at USC, died on Dec. 8, 2009. He was 76.

In Memoriam: Mel Sloan, 86

USC School of Cinematic Arts Professor Emeritus Mel Sloan died Jan. 12 of pneumonia at his home in Van Nuys. He was 86.

In Memoriam: Joyce King Stoops, 86

Joyce Barlow King Stoops, lifelong educator, philanthropist and supporter of USC, died Dec. 16. She was 86.

In Memoriam: Teh Fu Yen, 83

Teh Fu “Dave” Yen, an environmental chemist who was a member of the USC faculty for more than 40 years, died Jan. 12.

In Memoriam

Two longtime USC Rossier School of Education supporters and friends have died.

In Memoriam: John Cohoon, 66

John Cohoon, who worked for USC as a public relations professional for 34 years, died Jan. 9 in Pasadena. He was 66.

In Memoriam: Rory Markas, 54

Rory Markas, the play-by-play announcer for the USC men’s basketball team, died Jan. 4 at his home in Palmdale. He was 54.

In Memoriam: Stephen E. Toulmin, 87

Stephen Edelston Toulmin, University Professor Emeritus and one of the most influential ethical philosophers of the latter half of the 20th century, has died. He was 87.

In Memoriam: Linda Dean Maudlin ’61

Former USC Alumni Association president and USC trustee Linda Dean Maudlin died on Nov. 26. She was 70.

In Memoriam: Herbert Farmer, 89

Herbert Farmer ’42, M.A. ’54, archivist, professor emeritus and USC School of Cinematic Arts alumnus, died Nov. 22. He was 89.

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.