IN REMEMBRANCE | SPRING 2024 | 73 IN REMEMBRANCE The alumni and university communities extend their sympathy to the families of the alumni listed. Obituary sources include relatives, alumni and friends. Send details to Advancement Services, 306 S. New St., Suite 500, Bethlehem, PA 18015; 1-866-517-1552; askrecords@lehigh.edu. The following were reported to us as of December 31, 2023: 1940s Carl Eisen Jr. ’45, Dayville, Conn., Sept. 28, 2023. A member of Phi Gamma Delta and a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, Eisen worked as a salesman. Leo R. Witczak ’48, Whitehall, Pa., Oct. 27, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, Witczak spent his electrical engineering career at various Lehigh Valley industries and retired from Allen Products as their chief electrical engineer. His child, Loreta Witczak Keil, is a member of the Class of 1978. William H. Bender ’49, Whitehall, Pa., Dec. 12, 2023. Bender was a member of Theta Chi and the Marching 97. He retired from the ministry. Christopher Maragakes ’49, Bradenton, Fla., Oct. 2, 2023. Maragakes served in the U.S. Army in World War II and the Korean War. He worked as an industrial engineer. 1950s James L. Abbot ’50, Quarryville, Pa., April 20, 2023. Abbot served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the wrestling team and Tau Beta Pi. He worked for U.S. Steel for 33 years. William H. Dempsey Jr. ’50, Chatham, N.J., Sept. 12, 2023. Dempsey served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for The American Aluminum Co., for 40 years, retiring as vice president. He was a member of the Asa Packer Society. Garvin L. Jones ’50, Greenville, S.C., Sept. 14, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, Jones was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, as well as the baseball and football teams. He had a long career in sales and marketing at Reliance Electric. John D. Robinson ’50, Garden City, N.Y., Dec. 3, 2023. A Theta Delta Chi member, Robinson served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a computer sales executive for Univac. J. Peter Trexler ’50 M.S. ’53, Huntingdon, Pa., Oct. 24, 2023. Trexler served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey before becoming a professor at Juniata College, where he founded the Geology Department. Ian C. Bell ’51, Florham Park, N.J., Dec. 2, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Bell worked for Esso Standard Oil Company, EBS Management Consultants, Fidelity United Trust Co, The American Re-Insurance Co., Lazard Freres, and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. John T. Brothers ’51, Lake George, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023. A member of the wrestling team and Phi Gamma Delta, Brothers served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War. He worked as an ordained minister for the Presbyterian Church. His parent, George Brothers ’08, and sibling, George Brothers Jr. ’46, were members of the Lehigh family. Clayton A. Friedberg ’51, Redding, Conn., Aug. 16, 2023. Friedberg was a Tau Delta Phi member. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked as a partner at the family accounting firm, Milton H. Friedberg, Smith & Co., for 55 years. In addition, he taught accounting and taxation at the University of Bridgeport. Charles E. Lee Jr. ’51, West, Texas, Sept. 26, 2023. Lee was a veteran of the U.S. Army, Army Air Corps and Air Force. Stanley W. Schmitt ’51, Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 21, 2023. Schmitt was a Phi Kappa Theta member. George R. Gigon ’52, Wethersfield, Conn., July 14, 2023. Gigon was a Lambda Chi Alpha member, and member of the soccer team that won Lehigh’s first Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship. He served in the U.S. Army and made his 40-year career in the powder metallurgy and ball bearing industries, retiring as president of the Hartford Ball Company. His brothers, Richard Gigon ’52 and Gerard Gigon ’67, are members of the Lehigh family. Robert L. Lebo ’52, Willow Street, Pa., Nov. 19, 2023. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Lebo worked as a civil roots—my Lehigh moment. What motivated me to become a flag bearer is to serve as a Class of 2027 role model, someone who truly empowers others with “quiet yet sublime actions,” as I said in my flag bearer application. The most important actions are not necessarily the ones you notice. We create the community we want to live in by showing up for those around us. We can do this through care and empathy toward others. I wanted to lead by example to show that quiet actions could build the Lehigh community by supporting one another. I felt the surge of all the past flag bearers visiting me as I realized I already made history here. I was motivated to expand on this momentum. This enthusiasm is what I bring, whether I am in class, tutoring the kiddos for the Community Service Office or exploring Bethlehem to find a new journey. During the Rally, seeing how much space a few thousand people took up was startling. Luckily, I had Clutch, my fellow flag bearers, and the Lehigh family to support me. When Gina Tarantini ’77 gave us the flag, I saw the crowd erupt in a frenzy. It was hard to think what happens next when the cheers carry you around. That bearer status also allowed me to meet a lot of great people, like President Helble. I met him during my move-in day with LUSSI, and he seemed as great when I saw him as when I researched Lehigh. I further had this feeling after listening to his convocation speech. It made me think that I envision myself in his speech. I participated in his runs on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. at the university flagpole. I highly recommend everyone attend, even if you aren’t a good runner (like me). This is the best time to see him as he shows his best strength: charisma. Representing the Class of 2027, I hope I can be part of the movement to make the Lehigh community a reality. I carry with me a legacy that Asa Packer began as I interpret nature and serve it. All I know right now is that I’m just getting started.
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