In Memoriam
Jeffrey Greenhawt ’68, LHD ’23, a media executive and longtime Emerson Trustee who, during his 12 years as chair of the Board, oversaw one of the most dynamic periods in the College’s history, died on August 6, in South Florida. He was 78.
Greenhawt was an active alum who spent decades serving the college he loved. A former chair of the Board of Overseers (now Advisors), he was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1995 and was elected chair in 2011. Under his leadership, Emerson expanded its footprint in Boston, building and renovating six residence halls and administrative buildings. He was also instrumental in developing the iconic Emerson Los Angeles campus on Sunset Boulevard and transforming the LA program. He oversaw the alliance with Marlboro College, creating the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies.
A native of New Jersey, Greenhawt enrolled at Emerson to study radio, quickly becoming involved with WERS and WECB. At Emerson, he also fell in love with his future wife, Jan (Jacobs) Greenhawt ’69, a decades-long member of the Board of Advisors.
Together, the Greenhawts have supported the College through gifts to myriad programs. Additionally, they strengthened the College’s networks in South Florida by hosting a winter alumni gathering, and they established the Greenhawt Family Fund, which supports Emerson faculty.
After graduating from Emerson, Greenhawt worked as a sales manager at a Washington, DC, radio station. Then, with partners, he bought a small radio station in York, PA. In 1982, he sold the station and bought Sunshine Wireless, which owns and operates media companies across the country. In recognition of his industry leadership, Greenhawt was inducted into the WERS Hall of Fame in 2009 and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2023. A celebration of his life was held at Emerson in October. In addition to his wife, Jan, Greenhawt leaves two children and four grandchildren.
Alma Powell, MS ’59, LHD ’96, a longtime advocate for children and youth; a recipient of Emerson’s Distinguished Alumni Award; and the wife of the late former Secretary of State Colin Powell, passed away on July 28 in Alexandria, VA. She was 86.
Powell grew up in the Deep South and moved to Boston for graduate school after she saw an ad for Emerson in Theatre Arts Magazine. She earned a master’s in speech pathology and audiology from the College and in 1996, she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
The Powells were important in launching America’s Promise Alliance in 1997, where Alma held several positions on its board, including chair. She also wrote two children’s books to support the mission of the organization, America’s Promise and My Little Red Wagon, which were focused on encouraging children to give back to their communities.
From 1989 to 2000, she chaired the National Council of the Best Friends Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of young girls. She was appointed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board during Bill Clinton’s presidency, and from 2010 to 2012, she served on President Barack Obama’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Powell leaves three children and their families.
1946
Alda Fabietti of Margate City, NJ, died on March 21, 2024.
1950
Howard Heinlen of Laurel, MD, died on March 15, 2024, at the age of 97. Heinlen graduated with a BA.
1956
Pauline Kroehler of Harpers Ferry, WV, died on April 24, 2024, at the age of 87. Kroehler graduated with a BA.
1957
Judith Wallack of Stamford, CT, died on June 7, 2024, at the age of 88. Wallack graduated with a BA.
1958
Lawrence Borzumato of Red Hook, NY, died on July 29, 2024, at the age of 89. Borzumato graduated with a BA.
1959
Alice Strasser of Bethesda, MD, died on July 16, 2024, at the age of 87. Strasser graduated with a BSSp.
1964
Warren Rhodes of Gloucester, MA, died on June 15, 2024, at the age of 83. Rhodes graduated with a BA.
1966
Jerry Angier of Scarborough, ME, died on June 19, 2024, at the age of 82. Angier graduated with a BSSp.
1966
Elaine Fleegal of Camp Hill, PA, died on September 1, 2024, at the age of 79. Fleegal graduated with a BSSp in Communication Disorders.
1967
Peter Brenner of Chatham, MA, died on April 16, 2024, at the age of 80. Brenner graduated with a BSSp.
1967
Steve Smoller of Framingham, MA, died on July 31, 2024, at the age of 79. Smoller graduated with a BSSp in Broadcast Journalism.
1969
Robert Fine of New Port Richey, FL, died on June 15, 2024, at the age of 75. Fine graduated with a BSSp.
1969
Richard Rapiti of Toms River, NJ, died on March 31, 2024, at the age of 76. Rapiti graduated with a BSSp.
1973
Stephen Bettencourt of Providence, RI, died on July 19, 2024, at the age of 73. Bettencourt graduated with a BSSp.
1973
Timothy Flaherty of Medfield, MA, died on September 12, 2024, at the age of 72. Flaherty graduated with a BA in Psychology.
1974
Ann Fawcett of Modesto, CA, died on June 2, 2024, at the age of 82. Fawcett graduated with a BS in General Theatre.
1980
Lee Murphy of Quincy, MA, died on September 7, 2024, at the age of 77. Murphy graduated with a BA in Speech Communication Studies.
1983
Pamela Karalekas of Manchester, NH, died on June 27, 2024, at the age of 62. Karalekas graduated with a BSSp in Communication Studies: Advertising and PR.
1987
Kathryn Lambert of Peoria, IL, died on September 22, 2024, at the age of 58. Lambert graduated with a BS in Performing Arts.
1991
Christopher Lyle of Mansfield, MA, died on July 4, 2024, at the age of 55. Lyle graduated with a BSSp in Communication, Politics, and Law.
1992
Christa Richardson of Savage, MN, died on April 5, 2024, at the age of 55. Richardson graduated with a BSSp in Speech Communication Studies.
1994
Christopher Parcellin of Malden, MA died on April 9, 2024, at the age of 58. Parcellin graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing.
1995
Parnell Burke Noth of Hightstown, NJ, died on April 26, 2024, at the age of 52. Burke graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing.
1996
Darrylyn Paxton of Boston, MA, died on July 29, 2024, at the age of 51. Paxton graduated with a BS in Television/Video. In November, she was inducted into the WERS Hall of Fame posthumously.
2000
Keith Regan of Grafton, MA, died on August 29, 2024, at the age of 57. Regan graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing.
2001
Victoria Dolben of Rockport, MA, died on March 22, 2024, at the age of 56. Dolben graduated with an MA in Health Communication.
2009
Susanna Battiston of Stockholm, NJ, died on July 11, 2024, at the age of 36.
2014
Sage Paquette-Cohen of Monmouth ME, died on August 21, 2024, at the age of 32. Paquette-Cohen graduated with a BS in Communication Disorders.
MARLBORO COLLEGE
1955
Peter Haack of West Newbury, MA, died on April 19, 2024.
1966
Ronald Turner of Kennett Square, PA, died on June 20, 2024, at the age of 81.
1975
Bridgette Ball of Dallas, TX, died on April 24, 2024, at the age of 71.
1986
Caryl Richardson of Putney, VT, died on March 22, 2024, at the age of 65.
Expression magazine was notified of the passing of these community members between March 16 and September 30, 2024.
