Alumni News

Dr. Joseph I. Mortensen, STH ’66

By sthalum October 2nd, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by the Legacy and can be found here.

Joseph Ide Mortensen, 86, died peacefully at the University of Michigan Hospital on August 19, 2022 in Ann Arbor, MI. He was born May 28, 1936 in Cheyenne, WY to Mabel Geneva (Ide) and Axel Christian Mortensen. Joe was the youngest son of a youngest son, joining older siblings Marguerite, Charles, Jim, and Mary. He was especially close to his sister Mary, who from an early age appointed herself his teacher and guardian and once rescued him from a pond. Joe graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1954 and left Cheyenne for Wheaton College, where he majored in Greek in preparation for seminary. He met Linda Larsen in the Wheaton College Choir. They were married in 1959 in her home town of Gothenburg, NE. Both sang exceptionally well and with joy all their lives. Joe received his Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, earning his tuition by teaching Greek. He was a scholar at heart, earning a Doctorate in Theology in Church History from Boston University in 1961. Ordination into the American Baptist Churches followed. He was senior pastor at a church in the Boston area before moving to lead a newly planted church in Mt Pleasant, MI. His time there came to an end in 1969 when he was called to the First Baptist Church of Midland, MI. Deciding to leave the Mt Pleasant church was very difficult and he was troubled by a terrible headache. When he decided to go to Midland, the headache immediately disappeared. This, for him, was confirmation he was meant to be in Midland. He remained there as pastor for the next 24 years. Joe moved to Midland with Linda and their three children, Anne, Charles and John. The church embraced the young family right away, welcoming Joe's gift for preaching, his devotion, and his creative ideas benefitting the church through study, teaching, and fellowship. Then tragedy struck: Linda was diagnosed with cancer and died two years later at the age of 38 in 1974. The church surrounded them with love, but the mourning family suffered. The next spring, Joe met Kathy Nummy. Easy conversations during a church retreat developed into devoted love, and they married in December 1975. Sons Andrew and Peter were born in the following years, extending the family, and amusing, exasperating, and adoring their older sister and brothers. Right after Joe and Kathy were married, FBC had an opportunity that Joe encouraged the church to take: sponsoring a Laotian family fleeing the Vietnam War. Joe was passionate about welcoming and supporting refugees and the displaced since his father was an immigrant from Denmark. Upon the arrival of the Saechow family, Joe and other devoted members of the church made sure of work, housing, food, and friendship for them. The Saechow family spent a year in Midland, moving to Oregon after learning another Lao family they knew was living there. Jobs were plentiful, and they settled permanently in Oregon. The Saechows remain friends of the Mortensens to this day. In 1989, Joe took a sabbatical, traveling with his family to Oxford, England. There he studied under the eminent English New Testament scholar Tom Wright at Oxford University. Joe said his view of the Bible, God's Kingdom, and Jesus were opened to him in a new way that greatly affected his preaching and life with God. It is impossible to think of Joe without his love of music. A musician himself, it was his voice that was his instrument. He sang solos or duetsespecially with Linda and Charlie Nonemanin church, but not too often, and didn't sing in the church choir. "There's a danger of the service having too much Joe in it. There are others with gifts to use for ministry." Joe sang in the community with many groups, some privately organizedCanzona di Musicaand others through the Midland Center for the Arts. He was a part of the Midland Chorale for many years and sang with smaller choirs there as well. Joe loved the outdoors. He led the family on many camping trips across the country, instilling in his children the same love and reverence for nature he had. He taught his daughter to fish, though she abandoned the pursuit after discovering what it took to clean her catch. After Kathy introduced the family to downhill skiing, Joe took to it and enjoyed the skiing season for 30 more years. A tinkerer by nature, Joe loved understanding how things worked, and could build just about anything, including a deck in the backyard for his son's high school graduation. In the 1980s, Joe discovered personal computing. He dove into it with enthusiasm, learning to code, and ultimately collaborating on the development of an early freeware database, ZDB. After a day in 1993 spent skiing and soul-searching on the slopes of Crystal Mountain, Joe decided to retire early from FBC Midland. In retirement, he continued to support American Baptist Churches throughout Michigan. He served as an interim pastor in Bay City, MI, shepherding the unification of two smaller congregations. Joe also became an Area Minister with ABC of Michigan. In that role, he traveled throughout the state, helping churches prepare to call a new pastor and mentoring younger clergy. He continued taking occasional interim positions, including in Bloomfield Hills. Teaching and learning is key in the Mortensen family. Though he never became a full-time instructor (though of course he was from the pulpit), Joe occasionally taught short courses at Northern Theological Seminary in the Chicago area. He was an adjunct at Ecumenical Seminary in Detroit, Columbia and Central Baptist seminaries. He also supervised a number of doctoral students over the years. He later got the opportunity of a lifetime to teach at the newly reopened Moscow Theological Seminary in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. The school asked Joe to teach baptism as a multi-week course with the help of an interpreter. Since Joe had never taught baptism previously, he dove into his books and developed a course that served the students well. Joe later said they were the best students he ever had, and that the interpreter was extraordinary, making it easy to communicate with the students. Joe taught there several times between 1996 and 2006. Daughter Anne had lived in various parts of Russia and other former Soviet states off and on from the early 1980s until the early 2000s, and it was his great joy to spend time with her in Moscow during his teaching visits. With whatever other free time he somehow had, Joe was highly involved in in the Midland community, serving on boards including the Pardee Cancer Foundation board, the Red Cross board, Community Center board, Stratford Nursing Home and gradually volunteered more and more at the hospital, now named the MidMichigan Medical Center and affiliated with the University of Michigan. In addition to being a merciful presence for many families as an on-call chaplain there for many years, Joe served as a corporate member and joined the volunteer board, including when the affiliation with U of M happened in 2013. Joe served as president of the board for two years, so was part of the decision to add heart surgery to MidMichigan's services. He tested it out when he needed bypass surgery soon after the unit opened, and it was good. Once Joe fully retired following his very active early retirement, he and Kathy wholeheartedly embraced a shared love: travel. Joe and Kathy traveled the globe, including a Danube River cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest, the Eastern Mediterranean including Israel, Normandy, the Amazon River and Machu Picchu. At 81, he ably climbed the 1,600 steep steps of Machu Picchu, with his 15-year-younger wife gasping behind him. Costa Rica was rich with animal life that their excellent guide helped them see. Joe and Kathy's last major trip together took them to Turkey, where they were truly awed by the beauty and history of the country. And then, of course, the pandemic arrived. Both Kathy and Joe stayed healthy for 2 1/2 years, but recently both caught COVID, and Joe's general poor health in the last couple of years made it impossible for him to recover. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Linda, his parents Mabel and Axel; his parents-in-law Betsy (Ross) and Bill Nummy and Irene and Arthur Larsen; siblings Marguerite, Jim, and Charles, brothers-in-law Ed Bieber and Bob Burman, sister-in-law Genevieve Mortensen and various cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. He is survived by Kathy; his children and their spouses, Anne Mortensen and John Sartorius, Charles and Helga (Schroeder) Mortensen, John and Linda (Neufeld) Mortensen, Andrew Mortensen and Christine Veenstra, and Peter Mortensen and Kimra McPherson; his sister, Mary; 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Joe's large and extended family and many friends, congregants will cherish his memory always.

Dr. Ben E. J. New, (STH’68)

By sthalum October 2nd, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by the Legacy and can be found here.

Rev. Dr. Ben E. J. New died at home on August 20, 2022 in Greenfield, MA, surrounded by his beloved family, following a long struggle with congestive heart failure.
Ben was born on September 10, 1928 in Dallas, TX, son of Benjamin Earl New (1894-1968) and Lona Belle (Buckner) New (1895-1977). He grew up in Dallas with three siblings who predeceased him: Older brother James, older sister Winona and younger brother Don. He was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Sunset High School in 1946. He earned an A.B. at Baylor University in 1951. During his time at Baylor he fell in love with a young woman he knew from church, Mary Helen Morrow, and they married on November 21, 1952. They were constant companions during their 69 years of marriage, their love and support of one another beyond measure.

Ben graduated from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1954 and was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister in 1953. He served as Pastor of Midway Hills Baptist Church in Dallas from 1954 to 1958. His first child, Jenny Jackson (née Virginia Lee New), was born in 1955. Ben then served as Associate Pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas from 1958 to 1963. His son, Mark Morrow New, was born in 1960. At Park Cities, Ben found encouragement to engage in higher theological studies, supported by mentors, pastors and church members.

In the fall of 1963, Ben and Mary Helen moved their young family to Boston, MA where he entered Boston University School of Theology. After a year living in Boston, Ben became Pastor of First Congregational Church of Eliot, ME. His son, Jonathan Buckner New, was born in 1965. Complementing Ben's studies at Boston University, he helped the congregation in Eliot to join the fledgling denomination, the United Church of Christ, while also gaining his full standing as a pastor in the U.C.C. He earned the degree of S.T.M. at B.U. School of Theology in 1965. He augmented these studies with a Fellowship with the Human Relations Center at B.U., acquiring knowledge and skills which were foundational to much of his pastoral ministry.

Ben and his family fell in love with New England and the Maine coast during this time, taking frequent trips to Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick as well as to York Beach. Ben was an excellent photographer, documenting much of family life and travel on 35mm slides from this time in Maine through the later years of his life.

In early 1969, Ben started his pastoral work in Shelburne Falls, MA, at what was then called Trinity Fellowship (Episcopal, American Baptist, and United Church of Christ). Within his first few years there, he was instrumental in helping the United Methodist Church in Shelburne Falls to join with the other three denominations to form Trinity Church, where he was Pastor Emeritus for the last few years of his life. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT in 1982. Ben was heavily involved in work throughout the

Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, serving on several different committees through the years. Ben served on the Shelburne Council on Aging and the Shelburne Housing Authority. Through this work he was instrumental in the development of Highland Village, a housing development created to provide affordable housing for seniors in the surrounding area. His leisure activities included hiking in Catamount State Forest in Colrain, MA; vacations camping, fishing and canoeing on Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham, NH, and; flower gardening in the flower beds surrounding the parsonage on Main Street and vegetable gardening on Helen Stacy's land in Colrain. Ben loved classical music, especially Beethoven, so frequent trips to Tanglewood were taken with Mary Helen during summer seasons of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

In 1987, Ben and Mary Helen moved to Salem, MA, where he served as Pastor of Tabernacle Church, U.C.C. until his retirement in 1994. In retirement, Ben learned new ways to support Mary Helen as she continued full-time work, and spent many hours meticulously renovating the house they had purchased in Salem.

In 1997 Ben and Mary Helen moved to The Villages, FL, where he enjoyed golf and traveled both at home and internationally with Mary Helen. During this time they visited Australia, Singapore, Japan and Russia, locations where their daughter, Jenny Jackson, was living abroad over more than a decade. Ben organized two trips to the Holy Land with Educational Opportunities, Inc., which were deeply meaningful trips to parishioners, colleagues, and him and Mary Helen. While living in Florida, Ben and Mary Helen became charter members of the United Church of Christ at The Villages, instrumental in its formation and early growth. Ben also served as an Annuitant Visitor for the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ, traveling widely around Florida, ministering to elders and finding new delight in new places, Mary Helen at his side.

In 2016, Ben and Mary Helen moved back to Western Massachusetts to enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren.

Ben is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mary Helen New; his daughter, Jenny Jackson and her husband Thomas W. Jackson; his son, Mark New and his partner Victoria Blunt; his son Jonathan New and his wife, Debbie New; granddaughters, Sarah New and Elinor New, and; grandsons Justin Peterson-New and Ethan Peterson-New.

Reverend James E. Malloy, STH ’90

By sthalum October 2nd, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by the Tribute Archive and can be found here.

James Edward Malloy Jr., better known as the Reverend James E. Malloy Jr., was born on January 19,1956, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Preceding him in death are his parents the late Edith Faye and James Malloy Sr. His earthly service for the Lord ended on August 15, 2022, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, North Carolina. On this day, he began his heavenly services amongst our angels right beside our Lord and Savior. Rev. James E Malloy Jr. grew up in Fairmont, North Carolina. Giving his life to God at the age of 12, he began preaching at the age of 16. The Word has always been on his tongue and he has always lived his life according to what was righteous. The Bible has always been a roadmap for his life. He attended grade school in the Public Schools of Robeson County, receiving his high school diploma in 1974. After retiring from the ministry, he enjoyed school so much that he went back into the school system to substitute. He also attended Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC graduating in 1978; there he received his Bachelor in Religion and became an extinguished member of the Fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha. He was once the President of the Student Association at Methodist University. He received the Methodist University Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2009. Rev. Malloy was also a former member of the Alumni Board of Directors for Methodist University. Upon graduating he went on to Boston University to receive his Master's in School of Divinity with a minor in Theology, graduating in 1983. His delight was presiding over worship services and programs. His soul and heart enjoyed leading individuals, families, youths, and students in accepting Our Lord as their personal Savior and Redeemer. He enjoyed visiting the sick and shutin as a meaningful part of his ministry. His favorite saying is, "with God all things are possible." Rev. Malloy has had many accomplishments in his journey, every union he wed, every christening conducted, and every funeral he performed, was done with the presence of God always in the midst. One of his proud moments was the moment he prepared a meal for the great Coretta Scott King, and she enjoyed it. Even though he has been in several movies, and played in several 7th Heaven episodes. He was most proud that he had a line to God, to pray for those who needed it and those that didn't want it, he prayed to God anyway. If you needed Rev. Malloy, he was there. If there was funeral being conducted, he was there. If there was an event in the community, he was there. In the good times and the bad times, he was there. If someone was cooking Sunday dinner, he was there. Now amongst the angels and those that have gone on before him, and right at the seat of God's throne, he is there. Rev. James Malloy began pastoring in the United Methodist Churches in 1983 at St. Peters UMC in Hamlet, North Carolina. He went on in 1987 to Mount Olive Parrish UMC in Lumberton, North Carolina. Then in 1994 Rhyne Memorial UMC in Red springs, North Carolina. In 1999 Fifth Avenue UMC, in Wilmington, North Carolina. From there to Lakewood UMC in Durham, North Carolina in 2002. In 2006 he presided over the Sanford Circuit UMC in Sanford, North Carolina. Taking administrative leave in 2010 to help take care of his mother. He then resumed in 2012 at Millers Chapel in Lumberton, North Carolina, and his last appointment was at New Hope UMC in Rowland, North Carolina in 2013. He finally retired in 2016 from the administrative duties of the church but kept working in the communities. Rev. Malloy leaves to cherish his siblings, Rev. Libby Malloy-Kisseih (Fairmont, NC), Jerry Malloy (Indian Head, MD), and Patsy Malloy (Fairmont, NC). Preceding him in death are Bobby Malloy and Judy Faye Bridgett. He had a great love for his nieces and nephews, Tony E. Bridgett (Charlotte, NC), Jessica N. Kisseih (Lumberton, NC), and Erika E. Bridgett (Charlotte, NC), and Jeremiah A. Malloy (Elkridge, MD). Born to them Jhaniyah L. Kisseih, Nadia L. Bridgett, Josiah E. Kisseih, Za'Reah L. Bridgett, Tomaurien E. Bridgett, and Emoni L. Bridgett His cousins served as extended brothers and sisters Deacon Harry T. Wade (Fairmont, NC), Deacon Perry L. Wade (Rosa L. Wade) (Raeford, NC), Terri A. Stewart (Darrell Stewart) (Lumberton, NC), Jestine M. Wade (Fairmont, NC), Nancy Wade (Charles Christy) (Fairmont, NC), and Charles McCoy (Philadelphia, PA) As he would say his little cousins, Marlon (Resting in Peace since July 2016), Stephanie, Terri D., Darrell Jr., (Resting in Peace since November 2018), Shameicha, Roderica, Brittney, Perry Jr., Ja' Leah, and Thurston. A special friend of the Malloy-Kisseih family would like to acknowledge Ms. Rosa L. Moody who has been a part of our family for decades and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended friends.

Mr. Henry J. Bergeron, STH ’74

By sthalum September 18th, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by Legacy and can be found here.

Henry Jacques Bergeron Webster, New Hampshire Henry Bergeron, 73, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2022 after a brief illness. He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, on July 2, 1949 to Henry and Annette (Letourneau) Bergeron. He is survived by his wife, Paula, his daughter, Katherine Bergeron, granddaughters Louisa Bergeron and RoseMarie Newell, grandson, Michael Davis, his sister, Sr. Mary Clare, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his sister, Sr. Annette Marie and his brothers Fernand (Phil) Bergeron and Gerard Bergeron. Henry attended Our Lady of Lourdes minor seminary in Cassadaga, New York. He attended Assumption Preparatory School and got his Bachelor's Degree and went on to Boston University earning his Master's Degree in Theology. During the summers while home from school, Henry worked at Woodman's Florist in Milford, New Hampshire. He loved working with plants and flowers and that's where he got his green thumb and his interest in gardening went on from there. As a child, Henry was always intrigued with numbers and counting. He ended up working as an accountant and eventually became a CPA. Henry worked for the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety as head of Field Auditing and later transferred to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission as a Utility Rate Analyst. Henry also served for the Town of Webster as Supervisor of the Checklist. Henry retired from State service in 2009 after 30 years of service. Henry grew up in a family that loved to play cards. He played Bridge and Bid Whist as a child. He learned to play cribbage which really became his love. He joined the American Cribbage Congress (ACC) league and started going to tournaments. After playing in the first two tournaments, he decided he wanted to start running tournaments, which he and Paula successfully did for 20 years. Henry was proud to serve on the ACC Board of Directors. An avid sports fan growing up in New England, he loved his Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots and Boston Celtics. While at Assumption he became very interested in their basketball team. Henry was a very loving and giving man. He was always there to offer help to anyone who needed anything. He loved his family, loved being a father, grandfather, uncle, godfather, husband, and loved his three cats. In addition, he was proud to have been a blood donor for most of his life.

Dr. Peter Arthur Baldwin, STH ’59, GRS ’64

By sthalum September 18th, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by Legacy and can be found here.

Peter A. Baldwin, of Gilmanton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 10, at the age of 90. He spent his last day at his long-time home on Pancake Hill, in Lower Gilmanton, surrounded by family and friends. Peter grew up on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where his father, Alfred Graham Baldwin, was school minister. After graduating from Middlebury College, Peter entered Boston University School of Theology, completing his degree in 1958. He was ordained to the Unitarian ministry. He continued his studies at Boston University, completing a PhD in psychology in 1964. Peter served the American Unitarian Association as director of Liberal Religious Youth (LRY) in their Boston office. He also directed the youth and family summer programs at the Unitarian Universalist Rowe Camp. He taught at Tufts University before moving to Chicago in 1967 to teach at Meadville Lombard School of Theology, the Unitarian Universalist seminary at the University of Chicago. The family lived in South Shore, a residential neighborhood south of the University, from 1967 until 1973. They returned to Gilmanton to make their home on the property his parents had purchased as a summer home in 1931, and where Peter spent summers throughout his childhood. Soon after returning to Gilmanton, Peter obtained his license as a psychologist and continued his practice, in offices in Keene and Gilmanton, until retirement about 2000. He has published three books about his unique approach to psychotherapy: Four and Twenty Blackbirds -Personae Theory and the Understanding of Our Multiple Selves (1997); Gleanings - a Collection of Teaching Stories and Reflections (2011); and A Scattering of Seeds: A Collection of Teaching Stories and Reflections (2014). In 2017 he published A Memoir describing life at the farm on Pancake Hill, from the time his parents purchased the True Osborne property - 40 acres house and barn. Peter was a gifted psychologist, teacher of psychology, and psychotherapist. He was known as an eloquent proponent of Ericksonian hypnosis, a process that emphasizes suggestion and non-linear thinking. Peter was a distinguished faculty member of the Antioch University New England Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology from its beginning in 1982. He taught a highly valued elective in his area of expertise. Students commented that he was able to open up areas of psychology they had never seen before. Peter's clients attested to the deep relationships they developed with him and how they dealt with difficult problems, often smiling in the process. Music was an important part of Peter's life. He was a folk singer and story teller, accompanying himself on guitar. He was a founding member of the "Dissipated Eight", a student octet at Middlebury. He made several recordings, and sang at gatherings and in church choirs throughout his life. Peter was married to Carolyn W. Baldwin in 1955. Together they raised three children: Sarah Baldwin Welcome and Robert Henry Baldwin of Gilmanton, and Judith Baldwin Gleason of Concord. He is survived by Carolyn, their three children and their spouses, and four grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 17, 11 am, at the First Baptist Church on Route 107 in Lower Gilmanton. Gifts in memory may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee or the charity of your choice.

Reverend Thomas S. McKeown, STH ’53 [Par Wheelock ’85]

By sthalum September 18th, 2022 in Alumni/ae Deaths

This obituary was originally published by the Telegram and Gazette and can be found here .

The Reverend Thomas S McKeown died on July 10, 2022 at The Overlook in Charlton, MA. He was just days from his 94th birthday. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Irma L (Vandervelde) McKeown and his daughter Betty McKeown. He leaves behind his children Lucille Gallagher of Douglas, Paul T McKeown and his wife Bonnie of Upper St Clair, PA, Steven K McKeown and his wife Maureen of Leicester, Sharon Hall and her husband James of Charlton, and Mark McKeown and his wife Lina Mateus of Franklin , fifteen grandchildren; James Gallagher, Andrew Georgantas, David Gallagher, Peter Georgantas, Althea Georgantas, Matthew Hall, Meaghan (McKeown) Meador, Elizabeth Hall, Timothy Gallagher, Lauren Hall, Thomas McKeown, Nicholas (Zeke) Georgantas, Sean McKeown, Shannon McKeown, and Ryan McKeown, as well as seven great-grandchildren ; Michael, Julianna, Maia, Brayden, Collin, Coreymae, and Aubree. He also leaves his son-in-law Nicholas Georgantas , two sisters; Irene Porzio and Barbara Egan, many cousins nieces and nephews. He had a wonderful extended family including the Vandervelde clan who he enjoyed visiting on trips to the mid-west. Thomas was born at home on July 15, 1928 in Allston/Boston, MA. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Pauley) McKeown who were immigrants from Northern Ireland. He graduated from Boston English High School, Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa), and Boston University School of Theology. He was ordained in 1951 in the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church. His life was spent in service to God and the church. Along with his wife and partner in ministry, he served parishes in Cambridge, MA (Trinity 1951-1953), Chicopee, MA (Faith 1953-1963) Worcester, MA (Aldersgate 1963-1986 merged from Trowbridge, Park Avenue and Cherry Valley). He served as District Superintendent of the Metro Boston District from 1986-1992. Throughout his career, he served in many positions within the church as well as the communities in which he lived and served. He had a passion for developing youth and family ministries in the churches where he served. He was especially proud to develop The Webster Square Day Care Center in Worcester to serve a need for families in that community. He and Irma worked on many mission teams around the US and in Chile well into retirement. He was a lifelong member at the YMCA where he enjoyed volleyball, racquetball, family swims and youth splash parties. He was a gardener, woodworker and workshop tinkerer. His family will remember him for his laughter and fun, especially the family camping and traveling adventures. He loved games of any kind and spirited competition.