Alumni News
Reverend Alfred H. Tracy (STH’58)
This obituary was originally published on Forever Miss, and can be found here.
Alfred Tracy (know as Rev / Al / Dad / Poppie) was born on November 5, 1927 in Concord, MA to Gladys (Schnair) and Alfred Henry Tracy Sr. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Ocala, FL on August 22, 2019 surrounded by his wife & loving family.
Al is now reunited with his father (known as Al Sr / Dad / Pop), mother (known as Gladys / Mom / Nana), sister Gerry (Locke), brothers Howie and Dick, son in laws John Trifiletti and Jerry Coughlin and other family members and friends who have gotten his heavenly resting place ready for him.
Al is survived by his wife of 69 years (known as Helen / Mom / Nana) and his 4 children: Sandy Hoyt (husband Colby, children Shane, Melanie, Robin, Cathy and their families), Diane Trifiletti (children John Christopher & Rachel and spouses), Pam Coughlin (children Grace, Jay, Leah, Kathleen and their families), Alfred Tracy III - Tra (wife Kristine, children Erin & Adam). He has been blessed with 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Al grew up in New England (Connecticut) playing sports, hunting and hanging out with his brothers and their friends. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Merchant Marines in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean theaters. After he came back home, he met Helen when she came to New England from Florida to work for the summer. It was love at first sight! They dated and were married shortly thereafter in the Chapel by the Sea in Captiva, FL. After they were married, they move to Connecticut to start their family.
Al loved to learn and spent nearly 13 years obtaining degrees in Engineering and Theology. He began working for the Methodist Church in the New England Conference and worked at several churches in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1967, after their 4 children were born, they transferred to the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church in Dunedin, FL. For those of you who know the workings of the Methodist Church, ministers were not allowed to stay at a parish for more than 5 years so they began their trek around Florida through Jacksonville, Immokalee, Lake City, and Ellenton where Al retired from the ministry. Al and Helen retired to Ocala in a neighborhood with many family members and attended the Belleview United Methodist Church where Al was a guest preacher from time to time. His sermons were filled with love and always invoked thought and he always loved to tell stories... :)
Al and Helen loved to travel and get together with family and friends. It was not uncommon to have close to 100 people gathered for Thanksgiving every year. Their daily devotions filled the hearts of not only them but all of their many visitors as well. He graced his family and many other people with the blessings of marriages, baptisms, and other ceremonies that he has presided over. His messages were always uplifting and will never be forgotten.
Al had a deep love for God, country, family and friends. He would always start a conversation with whomever he met and his front door was always open. On several occasions, he offered his home to students from other countries so they could have greater opportunities. He would give you the shirt off his back. Al could fix anything. With his family by his side, he built multiple houses and made repairs to many others. He went on many missions with Red Bird Mission to build houses for those in need in the Appalacian Mountains. He would always offer his services to friends and sometimes strangers who needed things fixed. He was the ultimate handyman, fixing not only physical things, but emotional and spiritual things as well.
Al's smile would always light up a room as he told a joke or just looked at you with a twinkle in his eye while he told a story. Sharing bible stories or war stories, he was always entertaining with his tales! He could sit around and play the spoons or bones and sing his favorite ditties at the piano. Al will be missed very much by his family and many friends.
The funeral will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 4:00 at the Bellevue United Methodist Church, 5640 SE Brown Rd, Belleview, FL 34420. Here is a link to the live broadcast of the service for those of you who can't attend: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=belleview%2.... Look under the "Video" section on their page. In addition to the live streaming, the video will be saved on the FaceBook page under the "Video" section so you are able to view the service at your convenience. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Alzheimer's Fondation of America (https://alzfdn.org), Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Heifer International (https://www.heifer.org). Please leave a tribute below or share a memory in the Stories section above. Send your donation acknowledgement cards to Helen Tracy, 5 Spruce Drive, Ocala, FL 34472 or email to atracy@digiusa.net. This will bring comfort to Helen and the family members.
And as Al would say at the end every service - "May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mankind, guide you, bless you, and lead you in His way which is life everlasting. Amen."
Mrs. Dorothy Wilber Peers (STH’51, CAS’49)
Mrs. Dorothy Wilber Peers (STH'51, CAS'49) passed away on July 29, 2016. Mrs. Peers graduated from the School of Theology in 1951 with a degree in Master of Religious Education.
Prof. Courtney Goto presented with Metcalf Award for Teaching
Sunday, October 3, 2021 – At the Boston University Commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2020, President Robert Brown presented the Metcalf Award for Teaching to Associate Professor of Religious Education Courtney Goto. President Brown said “she cultivates a welcoming spiritual environment in her classrooms, while challenging students to know themselves, learn from each other, develop empathy, and examine assumptions and biases.”
Watch the Commencement ceremony and the presentation of the Metcalf Award to Prof. Goto, which begins at 1:28:07.
Dr. Chan Sun Cho (STH’59)
Dr. Chan Sun Cho (STH'59) passed away on January 26, 2021. Dr. Cho graduated from the School of Theology in 1959 with a degree in Master of Sacred Theology.
Reverend Andrews Aboagye (STH’91)
Reverend Andrews Aboagye (STH'91) passed away on October 9, 2016. Reverend Aboagye graduated from the School of Theology in 1991 with a degree in Master of Sacred Theology.
Mrs. Betty Foley Wilkins (STH’84, CFA’50, Wheelockᴳ’52)
This obituary was originally published by the Boynton Memorial Chapel and can be found here.
Betty Anne Foley Wilkins (STH'84), age 90, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2019. She was born on February 13, 1929, in Somerville, Massachusetts and grew up in Medford.
She studied Music & Theology at the University of Boston.
Betty was the Choir Director at Cason Methodist Church in Delray Beach, FL and Musical Director at the Delray Beach Playhouse for many years. She taught piano lessons and taught English and Latin at Trinity Lutheran School. Later in life, Betty was the Music Director at Lakeview Church in Delray Beach, FL.
Betty had 4 children: Allan, Jennifer, John & Jill and has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Among other things, Betty loved to travel. She enjoyed spending her summers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire with her family.
Betty is survived by her daughter Jennifer Foley; son John Foley; daughter Jill Foley Brown and husband Tom Brown; grandchildren Myles Hassler, Marley Rooslet, Ben Hassler, Daniel Foley, Katy Foley, Josh Foley, Megan Fioto and TJ Brown; plus 6 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at 11:00 am, at Boynton Memorial Chapel.
Flowers can be sent to Boynton Memorial Chapel in Boynton Beach, FL or charitable donations can be made in memory to the Save The Music Foundation, which is a nonprofit dedicated to starting music programs in schools, at www.savethemusic.org
Class of 2020 Commencement Activities at BUSTH
Dear Class of 2020, 
We are excited to be in person with you again here on campus, and we can't wait to celebrate with you! Here are some important times to remember this weekend as we celebrate your achievements together. For your family members following at home, the Saturday Marsh Chapel service will be available live at 3pm ET on our Live Streaming page.
Best wishes for a enjoyable and safe weekend celebration,
The Office of Students and Community Life
Saturday, October 2, 2021
2:30pm: Assemble for Procession to Marsh Chapel – STH 1st Floor
Leaders of Worship should gather in STH Room 110. Graduates should assemble in the first floor corridor outside STH Suite 108. Processing leaders of worship, faculty and administrators should wear their robe and hood.
3:00pm: STH Graduate Recognition Ceremony – Marsh Chapel
4:30pm: Class Photo – Marsh Chapel Stairs
4:30pm: Reception – STH Community Center
Sunday, October 3, 2021
1:00pm: Nickerson Field All-University Commencement Exercises
Lawrence Carter, Sr. (STH’68,’70,’79) to Receive Boston University 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Carter, Sr. (STH’68,’70,’79) is the dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, Professor of Religion, College Archivist and Curator at Morehouse College, and the founder of the Gandhi King Ikeda Institute for Global Ethics and Reconciliation. A three-time Boston University School of Theology alumnus, he will be presented with the Boston University 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award on Saturday, October 2 at 1:30pm ET.
To register for the event, please visit the Boston University Alumni Weekend Website.
Rev. Dr. Carter was a featured author in the School of Theology’s 2017 publication of focus magazine. His sermon, “Other Sheep I Have,” can be found on page 32 of the issue.
Dean Pak’s Installation Service featured in BU Today
Dean G. Sujin Pak’s Installation was featured as a “Closer Look” in the Thursday, September 30 issue of BU Today. The Service of Installation was held at Marsh Chapel on Wednesday, September 29 at 11am ET. The recording of the service is available here.
Click here to view the article
Reverend Dr. James R. Prickett (STH’61)
Jim, (89), died September 1, 2021, at home. He was an ordained minister, serving churches in Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Florida. In addition, Jim served in the U.S. Army, was assistant personnel manager of a steel company and served as administrator of a Methodist retirement center in Florida.
Jim was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 1, 1932. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati. Later he earned a master’s degree in theology from Boston University School of Theology, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in education from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jim helped found Habitat for Humanity International in 1976 and served on its Board of Directors for two years before joining the founder Millard Fuller as the first paid staff person in Americus, GA for two years. He was a member of the first or second Leadership Evansville class, worked in PTA organizations in several states, volunteered at Evansville ARC and for the Komen Race for the Cure. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville for 12 years, serving as president for 3 of those years.
Jim was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Mills Prickett (mother of his children); his parents, Gladys and Francis Prickett; and his stepdaughter Melissa Connors.
He is survived by his wife, Janette; son, Brad (Susan) Prickett; daughter, Valerie (Rich) Watts; son, Barry (Elisheva) Prickett; stepson, Jeff Howard; grandchildren, Megan Prickett, Shannon and Greg Watts, Declan, Finn and Rowan Prickett; brother, Jack (Janet) Prickett; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Old North UMC on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 2:00 p.m., with The Reverends Mike Monahan, Don Bernhardt, and Gary Schaar officiating. Visitation at Alexander North Funeral Home before the service from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Old North UMC, 1401 N. Stringtown Rd., Evansville, IN 47711 (oldnorthumc.com) or Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Towne Center North, 560 E. Diamond Ave., 47711 (evansvillehabitat.org).