In Memoriam

Elizabeth “Betty” Urbanowski Hibben ’60, Northbrook, Ill., March 28, 2021, at age 83. Hibben was one of the first women to be inducted into Northwestern’s N Club, an alumni organization for former Wildcat athletes. She played intramural softball, basketball, volleyball and tennis as a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She became co-owner and manager of the Ivy Racquet Club in Peru, Ill., and coached the Illinois Valley Community College women’s tennis team, for which she received the National Junior College Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year award. A flautist, Hibben was also a member of the Northwestern University Marching and Band Alumni. She is survived by her children, Kenneth, Timothy and Nancy; and four grandchildren.

Irvin A. Cross ’61, Roseville, Minn., Feb. 28, 2021, at age 81. Named Northwestern’s 1961 Male Athlete of the Year in both track and football, Cross played three years as wide receiver and defensive back for the Wildcats. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, Cross played cornerback for nine seasons in the NFL, collecting 22 interceptions. The two-time Pro Bowler joined CBS’ The NFL Today in 1975, becoming the first Black full-time television analyst for a network sports show. He worked for CBS for 15 years, and in 2009 Cross received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Liz; his children, Susan, Lisa, Sandra and Matthew; a grandson; five sisters; and three brothers.

Photo Credit: Northwestern University Archives

James Schadt ’60, Vero Beach, Fla., Feb. 3, at age 82. A Northwestern life trustee, Schadt came to the University in 1956 on a swimming scholarship. He and his wife, Barbara Soldmann Schadt ’60, created the James P. and Barbara S. Schadt Swimming Scholarship. James Schadt served on the Northwestern Board of Trustees’ development, alumni relations and steering committees. He was also a founding member of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors. Schadt started his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble before becoming president and CEO of London-based Cadbury Schweppes Beverages. He later became the first American to serve on Cadbury Schweppes’ board of directors. Eventually, he became chairman and CEO of the Reader’s Digest Association (now Trusted Media Brands) before retiring in the 1990s. Schadt is survived by his wife, his children, Lauren Schadt Baker ’83, ’86 MBA and Andrew Schadt ’87, ’95 MBA, four grandchildren, and two brothers.

James B. Burns ’67, ’71 JD, Chicago, Dec. 11, 2020, at age 75. A basketball star, Burns was one of Northwestern’s top scorers and earned third-team All-America honors in his senior year. After a brief pro basketball stint with the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Chaparrals, Burns graduated from the Northwestern School of Law. In 1993 President Bill Clinton appointed Burns as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, a post he held for four years. In 2000 Burns was appointed inspector general by the Illinois Secretary of State, a position he held for the rest of his life. Burns remained an active member of the Northwestern community, serving on the Board of Trustees and the Visiting Committee of the School of Law. He received a Northwestern Alumni Association Service Award and Alumni Merit Award. Burns is survived by his wife, Martha, and three children.

L. Edward Bryant Jr. ’63, ’67, JD, Evanston, Sept. 20, age 78. An avid supporter of student journalism and former opinion writer for the Daily Northwestern, Bryant served on the board of the Students Publishing Company, the Daily’s governing body for 48 years. He was an influential supporter of the Daily’s transition to a digital business model. Bryant worked as a partner at Gardner Carton & Douglas, where he founded the firm’s health law department in 1979 and won numerous awards for his work in the field. He served on the faculty of the Kellogg School of Management and Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law. A Northwestern football season ticket holder since 1963, Bryant is survived by three daughters, Laura, Diane and Emily; two grandchildren, Sydney and Miles; and brothers Mike, Tom and Jim.

Credit: Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Charles Lippincott ’61, Vermont, May 19, age 80. A pioneering publicist, Lippincott is credited with helping transform George Lucas’ original Star Wars film into a legendary worldwide brand. After switching from law school to film school, he met Lucas at the University of Southern California, and in 1975 he joined Lucasfilm as vice president of advertising, publicity, promotion and merchandising. Before the 1977 release of Star Wars (later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope), he attracted the interest of science fiction and comic book fans with a presentation at the San Diego Comic-Con and a series with Marvel Comics. In addition to advocating for individual character trademarks, Lippincott arranged to feature the Star Wars brand on television as part of The Richard Pryor Show and in a now-infamous CBS holiday special. He left Lucas’ team after the first film, going on to promote movies such as Alien and Flash Gordon and to produce Judge Dredd. Lippincott is survived by his wife, Geraldine, and a sister, Janet.

Photo: Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

John LaPlante ’62 MS, Chicago, March 22, 2020, age 80. The first commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, LaPlante enjoyed a 30-year career with the city, which included helping straighten Lake Shore Drive’s S-curve in 1982 as chief traffic engineer. His work in Chicago continued with the engineering services firm T.Y. Lin International, where he retired in 2015 as director of traffic engineering. Recipient of the 2010 Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, LaPlante was principal author of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Pedestrian Guide. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Leslie; and two grandchildren, Elias and Sara.