Remembrances

Saul Needleman ’57 PhD, Chicago, July 18, 2019, age 91, was a biochemist, teacher, author and artist.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Organic Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1950; a Master of Science in Biochemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1955; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and Medicine, Northwestern University in 1957.

His career as a biochemist includes: VA Research Hospital, Chicago, 1965–1973; coordinator science affairs at Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, 1974–1979; director clinical affairs at Schering-Plough, Memphis, 1979–1981; director medical affairs at Hollister Inc., Libertyville, Ill., 1981–1985; consultant with the United States Naval Dental Research Program; medical expert with the United States Navy Drug Program, Great Lakes Naval Station; legal-medical consultant with the Drug Abuse Program, United States Navy, 1986-1995. Needleman retired after 10 years as a civilian working at the Great Lakes Naval Station Drug Lab and serviced with United States Naval Reserve from 1945 to 1947.

Additionally, he was an associate professor of biochemistry and neurology at Northwestern University, Evanston, 1960—1973; chairman, department of biochemistry at Roosevelt University, 1973–1975; and taught nutrition at Oakton Community College, 1995–2000.

While his career was biochemistry, his passions were the arts and numismatics. He worked in various media from painting, sculpture, stained glass, woodworking, furniture and photography. His books include detailed research in protein analysis and various books on numismatics. He is well known for the Needleman–Wunsch algorithm, used in bioinformatics to align protein or nucleotide sequences.

Achievements include patents in biochemistry and medical fields; recipient Presidential Award, Abbott Laboratories, 1979; RESA Science Research Award, 1960; Toni Research Fellow, 1954-1955; and Gillette Research Fellow, 1953-1954. Additionally, there were many achievements in the arts and numismatic fields.

Diana Dahl Norlander '56 passed away peacefully on July 14, 2019, surrounded by generations of her family, reciprocating the love she showed them. She is survived by her loving husband, John; four children, Lisa, Erik, Krist, and Britt; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Born on February 25, 1933, she was the adored child of Edor and Donna Dahl. She graduated from Northwestern University and was an accomplished actress, pianist and real estate agent — facts that remained hidden to many because of her modesty and nature of always turning the spotlight to the people around her. But the roles she cherished most in life were as wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and John were a perfect match and accomplished more together as a loving couple than either could dream of on their own. She loved her children fiercely and found immense joy from watching them grow and spread their wings. As “Nana” she made sure her grandchildren could always find freshly made cookies or brownies in the kitchen. As her family mourns this great loss, they are incredibly grateful that she and John made it a priority to nurture a family in which everyone loves and supports one another deeply. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Hilton Head Heroes organization.

Richard Alan Feldon '53, age 87, went to a Super Bowl in heaven after passing away on Friday, June 7, 2019. His enthusiasm for sports, military history, music and travel was surpassed only by his love for his family and friends, who will miss and never forget him.

An avid fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and one of the first season-ticket holders, Feldon rarely missed a game – even during his worldwide travels. When football season was over, you’d find him playing golf or watching tennis, baseball, basketball, or at least a great Jeopardy show.

Feldon spent 39 years at The Procter & Gamble Company, retiring in 1994 as Managing Director of World Strategic Planning for the Paper Products Division. He was particularly proud to have been on the team that created Mr. Whipple (“Please don’t squeeze the Charmin”), to have labeled Bounty as “the Quicker Picker-Upper,” and also to have introduced Pampers to the U.S., Europe and the world. His career started in sales, then brand management, and eventually strategic planning, where he voyaged across the globe and eventually transferred with his family for several years to Germany and Belgium, kindling his strong interest in international travel.

Known for his smile and laughter with friends, Feldon’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his dear wife — the sun to his moon — Diane Kozlove Feldon; sons Richard Alden Feldon and R. Andrew Feldon and his wife, Leah Koss Feldon (the daughter of Dick’s second wife, Candy Koss); daughter Jill Feldon LaNouette and her husband, Greg LaNouette; grandchildren Evan LaNouette and his wife, Annick Aubin-Pouliot, Trevor LaNouette, Charlotte Feldon and Ryder Feldon; nephews Justin Skala and his wife, Ann, and Christopher Skala and his wife, Emma; and niece Katri Skala and her husband, John Cook.

Born August 15, 1931, in Darien, Connecticut, Feldon was close to his sister Barbara and brother Bob. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy and Pomfret School, and then became a life-long Wildcat fan and Sigma Nu, receiving his degree in business administration from Northwestern University in 1953. He met Joan Sorge there and married her in 1954, shortly after he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served at Quantico, Virginia, and then in Japan and Korea.

Moving to Terrace Park, Ohio, Dick became a councilman and vice mayor, and was active with the Terrace Park Players and Cincinnati Music Theater as a producer, director, and actor (and occasional singer). Broadway musicals continued to be his favorite, especially Mame, Carousel, Music Man and Mama Mia.

After he retired, Feldon and Diane cruised much of the world and then moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where they made an amazing number of warm and wonderful friends. Feldon served on the board of the BallenIsles Country Club. At the club, he challenged many of the members in bridge.

Feldon was the embodiment of an open-minded intellectual who held competence and integrity above political affiliation. His friends and family will always remember Feldon’s affection for animals, way with words, sense of humor, intellect, love of people, and especially his smile.

A memorial service and celebration of life will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2019, in Palm Beach Gardens — details to come.

Major General William John Davis ’59 passed away on March 14, 2019, at the age of 85 while being hospitalized not far from his farm in Wadsworth, Ill. William Davis was a lifelong Chicagoan, born Aug. 4, 1933. He was a native of the North Side, raised a family in the western suburb of St. Charles, and retired to his farm in Wadsworth, just north of Gurnee.

After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1953 and began his flying career as a navigator for reconnaissance missions. He then returned to Chicago, joined the Reserves, and attended school at Northwestern University where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in political science.

After briefly attending law school at the University of Miami, he decided to pursue a flying career full time and took a job with American Airlines.

In 1971 he married Sandra Marie Richter of Hopkins, Minn., and they started a family raising two children, Kristen Marie and Michael William.

William Davis served 35 years with the United States military before retiring as the commander of the Illinois Air national Guard in 1989. After 30 years of service with American Airlines, he retired as a captain in 1993. He became a widow when his wife, Sandra Davis, died of cancer in 2000.

He was a curious, compassionate and scholarly individual. He was a car and motorcycle enthusiast, a philanthropist and a public servant, but he’ll be remembered most as a wonderful father and a loving husband. He is survived by his two children, Kristen and Michael.

On Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, Suzanne Sherman Trotter ’50 passed away peacefully among her family and friends.

Suzanne, or Suzie, is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews who adored her for her spirit and energy.

Suzie was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 16, 1928, to Charles and Marian Sherman. Suzie attended New Trier High School in Kenilworth, Ill. In 1950 she graduating from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, where she met Hugh Trotter. They married in 1951 and ultimately settled in San Marino, Calif., with their four children.

Suzie led her daughters’ Girl Scout troops and played an active role in leadership and fundraising for the scouts. In 1967 she helped found the Lacy Park Tennis Center with friends Franny Brossy and Char Wachtel. Suzie also founded the Huntington School tennis clinic, an after-school program for middle schoolers. In addition, Suzie was active in the Pasadena Junior League, participating in the follies and as an auctioneer at the Garden Club’s annual event. She was the first mother to coach Little League Baseball; she mentored the boys Gray Y Soccer; and she co-coached her grandchildren in AYSO. Suzie was an avid skier and saw to it that her children and extended family enjoyed the mountains too. She skied all over the world on trips with the Over the Hill Gang and Pepe’s Wedel Week.

In her later years, Suzie took up watercolor painting, and her still-lifes and landscapes of the California coastline hang in the homes of friends and family.  Suzie also thrived on debate and discussion of politics.

Suzie is survived by her daughter, Melinda Montano, and her children, Brad and Chase; her daughter, Katy, and husband Dean Kitchens and their children, Alex, Dana, Sarah and Anne; her daughter, Suzanne Trotter, and husband Henry Edmonds and their children, McCoy, Elizabeth and Henry; and her son, Scott Trotter, and wife Kim and their son, Benjamin. She is also survived by her sisters Jackie Barnes of Evanston and Julie Whitaker of Laguna Woods, Calif.

Our memories of Bill Froehlig ’50, ’65 MA/MS, known as “the Sandwichman,” go beyond the homemade sandwiches he brought to our residence halls every night in his two-wheeled cart, from the late 1940s to his retirement in 1988. Froehlig died Sept. 29, 2018, in Tallahassee, Fla., at the age of 92.

The tracks of his cart in the North Campus snow are long gone, but generations of Northwestern graduates remember his generosity, kindness, tireless work ethic and that distinctive boatswain’s whistle announcing his arrival.

Gabe Fuentes ’86, ’93 JD
Chicago

Nicholas Waselowich ’50, ’52 MMus — At age 91, Nicholas Waselowich of Warren, Mich., died Nov. 15, 2017.

From humble beginnings, his European immigrant parents made sacrifices for Nick to study the violin. He graduated from Cass Tech High School in 1944. He then served in World War II in the Philippines. Upon his return home, he studied viola at Northwestern University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in music in 1950, followed by a master’s degree in music in 1952.

After completing his education, he married his sweetheart, Rose, and began his performing career including the following: San Antonio and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, Michigan Opera Theatre, the Fisher, and Pine Knob. He was also hired to play recording sessions for Motown. For 35 years Nick was an elementary strings and band teacher in the Detroit Public Schools.

When he was not performing, he enjoyed playing golf and was a Detroit Red Wings hockey fan. As a devoted family man, he will be remembered by all for his generous, loving, and positive attitude.

He is survived by three daughters, Cindy (Vito) Aluia, Janice (Thomas) Manzella and Nancy Waselowich; a grandson Christopher Aluia; and a great grandson, Nicholas Aluia.