In Memoriam

Ev Johnson

W. Evans Johnson, 73, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 19, 2001. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jean D. (Pinky) Johnson; son: Richard Johnson and his wife Ethyl; daughters: Dorothy Ann (D.A.) Brim, Nancy Feist and her husband Jeff, Barbara Lawrence and her husband David; grandsons: Jacob Feist, Matthew and Nathan Brim, and their father Michael Brim; granddaughters: Victoria and Laura Feist, Christin and Nichole Lawrence. Evans was born on December 24, 1927 in Worcester, MA where he was an active member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church and a student at Worcester Academy. In 1951, he graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Chemical Engineering. As an employee of Union Camp Corporation, he moved to Jacksonville in 1968. Three years later, he and a partner founded St. Johns Chemical Corporation, from which he retired as Chairman of the Board and CEO in 1984 after its sale to Westvaco Corporation. An avid golfer and boating enthusiast, Evans held memberships at San Jose Country Club and Epping Forest Yacht Club. He was a Veteran of the Korean War, an Alumnus of Worcester Academy and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a generous contributor to several charitable organizations. Memorial Services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2001 at HARDAGEGIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 4115 Hendricks Avenue. A gathering for family and friends followed at Pinky and Evans home.

John Tomasz

John M. Tomasz, 77, died in the morning, November 8, 2001, at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.

Mr. Tomasz was involved in the design and construction of projects in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Virginia. He retired from the Boston Redevelopment Authority in 1989, where he served as chief project engineer in the waterfront, Charlestown, North Station and Columbia Point projects.

Born in Amesbury, he graduated from Amesbury High School in 1942. He served as class president for four years and was active in sports, particularly baseball and basketball, which he captainedin his junior and senior years.

During World War II, Mr. Tomasz served with the 7th Bombardment Group in China, Burma and India, where he completed 46 combat missions in a B-24 Liberator bomber for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and three Battle Stars.

He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Worcester Polytechnical Institute, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

He was a member of the Holy Family Parish, serving as Eucharistic minister, cantor, usher and head of bingo at various times. Also, he was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 250 of Amesbury.

He leaves wife of 45 years Eleanor M. (Little) Tomasz; daughters Clare Baczewski of Boxford, Mary Whelan of Boston and Ann Papes of The Woodlands, Texas; sons John of Newburyport and Paul of Amesbury; sister Helen Joyce of Cranston, R.I.; nine grandchildren; and 10 nieces and nephews.

Services were held Saturday at Paul C. Rogers & Sons funeral home, followed by a Mass at Holy Parish's St. Joseph's Church, School Street, Amesbury. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Amesbury.

Lexton H. Carroll '52

Dick Coffey said Lexton had an attachment to the class of '51 and that some of you knew him.

Lexton H. Carroll, 71 Fort Myers Beach, Fla., formerly of Oakham, Mass., died Aug. 11, 2001 after a long illness.

He leaves his wife of 49 years, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. At WPI he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Mr. Carroll was owner and president of Carroll Chevrolet in West Brookfield, Mass., retiring in 1980.

He was manager and coach of the U.S. Water Ski Team from 1973 to 1977 and was later appointed vice president for life by the American Water Ski Association. He received the Award of Distinction by that association for being a mentor to many people in the sport.

Arthur H. Gerald, Jr.

Received April 9, 2001

Dear Walt,
I would like to thank you for all the help you gave us in finding the WPI website. We certainly enjoyed it. The old photos were wonderfull to see and Art had fun pointing out all the familiar buildings and telling me some stories. Unfortunately, we won't be coming to the reunion. Art had never been to one and he was really looking forward to this trip. He had an angioplasty on April 4, and there were several complications and he passed away April 6. It is difficult to believe since the week before he had gone to the mountain to enjoy the last day of skiing.

Will you please do him the honor of passing on this story of his life to those who can remember him. He was a wonderfull person, husband, father, and friend to all.

Thank you.
Alice Messier, loving wife

Arthur H. Gerald, Jr. was born May 19, 1926 in Milford, MA. Art was a graduate of Westwod high school and WPI; a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He served in World War 11 as a combat veteran with the 101st Airborn Div. 327th Glider Regiment, 82nd 325th Glider and 94th Infantry Reserve. His wife of 34 years,Jean Matsumura died in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Alice Messier, whom he married on July 11, 1997; his son, Peter-Paul (Pepi), daughter-in-law Erica, of Mercer Island, Washington, four step-daughters and two step-sons.

Lured to Washington in 1952 in awe of the snow and mountains, he became a long-time engineer at Boeing. He was named Manufacturing Engineer of the Year in 1980 for his work on the 767 airplane. Art retired in 1988 as a Gold Card Boeing Management Association member. A native New Englander and proud of his heritage, he is descended from William White of the Mayflower and on the maternal side, John Lyford (1624) who was on the 2nd sailling of the Mayflower. His paternal great-grandfather was a ships captain from Dennysville, Maine in the mid-1800's. Inheriting a love for the sea, living summers on his father's boat, he was a lifelong sailor and rarely went without a sailboat. He enjoyed sailing the waters of the Northwest with family and friends. An enthusiastic downhill skier since living in Washington until the week before he died, getting in 30 days of skiing this season, Art supported his sport as a charter stockholder of Crystal Mountain. He was a member of the Ancient Skiers, Boeing SkiBacs, the Krazy Ladies (and Laddies) Ski Bus, and the Navy League. Art was a member of the Museum of Flight and the U.S.Lighthouse Society, founding member of the National Lighthouse Center and Museum and a Washington Husky Season ticket holder.

Arthur will be rememberd for his great generosity, energy, optimism, friendship, compassion and love for others. He leaves us with the wind at his back, snow under his feet, and forever young. He will be greatly missed!

Art Gerald Art's wife, Alice, sent this photo which was given to those who attended the memorial service. This photo and the tribute below were combined in a pamphlet handout which she sent me April 18, 01. She wrote, "Please know I am very pleased with the webpage and I know Art would be too." (Posted here May 23, 2001)

POSTED 6-13-01 She also wrote May 24 "Thank you so much for putting his picture and story on the website. It's a really great job and now maybe the old classmates will remember him. That picture is who Art was, a fearless free spirit who could speed down the mountain with grace and style. Even on the best days I couldn't catch him until he waited at the bottom. I hope you all enjoy the reunion very much."

Carl Luz, Jr.

Posted October 10, 2000
We regret to report that the Alumni Office received word that Carl Luz, Jr. has passed away.
Carl majored in Chemical Engineering. At WPI he was a member of SPE fraternity. He last resided in Bedminster, NJ, and had been president of Esco Plastics, Inc.
Carl Luz,jr

Born in Irvington, he lived in Plainfield and Madison before moving to Bedminster in 1960.

Mr. Luz was a chemical engineer and founder of Esco Plastics, Bedminster, 25 years ago. Previously, he had been employed at Union Carbide, N.Y.C., for 18 years.

He was a 1951 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., and was a member of Sigma Epsilon Phi.

Mr. Luz was a councilman in Bedminster in the seventies and served on the Planning Board. He also served as president of the Bedminster Township Environmental Protection Agency.

His wife, Jean Osmun Luz, died in 1998 and a son, Carl J. III, died in 1982.

Survivors include his daughter, Rebecca Storniolo of Dennisport, Mass., his sister, Eileen Luz Johnston of Bernardsville, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Gladstone. Interment will be in Bedminster Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Main St., Gladstone, N.J. 07934 or the Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad, Far Hills, N.J. 07931.

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Last modified: May 06, 2004, 10:16 EDT