Fall 2003
In Memoriam

Loran Day

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Loran A. “Pee Wee” Day Jr. (SESP50), 78, Davenport, Iowa. A member of Northwestern’s 1949 Rose Bowl champion football team, Mr. Day intercepted the final pass of the game, securing the Wildcats’ victory.

Mr. Day, who played safety, and his twin brother, Lawrence A. Day (EB50), were the first twins to start in a Rose Bowl game. Loran Day also played baseball at Northwestern. After graduation he was offered contracts by both the St. Louis Cardinals (baseball) and the Chicago Cardinals (football). He chose instead to work for Davenport Cement Co., where he became manager of contract sales. He retired in 1990.

Besides his brother, Mr. Day is survived by his wife, Midge; three daughters, Lorie, Bonnie and Marge; one son, Larry; and five grandchildren.

Roy Forrey

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Roy Forrey (SCS82), 55, Chicago, May 5. Mr. Forrey served as deputy director of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks from 1974 to 1993 and helped define the standards for considering buildings architecturally or historically significant.

He initiated the Chicago Historic Resources Survey to identify the city’s potential landmark buildings and neighborhoods. He also co-edited the third edition of Chicago’s Famous Buildings (University of Chicago Press, 1980), wrote essays for the American Institute of Architects’ Chicago guide and volunteered as a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Mr. Forrey earned a degree in psychology from the School of Continuing Studies in 1982.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Bukovi.

Leonard Thomas

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Leonard Thomas (WCAS37), 90, Aurora, N.Y., June 17. One of Northwestern’s largest benefactors, Mr. Thomas chose to keep his philanthropy private.

“Leonard Thomas was a philanthropist, and Northwestern was at the top of his list,” said University President Henry S. Bienen. “His great and unrestricted gift to his alma mater gave Campaign Northwestern a huge boost. He did not want his gift honored. We had to convince him to allow us to name the press box for him at the renovated Ryan Field. Later he allowed us to name the athletic fields by the lake for him.”

Mr. Thomas, the son of a foundry owner, grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and at age 9 lost most of his eyesight in a car accident. Despite the handicap, he earned an economics degree at Northwestern and a law degree at Harvard.

Choosing not to practice law, Mr. Thomas worked for Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co. for several years and then became a nationally recognized horse breeder. His thoroughbreds won many races at Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, N.Y.

His passion for horses was matched by his loyalty to his alma mater. “When I would visit him, he was always in Northwestern regalia,” said Bienen. “His eyesight was poor, he was blind in one eye, yet he watched Northwestern football games passionately. He will be remembered as a great friend to Northwestern.”

Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and his son, Preston. He is survived by several cousins.

Beverly Altounian Tunney

Beverly Altounian Tunney (SESP56), 67, Lake Forest, Ill., June 8. A gifted educator and campaigner for public school quality, Mrs. Tunney began teaching at age 20 at Beidler Elementary School in Chicago, and in 1978 she became principal of both Healy and Sheridan elementary schools. She was elected president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association in 1993 and was re-elected three times. She served as a vice president of the American Federation of School Administrators for the last 10 years. She received many honors over her career, including the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award.

Mrs. Tunney is survived by her husband, Jerome; two daughters, Kimberly (WCAS80) and Christine; three sons, Timothy, Jonathan and James; and five grandchildren.

Samuel Weinstein

Samuel Weinstein (J35), 88, Niles, Ill., June 4.
Mr. Weinstein was a charter member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and is credited with co-inventing the “fingertip grip” used by professional bowlers.

While a freshman at Northwestern, Mr. Weinstein landed a job at Bowlers Journal that launched his 65-year career in the sport. After graduation he began the “Tenpin Tattler” 15-minute radio show on WCFL-AM in Chicago. It ran for 60 years until 1995. He developed bowling shows for television in the 1950s. In 1939 he founded Universal Bowling Supplies, which later expanded into a huge bowling, golf and billiards distribution company.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edythe, and is survived by two sons, Sandy and Larry; a daughter, Roberta; two grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

Leon Witkowski

Dr. Leon J. Witkowski (FSM39), 89, Antioch, Ill., May 9. A surgeon, Dr. Witkowski joined the Army Medical Corps soon after receiving his medical degree. He attended to war casualties in Europe in World War II and received a Purple Heart for a combat wound. He returned to enter practice at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago. During his tenure there, which lasted until he retired in 1975, Dr. Witkowski was president of the Chicago chapter of the American College of Surgeons and first vice president of the Chicago chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Witkowski is survived by his wife, Roberta; two sons, Dr. Robert and Dr. Leon Jr. (D74); and six grandchildren.