In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Ethel M. Barber
Ethel M. Barber (GS47), 85, Evanston, Dec. 21. An astute investor, Ms. Barber provided much of the funding for the largest theater at Northwestern's Theatre and Interpretation Center. It was named after her in 1984. She also helped establish the Ethel M. Barber Visiting Artists' Program, which has featured such performers as dancer Martha Graham and actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Ms. Barber began her studies at Northwestern in 1938. Two years later, she married Judge James Gordon Barber, who encouraged her enthusiasm for investing.

The first woman to earn a doctorate from the School of Speech's Department of Interpretation, Ms. Barber taught courses in the department, directed radio and theater productions and lectured widely. She was active in several University organizations.

Ms. Barber was preceded in death by her husband.

Allen K. Breed
Allen K. Breed (McC50, H97), 72, Lakeland, Fla., Dec. 13. Mr. Breed was founder and chair emeritus of Breed Technologies Inc., a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of automotive crash sensors and air bag systems.
Mr. Breed held numerous patents for automotive air bags and devices in military ordnance. His many honors included the New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989 and Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1993. He received the Northwestern Alumni Association Merit Award in 1995, an honorary doctor of law degree in 1997 and induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Johnnie; his daughters, Leslie Bates and Daryl Hoitt; his sons, Douglas Breed and Jeffrey Breed; his stepsons, James Cordell and Terry Cordell; and eight grandchildren.

Ivan D. Combe
Ivan D. Combe (WCAS33, L36), 88, Greenwich, Conn., Jan. 11. Founder and chair of Combe Inc., an international health and beauty care manufacturer, Mr. Combe was a longtime Northwestern supporter. In 1969, he and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, established the Combe Family Trust Fund, which has supported many programs at the University.
Mr. Combe's company was responsible for creating and marketing such popular brands as Clearasil and Just for Men hair color.

The Northwestern Alumni Association honored him with a Service Award in 1962, a Merit Award in 1971 and the Alumni Medal in 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth; his children, Diana, Juliette (WCAS65) and Christopher (WCAS70); and seven grandchildren, including Stephanie Larson (WCAS94) and Keech Combe (WCAS99).

Raymond Wieboldt Jr.
Harold M. Finley (WCAS33), 83, Lockport, Ill., Dec. 14. The youngest student who ever attended Northwestern, Mr. Finley entered his freshman year at age 13 in 1929 and graduated at 17. At the age of 5, his IQ had been measured at 197.
After graduation Mr. Finley worked for Lamson Brothers, a brokerage firm. He became one of Lamson's top producers by the age of 19. For 20 years he also wrote market trends columns for the Chicago Tribune and was author of Everybody's Guide to the Stock Market (Regnery Publishing, 1956).

Mr. Finley couldn't enlist during World War II because he was underweight and instead realized a childhood goal of becoming a Congregationalist minister. He served as pastor at four churches over 15 years.

Mr. Finley is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, Bob; two granddaughters; and a grandson.

Gretchen McEwen
Gretchen Baarsch McEwen (WCAS31), 90, Evanston, Jan. 12. A longtime resident of Evanston who devoted much of her life to enhancing educational opportunities for women and children, Ms. McEwen served during the 1960s as president of the Woman's Educational Aid Association (see story on page 37). She formed close relationships with the female scholarship recipients who lived in the WEAA's Chapin Hall.
In 1994, the Gretchen Baarsch and Ernest George McEwen Scholarship was established to benefit undergraduate studies in the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Survivors include her husband, Ernest (WCAS28, G32, M33), an associate professor emeritus at the Medical School; her daughter, Mary McEwen Doll (M66); and four grandchildren.

Leona Brandes Yeager
Leona Brandes Yeager (M42, 44, GM45, 46), 91, Sun City, Ariz., Nov. 9. One of the first women at Northwestern Medical School to have a full-time faculty appointment — as professor of clinical medicine — Dr. Yeager served for a quarter of a century as director of the Northwestern University Student Health Service until her retirement in 1977.
Dr. Yeager was named director of the Student Health Service in 1950 and in 1975 became director of continuing education as well as director of the college health nurse practitioner program. She retired with the title of professor of clinical medicine emeritus. Dr. Yeager was also a consulting physician (emeritus) of contagious diseases at Cook County Hospital.

She is survived by a daughter, Georgia Jans (S72), and two grandchildren.

RETURN TO DEATHS


	In Memoriam
	Ethel M. Barber Ethel M. Barber (GS47), 85, Evanston, Dec. 21. An astute investor, Ms. Barber provided much of the funding for the largest theater at Northwestern's Theatre and Interpretation Center. It was named after her in 1984. She also helped establish the Ethel M. Barber Visiting Artists' Program, which has featured such performers as dancer Martha Graham and actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Ms. Barber began her studies at Northwestern in 1938. Two years later, she married Judge James Gordon Barber, who encouraged her enthusiasm for investing. The first woman to earn a doctorate from the School of Speech's Department of Interpretation, Ms. Barber taught courses in the department, directed radio and theater productions and lectured widely. She was active in several University organizations. Ms. Barber was preceded in death by her husband.
	Allen K. Breed Allen K. Breed (McC50, H97), 72, Lakeland, Fla., Dec. 13. Mr. Breed was founder and chair emeritus of Breed Technologies Inc., a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of automotive crash sensors and air bag systems. Mr. Breed held numerous patents for automotive air bags and devices in military ordnance. His many honors included the New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989 and Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1993. He received the Northwestern Alumni Association Merit Award in 1995, an honorary doctor of law degree in 1997 and induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Johnnie; his daughters, Leslie Bates and Daryl Hoitt; his sons, Douglas Breed and Jeffrey Breed; his stepsons, James Cordell and Terry Cordell; and eight grandchildren.
	Ivan D. Combe Ivan D. Combe (WCAS33, L36), 88, Greenwich, Conn., Jan. 11. Founder and chair of Combe Inc., an international health and beauty care manufacturer, Mr. Combe was a longtime Northwestern supporter. In 1969, he and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, established the Combe Family Trust Fund, which has supported many programs at the University. Mr. Combe's company was responsible for creating and marketing such popular brands as Clearasil and Just for Men hair color. The Northwestern Alumni Association honored him with a Service Award in 1962, a Merit Award in 1971 and the Alumni Medal in 1998. He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth; his children, Diana, Juliette (WCAS65) and Christopher (WCAS70); and seven grandchildren, including Stephanie Larson (WCAS94) and Keech Combe (WCAS99).
	Raymond Wieboldt Jr. Harold M. Finley (WCAS33), 83, Lockport, Ill., Dec. 14. The youngest student who ever attended Northwestern, Mr. Finley entered his freshman year at age 13 in 1929 and graduated at 17. At the age of 5, his IQ had been measured at 197. After graduation Mr. Finley worked for Lamson Brothers, a brokerage firm. He became one of Lamson's top producers by the age of 19. For 20 years he also wrote market trends columns for the Chicago Tribune and was author of Everybody's Guide to the Stock Market (Regnery Publishing, 1956). Mr. Finley couldn't enlist during World War II because he was underweight and instead realized a childhood goal of becoming a Congregationalist minister. He served as pastor at four churches over 15 years. Mr. Finley is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, Bob; two granddaughters; and a grandson.
	Gretchen McEwen Gretchen Baarsch McEwen (WCAS31), 90, Evanston, Jan. 12. A longtime resident of Evanston who devoted much of her life to enhancing educational opportunities for women and children, Ms. McEwen served during the 1960s as president of the Woman's Educational Aid Association (see story on page 37). She formed close relationships with the female scholarship recipients who lived in the WEAA's Chapin Hall. In 1994, the Gretchen Baarsch and Ernest George McEwen Scholarship was established to benefit undergraduate studies in the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Survivors include her husband, Ernest (WCAS28, G32, M33), an associate professor emeritus at the Medical School; her daughter, Mary McEwen Doll (M66); and four grandchildren.
	Leona Brandes Yeager Leona Brandes Yeager (M42, 44, GM45, 46), 91, Sun City, Ariz., Nov. 9. One of the first women at Northwestern Medical School to have a full-time faculty appointment — as professor of clinical medicine — Dr. Yeager served for a quarter of a century as director of the Northwestern University Student Health Service until her retirement in 1977. Dr. Yeager was named director of the Student Health Service in 1950 and in 1975 became director of continuing education as well as director of the college health nurse practitioner program. She retired with the title of professor of clinical medicine emeritus. Dr. Yeager was also a consulting physician (emeritus) of contagious diseases at Cook County Hospital. She is survived by a daughter, Georgia Jans (S72), and two grandchildren. RETURN TO DEATHS