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In Memoriam


Judith Gilliom

Judith C. Gilliom (WCAS64), 65, Wheaton, Md., Oct. 15. A champion in the disabled civil rights movement, Ms. Gilliom didn't allow her own disability to slow her down. In 1970, at age 27, she suffered an accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down.

Ms. Gilliom wrote documents that formed the basis of a federal affirmative action program for people with disabilities. She also created the Defense Department's disabled work force recruitment program and helped create building standards and computer accommodations for disabled employees.

Ms. Gilliom is honored along with other distinguished Defense Department civilian employees at the Pentagon.

She is survived by her longtime companion, Burton, and a brother, David.

George Herrmann

George T. Herrmann III (EB40, Nav40), 90, Glenview, Ill., Nov. 17. Mr. Herrmann used his own experience with alcoholism to help others deal with addictions.

Mr. Herrmann, an Alcoholics Anonymous member, helped develop an alcohol-treatment program for U.S. Postal Service employees. He also raised funds for a detoxification unit for substance abusers at the David Lawrence Center in Naples, Fla.

The insurance executive served as president of the NU Club of Chicago and as a board member for the NU Club of Louisville.

A World War II hero, Mr. Herrmann is survived by his wife, Ann; sons Daniel, Timothy and James Herrmann (KSM77); daughters Janet and Marianne; a daughter-in-law, Margaret Beckley Herrmann (WCAS75); 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Clarence Hinton

Clarence David Hinton (WCAS38), 91, Silver Spring, Md., Sept. 23. The first African American to chair the otolaryngology section of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, Dr. Hinton was a prominent ear, nose and throat doctor and medical educator.

He ran a private practice in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 40 years. He taught at the Howard University College of Medicine and served 16 years as chair of the otolaryngology division at Howard University Hospital. He retired in 2001.

As a student at Northwestern, Dr. Hinton starred as a halfback on the 1936 football team that won the Big Ten.

He is survived by two daughters, Diane and V. Audrey Hinton (WCAS69); a son, Clarence; two grandchildren; and a sister, Louise.

Helen Longfield Kelley

Helen Longfield Kelley (C48), 81, Minneapolis, Sept. 1. After teaching herself to quilt as a bride-to-be, Mrs. Kelley became a nationally recognized quilter who spread her love of the art through her writing and workshops.

She was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Ind., last summer, having created more than 150 quilts based on themes of family and travels. Her Renaissance quilt was voted one of the 100 best American quilts of the 20th century by the International Quilt Association.

A founder of the Minnesota Quilters, Mrs. Kelley wrote seven books and a column for the Quilters Newsletter.

Mrs. Kelley is survived by her husband, Bill; daughters Helen, Ingred, Faith and Connie; her sister, Nancy; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Charles Nicodemus

Charles "Nico" Nicodemus (J55), 77, Boulder, Colo. Oct. 30. In a nearly 50-year career, Mr. Nicodemus earned a reputation as a relentless investigative reporter.

His reporting on defective M-16 rifles being given to U.S. soldiers in Vietnam led to congressional investigations and criminal charges. The Chicago Public Library Board credited his reporting when it decided to build the Harold Washington Library Center after Mr. Nicodemus challenged the city's plan to install its main public library in a vacant State Street department store that had structural deficiencies.

Mr. Nicodemus is survived by his wife, Virginia Gutteridge Nicodemus (J52, GJ53); sons James, Matthew and Andrew; a daughter, Laura; a brother, Wade; and two grandchildren.

Roland Ortmayer

Roland "Ort" Ortmayer (SESP41), 91, La Verne, Calif., Oct. 9. A former member of the Northwestern football team, Mr. Ortmayer earned 182 victories in 43 years as head football coach at the University of La Verne, but he never concerned himself too much with wins and losses. He never used a playbook or even required attendance at practices.

An iconic figure at the university, Mr. Ortmayer led all-invited hiking and rafting trips that became an annual tradition at La Verne. He and his wife, Corni, also taught an annual monthlong summer course that explored the paths taken by Lewis and Clark.

Mr. Ortmayer is survived by two daughters, Suzi and Corlan; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Marillee.

Charles Perlik

Charles A. Perlik Jr. (J49, GJ50), 84, Springfield, Va., Sept. 17. As president of the Newspaper Guild in Washington, D.C., for 18 years, Mr. Perlik pushed for equal rights for women and minorities in journalism.

After seven years as a reporter with the Buffalo Evening News, Mr. Perlik went to work full-time for the union. He caused controversy when the guild campaigned for Democratic presidential candidates, including George S. McGovern (G49, 53, H67), and took political stands on issues.

Mr. Perlik marched with Martin Luther King Jr. In 1984 he spent a night in jail for protesting apartheid outside the South African embassy in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Perlik is survived by his wife, Marion; sons Paul and Stephen; a daughter, Leslie; and eight grandchildren.

John Walter

John W. Walter (J69), 61, Edgartown, Mass., Sept. 11. A man with great passion for journalism, Mr. Walter was a founding editor of USA Today. A former Daily Northwestern editor, he oversaw cover stories and enterprise reporting at USA Today. At the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he headed coverage of the 1996 Olympics and led a six-month series on poverty in Georgia.

Mr. Walter and his wife, Jan, later created Vineyard Stories to publish books about and by people of Martha's Vineyard. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Lily; sons Christian and Alex; a sister, Rosemary; his stepmother, Betty; and a brother, Mike.

Read Elliot Brown's (J71) and Donna Leff's (J71) remembrances of Mr. Walter.

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Judith Gilliom
Judith Gilliom
 
George Herrmann
George Herrmann
 
Clarence Hinton
Clarence Hinton
 
Helen Longfield Kelley
Helen Longfield Kelley
 
Charles Nicodemus
Charles Nicodemus
 
Roland Ortmayer
Roland Ortmayer
 
Charles Perlik
Charles Perlik
 
John Walter
John Walter