Deaths |
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February 25, 2014, Volume 60, No. 24 |
Ms. Brown-Simpkins, Comptroller’s Office
Dr. Kravis, Pediatrics
Dr. Lepore, Electrical Systems and Engineering
Dr. Leitch, New Bolton Center
Dr. Raker, New Bolton Center
Ms. Williams, Comptroller’s Office
Ms. Brown-Simpkins, Comptroller’s Office
Janice L. Brown-Simpkins, a financial systems support specialist in the Comptroller’s Office, passed away February 7 at age 40.
Raised in Philadelphia, Ms. Brown-Simpkins graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School. She received an associate’s degree from Peirce College and was pursing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Brown-Simpkins worked at the University for 15 years, initially in Information Systems and Computing. She was a member of the Penn Marketplace Enhancement Team that was a Model of Excellence (MOE) Honorable Mention in 2005 and a member of the BEN Financials Team which received MOE Honorable Mention in 2003.
A veteran of the US Army Reserves, Ms. Brown-Simpkins taught basic computer skills in the Veteran’s Upward Bound Program at Penn.
Ms. Brown-Simpkins is survived by her husband, Rodney Simpkins; mother, Rosilee Hamilton; sister, Jennifer Brown; stepmother, Robin Sanders; and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the TRIO Veterans Upward Bound Scholarship Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, http://tinyurl.com/qx9k45c
A memorial for will be held on Wednesday, April 23, from 3:30-5 p.m., in The ARCH.
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Dr. Kravis, Pediatrics
Dr. Lillian P. Kravis, a clinical professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine from 1965-1999, died February 10 at age 93.
A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Kravis earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Penn in 1940 and 1943, respectively.
She maintained a private pediatrics practice in Philadelphia for more than 50 years, first out of her home and later in a pediatric-allergy practice with colleagues, while also maintaining an affiliation with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Dr. Kravis is survived by her sons, Robert and Nathan; daughters, Marcia and Ellen Hamburger; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Panzer Gottlieb.
Contributions may be made to CHOP, www.chop.edu
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Dr. Lepore, Electrical Systems and Engineering
Dr. John A. Lepore, professor emeritus of civil engineering systems in Penn Engineering’s department of electrical systems and engineering, passed away February 14 at age 78.
Raised in South Philadelphia, Dr. Lepore earned a BS in civil engineering from Drexel in 1957 and a master’s and PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965 and 1967, respectively.
After working as a project/systems engineer for General Electric, Dr. Lepore pursued a career in academia at Penn where he was appointed an assistant professor in 1968. He was promoted to associate professor in 1973 and then to full professor in 1980. Dr. Lepore retired in 2003.
In 1979 he received Penn Engineering’s S. Reid Warren Award for Distinguished Teaching.
His research interests included educational innovation and curriculum development, telecommunications distant learning, earthquake analysis and design, new engineering materials, stochastic processes, structural dynamics, environmental resources and natural disaster mitigation.
Dr. Lepore is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children, William and Thomas Muldoon, Jacqueline Navin and John Lepore, Jr.; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Anthony Lepore; and a sister, Giovanna Eisenstein.
Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market St. Suite 102 Philadelphia, PA 19106.
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Dr. Leitch, New Bolton Center
Dr. Midge Leitch, a staff veterinarian at the School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, passed away February 15 from cancer at age 67.
Dr. Leitch was in the vanguard of women entering veterinary medicine and one of the first to do a surgical residency at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center after graduating from the School in 1973. She was one of the first women equine practitioners to become board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, achieving that distinction in 1982. In 1988, she was given Penn Vet’s Alumni Award of Merit.
Following four years as a member of New Bolton Center’s surgical staff, Dr. Leitch went into private practice. She served as an official veterinarian to the US Equestrian Team. She was in attendance at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000, when the US won a gold medal in eventing. Dr. Leitch also provided veterinary support at a number of renowned national events.
Dr. Leitch was an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners for more than 40 years. In 2008, she was honored with its President’s Award and in 2012, the AAEP Distinguished Service Award.
From 1996 until 2006, Dr. Leitch held the position of adjunct assistant professor of surgery at New Bolton Center. From 2005 until 2011, she was a staff veterinarian in the Section of Sports Medicine and Imaging, teaching students, caring for patients and sharing her vast knowledge with everyone with whom she came into contact.
Dr. Leitch—born on February 27, 1946—lived in Cochranville, PA. She earned her undergraduate degree from Goucher College in 1968.
Dr. Leitch was a devoted alumna, supporting a variety of initiatives at Penn Vet. She cared about helping students, in particular through the Opportunity Scholarship program. Her community and civic activities included involvement with the Southern Chester County Soccer Association, Londonderry Township, where she served as a supervisor for several years; Canine Partners for Life; and The Seeing Eye, for which she served as a puppy-raiser until her death.
Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of New Bolton Center’s Section of Surgery, said, “There is simply no way to overstate how much Midge meant to me and so many others. When I arrived at New Bolton Center in 1979, she was an absolute dynamo and she never really slowed down during her brilliant career. It was a boon to our hospital and the School when she agreed to oversee our radiology service. To have someone with her decades of experience and hard-won knowledge right here for students, residents and faculty was an incredible gift. ”
Dr. Leitch is survived by her nieces, Annie Schmidt and Missy Leitch.
Dr. Raker, New Bolton Center
Dr. Charles W. Raker, one of the founding fathers of Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center, died on February 16 at age 93.
Dr. Raker grew up in Daylesford in Chester County, PA. He graduated from Penn Vet in 1942.
Dr. Raker spent eight years in private practice following graduation, but in 1950, responded to a request from his alma mater to take the position of assistant professor of veterinary medicine to boost its livestock and large-animal curriculum.
When New Bolton Center opened in 1952, Dr. Raker took a “crash course” in surgery at Cornell University, with a focus on large-animal surgery, to help fill a void created by the loss of two veterinary surgeons. He was appointed chairman of the then-department of surgery in 1956. In 1967, three years after the construction of the School’s first large-animal hospital on the New Bolton Center campus, he was the recipient of the Lawrence Baker Sheppard Endowed Chair in veterinary surgery—the first in the nation and funded through the generosity of Hanover Shoe Farms, the famous Standardbred breeding and training facility in central Pennsylvania. It was an appointment of which Dr. Raker was tremendously proud.
Dr. Raker was a Charter Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, an organization he helped found in 1965. Over the years he served as its Examination Committee chair, chair of the Board of Regents, vice president and finally as president from 1975-1976.
During the almost 30 years Dr. Raker served as chief of large animal surgery at New Bolton Center, he introduced new surgical techniques and inspired many.
In 1985, the Charles W. Raker Chair in Equine Surgery was established. The Chair honored Dr. Raker for his “seminal contributions to equine surgery and his penchant for mentoring aspiring young faculty.” It is held today by Dr. Dean W. Richardson, chief of New Bolton Center’s Section of Surgery and a beneficiary of Dr. Raker’s teaching and mentoring expertise.
In addition to honors from Penn Vet, Dr. Raker was recognized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in 2000 with its Distinguished Educator Award. In 2007, he received the American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ esteemed Foundation Legends Award, given to “an individual who has developed a surgical or diagnostic procedure of significant value, proven by becoming the treatment or test of choice for a given condition.” The AAEP bestowed its very prestigious Sage Kester Beyond the Call Award in 2010.
Dr. Joan C. Hendricks, dean of the Veterinary School, said, “I was extremely fortunate to get to know Charlie when I became Dean—although it was my loss that I was not taught by him as a veterinary student. In addition to benefiting from his warmth, wisdom and connection to Penn Vet and especially its students, I am grateful that he shared generously his insights into leadership, faculty and the equine community. My favorite memory is of him receiving the award from the AAEP, when the enormous audience expected a frail, elderly figure to say a few words—and he gave a vigorous, patented Raker lecture urging them to action. It was very special, vintage Charlie and wonderful to see the equine veterinary world share what we at Penn Vet have been able to enjoy for decades.”
Dr. Raker is survived by his sons, Edward and Charles, Jr.; three grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.
A memorial is being planned at the New Bolton Center. Details will be published in Almanac.
Memorial donations may be made to either the Charles Raker Endowed Opportunity Scholarship Fund or the Tamworth Fund: c/o Jane Simone, Penn Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, 382 West Street Rd., Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Ms. Williams, Comptroller’s Office
Michele L. Williams, travel accountant in the Comptroller’s Office, passed away January 31 from cancer; she was 60.
Ms. Williams came to Penn in 1999 as an office administrator at WXPN. She joined the Comptroller’s Office in 2001. Ms. Williams was a member of the Penn Moves Team that received a Models of Excellence award in 2009.
Born in York, PA, she was a graduate of the University of Miami. She also obtained an associate’s degree in accounting from Philadelphia Community College.
Ms. Williams is survived by her husband, Warren; children, Ryann and Joshua; stepchildren, Jason and Cher Williams and Jarred Ridgmaiden; grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Maurice and Michael; and sister, Anita Pereata.
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To Report A Death
Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students and other members of the University community. Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@upenn.edu
However, notices of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records Office at Room 517, Franklin Building, (215) 898-8136 or email record@ben.dev.upenn.edu |
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