1970s
David Andrew London ’71
David Andrew London ’71, a physician and specialist in radiology who contributed to advancements in that field, was born on March 14, 1950, in Miami Beach, Fla. The son of Seymour B. and Rose Perrone London, both physicians and cardiologists, Dave London developed an early interest in pursuing a career in medicine. Drawn to science, especially marine biology, as a youngster, he grew up in Miami Beach and spent most of his leisure time in or on the water, boating, sport fishing and waterskiing. Taught social consciousness by the example of his parents, he also devoted time to working with mentally handicapped children.
Dave London came to Hamilton in 1967 from Miami Beach High School. He served as a campus guide for the Admission Office and, as a biology major, assisted in lab instruction. The recipient of the Holbrook Prize in Biology, and motivated by a remarkably strong work ethic, he was graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with honors in biology in 1971. He went on to Yale University School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D. degree in 1975.
In 1980, following a two-year internship at Boston University Hospital and a three-year residency in radiology at Stanford University, Dr. London obtained a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, and became a member of its medical faculty. While at Stanford, he developed a technique using a modified ocular ultrasound transducer to image the neonatal brain via the fontanel in order to search for intracranial hemorrhages in premature infants. At the University of San Francisco, he became a member of one of the early teams that developed NMR imaging, now known as MRI.
In 1983, Dr. London joined the El Camino Radiologists Medical Group and the medical staff of El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif. He continued to practice radiology there for 22 years until his retirement in 2005. To colleagues and patients alike he was known for his compassion and integrity.
Imbued with an adventurous spirit as well as his love of the water, Dave London continued avidly to engage in sailing and fishing as well as whitewater kayaking. He also enjoyed skiing, horseback riding, bicycling and archery. Philanthropy engaged him as well, and he was an ardent and generous supporter of Hamilton.
David A. London, a resident of Portola Valley, Calif., for the past 28 years, died on March 26, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Valerie Lee London, whom he had married in 1989, and their son, Benjamin D. London. A private memorial service was scheduled to be held off the coast of Florida aboard Destiny, Dave’s boat.
Sharleen Dickinson K’74
Sharleen Dickinson K’74, a creative-writing teacher, was born on April 30, 1951, the daughter of Amy R., a teacher’s aide, and Obadiah “Obie” Dickinson, a construction worker. Sharleen grew up in New Haven, Conn., where she was graduated from James Hillhouse High School in the inner city. She entered Kirkland in 1969 and concentrated in literature. She particularly impressed Kirkland’s president, Samuel F. Babbitt, as highly motivated, creative and talented as a writer.
After her graduation in 1974, Sharleen Dickinson served as an editorial assistant for Jet magazine and subsequently as assistant archivist at Yale University’s Sterling Memorial Library. From 1977 to 1979, she was a head of residence at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. In 1980, she earned an M.A. degree in English from the University of Wisconsin and joined the faculty of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania as an instructor in English. Later appointed director of residence and student activities at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven and an adjunct faculty member at Southern and Gateway Community College, also in Connecticut, she most recently taught English at Southern Connecticut State University, specializing in African-American literature and creative writing.
The College has belatedly learned that Sharleen Dickinson died on March 20, 2009, after waging a battle with cancer. She was survived by a brother, David A. Dickinson.
Fonda Lee Johnson K’74
Fonda Lee Johnson K’74, a pioneer in the field of sheet-metal working, was born on April 28, 1952, in Auburndale, Mass. A daughter of Everton Johnson, a postal clerk, and the former Yvonne Lee, a lab technician, she enrolled at Kirkland from Cambridge High and Latin School in Cambridge, Mass., in 1970. Having concentrated in psychology, she left the Hill with her B.A. degree in 1974.
Fonda Johnson became a journeyman sheet-metal worker and a member of the sheet metal workers’ union, the first African-American woman to earn that status in Massachusetts. In 1993, she was one of 17 men and women honored by Action for Community Development for giving back to her community.
A resident of Dorchester, Mass., Fonda L. Johnson died on Dec. 13, 2012, as recently verified by the College. She was survived by Lisa Wheeler, her partner of 15 years, as well as a brother and sister, Gregory E.M. and Yvette R. Johnson.
Betsy Marie Benjamin Miller K’75
Betsy Marie Benjamin Miller K’75, a lawyer and former legal counsel to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, was born on May 14, 1953, in New York City. The elder daughter of Peter M., a business executive, and Lenore Kaltman Benjamin, she grew up in Great Neck on Long Island and matriculated at Kirkland College from Great Neck South Senior High School in 1971. She concentrated in American studies and was graduated in 1975.
Betsy Benjamin moved to Chicago, where she entered the John Marshall Law School. After acquiring her J.D. degree in 1978, she stayed on in Chicago to become an associate attorney in a local law firm. On March 30, 1979, in Chicago, she and Douglas J. Miller, a classmate of hers at John Marshall, were married. The following year, she left her then position as professional liability insurance claims counsel for INAX Underwriters, Inc. to take a “career break” and begin her family. In 1983, she and her husband and two young sons moved from Chicago to “a quieter life” in New Hampshire. There, while Doug Miller served as an assistant U.S. attorney and later practiced law in Concord, Betsy joined the school board in nearby Bow as well as the board of the Bow Athletic Club, and attended “every school and sporting event in sight.” During her nine-year tenure on the school board, Bow established its own independent school administrative unit and also constructed the town’s first high school. In addition, Betsy became active in New Hampshire state and county Republican politics.
In 1991, Betsy Miller returned to the practice of law as a researcher and committee legal counsel for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In 1996, the Speaker of the House appointed her to the position of House legal counsel. She retained that post until 2004. Three years later, she became executive director of the New Hampshire Association of Counties. In the meantime, she had also served on the board of directors of the Concord Group Insurance Companies.
When not consumed by work, Betsy Miller, with her family, took advantage of New Hampshire’s great outdoors, especially through skiing, hiking and canoeing. She was also an ardent golfer and a longtime member of the Concord Country Club. Ever supportive of Hamilton, she often returned to College Hill, especially when her son was in residence.
Betsy Benjamin Miller died on Sept. 4, 2014, at her home in Bow after a battle with cancer. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Brian A. ’02 and Drew B. Miller. She also leaves her sister, Victoria (Vicki) Benjamin Dodson ’80.
Stewart Andrew Pollock ’76
Stewart Andrew Pollock ’76, a Presbyterian minister and church official, was born on Dec. 2, 1954, in Boston. The eldest child of Donald O. Pollock ’51, a physician, and the former Elinor Hopkins, a nurse, he grew up in Cooperstown, N.Y., and enrolled at Hamilton in 1972, following his graduation from Cooperstown High School. He majored in Russian studies and was graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in 1976.
Responding to a religious calling, Stewart Pollock went on to Yale Divinity School, where he acquired his M.Div. degree in 1980. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) that year, he began his ministry as assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Conn. He later served as pastor of the Jamesville Federated Church in Jamesville, N.Y., the First Presbyterian Church in New Haven, Conn., and the Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum, Pa., during his 33 years in the ministry.
The Rev. Stewart Pollock obtained a J.D. degree from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1994, and his legal training opened new opportunities for serving his church. He became a member of judicial commissions at the presbytery and synod levels, and was most recently moderator of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Highly regarded as a parliamentarian, Stewart Pollock also served as stated clerk in the Presbyteries of Cayuga-Syracuse (New York) and Southern New England. He was a member-at-large of the Pittsburgh Presbytery at the time of his death, and he had earlier chaired the Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission that found, in the highly publicized trial of the Rev. Janet Edwards, who had conducted the marriage ceremony of two women in 2005, no violation of scripture or the church’s constitution.
Self-described as a “not-so-reserved-pastor,” Stewart Pollock combined a gentle spirit and quirky sense of humor with great compassion for the marginalized in society. He was always willing to lend assistance to anyone in need, and even made himself available to drive people to doctors’ appointments or to take them shopping. He was a member of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Allegheny Valley and a volunteer at the local food bank.
A resident of Lower Burrell, Pa., northeast of Pittsburgh, Stewart A. Pollock died on March 5, 2014, while hospitalized in nearby Monroeville, following a heart attack. He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Donabeth Urick and Sarah (Sally) Zaengle; and two brothers, Peter D. and James L. Pollock. He was a nephew of Stewart G. Pollock ’54 and cousin of Wendy Pollock-Gilson ’80 and Jeffrey M. Pollock ’84.
