1980s
David Robert Macauley ’82
David Robert Macauley ’82, a communications systems specialist with Bell Laboratories, now part of AT&T, was born on July 19, 1960, in Glen Ridge, N.J. The eldest child of Robert G., an insurance company manager, and Naomi Zemlansky Macauley, he grew up in nearby Bloomfield, where he was graduated in 1978 from Bloomfield Senior High School. David Macauley enrolled at Hamilton that fall, went out for football and served as a lighting designer and electrician for theatre and dance productions on the Hill. He also volunteered at the Child Care Center and, himself an Eagle Scout, became assistant scout master of the Clinton Boy Scout troop. He majored in physics and minored in mathematics, and was awarded the G. Harvey Cameron Memorial Prize as showing the most promise in experimental physics. He earned department honors in physics upon his graduation cum laude in 1982.
David Macauley began training as an actuary with CIGNA World Wide Insurance, but soon shifted to a field he found more scientifically congenial by going to work for Bell Labs in his native New Jersey. From senior technical associate in research and development, he became a principal staff member engaged in working on and selling products and services to the federal government. He remained with AT&T for 28 years until his death
David Macauley’s favorite sport was skiing, and he was an active member of the Bell Labs ski club. He led or participated in skiing trips throughout the United States as well as Canada and Europe, and he taught skiing to Special Olympics participants. He was also an ardent Star Trek fan, but his passion, much more than a hobby, was blacksmithing. He maintained his own forge, crafting decorative ironwork objects for home interiors. At one time one of only 90 registered blacksmiths in the state, he was a member of the New Jersey Blacksmiths Association and regularly displayed his craft skills at Allaire State Park in the historic village called Howell Works. There he gave demonstrations of blacksmithing as it was practiced in the 19th century.
David Macauley, an elder and choir member of the Pierce Memorial Presbyterian Church in Farmingdale, N.J., also took part in community projects with the Telephone Pioneers of America, the charitable arm of AT&T. With the pioneers he had recently helped rebuild houses in the wake of the devastation along the Jersey Shore resulting from Hurricane Sandy.
David R. Macauley, a resident of Howell, N.J., and a faithful Hamiltonian, died in his sleep on Jan. 1, 2014, of causes not immediately determined. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Brandt Macauley, whom he had married on April 13, 2002. He also leaves his daughter, Molly Macauley, as well as his father and a sister, Susan Brunetti, and a brother, Craig Macauley.
Pamela Eaton Bond Nicholson ’85
Pamela Eaton Bond Nicholson ’85, a physician, grew up in Massena, N.Y., where she was born on July 16, 1963. A daughter of Norman T. Bond, an electrical engineer, and the former Beryl Wirths, a newspaper reporter, she played soccer and basketball, performed with the band, and sang in the choir while attending Massena Central High School. Following her graduation in 1981, she enrolled at Hamilton.
Pam Bond quickly impressed faculty members as “a warm, delightful person,” in addition to being “strikingly intelligent.” She played varsity soccer and sang in the Choir and with the Oratorio Society. She was tapped for Pentagon as a senior. Having a future career in medicine in mind, she spent summers and break times while in Massena as an aide at a local nursing home. There she strengthened her commitment to a medical career and became particularly interested in geriatrics. Awarded a senior fellowship in biology at Hamilton, she did her independent study on gastrointestinal hormones.
In 1985, Pam Bond was graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, and with department honors in biology. With the enthusiastic recommendation of the College’s medical advisory committee, she entered Duke University Medical School. While there, she met a fellow medical student, John Christie Nicholson, and they were married in Massena on July 9, 1988. The following year they both received their M.D. degrees from Duke.
The newlyweds moved to Iowa City, where they served their internships and residencies at the University of Iowa. During their residencies, their first child, a daughter, was born. After their medical training was completed, Pam and John Nicholson, joined by a second daughter, spent a year in the Dominican Republic. They subsequently resided in North Carolina and Vermont, where Dr. Nicholson saw to the needs of her growing family. An avid musician as well as a devoted mother, she will be remembered for her “quirky sense of humor and giving spirit” by all who knew her.
Pamela Bond Nicholson was residing in Statesville, N.C., when she died unexpectedly on Dec. 2, 2013. In addition to her mother and her husband, she leaves three daughters and two sons, Jennifer E., Sara L, Emily N., Zachary T. and Christian M. Nicholson. Also surviving are a sister and two brothers.
Michael Garvey Surowka ’85
Michael Garvey Surowka ’85, an attorney-at-law, was born on June 5, 1963, in Batavia, N.Y. A son of Theodore A. Surowka, a school district superintendent, and the former Rosemary Griffin, a teacher, he grew up in Batavia and attended Batavia High School. While there, he played baseball, football and hockey, and also captained the hockey team. Following his graduation in 1981, he came to Hamilton and joined Psi Upsilon. Having majored in economics and minored in history, he was graduated in 1985.
Michael Surowka went on to the Syracuse University College of Law, where he acquired his J.D. degree in 1989. He established his law practice in Binghamton, N.Y., with the firm of Hogan & Sarzynski, of which he became a partner. His practice concentrated in areas of teacher, student and employee relations, and over a period of 20 years he represented school districts across New York State. He was a member of the American Bar Association’s Municipal Law Section as well as the National Employment Law Institute and the New York State Public Employer Relations Association. He was with the law firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, also in Binghamton, at the time of his death.
Michael G. Surowka died on Dec. 15, 2013, of an apparent heart attack, in Binghamton. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, Shaun A. and T. Griffin Surowka; two sisters, Maura Morgante and Margaret Surowka-Rossi; and nieces and nephews.
David Michael Jones ’88
David Michael Jones ’88, a Colorado real estate developer, was born on Dec. 12, 1964, in Glen Ridge, N.J. The elder son of David M., an economist, and Becky Strait Jones, he prepared for college at Newark Academy in New Jersey and Berkshire School in Massachusetts. While in prep school, David Jones captained the hockey and lacrosse teams. He entered Hamilton from Montclair, N.J., in 1984. A member of Psi Upsilon, he continued to play hockey and lacrosse on the Hill. Having majored in economics, he was graduated in 1988.
After completing the training program at the Bank of New York in Manhattan, David Jones briefly worked in its institutional investment department before moving to Denver in 1989. There he became a highly successful real estate investor and developer. He was co-owner, along with his parents, and chief executive officer of Crystal Lake Resort, which he had created and developed in Pine, southwest of Denver. Encompassing a bed-and-breakfast and a fly-fishing club, it also hosts special events. He was greatly fond of outdoor activities, and Colorado provided him with ample opportunity to indulge his passion for skiing, mountain climbing and fly-fishing, as well as ice hockey and biking.
David M. Jones died on Sept. 23, 2013, at the age of 48. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Jennifer Jones-Ladda; a brother, Stephen W. Jones; and a niece and nephews, as well as his dog, Drake. Known as a sensitive and caring person who had provided rooms and food at the Crystal Lake Resort to many displaced neighbors during the recent fires in that area, and who had also hosted the firefighters for several weeks, he will also be remembered by family and friends for his creativity, leadership and the loving relationships he had formed.
