James Bavester ’53 of Bloomington, Illinois, died Nov. 7, 2020. He was 92.

Jim majored in biology at Illinois Wesleyan. He served with the 307th Airborne Medical Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, in the U.S. Army. Jim retired from Pfizer and later owned and operated Novak Flowers with his wife. After retirement, he enjoyed volunteering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, golf and travel. He was a longtime member of Bloomington Country Club and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.

Carl Litt ’53 died Nov. 24, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was 90.

Carl majored in business administration and was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon at Illinois Wesleyan. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War and was stationed in Seattle. Upon learning that he had worked part-time at a clothing and shoe store during his time at IWU, Carl’s Naval recruiter assigned him the job of buying and delivering clothing and footwear to sailors. After the war, he worked in menswear as a manufacturing representative, eventually becoming president of the Men’s & Boys Wear Trade Group of Illinois. Carl met his wife, who was working at a clothing store in Wilmette, Illinois, and together they raised four children. Carl was very proud of his offices in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart and the many friends and acquaintances he made there. He was an avid golfer, youth basketball coach, and a fan of the Chicago Bears and Duke University men’s basketball team. He served as president of the Mills Investors Club of Oak Park, Illinois, and a member of the Golf Collectors Society. He is survived by four children and four grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary, here.

Samuel Goich died at the Regency Care Center in Somerset on August 14th, 2010 at the age of 88.

Born in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Goich had lived in Somerset for over 50 years. He was a United States Marine, serving his nation faithfully in both World War II as well as Korea. Mr Goich was the commanding officer for the 1st Provisional Demilitarized Zone police company in Korea from 1953 to 1955. He worked as a labor relations advisor for various companies . Mr. Goich was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Elizabeth and the Masonic Triune Lodge No. 422 in Lansing, Ill., for over 50 years. Mr. Goich was predeceased by his wife, Susan. He is survived by his sister, Angelina Derby.

You can read the full obituary here.

Robert Reilly ’57 of Fayetteville, Arkansas, died Aug. 3, 2020. He was 84. Bob majored in music and formed a small jazz group called the “King’s Men” at Illinois Wesleyan. He was also a member of the Bloomington-Normal Symphony Orchestra along with another IWU music major, Mary Anne (Cubin) Reilly ’58, a cellist who later became his wife. Bob was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and the Blue Key Honor Society. After graduation, Bob began teaching in Homer, Illinois. He later took part in a three-year graduate fellowship program offered through the National Defense Education Act to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in the psychology of classroom learning. His career as a college professor started at the State University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh, in the educational psychology department. He later taught at the State University of New York in Oswego, Shippensburg State College and, eventually, the University of Arkansas, where he worked for 30 years. Bob often presented and published his work, including an educational psychology textbook. He stayed connected to music throughout his life, playing clarinet and saxophone in bands in all the places he lived. He and Mary Anne also enjoyed hiking, camping and visiting national parks. He is survived by his wife, two children, 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three siblings.

Donald Hildebrand ’50 died April 14, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 91. Don majored in history at Illinois Wesleyan before pursuing a law degree at Vanderbilt University. He entered the U.S. Army after his second year of law school but returned to Vanderbilt after an honorable discharge and earned his law degree in 1955. He was employed by State Farm for several years before founding the law firm Lester, Hildebrand, Nolan Porter and Mondelli. Don was a man of many interests and talents. He was active in American Legion, Shriners, Masons and the Eisenhower Foundation “People to People.” He hosted legal talk shows. He was a lifelong lover of music who performed in a lawyers’ orchestra and another group known as “The Established.” He ran for the Tennessee Supreme Court, and was a colonel in the Tennessee State Guard and the State Guard judge advocate, then the adjutant general, and finally the State Guard inspector general. He was also a published author who wrote The Community House about growing up in Emden, Illinois. Don was a longtime member of Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, where he served in the choir, as a Sunday school teacher, class president, and member of the administrative board. He also attended services at Belle Meade Methodist Church in Nashville. Of his time at Illinois Wesleyan, Don said, “When I reflect on the values and education that directed me in my career, I credit Wesleyan for providing me a strong and lasting foundation in both of these areas, along with many other wonderful experiences. Proudly, I credit Wesleyan for preparing me for a very successful career.” Don was preceded in death by his first wife. He is survived by his second wife, stepdaughter, two brothers, including Robert “Bob” Hildebrand ’52, and three nephews.

John Edwards passed away on Aprl 17, 2020 in New Holland, PA. He was married 58 years to Margaret Edwards, and earned a Ph. D. at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He was a member of Phi Kappa, Sigma XI, American Chemical Society, American Society of Biological Chemistry, and was listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in American and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Read the full obituary here.

John Edwards ’59 died April 17, 2020, in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He was 83. John earned a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Chicago and conducted two years of postdoctoral research at Tufts University. He taught biochemistry at Villanova University for 38 years and served as department chair for 10 years. John was a member of Phi Kappa, Sigma Xi, American Chemical Society, American Society of Biological Chemistry, and was listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. He enjoyed camping, hiking, orienteering and distance running. He ran two marathons and many trail runs and half-marathons. He also served as an assistant Boy Scout leader. His hobbies included making wine, silver jewelry, Danish pastries, gardening and bird-carving. John moved to Garden Spot Village in retirement, where he engaged in hobbies and various groups and volunteer efforts. He is survived by his wife Peg (Smith) Edwards ’61, three children and five grandsons.

Flavin (Stine) Marilyn ’50 passed away on April 24, 2020 in Minneapolis. She was an educator, musician and artist. She was a member of Prairie Community Church, and went on several missionary trips in her life. Read the full obituary here. 

Grace DuMond ’46 passed away on October 11, 2018. She was born in Canton, Illinois on May 26, 1925. She graduated top of her class in Illinois Wesleyan, majoring in Chemistry, and had three children after marrying Charles DuMond. She was one of the first women to attend Notre Dame University in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Read the full obituary here.