Obituaries
Please alert us to the recent death of any other Rhodes Scholar by emailing communications@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Colin McMillan.
Born in 1942 in Charlottetown, Colin distinguished himself early through scholarship, leadership, and athletics, studying history and philosophy at St Dunstan’s University before being elected a Rhodes Scholar in 1964. At Oriel College, Oxford, he read modern history and captained the Oxford University hockey team, combining academic rigour with a lifelong love of sport.
Returning to Canada, Colin pursued medicine at McGill University, completing specialist training in internal medicine and cardiology and becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Drawn home by a deep sense of duty, he devoted more than four decades to medical practice in Prince Edward Island, where he was widely respected for his clinical judgment and humility. He served as the first Head of the Department of Medicine and later Chief of Staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and went on to hold senior leadership roles nationally, including Chair of the Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors and President of the Canadian Medical Association in 2006.
Beyond medicine, Colin gave tirelessly to public life, with long-standing commitments to the arts, health advocacy, and civic institutions. His contributions were recognised with numerous national honours and an honorary Doctor of Laws. Remembered for his curiosity, warmth, and thoughtful leadership, Colin lived what he himself aptly described as “a good life,” leaving a lasting mark on his profession, his community, and all who knew him.
Read full obituary here.
We were saddened to learn of the death of Van Doorn Ooms.
Born in 1934 in Chicago, Van was educated at Lyons Township High School before studying at Amherst College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts. He went on to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and a member of New College, taking a First in English and later undertaking research for the BLitt, before receiving his Master of Arts.
After Oxford, Van Doorn pursued an academic career in economics, beginning as an instructor and then assistant professor at Yale University, where he also completed his doctorate. He later joined Swarthmore College, becoming Associate Professor and subsequently Professor of Economics, and was widely respected for his teaching and scholarship.
Alongside his academic work, Van made an enduring contribution to public policy in the United States. He served as Chief Economist to the US Senate Budget Committee, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congressional Budget Committee over a decade marked by significant fiscal debate, before becoming Senior Vice-President and Director of Research at the Committee for Economic Development. Through these roles, he helped shape economic analysis at the highest levels of government and public discourse.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Francis Lewis following a short illness.
A proud Rhodes Scholar, John read medicine at the University of Oxford before returning to Canada to make a profound and lasting contribution to rural and community healthcare.
John was a founding member of Memorial University’s Division of Family Medicine and played a pivotal role in establishing the original Shea Heights Medical Clinic as well as the Palliative Care programme at St Clare’s Hospital. In earlier years, he and his wife Noreen lived and worked in village hospitals in Uganda and later maintained lifelong connections with communities in East Africa.
Renowned for his compassion, intellectual curiosity, and love of the outdoors, John combined a rich professional life with deep interests in poetry, song, and the wilderness of Newfoundland. In recognition of his service to community and medicine he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2009.
He is survived by his children and grandchildren, siblings, and a wide circle of family and friends who will remember him for his warmth, wisdom, and generous spirit.
Read full obituary here.
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Selwyn Barnett Kossuth.
Born in Johannesburg in 1937, Selwyn attended Parktown Boys’ High School before earning his Bachelor of Commerce cum laude from the University of Stellenbosch, and later a degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. During his time at Oxford, he represented the university in hockey and was an active member of Vincent’s Club.
Selwyn’s career spanned the globe, with early roles in South America and London at Shell International Petroleum, followed by leadership positions in South Africa at Massey-Ferguson and African Explosives and Chemical Industries. After moving to Canada in 1980, he held executive roles with Nesbitt Thomson, the Ontario Securities Commission, and served as president and CEO of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada.
An avid golfer, Selwyn's commitment extended beyond his professional life and he was a member of various golf clubs. He also supported numerous community initiatives, including fundraising for the Toronto Symphony and the Salvation Army.
Read full obituary here.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of William Ezra McCulloh.
Born in Kansas in 1931, he grew up near Columbus in Worthington, Ohio. William graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts, triple-majoring in music theory and piano, German, and English. Having won a Rhodes Scholarship, he continued his studies at Oxford University, where he earned a degree in classics.
William joined the classics faculty at Kenyon College, Gambier, as an instructor in 1961. He was named an assistant professor the following year, upon the completion of his doctorate in classics from Yale University. William became a tenured professor in 1968 and retired as the John B. McCoy-Bank One Distinguished Teaching Professor of Classics. Shaping the lives of students over nearly four decades, he went on to be recognized as one of the College’s most valued faculty members.
Renowned for his extraordinary mastery of languages — including Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, German, French, Italian and Russian — and his innovative teaching, most notably his design of the elementary Greek course, William was recognized as Ohio Professor of the Year in 1995 and received numerous awards for distinguished teaching. Stories of his linguistic curiosity and ability were legendary, matched only by the personal care and encouragement he offered to every student and colleague.
A talented musician as well, he played the piano and was an accomplished violist who took up the violin to be part of the string quartet led by his close friend, the late Franklin Miller. William's dedication to learning, his talents as a musician, and his steady presence made a profound and lasting impact on his community and beyond.
Read full obituary here.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ernest Milton Hew in December 2025.
Born in 1940 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ernest was educated at Cornwall College before completing his medical training at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, where he distinguished himself both academically and in sport.
A Rhodes Scholar, Ernest pursued specialist training in anaesthesia at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, before undertaking further clinical formation in Sweden. These formative years shaped a career marked by intellectual rigour, international perspective, and a lifelong commitment to patient care and medical education.
Settling in Canada, Ernest served with distinction at several major hospitals and clinics, contributing significantly to the advancement of labour epidural practice and responding with courage and compassion during the SARS outbreak. Recognised for his humanitarian service and dedication to teaching physicians and nurses in Canada and abroad, he will be remembered for his perseverance, generosity of spirit, and the many lives he touched through decades of devoted medical practice.
Read full obituary here.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew Remson Jr.
Andy grew up in Talladega, Alabama, and began his education at Talladega High School before attending Marion Institute. He earned a BS from the United States Military Academy in 1951, and went on to read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics as a Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford, where he also played lacrosse for the University. Andy later completed an MSc in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Andy’s military career was marked by distinguished service and leadership. Rising through the ranks from 1st Lieutenant to Colonel, he held key roles in the US Army Corps of Engineers, served as Assistant US Army Attaché in Rome, and commanded an engineering battalion in Vietnam. He contributed significantly to military education as an instructor and later as Director of the Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College. His international experience included studies at the École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris and service as Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Throughout his life, Andy was recognized for his dedication, earning honours such as the Bronze Star, four Legions of Merit, and the Air Medal. After his military career, he continued to serve in strategic and analytical roles within the private sector.
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Munzer.
Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1942, Stephen earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas in 1966 before pursuing a BPhil at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He later received his degree in Jurisprudence from Yale in 1972, laying the foundation for a remarkable academic and professional career.
A distinguished scholar, Stephen taught at Rutgers, the University of Minnesota, and Columbia before joining the faculty at UCLA School of Law in 1982, where he became a central figure for more than three decades. Renowned for his intellect and warmth, Stephen was widely admired as a teacher of Contracts, Property, and seminars in legal philosophy and biotechnology.
His influential scholarship, including the landmark book A Theory of Property, earned him numerous honours such as the David Baumgardt Memorial Fellowship, the Berger Prize in the Philosophy of Law, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Throughout his career and into retirement, Stephen remained devoted to research, mentorship, and collegiality, remembered for his boundless curiosity and supportive presence. Stephen is survived by his family, as well as generations of students and colleagues whose lives he enriched.
Read full obituary here.
We were saddened to learn of the death of Carlos Christopher Trower at age 77 in Lake Wales, Florida.
Chris was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky and attended Harrodsburg High School before studying at the University of Virginia. As a young man, he was known for his intense work ethic and abundant intellect. He worked many jobs before attending college, and he was typically found with his nose in a book in his spare time. He attended Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1970, where he achieved magna cum laude.
He was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and went on to attend the University of Oxford, from where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1971. Following National Guard duty, Chris began his career as Special Assistant to the Director of the Kentucky Crime Commission. He continued his academic pursuits at Harvard Law School, earning his degree in Jurisprudence cum laude in 1976. After clerking for the Fifth Circuit, he practiced law in Louisville, Kentucky, and later Atlanta, Georgia, eventually becoming a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Chris also shared his expertise as a lecturer in partnership and corporate taxation at the University of Louisville Law School and Emory Law School.
Chris was the author of works on partnership agreements and federal taxation. His most notable accomplishment as an attorney was successfully arguing and winning Kentucky Department of Revenue v. Davis, 128 S.Ct. 1801 (2008), before the Supreme Court of the United States. The case directly affected the tax treatment of approximately $2.4 trillion in municipal bonds outstanding nationwide and saved the States an estimated $3.0 billion in tax refund claims.
Outside of work, Chris ran sub-2:50 marathons and played "B" level tennis before taking up golf, croquet and bridge with his wife Linda. He also enjoyed cooking, expanding his library of detective and science fiction novels, and watching classic action movies. Chris was unique, engaging, fun-loving, and interesting above all else, and he will be missed by many.
Read full obituary here.