Obituaries

In 1941 Hugh entered Auburn University, where he studied physics and joined the Theta Chi social fraternity. In 1942 Hugh enlisted in the Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman in the V-12 Program. Initially ordered to active duty in the Naval College Training Program at Georgia Tech, Hugh studied Electrical Engineering and participated in intramural sports and campus politics. The U.S. Navy then ordered Hugh to Midshipman's school, Columbia University, commissioned him Ensign, USNR, and designated him Instructor of Electrical Engineering. The Navy then assigned Hugh to the Service Force, for duty in the Atlantic Fleet camera party. As Officer in Charge of the Detachment on the USS Wyoming, Hugh directed photographic observations of experiments designed to thwart enemy aircraft. After World War II, Hugh returned to Auburn, receiving a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Physics. Hugh was elected to several scholastic honour societies as an undergraduate and masters' student; conducted scientific research on pulse x-ray tubes in his graduate studies; and presented his work to esteemed science societies at Yale University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Alabama. In 1948, The University of Oxford accepted Hugh as Auburn's first Rhodes Scholar, a distinguished honour, of which Hugh was always extremely proud. The original obit is here.

Laurence was a successful antitrust and apellate lawyer and former chairman of the Heller Ehrman law firm in San Francisco. He studied Jurisprudence whilst a Rhodes Scholar and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1962. He served on several boards including the Board of the Jewish Home for the Aged and as an adjunct professor of antitrust at Golden Gate University School Law School.

A native of Kansas, Ontjes attended medical school at Harvard, following a Rhodes Scholarship. He completed residency training at Boston City Hospital and a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, before joining the UNC School of Medicine faculty in 1969.

Stuart Bondurant, MD, former UNC School of Medicine Dean, recruited Ontjes to Chapel Hill.

“David Ontjes was a thoughtful and considerate man and an outstanding clinician, investigator and teacher. He guided the department of medicine and helped to guide the medical center to its current outstanding state,” Bondurant said.

A Distinguished Professor and former Medicine Chair, Dr. Ontjes encouraged and vigorously supported collaborations within the School of Medicine, leaving behind a legacy of contributions.

“Dr. David Ontjes embodied the spirit of collegiality that is the hallmark of our institution,” said Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Ron Falk.

To recognize these contributions to the Department of Medicine, an intern is annually selected to receive the Ontjes Resident Award. Criteria include excellence in research and academics as well as outstanding service to others. At the recent 2017 Residents Award Ceremony, four residents were acknowledged for their performance and qualities that best exemplify the legacy of Dr. Ontjes.

“Dr. Ontjes participated in the education of countless medical students, residents and fellows,” said Andrew Greganti, MD. “He also recruited and helped mentor many faculty members. I know that he would say his involvement in the professional and personal development of physicians was a highlight of his career.”

The legacy of Dr. Ontjes is also celebrated throughout the year with the Ontjes Resident as Teacher lectures on effective teaching methods, lifelong learning, and other topics related to medical education. These lectures are made possible by a fund that was endowed by Dr. Ontjes.

Augustus Blagden Kinsolving graduated from Episcopal High School, Philips Exeter Academy, Yale College, Oxford University-Christ Church (as a Rhodes Scholar), and Harvard Law School. He worked as an attorney, starting at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, continuing with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and devoting the majority of his career to the American Smelting and Refining Company ("ASARCO") as attorney and general counsel. For many years, he was a member of, and led, the committee for the selection of American Rhodes Scholars.

Read more. 

We are saddened by the news of Allan Mellish's passing. He came up to Oxford in 1948 to study engineering and geology. 

We are saddened by the news of François' passing. He came to Oxford in 1962 to study Clinical Medicine.

Born in 1926 in Texas, Frederick came up to Oxford in 1948. Afterwards, he gained an MA and Phd in English Literature at Harvard University. Before starting his teaching career in 1953 at Cornell University, he served in the US Army working in counterintelligence. In 1955 to 1991, he was professor of English at Indiana University of Bloomington, He specialised in 19^th century British romantic literature and authored several books.

Richard was born in Spokane, WA, and he graduated from Washington State University in 1955 and went onto read PPE as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. From 1958 to 1960, he spent two years in the U.S army followed by being Foreign Service Officer in the State Department. The highlight of Richard’s career were his three tours in Saigon, Vietnam, in which his final tour ended when he was evacuated by helicopter from the U.S Embassy roof to escape the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. Furthermore, he participated in the Vietnam peace talks in Paris, 1972 to 1973, and he supported the negotiations for the release of American hostages in Iran when working at the Embassy in Algiers, 1980 to 1982. Afterwards, Richard worked for 12 years at the American Foreign Service Association. He also gained a Master’s degree in Government from Georgetown University in 1978.