The Rev. Dr. Dorothy M. Emerson

The Reverend Dr. Dorothy Emerson—parish minister, scholar, writer and editor for women’s heritage and ministry, activist in race and class issues, and LGBTQ+ historian, who once called herself “kind of an out-there person”—died suddenly on 13 May 2019, aged 75-1⁄2.

Most widely acclaimed for her devotion to the role of women in UU circles and wider social movements, the Rev’d Ms. Emerson founded the UU Women’s Heritage Society. As a board member of UU Class Conversations, she led workshops on class issues for many congregations and ministers. At Collegium’s fall gathering in 2018, a full session was dedicated to Dorothy reading from her memoir, Sea Change (see below). In the last year of her life, Dorothy gave devoted leadership to the UU Rainbow History Project, documenting the personal stories and changing consciousness of gay and straight clergy around LGBTQ+ concerns.

Dorothy May Emerson was born on 20 November 1943 in Long Beach CA to Howard Douglas Emerson and Eloise Clark Emerson. She graduated from Pomona College (Claremont CA) in 1965 with a B.A. in German literature. After an M.A. in psychology and education from the Humanistic Psychology Institute (San Francisco) in 1974, she worked as a consultant. But eventually drawn to ministry, Dorothy earned her M.Div. at Harvard Divinity School in 1988.

Ms. Emerson began parish ministry with the First Universalist Society of Wakefield (MA) and was ordained there on 25 September 1988. After two interim positions, she accepted a call to the UU Church of Medford MA. During that six-year pastorate (1992–98) she earned a D.Min. at Andover Newton Theological School in 1997.

Over the next 12 years, the Rev’d Dr. Emerson intermittently served parish and community ministries while intensively pursuing her passions in a range of scholarly and writing projects. From this period came voluminous manuscripts and several edited volumes. Her final work was a memoir: Sea Change: The Unfinished Agenda of the 1960s. Just days before her death, she delivered 44 boxes of professional papers to the Harvard Divinity School archives.

At her death, Dorothy was survived by her wife Donna E. Clifford, son Damian Elrod, grandson Zade Elrod, sister Mary Lou, brothers Howard and Clark, and other nieces and nephews. Memorial donations are encouraged to the UU Rainbow History Project (via UURMaPA) or to a charity of one’s own choosing.

A green burial took place on 18 May 2019 at Cedar Grove Burial Ground, Limington ME. Dorothy’s life was celebrated on 8 June 2019 at the Melrose (MA) UU Church. Notes of condolence may be sent to Donna Clifford at 51 Cedar St., Apt #4101, Woburn MA 01801.

The Rev. Dr. Eugene A. Reeves

The Reverend Dr. Gene Reeves—whose career was largely anchored in the academy, with interests first in process philosophy and then a major shift to Buddhist thought—died peacefully at his Chicago home on 8 May 2019, aged 86.

Dr. Reeves focused on process thought in his early career, but through contact with Japan’s progressive Buddhist movement, Risshō Kōsei-kai, he became increasingly drawn to broader interfaith activity, and especially to study of the chief Nichiren Buddhist text, the Lotus Sutra. He lived most of his last thirty years in Tokyo, studying, teaching, and lecturing on Buddhist topics in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, and the US. In 2008, as a capstone to his long devotion to Buddhist thought, Dr. Reeves published The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic.

Gene Arthur Reeves was born on 2 April 1933 in Franklin, New Hampshire, to Eugene V. Reeves and Parmelie Twombly Reeves. He earned a B.A. in psychology at the University of New Hampshire (1956), an S.T.B. at Boston University (1959), and a Ph.D. in philosophy of religion at Emory University (1963). Mr. Reeves was ordained in 1961 by the United Liberal Church (now UU) of Atlanta. He served on the faculties of Crane Theological School (Medford MA) and Wilberforce University (near Dayton OH) before moving to Meadville Lombard as Dean and CEO (1979–1988). The seminary later named him Professor Emeritus and awarded him a D.D. honoris causa in 2014.

At his death, Gene was survived by his wife Yayoi Reeves, daughters Anna Kerr and the Rev’d Eva Cameron (UU), step-son Takuro Sato, sister Joyce Reeves, and five grandchildren. A celebration of Gene’s life was held on 13 June 2019 at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago. Memorial donations are encouraged to Meadville Lombard Theological School, 180 N. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601.

The Rev. William “Bill” N. Kennedy

The Reverend Bill Kennedy—remembered by Judy Welles as a “cherished colleague [with] a warm heart [and] acerbic wit” and by Thomas Anastasi as “the best intern minister you could ever have”—died on 28 April 2019, aged 69. Bill’s colleague in chaplaincy, Theresa Hardy, recalled him as “a joy [who] welcomed you, encouraged you, made it feel like somebody was thrilled you were there at the moment for that event, large or small.”

Bill was devoted to promoting health and access to health care, faithfully advocating for patients who experienced language and financial barriers in the medical system. He worked with Peninsula Interfaith Action in support of San Mateo (CA) County’s ACE Health Care Program for the uninsured and with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in the areas of training, fundraising, and advocacy.

William Neal Kennedy was born on 11 June 1949 in San Francisco, California, and grew up there. He received a B.S. in broadcasting from San Diego State University in 1972. After working 30 years in TV broadcasting, he answered a call to ministry and in 2005 earned an M.Div. from Starr King School. Mr. Kennedy was ordained by the UU Fellowship of Redwood City CA on 26 September 2009 where he served as an affiliated community minister until retiring in 2017.

Bill found spiritual renewal in hiking and biking, especially in the coastal redwoods. In 2000, he participated in a century ride around Lake Tahoe, and raised money for blood cancer research and support.

Bill is survived by his wife Geri, son Adam, daughter Amanda, and granddaughter Iola. A celebration of Bill’s life, attended by many colleagues, took place at on 25 May 2019 at the UU Fellowship of Redwood City.

Memorial donations were encouraged to the International Myeloma Foundation, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, or the Sempervirens Fund.

The Rev. Dennis G. Kuby

The Rev. Dennis G. Kuby died on April 23, 2019 at the age of 84.

Dennis is survived by his wife Jeanne Kuby and his son Paul “Scott” Kuby.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s own choosing. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry.

Rev. Kuby had a pre-planned memorial service attended by friends and family on his 60th birthday in Bratenahl, OH. Another memorial service will not be held.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Jeanne Kuby or Scott Kuby, at 1250 Queens Rd, Berkeley, CA 94708.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

Mar 20, 2019

Richard Lansing Geer

Richard Geer

Richard Lansing Geer, rocket scientist and spouse of the Reverend Nan Geer, died April 17, 2019. He was born September 29, 1933 in Portland, Oregon to Willard and Mary Geer. After attending both Willamette University and the University of Southern California and graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Richard was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. He was a member of two Engineering honorary societies, and earned master’s degrees both in Aeronautical Engineering and Systems Engineering.

During his Air Force career, he worked on a classified Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, which greatly improved reconnaissance/surveillance of the Soviet Union and was invaluable during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was pleased when this project was finally declassified, and he could tell his family about that work. The story of this program is now documented in a video, “The Satellite Men”.

Richard was an expert in moon dust research before the first Moon landing. He designed a gondola, now on display in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force base, to research high altitude/velocity aircraft escape. For this research he was himself often a test subject for seat ejection evaluations. He worked on some of the first Air Force man-in-space programs, including military spacecraft. He also served on an inspector general team and later as part of the USAF Foreign Technology Division. He retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1981 and came to work for Boeing, in its space programs.

He married Alice Elizabeth Jackson in 1955, and they had two daughters, Marilyn and Elizabeth. That marriage eventually ended in divorce. In 1992 he met and married Nan, who was serving three congregations part time. They retired to Blaine. Washington, where she continued to serve Free Church Unitarian, and Richard became a devoted member.

Richard was a brilliant man of absolute integrity, great generosity and a wicked sense of humor, dearly loved by many. He is survived by his wife, Nan Geer, his brother and sister-in-law Charles and Lynne Geer, his daughter Marilyn Geer Vancil, her husband Travis Vancil, his grandchildren Andi and Megan, and Nan’s children Rob B., Tim, Moira, Heather, and Nan’s grandchildren Pierre, Inès, Zach, Eli and Henry.

Messages of condolence can be sent to Nan Geer, 4704 Sagebrush Lane, Blaine WA 98230.

Ruth Helen Langhinrichs

Ruth Langhinrichs

Ruth Helen Langhinrichs, widow of Reverend Richard Alan Langhinrichs, died peacefully on 16 April 2019. Born 30 October 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Susan Smith and Roy Imler, Ruth was the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving her Bachelor of Science in English from Northwestern University in 1944.

Upon graduation, Ruth set out for New York City. She was successful as a writer and editor, working for several magazines. Eventually, she moved to Philadelphia to become an Associate Editor of the Ladies Home Journal. Here she wrote a teen-focused advice column called “Dear Gay Head” that had an estimated 6 million readers in the 1950s.

Ruth was a poet, published author, and playwright. She wrote and produced, “Mermaids in the Basement,” “The Heart of the Limberlost,” “A Night on Walden Pond,” and “Feathers.” At the time of her death, she was working on her memoir, titled An Intricate Life: Almost One Hundred Years in the Making.

After coming to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1965 with her husband and two daughters, Ruth worked tirelessly to promote art, music, movies, drama, and writing. She worked both as an Instructor of English on the Purdue Campus and as a writing consultant at the Writing Center. For many years she was on the editorial board of The Windless Orchard and City Limits. She was also a founding member of Cinema Center, the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau, Great Women of Sunday Afternoon, and Sisters over Seventy.

Ruth was also a feminist and advocate for all women. She was a board member for the Women’s Center, and she was a proud delegate to the International Women’s Conference in Beijing, China. She served as the Mayor’s representative to the Area III Council on Aging. She participated actively on many other boards and never shied away from new challenges. She enrolled and graduated from clown school when she was in her 70s, bringing “Lottie” to life. Her lifelong interests included art, mental health, philosophy, religion, and women’s issues. Poetry, cinema, theatre, drawing, and contemporary literature were among her favorite pastimes.

Additionally, she has been deeply engaged with Unitarian Universalism for more than 50 years, and she regularly attended and served the UU Congregation of Fort Wayne in many capacities.

Ruth was the mother of two daughters, Julie (Ben) Langhinrichs of Cleveland, Ohio and Jenny (Marty) Langhinrichsen-Rohling of Mobile, Ala. She was blessed with six grandchildren, Her surviving friends, biological family, and family-by-choice members were abundant and essential to the full life she led.

Memorial gifts may be made to the UU Congregation of Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne Cinema Center, or to the Women’s Center.

Author: Duane Fickeisen