Author: Duane Fickeisen

The Rev. Nancy C. Roemheld, 80, died on January 4, 2013. Rev. Roemheld was born in Holyoke, MA on February 23, 1932 to Ruth and Frederick Stevens. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Alverno College in 1982. She went on to attain a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from The University of Chicago Divinity School, both in 1986.

Rev. Roemheld was ordained on June 1, 1986 at the Unitarian Church West in Brookfield, WI. She was first called to serve the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, GA from 1986-1994. She then embarked on a remarkable 12-year career as an interim minister where she served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro in Jamestown, NC from 1995-1996; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, CA from 1997-1999; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, NY from 1999-2000; the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, AZ from 2000-2001; the Bradford Community Church UU in Kenosha, WI from 2001-2002; the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wilmington, NC from 2002-2003; the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie, PA from 2003-2005; the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos, CA from 2005-2006; and the First Unitarian Church of Omaha, NE from 2006 until her retirement in 2007. She also served as a chaplain at the Universal Unitarian Church of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada from 1996-1997.

Committed to her faith, Rev. Roemheld was actively involved on all sides of the pulpit. She was a lay leader before becoming a minister. While serving the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, she was especially proud of the work she did to help guide the church through the construction of brand new facilities. She also served on the board of the UUA’s Central Midwest District.

In a sermon she delivered one Easter Sunday called “Waking Up/Eros and Pathos,” Rev. Roemheld spoke wisely of life’s certain and universal struggles:

“From the depths of the collective human consciousness, the cosmic drama of the resurrection story emerged – to remind us that the heroic, fulfilled and therefore deathless life is achieved by surmounting some crucifixion, by living through some dark night of the soul; to remind us that the creative spirit of love lives in you and me…waiting to be expressed and experienced.”

Rev. Roemheld is survived by daughter, Joanne R. Jeanguenat; daughter, Kathryn C. Zunac and husband, Mick; son, Steven F. Roemheld and wife, Margaret; daughter, MaryBeth Roemheld and partner, Laurie Gift; grandchildren, Kristen and Jonathan; and great-granddaughter, Nora. She was predeceased by her former husband and friend, Fred Roemheld.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Joanne R. Jeanguenat at 2702 Mason St., Madison, WI 53705.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Happy Endings No-Kill Animal Shelter, 5349 West Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53220; or to the Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Association at P.O. Box #55019, Boston, MA 02205.

Jean Bondurant Rodes, 88, widow of the Rev. Richard Rodes, died peacefully at home on, November 12, 2006 in Columbia, MD. She played the piano and taught music for 30 years. The Rodeses founded the United Church of Christ in Columbia. They later established a Unitarian church and he was minister at large in the DC area. They also made nearly a dozen Peace Odyssey tours to the Soviet Union. Jean dedicated her life to the things in which she believed: music, faith and social justice. They were both well into their 80s, had celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2005, and still enjoyed making music together and reminiscing about their travels. They had lived in Columbia, MD, since 1970 and leave behind three adult children.

The Rev. Dr. Frank E. Robertson, 76, died Feb. 6, 2008 in Plymouth, MA. Certified in Religious Education, he studied world religions, specializing in East Indian studies. He studied and traveled in India in and Japan, then participated in the creation of a World Religions curriculum. He served congregations in Barneveld and Shelter Rock, NY, and Paramus, NJ. He served as MRE in Washington, DC, Santa Barbara, CA, and Evanston, IL, where he was named emeritus. Frank was a founding member of Interweave, which addressed LGBT concerns. Through their efforts, General Assembly passed resolutions concerning LGBT rights and the UUA Office was established. Frank was awarded an honorary D.Div. from Meadville Lombard. He received the Angus MacLean Award for religious education. He served on the Boards of the UUA and LREDA, St. Lawrence Foundation and IARF. He founded and chaired the UU Religious Education History Group. He was an Elder of the Mass. Society of Mayflower Descendants. He is survived by his partner of 36 years, Rick McDonald; two daughters, Lydia Robertson of Brooklyn, NY and Denene Ray of Charlotte, NC, and three granddaughters. His son, Joel, died in 1993. A memorial service took place April 19.

The Rev. Dr. William Joseph Robbins, 93, died April 8, 2007, in Owls Head, ME. He served as an US Army chaplain during World War II in the South Pacific, then used his GI Bill of Rights to obtain a Ph.D. from Brown University. A parishioner in Rockland wrote: “Educated to the Baptist ministry, he found Universalism in the era before confederation with Unitarianism, and he helped First Universalist over the hump of the post-war depression in Rockland. He was our Minister Emeritus, having served our congregation twice, before and after its move from Church of the Emanuel, and he outlived three wives, the first of whom was Reed McKenney’s mother Nadine. Bill was a devoted stepfather, and Reed and his wife Debbie repaid the debt of care beyond all measure. When Bill was left a widower again, seven years ago, in his late 80’s, Reed and Debbie drove up with a truck and moved him into their home for the rest of his days. Our church owes Reed, Debbie and the girls a great debt. They are a wonderful example of the values we cherish.”

Beatrice Erdine Robbins, 102, widow of the Rev. Douglas Robbins, died March 28, 2012 in Augusta, ME. She was a graduate of Gorham Teacher’s College and earned a BA in education through the University of Maine at Orono. Bea was a contributing member of the Winthrop Street Universalist Church of Augusta, which she and her husband served for 30 years. She was active in the Julia Robinson Murray Alliance and Winchester Groups at the church. She was a past president of the Augusta College Club, Kennebec Valley Church Women’s Association and the Universalist Women of Maine. She taught for 29 years in New Gloucester, Wells, Saco and Augusta. She was a mother, a pianist and a published poet. This year she was honored in a ceremony marking the City of Hanowell’s 250th anniversary by receiving the gold-headed Boston Post Cane as the city’s oldest resident. Bea’s vintage recipes will be part of the UU Community Church’s next cookbook, due out in August. Bea is survived by her daughter, Carol Robbins, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

There was a memorial service on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Wilton Center in Wilton, NH.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Charles O. Richardson, III at 305 Guyette Rd., East Montpelier, VT 05651.

Wallace Reid, 81, widower of the late Rev. Lee Reid, died suddenly April 17, 2008. At the time of his death he was serving as the UURMaPA Caring Network Contact for the NY Metro/NJ Caring Region. He served in the US Navy Medical Corps in World War II, and was a research chemist for Union Carbide for 30 years. He then served as a hospital addictions counselor. With his late wife, he was a co-founder of the intentionally diverse UU Congregation of the Palisades in Englewood, NJ. Eight years after they helped to found the church, Lee was killed in a tragic accident. After her death Wally remained on as an integral part of the congregation. He is survived by their three daughters Martha, Kate and Sarah Reid.

Annette Helen Youngs Redman, 96, widow of the Rev. Edward Redman, died Sept. 17, 2012. She took an active role in the churches her husband served. She was a leader at the Lake Geneva Summer Assembly in Williams Bay, WI, for 50 years. And she was also an accomplished needlewoman and knitter.

The Rev. Hartley C. Ray, 92, died August 21, 2010. A graduate of Bates College and the University of Chicago Divinity School, he also worked on a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion, at U. of Chicago. Ordained a Congregationalist, he served Congregational church in El Paso, TX, after having been fellowshipped by the AUA. In El Paso he was a member of the executive committee of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare. He served churches in Chicago; Highland Park, IL; and Orange, NJ. He served as chaplain at Philadelphia State Hospital for 19 years and the Philadelphia Protestant Home for two years. He served non-UU churches in CT and PA, as well. Active in the Chicago and NYC ministers study and fellowship groups, he was also a member of the Community Service Council of Oranges and Maplewood, NJ, a planning body for welfare agencies and hospitals. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kay Hartley, of 49 years, Kay Hartley, three daughters and five grandchildren.