The Rev. Joy D. Gasta, 68, died of cancer October 2, 2005, in Nashville, TN. She taught English and humanities at colleges in IN, MI, PA and TN. She was also a part-time news and features reporter with the Philadelphia Inquirer and several other newspapers in Pennsylvania. She served the First Universalist Churches of Norway and West Paris, ME. She was assistant minister at the Church of the Larger Fellowship from 1994 to 1995. Surviving are two daughters, Rachel of New York and Catherine of Washington, D.C.; twin brother Jack Dedman; sisters Dale Wilson and Jean Dedman. Her husband, Carl Gasta, died in 1980.
Author: Duane Fickeisen
The Rev. Dr. Donald Szantho Harrington
The Rev. Dr. Donald Szantho Harrington, 91, died Sept. 16, 2005 in Szepsi–St. George, Romania. He served churches in Hobart, IN; Chicago; Darien, CT; and Community Church in New York, which named him minister emeritus. He was a leader in civil rights, social justice, theology and politics, and a co-founder of the Center for the Advanced Study in Religion and Science, and the American Committee on Africa. He served on the AUA and UUA Boards, the Unitarian, Universalist, and UU Service Committees, and the IARF. He helped found BAWA, (Black and White Action) He received the Holmes-Weatherly Award in 1983. Harrington authored several books. He married Vilma Szantho, the first woman to be ordained in Central Europe. She died in 1982. In 1984, he married Vilma’s niece, the Rev. Aniko Szantho. Surviving are his wife; two children, Loni Hancock of Berkeley, CA, and David Harrington of Santa Fe, NM; three stepchildren, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The Rev. Robert William Haney
The Rev. Robert William Haney, 70, died August 14, 2005. He served First and Second Church in Boston and the Theodore Parker Unitarian Church in West Roxbury, MA, which named him minister emeritus. He was an instructor at Emerson College, where he taught religion, philosophy and history. He published Comstockery in America: Patterns of Censorship and Control in 1960 through Beacon Press. For the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, he produced the exhibition guide The Historic Silver of the First and Second Church of Boston. He also wrote many reviews for the Christian Science Monitor and other religious periodicals.
Marguerite Wilson Webb
Marguerite Wilson Webb, wife of the Rev. Ted Webb, died July 6, 2005, of injuries from a fall. She grew up in Calais, ME, and studied music at the University of Maine and Juilliard in NY. She met her husband when she was accompanist and he sang in the chorus of Bangor Theological School. After many years in New England and New York, they moved to Sacramento where Ted served the UU Society there. She was active in church and community, Women’s Alliance and bridge clubs. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, and daughters Roberta Webb and Christine Webb-Curtis; sons Theodore and Noel; 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A memorial service was held July 23 at the UU Society of Sacramento.
The Rev. Dr. Ralph N. Schmidt, Sr.
The Rev. Dr. Ralph N. Schmidt, Sr., 94, died July 4, 2005 at the Presbyterian Home for Central New York. He served congregations in Herkimer and Utica, NY, where the UU Church of Utica named him minister emeritus in 1981. Previously, he taught at Maryville (WI) High School. He was a professor at Jamestown College in ND; Lafayette College in Easton, PA; and Syracuse University. Syracuse offered him a position to help establish a new college in Utica. Surviving are sons Ralph N., Jr. of Annandale, VA, and Carl E.D., Sr. of Sauquoit, NY; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His wife, Wilda Delay, predeceased him in 2001.
The Rev. Joseph Majeau
The Rev. Joseph Majeau, 77, drowned May 29, 2005, after falling into the swollen, fast-moving Kenduskeag Stream in Hampden, ME. He served the Universalist Church of Westbrook, ME, which named him minister emeritus. His passions were his family, music, nature, and politics. He strongly believed that even one person could make a difference. He is survived by Susan, his wife of 22 years; two children, David and Donna; and three grandchildren. A celebration of life was held Aug. 13, at the UU Church of Westbrook.
The Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Maloney
The Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Maloney, 82, died May 6, 2005. He served congregations in Davenport, IA; Quincy, IL; and Boulder, CO. During World War II he served in both Army and Marine Corps. From 1957-1962, he was concurrently part-time minister for the Unitarian Fellowship in Boulder, CO, and instructor of anthropology at the U. of Colorado. He was later assistant professor at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, and professor of anthropology at Ripon College and at Southern Illinois University. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 57 years; four children, Susan of Mexico City, Mexico; Greta of Boulder, CO; Lisa of Groton, NY; and Thomas J. of Worden, IL; and seven grandchildren.
The Rev. Dr. Carl J. Westman
The Rev. Dr. Carl J. Westman, 93, died October 14, 2004 of congestive heart failure. He served in Gloucester, MA; Bridgeport, CT; Rochester, NY; Plainfield, NJ; Lakeland (Emeritus), Naples and Port Charlotte, FL. He was District Executive for Metropolitan New York and a Settlement Representative for Florida District. He spoke out forcefully in protection of the first amendment freedoms during the McCarthy era. He was also active in the civil rights movement. Surviving are his children, Marjorie A. Yasueda of San Francisco, CA; John W. Westman of Atlantic Beach, FL; and William W. Westman of Brasilia, Brazil, 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. A daughter, Janet Newton predeceased him in 2003.
Freda Wolfe Carnes
Freda Wolfe Carnes, widow of the Rev. Paul Carnes, third President of the UUA, died September 18, 2004 in Boston. Freda married Paul following World War II, after Carnes’ release as a prisoner of war. They were parents to Paul Nathaniel, Jr., and Molly. Freda was committed to studies in education and child development, which she pursued in Cleveland, OH and Buffalo, NY. In Buffalo, she was assistant professor in the early childhood department of the State College Learning Lab. The Carneses lived in Youngstown, OH; Memphis, TN; Buffalo and Boston, where they moved when Paul was elected UUA president in 1977. Freda is survived by her children and three grandchildren. A service memorial service was held at October 2 at King’s Chapel.
The Rev. Jesse Raymond Cavileer
The Rev. Jesse Raymond Cavileer, 87, died June 4, 2004. He held an AB from Syracuse University and and BD from Union Theological Seminary. He served congregations in Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA (minister emeritus); Missoula, MN; Glasgow, Scotland. He was active community affairs and chaired the Civil Liberties Clearing House in Cleveland and was on the board of the ACLU in Pittsburgh. He was also active in local antipoverty programs and neighborhood alliances.